The shifter ran as fast as she could. She hated what she'd become and couldn't understand why she couldn't stop herself. She yelped and cried simultaneously. Back in human form, she hated herself even more. She would make them pay for what they'd done. No matter the cost, someone would sacrfice their life even if it meant sacrificing her own.

"I will find you, all of you," she hissed between her teeth. Entering her apartment, she locked her door, leaned against it and closed her eyes. After showering, she decided to begin her search. She had a name, one name only and she would do whatever it took to find them.

********************************************************************************************************************************************************

"...and if I knew Mike, I would tell you. Honestly, I haven't a clue," Vicki told him for the umpteenth time.

"Vic, you and.." Mike shot Henry a look and said with much emphasis, "HIM..are always into some freaky shit.."

"Not as much as I'd like," Henry smiled. Vicki proceeded to give him a go to hell, right now, look.

"As I was saying.." Mike's cell phone interrupted them, "Damn! Celluci here," Mike's face paled, "where? When? On my way," slamming his phone shut, he told them another body was found in the park, another animal attack it seemed.

"Sunrise is fast approaching, we will have to continue this evening, Vicki," Henry told her.

"Why don't I go with Mike and then he can bring me back here?" Vicki offered. Henry was not the least bit thrilled with that idea but what choice did he have?

"Sure, sounds like a plan, come on," Mike jumped into his car. Henry stopped Vicki.

"Are you sure you want to come back without me?" Henry asked worriedly.

"I'll have Mike, besides, it'll be daylight, what could happen?" Vicki shrugged.

"Never say that Vicki. Alright then, til tonight," Henry nodded. Although unhappy that she was going to be with Mike, alone, for some time, Henry said nothing. She didn't quite belong to him, not yet and Mike was her friend as well as a cop. He was sure she would be safe with him while he slept during the day.

"'Til tonight," Vicki nodded back. Henry watched as she drove away with her former partner and former lover. His heart was heavy and jealousy coursed through him but he knew that it was going to take time. Vicki was her own person, stubborn and willful and pushing her would do no good.

"Mike, why did you feel the need to follow us really? You know I will tell you if I know something and I didn't know anything, just had an unknown caller and an address, had we discovered anything, I would have called so what gives?" Vicki started her questioning the minute the car had moved.

Mike sighed heavily, "Vic, look, you know I don't like you being alone with him. He's...he's..well you know what he is. You're not safe alone with him, can't you see that?"

"I don't need you to be my big protector," Vicki snorted.

"Oh really..so what's that on your neck?" Mike pointed. Instinctively, Vicki put her hand to the spot where Henry had fed. Although it was light, it was there.

"That's none of your concern Mike. What I do with Henry is my business." Vicki growled.

"So it's like that huh? I see..well, whatever turns you on I guess," Mike's hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white.

"Yeah it is, it's my business and I'm a big girl. But thanks, officer." Vicki gave him a mock salute and Mike knew she was royally pissed. Mike knew he'd pushed too far.

"After this case, I'm done. No more coming to me for help, nothing." Mike said through gritted teeth.

"Whatever," Vicki responded. They had arrived at the crime scene and it was more than grisly. The area was taped off and police officers swarmed the area.

"Whatcha got?" Mike asked the officer in command.

"Looks like another dog or something, but the weird thing," the man looked around and leaned in, whispering, "this one looks like he uh..well...he um..had..uh..." his face was so red it was nearly lighting up the little bit of night that remained.

"Had sex?" Vicki finished with a smile. She loved embarrassing men, especially cops.

"Nelson..you're so delicate. Thanks, yeah that's it," the cop said shaking his head.

"How do you know for sure? Have you tested it yet?" Mike bent to look at the young man's mangled body. His face had been slashed, his pants were around his ankles and his arms were at a strange angle over his head. He had been gutted, his entrails lay beside him in a mucky, bloody mess.

"So say the forensic team, some sort of special light kit, I don't know. Didn't want to know really, just that it's worse than last time."

Mike stifled a gag because the smell was overwhelming. The sun was beginning to rise and Vicki's thoughts ran to Henry, he was dead for the day. Why was she so worried about him suddenly? No, she could not let herself get that emotionally involved, not now, not ever, could she? She sighed and bent down too as she tried to see anything that might have been missed. As she carefully made her way around the body, she spotted something that seemed out of place.

"Mike, look at this," she pointed. There, next to the young man, was some type of card from the college. Using a gloved hand, Mike picked it up and looked it over.

"Interesting, seems one of these two had an appointment with one Betty Sagara..."

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************

"Come ON..there's got to be something.." she clicked on each site she could find, searching all that related to finding the occult, witches, wiccans, cults, anything that might lead her to the one that did this to her. Finally, after what seemed like hours, she hit paydirt.

"Bingo! There you are," she sighed. A single tear slipped down her cheek as she wrote down the last known address. She felt the pull again, the need to murder and feed. With all of her willpower, she pushed it back and regained control.

"You will fix me or we will both die trying," she said out loud. For today, she was tired and needed to rest. All of the running was wearing her down and the killing, well that was just tearing her up so for now, rest.

"Tomorrow..." but tomorrow would be different for her too...