Selene jolted awake when she heard the door slam. She quickly grabbed her dagger and lowered the volume on the ResoScreen; she couldn’t care less about the news right now. Selene tilted her head up, sniffing the air before taking a calming breath. When the bedroom door opened, she offered Jason a confused look. His face was constricted, strained, and flushed as though he ran all the way back home.

“Jason? What’s wrong?”

“Honestly, I don’t have a freaking clue. You know, everything was fine, absolutely fine, until you came into my life. And that was one of the best things ever. I mean, I see things—people—differently. I open my eyes. Shadowlings and Vampyres, they aren’t evil. I mean, some are evil, but some are good, and I—okay, I’m getting off base, but look, I don’t know how I feel about you, and I don’t know how you feel about me, so don’t kill me for this.”

Selene’s eyes widened when his lips met hers. It was different than she imagined it. Wait, when did I imagine this? Her eyes fluttered shut, and she found her arms wrapping around his neck of their own accord. Kissing him felt more right than any kiss she had shared with Pietro. Jason felt more right. Even now, she didn’t know how she felt. What was she doing? Her emotions were taking over, and she felt a surge of power. Her runes were burning. Selene jerked her eyes open and pulled herself away from him.

“You—I.” Selene suddenly felt very lightheaded. “I don’t know.” Her knees buckled, and she fell forward into Jason’s arms. Selene didn’t pass out this time and distantly heard his voice. She was too distracted with why she was glowing.

“Selene, I—”

“No, don’t say anything. Jason, I’m not sure how I feel about you. I wish I did, but I still think of Pietro, and you’re with Miranda and I—I just don’t know.”

“I know. I’m sorry. Look, I don’t know either. I just, I hoped it would…I don’t know, clear things up, but—”

“Shut up already,” she said, smiling. He smiled back at her, still holding her close. Selene stared up at him, at his face, her eyes lingering on his lips, thinking of kissing him again. That was until she heard the broadcast.

“This just in. The body of a young girl was found at Number Three East Darkling District Entrance. There were bite marks on her neck, and it has been determined that she was snatched, dragged into the alleyway, and drained of blood. The Enforcers feel confident that the same Vampyre is responsible for recent attacks on the community, and they assure us that they are working with the Hunters to find the Vampyre responsible.” Still leaning on Jason, Selene stared out the window at the bright and sunny day.

“I need to go.”

“You can’t. It’s too bright out. You’ll only be able to withstand the sun for maybe twenty minutes.”

“Probably less, but I have to get to the crime scene while it’s fresh.” Selene gathered her strength and stepped away, giving him a reassuring smile. “I’ll be quick, I promise.” She kissed his cheek without thinking and grabbed her blue corset and black pants from her bag.

***

Selene went through the Darkling District. When she reached the Third East Exit, she was glad to note that the rest of the Hunters were already at the crime scene. The Enforcers had put up a magical shade to protect them from the sun. They all offered her weak, frightful smiles. All except Jeanette, who crossed her arms.

“There is no scent, but something is off. I can feel it in the air and look at her. Can you see it?”

Selene looked at the body and saw it instantly. Something was very wrong and very different. This girl had been handled with care. The girl had been laid on the ground, not dropped down carelessly. Not even a strand of hair covered her face, which was odd considering how windy it was. The body was too fresh as well. Selene looked off to the side where a black purse lay, far away from the body.

“Was this bag here the entire time?” she asked, going through the bag.

“Uh, yes,” answered the Enforcer James.

“Thought as much. The bag has been messed with.” Selene sniffed the bag. “I smell dark magic, fresh dark magic components.”

“But there’s none in there,” said Blake, taking the bag.

“Exactly. It seems our killer has a bit of a conscience. This wasn’t an accident. The Vampyre meant to kill her, but look around. It looks like whoever this was felt bad about it, bad enough to rid the dark materials she would have been found with. Whoever this Vampyre is, they care about these people, to some degree.” Selene placed her hands on her hips and looked around, analyzing the crime scene.

“Why the change,” asked Eno stepping forward. “This type of emotion, it’s not rational.”

“Whatever the reasons, they are testing my patience. I’ve no desire for the Garrison to arrive. Contact the city council and talk to the City Guards and Enforcers. We need a Dimmer.”

“Isn’t that a little drastic,” said Eno.

“I want this person found, and I want them found now.”

“Very well,” relented Eno, “we’ll contact the Council and get the spell up and running. How long should I keep it up?”

“Until we find the murderer or until the Garrison arrives, whichever comes first.”

“Very well.” Eno bid farewell and descended into the Darkling District.

“Jeanette, Blake, can one of you report this to Eris? I have no desire to see him at the moment.”

“Eris will be upset,” said Dimitri, leaning on the wall. He eyed her curiously, a look that made her smile.

“Then let him. My patience is running thin, and I don’t feel like being debased and yelled at by he who is a child.”

“Why do you put up with it,” asked Jeanette.

Turning her back to her comrades and looking past the spell shielding her from the sun, she muttered, “Because someone needs to keep an eye on him, and I promised our father I would.” Selene called James over and handed him the bag. She didn’t bother to mention the stink of Dark Magic. Whoever this Vampyre was, at least in one respect, they had the right intentions.