The night was cold and and quiet.

A young girl stumbled through the streets, clutching her head tightly. She just had to get away from the party. She groaned in pain, her head felt stuffy but she was sure she hadn't drank much. She suddenly felt very parched.

She suddenly regretted leaving, but the club seemed a long ways away now.

Maybe if she kept moving forward she'd find a convenience store. She kept at her unsteady pace staggering and the pains in her head and throat increased, her eyes blurred over. She wanted to scream but a part of her brain kept her mute, was she over reacting? Maybe she was drunk? Yeah that explained why she was hearing voices of men she couldn't see.

"What a shitty day mate." One of said in a gruff accented voice.

"I know what you mean, pay's shit yet they work us so hard we barely get to relax." His companion added.

"What a load of- hey, what's this?"

She could hear their footsteps approaching she could feel the disgusting intentions from the air around them.

"My, lovely lady, what are you doing out this late?" The first man asked.

Her brain struggled to make words too focused on her desire to stop her slowly building thirst. She needed water. Or at least she thought that was what she needed.

"She's drunk." The second one pointed out.

"How horrible." The first commented with a leer in his tone. "We wouldn't want you running into the wrong crowd now would we. Come with us."

She felt strong meaty hand slip around her waist and drag her in an unknown direction. She sway and moved her limbs uselessly. She tried screaming but the pain in her throat made it come out deep and hoarse.

She was thrown against a wall.

With the ease at which they did this one would know thus wasn't their first time carrying out such a heinous act.

The first man went for her shirt while the second went for her skirt. She squirmed.

"Oi while we're at it let's take this lovely necklace could fetch a lot." The second man called to his friend who only grunted.

The you lady felt on the brink of death, her whole body was burning with a strange heat, she no longer felt welcome in her own skin. She could feel something pushing her further from existence, something frightening, something sinister. Before she could fully comprehend what was happening she was unconscious.

The men were totally not expecting what happened next. The girl in their arms let out a loud piercing shriek of a laugh which was soon followed by the screaming of men.

***

"Such strenuous movements all to impress people." Katie commented as she and Val watched Bridget perform a dance routine from one music video that just came out.

"I wasn't asking your opinion." She snarled. "Val, what do you think?"

Val burst into an exaggerated cheer, "Amazing! Beautiful! Bravo!" He fell back to the bench laughing under her glare. How someone could be so intimidating yet insecure was beyond him. They were at the park where they would often hang out after school and they were waiting for Symon to return with their smoothies.

He met Bridget's eyes, "Honestly speaking you're really good, your talent is undeniable." He said with all honesty.

Bridget nodded proudly, "That's right you little bitch, worship me."

She crossed her arms narrowing her eyes at him. "And you better cheer as hard as before at my dumb ballet recital."

Val nodded in affirmation. Bridget had told them she preferred any other kind of dance to ballet. The only reason she took ballet was because her father wanted her to.

"Stupid old man." She cursed under her breath. She then turned up the volume of the music playing from her phone, "Enough of that, I want to dance and I choose you as my partner." She said in a heavy British accent and pointed at Katie who was willfully ignoring her for Math homework. Bridget smirked and before Val could convince her not to carry out whatever evil deed she had in mind she had grabbed Katie by both hands and led the girl to the middle of the walkway, swing the blonde girl this way and that in a very embarrassing dance.

Val brought up his book to hide his face in a bid to act like he didn't know them which would have worked if the three of them weren't wearing the same uniform.

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Just as Val was contemplating breaking them apart Symon arrived with their drinks in a small plastic tray. Val could easily spot what was probably the most expensive smoothie which Symon had definitely bought for himself.

"Kyle, thanks." Bridget said, swinging a struggling Katie away and running towards Symon to grab her order. Katie joined them on the bench after yelling at an unmoved Katie.

"You're impossible to put up with." The blonde spat hotly before grabbing her drink an plopping down next to Symon who was beside Val. The four them sat in quiet companionship. Val enjoyed little moments like this with them and wished he could share his other life with them. How the white haired boy beside him wasn't his 'cousin Kyle' but Symon the cat, how he had been through hell on his practice mission, how he was learning so many cool spells and making other good friends besides them and so much more.

But the governors had shot down his request to tell them. He could only do so in dire circumstances that threatened their lives and after things had calmed down their memories would be wiped.

He had been so deep in thought he hadn't realized someone had struck up a conversation which led a question to be directed his way.

"Where'd you say you were heading to after this?" Bridget repeated when he stared at her in confusion.

"Oh, uh, I'm hanging out with Alex." Despite how close they had become Alex was opposed to the idea of hanging out with his friends. He wasn't angry about it but it made his schedule a bit frustrating especially since he wanted to impress his crush and keep his friends close.

"That proud prick? why?" She asked.

"We sort of clicked at the party." Val said, hoping he wasn't blushing.

"Yeah, really clicked." Symon stressed his whole sentence which led Val to kick him.

"Besides he's not proud he's just different to people he doesn't know, trust me I'll have you two meet him in no time."

"Wait, he's met Kyle?"

"At the party. He doesn't like me though."

Val's watch beeped signaling friend time was over. Now he had to run home, change and hope he got to the shopping mall on time.

"This little outing could be considered a date you know?" Alex said his voice tight with underlying annoyance. Val didn't like that but he said nothing and let Alex finish. "Do you really have to bring your pet?"

There it was.

Symon spoke up from behind the two of them, "I'm not just his pet, I'm his best friend, here to convince him that you're a terrible person, hunter."

"Can we just enjoy the walk?" Val asked turning this way and that to get a look at all the stores they were passing by. "This place sure seems expensive."

"Just point out whatever you want Val I'll get it." Alex cooed and turned expectantly to Val, hoping to see a cute smile of appreciation or something but instead was met with a distant look he didn't like, "You're much more quiet than you were on the phone."

Val was startled out of his thoughts. "Oh it's nothing, nothing at all."

Alex didn't believe that one bit, he shot a glance at Symon and figured that he wouldn't be able to pry with the other boy around so he looked around for a distraction. His eyes found a small shop in the corner. "Hey that shop has really cute looking collars."

Symon's ears perked up, he might be in human form but he loved collars, really loved them. He looked towards the shop and almost ran into it when he remembered something, "Nah, it looks super expensive, even Val's book money won't help there."

Val said nothing, although there was a noticeable twitch in his forehead. Alex pulled out a credit card and said the code in hushed whisper, "Have fun, Symon."

"This doesn't mean I like you." The cat said before dashing off.

Alex dropped the fake smile before turning back to Val with a look that was between stern and anxious. "Something's on your mind, you need to at least share it with someone. I'm guessing it something you can't tell.. 'him'?" He gestured over to Symon.

He really wished he could share his Insecurities with Symon but when he remembered how Symon hadn't even made eye contact with him that day he felt like even more of a disappointment. He really didn't want to bother anyone with his dumb worries when he was already working on becoming stronger to make sure no one would get hurt.

He'd never have to lose someone in real life. He'd never lose Symon, or his parents, the girls and even Alex.

He felt a gentle squeeze on his shoulder and looked down to see Alex with a comforting smile, "Whatever it is you can tell me whenever you want to, let's go get some-"

"Wait..." he held unto Alex's arm, "I actually want to talk about it."

"That's a bit messed up, even for experience training." Alex said licking his ice cream spoon.

"It was, seeing everyone die was scary but it was just the motivation I needed." He said taking a determined bite out of his own treat.

"Kind of wish the cat did die though." Alex mumbled.

"What?"

"What?" He repeated with an innocent look, he then placed his free hand on Val's cheek, "The evaluation is in the past, now focus on your future. I'm sure you'll make an amazing Investigator. Just make sure you always come back in one piece." He leaned in closer enabling Val to catch the mischievous sparkle in his eyes, "I still have a lot to do with you...oh, there's a drop of ice cream right here..." he poked out his tongue to swipe it, well aware of how red Val was turning. So easily flustered. He chuckled inwardly about to get it when an obnoxiously loud voice called out.

"Oi! Val! Rich kid! I've been looking all over for you two!" Symon walked over with several shopping bags and shoved Alex's credit card back into his hand, then turned fully to Val, "It's almost time to head to training."

"What a pain." Alex grumbled before turning to Val and placing a quick kiss on the cheek, "Remember always come back in one piece."

Val nodded while still blushing.

"Trust me you're gonna be happy you get him back at all." Symon said, he then dragged Val towards the exit.

***

Val went to work expecting just to have another day training after all he still hadn't managed to summon his weapon. All he kept getting was a long handle.

"Probably a spear." Mika said as he led Val and Symon in the direction of an unfamiliar corridor.

"He might must be doing it wrong, Val's more of a sword person." Kenta said following.

"He'll figure it out later, you said we have a mission, Red. What Is it?" Symon asked.

Val had been shocked at first, they had gotten a mission, a real one this time. He wasn't sure whether to be excited or scared. On one hand, he felt ready, he had done training with some simulation beasts and had learned more combat spells. On the other hand, he was still nervous he'd screw up.

"We're at the briefing room already so you'll get your explanation now." Mika said throwing open a large oak door.

"It's a vampire." A young woman who had called herself doctor Raima said. Her finger pointed to two holes on the neck of a dead corpse on the table in the room. Val felt very sorry for whoever that was. The 'vampire' that had attack the victim and his friend had disfigured the bodies badly the only thing one could use to identify the were their work tags.

"John McCain and Elias Ashock, both found dead in an alleyway. Location, London. Cause of death: blood drainage." The Doc said.

"We wouldn't be called if it were any old vampire attack then why don't you just tell us what's up?" Symon said. Val was beginning to suspect Symon had worked in the Committee before because he seemed to know alot about how they worked.

She shot him a grim smile, "You're right kitty." she pointed to the holes again to draw attention to a tattoo like design around the holes. A circle encasing a diagram of vines with blood red leaves and flowers. "Vampires leave markings on their victims. Only three particular vampires have these circles, and only one has the color red."

"The Blood Queen." A boy around Kenta's age spoke up. According to Mika he was another assigned teammate, Kevin Hemingway.

"Exactly, right now, she's probably a grade three, easy to handle if you get to her right now and trap her back in her locket prison." Doc Raima explained.

"The big question is how someone got the locket in the first place, it's meant to be under lock and key in the vaults at London." Mika said.

"Another problem will be finding a person with the unique blood type to become host." Symon added.

"To find the locket and figure out how the wearer got it is a job for you five. The cops are working on the vault but they are on stand by if the vamp gets too aggressive."

"This seems easy." Symon smirked.

"Let's go pick out weapons and get started already, this may drag on even into the weekend." Mika scowled.

Val's jaw dropped, He really couldn't work on the weekend, Bridget's performance was already a must on his schedule, what would he do?

He stared at the dead corpse long and hard. He had read about the blood Queen and her two powerful slaves. She had to drink blood from both slaves to regain here full strength. after which shed enhance to a grade two which would be a very unwelcome evolution.

It seemed like he and his team would just have to capture that bitch before she finds any of her two idiots.

Easier said than done though.