Selene sat in the council room, stoic as her brother yelled at her, spreading his ire onto Jeanette and Blake. However, most of his anger was directed at her.

“You said you were on patrol!”

“I was,” she lied, studying the ethereal silver swirls on the granite table.

“Really? Then explain to me why there was another murder last night? Well? Answer me, Selene!”

“There was no scent!” she screamed, banging her palms against the table, cracking it. Selene did not need him screaming at her; she felt guilty enough.

“That’s not possible!”

“Eris, there was no scent!” shouted Blake. “The Vampyre must have Fairy Dust. It’s the only way.”

“I will not stand here and listen to excuses! I don’t care if there was a scent or not! You are the Hunters; you should have been doing your job! Or is one of you the killer?”

“Oh, you insensitive bastard!” exclaimed Jeanette. “I will not sit here and be insulted! We were on patrol and caught no scent, which means magic or Fairy Dust! That makes it harder to track them! Of course, you wouldn’t know; you get to stand around and sit on your ass all day.”

“I am Coven Master Jeanette, and you would do well to watch your tongue.”

“I will not let you accuse us of crimes we did not commit. If you want my head, take it. I will gladly pay the price for disobedience.”

“Okay, enough,” yelled Selene. “Eris, we will find the killer; it just might take longer than we’d like.”

“You do it soon. If the murders hit four, the King’s Garrison will arrive. Do you want them here, Selene?” Selene flinched at her brothers’ cold and uncaring tone. She was not on good terms with the King’s Garrison, not after the things she had done.

“No.”

“I thought so. Find the Vampyre and bring him in for his hearing. Meeting dismissed.” Eris left the council room, followed by the other council members. Nivette and herself were the only two left in the room.

“I wouldn’t mind him, Selene.”

“You weren’t the one he was screaming at.”

“True, that was…unsettling. You’re usually the only thing Eris ever cares about.”

Selene sat, slouching back, leaving her fingers on the table to trace over the new cracks. “Usually. Something has been bothering him, can’t you tell? He’s not himself.”

“Oh, I’ve noticed,” she said, staring at the door. “But there is little we can do about it, Selene.”

“Please try to figure out what is wrong with him. I’ve no desire to be scolded again.”

“I will talk to him, but I make no promises.” Nivette left, leaving Selene alone with her thoughts. She should not have attended that mistake of a dinner. She should have listened to her brother. Maybe she would have caught the Vampyre whose longing for blood had suddenly grown strong.

Selene, don’t fret, came a familiar voice in her thoughts. Selene felt comforted by the voice of the Goddess. I assure you, all will be well. The tender voice vanished, leaving Selene feeling cold again.

***

“How could there be no scent,” asked Eno, sitting across from Blake in the Hunter’s Room.

“They could be using magic or Fairy Dust,” said Dimitri.

“If it’s magic, we can trace the spell. Hopefully, witches don’t use that alleyway,” said Cinio.

“In any case, I don’t want the Garrison to come,” stated Selene. “I’m on thin ice as it is.” Selene rubbed her temples. “We need to find whoever this is. It doesn’t look like these two murders are their first. Investigate other cities and suburbs. I want to know if there are any similar cases. Blake, Jeanette, stay. I want to discuss something with you two. The rest of you are dismissed.” Selene watched the rest leave. Once the door was shut, she put up a silencing spell. Jeanette and Blake looked at her, concerned.

“Selene?” Selene looked up at Blake, letting out a heavy sigh.

“Whoever this is knew where to go.”

He scrunched up his eyes, confused. “What?”

“You think it might be someone in the coven?” asked Jeanette.

“I think so. We were on patrol in the east because killers feel more comfortable in one spot. Whoever this is, was or is, in the coven. They knew how we work and how the system works. The Vampyre went from East to West overnight.”

“But it couldn’t be someone in our coven,” stated Blake, agitated.

“It could if they’re ingesting Fairy Dust like Witches. That stuff is like poison, makes them delusional.”

“If it’s Fairy Dust, and that’s only if they’re ingesting it. If not, then whoever this is is a cold-blooded killer.”

“What happens if we don’t find whoever this is after four. We haven’t seen the Garrison for centuries.”

Selene eyed them both fearfully and angrily. “They’ll have their own suspicions, and I’ll be number one on their damn to-kill list.”

***

Selene packed up her stuff from under her floor, shoving everything into a bag and waiting for Jeanette to give her the go-ahead. She wouldn’t get rid of the stuff; she would just hide it before she went back to meet with the Enforcers to examine the crime scene further.

“Selene, he’s entering the Grand Hall, come on.” Selene swung the bag over her shoulder.

“I’ll meet you at the crime scene. I have to drop this stuff off.”

“Cautious, aren’t we.”

“I’ve killed six people in my lifetime. Technically, I should not be alive. So yeah, I’m cautious. See you guys in a few.” Selene ran out of the cave, through the woods, and headed to Jason’s house. As always, he was alone doing his homework. Selene tapped on the window, and for once, Jason didn’t seem startled to see her.

“Hey,” he said, opening the window.”

“I can’t stay, I have to meet some Enforcers back at the alley. I came to ask if you would hold onto some things for me.”

“What is it?” he asked, taking the bag.

“Jewels, money, and Fairy Dust.”

“Fairy Dust? What are you doing with that stuff?”

Selene stared at him incredulously as she made her way in, taking her bag back and lifting up a few floorboards of his apartment. “How do you think I get my pale skin to look like yours, Jason,” she asked as she dumped her stuff into the hole, sealing it up with magic. “I’m a Vampyre Jason, I’m dead, and the dead have no Light.”

“Oh.”

“Just leave it alone. I’ll see you around.” Selene bid him farewell, then climbed back out the window.