Whitestripe

Chapter 5

Rayne Whitestripe

I think this was the quickest shower that I have ever taken in my life. I hopped in and out in oh.. probably ten seconds. I didn't have my car, still too lazy to get it, and not in too big of a hurry to get to the headquarters here in New York.

I walked into the downtown office and explained who I was again. It’s so large that they don’t remember you from one day to the next. The office was not the biggest one in the region, but damn, it wasn't the smallest one either. I had to ask directions multiple times just to get to the floor that I wanted the first day I came. I hadn’t checked into the office physically before this most recent mission. I had been given these orders, and then when I checked in, I was told not to stop until I caught whoever was causing the trouble. I lost all leads the first night when dawn came because the curfew lifted, and the scents of the vampire were washed away with the city’s hustle and bustle, so I went back to my hotel to catch a few hours of sleep.

I caught hell from that. Apparently, I was supposed to work all day and night until I caught whoever was ever causing trouble with the fledglings. That’s what Gryatt spat at me anyway the next day I went into HQ. He cornered me in a supply room inches from my face, screaming and spitting as he did. Saying that, I basically sucked at my job and shouldn’t be where I am. That I should be cleaning out toilets instead of on the field.

The second morning after dawn, he called every hour to “check-in” with me. I think he was trying to keep me from going back to my hotel, which I did. When I didn’t answer, he personally came down and yelled at me. Seriously, people need sleep. I’ve never had a mission that took this long that I wasn’t able to sleep on. If you don't stay well rested, you will make mistakes. I think that’s what he wanted. I hadn’t had much personal interaction with him since I was in training. I’m almost certain the other elders kept that intentional after the “accident.” When I did have jobs, they were very short and still very miserable. Most of them were just cleaning up and then leave, sort of jobs. Nothing too intense.

I called in while I was on my way back to HQ and had the secretary on duty type up my report. I didn't have a working laptop here with me and I didn't think they would like me to use the hotel’s computer. The secretary was happy to do it for me. It had apparently been slow. She sent it down to Gryatt after I had gotten off the phone with her.

I found the office I was looking for after entering the building and flashing my ID. I half expected to see a "Enter at your own risk " sign on the front door since the last time I was here. I was also expecting to open the door and have a scene directly out of the fiery pits of hell for an office. I swear Gryatt was the devil’s evil twin. Why, oh, why couldn't Beth or Elaina have been over this mission. Why must they torment me by making me work with Gryatt? I swear they got their kicks for the week, just listening to one of our conversations.

Yes, all the phone calls to and from the H.Q. offices were recorded. There was an instance many years ago where one of the hunters was given instructions from one of the elders, instructions that ended up leading to the death of the hunter. Because the only proof that was against the elder was the trainee of the hunter... Me... we were not able to convict the elder of tampering with the case. Too bad Gryatt never went to prison for that. Or better yet, South America. All those wild were’s would have fun with him.

South America was where uncivilized wild were’s lived. It’s also where you were sent if you broke any of shadow’s laws because if you were a shifter in South America, you were always on the run.

The local tribes rarely took in a nonnative born shifter because they were raised a certain way. Cannibalism was an everyday occurrence there. If they caught a trespasser, they would skin them, literally. If the shifter was in human form, they would peel their skin off until the human shifted. If you’re put under too much duress; your were form will take over to try and escape. Once you’ve shifted, then they will skin your fur or whatever hide you have off of you and eat the flesh while you’re still alive. No one really wants to go to South America unless they’re suicidal.

Vampires who were deported had the same thing happen basically if they were caught. Except the natives didn't skin them, they would starve them until they desiccated. Basically, you shrivel up and die in a sense. I think you can be revived with blood, but I've never seen it done personally. It takes forever, but they eventually do die if they receive no sustenance. Sometimes, they would give them enough just to keep them conscious for torture. No thanks.

I at least had some form of civility. Mainly because I did not want to see Gryatt getting a blow job from his secretary or something, I knocked on the door. A gruff voice from inside spat to enter.