HAHAHA. Luck and Thirteen are right next to each other. I just noticed that. Simple things amuse me.

Chapter Thirteen – Luck be a Lady

"It's just you tonight" Ackerly handed Skylar the clipboard.

"Where's Tanner?"

"On suspension"

"What did he do now?"

"He and Lindsey got caught in one of the conjugal rooms last night"

"Are you fucking serious?"

"Sky, I couldn't make this shit up"

"They're absolute idiots"

Ackerly laughed in agreement. "Isaza's down at south, but she'll be your second if you need her"

"I think I'm capable of handling three sleeping inmates"

"Your call. See ya later"

Skylar sat down at her terminal checking the monitors. Everything looked fine. She glanced at the clock, only 11 hours and 45 minutes left in her overnight shift. Time went so much slower when you worked alone. She reached into her bag, pulling out a worn copy of What to Expect when You're Expecting. Leaning back in her chair, she put her feet up on her desk and began to read.

"HELLO!" Jacob screamed from his cell. "Can you please tell me what time it is? Or what day it is? PLEASE"

Skylar glanced over at the monitor, and then turned down the volume.

"I know you're up there. I know you can hear me. HELLOOOOOO!"

Skylar snorted and hit the mute button on the monitor. Jacob Black, vampire lover was not going to disturb her reading. She finished a few more pages before his howling started. She looked at the monitor. The volume was still on mute. He was howling so loud it was coming through the window.

Skylar slammed her book shut and reached for the intercom. Without thinking she hit the button and screamed "SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Her voice echoed into the control room. It was silent for about a split second then Jacob started wailing even louder.

Skylar turned on the small radio in attempt to drown out his voice. It didn't work. She glanced at the clock. It was just after 1am. She still had seven hours left in her shift. This was going to drive her mad. She took a long break and went on her rounds. When she returned forty five minutes later he hadn't stopped. Stubborn son of a bitch.

Skylar hated to resort to bribery, especially with him but there was no way she could listen to this another minute. Digging through Tanner's desk drawer she found his snack stash and grabbed a handful of beef jerky.

Jacob wasn't sure how much longer he could keep the noise going. His throat was dry and scratchy. He desperately needed water. But she'd responded, and so he pressed himself to continue.

The door to the room opened and she walked inside. Jacob kept going, but lowered the volume a bit since she was only a few feet away.

"SHUT UP already!" She cried out, pressing her palms to her ears.

"I'll consider it, if you help me" Jacob replied.

"How about this?" Skylar held out the jerky. "I give you a treat and you be a good boy and go to sleep"

"Is it nighttime?" Jacob asked.

"It's about 2am"

"What day is it?"

"Thursday"

"THURSDAY!" Jacob exclaimed. "I've been here for FOUR days. How is that possible?"

"Look, I answered your questions. How about we call it even and you stay quiet for me, ok?" Skylar pushed the jerky through the bars into Jacob's eager fingers.

"I'm thirsty too" He said with a mouthful of jerky. "And this stuff is salty"

Skylar groaned "One cup of water and that's all"

Jacob chewed contently on his snack as she left the room. Not a bad start. He thought to himself.

Mia held her breath as Thiago reached for the door. Before his fingers touched the handle the door flew open revealing an angry dark skinned man. He stormed past the two of them down the alley. Mia paused catching his scent. He was the Lycan. He came to a standstill and turned around to look at her. Mia knew he'd caught her scent as well.

Thiago grabbed her hand and gently pulled her toward the doorway. Mia hesitated still looking at the Lycan in the alley. He looked back at her and let out a rumble, inaudible to anyone except a fellow Lycan, warning her not to go inside. Thiago had taken a few steps through the doorway and her arm had stretched to its fullest extent. "Come Mia. You should get on a bed" He urged. Get on a bed? His English was getting worse by the minute.

The Lycan rumbled again more persistently. Mia let out a small rumble of her own, just to let him know she understood his warning. He shook his head in disapproval, then turned and continued on his way. Mia whispered a silent prayer as she crossed the threshold into the warlock's residence.

Thiago led her quickly through the small kitchen and main room of the house to a narrow stairway. Mia's nervousness grew as he gestured for her to go first. He was only a human, but she didn't like turning her back to him while climbing the stairs. The warlock's scent was very strong now. He couldn't be more than 15 feet away.

She climbed the stairs slowly, pulling her bag in of her. Mia's fingers trembled as she unzipped it and reached inside for her blade. Once the handle was in her grasp she felt slightly better about her chances of survival.

"That way" Thiago gestured down a hallway. Mia kept her pace slow and cautious. They passed by a closed door and Mia listened to the sounds inside. The scent permeating the air confirmed her suspicion. The warlock and the demon were clearly more than just friends.