An Unconventional Pair (for Dante and Lovesick)

[Dante Rosaire]

It was another typical day for Nikolai, or as typical as it could get for him. He got up when the sun rose and went through his daily checklist, clean hotel room, check, room paid for in cash, check, all of his equipment packed and ready to move, check. He slung his bag over his shoulder and walked downstairs to the lobby, and with a curt smile, handed his key to the clerk and checked out of his room. Continuing out to the parking lot, he rooted around in his pocket for his car keys, finding them, he opened the trunk to his black 1970s Chevy Monte Carlo. He haphazardly threw the bag into the trunk and then sped off to his current destination.

Nikolai was an average looking person, short black hair, hazel eyes with a reddish colored ring around the pupil, six foot tall, early twenties. But he was anything but average. For you see, Nikolai was a hunter, and not just any kind of hunter, but one who hunted monsters. The truth is, the monsters of lore are real, vampires, werewolves, witches, shapeshifters, you name it. He was one of the few brave enough to make a living out of wiping out the dangerous creatures that go bump in the night. He was heading toward the small town of Rosethorn, Washington because of an article in the Seattle newspaper.

"Three found dead in Rosethorn under mysterious circumstances.
In the small town of Rosethorn, three people were found dead in an abandoned warehouse, the victims were found strangely intact, but with small puncture wounds. The police are linking it to a serial killer that has been terrorizing the area for the last few months. Any information pertaining to these killings should be brought to the police department as soon as possible."

"Damn blood suckers, they used to operate more discreetly." he thought to himself as he drove.

He was about an hour long drive from Rosethorn, so he took the time to go over his supplies. He had his kukri, a long bladed machete, stashed in his trunk, his Saiga shotgun, with clips of UV rounds was next to it. He also had an assortment of sidearms, knives, and lots of ammunition. He had done this many times before, he knew it was probably a small coven just looking for another blood fix. Despite what legends said, the best ways to kill a vampire are sunlight and decapitation. Garlic and holy items are useless, and a stake through the heart can only paralyze them. Tracking them was simple enough, follow the blood, ask about drifters or new people in town, and check all of the abandoned and less frequently inhabited areas. Nikolai had an instinct for that kind of thing.

He stepped on the gas, as he knew time was of the essence.  

[xXLeahLoveSickXx]

October opened her eyes slowly. She stretched in her bed and titled her head slightly toward the single large window in her room. Just beyond the glass and the trees of the forest she watched as the sun began to dip below the horizon; reds and oranges bleeding into the sky. She blinked slowly several times before sliding out of the covers of her bed and slinked into the bathroom.

Looking in the mirror she saw, for what may very well have been the millionth time in her life, blue eyes the color of a stormy sky, skin as pale as snow, and hair as dark as a midnight sky. She was short, only about 5 feet and four inches tall with full pouty lips the color of pale pink flower petals. She sighed. Her father and the others that she lived with all had a much stronger bone structure and the lightest of ice blue eyes and had an air of elegance about them at all given times. October felt that she was the ugly duckling of the family, as they were all related in some way, with her pale, but not luminous skin, and her blue, but not ice blue eyes.

October shook the thought from her head and returned to her room, donning her a black tank top with lace along the top and bottom, flare cut dark wash jeans, black chucks, and a cameo pendant that had been her mothers. The girl always wore the necklace, it was a reminder to her that there was more to life then the life that her father had given her and that someday, she could be free.

However, that time was not now. Now was the time for her to go out for the night and find a young human, a girl probably, someone who would not be missed. She would take this girl, occasionally a man, and bring them to her father to be his meal. At least once a week October had to do this, bring a meal, a live one, home for first her father and then the greater of those she lived with to feed on. She didn't like luring them, but up until she was bringing them home she felt like a regular girl, but that feeling never lasted long. Even she was prone to the need to drink blood like her father and the rest of her family. She needed less than them as only a half breed, but she still needed it.

A knock on the door brought her from her thoughts and her father walked in.Their conversation was short and briefe, consisting mostly of him telling her to go and hurry back with as many humans as possible. Some of the other clans would be coming tonight and as the host, the oldest family as well, they would be expected to have a meal ready. October nodded without a word, agreeing to bring back as many as she could. Once he was gone she grabbed her fake ID off of her desk and her debit card and shoved them into her back pocket. It was time to go.  

[Dante Rosaire]

The hour long ride through scenic Washington state was somehow relaxing for Nikolai, driving always had a way of keeping him calm. The trees around here were tall and numerous, like a silent army ready to go at any minute. He rolled down the driver side window to let the air in, it smelled of rain and the trees that stood there keeping watch. To pass the time, he quickly thumbed through his CD collection until he found the one that he was looking for, Nightwish, it was one of his favorite bands. Their melodies were eerie and haunting, and their female singer completed their somber, yet beautiful lyrics. Whether he would admit it or not, he always enjoyed bands with a female singer, their voices were soothing and kept his inner troubles at bay. For there was one other secret about Nikolai that no one should ever know, he was a werewolf.

His inner beast would often pry into his mind and try to set him off, he tried everything to keep it in check, what usually worked was music and cigarettes, the few people who knew him always got on him about quitting, but it wasn't like
they could actually kill him. It was a solitary life as a hunter, and even more so as a werewolf, he could never form lasting friendships because he knew they would revile him if they discovered his true nature, and that he could never find love because he would stay the same as she grew old and eventually left him. but he had accepted his fate, and tried to make use of it, hunting was his way.

Nikolai was so lost in thought that he had not realized that he had reached the outskirts of Rosethorn. It was a smaller town compared to the big cities further south, but it still had a certain charm. The houses were all older style, but not the pretentious sort. Everything seemed to be focused on the main street while bars and taverns and small shops were scattered around. But first thing was first, he was starving and he would not hunt vampires on an empty stomach. He figured he could find a local tavern and kill two birds with one stone. He found a suitable one and parked his car in the small lot. Once he got out, he slightly raised his nose to the air.

It reeked of vampire.  

[xXLeahLoveSickXx]

It was strange for people to see a limo going through Washington, but it made her work easier. Not only were people more easily lured to the glamour of the car, but the assumed glamour of what would come to them when they arrived at her house. Her driver was a human, more of a drudge though in truth. He had been in the employ of the vampires since she was a child and he had been the one to take her around during the hours just before sunset.

That was the one thing her partial humantiy had given her. Although she could not be out in the sun at high noon or particularly sunny days, if it was gloomy or in the early morning or early night she could awake and be out unlike her full vampire family. She had felt the sun on her skin and had seen both sunrise and sunset. It was a beautfiul sight that she had only heard about until her father declared her old enough to venture out on her own, or rather venture out to bring him and her closest family meals. October didn't know whether to hate her humanity, or revel in it. She was by far klutzier than her full blooded counterparts, but she was much more elegant and lithe than the humans she often lured home. The human in her allowed her to see some of the things that her vampire counterparts had long since forgotten, but to forget the power that came with being vampire.

With a sigh the girl shook her head and cleared her thoughts. The drudge in the front seat glanced back at her in the mirror. Seeing that she was okay, with his limited understanding, he returned his attention to the road. Before long he came to a stop infront of a bar that she had not been to before; if she frequented one too often then the missing people were more likely to be linked back to her. October gave him a few brief instructions before heading in, prepared to give them the line of a party at her swanky house with sexy girls and hot guys, whatever it would take really, to get them to come home with her.

Inside October caused a bit of a stir. Her look wasn't exactly normal, it was the difference between looking at an average joe and a movie star, a subtle movie star, but the difference was there all the same. She looked around the bar watching the patrons and finding the exits quickly as well. Once she had a decent idea of where all she could easily get out, or sneak out from, she sat down at the bar and waited patiently.  

[Dante Rosaire]

Casually opening the door, Nikolai walked into the bar and found a seat towards the back, where no one else was sitting. It was your typical bar, a counter at the front with a decent selection of alcohol, a dart board, a pool table and a two plasma screen television sets. There were a few patrons scattered throughout the room, and then there was one table with a large group of people sitting at it. He could hear the entire conversation.

"Did you hear about Nick's wife?" one older man said.

"Yeah, cops said they found her dead by the warehouses." that voice was younger.

"What the hell is going on? Isn't that like the fourth one?"

"Yup, supposed to be some kind of serial killer."

"Damn, not even a small town like ours is safe these days."

More and more people began to chime in about the recent killings, and he figured this would be as good a time as any to start asking around. But just as he was about to get up, he could hear somebody walking over to his table.

"What can I get you stranger?" the employee asked him.

Nikolai fumbled with his words, he didn't expect anyone to approach him, he quickly saw that there was a small menu.

"Two burgers, rare." he replied with his mild Russian accent. His accent only came out if he was angry or nervous.

The employee gave him an odd look but walked away. Then Nikolai got up and walked over to the occupied table. He took a seat on the edge of the table, trying to not put himself in the middle of everything.

"So what do you guys know about the killer?" he asked once there was a lull in the voices.

They all stopped to look over at him, he figured that his presence would be considered odd. A young looking man asking them questions about a serial killer and all that.

"What's it to you? You some kind of cop?" One man said in a hostile tone.

"He doesn't look familiar, are you from around here?" another one asked.

"Well no i'm not a cop," he reached into his coat pocket for something. It was a badge.

"Agent Travis Chiles, Federal Bureau of Investigation." he answered back in an official tone.

That got them to stop talking. He left his badge on the table so they could see it for themselves, it was fake of course. A lot of hunters had to use this technique in order to gain access to more information for the investigative part of their jobs. As he began questioning people, he could hear the door to the bar open again, he turned his head slightly because an odd scent began to fill the room.

A woman about his age walked in the room, she had dark hair, blue eyes and pale skin. Her presence seemed to grab everyone else's attention as well. She was easily one of the most beautiful women Nikolai had ever seen. But he kept wondering about the scent coming from her, it was human, but there was something...else. She just walked in and took a seat at the bar.

Nikolai had been a werewolf for so long that his senses even in human form were heightened. He could tell a lot about a person from their smell, the men he was talking to all smelled like alcohol and work stress, most of them worked hard for a living and apparently drank quite a bit. But her, she smelled like sadness and reluctance. The more the strange smell filled the air, the more curious he got. At this point in his investigation, she was a person of interest.

So making a bold move that was completely out of character for him, he walked over to the bar and sat down, leaving a seat between them.

"What's a girl like you moping around for?" he asked her.

He ordered drinks for the two of them.  

[xXLeahLoveSickXx]

October turned towards the man that had sat down near her. She looked him over, an obvious study of him. It didn't take long for her blue eyes to return to his own. With her heightened hearing she could tell that he had an accent of some type, but she couldn't hear enough to place it. She was also catching the faintest trace of a wet dog smell off of him, but it wasn't enough for anything to raise a red flag in her mind. Her eyes once again studied his face, not caring that it was taking her a long time to answer, or that it was possibly going to make the man uncomfortable.

When the glass arrived before her she picked it up and swirled the glass with a slow movement of her wrist. The liquid slid with ease and rippled side to side as she set it down and ran her fingertip along the rim.

"A girl like me, a girl like me," she said slowly, careful not to show her teeth too much. She didn't have the dominate fangs of her father, but her canines were just a little longer and sharper than a run of the mill human and although a few humans had 'vampire like' teeth on occasion it was a rare enough trait for her to be weary of. "I suppose a girl like me is looking for some company,"October commented after a moment. "But everyone knows that the bars don't get fun until later."

The girl smiled at him, her eyes twinkling.

Despite the attention she was paying to this man she was keenly aware of what was going on around her. October had to be careful that she didn't come off as unavailable to any of the men, or women, in the bar. That was the key, as she had learned early on, was to always appear to be available and flow from one person to the other with a minimalistic distinction between them. Then she would just have to convince two to four people to come home with her and 'keep the party going'.

The problem tonight was that, other then the people that were becoming warry of all the dissappearaces, October was attracted to this man. Attraction wasn't something she often felt or had for anyone. She was curious about him, but she knew better then to act upon her feelings and that she needed to be careful about what she reveiled to him. Ultimately,she decided that when the night came towards an end, or rather the beginning, she would leave here without him and he would live to see another day. Pleased with her conclusion she raised the glass to her lips and took a drag.  

[Dante Rosaire]

It made Nikolai a bit uncomfortable to see the women looking at him like that, it was almost like she was studying him, but then something occurred to him, it was probably the same way that he had been looking at her earlier. He was beginning to get lost in thought again until he heard what she had said back to him. That she was looking for company, he could relate to her in that department.

"Yeah...you and me both." he replied, his tone betrayed a bit of his bitterness.

But this whole situation was strange, Nikolai was never one to try and make connections with people, he had decided a long time ago that he needed to walk alone, or rather the decision had been made for him. He knew that no good could come from talking to her, but for some reason he felt compelled to do it, like he was drawn to her. He hadn't felt like this in a long time, not since he was in his homeland of Russia.

"What the hell is that scent?" he thought to himself, "Siren? No, couldn't be, if she was a siren, I would be drooling all over her the second I heard her voice. Maybe harpie? Couldn't be, even in human form her nails would be a lot longer than they are. This is going to bug the hell out of me."

Nikolai could only come to two conclusions, either A. she had prolonged exposure to whatever the other half of that scent was, or B. she was an actual mix between the two. But that the latter was impossible, Nikolai had been alive for almost four hundred years and had never once heard of a hybrid. He would just have to take his chances and talk to her more, but his instincts told him that something wasn't right. He would have to be proceed carefully.

"So what's your name?" he asked her.  

[xXLeahLoveSickXx]

October knew that she should be flirting it up with this guy. That she should be luring him to her bed, but it was a lie. The truth was that he would be fed to her family if she brought him home. She gazed at him, feeling compelled to share with him, but knowing that if she did it would possibly lead to sever consequences. Her brow furrowed as her thoughts swirled around in her mind.

"Well, I'm called many things. Daughter, sister, friend, stupid child," her lips curled up into a smile at the thought of all the times her father had called her stupid when she had done ingenous things. "Some call me Ishmael," she added with a chuckle.

The girl turned back towards him her gaze full of a strange determination and confidence that had not been there when she had first walked into the bar. Her pale lips curved up in a true, from the heart, smile and she spoke.

"October, like the month."

Her eyes met his and she kept her eyes on him unsure of how he would respond to her slightly odd name.

October was the name that her mother had given the girl before her death. Her father had allowed her to keep the name and it was her only reminder of her mother. All other traces of the woman who had birthed her had disappeared from her life. October had a faint memory of a picture of her mother, but the memory was so faint that she often wondered whether the picture had ever existed or if it was just a figment of her imagination. Something she had done to try and justify her own existance as an ugly vampire and a beautiful human.  

[Dante Rosaire]

As she started to answer him, her demeanor changed and the look on her face changed. Where there was once sadness and reluctance, there was now confidence and a kind of conviction. Her attitude had changed so quickly it had nearly given Nikolai whiplash. He couldn't help put laugh a little at the comment of calling her Ishmael, though he found it a bit odd that someone of "their age" knew a classic like Moby d**k. She just fascinated him more and more each minute, but the mystery of her scent just kept nagging at him in the back of his mind. But suddenly a voice filled his mind.

"I sense your confusion."

It was the tvar, his inner wolf, he almost never spoke to him anymore.

(side note, "Tvar" is an old Russian word for feral beast)

"Haven't heard from you in awhile, what do you make of her?" Nikolai thought back.

"You are right Nikolai, something is not right about this one, the prey is deceiving you."

This was very troubling, it had been an incredibly long time since the Tvar had last spoken to Nikolai, and the last time that happened, a shapeshifter had taken the form of an old friend to try and turn them against each other. The Tvar's presence was a bad omen. When he first became a werewolf, he spoke to him constantly, begging him to run free, to hunt and to kill, seeing humans merely as prey. It took years to get his bloodlust under control, to be able to channel his power. But he was getting distracted again.

When she spoke to him again, it was like her voice was soothing. Tvar's presence receded and his anxiety was gone.

"October...I like it, it's unique." he replied "I'm Nikolai, and most people call me лонер, its an old Russian word for loner."

As he looked back at her, the things that really jumped out at him were her eyes, blue like sapphires, her hair that resembled the night sky, and her smile which was warm. From a physical stand point she was very attractive, and the outfit she had one was very flattering. But it wasn't her physical appearance that drew Nikolai to her, it was something he couldn't put his finger on. But once he realized he was checking her out, he turned his head slightly in embarrassment, he had been raised to be a gentleman after all.  

[xXLeahLoveSickXx]

Seeing that Nikolai, apparently, understood her reference a small smile light up her face. As a child of a prestigious clan her education had been rigourus and she had read more books then she cared to consider. She had read classics, poetry from across time, and above all else had been taught how to carry on a proper conversation with substance. All of her family was extremly intelligent and they expected her to keep up with them, even when she was a child. October had been required to learn fast as they rarely paused to explain anything that they may have said. In her eyes it seemed like all true vampires were born with a certain understanding of the world and that they simply expected each other to keep up, even if one could barely talk.

That was part of why it had been so hard for her intially to go out and bring food back for her family. She didn't understand that most men didn't want an educated women. Instead, they wanted a woment with lots of physical a**ets and a cheery attitude that could easily become a lusty one. When she came home empty handed her first night, her father had drug her by the hair to his room. He held her out of the window and let her wail and struggle against him. She had been 14 at the time, a mere child required to be like the young women of 25 who constantly had men at their feet.

"You are vampire, or at least in part. Do not disgrace us with your human tendencies. This is a warning to you child, if you fail again I will have no qualms killing you," he had said as he yanked her back into the room

It had taken her longer after that, but she never came home empty haneded and as she grew older and gained more knowledge she was able to bring more of a, variety, home to her family.

October knew what roles to play in each part of her life. At home in her room she was free to do as she pleased without worry of fear. Before her father she was to be a humble child who obeyed without question, even more so since she would never be a true vampire in his eyes. For the rest of the clan she was a sort of friend and confident as well as the primary hunter when they wanted blood directly from the source. To the crowds she lured home she was a sex object full of promise. It was many roles for a girl to play, but play them she did.

Returning her focus back to the man she smiled at the way he looked away after being so obviously interested; it was not something she was used to. As a matter of fact his actions made her, well, happy, for once.

"Merci," she murmured softly while fidiling with her glass once again.  

[Dante Rosaire]

October was something different, he hadn't felt this way about someone since his fiancee Alisa. That was before he had become a werewolf though. Back then, he was just Nikolai Petrov, a loyal soldier who fought for the Czars. He had met Alisa on a campaign to repel invaders out of what would become Stalingrad, it was love at first sight for the both of them. Alisa decided to return with him to Moscow and soon after, they were engaged.

But then something horrible happened.

Nikolai had chosen to deliver a few letters to the Czar because had nothing better to do that day. He was a talented warrior and had several opportunities to sit down for a meal with the royal family. Once he had delivered the letters, he made the long and cold walk back to his home. But when he opened the door, he found a horrific scene. Alisa was dead on the floor next to the fireplace, but there was no blood to be seen. She had strange puncture wounds on her neck, almost as if she had been pierced with a needle. But then he saw what had done it, a figure standing next to her body, it was completely human looking except for two things, the color of its eyes were an unnatural shade of red, and it had fangs instead of normal teeth. So without hesitation, he drew his sword and charged the creature. It was too fast and too strong, but Nikolai was angry, so he stuck his sword into the fire, and used it to slash the creatures head off. Only later would he learn the truth of what he had fought.

It was nice, to be able to actually sit down and talk with someone for a change. And though he wouldn't admit it, Nikolai felt very lonely most of the time. But so far, October was good company.

"I'm curious about you Ms. October, please tell me about yourself."

But then a few other guys from across the bar walked over to them. They very rudely got between her and Nikolai and started talking to her all at once. That did not sit well with him, for some reason, he didn't want her to be around them. But they just wiggled their way over to her, and then a wave of dejection washed over him.

"Well...I guess you have other matters to attend to." his tone even hinted at his dejection.

He got up from the stool and began to walk back over to his table.  

[xXLeahLoveSickXx]

October was surprised that Nikolai had taken such an interest in her. She wasn't used to people inquiring about her and her well being and what she was like. Of course when she was out human hunting she would get the occasional 'nice guy' whom she would spare for the sake of all the other females in the world. She was used to associating with assholes and the low of the low that when someone seemed so genuinely interested it took her longer to react, but it was also one of the few times she felt like she personally had worth.

The vampires made it very clear that her self worth consisted of what she could do for them. She even had the scars to prove it. As a child she had actually been fed from in times when it was too dangerous for them to hunt humans. When she was older the girl had been told that her blood was only slightly disgusting because of the vampire blood; the vampires only fed from each other in extreme and rare circumstances requiring understanding of a previous leader or to show how vicious one was. The scars were carefully hidden and were mostly along the undersides of her upper arms and the inner sides of her upper thighs. At least their easily hidden... she thought to herself briefly.

October had just opened her mouth to answer the man when some other drunken men pushed their way in. Initially her head turned towards the direction he was leaving in, her eyes sad and mournful, but when one of the men put his hand on her thigh she closed her eyes for a long moment before turning away from Nikolai. She would do him no good. It's better this way... she told herself as she turned her flirt switch on, leaning over and running her finger along one man's jaw.

Her movements were fluid, but there was still a cold and automaticness about the way she flirted with them. She laughed at her jokes regardless of how she felt about them and her laugh was high and fake, but to them it didn't matter. To the men on her sides they saw a sexy woman to bed and to her family she was a trap of sorts whose purpose was to bring them their meals. She wraped her arm around one man's shoulder and whispered seductively in his ear, suggesting that they find some more to come home with them, and some girls too.  

[Dante Rosaire]

He couldn't understand why he was feeling the way he was, he knew that even if they did connect in some way, there was no way that it could work out. He was immortal, and as far as he knew, she was at least somewhat human. But it didn't matter to him at the moment. All he knew was that there were a bunch of guys talking to October, and that did not sit well with him. He began to forget where he was, and flew to the other side of the bar.

When you live as a werewolf as long as Nikolai had, you develop a sort of bleeding effect. Even in human for, he was faster and far stronger than your average human. For Nikolai, an elbow to the gut could result in broken ribs. He often to hold himself back in altercations in order to keep his true nature a secret.

He forced himself in between the guys and October.

"What in the hell am I doing?" he thought to himself.

"I suggest you back off. It's obvious she doesn't want anything to do with you slime sacks."

"What the hell is your problem?" one of them replied.

"Yeah you got a death wish or something." another chimed in.

"You heard me," Nikolai began, "How can you not tell? Get lost or it won't end well for you. I saw the way you were looking at her and talking to her."

The first guy took a swing at him, but he caught it with his left hand, crushed it in his grip, and then delivered a swift kick to the gut. That was one down. The next one came at him quickly, but Nikolai had forgotten where he was, he used his inhuman speed to dodge blow after blow, until he countered with an uppercut, two down. The next one came behind him and swung at him with a bar stool, he came down so hard with it that the stool actually broke over his head, but Nikolai was un-phased. He reached down and grabbed two legs of the stool, he hurled one at his head, and the other at his chest, he sank to the floor.

The last remaining guy, having seen what had transpired, got up and retreated.

He calmly went to back to his normal self and took a seat next to October.

"Damn scumbags, don't know how to treat a lady." he muttered.

"So you were telling me about yourself?" he said nonchalantly.  

[xXLeahLoveSickXx]

October's heart began to race as the other men were thrown from her sides. She was extremly impressed by the strength that Nikolai displayed, but it also easily registered for her as inhuman strength. She inhaled deeply in what appeared to be a calming breath. Again she smelled wet dog, but this time the smell was stronger. She studied the man before her intently, the pieces slowly fitting in together in her mind. She closed her eyes sadly and her face fell. She slid off her seat and in a move bold for her, but something she felt she had to do, she leaned close to Nikolai, her height suddenly much more obvious, and brushed her fingertips against his jaw as she whispered in his ear.

"Honey, you really don't want a girl like me..." Her voice broke as she spoke and she spun away from him quickly.

October quickly looked around the bar. It didn't take her long to find the men that Nikolai had so easily broken. She walked with an extra sway in her hips as she approached them. She stood infront of their table and spoke to them in hushed tone, promising them a good time if they still wanted one. She couldn't return empty haneded. Even three grown men would be better then nothing. Her family would want females as well, but she would explain what had happened. The girl knew that she would be punished, but at least not as severly.

The men looked back and forth between each other uncertainly, but it was an offer and she said where they were going there would be even more sexy ladies for them. With a shrug they each stood up in turn and followed October out the door. With a side long glance at Nikolai with sad eyes she left the bar and got into the limos with the men.

It was going to be a very long ride home.  

[Dante Rosaire]

All Nikolai could do was just sit there and watch October leave will all of those people. He kept telling himself that he shouldn't be interested in her in the first place, that they couldn't be together for long, but it didn't matter. It hurt him, and there was nothing he could do about it.

"Tough luck stranger." the bar tender told him, "Here's one on the house."

"Thanks." was all that Nikolai could say back.

He was about to say something, but he heard a voice coming from directly behind him.

"Tough luck captain Petrov." the voice said.

There was only one person who called him that. He turned around to see a familiar face, it was a middle aged man, long black hair, a long beard with a mustache, and eyes that displayed his age and experience.

"It's been a long time, Rasputin." Nikolai replied apprehensively.

They went to the back of the bar so they could talk privately.

It was a long story how the two of them had come to know each other. After doing some digging around, Nikolai had finally learned the truth behind Alisa's killer, it turned out that vampires were not just an old wives tale, they were real. He learned their weaknesses, a wooden stake through the heart, decapitation and sunlight. He was now hellbent on killing every last vampire that he could find. It was during his early days as a vampire hunter that he came across another sort of monster, the werewolf. He wasn't in the least bit prepared for other monsters, so he was bitten and left to die.

But then the full moon came along, and he realized just how much trouble he was really in.

His first transformation was painful and slow, muscle and bone twisting and reforming, limbs changing shape and size, it was brutal. When he awoke the next morning, he found that he had devoured a small family, the guilt wracks him to this day. It was a few full moons later that he met the man who would later be called Rasputin. His real name was Koschei, he had earned the title "The Deathless" because he was immortal, bound to a demonic pact.

He approached Nikolai with an offer, he could help him control his curse and use it to kill evil, but in exchange, Nikolai had to keep his identity and whereabouts a secret. The Czars had repeatedly tried to kill him for fear of his power. It took him three years, but with Koschei's teachings, he could now control the transformation, with the exception of the full moon, when he had no choice but to turn. Nikolai went back to Moscow to try and serve in the military again, but it didn't take long for Nikolai's true nature to be uncovered, but rather than be put to death, Czar Ivan the Terrible gave him an ultimatum, be the hellhound of the Czars or die. He had little choice, so for the next few centuries he became Russia's dirty little secret.

"I see you are investigating the murders around here, what do you know so far?" he asked him.

"This town reeks of vampires, and all of the victims were found with puncture wounds in their necks, pretty cut and dry."

"Yes, I sense them as well, there are more of them congregating in this area, going to end badly for the people here."

"I could call in whatever hunters are around, the hunter community knows my secret, I earned my exemption from being hunted."

"But that is not what is troubling you comrade, it is the girl, I see it in your eyes. She has a part to play in this as well."

"So she isn't completely human, then what else is she?" Nikolai asked, dreading the answer.

Rasputin took a deep breath before responding.

"Her mother was human, but her father...her father is a vampire, not as old as you are but still a threat. The girl has done bad things for her father, but she has no choice, just like you."

"You can find her at this address, and if you see her, give this to her. I must be going." he added.

He wrote down an address on the piece of paper, and handed him a picture of a woman, she looked like October but a lot older. He assumed it was probably her mother.

He knew it was time to act.