Leighton Harding's Story

“Ow!” a red headed little girl cried out as a chubby freckled faced boy yanked on one of her copper pigtails. “Stoooop!” she wailed. He shoved her roughly down onto the dark wet bark layering the playground, the chipped wood biting into her soft sensitive flesh. “You're so ugly, your face looks like dog poo!" He laughed, bending down and grabbing a fistfull of that bark and chucking it at her tear stained cheeks.

“You leave her alone, stupid!” Someone screamed from behind them. The ruddy boy whirled around to face the third person, a blonde little girl of seven from their elementary school class. The redhead stared up at the fierce scrawny blonde with wide green eyes, still brimming with tears, hopeful. “You can’t call me stupid! You’re a girl!” the boy replied indignantly. Ignoring him, the blonde marched over to the girl with the chestnut pigtails and grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her up from the ground. "You had better leave her alone or I’m gonna beat you up!” She threatened, stepping away from the girl and shaking her small fist in his face. He just stared at her, disbelieving. “Girls can’t beat up boys!” He voiced angrily. The blonde palced both hands on her hips and recounted, “Oh yeah? Well my big brother’s a police man and he's gonna arrest you and punch your guts out!” The boy just blinked, fearfully taking a step back.

The copper haired girl turned to her savior, wearing a look of reverance. “I’m Brittany. Who are you?” “I'm Leighton Harding, but you can call me Leigh. I’m your new bestest friend! Pinky shake?” Leigh held out her pinky and hesitantly Brittany linked it with her own. “Okay.” The two of them turned away from the chubby boy and to leave, but were quickly assaulted with another handful of woodchips. “You mother fucker!” Leigh yelled, swiftly whirling around, her pale face reddening. The boy just stumbled backward, shocked by her words. “What does that mean?” Brittany asked quietly. Leighton just shrugged. “I dunno. My big brother says it sometimes when he’s mad.” Brittany smiled. “I like being best friends with you.”

Annelise cringed as Sebastian turned his head towards her, his eyes filled with agitation. The sigh he let out made her shrink back slightly, but she nodded at his reply. Although his request visibly surprised her, causing her to look up at him, shining with confidence although she was obviously still upset about Nika. "Of course.." She murmured, blinking her remaining tears away as she forced a brave smile. Sebastian was trusting her with something important, how could she say no? But it's not like it was a burden anyway, she loved the little girl, she was so sweet and brave. The shouting behind her caused her to jump before she looked back, relaxing slightly as the rookie ran over. Annelise backed away while the two talked briefly, daydreaming in the short period she had. If she hadn't glanced up at Sebastian again she wouldn't have noticed his eyes wandering over her, causing her face to turn a pretty shade of pink. She nodded to him, silent as he walked off slumped over.

The girl sighed, walking off towards the shop again, but heading straight past it towards the school.

Gaze lowered, eyes set upon her scuffed up mary-janes, Brittany sat next to her new companion on the wooded bench outside the carpool lane, waiting for their rides home. She seemed to be trying to blend into the oak with her eyes constantly riveted to the sidewalk.

"My brother is going to be so mad!" Leighton hollered with an impish smirk, nearly knocking Brittany over with a hard pat on the back. "He is so funny when he is mad, his ears turn all red and junk." She giggled, turning her pink slip over in her hands that she had recieved for use obscene language. "I wish I had a brother." Brittany piped up, meeting Leighton's gaze with a warm smile. "Well...he isn't actually my brother, he is my cousin but...he is my brother. Does that make sense?" "No." Brittany answered truthfully, and Leighton just shrugged, undaunted over the matter.


Mrs. Shurley was decidedly disinterested in their prattle, hovering under the cover of the awning, her eyes bloodshot as she mainlined caffeine from an oversized mug, wishing the parents would hurry themselves so she could go home. Brittany could practically feel Mrs. Shurley's glower fall upon the pair of girls, as she sighed heavily. Leighton just swung her legs back and forth rythmically, humming hushabye mountain, seemingly unfazed by the weighted stare like Brittany was.

Annelise smiled, listening to the gleeful sounds of the children being let out as she neared the school. She sighed, walking over slowly as she weaved through the crowds of parents and their offspring, finally reaching Leighton and another girl her age sitting beside her. "Leighton." Annelise chirped to get her attention, kneeling before her at eye level with a smile. "Are you ready to head home?" She asked, mentally groaning. You should explain first, idiot. She snarled at herself mentally. "Sebastian won't be able to pick you up today, because of work, so he told me to take you home since I'm coming over anyway." She thanked herself for somehow being good with kids even though she wasn't crazy obsessed with having one like other girls her age. She stood and extended her hand to the little girl with a reassuring smile before noticing that Leighton's friend was still waiting while most kids were gone. Annelise hesitated, wondering how Sebastian would feel before shoving the thought aside and grinning down at Leighton. "Do you want to bring your friend along too?"

When Annelise arrived at Bellingstone Elementary, Leighton and Brittany were both leant in across the bench, sharing some quiet confidence. Brittany's pigtail ribbon had come loose and her hair mingled with Leigh's, copper on gold, rich and shining. Anyone would be able to tell from the incline of Leighton's head that the subject for discussion was something best kept between themselves, and wideness of the blonde, seven year old's eyes and the quirk of her brow suggested that it was mischievous in nature, which was not an odd notion when one considered just who Leighton was. She had been demonstrating her maturity through use of acerbic wit of late, and Sebastian has done little discourage the little lady.

"Leighton." a tiny voice peeped, a voice that didn't sound very sure of itself. Leighton's head snapped over to it's source, and a crease of worry lined her brow. Where was Sebby? "Are you ready to go home? Sebastian won't be able to pick you up today, because of work, so he told me to take you home since I'm coming over anyway." Annelise trilled on politely and Leighton sagged with relief, grateful to know Sebastian was just busy and not lying in a hospital bed somewhere or worse. This situation was alarmingly reminiscent of the day Seb picked her up from school and informed her her father had passed. She would not dwell on that now, she was too pleased with the days turn of events to think on such things.

"Hiya Annelisey-bo-Beisey! Yup, I am ready." She sing-songed, hopping off of the tall bench with a springy jump, her Hello kitty backpack slung over her tiny narrow shoulder. "Do you want to bring your friend along too?" The woman asked uncertainly, eyeing the redhead with a sympathetic gaze. Leighton just shrugged in response. "I would love to, that's my bestest friend Britt...but I don't think Mrs. Shurley will let us." She paused. "Her mommy will be coming for her soon, she is always late apparently, thats what Brittany says anyways."

"Yep." The penny haired girl croaked, obviously not well acquainted with socializing with strangers. "She works at the hospital, so she is always a few minutes behind. I'll see you later Leigh Leigh!" Leighton waved her hand back and forth enthusiastically in response. "BYE!" She shouted as she and Annelise turned toward her car to leave. Leighton began to pick up her pace, her walk turning into a merry little skip as she smiled amicably up at Anne.

Annelise nodded in understanding, waving at Brittany as she walked off with Leigh, giggling at her happy skips. "How was school?" She asked sweetly, trying to make conversation as she headed through the small shortcut between the shop and the school, a relatively small meadow that emptied out into the forest, flowers covering the spots where grass was missing. Annelise leaned down for a second, grabbing a flower and examining it as she held Leighton's tiny hand in hers, helping her up the somewhat large ledge where the parking lot starts and the grass ends. She unlocked the car and opened the door for Leigh, placing the flower on the pouch inside the door, making sure it would stay safe and intact.

Nobody really saw Annelise act like a girl willingly except Leighton, when Annelise went over to Sebastian's she always made sure to spend some time with her, she never felt comfortable around the other female hunters because they looked down on her. But she was perfectly fine around Leighton, she was never afraid of being degraded because of something she did, or people thinking she was weak. Even if the others saw how she acted with her, they always just assumed that she was acting that way to be more appealing to Leigh. Annelise wasn't even sure Alarick knew that's how she was in reality, just a kid stuck in a young woman's body.

As Leighton skipped after Annelise's through her shortcut, slowing only to grab the adults hand, she smiled happily at the field before them. It looked like something out of a picture storybook with it's ice capped hedgerows, and patches of purple Pansies sprouting out of the fresh white blanket of snow that covered the ground, it was a winter wonderland. Leighton could hear the birds weaving melody and harmony together in an impossibly complex song, as if they had planned a concert purely for her enjoyment. It was all very beautiful. Annelise knelt down and plucked one of those Pansies from it's resting place nestled deep in it's cluster of friends, and twirled it in her nimble fingers.

"How was school?"

"Not so bad, made a new friend, got a pink slip though...some boy was being mean to her and hurtin' her so I called him a name..." She replied unabashed, her voice tinkling like several tiny silver bells.

At last the pair had made it to the parkinglot where Annelise's car sat, and she opened the door for the little girl, waiting patiently as Leighton clambered in. Her small stature made it difficult for her to reach up that high, but she preferred to struggle on her own than to ask for help. She then pulled her safety belt across her narrow chest and clicked the buckle into place as Annelise came around to the drivers side to get in. The car smelt rich like french cologne and vanilla though Leighton had not a clue as to why seeing as Anne didn't seem like the type to wear perfume, not to the little girl anyways.

Annelise smiled as Leighton recalled the events of her day, "Some boy was being mean to her and hurtin' her so I called him a name..."

"Just a name?" She teased playfully, getting into the drivers seat and buckling up. "I used to do much worse than that. Luckily most of the time they were smart enough to realize it wasn't my fault." Annelise smirked, "But don't go thinking you should go and beat up everyone you don't like." She smiled, starting the car and driving off slowly, looking at Leighton through the mirror she asked "So what did you call him? Stupid or something?" School's were ridiculous enough now to penalize kids for anything, but never the kids who deserved punishment. Annelise turned on the radio, some popular radio station she was sure Leighton would like, but quiet so the two could still talk. She blushed as she heard herself humming along, and the blush only got worse when she noticed how close they were to Sebastian's house already. That was a much shorter drive than she remembered..

"A mother fucker." she replied unabashed, her cheeks dimpling with a wry smile. Profanity sounded so alien coming from the mouth of the small cherub faced girl, in a voice so tiny and melodious. Leighton giggled and bobbed her head along to the song playing over the radio waves, it was one she enjoyed. Whatever reaction Annelise would have to Leighton cursing would prove only to please the seven year old. She had such a playful disposition which delighted in anything mischievous.

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Derek's small black ears folded back against his skull. She wanted him to come over to her house? Her home? It was one thing for them to be playing, wolves in the wild; well, as wild as the woods outside of town could be, but it was another matter completely for human interaction. Derek wasn't so great at that. He could handle the mundane everyday conversations well enough, but it had been a few years since he had actually spent any time with people in a social setting. "I uh...I don't have any clothes." Brilliant.

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Jeremy was gripped by that strange novel emotion of indignation. Any stray feelings of guilt he had in coming over there to check on the EMT's progress melted from his body, pooling at his feet, streaming and fizzing as they evaporated away. Jeremy was an all around nice guy most days, and it wasn't as if he had even been rude to the man, only thought about it. Where had that come from? The light he had seen in the man's eyes, Lassiter's eyes, contrasted sharply with his response. His body was like a sadistic mockery of the man Jeremy thought he saw within. "You too Sir." He said politely, his tone short and clipped, but before he could turn to leave, some raven haired woman was glued to his side, asking questions about the scene.


"What's with all the commotion?" She pushed curiously, brushing against him as she seemingly leaned in to get a better view from behind the tape. "Miss, as I said earlier, the law enforcement has everything under control. You have nothing to worry about. If you want details, read the paper tomorrow morning. We will have issued an offical statement by then." He said with a gentle smile, his voice warm and kind. However, now that he was looking at her, really looking, he realized she was something worth looking at. She had dark obsidian tresses and bright icy eyes of an incandescent blue. Falling back into a typical teenage fashion, a doopey grin crawled up his face and latched on there, his insipidly boring ken doll features turning positively smitten. He wanted to say more, it was his first day on a scene and he was so proud he could gush just to impress her, but too many voices in his head screamed repercussions.

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Livius smiled superciliously and tilted his head, it oscillating in an almost reptilian manner as Benny folded his arms over his broad chest and left him to his own devices. Outwardly, Benny seemed quite relaxed, even cordial, the small smile on his face more suited to one talking about the weather than someone wordlessly being threatened by an older vampire, but if any of the diner patrons would look upon his face closely enough, they might be inevitably drawn into his bright blue eyes, flickering with undisguised fury.

When he re-entered the Ragin' Cajun, his keen senses were engulfed in the smell newspaper and crawfish, of warm beignets dashed with powdered sugar and in his ears rang the rich sounds of zydeco. Benny's lips made a grim twist that was like the joyless cousin of a smile. This was as close to his home as he was going to get in Bellingstone. His gaze flickered to his great grandson Harrison, rabbiting around the diner, pestering waitresses much to old for him, and well out of his league. To Benny's horror, venom pooled in his mouth, his canines lengthen and sharpening, biting into the inside of his lower lip in his closed mouth. The fresh outside air had only done him diservice in the way that the copper flavor of pulsating blood in the air beguiled him until he decided to turn tail and head back outside. "Oi Benny!" Harrison called, noticing his entrance. "Where you going now?" Benny groaned mentally. "Outside! Gotta check my voicemail, sorry!" He yelled in reply, his warm and strong accent strained.

As soon as he walked out the door from which he came, he was elated to see Livis had left via the woods and wasn't still waiting on him. Benny pulled his green blood soaked apron over his head and slung it in the grass, wiping his hands down his tired face covered in three day old scruff bordering on a beard. This wasn't getting easier.His hunger was like a fire; flames licking the line of his pulse, making it race. He could feel something in his chest, something volatile, a live thing that stirred, dizzying him with an appetency that made him shudder, turning logic to madness. He needed a distraction. He swiftly retrieved his cellular phone from the abyss of his jean pocket with a shaky hand, and proceeded to actually check for messages he didn't expect to be there.

"Hi, I...um, I saw your ad in the paper and I was wondering if you were still looking for a roommate. Look, I won't be able to move in with you. I got this townhouse some weeks ago and I've unpacked a lot. I understand if you're not willing, but I'm in this big townhouse by myself with room enough for two. I don't live too far from your restaurant and if you call me back, I can easily come out there and meet you. You can even come see the place tonight if you want. Just...call me back and we can set the time...or day. No rush."

Some girl prattled on nervously, obviously uncomfortable with leaving a message in the first place. Benny just stood there shocked momentarily, the phone still pressed to his ear long after she had finished speaking and the voicemail had clicked off. Isn't this what he wanted? What he needed? But could he handle the temptation? He wasn't married to his apartment, hell, he would welcome a chance to move out and someone to share the burden of the bills with, but could he handle the call of human blood twenty four seven? He placated himself with the fact he would be at work during the day, and who knew, maybe she wasn't a home body to begin with.

Benny quickly brought the phone back down, punching in the phone number, and put it to his ear once more, letting it ring....

Annelise grinned and burst into laughter, giggling uncontrollably as she pulled up to the house and parked. "Good job!" She squealed, unbuckling and getting out, nearly tripping on the curb as she walked around to open the door for Leighton. She smiled, still trying to control her laughter as she waited for Leigh to jump down before walking up to the house with her. "Y-You have your key right?" She asked, smiling as she finally calmed down and stopped in front of the door, glancing at her watch to see how much longer Sebastian would be. Honestly she had completely forgotten about him during the car ride, too busy enjoying Leigh's company to remember.

Leighton smiled rakishly at the young woman. "Thank you! I heard Sebby say it on the phone a few times." she quipped looking up at Annelise with a happy youthful face, her blond hair falling about her like the halo she lacked. She placed both hands in her gregarious companions one as they traversed up to the blue front door, and offered her a now wan smile. From the almost somber look in this little girl's eyes, it appeared that she had made some important distinction. Of course, she was never truly serious, and this distinction would remain to Anne forever unknown. She did after all belong to the secret club of childhood. "I gots my key. Duh. What do you think I am a baby or something?" She teased lightheartedly as she finally released Annelise's grip and stuffed her hand into her dress pocket, shifting it's contents around as she pulled forth the silver set of chief constituent's, and placed them in Anne's palm.

Annelise smiled at the girls remark, "Well you're cute enough to be a baby, how can I tell the difference?" She teased back, laughing lightly as she took the key from Leigh and patted her head playfully, unlocking the door and holding it open for the little girl. "After you my lady." She teased, following her inside before shutting the door. Annelise relaxed once she entered the house, sighing softly in content as she looked around and slowly walked to the couch, sitting down and smiling over at Leigh. "What should we do while we wait for Sebastian?" She asked sweetly, wanting to keep the both of them entertained and not just be some babysitter who sat around and ignored everything going on.

Jeremy seemed just about ready to swoon before Seb. As the officer walked off, he glanced quickly over his shoulder to steal a glimpse at the boy. In a chipper manner, he'd cried, "yes, sir" and hurried off. The police force certainly needed more enthusiasm like that. Even Sebastian wasn't too thrilled about getting up to work in the morning. He only really kept the job to stay up to date on the going-ons in town. In fact, as he looked down at Nika before him, he couldn't help but feel as if this career wasn't really for him. He should quit, focus on his Hunting...that's what his Uncle would have wanted, no? And, soon enough, he'd be teaching Lee everything her father had taught him. It seemed so odd. To Seb, it seemed like just days ago he was a little boy struggling to lift a gun up and pull the trigger. Now, he was one of Bellingstone's greatest killers. Even though he was just thirty-one and yet he felt the weight of the entire world upon his shoulders.

The sheriff sighed and took another drag of the cigarette, releasing the smoke through his slightly parted lips. Perhaps he'd call in sick tomorrow...it was the last thing he wanted to do, but he was just too damned worked up right now. He still couldn't fathom the idea of Nika being gone for good in just the blink of an eye. It was like his uncle all over again, oh God. The man had always been such a fighter and then one bad bout of pneumonia and he'd been declared dead in a week. Besides, he should spend more time with Leigh, right? Seb was still zoned out when he heard a voice behind him.

"Hey buddy- um- do you happen to have grabbed my cellphone?" asked a familiar male. Sebastian turned and came face to face with Rick. Keeping a straight face, he pretended to ponder the question.

"Yeah, I think I did," he replied, his tone its usual monotonous way. "It's at my house though- dropped it off to keep it safe. Here's my address in case you want to get it on your own time." He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and a pen. Instead of scrawling out an address, he wrote out, Heading back home. Annelise is there already. Too many people here for an actual meeting. He handed the paper to Rick and pocketed his pen. "Take your time, though. I'm going nowhere any time soon." He started off toward his truck but stopped near Jeremy.

"Wonderboy, finish up here and then get your ass back to the station, got it?" he said, glancing around. He noticed the EMT and briefly glared at the man, a fist clenched at his side. "I'll see you tomorrow, Jer. I've got things to deal with right now." Sebastian retraced his steps toward his police truck and climbed in. He'd almost forgotten by then that he still had his cigarette in one hand so, as he closed the door with one hand, he placed the burning butt between his lips. Cracking the window open, Seb shoved his keys in the ignition and started off toward his home, following the familiar road from outside of the police station. It took a few minutes, all of which he spent in utter silence, to reach the building on the outskirts of the small town. He parked the car and slipped out, keeping his boots silent against the drive out of instinct.

As he locked around, he instantly noticed a car that wasn't normally in his driveway. He knew it was Annelise's but he tensed for a moment and placed a hand to the gun on his thigh. Calmed down slightly, he continued up the stairs to the porch and then unlocked the front door with his set of worn keys. Seb's key ring was quite crowded, containing keys for his police truck, his regular truck, his multiple gun safes, the locks on his house, and a few others he didn't remember acquiring. The Hunter pushed open the front door and saw Annelise and Leighton not too far ahead. A light smile crossed his lips as he noticed Leigh, her usual bright and peppy self. Even if he felt like absolute shit, the young girl had a vibe about her that kept him functioning.

"What should we do while we wait for Sebastian?" Annelise was asking the girl as the young woman sat on one of the aged couches.

"Well, you won't have to do much waiting," he said, a grin still lingering in the corners of his mouth from the little girl. He passed by Lee and ruffled her hair lightly before bending down to press a kiss to the top of her head. "Hey, Lay-Lay." Straightening up again, he looked to Annelise and nodded quickly. "Thanks for picking her up. I didn't think I'd be done so quickly." He decided not to speak about his little loss of ambition out in the field. As he thought back to it now, it was stupid and childish...he was a grown man now, not a preschooler. Excusing himself, he retreated to his room and changed swiftly into a t-shirt without the sleeves (he'd ripped them off to be able to move his arms more easily) and a pair of jeans. Dressed in clothing he actually liked, he reentered the front room and leaned up against the wall, arms crossed. "How was school, Lee? Anything exciting happen?"

Annelise jumped slightly at his voice, realizing she hadn't even noticed the door open behind them. She looked back, blushing and smiling brightly at his grin. "Back so soon?" She teased, her cheerful mood dropping as his smile faded when he looked to her, only giving a short nod of acknowledgement. She kept her smile though, not wanting to ruin more peoples mood than she usually did. "Thanks for picking her up. I didn't think I'd be done so quickly."

"Oh, it's fine. I don't mind being with her at all." The brunette murmured, surprised she could even keep her voice lighthearted at the heavy feeling in her chest. Annelise nodded as he excused himself and walked off, looking down and biting her lip as she waited, smiling reassuringly at Leigh as she looked up again. She glanced up as Sebastian walked back in, looking back down and having to do a double take. Her eyes widened subtly at the sight of him, forcing herself to look away to stop herself from staring at his muscular arms. Besides, if she looked away and tried to think of something else maybe she wouldn't seem so out of place in his house.

"Well you're cute enough to be a baby, so how can I tell the difference?" Annelise teased, sparking a look of pure indignation on Leighton's tiny face. "I DO NOT!" She shrilled, prepared to give Annelise a piece of her mind, but the older girl spoke once more before she had a chance to open her mouth. "What should we do while we wait for Sebastian?" Leighton was about to suggest something inappropriate to the tune of sticking something where the sun didn't shine but she was interrupted yet again by another voice, one that flowed through the air, buttery and smooth, warm and familiar. "Well, you won't have to do much waiting," Sebastian intoned as he strode in through the front door and knelt down, planting a chaste kiss on Leighton's forehead and mussing up the mop of chaotic golden hair framing her round face. "Hey, Lay-Lay. How was school? Anything exciting happen?"

"Sebby!" She trilled, soaking up the way he fawned over her much in the way a flower would the sunshine. Leighton reached up and snaked her small arms around his neck, giving her uncle a quick but warm hug. When she released him, and had a moment to look into his eyes, she decidedly did not like what she saw there. Sebastian appeared worn down like an old, threadbare rag that had been rubbed repeatedly against a wall of rough cement and broken glass...His eyes, normally so vast and bright, were bruised with the trophies of sleep deprivation, and heavily lined with worry. Annelise seemed oblivious of the gravitas of his appearance. "Thanks for picking her up. I didn't think I'd be done so quickly." He explained to which she replied in earnest, "Oh, it's fine. I don't mind being with her at all."

Sebastian quickly made way to his bedroom where he could change into less formal attire, as he did everyday, so Leighton simply trailed after him, sending her response though the thick wood of the door. "Yeah, today was all kinds of exciting. I made a new friend. Her name is Brittany. She has red hair and draws real pretty. Some boy was picking on her, so I called him a name. The teacher gave me a pink piece of paper I'm supposed ta give to you. I think it say that I'm not supposed ta call people mother fuckers at school." She spoke this with the type of tone that just said these things happen, you know, as if it were the most mundane sort of occurrence in the universe.
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Derek's closed his bright canine eyes, tilting his head back as he listened to the sound of her footfalls as they traipsed further and further away from him. The sunlight danced in hues of orange and yellow through his satin black eyelids, and a montage of sorts played behind those closed eyes, quicksilver flicker of dangerous memories and imagined images. Her return, two feet crunching in the snow as opposed to four, thankfully caused his thoughts snap back into place, expanding to include reality. The girl now before him was just as he remembered her to be from the street, eyes the color of dark coffee, hair falling about her like waves of chocolate. He allowed his tongue to loll out of the side of his mouth once more in a happy expression as he turned tail and led the way through the forest, expecting her to follow.

His home was not at all what one would suspect. Or perhaps it was, if you knew Derek Hale and his history at least. It was a hollow edifice, a dark castle to hole up in, a fierce faced fortress. It brought to mind that old adage, 'A house that stands empty is not a home. Even if you live there.' The weather-beaten building sat at the far end of the wood, his lawn littered with disorganized trees and no landscaping, practically melding into the forest. The wooden slats were long since silvered by the sun, and the roof shingles warped. Derek padded up on the porch, the old boards creaking under the weight of his massive paws. They felt thin and veined, frozen by a hundred winters, baked by a hundred summers, and smelled of dust and age. He clawed at the door, signaling for Sara to open it. When she did, he ran on in ahead of her, long black claws clicking against the floorboards of the sprawling staircase that stared you in the face as soon at you entered. In the blink of an eye, he vanished into an upstairs bedroom.

Off to the right of the entry way was a living room of sorts, though it didn't look to be well lived in. Locked in the shadow in the corner of the room sat an old wooden chair with the two missing back slats, and surrounding it was an alarmingly large pile of worn books tilting dangerously to the side, precariously close to toppling over. However, the rest of the furnishings laid silently under dust covers, untouched, and unused.

Derek hale suddenly made his less than dramatic reappearance at the top of the staircase. His back was ramrod straight, one fist clenched nervously at his side, the other hand running over the strategically groomed stubble across his face. He was donned in a simple grey V-neck tee and blue jeans. "So....this is my house. Did, you want something to eat now?"

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Alarick glanced at the sheet of paper and then tucked it into his pocket before giving the detective a short salute. “Alright no need for me to dirty the crime scene anymore,” he remarked somewhat lazily to himself and to others that might have been listening. With that he turned on his heels and sauntered out of the woods. He passed by Nika’s form one last time before making his way to his SUV, and as he crawled into it and felt his rear hit the plump leather seats there was a long hesitation. Alarick’s eyes watered immensely before he stifled down any form of tears. He hadn’t known her for that long, but that didn’t matter- she had been a fellow hunter and friend. “Damn vampires,” he remarked and brought the brunt of his hand against the curve of the steering wheel. That was all the emotion that he allotted himself before driving away and inevitably to Sebastian’s. He was a little later than the parade of folks that had made their way there, but he arrived timely nonetheless. Of course he wasn’t about to barge in with guns firing, and instead quaintly knocked upon the door before announcing his presence. “It is me- mi amor.” He stated into the wooden threshold before glancing into what was in his hand. Mind you he realized that it was not that late in the day, but part of the reason he had been late was to pick up some beer. Of course that was before he heard the sweet chattering of voices inside. “Well I’m sure he can appreciate this later- much later- but I’m not letting it get warm in my car.”
Slowly he slid inside and made a beeline for where everyone was- palming the small bottled pack of alcohol behind his back. “Your fridge?” He asked sweetly. “Figure this would be helpful later.”

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Leaving Detective Jackass and his Amazing Butt Monkey Sidekick- Lassiter checked his phone again for any word back from Axel. “Are you serious? Ugh Axel.” He lamented sorely before heading back to his car. On the way there he caught the arrival of the city coroner and the funeral department that was pretty much called in on every case where someone hadn’t had one previously listed. They all nodded in recognition of Lassiter, and he gave them a petite wave before trekking back to his vehicle and throwing all of his belongings in the trunk.
“Fine- but someone better recognize that I love the pack soooooo much that I don’t fucking sleep when there is business to be done.” He lamented- loudly- to his steering wheel before peeling out of the parking lot and heading back to the diner. After their Alpha was notified he figured that he would at least be allowed to go home and take a shower with a quick nap in between.

Things didn’t seem to want to move so breezily when he arrived at the diner. Instead he found Axel preoccupied with a woman that someone would say was downright gorgeous. What did Lassiter say? Anything but. “Axel,” he paused. “Sorry to bother you especially while you are so obviously working, but there is something I need to talk to you about.” Lassiter couldn’t fathom how to go: super-secret werewolf business without it seeming odd and unnatural. “It is fairly urgent EMT business- but I should be quick about it.” It was then he gave his most cervine eyes to the dark haired woman, “my apologies for the interruption I just need to get a few things clarified before I go home- to bed- which I was supposed to do over an hour ago before this mess reared its’ ugly head. So I’m tired and I’m cranky, and I don’t have the effort to flirt with you- so just go ahead and assume I made the most appealing comments you have ever heard.” Lassiter flashed a bright smile before realizing that he probably shouldn’t faux-flirt with someone at the diner- he was supposed to be with his beta (who by all means had no interest in even playing like she liked him).

Leighton had just about squealed Seb's name as he greeted her. Her thin arms wrapped around his neck with surprising strength and Sebastian hugged her quickly with one arm. He had not a clue how the young girl could be so cheerful when she was an orphan, just as he was. And, of course, how could she be happy when she knew she'd end up a Hunter, just like him? He hoped she didn't know the truth of Hunting, how vigorous the training was or how it just about broke even the most pliable of individuals.

As he changed, he heard Leigh speaking to him through the wooden door, relaying her day to him as casually as she usually did. "Yeah, today was all kinds of exciting. I made a new friend. Her name is Brittany. She has red hair and draws real pretty. Some boy was picking on her, so I called him a name. The teacher gave me a pink piece of paper I'm supposed ta give to you. I think it say that I'm not supposed ta call people mother fuckers at school." He nodded along to the story she told, as he did every day. It wasn't that he didn't care about his cousin's day because he most certainly did. He just never seemed to have the energy to keep up with her constant chatter. That being said, it did have the ability to calm him down after his day at the station. At the last part, however, he tensed and his eyes widened. She had said what? Opening the door, Sebastian looked down at Leigh with slightly narrowed eyes, as if trying to convey his disappointment.

"Leighton Harding," he began, fighting to keep his voice stern, even though he just wanted to shrug off the incident. "We don't use that word in school or to describe people, alright? I don't care where the hell you picked it up from, I don't want you saying that in school anymore, understand?" He assumed she'd learned the term from him, though. He used a variety of swears on a daily basis, he just never assumed she'd pick them up. If he didn't have to worry about her reciting the terms in school, he may have let it slide. Unfortunately, society frowned upon children cursing and so he was forced to scold her. He moved past the young girl and into the main room where he leaned against the wall temporarily, surveying the room.

After standing against the wall for a few minutes, Sebastian started toward one of the weathered couches and sat down slowly as if sore. He'd practiced with one of his uncle's silver knives for hours the night before and, because he always viewed stretching as "overrated", he pulled a decent amount of muscles. In his mind, stretching didn't prepare you for anything. In a surprise attack, he couldn't just ask his prey to pause so he could do a few lunges, now could he? The lean man sprawled out on the couch, laying his arms across the back of it and sighing. He hadn't seemed to notice Annelise looking away but, of course, he'd caught it. He simply assumed she was just casually looking away. He was an observant individual, but he wasn't as talented when it came to people skills. Seb closed his eyes for a moment, just a heartbeat it seemed, and then opened one to look at Annelise.

"Don't worry," he said. "I didn't forget to take you outside to shoot...just give me a few minutes." He lifted his head up again and sighed softly. "It's...a shame Nika didn't make it. But, heh, it's the strong who survive..." He tried to lighten the mood somehow, but his comment only seemed to sharpen the pain he felt. She was strong. Hell, she could have certainly held her own in a fight. So, why did the vampire take her down? How did the vampire take her down?

Sebastian jolted slightly as he heard a fist against the door. Slowly, he stood up and walked to the door, making sure to grab a pistol off of a table near the door in case. He had always been paranoid answering the door, never letting his guard down for a moment. He knew that if he were to fall, Leighton would be left to fed for herself and he knew she wouldn't last very long. "It's my- mi amor," called a voice, which Seb knew was Alarick. Regardless, he still glanced through the peephole before he unlocked the door and opened it.

"Hey there," greeted Sebastian, smiling slightly as he side-stepped to let his fellow Hunter in. "Sorry about the fact that we really didn't have time to meet at the scene. I didn't think so many people would turn up...though I guess the first murder in so long deserves that much attention." He made his way back to the couch and sat down.

"Your fridge?" asked Alarick. "Figured this would be helpful later." Seb glanced up, smiling slightly as he noticed the alcohol that his friend held. Yes, that certainly would help ease the pain of today. It might help him get to bed, too.

"Yeah, the fridge," he said. "There should be room on the top shelf." Seb turned his attention back to Leigh for a moment and forced a smile as he spoke with her. "You don't have to stay in here if you don't want to, Lay-Lay. Boring grown-up conversations, that's all." Nevertheless, he moved over slightly on the couch and nodded his head toward the seat as if to show she was welcome to sit beside him, if she wanted. With that topic covered, he looked back to the two Hunters. "...I still can't believe it, you know? I didn't think we'd lose her like that." He paused for a moment and pressed his tongue to his cheek for a moment. "This wouldn't have happened if I'd stopped to invite her to breakfast..." He sighed and pressed his lips together, keeping his composure despite the fact that he was just about at breaking point. "Dwelling on it won't help...we need to find her killer. Hell, that's the only thing that matters right now to me at least."

Annelise nodded at his acknowledgement, "It's ok.." She murmured quietly, almost a whisper. "You can take as long as you'd like." She fidgeted nervously, chewing her lip as she looked back to him. The girl tried to ignore the pain in her chest at his comment, "Y-Yeah." She croaked weakly, hanging her head. Her unease was obvious, her anxious glancing around and foot tapping to her constantly scratching her head made it clear she didn't want to be in this situation. This was supposed to be a great day.. Time with Sebastian for once... But instead she had to be riddled with more grief than usual. Just a few minutes ago she was smiling bright and couldn't wait to see Sebastian, but nope. One negligible thing set her off.. No wonder most people avoided her like the plague.

Her reaction to the door was the same as Sebastian's. Annelise flinched, staring at the door in paranoia, still shaking slightly in fear. Her body relaxed at Alarick's voice, leaning back into the couch finally. She watched silently as he walked in and frowning again as he held up the alcohol. Helpful, sure. Helpful to everyone but her... Of course it didn't apply to Leighton, she didn't need to be calmed down.

Annelise looked over at Sebastian as he sat down, remaining silent again as he talked, only giving a sign of acknowledgement at the end when he covered finding the pest that did it. Good. What was the point in being here if everyone else was just going to get drunk while she had to suffer still.

“You should take a picture… it would last longer,” The woman stated, her lips creeping into a grin until a laugh bubbled forth. It was a warm sound that vibrated pleasantly through Jeremy's vertebrae, leaving his spine tingling. “I’m Ariana. So, I was thinking, we should totally get a drink together tonight...So what do you say? Drinks? Dinner? Something?” Jer flinched under Ariana's near corporeal gaze. She wanted to go out with him? Many girls asked him out, but of course it never really went anywhere...guys like Jeremy were much too nice to hold up against a good old fashioned 'bad boy', but it shouldn't have been a surprize to be asked....but it was, at least by her. She was dark, seductive, mysterious, and beautiful in such a way little girls could only dream of. Why would she be interested in Ken doll, puppy eyed, Jeremy Donovan?[/i] His eyes went wide and his brows climbed high on his forehead. "I'm not old enough to drink." He replied stupidly, voice verging on dreamy, looking to her like a moth drawn to a flame."We could eat though, dinner is important. We should have it at least three times a day."

The clean sunshine of the winter's day vicously stabbed its way through the snow flakes wafting between the two of them, piercing the crime scene with a violent shaft of gold. Screams of cardinals and bluejays floated in on the freezing breeze coming off the snow dunes, and for a moment, the world felt shakingly peaceful even though Jeremy was surrounded by death. First getting to work a scene, now this? Next it'd be the lottery, or perhaps he'd solve the case. Today was perfect. "Oh! I'm Jeremy by the way, Jeremy Donovan." He chimmed, jabbing a thumb at the police badge pinned to his broad chest, feeling slightly moronic for many reasons, but mostly for rudely forgetting to name himself to her. He felt his own breaths grow long, his heartbeat heavy and loud.

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"Trust me when I said, I can understand the appeal to hunting over cooking." Sara replied, something marked in her words that made Derek look up. "Tell me something about you, anything. All I know is your name really...and if you and I, if we were to ban together...." The megalith of 90% muscle mass's replying growl was more like an aggressive purr. "I just mean to say I don't expect you to want to jump into another pack right away, especially when there is only one other member, an Alpha, but if you did...want to...I'd like to get to know you." Oddly listless, Derek half-heartedly finished up the last bite of his brunch and risnsed his plate clean in silence. Why did he have to do this? She had been in his home for all of two seconds and he was begging for her to join him in his lonely. But there was a rough edge to his need, a sharp accent of desperation. Wolves didn't really fair well on their own, it could be maddening....With so much effort it was embarrassing, he drug his eyes to meet Sara's brown ones once more.

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"No, no, it's fine," Axel dismissed, meandering around front of the diner bar and taking a seat on one of the stools bound in sythetic leather. He made a gesture of sorts for her to take the one opposite of him, so she complied. A flap of the alizarin crimson faux material came loose as she sat, and she patted it down demurely before bringing her eyes back up to meet his. "So, have you waited in a restaurant or a diner before?" He asked standardly, obviously begining his interview. Cat couldn't fathom anything worse than failing this test after having come such a long way to get there. She'd have to go back home if she did and that left a horrible choking welp in her throat. “Axel,” She heard someone intone, pulling her from the silent war raging within. “Sorry to bother you especially while you are so obviously working, but there is something I need to talk to you about. It is fairly urgent EMT business- but I should be quick about it.” Caterina raised an obsidian eyebrow delicately, arching it over her shining emerald eye. EMT business? Did this Axel work another job in additon to owning a diner? Her inner reporter, failing to remember she had left her post at Il quotidiano Italia(The daily Italy) when she had left the country, longed to dig for the scoop. “My apologies for the interruption I just need to get a few things clarified before I go home- to bed- which I was supposed to do over an hour ago before this mess reared its’ ugly head. So I’m tired and I’m cranky, and I don’t have the effort to flirt with you- so just go ahead and assume I made the most appealing comments you have ever heard.” He rambled with the glazed over, wide-eyed grin men usually got when confronted with an attractive member of the opposite sex. She simply flashed him that mega-watt smile of hers with all the charm and class she could muster. "Oh, of course. Please, don't let me keep you from your work. I have all day to wait and have had a full night of rest." She replied with a lie in a professional vernacular, her pedantic attention to cordiality showing dispite the vexatious situation. She had to admit though...this damn town smack dab in the middle of BFE was chock full of attractive men.

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"Leighton Harding, we don't use that word in school or to describe people, alright? I don't care where the hell you picked it up from, I don't want you saying that anymore, understand?" Seb chided her in a very adult like manner much to Leighton's displeasure. She had hoped he would get red in the face, it was always bemusing when he did. Leigh looked down at her scuffed up mary janes dejectedly. "Yes sir." She replied with a groan, feigning penance. Sebastian flung himself on the couch while Annelise remained standing for some odd reason. The adults intrepidly spoke of shooting their guns and someone named Nika with an acrimonious tone that concerned Le, but not nearly enough to pay attention beyond that. The affairs of adults were boring at best in her young eyes.

Suddenly a rap at the door pulled them from their mumbled words of a furtive nature. The door was opened, and a dark-haired head popped out. It was Seb's friend Alarick, his mahogany waves curling around his face in a most adorable fashion, and his hands clutching a case of beer. He and Sebastian began speaking but Leighton didn't pay any mind to this either. She toddled quickly over to them both and wrapped her arms around Alarick leg, hugging him close. "RICKY! My favorite pretty guy!" She trilled, happily returning to her old chirpy self, her signature goofy grin spreading across her little face like some frighteningly contagious wildfire. Sebastian told Alarick he could put his beverage in the fridge and moved back to his comfortable spot on the sofa. "You don't have to stay in here if you don't want to, Lay-Lay. Boring grown-up conversations, that's all." Leighton released the hunter from her grip, frowning at her cousin. "If you are bringing all of the fun people over, then I wanna stay. You want me to stay don't you pretty Ricky?" She asked, looking up doe-eyed at the man, and pushing her lower lip out in a pouty expression.

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"You don't have to apologize, sweetheart. Actually, I know what you mean. Youth today don't seem to understand the true beauty and majesty of art. The only art I think they see is swag, as some kids call it...and...at least we can say I'm not the only nervous one." She said with a light smile and sanguine english tint to her voice. Ugh Swag. Benny viperously thought. Things like that made him long for the 1930's again. It was a magical time, with an elegance and style that went unparalleled, and that was under the strain of mass unemployment and the threat of war for christs sake.

After he wiped the paint off of her porcelain cheek, her skin as soft as silk under his touch, Demetria's breathing hitched and he could hear her heart hammering in her chest.Thump-Thump-Thump."Th-thank you," she stammered, curling her stray blonde tresses behind her ear, teeth catching her lower lip, so close to tearing into the sensitive pink flesh....he pictured her biting down just a bit harder so blood would well up and he could catch that lip in his mouth and drink....NO! He screamed mentally, his throat burning with a deep want and hunger. And what was worse was it wrapped itself around him, suffocating him, whispering to him that there was only this feeling, this desire, this itch-in-the-back-of-your-throat-that-won't-go-away. "Ummm...would you like something to drink? I have some beer, I think, and some water...and probably some sweetened ice tea....Or would you rather see the room first?" I know what I'd like to drink....DAMN IT BENNY STOP! He internally shouted, shaking away horrifying thoughts with a struggled swallow. "The room please, if you don't mind Darlin'. I appreciate the offer but I ain't too...thirsty." He awarded her with a strained smile in the hope his face wasn't revealing too much.

---

There was a somber mood to this all, and the half-Italian did poor emanating the appropriate feelings for sadness. Oh he felt it truly. They had lost one of their own, and it had been a devastating blow to the last bastion of humanity’s protection. Yet Alarick found that sadness usually led to pensiveness, which in turn led to him thinking too long and hard on his own strife. A rage would grow and swell inside of him like a hurricane that wished to be released. He would inevitably succumb to it and then whatever careful plan they were laying down would be ruined. It had had happened before in another town on a different coast- he wouldn’t be surprised if it happened again.

Yet whatever dour expressions could release from his lips were quickly squelched by Leighton’s words and inevitably curling her petite body around his leg. Alarick smiled at her and sat the case of beer on the ground before kneeling down and ruffling those locks of brilliant golden blonde. “Hey Princess,” he stated in a tone that didn’t at all match the mood he felt in his heart. There was no need for him to be so dark and somber in her presence- especially considering the way that her smile managed to chase away the clouds that infested one’s mind.
“Good to know that you haven’t taken to any other pretty guys. I would be so sad.” He smirked sweetly. She laid on the charm even thicker when she wanted to stay and listen to their conversation. He wasn’t quite sure that that was a good idea. While he didn’t think Leighton would understand what they were referencing- he didn’t want her to repeat it. Children didn’t quite have the filter that adults did when it came to private information.

“It is like my kryptonite when you look at me like that.” Alarick stated rather bluntly to the girl, “fine then- you can sit in my lap too if you want.” With that he plopped down on the couch and waited for the small blonde girl to take her seat atop him, or to skedaddle off. Either way the beer never made it to the fridge- accidentally forgotten in lieu of Leighton’s interference.
Yet Sebastian seemed unwavered by the entire scene. He verbally lamented Nika’s death, and Alarick nodded in agreement. “You shouldn’t at all blame yourself. We all get into this knowing what might happen. But- we will find her killer.” He paused, “you think it had anything to do with current vampire infestation or do we have a rogue on our hands? I’m not saying we need to pick which one to kill- we need to get both of them, but I would rather get her killer first.” The man wanted to further elaborate what he would do when that happened, but he kept his mouth shut. “So do we have any actual vampire leads? Someone that could be made to be compliant?”

---

---

Axel’s demeanor was as cheery as usual. Honestly Lassiter was in no mood to battle wits with him, and he much less didn’t care to do so in front of a normal human girl. So instead he just let his lips spread out into a thin line. The alpha was giving the woman the once over as if he was going to jump her right then and there and have his way with her amidst the other customers of the diner. That curt response of his brutalized the dark haired woman’s courteous one. Lassiter brought a hand to his locks and swiftly shoved the back and away from his face. He said nothing to the man to acknowledge that he even heard him, but instead nabbed the order sheets from Axel’s personage and a pen from his own suit and began to scribble something onto the page before crumpling it up and depositing it quite briskly in his pocket. There was no need for him to rude. There was also no need for him to be redundant.

“Check your text messages.”

It was a simple enough message and he felt as if this entire trip was wasted because of it. Axel could have simply enough checked it later after he was done molesting this woman with his eyes. And here Lassiter thought pack business came before playing human. Their alpha could growl and groan at their inability to follow the protocol in regard to mating, but here Lassiter was trying to warn him of an imminent danger and the man was letting his hormones guide him.
Maybe some werewolves were more prone to that, but he wasn’t.
Not to say that Lassiter wouldn’t have enjoyed tasting the woman’s cherry lips, discovering the contours of her tanned skin, inhaling the rich scent of her dark hair, and discovering everything that made her tick inside and out- but he knew that that day would ever happen so why even let his hormones attempt to flair?

“Well have a good morning Axel,” Lassiter nodded and folded the message sharply down the middle before ramming it on the counter before the man. “And a pleasant one to you too Miss.” Considering that Axel had already turned around and forgot about Lassiter’s existence the Delta decided to up the ante on his insubordination. He was saving their lives- why not play a bit with mating rituals? So he brought his hand to his head in the common ‘call me’ fashion behind his alpha’s back, and then winked at the woman before heading out. He knew damn well she didn’t have his number, but it wouldn’t be the first time he had used 911 as a quick calling card.