Anna-Louise Fisher isn't anything too remarkable, she thinks. She's the second to youngest of five and she lives in a tiny town in Missouri. Really, nothing to write home about. And that's kind of how she lives her life.

She graduated high school— middle of her class— got a job at Walmart and has just been living life like that since.

Average, unremarkable, Ann Fisher.

That is until a strange run in with some pixie-like petite woman who insisted to her in the creepiest way possible that she would somehow be incredible. Ann didn't manage to get the hows or the whys or even the what the fucks of it all, but the single sentence left an impression anyways.

Now, Ann is starting to look at her life, at herself, and is wondering if maybe she could be incredible someday. She doesn't know in what way but she'd like the chance to try at least.

It's with these cautious day-dreams that lead her to experience the second weirdest thing to happen to her this month.

…

Aro and Marcus are practically glued to their cellphones. It's only been an hour since Caius has left and Aro suddenly wonders if they've made a horrible mistake sending him.

Marcus, always adopting the personality of a Buddhist monk on Quaaludes, serenely asks Aro what is bothering him. Aro halts in his effort to wear a path in the marble of the throne room dais, and looks at his bond brother with a pinched face.

"I'm concerned that Caius was not the correct choice for this venture," Aro admits as gently as possible. Caius isn't in the room but the man seemingly has a sixth sense for when others are talking ill of him.

Marcus tilts his head in consideration, "I think that if Caius felt he was not up for the task, he would have told us so himself. Don't you think so, brother?"

Aro does have to admit that Caius is weirdly self aware of his shortcomings.

"I suppose you're right," Aro says while taking a heavy seat in his throne. He looks down at the cellphone clutched in his hand. Caius won't be at the place where Anna-Louise is located until tomorrow evening, but Aro is afraid he'll miss an update if he puts the device down.

"Have faith in our brother, Aro," Marcus commands just as kindly as always, "He will not fail us."

…

Ann stares at the enema kit and then looks up at the insanely handsome man purchasing it. It must be the time of night that erases her filter because her first words to this man are, "Plugged up?"

He looks at her uncomprehendingly then looks down at the enema kit in her hands. Ann can see the moment he realizes what he's purchasing and his face becomes a mask of horror. He looks to the equally beautiful, snickering man waiting in line behind him and Ann swears she can feel the temperature in the room drop.

Eager to get this guy moving so he can do whatever it is he needs to do she says, "Will that be cash, check, or credit?"

The man turns back to her and she honestly feels a little bad, he looks like he's internally begging for death. He bites out a crisp, "Cash."

The transaction is quiet after that. She thanks him and tells him to have a nice night. He nods and walks very quickly away from her.

The other guy tosses his set of undershirts onto the conveyer belt and gives her an appraising look. "He didn't need to buy anything but he saw you working and really wanted a chance to strike up a conversation," the man tells her while leaning casually against the register desk, "He grabbed the first thing he came across off the shelf."

Ann grimaces; how unfortunate. But also, she's not interested in the slightest in some weirdo coming into Walmart at 3 a.m. Ann tells this man as much while quickly finishing up the transaction.

He gets a strange look on his face that Ann can't quite place and leaves with a wave over his shoulder.

What the fuck?

…

Aro's phone vibrates in his pocket and he halts the trial. Felix is looking up at him with an incredulous look while he's got a nomad vampire pinned to the floor. Aro doesn't care and quickly takes out his phone to answer it.

Feeling it pertinent to get information, Aro skips the pleasantries, "Did you meet her?"

The line is silent for a several moments and then Caius bites out, "30 seconds and I've already made a fool of myself."

Aro, and Marcus listening in, both wince. Marcus plucks the phone out of Aro's hand and speaks into the receiver, "Brother, do not quit. You simply need to try again at a later date."

They're not on the same continent as Caius but through the phone they can practically hear the steam coming out of his years. Caius hangs up without another word and Aro sinks into his seat.

There was no way that this was going to end well.