Damn, it's cold, she thought as trudged closer to her destination.

A calm voice replied quite reasonably, Well, if you didn't stuff so many knives and other assortment of sharp metal implements under your shirt, your body would probably keep its heat better.

She growled over the mental link.

I need them. And now is not the time Gale.

Her younger brother chuckled. He was back in the nice warm van watching over their two little sisters. Maria, who was ten years old and little Sarah was a tender eight years old. You're sure she's asleep right? She asked for now the ninth time since she set out.

Gale snorted across the mental link. Yes, put her to bed a few minutes after you left. She won't feel what happens Cole, don't worry.

And I'm still holding your illusion. A bell like voice chimed happily across her mind.

Cole sighed and tried to restrain the smile pulling at her lips. Maria, was very gifted at holding illusions and seeing through them. Glancing down at an iced over puddle it was easy to see just how gifted. Her normally curvy body looked like a guy's well-muscled body. Her face resembled that of her brother. In hind sight, that wasn't much of a stretch she supposed, especially since they were twins, even if fraternal twins.

Maria, what did I tell you? Cole could see her sister roll her eyes and stamp her foot, even from where she was.

Keep myself hidden, so they can't feel me through you. I know.

Cole nodded. The smile touched her lips softening her features. A sudden swelling of something foul made Cole shield her sister. He was here.

Vampire.

Cole stopped where she stood and feigned boredom. Every muscle screamed at her to draw her weapons or run. She fought the urge to reach for the knives hidden by her wrist under her thick fur coat. A taunting laugh echoed through the snow covered forest. Cole grit her teeth and growled impatiently.

"If you're just going to play games, maybe I should find someone else who isn't an impertinent child to work with." She thanked the heavens that the voice modulator that was jammed into the roof of her mouth worked perfectly. A deep male voice came out of her mouth instead of her own more musical voice. There was a hiss somewhere in front of her. A tall gaunt figure strode out from the trees. The illusion he projected was one of health, wealth, and muscle. But thanks to her sister's presence in her mind, she could peel back the illusion to see the foulness beneath.

His skin was pale, and was stretched tightly over his boney frame. His eyes were sunken in and teeth were black and rotten, some were even broken. Evil washed off of him like a putrid wave of gas. Cole resisted the urge to gag as the smell alone choked her. God, she hated this. The vampire strolled up to her.

"Cole, what happened to Trevino?"

Cole clamped down on the surge of satisfaction. Trevino was nothing more than a pile of ash near the last camp sight. She shrugged, hopping it looked unconcerned and casual.

"I have no idea, if he has disappeared I have to assume he did not heed my words about the hunter that was in the area. Maybe he thought too much of his strength and challenged the hunter. I told him to warn the rest of you before he did anything rash."

Cass was pacing back and forth in front of her, clearly agitated with this news.

"No he did not warn us of this. Why didn't you?" he demanded, whirling on Cole with glowing red eyes.

Cole replied softly, almost gently and soothing, "I gave him the information to take to you. I guess he was nowhere near as strong as you." That's right, lay it on thick and play to his vanity, Cole thought to herself. "Probably for the best he is gone then, you obviously didn't need someone that weak."

The vampire's thin mouth pulled into a grotesque smile. He nodded his agreement.

"Yes, you are right. I am stronger than he was, but everyone needs pawns."

Cole shrugged. "You can use some of the audience of the show." Even as she said the words without inflection her gut twisted. She watched the vampire's smile widened. Like hell she'd let this beast near anyone ever, she thought to herself. The only reason Cass still lived was because he had always been careful to keep his distance. Cole couldn't risk attacking until he could close enough for her to strike quickly. She was not a true hunter and thus wouldn't be able to chase down the vampire if he got away and there were too many lives at stake if she failed to kill him.

"What if I want one of the show girls?"

Cole snorted, but clamped down on her surge of anger and protectiveness. If she wasn't careful the vampire would feel her anger and realize something was wrong. However, she would die before this monster laid a finger on anyone in the show or the audience; she would make sure of that. Her face remained carefully blank as she answered as blandly as possible.

"It's a lot harder to hide the disappearance of an actor than for someone in the audience, especially if they have problems at home. Their disappearances aren't questioned."

The vampire nodded sympathetically then said, "I don't care." He had been slowly moving closer and closer to Cole in a swaying rhythmic motion. Cass thought that he had hypnotized her with his movements, but her brother had been shielding her mind from it. Once he was within in arm's length said, "You will bring the one called Anna to me."

Cole resisted the urge to spit in his face. If there was anyone at the show who was entirely good, it was Anna. She had taken in four kids without question, shielded them from the occasional press that snooped around, and genuinely cared for everyone at the show like they were her own family. Cole subtly positioned herself so she was braced to attack. Then looked the vampire in the eyes and replied,

"No, I don't think I will, now go to the next world and repent there for your sins there."

The knives concealed at her wrist flashed up into her hands. The left one slid through the soft flesh in the throat. Black blood slid down the knife and splattered against her face and hand. Cole deliberately ignored the burning sensation as acidic blood ate away at her flesh. She brought up her other hand and swiftly carved a hole over the vampire's heart. He gurgled and lashed at her with claws. But he couldn't turn to vapor with a knife jammed in his throat. Poisonous insects erupted from the snow covered ground to protect their master. Again Cole ignored them. Instead she drew one of her swords with her gift. The blade slid free of its sheath, flashed across the snow, and started carving up the advancing army of insects as if held by an invisible person.

It was too late for him now, not even his insects would save him from her justice. She cast aside the knife she had used to carve out a hole to its heart. The acidic blood had already eaten away at most of the blade and was making its way down the hilt. Then she reached in and ripped the still beating shriveled organ. A storm gathered above them as her anger stirred to life anew. Lightening forked down to consume the organ in her hand, and burned away the poisonous blood. Cole sighed in relief as the burning blood was purged from her skin. Not for the first time she thanked her grandmother for her parting of calling storms. It saved Cole a lot of trouble with cleansing the taint of the vampires.

Cass's body slumped to the ground and Cole directed lightening at the body, blood, and bugs before they could spread their putrid poison. She scanned the whole area, making sure she had cleaned the vampire's taint from the entire place. Cole spared a remorseful look at her now useless weapons that lay in the snow. The one thing she hated about this job was having to lose and replace all of her beautiful weapons to acidic blood of the vampires she hunted.

Weariness and pain burned through her body, sucking the air from her lungs. Cole looked down to see the bloody rifts in her stomach. She hadn't even noticed the numerous times Cass had raked his claws across her flesh, she had been so lost in the battle; again.

"Fuck," she hissed aloud.

Cole? What's wrong, Gale demanded.

She could feel his panic, and it was all she could do to shake off the dizziness. Cole laid her hands over the lacerations, letting the blood collect over her palms before she used her gift to the blood in place. When she removed her hands her blood stayed to form a large bubble that had congealed around the wounds. Not the best bandage in the world, she sighed in relief, but at least she wouldn't bleed to death in the meantime.

It's alright. Just a scratch. She pulled her fur coat tightly around her. Now no one would see the odd bubble of dried blood. She sniffed the air making sure the smell of her blood didn't linger for any vampire or hunters that might come sniffing before she set off for camp.

Dammit Cole, what happened?

Cole was about to answer when something distracted her. It was a song, a song that echoed into her memories. She couldn't make out the words, but she knew the voice. Grandmother. Her brother caught her thoughts.

Cole, that's not possible, grandmother is dead.

I know. Someone is deliberately calling me with grandmother's voice and that someone who will pay very dearly.