Choose a rooftop near the water. 8pm tonight.
The text message arrived around noon, causing the small silver flip phone to vibrate. Kaelin Lizzio, a young woman of 18 years, drew the device from her pocket and glanced at the message. An expression that wasn't quite a smile tugged at her lips as she returned the phone to its place. She stood in an alley between two old brick buildings in Paris waiting for her informant to return.
Kaelin, or Kay as most people called her, was young for a member of the Red Shield, a secret organization dedicated to eradicating the blood-sucking race of creatures known as chiropterans. Most of their ranks were made up of ex-military who had experienced the chiropteran threat on the battlefield. Kaelin had her own reasons for fighting this war.
Though she had dressed inconspicuously in jeans, black boots, a plain black tee, and a light jacket, Kaelin tucked herself into the shadows to avoid attention. Their meeting place was in a busier part of the city than she would have liked, but that couldn't be helped when trying to find information on a large international company like Cinq Flesche.
She had started to tap the toe of her boot impatiently on the ground when a middle-aged man came around the corner. he was so busy looking anxiously behind him that he almost ran straight into her.
"Bonjour," she said casually to get his attention. The man halted in his tracks and breathed a sigh of relief as she stepped into the light.
"Bonjour, mademoiselle," he replied. The man had a sheen of nervous sweat on his balding crown.
"Were you able to retrieve the documents I requested?" she continued in fluent French. Kaelin held out her hand, her eyebrows raised slightly. He reached into his jacket and drew out a plain manilla envelope, setting it gently in her outstretched hand. She opened it and pulled the sheaf of papers inside partially, skimming the front page. After setting them back inside the envelope, she upended the whole thing, catching the USB drive that fell out of it in her free hand. That she slipped into her pocket. From the same pocket, Kaelin retrieved another envelope, this one letter size and thick with its own contents. "Very good. Here is the payment we agreed upon. You understand that this never happened?"
He nodded, eagerly counting the bills she had handed him.
"Yes, yes, of course," he waved her off dismissively. Kaelin smiled and started walking towards the street, pausing next to him to pat his shoulder. The man's muscles tensed under her hand.
"Good, I wouldn't want to have to threaten you."
Satisfied that her meaning had gotten across, Kaelin went on her way. She hailed a cab and went back to the apartment she was using whilst in Paris. The Goldschmidt family owned several such properties in major cities, houses and apartments that looked normal but had been modified to serve as safe houses for Red Shield operatives. This building housed a handful of apartments and even had it's own courtyard, though the space was bare with the exception of a small wrought iron table and two chairs. Kay made her way up to her unit, locked the door tight behind her, and made her way to the kitchen. She poured herself a glass of wine and settled in the living room to report in to headquarters.
"Kaelin, how's Paris?" a pleasant voice asked on the other end. Joel Goldschmidt VI was the current head of Red Shield, bearing a name and position that had been passed down generations in the Goldschmidt family. For the most part, he let his high ranking operatives like David and Aston Collins handle the details of running the organization, but he took it upon himself to be Kaelin's handler.
"Dreadfully dull," she replied with a small sigh. "I appreciate the importance of this little intelligence gathering missions, I do, but it's not exactly what I trained for."
"If what we suspect about Cinq Flesches is true, then what you are doing will end up being incredibly valuable," Joel explained patiently. "Would you like me to send a chopper to pick you up this evening?"
Kaelin took a gulp of wine before saying, "No, I have some loose ends to tie up here. Send it in the morning. Hopefully this will be the last night I have to spend in this godforsaken city."
That evening a little before eight, Kay took another cab back to a more central part of the city near the Seine. She strolled past small cafes and bakeries, peeking in alleyways until she spotted a handy fire escape on the side of a building. The retracted ladder hung a few feet above her head. A giggling couple walked past the mouth of the alley; Kay ducked into the shadows until they were gone. Then she backed up several steps and ran at the wall. She planted one foot against the wall and propelled herself upwards, gripping the bottom rung of the ladder and letting her weight pull it down. That accomplished, Kay climbed to the roof.
A short wall circled the roof at about waist height. She was leaning against it and watching the sunset when someone lightly tapped her shoulder. Kay closed her eyes and took a deep breath before turning to face him.
Solomon Goldsmith was probably the most beautiful man she had ever laid eyes on. He had a head of wavy blonde hair that seemed to beg for her to run her fingers through it. His eyes were a shade of blue green that reminded her of the sea; their soft glow a stark contrast to her own piercing grey-eyed gaze. He always looked crisp in his white suits, every inch the young, successful CEO. If she hadn't been so acutely aware of what he was, she might've been intrigued to understand him more. Instead, a mild panic washed over her at the sight of him. She beat down that feeling of fear and anxiety, though she knew the sound of her heartbeat betrayed her.
"Hello Kay," Solomon greeted her. His voice was warm and gentle, the sort of voice that made a person comfortable. She often wondered if his soft-spoken manner was the way that he always spoke or if he was trying not to spook her. "How are you this evening? I know you prefer the sunset over the ocean; this was the best I could do this far inland."
"I appreciate the gesture, I suppose," she said, straightening. "I am well, thank you for asking."
"Are you enjoying Paris?" He asked as Kay shrugged off her jacket. She bundled it up and set it aside. "You must have some free time to take in the sights."
Her jacket taken care of, Kay turned and reached up to unclasp the choker she always wore. It was comprised of a wide black ribbon with a silver heart locket set with a dull red stone. The gem was in reality the crystallised remains of a slain chiropteran and every member of Red Shield carried one. She swore under her breath as her fingers slipped on the catch. Gentle hands pushed her hair to the side and deftly unhooked the clasp. The locket fell into her palm. She closed her hand around it, not liking the guilt she felt looking at it.
"I don't like Paris," she replied tersely. "This city is so cliche. I leave in the morning. If I never have to come back here, it will be too soon."
His fingers brushed the skin at the base of her neck. She inhaled sharply. The muscles in her shoulders and neck tensed. He sighed behind her. She stepped away, hands clasped behind her back. When she she was several feet away, Kay turned to face him again.
"Give me a minute. I just need a minute."
Her voice was shaky and she wouldn't meet his eyes. He waited, watching silently as she paced and wrung her hands, cursing under her breath. Kay took several deep breaths, eyes on the orange and red sky. After a couple moments, she came back over to him.
"I'm sorry."
"You don't panic as much as you used to," he remarked, giving her a friendly pat on the shoulder. Her heartbeat quickened again but she didn't flinch. "Could it be that you're starting to trust me a little?"
"Just because we have this little arrangement, does not mean I've forgotten that you are the enemy."
She turned her back to him and swept her hair aside, exposing her neck.
"Let's just get it over with."
Solomon closed the distance between them. He slipped one arm around her waist and ran his fingers lightly down the side of her neck. Kaelin closed her eyes and tried to focus solely on her breathing. Her heart was racing in her chest. When she felt his lips brush her skin, she tensed and went to jump away again when the arm around her waist tightened, holding her fast. Fangs sank into her flesh, a sharp pain followed by a dull pounding. His body was warm against hers, which seemed to be losing its own heat. She felt dizzy and weak as she locked her eyes on the setting sun. Kay focused on that beautiful sight as the edges of her vision started to go fuzzy, then black, and she went limp in Solomon's arms.
Judging by the color of the sky above when she opened her eyes, Kaelin guessed she had been unconscious for about ten or fifteen minutes. She was on her back on the rooftop with what felt like her rolled up coat underneath her head as a pillow. As she slowly pushed herself into a sitting position, she noticed something made of white fabric sliding down her arms and found it was Solomon's suit jacket. Holding it in her hands, she looked up to see him sitting on the ledge a few feet away. He turned to face her as she gathered her feet underneath her and leaned on the wall, trying to stand. Before she could even blink, Solomon was at her side, hands gripping her arms to steady her.
"I'm surprised to see you're still here," Kay remarked, stepping back from his support when she knew she could stand on her own. She held his jacket out to him. "You got what came for; you didn't have to stick around."
"I wanted to make sure you were alright," Solomon said, sounding slightly offended as he took the jacket back. "How do you feel?"
Kay ran her fingers over the puncture marks on her neck. They stung under her touch and still bled sluggishly. Part of her wished he had left while she was asleep. During these meetings of theirs, the line drawn between them in this war, the divide between his side and hers, seemed to blur. Solomon never spoke of Diva or his fellow Chevaliers, just as Kay was careful never to say anything about the Red Shield or Saya. In the beginning, he hadn't bothered to try and make her comfortable before or after. They would meet, he would drink her blood, and they would go their separate ways. But it seemed that every time they met, the barrier between them crumbled a little more. Sometimes she caught Solomon looking at her, as if he was fascinated by her presence. She couldn't explain it.
"Just a little light-headed, which is to be expected. Thank you for that, by the way," Kay said, gesturing towards him as he pulled his jacket back on.
"It was nothing." Solomon raised a finger to his lips, touching them lightly with a far away look. "You've become quite fond of wine as of late."
Kay frowned.
"What makes you say that?'"
"I can taste it. I don't mean to intrude, but you seem a bit young to be indulging in the habit. Perhaps you could dial it back a bit?"
"I thought it was appropriate while I was stuck in France," she replied with a shrug. "Once I return to headquarters, I will be cut off. No need to concern yourself."
Kay retrieved her jacket and shook it out before slipping it on. What did he care if she had a couple drinks today? Solomon was a chiropteran and servant to the great enemy Diva. She didn't understand his reason for bringing up the subject.
"Would you like a ride?" Solomon asked.
Kay shook her head.
"I can't have you knowing the location of my secret base, can I? It's not far, I can walk. Besides, I was going to stop somewhere for a bit of dinner anyway."
Solomon reached into a pocket and produced his wallet, rifling through its contents. He held out a couple of bills to her.
"Please, let me pay for your supper."
"Oh no," she objected, pushing his hand away. "I am not letting you give me money like I'm some prostitute! What do you take me for?"
He sighed.
"If you would at the very least accept some monetary compensation, I would not struggle so much over your reason for doing this. What reason could you possibly have for submitting yourself to this?" Solomon returned the wallet to his pocket and met her eyes. Kay fidgeted uncomfortably under his gaze. He had started asking this question more frequently. It seemed as they became more relaxed in each other's presence, the more he seemed to be bothered over her willingness to be fed on. This wasn't simply curiosity anymore. "I've brewed up then discarded dozens of theories. You clearly get no pleasure from the act, in fact it seems to terrify you."
Kaelin raised her eyebrows, a slight expression of surprise crossing her face. She wondered how far he planned to take this line of inquiry.
"You're not pumping me for information, that much is certain," he continued. "That would require you to engage in conversation. This can't be some sort of scientific study, there's not enough consistency. And you would be likely working with Red Shield's team, but I know you're keeping this secret from them too."
She waited for a moment to see if he was done, then turned to go down the fire escape.
"Kaelin?"
She stopped, one leg over the side, and looked back at him, her expression indifferent.
"Accept your good fortune or don't come back," she said simply, throwing her other leg over and climbing down to the street. Solomon peered over the ledge to watch her go. Kay gave him a little wave before going around a corner and out of his sight.
The next morning, Kay boarded a helicopter bound back to where the ship that served as Red Shield headquarters was stationed off the coast of Marseilles. She didn't speak to the pilot who had been sent to fetch her. Instead, she spent the flight gazing down on the French countryside, watching vineyards and farms zip by beneath them. Then they were over the water and the huge cruise ship that served Red Shield as its headquarters came into view. A man wearing a black suit with a white shirt and black tie waited as they descended to the helipad. He approached as the rotors started to slow and Kay stepped out, gathering two duffel bags from the back.
"Miss Lizzio!" The man shouted over the roar of the engine and the wind. "Welcome back. The chief would like to see you in his office."
"Thank you," she replied, walking with him to the door that led to the interior of the ship. Kay was dressed in a similar fashion to him, black slacks and jacket, white button up shirt. "I'll head that way after I've gotten settled in my room."
"He insisted on seeing you right away."
Kay sighed gustily and made her way to Joel's office. She paused outside his door and set one of her bags down, freeing her hand to straighten her choker and the collar of her shirt. When she was sure that the bite marks were covered, she knocked and entered.
"Kaelin, welcome back," Joel greeted her warmly. "I trust the trip went smoothly?"
The director of Red Shield was a man of average build, with brown hair and blue eyes. Despite being head of a secret organization that battled blood-sucking monsters, Joel almost always wore an expression of kind understanding and only put on a more serious face when the situation was in dire need of it. He not only acted as her handler, but had become something of a father figure to her since she had lost her own father very young.
"Clear skies, a perfect day for flying," Kay answered, leaving her bags by the door and settling into the chair across from him at his desk. "Now cut to the chase, Joel. What was so urgent that I couldn't even dump my laundry first?"
"You're always so blunt, Kay," Joel said reproachfully. "Very well, I wanted to speak with you to give you some prior notice to our situation. As you know, we received intel that Saya and Hagi were heading towards the Zoo following their disappearance in Russia. David and Lewis, along with Saya's adopted brothers Kai and Riku, were dispatched to try and persuade them to return. They were able to meet up with Saya there, but there was an...incident.
Not only did Diva's chevalier Solomon apparently show up there," Kay kept her face impassive, though she did bring her hand up to her neck. She disguised the action by then propping her chin in that hand. "But Diva herself made an appearance. There was a brief battle before Diva retreated. Unfortunately, Riku, the youngest, was fatally injured. Saya gave him her blood in an effort to save his life."
"What?" Kay couldn't believe what she was hearing. Riku Miyagusku was little more than a child. "Did he survive?"
"Riku is being monitored down in medical. At this point he has not woken up," Joel said with a sigh, leaning forward to meet her eyes. "This is obviously a delicate situation and you are not known for being a delicate person."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I know you do not approve of Red Shield working with Saya to defeat Diva. However this is not the time for you to express those feelings. Saya is dealing with complicated situation. If you encounter her or any of her companions on the ship, try to exercise some restraint."
Kay stood and stretched.
"I will do my best, chief," she said dully. "Can I please go? I've been dying to get out of Paris for weeks."
He dismissed her with a wave of his hand. Kay collected her bags and went to her room. It was small space in the interior of the ship, without even a window to the outside. The furniture consisted of a twin size bed, desk and chair, and a small wardrobe. She tossed her jacket over the chair as soon as she arrived, fuming over what she had learned. Saya, the legendary killer of chiropterans and the only tool Red Shield had to truly kill the beasts, had taken it upon herself to turn an innocent boy into a monster. And now they were all there on the ship. Her hands shook. She went to her wardrobe and wrenched the door open to look in the mirror hung on the inside. Kay gazed into her reflection, pulling her collar and the ribbon aside to look at the puncture marks in her skin. She stared, running her fingers lightly over the scabs.
Footsteps and muffled conversation outside shook her out of her trance. Kay shut the wardrobe door and turned to unpack her bags. That task completed, she collapsed onto the bed, suddenly feeling weary.
I'll just rest awhile, she decided, shutting her eyes. I can deal with Saya later.