Even though I had never drunk alcohol before, I heard suffering from blood withdrawal felt like a hangover. It was strange, given that hangovers were from drinking too much. When I woke up, I noticed my chest was hurting a ton, and my stomach felt like I'd eaten too many of those horrid rations. The next thing I noticed was that I was moving.

"I think he's waking up, Walt," someone said. It sounded like Francis. That's when I jolted upward, reaching in my jacket for Wanda. But she wasn't there.

"Woah woah woah, Alex, calm down," Yasuo said, "It's alright, we've got you." I tried to find a moment to relax, but the adrenaline was still pumping. I scanned my surroundings, finding that I was in a car. Walter was driving with Yasuo seated next to him. I'd been seated between Francis and Yayoi.

"What the hell happened to me?" I asked, placing my hand over my chest. "Where are we going?"

"To the meeting," Walter answered, "you suffered from blood withdrawal last night. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before."

Right... blood withdrawal. Because I wasn't an idiot and didn't drink, I started feeling something rise in my throat and doubled over. A bag was conveniently placed between my feet, so I grabbed it. For as much as I had to throw up, I felt like I would need another bag.

Francis rubbed my back as I finished puking. I didn't sit up right away. The dizziness started getting to me, too. "Sorry, Francis..." I managed to get out finally.

"Arrêtez déjà," she spat, "if I have to hear again how sorry you are, I'll toss you onto the next street." She paused for a moment. Even though I couldn't see her, I imagined she was pinching the bridge of her nose. "Désolé, you've just been saying that the entire time."

"Wait... I've been saying that?" Looking up, I noticed everyone in the car either smiled or nodded. I must've been talking like a crazy drunk in my sleep the entire time. Oh, the horror, my reputation indeed was in the pits.

The best part about this was that I hadn't felt hungry anymore. I looked to Francis, who'd had her arms crossed, looking at the window now. She wore similar attire to when we met Yasuo and Yayoi. However, she wore black slacks and a clean white shirt. I turned to Yayoi, who'd been eyeing me with concern.

"You gave us a scare last night. Are you sure you'll be able to do your job?" I wanted to be a big tough guy and boast about how I could do the job with one arm. But for the moment, I wasn't feeling my best.

"I just need some blood. I'll be fine." Yayoi shook her head, then raised her wrist for me to see. Her wrist had been bandaged from something. "Francis and I already have you some blood while you were out. You should be fine."

Turning back to Francis, I saw she had the same bandage. "W-Wait... No, you shouldn't have had to do that."

"Worry not, Alex," Yasuo said, "We'll just keep this between all of us."

I would've been okay with some human blood—another thing to feel guilty about. I leaned back in the seat, hoping to come down from the immense discomfort I'd been feeling. I glanced over at Yayoi again and then back at Francis. The difference between the two was night and day. While Francis seemed annoyed by me, Yayoi kept turning to me at minute intervals. She was trying to act annoyed, too, but seeing me like that must've put her on edge.

I noticed she was again wearing a long black skirt with one of those robes. It was red this time with golden trims. Resting in between her legs had been a sheathed sword. It was one of those Katanas I had heard so much about. But something about it was strange. The hilt was wrapped in a cloth that had black markings on it. It's like one of those Acolyte seals.

I was going to ask about it when the car suddenly stopped. "We're here," said Walter as he cut the engine. We all began to disembark from the car in front of the warehouse. Looking behind our car, there were two more cars parked behind us. It was the Patrol and Spotlight teams. I saw Iggy pop out of the passenger side of the second car. He hurried over to me as soon as he laid eyes on me.

"Yo Alex, this loco mi amigo. Thanks for giving me a chance." He patted me on the back the threw his arm around me. I was glad that at least one person was excited about this. "Don't get too excited. I'm counting on you to keep us alive if the heat comes down."

"That'll be no problem," Iggy stepped back and pointed up. "I'll be in top form tonight under this moon." Looking up, I could see the moon was full. For once, Iggy might've been onto something. Iggy beat his chest, then got down on all fours. His body began to jerk violently as his bones cracked, and pieces of his skin began to fall off like paper on a Christmas present.

He tore off his shirt, and the Visage of a towering Wolfman stood before me. He snarled a little but stuck his tongue out. Vito approached us, carrying a Thompson. "We're good to go, boss. Right on schedule."

"Good... start your patrol. Iggy can understand you, so make sure he alerts you of anything." Vito nodded, then whistled for Iggy, who'd been licking his arm. He and Vito went down to the others to give them the go-ahead.

I felt something poke me in my back, and when I turned around, I found Francis holding Wanda in one hand and Bethany in the other. "You'll need these, right?"

"How'd Bethany get put back together?" Francis pointed to Walter, who'd been talking to Yasuo. "He said he knew a little about trench sweepers."

Taking Wanda first, I checked to see if it was loaded. There wasn't one in the chamber yet, and the safety was on. "You remembered."

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"But, of course, I didn't want to shoot myself accidentally." I smiled, then holstered Wanda. Taking Bethany, I checked for any shells. It'd been loaded but not chambered as well.

"Look... I know you don't want me to say it. But I am sorry... I didn't mean to..." Francis put her finger on my lips to silence me. She shook her head and got a little closer. "Make it up to me by fulfilling your promise," she said in a smoky voice.

The hair on my neck almost stood up. I threw Bethany onto my shoulder by the strap and nodded. "You may need this too, lover boy," Yayoi said as she came by. She handed me a bayonet with a rune carved into the hilt. "It's got a pain spell infused into it. The pain will be enough to keep anyone down even if you don't kill them."

Wincing as I stared at the blade, I wondered what kind of pain this little spell could've added that wasn't already going to be. Pushing that morbid thought to the back of my mind, I tool Bethany by the strap and slung the weapon over my shoulder. I'd have liked to try out my new Tommy, but Bethany would do just fine for today. She certainly beat a carbine.

As we entered the warehouse, it had crates stacked on top of each other to the roof. But those were mainly along the walls. Other crates were scattered about, and they'd been left half open. Taking a look inside one, I found it was filled with lumber.

At the center of the warehouse was a table in the shape of a circle with only four seats, one in each cardinal direction. Judging from the ashtray filled with finished cigarette butts and stains that plagued its surface, it was likely a table the workers used on breaks.

Walter tossed the ashtray while Francis drew a cleanse sigil onto the table. A blue light shined from her fingertip, marking the table. The table was clean in seconds, as if it'd just been bought.

"I have to say, very impressive," said Yasuo as he pulled up a chair. "I've never known Shamans to be able to cast without chanting."

"I've had a lot of practice," said Francis, "Believe me, there are some out in this world that are better."

"Yet not one I've heard in Iscariot city," Yasuo noted. He sat down and pulled his chair up to the table. He then dug into his jacket for his pocket watch to keep an eye on the time. "The Huangs should be arriving any minute now."

Walter took position near the warehouse entrance where we came in. He didn't have a gun, but I suspect he'd be ready to draw immediately. However, I didn't like being caught with my pants down. So I took Bethany off my shoulder from its strap and held it at collapsed low ready. My job was to stand right behind Yayoi the entire time. I was to spring into action when I noticed something was up. Francis took point behind Yasuo, still eyeing his pocket watch as if his life depended on it.

Twenty minutes later, the door opposite us would open. Two chinamen in black suits came in first. The first thing I noted was if they were armed. Both didn't carry anything in their hands, but I could tell they were ready to draw when needed.

Another man was next to enter the warehouse, presumably in his forties. His eyes looked worn out, much like my old man's but without that disgruntled stare. Then someone else entered behind him. A woman, but maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me.

It was Francis. She'd been wearing the most beautiful white gown I'd ever seen. Her cheeks were colored red, as well as her lips. I thought her in a nightgown was breathtaking. But I couldn't imagine she could look prettier than that. Seeing it now, it brought a tear to my eye. But then I felt a strange pain in the front of my head. Something eerily similar to whenever I spoke with Mother. The next thing I knew, Francis and Walter had yanked me back.

"Alex, snap out of it," Francis said as she tugged my arm. She wasn't wearing that pretty white gown anymore, but she wasn't behind me either. Instead, a woman was wearing a long black coat from China with a round top-rimmed hat. She had silky black hair that was braided and stretched down her back. She raised her hand to her face, the sleeve of her coat concealing her appendage, and I could've sworn I heard a giggle.

"My apologies Sir Isoarashi," said the older man, "I'd forgotten my daughter's... special traits still can have a profound effect on a mind that is ill-prepared." The older man took a large slip of paper from his pocket and then bit his thumb enough to make it bleed. He then began drawing on the paper for a few moments, and when he finished, he stuck the paper onto the woman's hat. The paper was written in Cantonese, but I didn't know what it said.

"I should be apologizing, Sir Huang," said Yasuo as he stood up and bowed, "I'd forgotten to brief Alexander on Ms. Xiuying." Yasuo rose and then turned to me. "Everyone, this is the esteemed Huang Haoran and his daughter Xiuying. Xiuying is the Sin Factor of Lust."

"It is an honor to meet the Queen's favorite," Haoran said, "I've heard much of your family's service."

"It's an honor that you'd even acknowledge a family as low as ours," I said, bowing slightly to show some respect. Haoran was another of the five heads and the third I've met this week. Normally, someone like me would only hear of these people. But to be standing in the same room as they solidified how different things were from before.

Both the Huangs and Isoarashi's sat down and began their meeting. They mainly discussed some things regarding trade routes between their two territories. The Huangs had control of most of Iscariot City's Red Light district, aptly named "Rapture," and a couple of blind tigers. The business side of our thing was more of Jules's speed. I could never wrap my head around all the percentages and numbers people would throw around. It'd be about nearly an hour until they were done. Haoran and Yasuo stood and shook hands.

"I'm glad we could come to a valid agreement," Yasuo said, "Getting imported liquor into the country has been quite difficult given the American's prohibition laws."

"Bah... these Americans allowed their women to dictate their country," Haoran spat. "It only makes us profit more from their stupidity."

"Now, Haoran, we can not entirely blame the women. The Americans cannot exercise temperance that got them in this mess."

"Opportunities multiply as they're seized, Yasuo," said Haoran, stroking his chin. "I was skeptical about coming to this country years ago. Had I hesitated, my family would've never prospered. But... speaking of family." Haoran reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. Then came around the table and handed it to Yasuo. "Read it. And be wary, my friend."

Yasuo was hesitant to unfold the paper, but the fact that Haoran gave it to him seemed to sway him to open it. As he read its contents, Yasuo's usual calm expression turned to utter shock. "Is this true, Haoran?"

I knew we weren't supposed to listen in on their conversations, but the curiosity was getting to me. So I focused my hearing on them.

"We do not know if Hector is involved. But Andrade henchmen have been seen driving in trucks. They've been transporting Vampyres."

Vampyre trafficking? Into Iscariot City? What kind of lunatic would even think of doing something so dangerously stupid? Though it does explain the sudden rise in Vampyre attacks lately. Plus, the Andrade Cartel's involvement was out of the ordinary. From what I heard from my old man, Hector Andrade hates Vampyres more than any Paradigm on Earth.

Haoran backed away from Yasuo, "I hope we will have your cooperation," Haoran said as he turned halfway from Yasuo. Yasuo nodded, his brows furrowed, and his usual smile was nowhere to be seen. His lips parted to speak, but a sound from outside would silence him.

The sound was a bloodcurdling scream.