Chapter 2: Next Up for the Needle

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Content warnings: None, except the promised blood and needles.

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The trick to messing with inventory was doing it methodically. Eligible victims were not always easy to come by and Vandal always had to top up his business supply with the hospital stock. He always took care never to take any type of blood that was likely to be in short supply though. If he could he only took O and A positive blood. Most of the bloodsuckers couldn't care less about the label on the packs he sold them and as long as he made sure the hospital never ran short, nobody would bother to check on what he was doing. He was on his way back from the storage area to his office, trying to calculate how long his supply of blue blood packs would last him, when there were suddenly footsteps behind him.

"Hello."

Vandal turned around, irritated at being disturbed. It was the research girl, Anna.

"Evening," he said indifferently. "What do you want?" Why the hell was she here in the middle of the night?

"I'm just familiarizing myself with my new workplace," she smiled cheerfully. "Care to show me around the blood bank?"

"Sorry," he said with overwhelming insincerity. "Nobody allowed back her but me, those are the rules."

"Just you?" she replied, her smile having faltered only for a moment. "Haven't you got anybody to help you with your noble work?"

Vandal stared at her. Her choice of words sounded mocking, but her face displayed nothing but friendliness. Was she trying to make small talk? If she was one of those people that felt like they had to be on good terms with everyone, he'd better put a stop to that right now.

"There used to be a Phil," he said sinisterly. "But he took a stroll into the dark one night and never came back. I really work best alone."

Anna laughed softly as if that was nothing but a charming joke and gave a little shrug of her shoulders. "I see," she said, taking a small step towards him. "Well, if you ever change your mind and would like some company, my new office is on the second floor."

She gave him another cheerful smile and then slowly turned around and walked away, her low heels clicking on the hallway floor. Vandal watched her go with great suspicion. If he didn't know better, he would think she was coming on to him. Still, she was new, maybe she just had a strange way of introducing herself to people. Silently Vandal resumed his work. His thoughts kept drifting back to Anna though. What was her last name again? Daring? He went to the computer and ran her name through a search engine. Nothing. Vandal scowled and after a moment's hesitation he went to find Paige. She was busy sorting medication.

"Hey, Paige," he said.

"Hey, Vandal, honey," she said. "What are you doing out of your little cave?"

He chose to ignore that. "That new girl, the one who's supposed to be doing research, where did she come from?" he asked.

"Anna?" Paige said. "I don't know where she's from but she told me she's got a degree in biochemistry or something and has come here to research all kinds of ground-breaking stuff. Says she'll get a grant to make it her PhD."

"Really?" Vandal said sceptically.

"Yeah," Paige said happily. "Malcolm is really excited about it, says it'll be good for the hospital."

"And what is her research on?" he asked, trying not to sound too interested.

"I couldn't tell you," Paige laughed. "I think she did say something about it, but I wasn't really listening, nice girl though. Even if she could do with a bit of make-up."

Vandal grimaced. He couldn't care less what people did to their faces or if they wanted to look like themselves or not, but he disliked the fact that beauty products usually masked or altered a person's natural smell. He liked being able to smell the unadulterated smell of a person's skin. It was like smelling the cork of a good bottle of wine, it gave you an idea of the liquid inside it.

"Thanks," he said flatly and turned away to leave Paige to her sorting. At the last moment he turned back and asked: "What did you say her last name was?" She hadn't said, but Paige wouldn't pick up on that.

"Deering," Paige answered. "Funny name, ain't it? Reminds me of 'darling'. I bet every guy that's ever gone with her called her that."

She laughed at her own wit and Vandal walked off with a frown on his face. So it was Deering, not Daring. He went back to his office and this time he went straight for her employment file in the hospital database. The digital security system here was a joke. He read her résumé and whistled between his teeth. Perelman School of Medicine. For a moment he supposed it must be fake. He glanced over her academic achievements and volunteer work and looked at her references. If she had faked it, she had done a remarkable job. No, as ridiculous as it seemed, it was actually more likely that it was true. In that case she was way, way too good for the Santa Monica Medical Clinic. What the hell was she doing here? He clicked on her letter of application and read it through carefully. The sceptical smirk on his face slowly changed into one of confused amusement. It was a very pretty letter and clearly expertly written, but he could taste the scorn in it. Whatever she might have convinced the management of, Anna Deering knew she was too good for this place. Vandal sat back, absentmindedly gnawing at the inside of his cheek. He couldn't imagine what she could possibly want here. Perhaps she had done something to disgrace herself elsewhere, or she was running away from something. Philadelphia was a long way away. He wondered if Therese knew about this girl. Therese usually pretty much ignored whatever the humans in the city were doing unless she could profit from it somehow.

He was about to open his web browser again when he heard footsteps in the hallway outside his donation window. Quickly he closed down his searches and documents and walked to the window with his usual vacant grin.

"Need a fix?"

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He was not going to see her because he was curious. He was going to see her because he needed to know what was going on in his hospital. Vandal was almost muttering to himself as he walked up the stairs to the second floor. It was all about chaos and control. This hospital was always full of chaos. They were understaffed, underfunded and they catered to a neighbourhood that was rather fond of too much alcohol and also fairly trigger happy. But all this chaos was predictable. Patients being given too little painkillers because some of them had disappeared into someone's pocket was predictable. Doctors cheating on their wives with nurses was predictable. Patient files being stolen or sold to the press was predictable. As long as Vandal could count on the greed, weakness and stupidity of the people around him, he could control his environment. That was important to him. The chaos around him had to be his own creation. After all, he had a business to run and a mistress to please. Anna Deering, so far, had behaved less than predictable and he couldn't have that. Determinedly he paced through the hall, looking at the names at the door until he found hers: "A. Deering, MMS". He knocked and went straight in without waiting.

"Hi," Anna said, looking up at him from behind her desk. "What a nice surprise. Vandal Cleaver, right?"

He nodded and closed the door of her office behind him. She looked at him with genuine interest. When she didn't say anything Vandal began: "I ran into Paige and she told me you're here for PhD research."

"That's the plan," she smiled.

"What are you researching?" he asked, eyes fixed on her rather intently.

Anna didn't seem at all phased by this. "Why don't you show me around the blood bank and I'll tell you about it," she said invitingly.

Vandal smirked. She sure was persistent. "I told you," he said. "Not allowed."

Her eyes were still fixed on his and something began to twinkle in them. "Really?" she said. "What if I wanted to make a donation?"

That caught him by surprise. The thought of this girl sitting down in front of him and offering him her arm for a needle made his mouth go dry for a moment. "You serious?" he asked scornfully.

"Of course I am," she said, with the same, strange smile.

He hesitated. She was playing him. All she wanted was to get inside the blood bank. But for the life of him he couldn't figure out why and...well, why shouldn't he take her up on her offer? You could learn a lot from how someone handled being in an uncomfortable situation. This would give him an opportunity to observe her and whatever she thought she was getting out of this, he would probably get more.

"Alright," he said. "Are you free now?"

"Of course," Anna smiled. She pressed a few keys on her keyboard and when her computer went to the lock screen, she got up and followed him outside.

Vandal had expected her to talk, but she walked down to the blood bank with him in silence. He unlocked the door and Anna followed him inside, still without saying a word. He had expected her to at least look around, but she didn't. She kept her eyes on him almost exclusively. He gestured to a chair and she sat down with a repressed smile. He made a show of fiddling with the equipment, but this didn't make her nervous. She sat still very complacently and held out her arm, showing off a set of flawless nails. Vandal carefully took her wrist in his hand. His hands were cool compared to hers. He searched for a vein and as he leaned towards her he caught a whiff of her scent. She was pure, unspoilt, her blood was completely uncorrupted.

To Vandal's surprise and considerable pleasure Anna looked away when he brought the needle to her skin. He had expected more composure from a clinical scientist. "You're not afraid of needles, are you?" he chuckled.

"Would it matter if I was?" she replied archly.

He broke her skin. To his disappointment she did not react at all. She didn't even flinch. He looked down on her and watched the blood drain into the tube. Her hairstyle was not that much like that of Therese after all, Vandal thought. Her hair was not smooth and perfect like Therese's, it looked like it was desperate to escape from the knot it had been twisted into.

"So…" he said, with pretended nonchalance. "What are you researching?"

"Blood," she answered.

"Blood?" he repeated tensely. Was that why she wanted access to the blood bank. Did she expect to be working with him?

"Diseases and defects of the blood more accurately," Anna said smilingly.

Vandal regarded her suspiciously. "And why have you come to do that here?" he said.

"You think research positions are readily available and up for grabs?" she quipped.

He didn't reply. With her credentials they would be, should be anyway.

"Besides," she said airily. "LA is not too bad."

"You think so?" he smirked. She looked like she was used to much better. Whenever here eye fell upon something that proved the hospital in disrepair there was a slight twitch in her upper lip that gave away her displeasure. It was subtle, but it hadn't escaped Vandal's notice.

"I found a pretty nice place downtown," she told him. "Not far from a place called the Confession, you know it?"

"Sure do," he replied. It was about the only place in town that was relatively free of vampire interference.

"Well, if you feel like it, you could meet me for a drink there one of these nights," she invited. "I'm probably going to be there on Friday evening."

"I don't go clubbing," Vandal said blankly. Was she serious?

"Ah," she smiled. "Just like you don't shake hands. Pity."

Vandal glanced at her. She was sitting placidly, not watching the blood drain out of her, but glancing idly through the room, usually looking at him. She was being friendly, but her friendliness was not empty, there was something of intent behind it that he could not quite make out.

"We're almost done I think," Anna hummed.

Vandal was surprised. She must have given blood before. Or attended donations, or she could not have been so accurate in guessing the time it would take. He moved towards her again and as he bent over her he breathed in her scent. It would be so easy to take a little more… No one knew she was here with him. The basement floor was deserted. She had sat down for him so sweetly, she let him put the needle in her arm… If he was quick she wouldn't even have time to scream… No, no, mustn't do that. It's an ill little bird that fouls its own nest. Silently he took the needle out of Anna's arm and carefully sealed the bag of blood. She watched him with a strange smile, he forced one in return.

"Thank you for your donation," he said, with only a trace of mockery.

"Thank you for taking such good care of me," she said teasingly. "See you around."

And with that she turned on her heels and walked out of the blood bank, head raised high. Her shoes clicked rhythmically on the floor and her steps were sure and steady. Apparently she was not even a little faint or woozy, or shew as exceptionally good at pretending she wasn't. Vandal watched her go with a frown. She was clever, he thought, and not to be trusted. He was certain that all that cheerful politeness was just an act. She had some sort of game to play and he had the uncomfortable suspicion that it had at least something to do with his blood bank. Blood research. She was going to be a pain, that much was certain.

Thoughtfully, he took up the bag of blood. This was good quality blood, excelletn quality in fact. He could ask top price for this. This was almost as blue as the copper sauce could get… Vandal hesitated. For a moment he stood perfectly still, then he quickly put the bag among the hospital's stock instead of his own. He didn't quite know why, but for some reason he couldn't stand the idea of some filthy bloodsucker drinking that down. This way it would still be wasted, on some stupid human that wouldn't even appreciate it, but somehow that seemed better this time.

After taking care of his equipment Vandal sat down behind the computer. He knew Anna's full name now and also where she went to school. If there was anything to be found about her, he should be able to find it. When he typed in her full name, however, it wasn't Anna that he found. "Richard Deering M.D.-Ph.D." he read with mild surprise. He scrolled through the various articles. He was a surgeon, apparently a distinguished one, and certainly from Philadelphia. Her father perhaps? Yes, Dr. Deering was also a graduate of Perelman, it had to be her father. The name was too unusual for a coincidence. Eventually he did find something on Anna, but nothing more than her academic achievements. Nothing like a scandal or anything that might give her a reason to leave upper-class Philadelphia for a dump in Santa Monica. This didn't mean she had come here voluntarily however, it only meant that whatever had brought her here hadn't been publicized. There had to be something. Vandal tapped the desk impatiently. Until he found something on Anna that could help him understand her, it was probably best to avoid her. She had sought him out on purpose twice now. Granted, the second time he had first come to her. That had been a mistake and he wouldn't make it again.

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If Vandal had expected Anna to come looking for him again, he was wrong. He did not see anything of her the rest of the week. His resolution of avoiding her was easily kept then, but he couldn't resist trying to find out more about her. No one at the hospital seemed to know anything apart from what she had told them herself though. Frustrated and unwilling to admit to himself how much time he was willing to spend on figuring this girl out, he pushed her out of his mind for the time being. There were enough customers to keep him busy at least.

Then there was an unexpected email from Therese. She ordered him to close the blood bank early. Several kindred had been acting up and she wanted to remind them just how many aspects of the Santa Monica night life she ran. Vandal readily obeyed and was about to go home when he recollected that it was a Friday night. Involuntarily his thoughts turned to Anna. Would she be at the Confession now? The thought of her strutting round his hospital still plagued him. Everybody seemed to like her and nobody seemed to have a clear idea of what she did. It was infuriating. He couldn't stand not knowing something, but more importantly, he couldn't afford it. Whatever she was up to, she was far too clever. Vandal had a lot riding on the stupidity and incompetence of the medical staff here and a 'Miss Deering, MAS' snooping around was the last thing he needed. She was too interested in the blood bank. Whatever that bullshit research of her entailed if she wanted access to the blood bank for it and the morons at the hospital board gave it to her, that could make life very difficult for him.

Vandal was still busy convincing himself this was a decision founded solely on reason when he entered the Confession with feelings closer to abhorrence than to anything else. It was slightly better than the Asylum, but that place had given him a disgust to all clubs. He looked round, if Anna was there she couldn't be too hard to spot. Sure enough, there she was. Sitting at the bar. She wasn't wearing her blazer, but was still far too formally dressed for her surroundings.

"Do you say you don't do things, just to pleasantly surprise me?" Anna smiled when he sat down next to her. In truth she didn't seem the least bit surprised, but she did look rather pleased.

He didn't reply. He still wasn't entirely sure why he had even come. How would this help him find out what kind of scheme she was running? To his further surprise she didn't seem bothered by his silence. She took a sip from her drink and smiled at him before casting her eyes around the room. In an attempt to make her uncomfortable he watched her closely. This hardly seemed to work. Amusement more than anything was foremost in her face. But at length it did make her speak.

"The sorry state of Santa Monica is a very good circumstance for a researcher like me," she said. "The more patients, the more likelihood of someone with a blood deficiency or disease that pertains to the subject of my research. It is a rather morbid thing to be happy about, so much suffering, but that is the paradox of the medical scholar."

Vandal blinked.

Anna smiled. "I presume at least that you came here to ask me why I came to your hospital?" she said. She looked at him with gently twinkling eyes. "You've been asking people about me. Almost everyone, in fact."

This didn't seem to vex her at all. On the contrary, she seemed positively pleased by it.

"So you came here looking for subjects?" Vandal said, seeing no reason to deny he wanted information.

"That implies I would have something to do with them," she shook her head. "No, at the moment I am merely after data. Lots of it. And the Santa Monica Medical Clinic sure is busy."

He gave her a hard look. She was…not telling the truth. He could not say with certainty that she was lying, but she was certainly not telling the truth. Her words were too polished, too carefully chosen. He sank into a sullen silence.

They sat like that for some time more, neither of them saying much. Vandal was irritated and conflicted, Anna seemed perfectly content. Eventually she said it was time for her to go home. Vandal rose with her and they walked outside, the cool night air welcoming them pleasantly. Vandal still hadn't made up his mind about Anna, and was rather surprised when she suddenly turned towards him and came to stand right in front of him. She was almost touching him.

"Thank you, Vandal," she said tenderly.

"For what?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at her.

"For keeping me company," she said. "That was really sweet of you."

He stared at her, but said nothing.

She laughed softly. "Since you don't strike me as the type of guy that walks women home I'll give you your good-night kiss right now," she said and before he had time to react she had leaned towards him and pressed her lips against his.

Vandal's entire body tensed up. Anna was warm and her lips were soft. He could feel her breath on his face. He could smell her. He could almost taste her. Just before he opened his mouth Anna pulled away, smiling at him like she was pleased with him, herself and the world in general.

"Good night," she said. "I'm sure I'll see you again at the hospital."

She gave him one last satisfied look and walked away, leaving behind a completely astonished and increasingly furious Vandal.

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A/N: Isn't Anna a sweetheart? So appreciative.

I am aware that this isn't how donating blood works. You need to get registered and tested first (at least where I'm from) and that takes a couple weeks, but I didn't want to slow down the story and Vandal isn't a stickler for protocols anyway.

By the way, to get this story properly on the way I will upload the first 5 chapters daily, after that it will be weekly uploads. Thanks for reading! :)