Disclaimer: All the characters and the concept of the Night World belong to L.J. Smith. I'm just borrowing them for a few stories. I'm not getting any money or anything for this; it's just for fun.

This story takes place right before Soulmate.

Part 1

Rashel looked around the airport. It was packed. Not too surprising—it was Vegas, after all. Probably always crowded. She spotted quite a few Night People. Again, no surprise. Las Vegas was full of Night People. Far too many for Rashel to feel comfortable.

One is too many for you to be comfortable, a familiar voice whispered in her head. And stop thinking about whittling down the population. No one's supposed to know we're here, and bodies and missing people tend to create suspicion.

Like she was going to spend who-knows-how-long in the vampire capital of the West Coast, possibly the entire United States, without killing someone, she thought. She wasn't telepathic, but she knew the dark haired boy at her side was strong enough to hear her. Especially since he was already eavesdropping.

I wasn't eavesdropping, you were loud, Quinn defended himself. Rashel gave him an amused look. "Relax," he said aloud. "Everything's going to be fine."

"I can't believe I let you talk me into this. I should have stayed in Boston."

"It'll be fine, don't worry. Besides, you don't exactly say 'no' to a Lord of the Night World, the first made vampire, the second oldest vampire in the world, and the leader of Circle Daybreak."

"Yeah, yeah." Rashel still wasn't comfortable as a Daybreaker. She'd adapted very well to being in love with a bloodsucking leech with a well-deserved reputation that frightened even other vampires, but the Circle Daybreak part took more work. Most of the Daybreakers were accepting of the feared vampire and vampire hunter (although there were a few that were obviously distrustful and afraid of them). The hardest part for Rashel was not gaining acceptance but accepting the other Daybreakers. She still had to fight an urge to stake some of them, or at least beat them up a little, and she couldn't bear the thought of donating blood to any vampire but Quinn. And even that was iffy.

"There's Nilsson," Quinn said aloud, pointing to a young man in a suit. Rashel looked him over as the two walked over. Vampire, she decided. Probably much older than he looked.

"Hello, Nilsson."

The vampire smiled slightly. "Hello, Mr. Quinn. How was your flight?"

"Fine, thank you. This is Rashel. Rashel, Nilsson." They both nodded. Nilsson took one of Quinn's bags. Quinn shifted the other one and reached for one of Rashel's. Rashel rolled her eyes and gave it to him. She wasn't sure if Quinn occasionally forgot how strong she really was, or if it was gentlemanly behavior. Since Quinn wasn't a gentleman (unless he wanted something) or forgetful, it was hard to be sure. Oh well. If he had the bags it made it easier for her to fight. And she still had her important bags. She smiled, hefting her sports bag full of weapons and ninja tools and shifting her bokken in its carrying case on her back. Quinn smiled at her, laughter in his eyes. He had probably heard all that too.

It's pretty easy for me to hear you, he told her. Considering how resistant you are to vampire powers, you'd probably make a strong telepath. And the soulmate bond just makes it easier. Rashel nodded. She knew Quinn wouldn't change her against her will, but talk of it still made her a little nervous. Although it was a good thing that it was only Quinn who heard her so easily. She'd make a lousy vampire hunter if they all knew what she was thinking before she attacked.

"There are two others waiting in the car. Their flight came in about half an hour ago, and Lord Thierry thought it would be easier and safer to send one car."

They were outside the airport now, headed towards one of the cars waiting in front. Rashel lifted an eyebrow. It was a limo. Impressive, but not very inconspicuous. "I'll put your bags in the trunk," Nilson said, opening the door for them.

"Hi," a cheerful voice said as Rashel slid in to a seat. A small girl about Rashel's age with curly red hair and an easy smile was sitting comfortably on the seat. She was obviously a vampire. As was the tall boy with brown hair and shades sitting next to her. "I'm Poppy, and this is my soulmate, James."

"I'm Rashel," she said, sizing the two up. Since they were here, they must be part of Circle Daybreak, but it didn't hurt to be cautious. These two were vampires, and so was Nilsson. Which was why she had her knife in a sheath on her lower leg, hidden by her pant leg. It was nice that wooden and silver weapons didn't trigger the airport's metal detectors.

"Hello, Rashel," James said. "Oh no." He tensed, eyes going silver. Rashel tensed too, preparing to fight.

"Hello, James. I see the rumors were true. Who's your girlfriend?" Quinn gave James a fairly pleasant, but slightly disturbing, smile.

"Poppy. She's my soulmate." He said it in a "you wanna make something of it?" voice. "What are you doing here?"

Quinn ignored the question and turned his smile on Poppy. "Hello, Poppy. I'm Quinn. Don't mind him," he gestured at James, "he and I go way back, and for some strange reason he never liked me."

"He makes Ash look like a harmless kitten." Poppy's eyes grew wide and she pressed closer to James. Rashel frowned, puzzled by the girl's behavior. Even female vampires who had spent most of their lives in a sheltered enclave reacted to threats with threats and not by seeking protection. This Ash must be really bad to frighten her like that.

Quinn shook his head. "Relax, I've reformed."

"You expect us to believe that? After centuries of being so anti-human the Council had to tell you to back down, you expect us to believe you've joined Circle Daybreak? How stupid do you think we are?"

Quinn sighed. "Rashel and I are soulmated. Does that convince you?"

"No."

"It's true," Rashel said. "We're soulmates."

James still looked disbelieving and ready to fight at any second. Quinn looked calmer, but he too was ready to fight if James attacked. Poppy looked confused and a little scared, but she had pulled back from James and she was watching Quinn carefully, her muscles tense. Rashel was also ready to fight, but no one seemed to notice. Quinn of course knew she wouldn't hurt him, and James and Poppy, in typical vampire fashion, had dismissed the human as no threat. That was a mistake most Night People only got a chance to make once.

"I still don't trust you. You could have convinced her somehow. Used your powers, you're strong enough. Or just seduced her. You like games like that."

"He didn't," Rashel said in a flat voice. "I'm resistant to mind control, and I know better than to fall for some parasite just because he's good looking and charming. It's real. We're soulmates, and we're Daybreakers."

Quinn gave her a pained look. "'Parasite'? I thought you weren't going to use that word anymore."

Rashel shrugged. "Just making a point."

"So how'd you get soulmated?" James still seemed suspicious, but Poppy had relaxed.

Quinn grinned again. "She hit me over the head. With an oak club. Then she tied me up. After that, I just couldn't resist her." Rashel hit him lightly on the arm.

Poppy and James both looked impressed. "Why didn't I think of that?" Poppy asked. "I kept trying to get James' attention with pretty clothes, when I should have been hitting him."

Quinn studied the redhead. "You're illegal, right? That's what the rumors said."

Poppy nodded calmly, and James tensed, eyeing Quinn nervously again. Rashel tensed too, trying to hide her revulsion. Other people's willingness to be vampires was another thing she hadn't gotten used to. She couldn't understand how anyone could willingly give up their humanity. Quinn took her hand, sending soothing thoughts. It didn't help, but she appreciated the effort.

"So," Quinn said casually, trying to change the subject, "what do you suppose Thierry wants to see us all for?"

The four teens chatted the rest of the way to the mansion. They had all relaxed, and while James was still a little distrustful of Quinn, all in all they were well on the way to becoming friends. In the front seat, Nilsson also relaxed. He'd left the intercom on the whole trip, just as he'd been ordered. Thierry had been a little worried that the Daybreakers would not get along. While he didn't think they'd try and kill each other, he needed to know if it looked like they wouldn't be able to work together. But it looked like these four at least would be fine.