They’d been hearing and seeing news fshes for the st hour about the fires that had broken out all across the little City of ial Heights. Across their HUD updates fshed new and horrific images of the fires that ed the small city. It was only after spotting the bar Sylvie owned and operated burning in e-yellow fmes that Kody stopped pumping their metallic steam-powered wings and circled the area much like an airpaking its time to slow before toug down on a runway.

  They were having a difficult time resisting the urge to go ba the first pce, having turned back a few times while following the rge Iate 95 as it wound its way north towards Washington Dbsp; Still not real clear why, Kody had somehow e up with the decision to assist Sylvie and pany by finding more bloodstone ever sihey’d heard the wizard’s annou as they flew from the mill.

  -I firmed that my debt aid. What am I doing?-

  Ohey nded, it was only a small walk around that Kody realized they were in a rest-stop town. A small urbahat had bee a vilge only because the highway came through the se of nd. Desiring blood to keep their mind active, Kody mao find the few pces that had an all-night stop and waited. While walking the grounds Kody and their HUD took in and marked the ten people who either were shopping or w in this se of the station. Gng to their left and into a cheap fast-food pce Kistered another five.

  -So hungry. Why am I hungry? There was enough blood to feed a small army.-

  {“You know why. You are the monster within and don’t want to be. e on Kody, you wao rule you…you sit bad let me do all the killing, you’ll never have to do anything but … think, of ideas…ways to build. We share. I’ll make us drip in blood and you design what to do with it. A match made in-}

  That seemed to be the lowenty seds of Kody’s unlife. Because Kody khere was a real desire to let the beast within do all the sughtering ahem do all the creation.

  -An alpha and omega.-

  Kody’s mind fshed the possibility for a split sed, and with a simple cli their head quieted the tempting voice of that particur evil.

  -I just o eat. Figure out the rest after.-

  When the hair on the back of Kody’s neck sprang to life, they looked around and initially saw nothing. Their pht eyes flicked from a normal running green to an iigative yellow and began sing the darker ses of the tree lihat had beely cut back so that the pirees could give off their nutty st as people came through.

  -Everything hunts, even this pbsp; They hunt for erce..-

  Allowing themselves a moment of real-life manipution, it was a few seds ter that Kody spotted the twin forms looping quietly around the trees as though they’d beehe eime.

  -Not just one, but two. Shit.-

  Standing in pce, Kody’s problems went from a simple search for bloodstone and to a dilemma on how they were going to deal with the shadewraiths and their hu the same time.

  -Why aren’t they attag? I am on my own standing in a parking lot seems like a prime attabsp; It’s two to one, and I have no defense.-

  It was Kody’s body that made their first decision. Blood umping in vast amounts from at least fifteen people in the area and the vampire was near starving. Fetting about why they were hungry, Kody’s HUD targeted the two shadewraiths and tracked them while they went hunting. “The fewer the better.” They heard themselves aloud.

  -No gaseous form, too much blood use. No running…too much blood use. Methodical.-

  Resolved to their course of a, Kody began with the few semi-trucks that were idling aheir sleeping drivers. Kody approached the first one and knocked. Even before they’d balled their fist, Kistered that there were two people in this particur cab. They she air and smiled. “Should have known this was a morally questionable pce.” They whispered after catg the st of horribly cheap perfume they’d smelled on streetwalkers.

  “Go the fuck away. Whoever you are.” A gruff male voice hatefully offered.

  “Sir, I didn’t mean to wake you, it’s just that something is leaking from the front of your trud ma wanted me to tell you, in case it is a HAZMAT problem.

  -That was terrible. Hazmat?-

  Knowing that it didn’t really matter what they said as an excuse, Kody still rolled their green power button eyes aheir vampiric charm take hold of the couple in the cab.

  “Yeah, yeah.” Grumbled the man once more, “I have to check this out darlin’, could be a real mess and then we won’t get you back to Boston.”

  Seds ter Kody heard the sed and feminine voice reply, “It’s okay Todd, do what you o. Do you mind if I go back to sleep?”

  Watg as the two kissed, it occurred to Kody that they were being a little too personal, but didn’t really care. “Sir?”

  “I’m in’, you little freak.”

  If there was any doubt in Kody’s mind about whether or not to let the gentleman live, it was after being called a freak that settled the issue. Fragments of their past leaked into the present and Kody saw a line of faces that they didn’t know the names of fsh through their mind. “Whenever you are ready, it is right out front here.”

  A split sed after the man had closed the door, Kody was on him. Their hand covered the man's mouth as briefly while Kody breathed their metallic breath across Todd’s here we go..Todd, all is well. Tell her that everything is alright.”

  “Mmmm, gdly.” Todd reached up and touched Kody’s cheek. “So pretty.” Then Todd announced as ordered. “Karen, I am fine..Just spotted a little hose loose. I o get something from io stop the leak.”

  Hearing an uned yawn e from ihe cab, Karen mumbled the best she could. “Okay, have fun.”

  Todd looked into Kody’s white glowing eyes. “Are we going to have fun, pretty face?”