Willa's stomach churned at the Were's grin. She couldn't stop staring at his teeth.

"Well…” He muttered, and stood up slowly and began walking over to another part of the room. “I was wondering something about you too, sweetheart…” He sighed, and scratched the back of his head. “Why are you so antsy around me? I don’t mean to pry, but I know we’ve all had our fair share of sad pasts…” the Were seemed to cringe, before continuing. “I mean… I’ve practically hated the entire Vampire species until, well today, to be honest…” He glanced over his shoulder, hands now burrowed into his pockets, and his eyes rested on Sam. They waited there just for moment, but at the perfect moment to see her eye lids fluttered open. “Ahh… speak o’ the devil…”

Before Willa had time to answer the Were, the Dhampire awoke. Willa felt her hand go to the knife concealed in her not-bloodied sleeve. She gripped it (but not so tightly as to make the same mistake), still concealing it in her sleeve warily. She didn't like that she couldn't hear the Dhampire's Song as well as she ought. She couldn't tell if the Dampire was hungry still...

Willa watched the Were examine the Dhampire who had called herself Sam, declaring the punch to the face hadn't done much damage before he wandered into another room--Were-tail wagging. Willa heard the sound of a fridge opening and assumed that must be the kitchen. But she had little energy to waste on the Were. If he hadn't killed her yet--he probably wouldn't. Why patch her up, just to kill her now? Instead, her eyes locked onto the Dhampire, and only left the girl when an apple appeared in her field of vision, presented by the Were. He mumbled something about milk and tap water that she didn't really listen to. But she gathered enough information from it, that she took the apple and took a large bite, with a curt nod of thanks toward the Were. Her stomach growled it's own word of thanks.

The Dhampire's posture straightened, and Willa stared harder, muscles tensing for a confrontation. Instead, the girl apologized,

"I'm....I'm really, really sorry. I wasn't myself a while ago, I never would have done that on purpose. Now that I saw what I did I really regret it. I know you're pissed off with me, but......I don't blame you. I'm even pissed off at myself, if I could take it back, I would in a heart beat.''

She then mumbled something about feeling sick. Didn't surprise Willa much. Dhampire's usually could exist on human food only. Blood--especially a Listener's blood--was a much heavier meal for her kind. But Willa felt no sympathy for the creature. Silently, Willa crunched on the apple, cleanly polishing it off down to the slimmest bit of core possible and politely stuffing it in her pocket.

Now the changeling spoke up,

"If yer finished mackin' on Orozco, Ah've got some questions. Fer one." He turns to Ms. Larson, ignoring her need to find the restroom. "What were you doin' with th' girl with a bleedin' neck. Both you and Orozco. Two. Th' Bloodless Murders, twelve dead in six months. Two of them my people. What do you know?" Nicholas pulls out a notepad to track notes. "You lie to me and Ah'll find out. And Ah'll find you," he says offhandedly. These were questions Willa would have liked the answer to as well. But she knew she probably knew more than these two. So softly, she cleared her throat.

"Debello." She murmured hoarsely. The name hung in the air like lead. "Do you know the name, Changeling?" Willa stared at the changeling hard. He seemed older. Maybe he knew about what happened those years before she had been born. Maybe he even knew Master Willow. She didn't wait for a response, but instead looked from Sam to the Were that the Changeling had called Orozco.

"My name is Willa Thorn...trained by the Master Listener Willow Kirol. And when I was small, she used to tell me a story. A story about a great evil that years before I was born took many lives in New York city. A wave of murders that only had one thing in common: the bodies were found completely drained of blood." Willa paused, taking a breath. She was unused to talking much, and she disliked it. But she was a patient story-teller--and this was one story that had to be told. "The police then were baffled. But my ancestors were not. So again--the Listeners are not baffled. The evil has returned. The vampire Debello." Willa looked hard at each face, impressing the importance of this through her expression. "If the stories are correct, and Debello has come back to raise an army against the Light Song creatures--against anyone that walks with them--there is only one solution." Willa paused, crinkling her brow. "And I do not like it." She looked to the Dhampire, who still seemed unwell. "The races have to unite against him once more." She paused, letting this information sink in to the creatures around her.

---

---

Ethan opened his mouth, about to direct Sam to the restroom when he was interrupted.

"If yer finished mackin' on Orozco, Ah've got some questions. Fer one." He turns to Ms. Larson, ignoring her need to find the restroom. "What were you doin' with th' girl with a bleedin' neck. Both you and Orozco. Two. Th' Bloodless Murders, twelve dead in six months. Two of them my people. What do you know?" Nicholas pulls out a notepad to track notes. "You lie to me and Ah'll find out. And Ah'll find you," he says offhandedly.

Ethan felt his lips curl up in a silent snarl. "For your information-" he started, literally hissing with annoyance.

"Debello." Ethan couldn't help but tilt his head to the side in confusion. That name seemed to ring a bell in his mind, but he couldn't exactly pinpoint where he had heard it before. At the subway..? No... At work...? I don't think so... Um... Oh ya!

"My name is Willa Thorn...trained by the Master Listener Willow Kirol. And when I was small, she used to tell me a story. A story about a great evil that years before I was born took many lives in New York city. A wave of murders that only had one thing in common: the bodies were found completely drained of blood." So her name is Willa... "The police then were baffled. But my ancestors were not. So again--the Listeners are not baffled. The evil has returned. The vampire Debello." Ethan listened intently to what Willa had to say, making sure to keep his own mouth shut and not interrupt. He tended to do that. "If the stories are correct, and Debello has come back to raise an army against the Light Song creatures--against anyone that walks with them--there is only one solution." Ethan stare at her, wide eyed, as if saying 'well don't keep us in suspense!' "The races have to unite against him once more."

Ethan blinked very slowly, almost like his brain was having trouble processing the entirity of what Willa had just said. He stood there, staring at her, now unblinking with his hands in his pockets.

"Wait, what?" Ethan said in a rather exasperated tone. His icy blue gaze scanned over the group that was in his apartment. "You expect us to just rise up and defeat this Debello guy? I've heard quite a bit about him actually. It was a story passed down by my grandmother. I had no idea it was true..." He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. He glanced over at Sam who looked she was ready to puke all over some one. "The nearest restrooms just down to hall to the left." He directed her to the hallway then released her to find the bathroom.

Ethan sat down, crossing his legs and putting his hands on his knees. "So, How are we going to do this?" Ethan asked, pretty much just declaring the fact that they were to work together. "I mean... are we don't this ourselves or are we going to need help? I've got some buddies..." Ethan ended the sentence in more of a murmur. He had a few Were friends down at the music store...

---

---

"If yer finished mackin' on Orozco, Ah've got some questions. Fer one." Sam saw the Changling turn to look at her, she took a deep breath and was ready for what he was going to say to her. "What were you doin' with th' girl with a bleedin' neck. Both you and Orozco. Two. Th' Bloodless Murders, twelve dead in six months. Two of them my people. What do you know?" Sam took a deep breath and said, '' I was only doing a good deed to help the girl. If I hadn't stepped in, who would have?'' Sam said with her voice getting a little loud. She didn't like being questioned about this. "You lie to me and Ah'll find out. And Ah'll find you." Sam looked back at him and said '' And if you do, I'll be ready for you. But, like I said, I was only doing a good thing. I couldn't let anyone die like that. I'll always do something as long as I can.'' Sam sighed and went to go to the bathroom after Ethan directed her. She stopped dead in her tracks as she heard the Listener say, '' Debello'' That name rang through Sam's ears.

"Do you know the name, Changeling?" Sam didn't wait for an answer frpm him, she sat down again and listened as the woman spoke again. "My name is Willa Thorn...trained by the Master Listener Willow Kirol. And when I was small, she used to tell me a story. A story about a great evil that years before I was born took many lives in New York city. A wave of murders that only had one thing in common: the bodies were found completely drained of blood." Sam took a deep breath and continued to listen.

"The police then were baffled. But my ancestors were not. So again--the Listeners are not baffled. The evil has returned. The vampire Debello." Willa looked hard at each face, impressing the importance of this through her expression. Sam nodded as she realized what happened years ago is happening again. "If the stories are correct, and Debello has come back to raise an army against the Light Song creatures--against anyone that walks with them--there is only one solution." Sam saw Will pause and look at her."And I do not like it. The races have to unite against him once more." She paused, letting this information sink in to the creatures around her.

Sam took a deep breath and said, '' Debello. I never thought I would have to hear that name again. I know about the races being brought together to fight, and I know how difficult it will be.But, I'll be glad to fight Debello.'' Sam took a deep breath and looked back at Willa. '' Willa, I will assist you. I know Debello reigned over twenty five years ago, and I know this will be hard to believe. But, I was there probably around twenty something years after the first attack.'' Sam paused and let what she said sink in to the other's minds . '' Even though I do look eighteen years old. I'm older than that.'' Sam looked at Ethan and smiled, she then said, '' I'm older than Ethan and probably even you, Willa.''

Sam sighed and said, '' I look eighteen, but I'm really twenty eight. There were some people I knew that told me stories of Debello for years. I know about him very well.'' Sam sighed and said, '' I'm the same age as my twin brother, Logan. There's no doubt in my mind that he's a part of this, he's evil through and through. When I saw the girl at the sub way, I had a feeling it was him.'' Sam looked at the three before her and sighed, '' When a Dahampire bites someone, their fangs leave a certain print in the fang mark. It's like when you shoot a gun, the gun imprints the bullet with a groove to match the gun. That's what happens when we bite people or animals. ''

Sam took another deep breath and finished by saying, '' When I saw the bite, it had the same printing as my brother has. I'm almost sure he's working for Debello. And the only reason if he is. It's that he wants to find me......so he can kill me.'' Sam looked at the three before her and let the strange, but true information sink into the others.

All for one and one for all

Where do we stand when darkness falls?

---

Nicholas listened to the Listener, the Werewolf, and the Dhamphir as they each explained their stories. The Listener, Willa Thorn, spoke about a wave of murders in New York, making Nicholas give pause. He had indeed heard of these murders back when he was simply Nicholas Ramirez, beat-cop on the Boston Police Department, with no inkling of the supernatural. The official NYPD investigation had never returned a solid suspect; it had turned into a cold case when the murders suddenly stopped. The media stuck on the story for a few months until it faded from the public consciousness. But here was this Thorn girl, bringing up rumours and ghosts, trying to get the Beastmen and the Thin-Bloods and the Changelings and God-knew-what-else to gang up on the Blood-Suckers. Like somethin' out of th' old stories. Nicholas shivered. Those stories never ended well.

Still, he remained silent. Better Orozco spoke up next. He had heard tales passed down, but aside from that didn't seem to know anything important. Next was Ms. Larson. Apparently, she was acting out of the goodness of her heart when she tried to help the bleeding girl. Nicholas grunted a retort when she asked who would help the girl if not her. "EMTs. Police. Practically anybody else who ain't got an inborn blood addiction?" But her pitched anger at her motives allayed the Darkling's suspicions. Either she was a very good liar or she really did want to help the girl. He wondered what had happened to the girl. That much blood loss was not good for the human body. Her declaration to never let anyone die like that drew her a skeptical stare. By God she's Mother Theresa

The revelation regarding her age brought a twitch to his eyebrow, but otherwise the Changeling was unphased. It did reveal that her driver's license was a forgery however. The birthdate on the card had distinctly stated that she was eighteen. So somewhere along the line, Larson had friends. Friends capable of making an ID good enough to fool a former cop. This girl was more dangerous than he had thought. At the mention of her murderous brother, Nicholas looked at her with a hint of pity. Ain't right, brother an' sister at each other's throats.

As her tale finished, the Changeling mulled over the situation. Orozco had been a dead end, but Thorn and Larson yielded a lead. Debello. The name rolled around in Nicholas's head. It was something. Looking to all three of them, Nicholas took his chances. Call it a hunch, call it intuition, call it his gut: Nicholas heard a whispering of his Fae nature tie him to these three. The rustling wings of Fate tickling his chin. Th' Wyrd always loves threes. He cleared his throat and decided to make a proposition.

"Name's Nicholas. Mah folk call me White-Eyes. Ah been 'round fer a while, longer than you Larson. Ah've only heard whispers 'bout yer Debello, an' those're old whispers. But if what yer sayin' is true, Thorn, then Boston's gonna be in fer a shitstorm to swamp all shitstorms." The Changeling rubbed his rough goatee, his neck scar itching and twitching. "A danger t' th' normal folk and Wyrd-folk. Ah've got duties to both." His blank, white eyes alighted on Thorn. "Mah people are havin' a political get-together in 'bout three days time. It's called th' Autumn Coronation an' a new leader fer all of us is gonna be chosen. Plenty of old Changelin's there includin' th' Scrivener an' Loremistress who might know more 'bout yer 'Debello' guy. Ah can get ya'll in an'. Vouch fer ya'll. Get us an audience with th' Ashen King. Or Queen. Spread th' word 'bout yer Blood-Sucker ganglord. Rally th' fighters in Summer Court, prep th' safehouses in th' Winter Court. Get healers from th' Spring Court. Th' works."

The Changeling knocked his knuckles on the table. "Sound's good?

"Wait, what?" the Were said in a rather exasperated tone. His icy blue gaze scanned over the group that was in his apartment. "You expect us to just rise up and defeat this Debello guy? I've heard quite a bit about him actually. It was a story passed down by my grandmother. I had no idea it was true..." He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

Willa expected this sort of reaction. It was only natural. She expected his questions would soon be followed by more. Instead, he seemed to gather himself, calm and said, "So, How are we going to do this? I mean... are we don't this ourselves or are we going to need help? I've got some buddies..."

He trailed off, seeming as overwhelmed as Willa felt. Willa nodded, about to speak when Sam suddenly perked up. She agreed to help as well, and even admitted she was older than she looked. (Something Willa had partially guessed. Her kind never did age right.) But what she said after made Willa a bit more nervous.

'' I'm the same age as my twin brother, Logan. There's no doubt in my mind that he's a part of this, he's evil through and through. When I saw the girl at the sub way, I had a feeling it was him.'' Sam looked at the three before her and sighed, '' When a Dhampire bites someone, their fangs leave a certain print in the fang mark. It's like when you shoot a gun, the gun imprints the bullet with a groove to match the gun. That's what happens when we bite people or animals. When I saw the bite, it had the same printing as my brother has. I'm almost sure he's working for Debello. And the only reason if he is. It's that he wants to find me......so he can kill me.'' ''

Logan? Great. Another reason to dislike her kind. Especially if they were foolish enough to join up with Debello. Debello would surely have plenty of use for a Dhampire. Someone to stalk prey for them during the day. Now, they wouldn't even be safe in the daylight. (An advantage she had been counting on.) Willa frowned as she absorbed this but simply said,

"That is a problem...if you have this Dhampire after you already, it will make it much easier for Debello to track us..." Willa looked up into Sam's eyes. Willa's expression seemed cold. "You may be more of a hindrance than a help, in that case...but...i'm in no position to refuse your help.."

Willa's train of thought was interrupted by the changeling, who introduced himself as Nicholas. Even though she wasn't on the brink of unconsciousness anymore--he was still difficult to understand completely. Willa had to concentrate hard to get his meaning, but gathered that he understood the immensity of the problem, and he seemed willing to cooperate as well. Three. Together they made four. Four of them against an army...the odds were not in their favor.

But Nicholas had more to offer--The Autumn Coronation. Willa had read about that.

"Ah can get ya'll in an'. Vouch fer ya'll. Get us an audience with th' Ashen King. Or Queen. Spread th' word 'bout yer Blood-Sucker ganglord. Rally th' fighters in Summer Court, prep th' safehouses in th' Winter Court. Get healers from th' Spring Court. Th' works."

Willa's eyes went wide. That would be risky. (Not to mention deafening....) She would be exposing herself to a very very large group of changelings. But--Nicholas was bound to her by his word to protect her--for at least half a day more. And if they managed to rally the support of that large of a group of changelings--they would have half an army of their own. This would be their best shot at getting a large group to unite quickly. Willa chewed her bottom lip as she thought.

The Changeling knocked his knuckles on the table. "Sound's good?

"Yes." Willa said firmly. "This will be our best shot..." I'm going to need earplugs...Willa thought wincing a little as she moved her injured arm too quickly. She was surprised by how easily the three creatures agreed to help. And...somewhat thankful. She disliked talking. And persuasion would have required more talking for sure. She looked from face to face, looking tense but also--was that a hint of a smile? When she realized her expression--it was gone. Wiped from existence before it was barely born. "Thank you all for your cooperation. I know it is not ideal..."

''Name's Nicholas. Mah folk call me White-Eyes. Ah been 'round fer a while, longer than you Larson. Ah've only heard whispers 'bout yer Debello, an' those're old whispers. But if what yer sayin' is true, Thorn, then Boston's gonna be in fer a shitstorm to swamp all shitstorms." The Changeling rubbed his rough goatee, his neck scar itching and twitching. "A danger t' th' normal folk and Wyrd-folk. Ah've got duties to both." Sam noticed his white eyes settle on Willa. "Mah people are havin' a political get-together in 'bout three days time. It's called th' Autumn Coronation an' a new leader fer all of us is gonna be chosen. Plenty of old Changelin's there includin' th' Scrivener an' Loremistress who might know more 'bout yer 'Debello' guy. Ah can get ya'll in an'. Vouch fer ya'll. Get us an audience with th' Ashen King. Or Queen. Spread th' word 'bout yer Blood-Sucker ganglord. Rally th' fighters in Summer Court, prep th' safehouses in th' Winter Court. Get healers from th' Spring Court. Th' works." Sam sat quietly, letting the others talk.

The Changeling knocked his knuckles on the table. "Sound's good?'' Sam was then knocked out of her trail of thought when Nick knocked his knuckles on the table beside them.


"Wait, what?" Ethan said in a rather exasperated tone. Sam smiled at his obvliousness. Sam watched as his icy blue gaze scanned over the group that was in his apartment. "You expect us to just rise up and defeat this Debello guy? I've heard quite a bit about him actually. It was a story passed down by my grandmother. I had no idea it was true..." He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. Sam just smiled at his lack of knowing about Debello.

Sam expected him to ask more questions, but to her supprise he said, "So, How are we going to do this? I mean... are we don't this ourselves or are we going to need help? I've got some buddies..." His voice trailed, Sam was about to speak when, she went quiet. She still wanted the other to continue before she would start to ramble off again.

Sam just sat there as she heard each of the other creatures introduce themselves and tell what they could do to help. Sam's neck twitched when she heard Willa say, '' That is a problem...if you have this Dhampire after you already, it will make it much easier for Debello to track us...'' Sam took a deep breath and sighed, she then slightly nodded and looked back into Willa's eyes. Sam could tell that Willa's expression seemed cold, Sam could always feel emotions, but for some reason, it seemed harder for her to read Willa's.


"You may be more of a hindrance than a help, in that case...but...i'm in no position to refuse your help.. "

Sam just sat there, her heart almost stopped, she was accepted, then quickly rejected like that! Sam just looked at Willa, then Sam said with a soft voice, '' You're right. I am a hindrance.'' Sam stood up and walked over to the wall, rested her back against it, and looked around. Sam then decided to tell another thing that popped into her head, '' If I'm a hindrance, then I know who won't be.'' Sam smiled slightly, she brought her hand up to her neck, she slowly traced the scar on her neck down to where her shirt started. Sam sighed and said, '' I have a few friends, about twenty or more that would love to kick Dabello's ass. They're not all Dhampire's like me, some are full vampire, but they're all good. They helped me train and become a fighter for this day.''

Sam stood up fully and burrowed her hands into her hoodie's pockets. Sam then spoke up again ad said, '' They could help you better than I can. They're stronger, faster, and wiser than I am. If they help you prepare to fight Debello.......I could then buy you all some time.'' Sam walked over to the couch and sat by the Changling. She perked up and said, '' If you three go to the The Autumn Coronation with Nick. Then I can buy you time, send my friends to meet you, and then......'' Sam then stopped and didn't want to tell the whole plan, since it wouldn't be ending very well for her. Sam looked at the others and just waited for their answer or to at least take her offer into consideration.

(Sorry, I thought this had completely died! I could probably throw a post in and see what happens!)

Willa had hoped it would be as easy to convince the three creatures to join in with Nick's plan as it had been to convince them to fight with her--but it seemed the Dhampire was set on causing further trouble. Sam described a group of full-fledged vampires--supposedly "good"--who could help. Willa didn't like the way the girl seemed to be dazedly tracing a scar along her neck as she spoke of them.

Willa watched Sam with hard eyes, listening. It was what she did best, after all. After Sam finished, Willa took a breath and placed a hand on the table in front of her, as if making sure the world around her was still solid.

"No." Wall declared firmly. " I don't know these vampires. I don't trust them. Debello's reach goes further than I think you realize, Sam." Willa looked to Nick, expression calculating before she looked back to Sam. "With Nick's plan, even your brother would have trouble tracking you. With yours--well--why should these vampires want to help us? I only believe in revenge as a purpose for so long before the temptation of power overrules it...and my kind isn't exactly...popular among Vampires..."

Willa gave a small sarcastic smirk on the word "popular".

Willa watched Sam go with an unreadable expression, but underneath this impassive mask was turmoil. What was wrong with this girl? Willa strained her ears for the music of the Dhampire's song--but the blood that Sam had drank from her was still at work dampening her Song. She couldn't hear it, couldn't hear the change. Couldn't predict what this creature may do next. And she didn't like it.

Willa felt herself clutching her knife again in her sleeve. The listener stood, posture tense and ready--her body language mirrored before in the alley when the Were and Dhampire had first spotted her. She looked ready to run. She felt it too, but her face didn't show the panic that had started to creep up into her chest, suffocating her.

"Sam?" Willa said softly, but the girl was already out the door. And with her Song still hard to hear, Willa didn't like her odds of trying to track her. She didn't trust her. Would she go to the vampires anyway? Would she really risk her pride over the safety of the rest of the world? Willa wasn't sure. But they had little time to spare on the tantrums of one Dhampire. After all, she said she would be back. Willa would have to trust that...which wasn't easy. Willa looked between Nick and Orozoco (What a strange name! Even for a Were...) her eyes hard. "Unfortunately, time is of the essence in this case...and I...I can't track her as she is right now. We'll have to go without her if we're going to make this work." Willa paused, playing with some of the potions in her pocket as if to reassure herself that they were there. She looked to Nick, trying to sound more confident than she felt. "When can you take us to the Coronation?"