Disclaimer - The Night World, it's concepts, and it's characters, all belong to L.J. Smith. I claim nothing but the characters unrecognized and the story.



The Tease of Fire



*Chapter 1*



Tala loved being in her wolf form. It felt more natural than trying to be a human. She thought this to herself as she trotted down the hallway, flourescent lights whining from above her head. Not many people heard that sound.

People smiled at her as she walked by, occasionally petting her or ruffling her fur. She just smiled, lolling her tongue from her mouth, continuing on until she found the room she was looking for.

She walked into the office of the Southern Daybreak Hospice, jumping up and onto the leather couch. Lying down, she let out a refreshing sigh.

"Tala, if you're going to stay as a wolf for this meeting, you need to get off of my four-thousand dollar couch."

Turning her eyes on the man that said this, she let out a light whimper. Meeting wise brown eyes that held ions behind them, she crawled off of the couch, knowing that the man was unrelenting.

A new voice entered the room. "Furniture isn't for flea bags."

Within seconds Tala was on top of the boy, standing on his relatively expensive suede jacket. She brought her muzzle close to his face, baring her mouth of dangerously sharp teeth, a low growl rising in her throat. She took in his shocked mahogany eyes, noticing how the deep reds and dark browns swirled together.

"Tala!" Thierry's voice was strong and commanding, yet she didn't want to move. Slowly, she stepped back, letting the boy up from the ground. Though she had stopped growling, she still had her teeth exposed.

Looking him up and down, there was no doubt that he was a vampire. Made or lamia, she wasn't quite sure. He had rich brown hair almost the same color of his eyes, curling over his forehead and just past his ears, turning red in certain places as the light touched it. His skin was unnaturally pale, yet glowing, and his body was one that high school girls dreamed about.

Fortunately, Tala wasn't a high school girl.

"Tala, if you would please return to a human state? I imagine Monroe won't be saying anymore immature remarks, will he?"

The boy named Monroe groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Fine, I won't make wolf jokes."

Tala rolled her eyes, fully aware that he had seen it. She stepped back, feeling the transition begin. Her honey colored fur with streaks of white began to recede, her claws withdrawing, turning into human fingernails. Her joints switched directions, her knees sliding forward. She rolled her neck as she stood on her hind legs, or actually, human legs. Clearing her throat, she smirked at the look on the boy's face. He hadn't expected beauty, had he? she thought to herself.

She knew what he saw. A tall girl, only an inch shorter than himself, with unbelievably straight golden hair that ran down to her waist, natural streaks of white framing her oval face. She couldn't see them, but she knew her forest green eyes held menace in their depths.

Thierry went on. "All right then. Tala Acevedo, I'd like you to meet Monroe Pierson, your new partner."

Both the wolf and the vampire turned to Thierry and spoke in sync with each other. "What did you just say?"

Tala continued. "Thierry, you promised that I could work with Lupe on my next mission! I never signed up to drag around some pompous new recruit-"

"Pompous? At least I don't have to take a flea bath once a week!"

"Oh I'll show you a flea bath, you ignorant-"

Thierry stepped between the two, putting a hand on each fighter. Tala attempted to swing at Monroe, but only ended up with very feminine arms grabbing her waist and pulling her back so that she just barely missed him.

"Calm yourself down, sweetheart." Hannah was looking at her knowingly, a smirk trying to hide behind a frown on her lips.

Tala took a deep breath before turning back to Thierry. "You do this because you hate me, don't you?"

He just sighed, obviously irritated, but still taking the joke. "Lupe is still in New York on the Denison Mission, otherwise, I would have let you two have at this one. This case is important, Tala, and I need one of my best shifters on the job." She smiled, taking in the compliment. "I also need a telepath, and since Monroe can be trusted, I need him here, too."

She suddenly felt the need to whine. "Why don't you send Keller out on this one? She is your best shifter."

Thierry shook his head. "She's on an assignment with Galen."

"Lucky panther . . ." she grumbled in a barely audible tone. Speaking up, she looked at Thierry. "So what's the job? Something quick, I hope. My mom wanted to see me for Christmas."

Thierry turned to Hannah, both of them sharing a look of worry. He spoke lightly, focusing on Tala again. "I'm sorry. This is going to be quite a long-term job."

Flopping down on the couch, she closed her eyes. There goes my chance at mom's home cooking. Monroe, still quiet, sat on the opposite end of the couch. He was apparently trying to put as much space between them as he could. "Exactly how long?" she sighed.

"Indefinite."

Hearing him groan, she could see Monroe glaring at her out of the corner of her eye. She did not like the sound of this . . .