"Alright, Breaches. Last night we raided one of Gabriel's warehouses. He's got more followers than I realized. But they are mostly young and inexperienced." Irene looked up from the desk in the bedroom, a game of solitaire underway. With her middle finger missing, it was still hard to shuffle, but she was finding other ways around it. "We've got intel on a house that Gabriel owns. Which surprised me as I thought I knew most of his holdings," Cyrus remarked as he stood in front of the mirror, looking at the pink mark left from the previous fight.

"How credible is the source?" Irene was more invested in the mission than she realised.

"Eeeeeh... I'm not entirely sure. But once the report of how badly we were trounced reaches Gabriel, he won't expect us to keep up the offense. I'm switching out who I take with me, the rest are healing," Cyrus explained as he went over to his wardrobe.

"And if it's a trap?" Irene asked guardedly as she placed a card on one of the foundations. She went to pick up another but it slipped through her hand. She calmly picked it up with her left hand instead.

"Well, then we spring it and he can't use it against us later." Cyrus shrugged as he opened and closed a drawer or two.

Irene glanced up, then quickly looked away. "Change in the bathroom!"

"Hey, it's my room. I can change where I want." Cyrus said as he tossed a pair of pants on the floor. "Gabriel only cut off your finger, he didn't cut off your eyelids. Don't like what you see..." off came the boxers, "...then don't look."

Irene sighed and closed her eyes. "Just tell me when you're done."

"I might be a while," Cyrus responded. Irene groaned and folded her arms and slumped over on the desk, burying her face in her sleeves. "Hmmm... tight black t-shirt to wear into battle, or classy button-up? Or maybe a slightly less tight black t-shirt. I do LOVE looking the part, but maybe it's time for a change. A splash of colour that is more the new 'me'. The blood stains won't show up too badly if I wear the red, but it's such a nice material I wouldn't want it to get ruined. Besides, I don't want to show up at Gabriel's doorstep looking TOO sexy. He hates being outshone."

Irene started to say something, but her voice was muffled. She lifted her head, eyes still shut tight. "Wear something you don't care about. Just pick something!" She then placed her head back down.

"Fine, fine. Though really Irene, it's not like you hadn't seen me naked before. And unlike last time, I'm perfectly relaxed. Bodies needn't be offensive, it just takes a change in attitude," Cyrus chided. Irene just shook her head, keeping her head down.

"Maybe, but you are offensive," Irene retorted. Cyrus laughed. She heard the sound of a zipper and sighed with relief, but still did not open her eyes.

"Alright, it's safe to open thine virgin eyes!" Cyrus snickered. Irene peered one eye open, almost expecting it to be a trap. To her relief, he was standing in front of the mirror, fully clothed, running a comb through his hair. "Hey Irene?"

"What?" Irene asked, still somewhat irritated as she began gathering up the cards.

"This is going to sound REAL sappy but..." Irene said nothing as she slipped the cards into their box. "...I hope Jordan recovers."

Irene's hands shook. She gripped the box of cards tightly. "Me too," Irene said quietly. She did hope he recovered, even though she realized she'd lose him either way. "Why?"

"Eh, your life has sucked lately. It's about time something goes right for you," Cyrus said with a shrug as he ran his hand through his hair. "With what you've discovered about yourself, things might not be what you'd hoped. But if he's managed to get your good opinion, he's probably a decent guy. And a decent guy won't ditch you for not sleeping with him."

"Cyrus... please don't talk about things you don't understand," Irene said sullenly. "I get you're trying to be nice, but... just... stay out of this."

"Nice?" Cyrus chuckled, turning away from the mirror. "Hardly! I was just about to add 'and since I haven't ditched you for not putting out, guess that makes me a decent guy too'!"

Irene stared at Cyrus. She looked at the door. She looked back at Cyrus. Without a word, she left the bedroom, hearing his laughter until she shut it out with the slamming of the door.

----------------------------------------

The Cozee Coffee Shop was a hub of activity as Cyrus's faction prepared another assault. Irene did her best to not be under foot, but it wasn't easy. She ate her leftover chinese food while sitting in a corner, watching the vampires all bustle around her. They were quite varied. Some looked very plain, like Cody, and dressed very casually. Some, like Cynthia, dressed up to look the part. Though Cynthia did not seem to be among their numbers that night.

Just as Irene had tossed the disposable containers in the garbage, she was approached again by Cody.

"Uh, I was told to get these for you..." Was he blushing? Irene wasn't sure she wanted to know what was in the bag he handed her. He immediately turned and hastily shuffled off. Irene sighed and looked in. It was a pill bottle. She held it up and read the label. Iron pills. Why would he blush about that? Maybe it wasn't the pills Cody was blushing about. Maybe... he was just blushing at her. Great. She didn't need another vampire chasing her.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Irene turned the bottle over, checking to make sure it still had a seal and wasn't being used to conceal something else. It seemed genuine. Naturally, Cyrus would make sure she could keep her blood healthy. She wasn't sure whether to be irritated by this or not.

Just as Irene was heading back to the bedroom, Cyrus stopped her in the hall. "What?"

"We're heading out now," Cyrus said, nodding to a few vampires walking past. "Wish me luck."

"Take him down," Irene actually smiled. This was one thing she did want to encourage Cyrus in. Cyrus placed his hand on the back of her neck, and before she could look away he kissed her cheek.

"Bye, Breaches," Irene blinked furiously as Cody and another vampire walked by. Cody was, again, looking unusually pink in the cheeks for a vampire and was trying to look away as he followed behind. Embarrassment flushed Irene's cheeks and she turned away. She hated everyone thinking she belonged to Cyrus, and no doubt that kiss was less a sign of affection, and him marking his territory.

Soon everything was quiet and still. Irene finally had the place to herself and could get some sleep. Several times throughout the day she'd had dizzy spells. So she took the iron pills as directed, changed into her pyjamas, and curled up in bed. To her surprise, sleep came to her easily, and peacefully.

Alas. The serenity of sleep was shattered with a clatter. Irene sat up in bed, straining to listen Disorganized and clumsy, the noises continued below her, filling Irene with growing unease. Irene froze as she heard a crash followed by voices. She slipped out of bed and got down on her hands and knees to shuffle as noiselessly as possible to the door. At first the words were inaudible, but as they came closer, she could make them out.

"-everywhere! Take back any mortals that are still alive, and let's torch this place!" she heard someone order. Irene could hear her heartbeat throbbing. Irene was certain that these were Gabriel's men, and she needed to calm her heart lest it lead them to her.

"Think the girl took refuge here? You two, split up and search every room. There may be some of his lackeys still here. Kill them. If you find her, Gabriel wants her alive."

Irene closed her eyes, hugging her knees tighter to her chest. She could hear people moving around down the hallway. Eventually, she heard a clicking at her door. Irene held her breath and watched, expecting it to burst open forcefully any second. Instead, there was grinding noise. The door swung open quietly. Audible footsteps could be heard, accompanied by the squeak of leather. Irene watched the shadow grow, before a physical form entered her field of view..

"There you are…" came a feminine whisper. Irene stared at a pair of leather boots for a moment, before slowly ascending her gaze to a familiar face.

"Cynthia?" Irene peeped. She felt very uneasy, uncertain whether to be relieved, or suspicious. Cynthia complacently put both of her arms behind her back and stepped towards Irene.

"Awe… what a frightened little duckling you are… and I'd heard that you were feisty," Cynthia taunted.

Irene rose and squared her shoulders. "Either you are here to evacuate anyone still around, or you are working for Gabriel. No games - which is it?" Irene demanded, trying to banish the shakiness from her voice.

Wickedly, Cynthia smiled and bared her fangs. "That's a little more like it, Irene. I had no idea who you were when Kendrick first brought you in - but now that I know, I must say, I expected someone a little less dull," Cynthia responded in a whisper. Irene heard a loud crash in the room next to them, causing her to jump.

"No time for that. What is going on?" Irene asked firmly.

Cynthia sighed, her eyes rolling away in a bored expression. "What a bore. I was hoping you'd be jumping at your own shadow by now. I suppose my ventriloquist act needs work…" Cynthia said, stifling a fake yawn. Irene's eyes narrowed.

"That was you…"

"Yes. I'm quite talented aren't I? Well, as you said, we don't have a lot of time. If you get on your knees and beg, I won't tell Gabriel's men that you are here. How about it?" Cynthia smirked.

Irene stared at Cynthia in abject disbelief. She wants me to beg? Why?

"Well? Tick, tock, tick, tock." Cynthia urged impatiently.

Irene had her pride, but she also had a life to preserve. Her own. Grudgingly Irene got down onto her knees, glaring at Cynthia the entire time. "Please… don't tell them…" Irene tried to keep the vitriol out of her voice with mixed success.

"Hmph… I suppose that will do…" Cynthia responded, looking disappointed. "Oh well, wish granted. I won't tell Gabriel's cronies where you are," Cynthia said dryly as she unfolded one arm from behind her back in a flowery gesture. Irene just glared at her, but then her eyebrows rose as Cynthia's other hand revealed a gun. Before Irene could react, a loud BANG pierced her ears, while a bullet pierced her ribs.

Irene fell back as the burning metal tunneled through her body. Irene didn't feel herself hit the ground. She was only aware of the ceiling above her, as it began to spin, and a wet sensation began to envelop her body. Her body was motionless, and try as she to put a hand to the wound, she just laid there. She was as stunned as she was in that nightmare. Is this another nightmare? Beyond that, Irene could not hold onto a single thought, as the pain and shock denied her of coherence.

Amidst the swimming, abstract sensations, something blurry hovered above her eyes. Tthere was heat all around her and the smell of smoke. Desperately, her eyes tried to focus. The form almost took shape, and she heard a voice - although it sounded ethereal and far away. The words were audible, but her mind was slow to recognize them, as she lay there hyperventilating shallow breaths. Just as her languishing mind was able to sort the syllables into words, the fire around her began roared and drowned them out.

"…your life. I… …. ..ave… … .ere… sooner. …ease ..rene … forgive me…"

Irene moaned and closed her eyes, the strain from trying to see the blurry shapes too much. With one sense eliminated, her mind could once again form thoughts. She'd been hurt many times. She'd been tortured. She'd pulled through a lot. But this was different. I'm dying. Irene didn't know how she knew this, but it felt more certain than anything else in her life. This prompted Irene to let out another moan as she felt numbness at the very core of the wound. Slowly, it spread from there on out. The last thing Irene remembered feeling was her head being lifted, and a salty metallic taste in her mouth. She opened her eyes again, seeing the face closer. Her eyes came into focus just moments before they rolled to the back of her head. She saw the face of a woman, with deep, dark eyes. Just as she recognised the woman, the black curtains of consciousness closed, and everything went dark.