Hoboken, New Jersey

Dahlia pushed away the plate of fries in front of her for the 3rd time tonight and sighed, munching on one single ridged stick of carbohydrate. They smelled good and she remembered enjoying the wonderful salty, starchy taste of them from before she reached immortality. But she no longer had a desire for them, had only eaten sparingly to keep up the pretense that she was human.

Why were they in front of her, mocking her with their deliciousness? Because of Rachel—The human with whom she had befriended, who kept insisting that they share food. Mainly because Rachel was scared of becoming "a whale that no man will touch."

Something Dahlia rolled her eyes at constantly.

Because Rachel was likely only 105 lbs sopping wet and could never attain such a status. Ever. Dahlia had reassured her repeatedly that she need not be worrying about eating too much. Secretly, as a Lorean, she was a bit jealous.

Because, sometimes, Dahlia missed eating. She definitely missed coffee. And chocolate chip cookies from the bakery down the street from the Coven. Freezing into her immortality had only that one down side.

Yes, Dahlia couldn't eat.

Well, not couldn't. More like didn't need to.

A side effect of finally reaching said immortality as a member of the Lore.

Not that she would ever share this fact. Her eyes surveyed the crowd of sweaty humans, vivaciously swaying to attract the opposite sex, in disappointment. Humans could never know Lore existed and Dahlia was alone, had no Lore friends, and had left her Coven in New Zealand, in defiance, to settle in this unfamiliar city. To be free of the despise she had known from her 'Aunts'-and pretty much any Lorean who realized what half of her genetics was. She knew all of the Valkyrie and Furiae bitches back home were smugly waiting for her to return—to be downtrodden and beaten. To beg for forgiveness for walking out on their oh-so-wonderful coven.

But Dahlia the Defiant had done nothing wrong but be born half Valkyrie-Arch Furiae and half their most hated enemy. Vampire.

She couldn't change her parentage, much to the irrational expectancy of the Coven. Even in the Lore that would be impossible. Her mother Verdandi the Vicious, was an Arch Furiae-Valkyrie born from Megaera the Grudging (an Arch Furiae so famous and powerful there were ancient human epics spouting her deeds) and the lightening of Woden and Freya. Many tended to forget that Dahlia was part Valkyrie and, to be fair, so did she. She and her mother had taken after the Arch Furiae as far as physically. She only had the exception of her pointed ears and one silver gray eye. But her eyes never went silver with emotion and she didn't induce any lightning when feeling strong emotion.

As far as the Coven was concerned she was more Vampire-Furiae in tendency and treated her thus. Irritating the living daylights out of her.

Even her own mother abhorred her, which had taken a long time for Dahlia to realize. The story goes that her mother had the misfortune of being captured some 20 years ago by the Horde. Long story short, shit went down, unspeakable things were done, yadda yadda. In the end, her father, whoever the red-eyed bastard had been, had not expected that his lovely frigid prisoner would be rescued by her Coven so soon. And Verdandi had not expected to become pregnant with the abomination now known as Dahlia.

Dahlia the Undesired.

Despite being granddaughter to Megaera, sister to Alecta the Unyeilding (Queen of the Arch-Furiae) and Tisiphone, she'd never been able to garner any form of respect. No sweet pet names. She had been called a great many things in her coven. None of them were affectionate.

Not that she should expect much love from a warmongering race of females, but she had tried valiantly growing up, until she had been old enough to realize that she could not win their respect or affection. Valkyrie were deadly and the rare Arch Furiae was a female embodiment of wrath, with raven colored wings and vivid violet colored eyes. They were said to hunt down men who had broken oaths, committed evil crimes, and/or had escaped persecution from said evil crimes. They also rarely left their nests. Hence The Accord, the alliance between the Valkyrie and Furiae. Which meant they tended to intermingle, much to many Loareans displeasure, since Furie, the missing the Valkyrie Queen and half Furiae, and Alecta the Unyeilding, Queen of the Furiae, were related as well.

Dahlia was pretty sure that even if she hadn't been born half Vampire her mother would still be incapable of love.

So it shouldn't have come as a surprise that, upon reaching her immortality (or so close to it that she no longer cared to suffer abuse), she packed a bag with essentials, said good-bye to a couple of males who had no idea she was anything other than Arch Furiae-Valkyrie, and had flown the coup. Literally.

Her mothers response. Coldly mock her. "You'll find no love away from us."

Dahlia response. A gracefully extended finger defiantly proclaiming her freedom. I found no love among you. And that was what she wanted. Love. Affection. A pat on the back saying: "Good job, Dahlia, you trained so hard to impress us and we are truly impressed". She wanted the freedom to walk among her Aunts without worrying that she would be ignored or mocked. A day without an attempt on my life would be nice.

Not that she had much freedom now, she thought with a sigh. She had no one to talk to about the Lore and she constantly needed to hide what she was. Hide her pale gray wings and her pointed ears. Hide her need to feed on blood. Rachel had been one of the few humans who hadn't immediately been repulsed by her two toned eyes, one silver gray and one Furiae violet, and the instinct that something wasn't quite right about Dahlia.

In fact, the tiny dancing string bean, as Dahlia had taken to calling her, was currently swaying her way through the crowd with two drinks in hand. She was the only reason that Dahlia was currently in a bar. Or even still in this area. I really ought to move on before I start attracting attention, she thought, tapping her petite claws on the table. The human, though sweet, didn't have many friends. Which seemed odd since by human standards Rachel was very pretty. But women tended to be nasty to more beautiful ones-intimidated by what they lacked. And unfortunately, Dahlia liked the human, maybe more so because she had been abandoned by her friends.

To quote Game of Thrones: she had soft spot for bastards, cripples, and broken things.

Rachel gave a blindingly white smile. "These are compliments of those nice men in black at the bar." Rachel swung her head back towards the bar just as the three darkly dressed men nodded. Dahlia's eyebrows shot up and then she schooled her face, You mean creepers at the bar?

Dahlia sniffed it in exaggerated show and stared up at Rachel with narrowed eyes. Then she stuck out her tongue, light glinting off the silver barbell, with a wink. "Just what I wanted-A Roofie Coolada!" Rachel rolled her eyes in response.

"Ooooof course!" She replied in a soprano voice. "I know it's your favorite. Extra roofie." She winked right back and leaned up against the high round table. There were plenty of chairs but Rachel enjoyed the feeling of men staring at her behind. Dahlia had learned that the human loved attention. Another one of the reasons her previous friends had abandoned her. Such fickle creatures.

"After this we should go. Next train leaves in 30 minutes. I don't wanna miss it and get stuck here with the Men In Black who enjoy serving us Roofielatta's." Dahlia forced a smile and twisted the end of her coffee colored braid, realizing that one of the men was staring intently in their direction. She glared, trying to disguise her sudden worry that her thick waves, which she had braided loosely to cover her pointed ears, were no longer in place. Or that they could sense her wings just below the surface. Are my fangs showing?

Don't let them see you sweat. They'll know you're suspicious. Dahlia chugged the drink, a rum and coke, and made a show of swaying in her chair in time to the music. So normal. Any 23 year old would look this way in the bar, she reasoned. Rachel swayed in time with Dahlia, nodding at her statement.

"This place is kinda lame tonight. The sexiest guys in the room are one of those slightly creepy MIB over there and that sexy man wearing a hat in the corner." Rachel purred at said sexy man. Dahlia craned her neck around to peer back through a patch of bodies to where Rachel's eyes had landed. At her first sniff she realized that he was Lore. But what?

His bright blue eyes met hers for a moment and he tipped his hat to her. She could swear she saw the glimmer of a silvery horn from beneath the hat. She couldn't control her head tilt of confusion. A single demon of some sort? Don't they normally travel in gaggles? A female slid into the the booth next to him and Dahlia realized that he wasn't alone- just as Rachel must have come to the same conclusion, because the human gave a frustrated sigh.

"That guy was totally staring at you. I could have lived vicariously through your blossoming love." She swooned animatedly and then downed her drink like it was a shot. "Eck…So disappointed." She shook her head, curls tumbling around her face to hide her alcohol grimace. She squeaked, "Lets head out."

With a wave her little human hand, Dahlia nodded and hopped down to follow.

They weaved through the mostly intoxicated crowd till they reached the exit. The thumping of bass made it almost impossible to hear the little flirtation goodbye Rachel gave to the bouncer as she pushed the door open. He openly eyed her chest, smiling back but his words lost to the sound of the dub-step beat escalating even to Dahlia's sensitive hearing. Once the door outside slammed shut Rachel just laughed about his ogling. Then she shivered in her mini dress, looking up into Dahlia's two toned eyes with a smile. Night outside had become cool for August.

Dahlia took a deep breath of the night air and winced as she immediately longed for the clear sweet crisp air of New Zealand.

"Hot damn it got cold! Is it August or October?" Rachel took Dahlias hand and rubbed it for warmth, not that it would do anything, and started off in the direction of the transit station 6 blocks down. Every time the human held her hand or hugged her hello or good-bye Dahlia was shocked at her willingness to touch casually. It was the closest thing to normal affection Dahlia had ever had. And she was greedy for it, clasping her hand tightly with a small smile.

She would treasure it while it lasted. It was pretty much fact that Rachel would run screaming into the night if she saw what Dahlia really was. At least I don't have to sleep with her for it, Dahlia thought as a frown began to tug at her lips. She shook the thoughts from her head, determined to forget home. By Nymph standards her actions had been tame.

It was 4 blocks down that Dahlia felt the first shiver of apprehension creep up her spine. We're being followed. Or watched. Both, maybe… very faintly she could hear the footfalls of 2…no maybe 3, people. The mysterious MIB from the bar?

Protect the human. Get Rachel to safety, her mind whispered. This was the first time she would have to defend herself away from the Coven, the first time she would use all she had learned from studying her Aunts and books. And Rachel couldn't see her true form, she though vehemently. That was imperative.

They were on a deserted street, all apartment buildings. They needed a crowd. Humans didn't tend to attack if there were others around to see them do so, right?

She snuggled up to Rachel, acting like the two of them were cuddling for warmth. "Rachel, I think we're being followed. Don't look!" She whispered fiercely as Rachel had slowly began to turn her head. "Two streets down there's a 24 hour Dunkin' Donuts right? We need to get there and call the cops."

Rachel nodded, clutching Dahlia's arm closer. Just as they sped up a man stepped out in front of them just a street ahead. Dahlia's hackles rose immediately. She felt a crackle of panic and then the slow boil of anger begin to bloom in her gut. Rachel had nearly stopped short and Dahlia could hear her human's heart begin to pound in panic. Dahlia moved them forward and at Rachel's horrified stare Dahlia set her mouth in a grim line and tried to convey that she was going to protect them.

Please don't let my eyes start to change before I get her away.

"Don't come any closer. Just let go of the girl and we wont hurt her." Dahlia had a moment of confusion, but kept stalking forward. She was sure the man meant let go of Rachel. Did he know that Rachel was human, whereas Dahlia was not? Impossible. He smells human. The man tensed as she stepped up to him, an arms length away, and paused. There was something in his hand. A Taser? And his other meaty fist had settled on the firearm at his side.

Not a good sign.

Before he could raise it she shoved her palm upward into his chin, sending him backward with a startled cry. Behind her she heard the footfalls rush forward and a man curse under his breath.

Dahlia shoved Rachel ahead of her. "Run! Go where we agreed upon and call the cops!" She wouldn't let them know where Rachel was going. What if they broke their promise of not harming Rachel? I would never forgive myself!

When Rachel hesitated Dahlia shoved her again, hurried by the slowly recovering man she had just knocked on his ass. "Go! I distract them. You bring help back." And with that she turned just as a man came at her with a Taser. The shock of it didn't hurt so much as it stung her, the small amount of Valkyrie blood in her aiding her. They don't know electricity doesn't hurt me. Bless Freya, they might not know exactly what I am. An advantage she would use.

She heard Rachel's heavy foot falls as she took off toward the Dunkin. Pretending to be hurt by the Taser, she seized, but what they thought were wildly flopping arms—and should have recognized as poor acting— were actually fists preparing to hit. And her deadly claws lengthened just at they connected with the Taser man's throat, slitting it from ear to jugular. With a strangled cry, the man fell back, spraying arterial blood. She felt it hot on her cheek.

Wrath and blood shook her control, her instincts crying out for vengeance against these men who had cornered her. Dahlia felt the push of her wings, tugging at the skin of her back for freedom. This is going to ruin my dress and jacket, there was a tear of fabric and she knew the exact moment they were revealed just by the look in the next mans eyes.

The second man raised his gun, but stared in horrified fascination of her gray wings, the tips of the longest feathers stained a soft black, his finger frozen over the trigger. Her eyes, which had bled black until the only thing peeking through were the eerie rings of glowing silvery violet, stared defiantly at the man. I've broken rule number 1: Don't reveal yourself to humans.

Then a gunshot sang out and she felt sting to the back of her neck, through the spinal cord, and the burn of a bullet grazing her jaw. Then a second sounded and she felt it rip through sinew and feather. Disabling a wing. She felt the pain radiate her skull and numbness consume her body, the first bullet more affective then the one disabling her wing. As she fell, she saw the first man being shakily helped up by 5 men dressed in SWAT-type gear with guns. The man who had shot her lowered his weapon and glared at the other man who had frozen.

"I told you that you were not to engage the monster until back-up got here!" The man barked angrily. The second man flinched, lowering his weapon.

Staring momentarily down at his now deceased comrade he muttered. "Trent thought it was going to escape. It had noticed that we were following both of them. We were afraid it'd use the human as a hostage."

Dahlia growled at the mention of her friend, wrath clouding her thoughts. How dare they! I would never.

"Where'd the girl go?" Head honcho, as she was going to now call the asshole that had shot her, asked, holstering his gun. Two men came forward, one with his gun trained on her and the other with a metal collar of some sort. They slipped it on her and she felt the cold of it pressed against her wound. Her fangs lengthened in aggression at the unpleasant sensation and the man paused, then shoved a black bag over her head forcefully, blinding her.

She heard the Guy who Froze respond, "It was the strangest thing. It was like the monster was trying to protect the girl. It shoved her away after it hit Mike and told her to run somewhere. To call the cops. It didn't even kill Mike. Just stunned him. And it only killed Sergeant James when he used the Taser on it and the girl was out of sight." Pressure in her arm told her they were doing something. She still had limited feeling in her body, her wound slow to regenerate because she was so newly immortal and unfed, but a swimming sensation overwhelmed her.

An injection.

Her last thought as she lost consciousness was, Damn that's some heavy duty tranquilizer.

AN: I hope you guys like. I love to hear your thoughts and suggestions aka please review ^_^

8/22/13 – I made some changes to this chapter. Reviewer Vampirella made a good point that I didn't clearly distinguish between Valkyrie and Furiae, which was because I intended for Dahlia to be an arch furiae-valkyrie-vampire (which is quite the mouthful so I never actually called her that lol)- Woden and Freya enjoyed making valkyrie out of many Lore females. I know! I took many liberties with the Furiae since there isn't much Lore explained about them in Kresley Coles books so I apologize. But thank you for making me think, Vampirella. I love when people write reviews that point out I made a boo-boo. Hopefully you'll re-read this chapter and see my note ^_^