Disclaimer: Valdemar and concepts belong to Mercedes Lackey; this fic and original characters belong to their author.

Notes: Long story short, this is basically Valdemar only in the equivalent of 1998 or so, thusly some things are different than they were. Other than that, I didn't screw with things like in In Dreams. Haha.

A DANGEROUS PASTIME
Prologue
By Senashenta

Zach Hoffner surveyed the mess that had—at one time—been a hotel room with his lips compressed into a grim line. One hand hung at his side, while the other played with his cigarette lighter, flicking the device open and then closed again in a rhythm that had been born a long time before and was now a nervous habit. He wished he hadn't worn his trench coat today, despite the rain that was pouring outside and the somewhat conspicuous nature of his uniform.

:You wanted to hide your Whites, remember?: Jaydan reminded him.

:I'm aware of that, Jay.: He replied, :but it's hot as hell in here.:

That was because the thermostat had been cranked up to the maximum the furnace would allow without exploding in an inferno of steel shrapnel. The effect of the temperature spike was such that Zach could practically see steam rising from the carpet, which was, of course, soaked in human blood, and the stench of the as of yet unidentified human corpse was beginning to make his eyes burn.

Ignoring it, he attempted to focus on the crime scene itself.

It was reminiscent of a slaughter house.

The body itself was sprawled half-on and half-off the bed, and the majority of the blood in the room was pooled and congealing in the carpet under it. The rest of the life-sustaining liquid was splashed around the place, having been thrown against the walls and furniture in what could, was one sick enough mentally, be seen as an artistic manner. This, naturally, meant that he was more than aware of the fact—and he sent a mental warning when Jaydan began to say something sarcastic directly following that particular thought.

The most obvious thing about the scene was that it was nothing less than a murder. Generally, people didn't pummel themselves into a bloody pulp, Zach thought wryly. At the same time, he couldn't see a weapon in the room, and the kind of beating this person had sustained couldn't have been done with fists alone. Granted, he wasn't with the crime scene unit and thusly hadn't had a chance to really go over the room, so there might have been something he wasn't seeing outright.

He sighed. Just what I wanted, a murder to postpone my vacation.

:You like your job, don't you?:

:I didn't ask to be a Herald, you know.:

Jaydan snorted. :You want to give me up, then?:

Zach rolled his eyes and the lighter flicked open and closed again. :Of course not.:

:Then stop complaining.:

Jaydan faded out, and he wondered again why he'd be blessed with such a sarcastic Companion. Still, what the stallion had said was more than true—he wouldn't have given up either Jaydan or being a Herald for anything: there was nothing else he was ever want to do with his life.

…though…

His eyes surveyed the slaughter in front of him and he shook his head sadly. Days like this I wish Jay had never waltzed his white ass into my life at all.

:Thanks for that.:

Before he could answer, a ringing made him turn his attention to the cell phone he was carrying in his coat pocket. Zach plucked it out and excused himself to the hallway to answer it, leaving the two Guards who had been called to the scene first to watch over the room until he returned, hopefully with the CSI team they were waiting for.

The phone flipped open in his free hand with a click. "Hoffner here."

"Where the hell are you, Hoffner?" The voice belonged to his boss, and he winced unconsciously, something that Jaydan echoed in the back of his mind, possibly because Jyotika was giving him the same treatment that her Chosen was bestowing upon Zach at the moment. "You were supposed to be back here an hour ago!"

"I know." Zach replied flatly, "but the crime scene team aren't here yet and I don't want to leave until they arrive."

"The Guard can handle it." Herald-Commissioner Gallagher snapped, "so get your butt back here now. Your new partner just got here from Circuit, and it's about time you started showing her the ropes."

"Her?"

"Just do it, Hoffner! Unless you want to see your Whites hung up to dry already."

Zach didn't really take him seriously, as Gallagher resorted to threats over everything. Still, he knew the faster he started showing the new recruit how things worked the faster—she—would get past the "getting in the way while he was investigating" phase.

"Yes, sir."

The phone dropped back into his pocket silently and he flicked the lighter closed. The flame vanished and this time it joined the phone as he gave the Guards the rundown of what was happening and left the building.

:You seem upset.:

:Really?: He replied to Jaydan's annoying comment. :Why is it that I'm always the one to train the new Heralds?:

:I don't know, Chosen.: The Companion told him, :could it be because you always drive your partners into early retirement? If you could be civil to them, they'd stick around longer and maybe someone else could train the new recruits sometimes.:

Zach chose not to respond to that, and started down the street toward his car, the rain pouring down around him. Back in the Field next to the Station, Jaydan was giving a tired sigh and deciding he would never change the man, no matter how he tried.

A perfect way to end a perfect damn day.