Chapter 1
New Orleans, Louisiana
Praise the Gods this cannot be happening.
Standing behind his massive desk, Victor Margule leaned on the heavy slab as he listened to the police commissioner on the other end of the line. The commissioner, like himself, was part of a species that some depicted as extinct or even along the lines of the supernatural. Which was true, mostly, and the fact that such a creature was calling him about the death of a bunch of humans wasn't exactly awe inspiring.
Victor sighed, "Alex, can you just get to the point? I have enough paperwork to do without dealing with humans in the mix."
There was a grunt over the phone, "Well alright, the deaths are all connected given the appearance of the victims, and I personally believe that one of our side is stepping on toes and trying to press boundaries."
Aggravated, Victor ran a hand over his face, "Has anyone else in the station connected anything?"
"Not a one, all of them believe the case was closed and that there is a copycat running around killing the newer victims," his longtime friend sighed over the line, "Normally, such a thing wouldn't be a problem. I'd call you, you'd have your boys take care of it and poof, and it would be like it never happened. However, the thing that is tearing apart these girls knows what it's doing. No scent, no trail, and when I can't find anything it makes my pride feel pricked you feel me?"
Victor glanced up from the phone call as there was a knock on his office door, "Yeah, I know man. Send me over the files and I'll find anything I can. If this thing is in my territory causing so many problems then I will deal with the issue myself if I have to."
Ending the call he sat for a moment in silence and took a calming breath, "Yeah, who is it?"
The door was opened to reveal his brother. Looking like younger version of himself, Brian Margule was tall and built with the dark hair and eyes that had been in the males of their family for generations. The only thing that seemed out of place was the scowl that marred his brow.
"What do you need?" Victor asked trying to avoid this conversation.
"Oh don't give me that shit," Brian snapped with a growl, "Why haven't you been doing anything about this idiot that's trying to get in our line of fire?"
Reclining in his chair, Victor watched his younger brother carefully, "To be honest, I had more pressing issues happening with the Council making new plans for the territories. Alex can normally handle things like this on his own. He very rarely needs to tell me of these things at all. Why does it have a stick shoved up your ass though?"
Brian narrowed his eyes, "Alex didn't tell you all of the case I imagine then. Since if he had, you wouldn't be sitting here all calm and collected, you'd be calling the Council for help."
Victor growled, "I do not need the Council's help. You speak as though they would send any help in the first place. The Council intervenes when it feels they are being threatened, that is all, everything else that happens in the territories are all on us."
His brother shook his head, "Alright fine, but we have a serious problem. The victims are all women Vic, young women. The oldest being eighteen and the youngest barely twelve. I've been keeping tabs on the case files and its one big mess. It's like whatever is killing these girls is a phantom or something."
He rolled his eyes, "Doubt it, they're normally smarter than that."
When his brother looked at him in shock he just shook his head, "You're still young Brian, and it shows when you do things like this. I'm getting the files sent over and we'll start working the case alright? Just don't go snapping your fangs at innocents on either side or you and I will have problems, understood?"
Case File Number 2087SF5. Patient is unresponsive to treatment and is actively seeking other forms of relief. Suicidal Attempts: 5 Patient is stripped all of clothing and placed in solitary confinement until further notice. Reported Night Terrors, Panic Attacks, Severe Emotional and Mental Trauma. Treatment unsuccessful.
The executioner closed the screen of the laptop and sighed into the dark room. Breath came out as a puff of air into the chilled space as the creature cracked its neck. Finally being able to catch the link in this long and corrupt chain of events had been hard enough, but putting the lead into such a state was something the being hadn't wanted to happen.
The ancient needed what was in that mans' brain. Needed the information and the face of the man that was head of this large and growing organization before it was too late.
Growling into the darkness, the being pulled on the large heavy leather cloak and weapons that were used so often they had become a part of the creature that utilized them. The ancient needed to follow the killings and see if the trail ran cold yet again.
Time was running out and human blood was too precious to continue to spill.
