Ellie could only watch as the man staggered through the alley and as the other man followed. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt what was about to go down. In all likelihood, the first man would be killed and the one who had killed him was not a man at all. She sat on the fire escape with her legs hanging over the side, careful not to make a sound. It was almost dawn, but she figured who ever he was, he'd want to get a bite in before morning without any interruptions. She couldn't make out who exactly it was, probably Freddy or Sanders, but they had to be pretty ballsy or pretty stupid to be up this late. Stupid was much more likely, especially to be hanging in Adrian's neck of the woods. It made her nervous, there shouldn't be anyone around for the next four blocks. Not anyone human at least. They knew this was Adrian's territory, his hunting grounds. Most still thought of Adrian as fairly intimidating, even if he hadn't been in a long while. First impressions were a big deal to these guys, even more than the stories told about the blood thirsty madman she shared the apartment with. She almost wished they could see him now. Almost.

Down below, he'd just about finished up with the drunk and stood to go. Then it was his turn to stagger as the alcohol in his blood kicked in. He gave a weak chuckle- definitely Freddy then- and stumbled off. Eli waited a few minutes before getting up. She was contemplating moving the body farther away from the apartment. It would be less attention for them to have deal with, but even more if the cops checked for prints. No, better to leave it. She could just give the routine answers: "didn't know him, dangerous out that late, rough neighborhood" et cetera, et cetera. And that's only if people came around asking questions, area like this, not many did. With a sigh, she scrambled back up the fire escape and went to go about her routine.

She did her deliveries early in the morning, as the norm. There were less people awake, less people to ask questions. Why, she could just delivering coffee to people's apartments for all they knew. Yeah, coffee, right. Stupid. It hardly mattered anyway, in the year she'd been making her rounds she'd only been stopped twice. Once by a security guard who was new on the job and again by a vamp who wanted a little extra with his meal. That's when she stopped making deliveries in the evening, temperature be damned. If they wanted their blood hot, they could microwave it, if they wanted it chilled, they could freeze it for all she cared.

She went down the list looking for any new additions or changes. There were none. Good. Adrian was probably asleep by now and she knew better than to wake him just to ask for an address. She would do better just to get on with it. Her feet knew the way. Pick up the blood from the butcher shop. Drop most of it off at the apartment. Take some out for the first trip. Hit up the West side, the farthest from their place. Vince, Leo, Tony, and Judas. Go back to the apartment for the second trip. Walk the along river until she couldn't tell the difference between the homeless' shacks and the houses. Ryker, Seven, Liz, Mordecai, Idgie, and Wednesday. Walk back. Keep her head down in the morning rush. Pick up the third batch. Go out again. Laney, Kick, Ezekiel, Josephine, Carlo. Go back for the final trip. Freddy, Rocco, Sanders, and Mercy. Maybe splurge on a bus ticket- she was so tired- but no, better to save for a late night. Not that she went out much, it was just better to hold out. She could make it, after all the only ones out were human.

It was only three o'clock when she got back to the apartment, but it felt like so much later, a result of being on edge all day. It wasn't like any of her usuals would be up at this time, but… It was better not to take chances. Ellie only let her guard down once she was inside and even then she had to be quiet. Adrian was a light sleeper, one of his many failings. Not to mention paranoia, starting at the smallest sounds, an aversion to flashing lights, and generally just being a shut in. But Ellie could forgive all that. To her, Adrian was the closest thing she had to home. She had a place to sleep and money for food. And that was enough. Provided, the money came from Adrian's boss who assumed that he was the one doing the deliveries and not subleasing to some runaway kid. But hey, what was the difference?

She collapsed on the couch and was asleep almost instantly. Dreams blurred with memories swirled around her head. The world rearranged itself with everything out of order. She finished her deliveries and came home for a bite to eat. Parts of their place were clearly from Grace's house, but others were taken from different fosters across the state. Either way, Grace wasn't there- thank god- but her kids were. She could feel them moving around the house without ever actually seeing them, and that was somehow worse. She tried creeping to the fridge to sneak some food but they were on her tail. She had to run. The house twisted around her, she couldn't escape. There was no escape.

Ellie woke suddenly and silently. It was already dark out and she could Adrian beginning to stir. She could try to go back to sleep for a couple hours, but it probably wouldn't be any use. She couldn't wait for it to be summer again; the heat was awful, but there were always enough hours of daylight for her to go hang out at the library.

The library was great, not only because she could safely get a few hours sleep in, but because Evelyn would often be there. Down in the archives, doing research and making notes, oblivious to the time. Ellie didn't trust her- Ellie didn't trust anyone- but at the very least she was interesting to talk to. And she hadn't tried to bite or tattle on Ellie yet. She wasn't sure how strong Evelyn's sense of smell was: if she could smell the street on her, the dirt, the traffic she passed on her rounds, maybe even Adrian (did he have a scent?). There was no way she couldn't smell the blood, but she didn't say anything. At the most she might hint at something, though she could see how Ellie would clam up when she did. Sometimes she almost seemed like she wanted to help, but people had said that before. Grace had said it often. "I just want to help you, Eliana. Why won't you let me help you?" But Ellie could hear what she was really saying, "This is your fault. You're making me do this." As if Ellie wasn't trying. As if it would hurt less if she did. As if Ellie could do differently. She shivered and pushed the memory away.

Ellie got up to get a glass of water. She had to be careful, this was the last one. Adrian tended to drop the glasses whenever he'd hear sirens or sometimes even helicopters. Then he'd flinch and his tremors would start and he'd mutter, saying things like "fire everywhere" or "I can't see them" and then he'd back up and step on the glass and Ellie'd have to help pull it out of his feet. So it was mostly just plastic now.

It wasn't always this bad. When they met, Adrian would even go outside. He must have eventually noticed the kid living in the alley around the corner. She was so tiny, easy to miss. A little thing with rosy taupe skin and puffy curls ringing her face, hiding among the filth and debris. He could have eaten her, it would've been easy. It wasn't like a human could pose a threat even in his state. But the first time he approached her, he was wary. She had relaxed as soon as she saw Adrian wasn't a cop, a good sign. He could use that; if she could avoid cops, then she could handle the deliveries. It wasn't as though he couldn't handle them anymore, he was fine, it was just that it was kindof a pain hauling all that blood around. There was nothing wrong, and besides he wouldn't have to pay her very much. It wasn't that the mere sound of the subway was enough to send him back to the jungle, under fire from all around. Or that the sudden bursts of heat from the vents could make him jump and drop the goods because he was still there in the labyrinth of trees and gunfire and flame, still living it. No, no, he was fine.

A few weeks later the first snow fell. The whole city was already up in arms with Christmas cheer, but Adrian was concerned about losing his runner. He'd checked in with the gang a couple times now and everyone was getting their share, so the kid seemed reliable. She wouldn't be for long though if she froze on the street. Didn't want to have to find someone else to do it, didn't even know how he'd go about looking. And they might want more money, or maybe they'd get the police involved, or worse, they might sell him out to Jack. He made the call. Beside, if there was a human living there then no one'd be able to get in, but he didn't tell her that. Needed to keep the kid in the dark, let her think she owed him one.

And that she did. She never pretended that Adrian had let her stay with him out of the kindness of his heart, particularly as she got to know him better. He needed her and she needed him. Other than that, she caught on to the whole vampire thing pretty fast. They had another face, a less human looking one. They were burned by crosses, even if they weren't religious. They drink blood to survive. Doesn't have to be human blood, but it does have to be almost daily- hence the delivery work. And above all, they're not human. Humans could certainly be just as cruel, Ellie knew that all too well, and sometimes they seemed just as strong, particularly adults. But with vampires, their strength was so casual, she'd seen one send a man into a wall with just a punch, no hesitation. If they were human, there'd at least have been a windup, a chance to brace before the blow hit. She knew how to take a punch, knew how to make herself small and invisible. And if they were human she could always run- vampires were too fast for that- the second Ellie let herself forget, she would be someone's dinner. So when she heard a tap on the kitchen window a few nights later, she immediately got down.

Fortunately, Adrian had heard it too and ventured a peek out the window. "It's Jack." His shoulders went tight and his face visibly pained. Adrian had told her things about his boss, rumors involving torture, dismemberment, simply for the fun of it. Running the Bronx blood trade through fear and an impressively large crew. He wasn't someone Ellie'd want to meet and Adrian didn't look too pleased to see him either. "H-he probably just wants to check in." He licked his lips, "I'll be fine. It'll be fine. I-I'll be back soon." He quickly grabbed his jacket and headed out the door.