Soft jazz pyed in a small shop and it was coming off a vintage record pyer that was sitting behind the counter. The shop was filled with occult items, but in truth all of it was harmless, and real stuff was hidden in a locked basement. This little store was called ‘Nightshade Inc.’ and it was owned by Ophelia Ashwood.

  Ophelia was behind the counter working on some paperwork dealing with her small shop and in the back of the shop on a red luxurious vintage couch was Diamond, asleep. The shop front door opened, making the shopkeeper bell ding and made Ophelia look up with a smile, “Sorry but we’re about to close today.” She said as sat up straight.

  “Well, I’m not here to shop.” Chris said as he walked up to the counter. He had a folder in hand and he was now wearing a standard police officer winter coat. The coat had dark gray fur lined colr, the main color of the coat was dull dark blue and the second color was bck and on the back was ‘POLICE’ in white lettering.

  “How can Nightshade Inc. help the police this time?” Ophelia asked as she held out her hand for the folder in Chris’ hand, which he handed it over to her. She opened up the folder and quickly scanned the contents of the folder. “Dried up body…and that's it?”

  “Where the body was found is between two vampire covens branch homes.” Chris said and Ophelia made a simple ‘ah’ sound while handing the folder back. “And I want to interview the heads of each home but mama didn’t raise no fool either.”

  “Well lucky for you, I have someone who isn’t busy and can keep you safe.” Ophelia said and leaned back in her seat to look to where Diamond was lying. She saw Diamond shift before getting up and made her way to the front.

  “Ears were just burning, eh?” Chris asked when he spotted her and his eyes locked on and started staring at her arms. She figured he was staring at the spiral burn mark on her right forearm or maybe it was the bullet wound scar on her right bicep or the one on her left shoulder. She went grab her coat on the hanger behind the counter and she felt Chris’ eyes more focus on her back now. The sports bra that Diamond wore was backless and showed all the whip scars on her back.

  “You know it’s rude to stare,” Diamond hissed as she looked over her shoulder to him and Chris quickly looked away after hearing the low rumbling growl from Diamond.

  “Sorry, I’ll wait for you in the truck.” Chris quickly said before leaving the store. Diamond stopped in the middle of putting on her coat as she felt Ophelia’s disappointed gaze.

  “There is looking than there is staring and gawking,” Diamond said as she finished putting on her coat. “I don’t like being gawked at.”

  “Any normal person would stare and gawk at your back scars.” Ophelia said as she grabbed a backpack under the counter, tossed it to Diamond, which Diamond caught it with ease. “Remember to py nice, you’re his bodyguard and partner in this case.” Ophelia pulled a cigarette box from suit jacket and put one of the cigarettes in her mouth.

  “If you’re going to smoke, do it in your loft.” Diamond said as she walked out of the store and heard Ophelia let out a small giggle as Diamond left.

  The winter air hit Diamond’s face and as she sighed, it made a pilr of fog come from her mouth. Diamond’s scars that were exposed to the cold air were slightly sore and caused to feel more aggravated. She spotted the bck truck that Chris drove and walked over to it to get in the passenger seat.

  “We are going to the closest coven house first, it belongs to the Bonedust coven” Chris said and handed Diamond the file that Ophelia already read through.

  Diamond opened up the file and saw bck hair caucasian woman and she was dried up like some kind of mummy. “The other house is owned by the Red Mist coven.”

  Diamond closed the folder, put on her seatbelt before Chris got the truck into traffic and she shifted in her seat to be more comfortable. “My dad said the Red Mist is a bunch of stuck up snobs. Let’s see if he’s right.” Diamond said as pulled out some beef jerky from her coat pocket.

  The truck turned into a parking lot that was in front of a biker bar and he parked close to the entrance. Diamond shifted in her seat to remove her coat before exiting the truck with Chris, “Expecting a fight?” Chris asked as he walked in front of Diamond.

  “Always expect a fight when walking into a vampire coven or werebeast den.” Diamond said as they walked into the biker bar.

  Inside was a typical looking biker bar with a darts game, pool tables, and a bunch of bikers enjoying drinks. Diamond noted most of the bikers in this bar, their eyes were fully bck and not getting drunk off the beer they were drinking.

  Chris walked up to the bar with Diamond following behind her and none of the bikers paid attention to them entering or going to the bar.

  “What can I get ya, officer?” The female native american bartender asked. She had short wild bright orange hair, pale green eyes, and a scar just under left eye. She was wearing bck tight shirt and a pair of torn blue jeans.

  “The head of the coven branch, I need to speak to them.” Chris said and the bartender pointed to a pool table. “Thank you.” Chris turned to head to the pool table and Diamond and bartender gave each acknowledgement nod to each other before following Chris.

  Diamond and Chris stopped at the pool that had three people, one woman and two men, at it and one of the men left when both of them got there. “You want to talk to me.” The woman said and walked around the pool table to stand in front of the two.

  She looked to be of tino origin with deep red hair in a wolf cut, her eyes dark gray that locked on Chris, and her ears were pointed. She wore a pair of tight bck jeans, a pair of biker boots and a biker vest with open showing she wasn’t wearing anything under it besides a gold ring on a neckce. “I’m the head of this branch and you can call me Scarlet Reyes.” Scarlet said. “This is my second hand, Javier.”

  Javier was a young male that stayed and he looked to be tino origin as well. He has short messy bck hair, his eyes were pure bck. He was wearing baggy blue jeans, biker boots, a loose white shirt and bck leather coat. He gave the two a small wave and leaned on the pool stick he was using before.

  “Mrs. Reyes, we are here because of a dead body being found nearby.” Chris said as he gnced around before his eyes locked with Scarlet’s eyes again. “The body was drained, so I have to ask, how many essence drinkers do you have here?”

  “None in this branch, there is a reason why our coven is called Bonedust.” Scarlet expined. “Majority of us are bone eaters, I myself am a flesh eater.” She leaned in with a devilish grin, “I can happily sh-” Scarlet cut off when Diamond let out a low and loud rumbling growl in her throat.

  The growl more than just stopped Scarlet’s words, everyone in the bar went quiet, and felt like everyone was holding their breath. Scarlet even moved back with hands up and Diamond noticed Scarlet pced herself between Javier and Diamond. Chris slowly gently touched Diamond's shoulder with his fingertips and Diamond stopped the growling.

  There was a loud silent sigh of relief when Diamond stopped growling, “Thank you for your time, Mrs. Reyes.” Chris said and was about to turn around but stopped. “Oh and have you filed a section 1-324 paperwork yet?”

  “No, we don’t know if she is going to be nesting here or at the main house,” Scarlet said and slowly lowered her hands. Chris nodded before leaving the bar and Diamond followed him outside.

  Once outside Diamond looked at him, “Section 1-324 paperwork, what does a pregnant vampire paperwork have to do with this case?” Diamond asked as she opened the truck’s passenger door.

  “There were packages of baby diapers and toddler clothes in the corner of the room.” Chris said and got into the driver’s seat. “Vampire babies tend to grow fast after birth. So what was the growl for, she was just flirting.”

  “A test for the whole coven.” Diamond said and Chris nodded. “All the coven knows how to handle and respect werebeasts, none of them looked into mine or the werefox behind the bar eyes. They also hold great respect for Mrs. Reyes, let her handle a growling werebeast and waited for her orders.”

  “Meaning lying about how they feed is off table,” Chris said and started to truck. “Bonedust coven also has a good reputation for not causing problems too. Also next time, little warning if you do that test again, please.”

  “Fair enough,” Diamond said and put on her seatbelt. “I am going to do something simir if it raises with the next coven too.”

  “Thank you for the heads up.” Chris said as he started to back up the truck. “Because I didn’t want to restart my heart once again.”

  Chris stopped the truck at the metal gate to a huge mansion and rolled down the window to intercom with a camera. “Chris Quiin, I’m with the police, I need to talk to your coven head for this branch.” Chris stated as he held out his badge to the camera to see. There was a second before the gate opened up, “Thank you.”

  Chris drove up the driveway to the front of the mansion and the mansion seems to be gothic french victorian style. Chris parked at the stairs and both of them got out of the truck. “Not many cameras, if any at all.” Diamond said as gnced around as they walked up the stairs.

  “Doesn’t look like it has modern lighting either.” Chris said as he knocked on the door but it opened up by a butler. “Hello there.”

  “The master of the house will be with you shortly, please wait here in the lobby please.” The butler said and allowed them to walk into the main lobby. The butler left the two in the lobby and Chris looked around before tapping Diamond’s shoulder.

  “I was right, indoor gas mp.” Chris said as he pointed to the wall and Diamond gave scowl. “Ya, I have a feeling we went back in time.” Diamond nodded before her head snapped towards the east wall. Chris listened closely as well and he figured it was two voices yelling.

  “One woman and one man, they’re yelling in french.” Diamond said and Chris nodded. “I don’t know what they are saying, I know only enough to know they are yelling in french.”

  “Darn, wish I had your hearing,” Chris said and Diamond gnced at him before returning to listening. “Mom was from France and lived on the outskirts of Paris.” The yelling suddenly went quiet and Diamond let out a low growl for a second before stopping. A minute passed before footsteps made their way and came down the stairs to them.

  In the lead of the group of five people was a caucasian five feet and six inches tall male with slicked bck hair, ruby red eyes, on his face he had a pencil mustache, and Diamond thought he looked a bit like a weasel.

  He was wearing a gray suit with red tie and in his right hand was a cane. The other men behind him were all in bck suits with bck ties and they looked like your typical bodyguards. “Sorry for the wait, I’m Pierre Beauséjour the III.” The man said with a hint of a french accent and stopped only a few feet away from them. “What can I help you with, Officer Quiin.”

  “Mr. Beauséjour, we are here because of a dead body being found nearby.” Chris said as his eyes were locked with Pierre’s eyes. “The body was drained, so I have to ask, how many essence drinkers do you have here?”

  “I assure you, Officer Quiin, none of my people are this killer you are looking for.” Pierre scoffed and Chris crossed his arms. “Maybe look into those ruffings from that dirty bar or some random vagrant that didn’t know better.”

  Diamond looked to Chris and could see Chris frowning from Pierre’s words. “You haven’t answered my question, Mr. Beauséjour.” Chris said and Diamond could see Pierre a little annoyed by Chris. “I only asked if there was essence drinkers in this branch but maybe I should di-”

  Chris was cut off when Pierre pressed the tip of cane to his chest, “I said none of d-” Pierre was cut off by Diamond letting out a louder rumbling growl in her throat. “SHUT UP HUMAN PET!” He yelled out and swung his cane and hit Diamond in the face with it. The cane snapped over Diamond’s head and Diamond did stop growling.

  “Oh no.” Chris whispered and went to unclip his gun from the holster. Before he could pull out his gun Diamond reared up and gave Pierre a punch to his chest as she transformed into her forearm. Pierre went flying through a wall and crashed into something gss in the other room, while the rest of the men were stunned.

  Diamond’s forearm was now covered in white fur and each finger had a curved cw. She selectively transformed herself to be six feet tall and stretching out her clothing to almost ripping. While her shoes were completely destroyed as her legs became covered in fur too and simir cws on her toes, she kicked off the shreds of her shoes off her feet.

  Diamond growled as she looked to the other four vampires and their flight or fight instincts kicked in when Diamond looked at them. The first rushed to Diamond to hit with a right hook, Diamond was quicker with a back hand swipe and sent the vampire into a different wall. The second one rushed baring his fangs at Diamond to bite her and Diamond caught this vampire’s head, smming it down into the floor.

  The third vampire screamed and ran back up the stairs, falling up the stairs a few times and the st one had just froze in pce. “I think it’s time for us to leave.” Chris sighed as he turned to the door and Diamond snorted as she followed. “You alright, Diamond?”

  “Fine,” Diamond said as she returned to normal human form and smmed the door behind them. “I see why my dad called them stuck up snobs.”

  “Well, I will be looking more into the Red Mist for this case,” Chris said as they walked and Diamond adjusted her stretch out sports bra and held up her stretched out yoga pants while walking.

  The two entered the truck and Chris didn’t wait for seatbelts to start driving. The gate opened up automatically when drove up to it and Diamond grabbed her backpack that was at her feet.

  “I’m going to switch clothes in here,” Diamond said and opened the bag showing it had spare clothing in it. “Hope you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t mind,” Chris said, using one hand to drive while the other put on his seatbelt. “I’m no prude and I’ve figured I’d see you nude once or twice the moment we became partners.”

  “I wasn’t talking to you, I was talking to the young dy in the backseat.” Diamond said as she removed her sports bra and Chris looked in the rear view mirror to see a caucasian woman sit up in the backseat.

  She had long blonde hair tied up in a french braid, her eyes bright blue, her ears were pointed, and a red welt on her face. She wore a simple bck dress that reached down to her ankles, a small bck purse and a pair of bck fts.

  “I’m Charlotte Beauséjour, I request sanctuary.” She said quickly and Chris let out a sigh as Diamond just kept removing her stretched out clothes. “Also I don’t mind you stripping, nudity is the natural state of all living things.”

  “Good, I want some food too,” Diamond said as she removed her stretched out panties, “There is a Sheep Burger drive-through on the way back to the station.”

  “Sure but make sure you’re fully clothed.” Chris requested, Diamond nodded to his request with no sign of argument from her.

  Charlotte and Diamond were sitting in the police station conference room and Diamond was polishing off her third burger. The conference room was connected to the bullpen, the conference room had a table big enough to seat six chairs comfortably, a ft screen tv mounted on the wall, a water jug dispenser in the corner and waist high cabinet with a coffee maker on top of it.

  Chris walked into the room with some paperwork and a folder, “Sorry for the wait,” Chris said and gnced at Diamond. “And leaving you to witness this mauling but I had to go get these papers for you to fill out.”

  “For sanctuary?” Charlotte asked and Chris nodded. She opened up her purse to pull out the same paperwork but it had been ripped up and taped back together. “My uncle found them and ripped them but I was able to put them back together mostly.”

  “Ah, well they are going to want a clean one and you can add me and Diamond as witnesses this time.” Chris said and put the paperwork with a pen beside her. She nodded and winced a little from her red mark on her cheek.

  “Also you can mention you’re one month pregnant and your uncle is violent.” Diamond said as she grabbed for her fourth burger. “Pierre Beauséjour the III is your uncle, right?”

  “Yes, he is my uncle and only the head of the house because my father died.” Charlotte said and paused then looked confused along with Chris. “How did you know I was pregnant?” Diamond pointed to her nose before unwrapping her fourth burger.

  “Charlotte, I have to ask you this, did you get midnight craving?” Chris asked and pulled out the victim’s picture from their case. “Her name was Katie Wester.”

  “My carvings haven’t been for any kind of essences,” Charlotte said and Diamond stopped eating her burger. “I’ve been craving bones tely, even though I normally drink blood only.”

  “Bones? By any chance is the father a bone eater and part of Bonedust?” Chris asked and gnced at Diamond, who had put her burger down.

  “Oui, his name is Javier Reyes and he is just le plus doux,” Charlotte started gushing over her lover but paused. “My uncle didn’t know of Javier and was trying to marry me off to some old world vampire. Ciming it was good for the coven and that it needed to keep the bloodline clean.”

  “Old world vampire?” Chris asked as Charlotte started to fill out the new paperwork. “Do you know how this old world vampire feeds and if he’s here?”

  Chris handed the file to Diamond, who had returned eating to finish her fourth burger. She opened the folder to read it and she spotted how Katie was killed, five puncture holes in neck and hand print bruising between the wounds.

  “He arrived in this city a few days ago and I don’t know how he feeds.” Charlotte said and Diamond closed the folder then looked at Chris. “His name is Fran?ois Mons Maurentiacus and I heard that he has diplomatic immunity.”

  “I got to make a call,” Diamond said as she stood up and Chris sat down beside Charlotte. Diamond went to Chris’ desk to use the phone and dialed up Ophelia’s cell phone.

  There were two dial tones before the phone answered, “Hello there, how can I help you Mr. Quinn.” Ophelia asked and Diamond could hear the soft jazz in the background.

  “It’s Diamond and this case may need you to come down here.” Diamond said and looked around the bullpen. “Old world vampire with diplomatic immunity and his name is Fran?ois Mons Maurentiacus.” Diamond heard a rge sigh and a pen being put down. “Also Pierre is trying to force his niece, Charlotte, to marry him.”

  “Alright, I’ll look up this Fran?ois, and get down there as fast as I can.” Ophelia said and heard her moving out of her chair. “See ya then.”

  “See ya ter,” Diamond said and hung up the phone. Diamond gnced around the bullpen and everyone was busy with their own cases and Diamond returned to the conference room. Diamond sat back down to finish her st burger and Chris moved paperwork in front of her as well.

  “Need your signature as a witness to her father’s violence side.” Chris said and Diamond put down her burger to pick up the pen. She signed where she had to then slide back to Chris and he looked with a very confused look. “Your writing is fancier than I thought it would be.”

  Charlotte looked as well, “Even my aunt couldn’t write that fancy.” She said and Diamond sighed as she opened up her st burger. “And she has to write fancy being one of the heads of the main house.”

  “I would have thou-” Chris paused as Diamond gave him a quick stink eye. “Alright, this is all done so I will file it and you can sit comfortably here. I will also make a call to Javier.” When Javier was mentioned Charlotte lit up happily and seemed to slightly glow up.

  Diamond was leaning back in Chris’ chair and bullpen to seem to become quieter at the moment as most of the officers were out. Chris had taken Charlotte to the main floor to be picked up by Javier and hopefully live a happy immortal life. Diamond gnced to the elevator door to see Chris exit it and head over to his desk.

  “The young vampire love bats are heading to the courthouse and pnning to get married.” Chris said and sighed. “That one piece of a rge puzzle solved.” Diamond leaned on her hand and raised his brow when she was looking at the elevator.

  “And here comes another piece that may fit somewhere.” Diamond said and Chris turned around to see Ophelia bring in a very tall man into the bullpen.

  The man looked to be at least six feet and seven inches tall, built like a brick wall, short wavy bck hair, and friendly mutton chops. He was wearing a white dress shirt with colr open up showing some of his hairy chest, bck straight dress pants and some bck loafers.

  “Hello you two, I bring you Fran?ois Mons Maurentiacus,” Ophelia said with a smile and Fran?ois nodded to them. “And there has been a big misunderstanding.” Diamond and Chris looked at each other and back at Fran?ois.

  “I was never pnning on marrying Charlotte,” Fran?ois said with a heavy french accent. “I was going to ask Charlotte’s aunt for marriage, we both have been seeing each other for a few years now.”

  “Then why was Pierre trying to force his niece to marry you?” Chris asked and leaned on his desk and Fran?ois let out a loud sigh.

  “The little weasel misunderstood some words of mine. I called him part of my family and gave Charlotte a comment on how she looks like her mother.” Fran?ois said and Chris nodded. “So he thought I was going to ask for Charlotte’s hand, but I’m going be asking for my sweet Maria’s hand in marriage.”

  “Alright, how do you feed, Fran?ois?” Chris asked and Fran?ois looked at Ophelia then back at Chris. Fran?ois leaned down to be head level with Chris and opened his mouth to show his fangs. “Those types of fangs I know well, you're free to go.”

  “Thank you, Officer.” Fran?ois said as she stood up straight and went to turn around but stopped. “May I ask how the victim was fed on?” Chris held up a hand to wiggle his fingers. “I suggest you look closer at the slimy little weasel.”

  “Thank you, Fran?ois,” Chris said and Ophelia led Fran?ois back into the elevator. “Time for me to get a warrant for the weasel’s DNA and arrest.”

  “YOU CAN’T DO THIS TIME ME! DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?” Pierre yelled as two officers dragged him to the cells meant to hold vampires.

  Chris and Diamond watch as this happens, “I think I’ll wait for DNA to see if he’s a match.” Chris said and Diamond smirked as she kept watching. “I hear the heads of Red Mist will be looking for a new head at his branch.”

  “Even if he didn’t kill Katie, he would’ve been stripped of his power because he’s causing too many problems for higher ups.” Diamond said and gnced at the elevator to see Nix walk out of it. “Here come the results of the DNA.”

  Nix walked over to Chris and handed a paper to Chris for him to read. He smirked, “We got his ass, thank you Nix.” Chris said before giving her a small kiss on cheek. Nix let out a happy giggle before Chris rushed to the cells and Diamond grabbed her bag.

  “Not going to follow him?” Nix asked with a tilt to her head. With her head tilted Diamond could spot cyan glowing eyes that Nix had and normally they would send chills down a person’s spine, but Diamond was unfazed.

  “No, Chip and Dale are with him.” Diamond said as she adjusted her bag over shoulder. “They’re better at keeping prisoners controlled with minor injuries.”

  “While you’re better at beating them up.” Nix said and Diamond walked into the elevator then she turned around to face Nix.

  “No, I’m better at killing.” Diamond said before the elevator door closed.