The door shut behind her, the chills from outside making its last dash inside. Irene walked back to the kitchen, shuffling through the various envelopes in her hand. Her hair dripped and clung to her face as her eyes scanned the letters. Flyers, coupons, and mail for her father - likely bills. At the bottom of a stack was a postcard. On the back it read:

Hey Honey

Just dropping you a line in hopes of cheering you up. I miss you already. I wish my trip could be shorter, but the two meetings we needed just couldn't be arranged closer together. I know I don't need to tell you to eat your vegetables, so I'll be a bad Dad and tell you to eat more meat. I'll be home in a few days. Can't wait to see you.

-Dad

1. Make sure Cyrus pays his rent on time!

Irene sighed and held the postcard to her heart. What's become of me? She'd been rationing her food carefully to avoid having to go shopping. She was often late for school, refusing to leave until sunrise, and came immediately home and avoided everyone, especially Joseph, afraid somehow he'd get pulled in as well. Her only companion left was Silver. I need to get out. I need to do more than just hide and wait.

Just as Irene was about to turn and head back out the door, she heard the doorbell ring. Her heart gave a start and she almost bolted for the basement. No! I am done hiding! However, she remained cautious as she crept towards the door, hearing a muffled knock. She opened the door a crack and peered through. Her eyes were instantly drawn to someone short in a very large coat.

"Are you Irene?" came a quiet, feminine voice.

Irene could barely hear her above the hammering of the rain. It didn't help that she had a scarf obstructing her mouth. All over the girl was draped in oversized clothes. The sleeves on her coat went past her fingers, her pants were baggy, ratty, and probably wicked up half the puddles she walked through. Two doe-like eyes were all that was visible of her face. From what Irene could see, though, she guessed the girl to be about twelve or thirteen.

"Who is asking?" Her tone was abrupt and uninviting; she wasn't fond of strangers knowing her name.

"Oh, uh... Amber. Amber Green. Though I g-guess a name isn't really helpful." She brought her hands together, wiggling them until they clasped together beneath her long sleeves. "I really need t-to find Irene. So, are you Irene? I've been knocking on doors..."

Is this the latest trap? Irene kept the door only open a sliver, not wanting to give the girl an inch to invade her home. "And why do you need to find her so bad?"

The girl before her shifted her weight and ineffectually tried to wipe some of the rain from her eyes with an already soggy sleeve. "I've got a message." Her eyebrows sloped piteously. "P-please... just t-tell me so I can d-do my job, or move on."

Irene's mouth twisted to the side in contempt and skepticism. This tattered girl looked like just the sort of person Gloria would have had to work with. Was this some last ditch attempt to get her revenge? "If it's about Cyrus, he's not here."

The visitor deflated as she pushed out a large sigh. "So you are Irene?" She shifted her weight again and took a step closer to the door, huddling under the overhang on the porch.

"Yes." Irene furrowed her eyebrows, her nose tingling. She glanced beyond the girl, expecting to see some imposing figure lurking. There was none. Despite the girl moving closer, she did not open the door any further, leaving her out in the cold.

"Finally! I've been looking for the right house - I wasn't g-given very good instructions. No house number, just what sorta house I was looking for b-but several of them matched and I was b-b-beginning to think I got the street wrong and..." the girl trailed off as her eyes slowly slid to the right. She rocked on the balls of her feet, looking down for a moment. Irene impatiently waited for her to finish her sentence. The girl tilted her head, still not looking up. "...I'm just really relieved I found you." Amber finally looked up, and she appeared momentarily bewildered. Then her eyes widened and eyebrows lifted. "Oh! Right! The message. C-can I c-come in? It's not something I should t-tell you here on the doorstep. It's about stuff you already should know about, b-but still..."

Irene's lips palled distally, but they didn't quite make a smile. She slowly opened the door wider, but still blocked the entry. "You could hide a lot in those coats."

Amber looked up, lifting her red, pointy nose from the shelter of her scarf. "Oh… b-but I…" she stammered, her tuque pushed up by her raised eyebrows. She slowly brought her sleeved hands together until they were in front of her chest. "I won't - c-can't - hurt you. I'm just a messenger…"

Irene scrutinised the girl further. Small and pathetic. Could she really be a threat? It could be a trick. She might just be a spy. Or is she a new plaything of Cyrus's? Irene swung the door wider and stepped aside. "Fine, come in."

"Thanks." Amber stepped in, dripping onto the linoleum of the small foyer.

Irene closed the door behind her, watching her warily. "Here, let me help you get those off and hang them to dry." And check for weapons.

Amber darted away, her hands going frantically to her scarf, hiking it up. She shook her head, eyes wide and eyebrows pinched together. Irene raised an eyebrow reproachfully. The girl sighed, and took off the coat and tuque. However, she held the scarf tight, adamantly refusing to relinquish it. With the coat off, the girl's limbs were even twiggier than Merle's. It was an unhealthy scrawniness, punctuated by her peanut belly which bulged incongruously.

"Would you like some tea?"

"Sure…"

At Irene's invitation, Amber sat down at the kitchen table.

Irene turned on one of the elements. "Well, what is this important message?" She walked over and took a seat across from the peculiar girl.

"Uh... let's see... I hope I remember it right. Gabriel's d-distracted b-but he's not d-done with you. Uh, and Cyrus is fighting b-back. Stay close to home and t-trust no one." Amber twiddled her thumbs as she relayed the message, avoiding eye contact. Astonishment shone on Irene's face. Amber peeked up briefly, then looked down again, her cheeks growing pink to match her opossum-like nose. "I, uh, that's all… and… yeah."

"Did Cyrus send you?" Irene asked louder than she had meant to.

Amber slouched like a scolded puppy. "No… I've never met this Cyrus guy," she claimed apologetically.

Irene leaned forward, her eyes intense upon the smaller teenager. "Then who sent you?"

Amber squirmed, wrapping her arms about herself tightly. "I-I c-can't t-tell you. I c-can't t-tell anyone!" Irene's eyebrows shot up, but then quickly plummeted down as her eyes narrowed. Amber bit her lip and shook her head. "We're only t-trying to help."

"Help?" Only people who have tried to help were only helping themselves. "Why hasn't this mystery person stepped in and prevented…" Irene gestured her hand in the air, "...all the things that have happened?"

Amber lowered her head, putting her hands on her lap. "I d-don't know. Oh!" Amber dug around in her pockets. Irene tensed, readying herself for an attack. Instead, the girl pulled out a small cloth pouch, which she untied and spilled out its contents. Onto the table rolled a few white berries, and a bundle of herbs.

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"Is that...?"

"Mistlet-toe! Almost forgot. This is for your front d-door."

Eagerly, Irene gathered up the coveted plant. If not Cyrus, then who is trying to help? And why the secrecy? Her thoughts were interrupted by a rattling noise from the stove. She jumped up to check on the boiling water. "You must be working for a vampire."

"Maybe..." came Amber's quiet voice.

Irene filled two mugs with boiling water, then got down the box of teabags. She popped one in each mug and brought them over to the table. "Let that steep for a bit." Irene then went to her pantry and fetched a faded yellow container. She popped open the lid and peered inside, sighing at the sight of just a thin remnant of caramel-coloured sludge at the bottom. Her creamed honey was running out. Still, she brought it over with two spoons and put it on the table.

Silence stretched between them as they waited for the tea to be drinkable. Irene spent the time staring at Amber, still unsure whether she could be entirely trusted. The presentation of mistletoe did put her in higher estimation, but there were too many holes that needed filling.

Amber displayed increasing signs of anxiety. She wouldn't look Irene straight in the eye, and often fiddled with the sleeves of her clothes or scratched her head, running her fingers through her bobbed brown hair. She was the first to break the silence. "So um... I don't get t-told much. I just do what I'm t-told. B-but aren't you the girl from the news? The one that got t-taken near that ice cream place?"

Irene sighed and opened the honey, carefully scooping what she could from the bottom without getting her knuckles sticky. "Yes. But I don't want to talk about that."

"Oh."

The spoon slipped from Irene's grasp and she held back a roar of frustration, instead only emitting a growl.

Amber looked at her hand, particularly the stub where a finger ought to be. "You p-probably don't wanna t-talk about that, either."

"Astute observation," Irene countered in irritation as she stood up abruptly, going to the sink to wash her hand. "We both have our secrets."

"Oh... yeah... I guess..." Amber muttered. When Irene returned to the table, Amber had taken the container herself and was carefully scooping out what remained into her mug.

"Right... help yourself..." Irene muttered as she stirred what honey she did manage to salvage into her own mug. The sweetness of the honey uplifted the zesty aroma of the orange tea.

"Still... it's sure nice to know someone else knows stuff. Like, vampire stuff. I wish I could t-tell you more, b-but..." Amber frowned and trailed off, her sentence tailed by the tinkling of her spoon against the mug.

"But...?"

"Well... the... uh... p-person I'm helping out wants anon... anonononee... nony.. ana..."

"Anonymity?"

"Yes! That!" Amber's eyes lit up and she looked across the table at Irene. "You must get good grades. Wonder what it's like to be smart..."

"Smarts isn't the only way to get good grades. It takes dedication, too." Irene shook off excess tea from her spoon and then set it aside. She brought the mug up just under her lip and blew over the surface of the warm beverage. With a little test, she decided it was still too hot to drink and set it back down.

"I guess so..." Amber didn't seem entirely convinced as she slowed down her stirring of her tea, staring into the mug.

Irene leaned back in her chair, staring at the odd girl across from her. "So... Amber." Amber looked up attentively. "Why are you doing someone's bidding, even when they don't tell you much?"

"Oh... it's a t-trade." Amber shrugged and she scooped up a bit of tea and blew on her spoon. Most of it spilled back into the cup.

I knew it! Irene frowned. "Be careful, what you're bargaining for might not really be what you think it is."

"How d'you mean?"

Irene tapped her fingers on the table. "It's immortality, isn't it? Because I don't think a girl like you would last long as a vampire."

Amber's eyes bulged and she dropped her spoon back into the mug. "What!?" She used her sleeve to hurriedly clean up a few splatters of tea that got on the table. "No! I... you're right. I'd make a t-terrible vamp-p-pire! B-blood makes me squeamish."

Irene arched an eyebrow. "Then what?"

"I... that's none of..." Amber sniffled, then rubbed her soggy nose with the back of her sleeve. "Well what ab-bout you? Why're you mixed up with them?"

"I didn't want to be!" Irene sighed, her chest feeling tight as she recalled how she ended up in this situation. "I thought I was helping someone in need, but it turned out to be a vampire."

"Really?" Amber straightened up from her slouched position. "Me too!" She gasped and then looked away. "I mean... uh..."

"Is that so?" The seat creaked as Irene leaned back. "I guess no matter how strong they are, in the end they do need us as more than just food." She laced her fingers together and set them on the table top. "So. Amber. You saved someone, and they turned out to be a vampire. Let me guess, you swore to tell no one, lest something bad should befall you and this city?"

Amber gulped and nodded her head.

Irene looked down at her mug and gave it a sniff. After stirring and checking the colour of the tea, she brought it up for an experimental sip. Her lower lip quivered with anticipation of heat, while the rest of her trembled with a thirst to know more. She slurped the hot beverage as fast as possible, not allowing it to stay too long and burn her lip and tongue. Once again, she set the mug aside to let it sit a while longer. "You have my sympathy. Dealing with vampires has been nothing but trouble for me."

Amber tilted her head to the side, and then sipped some tea from her spoon. "It's scary to think about. B-but I never met any other vampires."

"Well then, consider yourself lucky." Irene narrowed her eyes, scanning the girl again. "But you know that I know about vampires, surely this other vampire you are serving knows this too. So why all the secrecy?"

With a shrug, the younger teenager went back to stirring her tea, scooping up the tea bag and then dropping it in again a few times. "Dunno. I think... I think h... er... I think my vamp-p-pire d-doesn't want the attention of the b-big b-bad. Um. Gabriel I think it is? Just a name, but always said with... well I just get a feelin' he is really, really b-b-bad news."

"He is." Irene looked at her missing finger. Amber looked at it too, her cheeks flushed, then she looked away. "But I'd never tell Gabriel about your vampire, whoever she is."

"I uh... well that's not for me to d-decide. She... wait! How'd you know she's a she?" The scrawny girl placed her hands on the table staring wide-eyed.

"You nearly slipped up and said 'her'. Also, your lack of pronoun use left me thinking you were trying to hide the gender, and I find most people take more effort to hide the gender of anonymous females than of anonymous males." Irene took a calm sip of tea, this time without making as much noise. She raised her eyebrows as Amber stared at her, dumfounded. So my benefactor is a woman. I haven't met any female vampires yet. Cyrus's creator, perhaps? He never said she was dead, just out of the picture.

"Oh no... I said too much... p-p-please don't ask anymore!" Amber's breathing became rapid. "I p-promised I'd p-protect her if she'd p-protect me, and I'm screwing it up!"

Protect her? Why would a vampire rely on someone like Amber to protect them? "It's alright. I still have no idea who she is. Your secret is safe. Now take a breath, breathe out slowly, and have more tea."

Amber didn't comply, holding her breath instead in bewildered silence as she gawked at Irene. She seemed frozen, not even resorting to her usual twitching and fiddling.

"Amber. Breathe!"

This time the message got through and the girl gave a loud gasp of air. To demonstrate, Irene took in a breath, and breathed out slowly, gesturing for Amber to do the same. The girl caught on, sucked in some air, then eased it out. After some more breathwork, she raised her shoulders and took a sip of tea.

"Sorry..." she muttered after she swallowed. "By the way... this is kinda nice. Normally I don't like t-tea. Too bitter or b-boring."

"Don't worry. Anyway, it sounds like the rain is lifting. You probably should get going." Irene took another sip of the tea, savouring the mellow, citrus flavour.

"Yeah... b-besides, if I'm out any later, D-d-dad'll throw a fit." She hiked up her scarf again and held the warm cup of tea just under her nose. her eyes looked watery, but Irene couldn't decide if that was just an effect of the steam, from her recent panic, or something else. Despite saying she needed to go, it seemed as though Amber really didn't want to leave. Alas, Irene did not wish for her to stay. Not to be tempted to push the delicate girl to the brink just to satisfy her own curiosity.

"Well, finish your tea first, of course."

Having spent so much time alone lately, small talk seemed almost impossible for Irene to drum up. And it felt as if any relevant topic was off limits. So again the two girls lapsed into silence, stealing quizzical glances at once another, but not daring to ask further questions.

Once Amber finished her mug, she pushed it away from herself to signal that she was finished. "I guess I b-better go now." She looked towards Irene, eyes pleading a moment before she stood up and turned away.

Does she need my help but is too afraid to ask? I can't help her, though, if she doesn't tell me her situation. Swallowing hard, knowing the sort of danger she likely was sending the younger girl back into, Irene stood to help Amber with her coat. She then handed over her toque, locking gazes with the younger teen. For a moment they gazed into each other's eyes, the latter's watering up again. Her reddened nose sniffled, but she looked down, shrugging on her coat.

"Remember... stay out of t-trouble. I'll... p-probably see you again," Amber muttered as she pulled on her hat.

"Take care, Amber."

Once the door shut behind the other girl, Irene tried to push her concern about her new acquaintance out of her mind. She was too sore from her losses to carry another burden. Instead, she immediately went to work affixing mistletoe over her front door.