Part 4

Maybe when Tate first heard the scream he should have not listened. He should have glanced over his shoulder curiously and passed by, without giving it a second thought. The way post people reacted when screams sounded.

But of course, being born and raised a Daybreaker, it was almost part of his genetic makeup to respond to people in trouble, and play Mr. Hero.

And tonight should be no exception. Tate turned back the way he'd gone, pausing, listening. The night was dark and silent, the stars glittered eerily in the black sky. No wind stirred the dry branches on the tress lining the street.

The scream came again, shattering the peaceful night, full of terror and fear. "Help!"

The sound was coming from a near by alleyway. Tate's ever-changing Redfern eyes rolled with disgust. Why did the bad guys always think a dark alley was the best place for their attacks?

Why couldn't they come up with something more original? Shaking his head he pulled his stake out the sleeve of his leather jacket. Blending in with the darkness he slipped closer.

The girl was pressed back against the wall, her pale skin almost glowing in the moonlight, rainbows reflecting off her raven hair.

"Hey," he called to the vamp, "didn't you ever learn not to play with your food?"

The vampire looked at him, unimpressed. "Oh joy, the Knight in Shining armour."

Tate's eyes rolled a second time. Vampires really needed to learn new witty lines as well. How many times had he heard *that* one? With a sigh he lunged forward. The surprised vamp moved back, away from his victim.

Exactly what Tate had expected. He jammed his stake into the outraged vamp's heart. The vamp swore at him savagely, and the light died out of his eyes.

Within seconds he was nothing more than a bag of leathery old bones on the dirty, trash filled floor. Tate snorted. Other people he knew might have spat on the body, but with the girl present, he could hardly do that, could he?

The girl was looking at him with wide blue eyes. "Is he dead now?" he asked nervously.

Tate looked at her. Something about her...this girl was a vampire as well. Obviously not an evil one. "Yeah, he is."

The girl smiled a little, red lips full and ripe. Something about her reminded him of Gabrielle. She slipped an arm through his and sighed dreamily. "My hero."

Tate managed a weak smile. This was turning into a soap opera scene. "Want me to take you home?"

The girl shook her head frantically. "No. Don't want to go home. They hurt me." She looked at him with those wonderful blue eyes of hers.

Tate frowned. Maybe he could take her to the safe house he and Gabrielle had a room in. He didn't want to take her back to the Daybreak mansion. He wasn't entirely sure if he could trust her yet. "I'm Tate, what's your name."

"Tacy," she answered, smiling. "My family are typically old fashioned Night Worlders." She made a face. "They don't like the fact I don't agree with them."

Tate sympathised. "Well, I'll take you back to one of our safe houses for now. Nobody'll hurt you there."

Tacy looked at him with admiration and longing. Tate tried to remind himself as he led her back to his car that he had found his soulmate. He already had Gabrielle. True, he wasn't exactly sure if she really loved him yet, but she was the one person perfect for him.

Tacy was sweet, but kind of wimpy. She still clung to him as if there would be no tomorrow. When he got her to the safe house he went to call Thierry.

"She can stay for the time being while we check her out," Thierry told him. "But if she seems the slightest bit suspicious, or appears to be trouble, kill her."

Tate was slightly surprised. "Isn't that a little too dramatic?"

Thierry sighed with impatience. "No, not really. We've lost so many agents due to Night World spies we're taking the issue more seriously. Take every precaution."

Tate sighed. "All right." He headed back to Tacy.

Tacy looked at him with hope. "Can I stay? You'll protect me?"

He nodded. "Sure."
He tried to take his mind off Tacy by thinking of Gabrielle. He wasn't entirely pleased about her rushing off to prove herself by killing her ex-boyfriend.

She'd be okay. Should be, anyway.

* * *