The Blood Raven

Chapter 3.

She smiled wandering along and she felt eyes on her which wasn't unusual as she always felt like she was being watched when she let her guard down and let her ears be seen, but this feeling was different and she curled tighter into her jacket and whispering as she curled into Nick..."I... I feel something watching me and it's not you...."

He stopped and looked around with a scanning gaze, "Which direction?" he asked "and does it feel threatening?" he asked as he kept a watchful eye for anything suspicious.

She nodded yes closing her eyes as she let her ears open again and listen intently " ... t... to the left above us..... I... I hear rustling behind curtains .....”

He nodded, looking up to the left. Searching for an open window before spotting it. "I see...Stay close...if they decide to follow I will have you bolt to the house." he whispered. Starting to walk as if he didn't see anything though kept his arm around her as they walked. "Act normal.. don't let them know we are on to them." he whispered.

She nodded then giggled and softly pushed on his shoulder as if he had just said a lewd joke, and she was scolding him for it. Then she curled back into him laughing softly and walking carefully listening.... intently.....the sound of a door closing and soft thumps on the pavement behind them. “Behind us...”

Nick listened carefully seeming to focus on the footsteps behind them. "go... now.." he whispered. Taking his arm from around her and stopping in his tracks to turn around and face the owner of the footsteps as she ran off. "It's not wise to fallow a Vampire unless you're wanting to get your neck snapped.." he growled at the man.

The pursuer grinned and shook his head “I'm not after you Sonny boy.” the man said in a gruff voice as he watched the girl run away like a bat out of hell. 'Damn this vampire I need her.' he thought as he saw her run out of sight.

"Oh?... After my pet now are you? Sorry old man, she isn't for sale... Or is she able to be taken so easily..." Nick spoke. "Why is it always the idiots that come out at this time of day?" he muttered as he ran his fingers through his silvery hair. His demeanor seemed to shift from calm to more irritated.

The man looked at the 'boy' in front of him and grinned cracking his neck " Look she's a wanted fugitive I am just after my bounty."

"I could care less..." The words came from Nicolas's mouth like daggers. "There are laws here and quite frankly... your breaking one of them..." he spoke, bringing his hand down, his eyes glowing a blood-red in color. "Never...Target what's mine." he growled, his nails growing to ebony claws as he got ready for a fight.

The man held up one hand and reached into his pocket " law? what laws have I broken?" he pulls out a badge showing it to Nick, as he doesn't seem to be phased by Nick's change of eye color.

"As I said... The laws here are a bit too much for a police officer to comprehend... Speaking of, I know every officer in my territory. I have never seen you around. So for you to start barking orders at me, and breaking my laws. You are one sorry pathetic excuse...Even for a bounty hunter. They know the laws of a vampire lord..." he growled, starting to take a few steps forward.

He put his hands up "Look man I am not trying to get into a fight I may be new to this territory, but I am after that girl... She was the last one to see someone alive and she's wanted for questioning that's all no harm will come to her that I can assure you. She just needs to come in for questioning."

"Is that right?... You better be sure on that word of yours... Hell hounds get rather hungry when it comes to liars." Nicolas spoke. "You will be watched carefully I have enough issues on my plate right now and I don't need a rat causing me more issues," he growled as he began to walk home. "Come on then... However, you are to question her in my presence... that is the only way you're getting close to her."

He nods softly following Nick closely " Names Samson.. but everyone calls me Sam. "

Back at the house, the girl was hiding in the ally near the home as she couldn't get in without the key so she stayed VERY close by but hidden.

"Nicolas... I would give my full name but it's a damn mouthful... You're free to call me by my first name, or just Nick... even Smokes.. Don't ask how I got the damn nickname it just stuck.." he said. Looking over to the alleyway as they reached the house. "It's fine hun you can come out... He means no harm... and if he does he becomes a chew toy for some hungry hounds." he said as he went over to the front door to open it.

She came out of hiding running to the door staying close to Nick...." you trust him?" she said extremely low so that only Nick could hear her.

Samson let the girl bolt past him up the stairs to Nick's side without even trying anything sighing " I don't mean you harm Miss Thrace, we just need to know about Allison Parker." ... with that, she stopped in her tracks and she froze griping Nick's arm tightly as her heartbeat was in full panic mode. As the three of them went inside she held onto Nick almost with a death grip.

"It's alright, just explain everything," Nick said as he led her over to the living-room couch to sit down and sit with her. "I will tell you this Sam, as of late there are rouge Vampires in my territory.. so if this is a murder victim, it's more than likely some Vampire spawn that got in and doesn't know how to control their feeding. Which sadly so I have been dealing with. Ghouls are not the brightest of creatures and feed too much off of a person to where they are drained, they basically become mindless bloodsuckers..." Nick said as he crossed his arms.

Sam shook his head "Honestly we don't know what's become of Miss Parker .... Miss Cara Thrace here, " he pointed to her, as she sat on the couch next to nick. Sam took a seat on a chair near the couch "Is the last known person to see her .... as we hope alive and we hope to find her..."

Cara gripped the couch tightly as if nervous to talk. Nick looked over to Cara, Taking his jacket off and wrapping it around her hoping his scent would help relax her a bit more to help her talk. "Relax... Your not a suspect.. you're just getting questioned.." he said.

Cara wrapped herself in the jacket and curled into it looking at Sam and then Nick nodding "I.. I had last seen her at the comic shop on 42nd street we... we used to hang out outback and joke around ... she used to help me a little with food water and such... " she said looking at Sam as he pulled out a small notebook and started jotting down what was said.

Sam looked up from his notebook "The last time you saw her, did anything seem odd or out of the ordinary?"

Cara looked at Nick she was terrified but she tried to be strong. "It's alright...There is nothing to be fearful of.." Nick said as his demeanor had returned to that of a calm one, although he still kept his guard up around Sam. He was not fully ready to trust him till he learned a bit more about him. "My Jacket has my scent on it... Just inhale it and exhale.." he spoke softly.

Cara nodded and started to curl into it and close her eyes trying to relax, she gulped hard and looked back up again looking at Sam who was smiling softly letting her take her time " She seemed off that day ... she wasn't very talkative saying the boss had been riding her ass all day, but I could tell it was a lie. As her boss never even raised her voice at Ally... she was his favorite.. that boy Gary, on the other hand, he was the lazy one that always tried to get Ally in trouble."

Sam jotted that down "Good. Good anything else you can remember? Anything at all even the smallest detail could help us find her."

Nick smiled a bit as he watched them glad that his jacket was helping her to relax as they talked. He couldn't help but eye her neck every now and again before shaking his head and turning his attention over to Sam as he spoke.

Sam waited a few moments and sighed softly ' We know that she finished her full shift at the comic shop as we talked to the owner ... Did you see her after?"

Cara looked up at him stammering a bit. "No... we were supposed to meet at the cafe on Duval street ... She was going to get me a sandwich for dinner and we were going to sit and have a few sodas while she relaxed after working but she never showed up. When I went looking for her all I found was her backpack and it was completely empty." she looked at Nick.

Sam asked, "Do you have that pack?"

Cara nodded. “ yes... I... I use it now every day.”

"Is it the very backpack that you came with?" Nick asked curiously. "Would be odd for somebody to just leave that lying around..." he said as he looked over to her.

Cara nodded to Nick "Y....yes I... I kept it as .... as I had nothing left of her.... and... and she was gone." she looked down ashamed

Sam sighed, knowing the backpack was useless now as any evidence would be tainted. "It's alright ... did you notice anything around the backpack anything at all?"

Cara shook her head no. "It was just laying on the ground in the back as if it was discarded near the trash bins."

Sam began thinking "hmmm"

"Want to go ahead and tell him the area... so the police can investigate..." Nick said as he began to get up to head into the kitchen to grab a small drink.

Sam asked " Did you notice anything in the trash? Anything at all nothing is too big or too small."

Cara thought for the moment and then spoke. "Just a bunch of ruined comic books, it looked like they got water damaged badly or something, but they kinda had a bleach smell to them,” she said wrinkling her nose “It was a little overpowering."

Sam nodded writing that down as that was something new that wasn't noticed in the investigation. Cara then nodded to Nick " I... I can take you there but it's been years, and the comic shop closed down. I mean Ally disappeared 5 years ago... I... I never saw again her after that day."

Sam nodded as he wrote things down and new questions to ask at a later time. "Is there anything else you can remember about that day? Anything at all? Even if it's not about her, maybe about how Gary was acting? Or the shop owner anything?"

Cara sat there as if she was trying to think her cat ears twitching and popping out from under her hair and Sam bit back a gasp but Nick's hearing was better than most and heard it and he turned around to face them. "It's normal... don't freak out... If you do you cause her to freak out.." he spoke as he made his way out of the kitchen with some iced water for himself and Cara. "Then you won't get anything out of her..." he said as he sat back down.

Sam cleared his throat nodding to Nick "sorry just something new for me."

Cara whimpered and nodded back " I... I didn't see anything, but I could hear Gary whining about having to stay late. All because Ally said she made plans that night and had to leave on time from her shift. Ally was like don't worry Gary I doubt you'll get anything done anyway and ill have to do all the clean-up in the morning. Ally knew that Gary was a slacker and she always picked up his slack."

Sam titled his head questioningly "Strange Gary said she left early that day"

"Sounds like you have a new main suspect then. Gary is obviously hiding something." Nick said bringing his glass of ice water up to his lips and taking a drink.

Cara growled, "I know where that weasel hangs out at now."

Sam's eyebrow raised "Where is that?"

Cara almost spits out the location "That dive bar on 10th avenue. The one with the frog logo I can't remember the joint's name."

Sam thought for a moment 'dive bar on 10th?' " Do you mean The Horny Toad?"

Cara nodded "Yea that's the place..."

Nicolas sighed "If this means so much to you let's deal with this.." He said, Getting up and placing his glass down. "I could use a good appetite stimulant."

Cara got up with him actually feeling a little more confident now handing Nick back his coat as Sam also stood " Easy Miss Cara, we should handle this you should stay here for your own safety.”

"I sadly have to agree..." Nick said going over to her. Placing his hand under her chin and lifting her face up to meet his gaze. "Stay here and wait. I will be back. Then I will be sure to sink my teeth into your neck." he said, giving a bright smile allowing his fangs to show.

Cara gulped hard and blinked the motion actually kind of froze her in place a moment as she was dumbfounded and a little scared "Um... um... " she tried to protest but it was weak because of the shock.

Sam waited by the door for Nick. "Stay safe..." He said. Going over to the door as he put his jacket on. "Let's kick this bastard's teeth in." he growled, opening the door and walking out of the house.

Stay safe? How am I not going to be safe, you basically did the equivalent of 'sit boy'. To me and then ran off to kick someone's teeth in. Should I stay? Should I follow? Cara thought as she watched them leave and looked out the window watching them head down the street.

"If I smell the scent of a vampire on him... I hope the department here gave you the special type of bullet they use here for those cases.." Nick said. "If I can't handle him. Aim for his head..." he warned.

Sam nodded and loaded his gun as they arrived at the bar. "We need to question him before we kill him if it comes to that." The moment they arrive it seems like it's a busy day for the bar. Sam stops Nick and points to the lanky "kid" going into the bar. He was barely drinking age and if he was drinking as much as Sam suspected he already had been killing his liver. “That's Gary and he's not looking too good.”

"Yeah... he doesn't look legal drinking age..." Nick spoke as he looked at the boy. starting to follow after him to see what the hell he was doing. "Hey Kid, I have a few questions for you." he growled.

Gary looked at Nick and then saw Sam. He turned and bolted running away.

" fuck....." Sam muttered as he started to chase after Gary. “Did you have to scare him?” he yelled at Nick.

“How was I supposed to know he would run?” Nicolas began to give chase as well, though it didn't seem like it was just the two of them for long. His shadow sprang forth and solidified as something rose from the ground. A black mass with burning coal-colored eyes darted past the two its large paws hitting the pavement. 'No use running once a hell-hound has your scent.' Nick thought.

Gary saw this and gasped thinking what the f**k is that thing. Even Sam stopped in his tracks pulling his gun and aiming for Gary as he hauled ass in another direction down the street heading towards homes and shops alike.

"Cain just pin the boy... Don't kill him... He isn't worth it.." Nick spoke as he began to slow to a walk. Nick knew it was foolish for anything to try and outrun a hell-hound. "Give up Gary, and I won't let Cain use you as a new chew toy." he said as the hound pinned him to the ground growling and snarling in Gary's face.

Gary froze hearing his name as he was pinned to the ground. "Who the hell are you man ?!" trying to scoot away from the hound " and get this freaky dog away from me!"

Cain growled deeply as Nick walked over. "A vampire...The one who rules this city. I believe you've heard the name of the Raven clan." he growled harshly. "We have some questions for you Gary."

Gary gulped and backed up as Cain slowly let him go. Even Sam slowly approached giving the hound a wide birth and getting behind Gary and placing him in handcuffs. Gary tried to struggle but the growl from the hound made him stop as he shuddered "What is it you wanna know...?”

"What you did to Ally, and we want details. All of them..." Nick said as he looked at the shaking boy licking his fangs. "And it better be the truth.....or Cain here gets a snack." he said looking to the hell-hound as it licked its maw hungrily.

Gary's eyes widened " Look I did... did nothing to that girl I swear on my life I did nothing! ... I told the officers she left early and that's the truth.....The owner Mr. Mitchell told me while I was out taking some of the excess comics to the storage locker at the U-haul facility down the street that she got a phone call and had to leave right away... that's all I know man that's all I know! I SWEAR!” he screamed out.

"Do you know where this Mr. Mitchell is at this moment?" Nick asked. "I'm in a bit of a rush...So I would like to get this over with as soon as possible." he explained.

Gary shook his head no " no not since he closed up shop he used to live in the slums, but he ended up getting a really large sum of money selling the comic store, and I have no idea where he went after." Sam started to uncuff Gary as he explained.

Nick nodded, looking to Cain and tilting his head, The dog seeming to understand ran off in a different direction. "I will let Cain handle it from here... If he catches Mr. Mitchell's scent he will alert me and in turn, I will alert Sam here.." he said pulling out a card. "If you hear anything... Call me alright," he said giving Gary his number.

Gary took the card and bolted anything to get away from that hound and them. Sam looked at Nick shuddering. " damn man what the hell was that?"

"A hell hound... Faster than a horse and can easily overpower its opponent.. one of the sharpest noses and ears in all realms...It's the perfect servant to a vampire." Nick said. "He will find the scent we are looking for...Don't tell me you want one... They aren't easy to tame.."

Sam held up his hands and shook his head "No way man that thing gives me nightmares.”

"Well, you are still learning... You might want to get back to your station... I have something I need to take care of back at home." Nick said starting to head back home.

Sam nodded and headed back to the safe house where he had spotted them. Nicolas rolled his eyes as he walked up to the front door of his home, Placing his hand on the door and unlocking it before walking in. "Alright... I'm home..." he said closing the door behind him and taking his boots off. He didn't see where Cara was. She was actually in the house but hiding as she was more than a little shook up, she had hidden in the basement in a closet...His closet.