Chan Kwan: Bounty Hunter

Blood Bath

By Ono

This story uses ideas and characters from Captain Scarlet, and inspired by Laurel K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series. I do not own any of the characters, only the ideas that ensue. All rights reserved. I would like to say thanks to Chris Bishop for giving me an idea to go in this and Sue Stanhope for helping me put characters in the right places.

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‘I’m Chan Kwan, accomplished bounty hunter and working in the prenatural forensics department at the Victory Memorial Hospital, Brooklyn. I hunt Shapeshifters, vampires and anything remotely gross. Lately there have been a lot of murders turning up, people killed in the strangest ways, and I have begun to have some sneaking suspicions. If you delved into the world of the supernatural like I do, you’d understand why…’

Chapter 1

Blood. And plenty of it…

I was at the latest crime scene during a mid-summer’s afternoon. I can tell you, blood and heat do not mix well. The smell was almost too much to handle. It had that certain odour that makes you feel imminently sick, not to mention making you feel dirty, almost tasting it at the back of your throat.

I was standing a few feet away from the body; well you couldn’t call it a body anymore. Much more like a mangled heap of blood and guts splashed out across the green grass in long and filling brown streaks. That’s what happens when blood begins to dry, it changes colour. Actually, I find it better; fresh blood kind of puts you off your lunch. What am I saying! Any can! But I can handle it, not like some of the officers on the scene who were wrenching up their lunches behind the nearest trees and bushes.

I wasn’t going to mock them; I’ve done it before. Not pretty.

My work involves me with the police a lot. I work in the Prenatural Forensics Department at the Victory Memorial Hospital, which leads to work for the New York State Police, who has it’s own special team called the Prenatural Police Squad. Snazzy.

Here I am once again on the job, staring at the mauled body of some poor woman just dumped in the middle of a park. Nobody saw anything happen, it was just like the dead woman just popped out of nowhere and, well, played dead. Or rather is, actually.

I was standing next to the Prenatural Police Squad’s leader, Sergeant Paul Metcalfe. He was tall; six foot exactly, towering over me. I’m the simple five foot one, how unfitting for the big scary bounty hunter. Remember kiddies, size doesn’t matter.

He had a thick wave of short-cropped hair, combed smoothly off to the side. His normally sparkling blue eyes had dropped into dullness. He wasn’t in a good mood.

“We are no closer to solving this thing then we were two hours ago.” He folded his arms tight up to his chest, watching the forensics team slowly work away at the scene in front of us. He didn’t look at me, but still I knew he was addressing me. “You got anything from it?”

Had to be honest. “Missing organs and body is only so much for a lead, and so far it could be anything. Any sick twisted monster of these times would play around with vital body parts.”

Since the monsters became legal citizens it was all hell, I found it harder to stick a bounty on people, much less get paid to kill the monsters without getting a jail sentence branded to my back.

“Damn.” He let out a deep grunt and turned around from the scene. I did so myself. Nope, I wasn’t having lunch today. I played absently with the cross I always wore under my tops. It was there for safety, you never know when you’ll next need a holy item.

“Want a coffee, Chan?” Paul offered me. “It might settle your stomach,” he gripped the bridge of his nose. “What a case…”

“Why all the stress all of a sudden?” I asked bluntly, accepting a coffee from one of the lackey police officers, playing tea lady.

“It hasn’t come on all of a sudden,” he stressed on the words. “Murders have been turning up here and there around the area. From what we are getting, it’s all leading back to the bar, ‘Blood Bath’, which people have been mysteriously disappearing from after they’ve been near. All the names we pick up lead back there in some reference but there is nothing. No proof that anything happened around the place or coming from it.”

“Coincidence?” I couldn’t help let out a bitter laugh. “I think not. But it could be a scandal. Oh well, we’ll soon find out.”

“You going to pry your nose in there?” He asked me, looking over his coffee.

“When I get the chance. I have a few places to go before there. This crime could be linked with anyone I know, since most of them are monsters.”

“How come a bounty hunter hangs out with the monsters?” It was almost a stern question.

“I never understand that myself,” I said, almost wishing for him not to stare at me like I was some mad insane murderous psychopath.

“What do you honestly think killed that woman over there and all of the other victims we’ve encountered?”

“Werewolves, vampires, demons, zombies…” I shrugged. “Hard to tell with so much damage. Not much left of the body. A little too unnatural to me. Somehow the kill could lead to one group of monsters in one way, but then another part would totally be uncharacteristic for them, and the trail goes cold.”

Paul gave up with a sigh and drunk down his coffee in seconds, depositing the plastic cup in the trash. I followed that example and we went back to his squad car.

Standing there was Detective Karen Wainwright, the squads tough bitch… excuse me, lady, who always wants to head the cases. She and I don’t get along too well, so I avoid her as much as I can.

She was on the phone with someone, having a slanging match. As we stopped beside her, we could hear the conversation was ending… with her losing. Why did I feel like laughing? God help me.

She turned off the mobile, red-faced.

“The boss wants us to wrap it up, he says we have much more important things on the platter. We have to hand over the body to forensics.” Karen looked at me with narrow eyes. “It’s over to you, Kwan.”

“Thanks.” I gave her the biggest, evilest smile I could possibly offer, making her look away. I love to win.

“I can’t see what is more important than a murder case,” the Sergeant argued to nobody exceptionally.

“That’s what I said,” Karen just slumped into the driver’s seat of the car, sitting sideways out.

“Well, your boss thinks something is, I won’t debate it. I’m not him,” I said with a shrug.

Karen just stared daggers at me, and I couldn’t care less. She didn’t like my behind-the-scenes profession or me. Hell, I hated her for being a stuck up snob.

“Well, guys, its been a pleasure but I have to go back to the hospital, clock off and be prepared for some serious investigating tonight,” I said, almost sorry to leave, but actually glad to get away from the body. Not my job today, my co-worker Edward had that one covered.

“Alright then, remember to write a short statement about the scene and we’ll pick it up later.”

“Cool, later.” I departed from their company and off back to my 4x4.

I love that car; it is the sleekest one I have ever bought in my entire life. Pure black with seats lined with leather. It was a bargain! I jumped up into the driver’s seat, taking off my jacket and throwing it into the back.

I let out a sigh, closing my eyes for just a second. I was extremely tired, I’d been up since three this morning, got called in to take a look at another murder, something on a totally different topic. Then I was running about the office, filling in paper work till I got called out for this. Not my idea of a perfect day.

I got back to business; I stretched my arms out and opened up the glove compartment to pick out my 9mm-handgun, putting it back in its rightful holster around my waist. I am well equipped with artillery. Lots and lots of weapons within my grasps.

I can tell you what I have: A high-powered assault rifle, .357 magnum, two Uzi’s, a sawed off shotgun, the 9mm and a small silver lined knife. Why would I have a knife when I have lots of big toys to kill with? Well, because it is the only weapon you can really hide if you are stripped of your weapons in any case. I never leave home without it. It has saved my butt a couple of times and the fact is, on police scenes, it’s better to go on without a gun so you don’t look too menacing, but the knife stays in an ankle holster.

I started the engine with a quick turn of the key in the ignition and took the car from the grass area of the park we had commandeered for a make shift car park and headed out the iron gates onto the road.

It was a twenty-five-minute drive to the hospital, not too long but I was tired and wanted to get there quickly. Of course, I’m a good girl, so no speeding! Just left the cops, don’t want to have to face them again today.

I checked my hair in the mirror. The gel I had put through it this morning was holding. Good, didn’t want to look a shamble when I got into work. I looked fine, no need for make up at all. I have pale skin, which only sucks up so much tan from the hot weather we have in Brooklyn.

I like being feminine, besides having the mean streak making me look far from it. My oriental touch sorts that out. I’m both Japanese and Chinese, a mixed breed from having one of each for parents. I don’t mind, as long as I live to show it off.

The car journey was long and boring. Passing down the highways lined with many tall trees wasn’t actually something to strike a thought on. Oh, there was a car accident scene but I wasn’t interested to drive slower just to take a glimpse on how much blood had splattered across the pavement. Frankly, I had had enough of blood for one day.

I was hungry, but not desperately needing to eat. I felt like my stomach could turn any second. I’d give myself an hour or so, then I’d eat.

Before I realised it, I was pulling up in front of the Victory Memorial Hospital, my daytime workplace. I just instinctually drive sometimes, like you just know where you’re going even though you’re not really paying attention.

The wheel’s moving, but the hamster’s asleep.

I pulled into the car park, nabbing a decent parking space in the employee section. I get that honour.

I stepped out, managing to fish out my jacket to cover up my handgun. You don’t want to go into public places with your weapons, not a good idea. Especially at a hospital.

I entered the reception area and was greeted by that smell, you know, the one where you can tell it is a hospital with lots of sick and injured people; it’s like a musky plastic smell.

My welcoming inside was a lot of grunts, groans, crying and the sounds of tannoy buzzing above my head.

I approached the reception desk and was greeted by a happy smile, the only one presently there in the room.

“Good day, Chan,” The cheery British redhead, Dianne Simms, hailed me.

“Hello, Dianne,” I said, almost dejected. “Wish I could say I was happy to be here but I’m tired and overworked and need a long, well deserved rest.”

Dianne just grinned at me. She was always happy, nothing ever tore the smile off her face. She was just that kind of person, like the only light in a dark room that makes it glow. She is only a few inches taller than I am, but in heels, she’s like a mountain.

“Mr Gray isn’t happy, Chan,” Dianne shook her head, but still her smile didn’t fade. “He’s been hitting the roof that you haven’t been around. It’s understaffed, up in your area. Body after body keeps coming in, whatever the case. Poor Edward’s having to handle most of the work.”

“He can cry on my shoulder,” I smirked. “Minus, Mr. Gray, he can go back to his hole.”

Edward Wilkie is the best co-worker in the world, such a soul, always helping me out. A pure man of innocence and like everyone else in the world, taller than me. Mr. Gray is a duller man, not someone I’d give a Christmas card, actually, he’s been struck off that list. He’s in his fifties and showing the ware with a thick mop of silver grey hair. His face displays authority and he wants it. He is a very well trained GP but got lumbered checking in as co-ordinator of our department and he doesn’t like it one bit.

Poor him. Wait a minute, I don’t care!

“I’d better go up and see the old man then,” I sighed reluctantly.

“Hope to see you later then,” Dianne waved me off as I headed for the stairs up to Prenatural department.

It’s a bit of a pain that I have to climb two flights of stairs just to get up to the department. I don’t like doing it in the early hours of the morning, nor will I take an elevator. Last time I took one of those things, someone cut the cables on top and I went for a long plunge through an office building. Lucky for me I managed a quick escape out the engineer’s hatch up top before I became a Chan-cake.

I came up into the office, swinging back a big bright blue door engraved with a silver plaque of the department name, so to warn off all ye who try to wander into the wrong hole. Believe me, this one hole you would want to avoid. But not me…

When you enter, the first smell that hits you is the freshly sprayed hint of roses and poppy dew. We have an automatic air freshener that relieves the dead smell from the office part, but when you delve into the back, the smell becomes that musky dried blood smell. They tried using alpine freshener back there and the only result was that it smelled like someone died in the mountains.

The first person I came across was Edward, he was stripping down some of his bloodied garb as I headed his way; he looked up and smiled.

“A bit late, my friend,” he said, throwing away the used gloves and apron.

“Poor, Edward,” I rottenly sympathised, “did I leave you with all the mess?”

“Had some help, a few of the other guys trotted in and out, you know, the usual.” He shrugged.

“What about the old boss man?” I sat down on top of my own small desk. It’s cool; I actually own something more than a bar of soap.

Edward laughed at me, wiping an eye. Yep, expecting Mr. Gray to do anything in the back was much of a joke. “He isn’t that kind of guy. He just comes into the department to make sure we aren’t hacking up the body and selling bits on the black market.”

“Oh fun!” I said sarcastically.

“You may want to go in to see him, he has been throwing fits that you were out on the case too long.”

I began to whine. “Do I have to?”

Edward rolled his eyes. “You better before he comes out and drags you into his lair!”

“You make him sound like a monster,” I said, a faint smile on my lips.

“If he was, I’d pay you to kill him,” Edward joked, walking over to his own corner.

“The Silver Assassin doesn’t come cheap…” I said, rolling my fingers on the butt of the 9mm. I am the Silver Assassin to the monsters since that’s the kind of ammo I use, and I normally carry polished silver crosses. I have a cool title, all for the price of a little monster blood.

“KWAN!” A voice bellowed after me.

I narrowed my eyes, hunching my shoulders. “But I could make an exception for one time, and he doesn’t have to be a monster.”

“I won’t tell anyone if you don’t,” Edward winked.

I turned and sighed. Here I go.

His office wasn’t too far down to walk to, unfortunately… When I came to the oak door of his, I pushed it open, revealing the sheer astounding office. The walls were bright white and mounted with plaque after plaque of honours and certificates. The man behind the large desk seemed something out of place in the perfect room, like a blemish on creamy pure skin. Mr Charles Gray.

He was a great Doctor but a hard case. He was given the job to watch over the department, God knows why but he was there, and from everything that happened under his charge, I just wish they’d transfer him out.

He gave me the instructive stern eyes and I knew he wanted me to sit down on the chair opposite him. I did.

I waited for him to speak. For a moment, he didn’t, just looking at me in one of those ways that could turn you to stone.

I was about to say something, anything to break the silence when his voice echoed over me and around the room.

“If you take this job so seriously why do you lag about? You are needed in places but then you are still at others. Maybe you should learn the routine and know better then to waste time chattering with the cops. It’s a go in, assess and get out procedure, you understand?"

I frowned, anger seeping into my words. “I have to take time in assessing.”

“You don’t just assess,” he leaned forward. “You loiter about like you have nothing better to do while we are overrun by the paranormal dead in this department. Some days I’m glad to just be a watcher in this section. I feel sorry for those out their busting their butts off, knee high in blood while you waltz around like the world will never end.”

It was such a pointless fight. He just likes to have a go at me whatever I do, he is never ever happy. What a life.

I sighed. “I have some paperwork to do, then I clock off. May I go now?”

He couldn’t argue, he knew I had been up early. He just turned away from me in his wickedly cool spinning chair. “Just go before I make you scrub the slabs in the morgue.”

Oh, I’m so scared!

I stood up and left, smiling like a Cheshire cat.

As I shut the door, the smile broke wider and I rushed over to my desk and jumped into the seat, rocking it back slightly.

Edward looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “You seem happy.”

“The boss is angry, that always makes me happy!” I said, gleefully.

“Crazy woman,” Edward commented.

I sat up. “Well, my work for today isn’t done. A report to write then to go out and do my own investigating by moonlight.”

“You sure lead a busy life, especially after dark,” he said.

“A licensed bounty hunters work is never done!” I exclaimed. “But frankly, I’m not out on a kill, I’m doing a favour for the police. Anyway, I hope to catch up on my life when I clock off. Can’t wait to drip into a warm bath and read a trashy romance novel.”

“You are pure feminine deep down,” he laughed, almost as if it was unbelievable.

“Don’t be too surprised. Anyway, chatting like this won’t get me home any faster,” I brought a biro out of the pen pot on the corner of my desk.

Right, back to the real mean things in life.

Chapter 2

Once I finished my work, I left with no buts. Mr Gray couldn’t stop me now. My bed called, and maybe if I was lucky, I could catch a few winks before nightfall.

Fat chance! But in my world I sometimes get that rare privilege.

I pulled up outside my apartment building. It is fairly tall, grey and pebble dashed. I live way up on the top floor. I purposely bought one on top so that anyone who wanted to kill me would have to climb a lot of stairs first, or take the lift, whatever way, still gives me the home advantage. In some respects anyway…

I pulled out my key from my pocket as I trailed slowly towards the door of the apartment. I pushed open the swinging door and entered into a cold foyer, lined with wooden mailboxes. I got my small key out to check inside mine. Nope, nothing today. The mailman isn’t my friend; he has nothing to bring me.

I climbed the stairs, whistling absently, fiddling with my jacket cuffs. When I reached my floor, a happy neighbourly face greeted me.

“Hello, Seymour,” I said softly, stopping directly in front of the dark man.

Seymour Griffiths, my humble neighbour a door down from me. He is a dark man but has a face so innocent and full of wonder it makes me smile. He is a year older than I am at 27 but he is like a child, always so hyper and bubbly. I liked him, but not in a way that would have me falling into his arms.

“You know, you never fail to amaze me,” he said, speaking in his rich Caribbean accent, with the hints of teasing present. “I hear you up and running around at 3 in the morning, I don’t know how you live with such little time to sleep.”

“Well, as they say, I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” I shrugged, smirking, spinning my keys on my fingers without thinking about it.

“Well, I’ll sleep dead or alive, suits me fine,” Seymour said, patting my shoulder as he walked past me. “I’d better be off, the shelves don’t start themselves.”

“What would Mr. Pep’s convenience store do without you, huh?” I smiled, jabbing him slightly in the shoulder as he headed for the stairs.

He just shrugged. “Wouldn’t want to find out. Bye, Chan!”

“Bye,” I turned and only had to walk a few paces to be right outside my own door.

I jingled the keys in my hands as I searched for the right one to unlock my door. Didn’t take me a few seconds before I walked into my home sweet home.

My home is all the dark shades, minus my bedroom, which is an amber colour. Don’t ask me why, but when I sleep, I want to feel cosy. I slumped onto my dark red leather sofa, which made that squeaky sound that leather does as you move against it. I switched from pure cotton to leather just in case I had some nasty visitors coming over and I have to pop their brains out all over my furniture.

Bloodstains or whatever bodily fluid does not do well with cotton, but with leather it just rolls off unless it dries into that sticky brown mess that you have to scrub at. Not a job I like doing on my Saturdays, mind you.

I removed my jacket, flinging it onto a chair matching my sofa and took off the holster with the gun still in. I carried it over my arm as I went into my bedroom to fetch out a large T-shirt and biker shorts before heading into the bathroom for a shower.

The 9mm is placed on the toilet when I have a bath and the little silver knife in an empty soap dish next to me. Oh and the .357 Magnum just above my head hiding behind the shampoo bottles. The gun moves around with me, from the car to all manor of places, just so I have a back up if I lose the 9mm. You always have to be careful.

I filled up the bath and impregnated the water with mountain dew bubble bath and sunk into the warmth. God, I was dying for this much comfort. I wished Brad were here.

Oh, Brad, yeah him! That’s my boyfriend! Great guy. Tall and dark haired and has the sexiest voice on the planet. His only floor is him being a werewolf, an alpha one at that. How did I become involved with a werewolf? Long story, but basically it follows along a case I was on under my bounty hunter regime. There was a rogue werewolf, killing nearly everything in sight. And I mean, everything, from other monsters to humans to cute innocent little animals. It was giving the Lycanthropes’ a bad reputation and with legal citizen status, they were desperate to keep it.

Patrick – the Master Vampire of Brooklyn and many unnamed states, also the biggest pain in the ass this side of New York – was pretty disturbed that some of his flock were being killed and pulled me in on the case. I found out that Brad, the Werewolf leader had legally got permission for me to gun the rogue down, with his help and couple of the wolves’, wanting to clear a scratched slate so to speak.

We kind of hit off from then on.

Now getting back to Patrick, he is the most annoying man/vampire in the world and is stalking after me, trying to woo me. Like he is ever going to succeed! He loves me dearly, for some strange reason and wasn’t too chuffed when he found out he drew Brad and me together. The only thing I’ve ever liked that vamp for!

Deep down I groaned. I had to see that dead man later. God help me!

I rested in the bath, thinking about the man I loved, keeping me safe. Some days, I dared to close my eyes for some of the images that came into my head. When you work around the dead, the monsters and the blood for this long, you know it will leave a mark on you. Some days I feel like I’m trapped inside a box with all the sides bleeding over me, like I’m drowning within. I’m so afraid sometimes; I don’t know what to do.

I sighed, I had closed my eyes for some time and all I could see what the darkness behind the lids, for once I wasn’t seeing things.

I opened my eyes to the bathroom and shimmied my hands through the water, sloshing it about. I inhaled the sweet scent of the water and decided I had long enough to soak up the suds. I washed my hair and soaped up my body before taking a dip under to wash it off. I rinsed the shampoo out under the sink taps.

I reached out for a towel to wrap around me and another to stick around my hair. I did the bare essentials to my face and teeth, dried up and stuck on the T-shirt and shorts. I looked about for the blow drier and dried my hair into a fluffy mop. I had to laugh.

I suppressed a yawn as I left the bathroom and flopped back onto the couch, putting my 9mm on the coffee table, the Magnum under it and the knife hid under the cushion. I was now very tired. Maybe I would catch a few winks after all. I turned the TV on in the background, just to generally have some noise so I didn’t feel so damn lonely.

I didn’t pay much attention to what was on the TV, I just settled back. I dosed, maybe for a moment or so. I just felt uncomfortable. I didn’t really know why.

Scary.

A cool chill ran across my spine, like I could sense something close, something inhuman. My fingers coiled tight onto the knife handle as I let my foggy eyes open.

A screech made me leap up, knife in one hand, gun in the other. Eyes darting.

The TV. Had to be monster marathon day today! Some poor damsel in distress getting scared over a shadow. I slumped down.

Easy, Chan, my brain murmured. Jumpy or what!

Yep, the easiest thing for the brain to say when you are in denial or just acting chicken. I put the knife down on the table, but the gun stayed. Strange, it felt like I had glued it to my hand.

If my heart hadn’t already skipped a beat, it did pretty much do so then.

The phone rang loud and my gun was instantly pointing at it.

I raised it up and groaned, getting up carefully to walk over to the receiver.

I picked it up and placed it to my ear, a little bit angry to be disturbed. “Hello?” My voice sounded too disgruntled.

“And a very happy hello to you too, my dear.” I smiled all of a sudden.

“Brad! You couldn’t have picked a worse time. I jumped out of my skin.”

“I scared the Silver Assassin!” He laughed.

“Shut up, Brad,” I grumbled.

“Just open the door, please.”

I raised an eyebrow, “Huh?”

“You’ll see.”

I complied, walking to the front door and opening it to my dear sweet beloved Brad, just ending the call and smiling deeply at me. I snorted and went over to the handset and hung up the phone.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, curiously.

“Gee, Chan,” he said, raising hands in defence, “Can’t I see you anymore without a full arranged booking?”

“Don’t start…” This wasn’t the time to crack stupid jokes, I could tell you.

“What’s with the gun?” he asked. I suddenly realised I had it in my hand, tight.

That sudden trail of power of a monster had been Brad; I wouldn’t tell him I sensed him, in a sort of bad way, he’d take it personally.

“Protection. You can never be sure,” I raised it up, clicking the safety on.

“Are you sure with me?” Could I hear hurt in his voice?

The gun left my hand in seconds as I threw it onto the chair, within diving distance. “Happy?”

“Very.”

I just smirked, walking up to him slow and easy. He watched me with his lovely brown eyes, seeming to trace my steps. I let my hands slip around his waist until I was pressed against him firmly. I looked up at him before sighing, relaxed, and putting my head against his chest.

“You don’t need to book,” I said, almost lost in a whisper. I raised my tone higher, but it wasn’t a bad tone, “But you still need to warn me in advance.”

“Oh, but I thought you’d enjoy a surprise.” He leaned down close and stopped as I pressed my right index finger onto his lips, pushing his head back slowly.

“Surprises aren’t my speciality.” My finger lowered to his cheek to jab lightly.

“Oh come on, Chan!” He gave me the cute puppy dog smile that only Lycanthrope’s can seem to master perfectly. “Loosen up a little.”

“I’ll loosen up when I’m six feet under,” I declared before flopping back onto the sofa. The logic behind that seemed unfitting, with rigor mortis and stuff… oh, never mind, not a nice thing to think about.

He followed, practically leaping over the side arm to sit in the seat next to me. I turned around and shuffled to him to rest my head on his lap and letting out a relaxed moan.

“Tired?” he asked.

“Exhausted…” I replied, the word just making me want to yawn long and loud.

“Your job getting you down?” I turned my gaze up to him and rolled my eyes, and he got the picture. “That bad, huh?”

“The boss is on my case, the police gives me little time to sleep and I have to run around sorting things out on both sides.” Carefully I sat up, still positioned in his lap. “My job is never done! They’ll run me into the ground.”

“Have you got work tonight?” He was so damn inquiring tonight.

“Not really, but I’m doing a favour for the police.” I rested into his shoulder and he wrapped an arm against me. “This monster killer can be anything, so I’m gonna pay a little visit to the annoying one himself.”

“You mean?” He looked at me, almost disappointed.

I had to clear the air. “You don’t have to worry about Patrick, he can woo me but he will always fail.” I softly kissed Brad’s cheek. “I’ve got you.”

He nodded, excepting that fact, but it still bugged him. “I just don’t trust the guy. You shouldn’t keep getting yourself tangled with him. Vampires are bad news.”

“You don’t think I already know that?” I stood up, folding my arms. I had wished for that moment to be a thick silence but the TV took that away with the moans of the actor zombies. I sighed and grabbed the remote, flicking it off.

“Chan…”

“You don’t need to worry about me!” I snapped. “I can take care of myself.”

He cringed slightly. “I worry for a reason. If I lose you, I’d go crazy.”

“Come off it, Brad,” I sighed. “You would have a proper wolfy mate if I kicked the bucket.”

He looked saddened by that and I gave him an apologetic look.

There was only a moment of silence and nothingness in the room before he stood up fluidly and came to stand in front of me, bringing a hand up to touch my cheek.

“You know, Chan,” He stared at me longingly, “When I first met you, I knew of your reputation for being masked, being more behind that pretty face, having a certain feminine charm and I was instantly attracted by that. I know that you know of the female pack members becoming enraged that you are playing alpha female without even being a wolf, but I don’t care. Do you care about what I am, since you are the bounty hunter, the monsters’ nightmare?”

“I wouldn’t be dating you if I cared,” I said honestly. “True, the wolf part kind of freaks me out but I can live with it, and so you have to learn to live with that side of me you can’t control.”

He nodded, almost reluctantly. He didn’t want to see me hurt, knowing I had a few too many enemies out there. He thought all the killing was meaningless. I couldn’t blame him for seeing things the way he does, but I live my life and he lives his. That is that.

“You been keeping your pack under close watch, since we have a murdering, carnivorous monster out there? Killing and removing organs and limbs so strangely, it’s just too weird. Do werewolves do that?”

“I’ve never known one to.” He paused. “But mind you, I’ve known a few who are sick. Like one time, I had a pack member who cut up human limbs for trophies and put them on plaques on his wall.”

“Sick…” Another thing to make you put off lunch forever.

“And that isn’t even the end of it. He kept some of his maimed victims alive and did unspeakable things to them.”

I closed my eyes and shook my head. “That thing was screwed up, I don’t even want to know anymore!”

“I don’t think it is a Lycanthrope, Chan.” Brad touched my shoulders. “I don’t even think it is a vampire, but then again, you never know. You’ll just have to find out.”

“That is my mission tonight.” I sat down on the sofa once more.

“Well at least let me give you a lift,” he suggested.

I jumped up. “Oh no! I see where this is leading.” I put a hand to his chest, “Look, Brad, I know you like to know I’m safe but you can’t hold my hand all the time. Little Chan is capable of taking care of herself…” I went to pick up the gun and pointed it up for safety. “… And I come with the finest weapons on this planet.”

“Come on, I want to do you a favour,” he said, pleading. “Anything can happen out there. You could end up like one of those people.”

“Only people who have been in the ‘Blood Bath’ in this theory will become victims. I’m not going there tonight.”

He lowered his gaze. “I’m just looking out for you.”

Christ, I think I hurt him. Shoving him away isn’t always the best way to solve things. I gave in.

“Fine, you can drive me. But first, I’m going to bed. I need some sleep.” I headed for my room, in defeat.

He brightened up. “Need company?”

That paused me in mid stride. I turned to him, seeing his face coy behind the sudden innocence he was trying to cheat me over with.

“You can sit up beside me,” I grinned cheekily. “No time for funny stuff… well, not today anyway.”

Chapter 3

I was grateful for the four and a half-hours sleep I claimed. Brad had kept a watchful eye over me and woke me at nightfall promptly.

Just before I had settled down for some rest I had called up Pat, and he was happy that was calling around. Smug git! I wasn’t gonna fall into his arms, not now or ever.

I dressed much more warmly, as it was going to be a long cool summer’s night. I much tighter T-shirt, sporting a red rose was today’s pick to go along with stone washed jeans and a much darker blue denim jacket.

Brad drove me up to Patrick’s abode; a dance club called ‘Deadly Whisper’. Nice name – if you were a sick minded pervert – and I could definitely name one for you right then and there.

We parked around the back entrance, shrouded by shadows. I was armed to the teeth. Never take me for a chicken, just someone that knows better then to be around the monsters unarmed.

The 9mm was in its holster, the knife at my ankle and one of the Uzi on a back strap, hidden under my jacket.

“You sure you don’t want me to go in with you?” Brad asked me for the umpteenth time.

“I keep telling you, I’ll be fine,” I assured him, “I’m a grown woman. And besides, turning up with you may put him off being nice towards me. He’ll answer my questions better if I’m alone.”

He shrugged, dejected. “Fine, but I’ll wait here. You can’t force me to go. I’ll watch your back from a far then.”

I couldn’t boot him away, not my place to anymore, he was doing what I wanted to a certain extent, but I couldn’t be his commanding officer.

“Alright, wait here and don’t come after me unless you sense I’m in real danger,” I told him plain and straight.

“Understood.” He saluted annoyingly.

I leaned over towards him and kissed him firmly on the lips. He returned the kiss with the same amount of sweet sensual passion. We parted and he smiled.

“Good luck,” he wished me.

I nodded in gratitude. “I’ll need it.” I exited the car without another word.

It was a short walk around to the main entrance and I walked a firm pace, coming up to the front door where a broadly built, pale vampire stood, looking me up and down. He towered over me, but of course, everyone else did, he didn’t deter me at all.

“Move aside, freak show,” I spat his way. “I have an appointment with your master and you wouldn’t want to put a wedge in the proceedings.” I leaned in with an evil smile on my face. “Frankly, he wouldn’t like that one bit, would he?”

The vamp shook his head and spoke in a rough voice, turned scared. That was a new one.

“Chan Kwan?”

“Yes. That’s me.” He had almost leapt out of his skin.

He stepped back, not really knowing he had done so. “You are expected.”

I passed him, smiling brightly. “Thank you greatly.” Evil Chan, evil! Ah, what do I care?

The music drummed against the walls so high and loud that you could feel it inside your chest, over your heart like a second beating. It was music you could groove aimlessly down to, something I wasn’t interested in, especially here of all places.

The room was dark and filled with bodies moving against the coloured lights flowing over the room and the strobe lighting that now and again went on and off and distorted the scene, like you missed seconds off your actions.

Vampires and humans danced about in perfect harmony. One human, or more or less I could tell from the bite marks, a vampire junky, moved in front of my face, dancing away with pale eyes looking at me.

It was unnerving, but I just brushed past without a backward glance.

Junkies are addicted to being engulfed in the pleasures of being fed upon; frankly, it sickens me to hell to think about it.

I came into a much quieter area, but still the music pierced around me. I was in a long corridor, walking right down to the end where there was a large red stained wood door. I knocked heavily and loud.

“Enter,” Pat’s voice called out in glossy perfection. I hated it when vampires acted all damn perfect; it was annoying to high heaven.

I opened the door, throwing it back and walked in, grabbing the door and slamming it to. Not intentional, only do it when I’m walking with a purpose.

I was now in the sights of the Master Vampire of Brooklyn and other unnamed states, but who cares about the little places. Dark hair and chocolate eyes faced me; his face was nicely rosy, probably from a fresh feed. He was fairly tall, but sat down, he shrunk.

“Ah Chan, my angel.” He stood and tried to greet me with open arms.

My hand came up in front, stopping him. “This isn’t a casual visit. I’m talking business.” I then jabbed a finger at his face, “And don’t call me angel!”

“As you wish. I’ve noticed anyway that you always talk business,” he chuckled, offering me a seat, which I took.

“I don’t come to you EVER for social calls,” I reminded him, watching with triumph as I swore I could see a tint of sadness fade in.

“Well true.” He wasn’t fazed. Damn him.

He sat down again and interlocked his fingers, resting back into the black leather of his seat. His office was a dark place, lit by one small wall lamp and small candles placed about. Too dreary in here for my tastes and it was so antique it was creepy, the ornaments and décor were reaching far back across the centuries.

I locked onto his face and frowned at his eerie smile. Patrick Donaghue, born in Dublin about 400 years ago. For that age he wasn’t looking bad, only appearing to be about thirty. I wasn’t into really old men, especially anything of his age. And the fact that he was a vampire put me off.

I jumped, as the shadows on the floor seemed to squirm at me feet, my heart raced as something grazed my leg, much like the feeling of a hand brushing up to me. My gun shot out as I watched fingers disappear behind Pat’s desk.

“No touching her, Adam,” Pat warned sternly, “You’ll end up in the city morgue.”