3.

I tried to convince Jean that the best thing to do would be for her to come with me. She wouldn't see the actual crime scene, but at least, she would be safe with me. Too bad the feeling wasn't mutual. The display of hunter versus prey had only heightened her interest in the club. It was that whole sex and violence theory coming into play again. She wanted to stay, reminding me that Carmen was with her. She had a point. This was actually supposed to be her night out, not our night out. I was just along to act as supervision.

I prepared to leave the club with a promise that I would return soon. I was trying to put a little faith in Carmen. That probably wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done, but what else could I do? I wanted Jean to enjoy herself, and if her enjoyment of choice was watching vampires attack each other at a strip club, who was I to ruin the fun? I stopped by the claim booth to retrieve my purse. For a moment, I wished I'd brought a knife as well.

"I almost had you." Vega said with a sly grin before I could exit the club, confirming my fear that he was trying to probe in my head.

There were only two people allowed to pick at my brain, and Vega wasn't one of those people. "Almost isn't good enough, Vega, especially when it comes to me." I called over my shoulder, walking out the club.

"Touché, Ororo." I heard his voice follow me into the night.

An empty coffin and a dead mutant was what greeted me at the Glendale cemetery. I was pulling at the uncomfortable coverall I now donned to protect my clothes as I surveyed the scene. Traces of skin littered the ground around the coffin, but no body. A few feet away were the remains of our dead mutant, and let's just say the term "hollow man" applied to this scene in a literal sense. Someone had cracked this man open like a treasure chest and made off with his organs.

I stooped over his body. His skin was a light brownish-pink color, and he had these odd protrusions in his skins. I saw something that looked like bone trying to emerge from his arms. I swallowed hard and turned away. I didn't know this man, but when he was alive, we had been part of the same struggle. I could only imagine the hardships he endured from day to day.

"They called him Spike. His real name isn't known. He was the caretaker here. The owner employed him because he sympathized with the mutant cause." A gruff voice said behind me. I turned to see Sgt. Bayman staring over my shoulder. "What do you think it was, Munroe?" Sgt. Bayman stood at a powerful six feet. He was hulking man who bragged of a Russian background. He wasn't really into the "supernatural" business, but he still put in his best effort on cases of this caliber.

"Well, you can rule out the anti-mutant groups. Ghouls are what we're looking for." I replied standing again, and then I frowned. "There aren't supposed to be any ghouls in this cemetery."

"And that means...?"

"That means they traveled to this cemetery, and ghouls don't make it a habit to travel anywhere. This cemetery has no ghouls because it's still holy ground. Ghouls resides in graveyards that are very old or have had the holiness siphoned away from it by demonic rituals. Whether they rise or just move in is still up for debate."

"Up for debate, eh? I'm taking that to mean they don't know which it is."

"Precisely."

"What exactly are ghouls?" Sgt. Bayman asked.

"Well, there are many theories on that. Some people believe they are the souls of evil people or people who have been attacked by a zombie, vampire, or wereanimal. I don't believe that. I've seen cemeteries where every single corpse in the place was a ghoul. So if we stuck with the theory, they were either all evil, all attacked, or a combination of the two. Honestly, how plausible is that?"

"So basically, origin unknown. Alright, tell me what you do know about them."

"Unlike zombies, ghouls don't rot, and they're not very smart. They operate at animal intelligence, and they travel in packs. They don't work with humans or anything else for that matter. They usually don't attack people because they're fearful in nature. I don't know how that would explain what happened to the corpse. Unless he was already unconscious."

"What about zombies? Don't they crave raw meat?"

"Yeah, but it would take a group of them to do this kind of damage, and zombies not social creatures."

He nodded in understanding. "Ghouls it is then, even if it's not really their cup of tea. Sorry to bother you on your off night. The secretary at Animators, Inc said you were on a bachelorette outing with your engaged friend. I didn't think you had it in you. Our patron saint, Ororo Munroe, partaking in pleasurable activities. Our animator is growing up, guys!" The other officers at the scene aww-ed while Sgt. Bayman wrapped his broad arm around my shoulders.

"I'm not going to hear the end of this, am I?" I asked.

"Not if I can help it, and be careful tonight. Don't want you picking up anything."

"You're not worried about me. You just don't want to be stuck on these spooky cases without a real expert." He laughed and gave me a friendly pat on the back, and we said our final goodbyes. If he only knew. I wouldn't exactly call this "outing" pleasurable. So far, the biggest perk of my night had been inspecting a dead body. I shook my head, walking past the hordes of officers.

"Hey 'roro!" I heard a genteel voice with a southern accent call behind me. "If you wanna see a naked man, Ah'll be yo' huckleberry!" Davison and his southern aphorisms never ceased to amuse me. The man had the voice of a refined, southern aristocrat. Other than that voice, there was nothing well-mannered about that man.

"Why don't you save it for the sideshow, Davison? I hear Dr. Phreak is looking for a new attraction. Besides, they don't make drinks stiff enough to handle that face...or anything else I may have to look at." Laughter, choruses of catcalls, and the promise of having willing love slaves trailed after me. I couldn't say my job wasn't interesting.

When I arrived back at the club, Vega was manning the door. The bouncer from earlier was nowhere to be seen. I squared my jaw, holding my head high, preparing to walk past Vega. I didn't want to be involved in any of his small talk. All I wanted was to get Jean and get back the mansion. I was still feeling a little unnerved by the sight of the dead mutant. I knew it didn't even cause ripples in the lives of those officers, but it bothered me to no end.

Cases like that always hit home. The Professor once told me that we sympathize most with what correlates directly to us because it hits a personal note inside of us.

Vega stood unmoving as I approached him. "You smell of blood." His voice was low and cool. It betrayed anger, and I realized he thought I'd been out killing vampires.

"Too bad it isn't yours." I said with a sugary smile. I knew I was pressing my luck. It would only take one blow from Vega to send me to my grave. And they say I don't take chances. What do they know? "Don't worry. I wasn't out killing your kind."

"They talk about you. You're quite a legend in these parts. They call you the Executioner." His voice was mocking now as he emphasized the word executioner. If was as if he were tempting me to make a move, to prove how tough I really was. If he thought I was going to attack him, he was sadly mistaken. I may take chances, but I don't make stupid mistakes.

"They can say anything they want as long as it's just talk."

I moved closer to the entrance, trying to put distance between him and me, but when I started to pass him. He grabbed my arm and asked, "How many of us have you killed?" Vega was definitely an enigma. You never knew what to expect from here, and I hated to admit it, but his erratic behavior scared me just a bit.

I thought he might be trying to scare me, and he should know by now that he had succeeded. But he still held my arm in that firm grip, and I realized that he wanted an answer. Should I lie or tell the truth? He would probably know if I lied. "Enough to know the tricks of the trade." I answered, satisfied with my answer. Truthfully, I had killed fourteen of the bloodsuckers with many, many more in sight.

Vega released my arm. "Did it ever occur to you that vampires are people, Ororo?"

That question brought about thoughts of my earlier conversation of Logan. Yes, it occurred to me that under the law they were people, and maybe, I shouldn't be so judgmental when it came to them. They wanted rights and to be accepted just like mutants, but now, as I looked at Vega's hair glinting in the moonlight, I wouldn't acknowledge those musings. I wasn't ready to give Vega any satisfaction of being partly right.

"I'm not going to debate with you about the status of vampires or any other night creature, so don't waste my fucking time, Vega." I didn't usually use such coarse language unless I wanted to get a point across, and after the words had slipped from my mouth, I suddenly felt foolish. Vega seemed unruffled by my usage of words, and that made me feel even more foolish.

"Of course you won't. I'll cease to be a hindrance to you, now. Please, go in and enjoy the rest of the show. I know I will." Chills slithered up my spine as I entered the club. I turned to ask Vega what he meant with that last statement, but decided better of it when I saw him looking out into the night. For the second time tonight, fear balled tightly in the pit of my stomach, and all I could think about was Jean.

I threw my purse at the claim girl and quickly entered the main room of the club. My heart dropped at what I saw. Jean was standing onstage in a trance. Her face looked youthful under the dim lights, her red hair flaming vibrantly. I didn't know if that was the effect of the lights or what. I looked to our table where Carmen held a shrewd smile, and then I rushed to the stage, hoping I wasn't too late.

I approached the stage without caution. Who gave a damn about caution when my friend was in danger? A vampire appeared out of nowhere. He didn't walk on stage; he just appeared. He was easily the most beautiful man I had ever seen. Everything about him was dark, beautiful, and power. I swallowed hard. They don't make men that handsome. I closed my eyes tightly. No, this was a trick. He was playing with my mind.

"Jean! Jean!" I called to my friend, trying to ignore him. She didn't respond to my voice. The trance was too deep. He could call to her anytime, and she would have to obey his call. He'd fed off not her blood, but her energy. They were psychically connected, and she belonged to him now.

I opened my eyes and then said, "Please... don't..." I knew my begging was useless. What's done is done. If I could take her place, I would. Jean had so much life ahead of her. The vampire whispered in Jean's ear, and her eyes fluttered open.

She let out an audible gasp. "Wh-what's going on?" Jean asked, looking around the stage bewildered.

"We are now bound." The vampire answered. I wanted to cover my ears and deny I ever heard those words, but it was true. Jean looked at him as if he was crazy. She walked off the stage shakily, and I assisted her to her seat.

"I don't feel so well, Ororo." She said as she sat down slowly. Carmen still had that same look, and I had to bite back my angry words. How could she let this happen to Jean? Why had I been stupid and left Jean in this place in the first place? I was supposed to be looking out for her. Instead, I led her right into harm's way.

"Relax, Ororo. The show's only just begun." Carmen said with a snicker, turning to look at the vampire onstage.

Following her gaze, I turned to look at him as well. My heart jumped into my throat. He was looking at me. "Come," he commanded.

"No." I said, but my limbs moved involuntarily as he continued to will for me to come. I tried to fight his summon, but he was too powerful. I felt encompassed in his control, and I knew that I was in trouble. I walked to the stage, standing at the base, gazing up at him as a fan might do at a concert. I was aware of everything that was going on around me, but I was powerless to do anything to stop it.

He reached for my hand, and I willingly gave it too him. He pulled me onto the stage. "My name is Triage," he said with the same Spanish lilt that tinged Vega's speech. "And you are?"

"Ororo," the voice was mine, but I didn't feel like I had truly said it. In fact, I felt like I was watching a movie as I allowed him to lead me to the middle of the stage.

"Ororo, I believe that means beauty. A fitting name for you, my dear." He answered. His voice didn't hold the same appealing cadence as Vega's, but his mind was far stronger. He was willing me to give in to him. Our wills clashed, and it was almost painful to fight him. I was only human after all.

"Don't fight, Ororo." He said.

For a moment, I wondered why should I fight? I should just give in to him. It would be so much easier, but I knew I couldn't. I thought about my friends, the children, my dedication to helping humankind, and I knew I could never let Triage possess me. "No." I whispered, fighting his will with a renewed strength.

"Qué?" Surprised lined his voice, and I wonder if he realized he had slipped into his native tongue.

This made me feel a little more powerful. I had ruffled the composure of one of the older vampires. "No!" I said louder this time, channeling more power. I broke his gaze, and then I looked him in the eyes again. A new strength to fight surged through me. I was still unable to move and still very much afraid, but I was trying to fight.

He moved closer to me, bridging the small space that separated us. He touched my face, cool fingers sliding against my warm skin. He pulled me into a cyclone of dizzying emotions as he caressed my skin, and I was slowly giving in. I could hear my heartbeat screaming in my ears, and then I felt his need -- his hunger.

He was going to bite me. I don't know where the strength to fight back came from, but I found myself pushing ferociously at his chest, falling back and away from him. I scrambled to get away, but he grasped my hair, pulling me back toward him. I screamed loudly.

"Ororo!" Jean yelled with shrill alarm. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her stand, her fist clenched at her sides. "Let her go!"

"Sit!" Triage commanded, and Jean sat silently without another word. I could hear Triage hissing behind me as he tightened his grip in my hair. He flung me across the stage, and I hit a large speaker box with a thud. I slid to the floor in pain, closing my eyes. I struggled to regain my breath. Goddess, help me.

When I opened my eyes, Triage was standing above me, his fangs exposed, face contorted. He crouched and I brought one foot up, planting it in his stomach, pushing him back with all my might. He stumbled backward, and I rolled over, jumping to my feet. I knew I should've brought that knife. He stood motionless, trying to captivate me again.

"You're not the only one with a few tricks up their sleeve." I said, as I began channel my power. I could feel my now loose hair floating from shoulders as I lifted my hands, accepting the power of the earth. The skies rumbled angrily. He didn't seem taken aback by my display of power. I don't think he truly understood what I was capable of.

"Stop!" Vega's voice commanded, booming through the now quiet club. I turned to look at Vega. Big mistake. Triage took this opportunity to get his hands on me. Vega tried to put himself physically between us, which resulted in Triage striking out at him. They scuffled for a moment, and I heard Vega gasp in pain.

"Ororo!" I heard Jean calling me from the side of the stage. She was waving my gun around madly. It was nice to see her no longer under Triage's spell, but the last thing she needed to do was blow someone's head off. I took the gun from Jean, turning back to the fighting vamps. Triage pushed Vega away from him and then turned back to me.

His face was normal now as he looked from me to the gun. "Would you really shoot me?" He asked, trying to sound charming. I was no longer fooled. I had seen through his façade, and he would never charm me again.

"In a heartbeat." I responded coldly.

"Please, don't shoot anyone, Ororo." Vega said in a cajoling voice. He waved Triage toward the curtain. I followed Triage's retreating figure with the gun. "This was not in the plans." Plans, what plans? I wanted to ask, but I just held my gun up, ready to shoot whatever I felt threatened by -- including Vega. Vega moved toward me slowly. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." I said, lowering the gun, looking him in those strange, green eyes. I didn't feel anything. No pull, no connection, nothing. It was just like looking in anyone else's eyes. "Put the gun away. You are no longer in danger as long as I am here."

I reluctantly tucked the gun in the waistband of my pants and allowed Vega to lead me behind the curtain. Once we were behind the curtain, he grabbed a man by the arm. "You and the others have to erase this from their mind." The man nodded solemnly. They were going to erase this event from all the women's minds, and it was probably for the best. Not only would it keep Vega's club in business, but it would protect my secret as well.

"You'd better make this good, Vega." I hissed, but I was looking at Triage who seemed oh-so-smug about what happened out there. I should've shot him. In fact, I was still flirting with the idea.

"You're not in control of this situation, Ororo. The cards lie in our hands. If you act foolishly, you will endanger your friend, so you will have to hear me out." Vega said, blocking my view of Triage.

As if being called, I saw Jean being escorted through the backstage area by one of the waiters. She looked at me fearfully. I still don't think she was quite aware of what happened. "Are you okay, Ororo?" She asked, eyeing Vega with disdain.

"I am fine, Jean."

"I want to go home." Jean said, looking around, as if she suddenly realized the place was evil.

"We'll be leaving soon, Jean. I promise." I said to her. I turned to Vega and said. "I don't want Jean to be involved in whatever it is you're going to tell me. I don't even want her to hear this conversation."

"I think she should hear it since she is now involved." Triage said laughing.

"No!" I said, my voice reverberating throughout the backstage. "I want her out of this. Haven't you already done enough?"

"What is he talking about? What are you talking about?" Jean asked. She placed her hands on her hips. She was getting angry, not that I blamed her.

"There's only one thing that can be done." Vega shrugged.

"Do it." I said.

"We're leaving." She grabbed my hand and spun around, but Triage spun her back around and she looked at him. Jean's lips pursed as she readied herself to blast him with heated words, but fell silent when she looked in his eyes. She tightened her grip on my hand, and I shook my head sadly. She was fighting him with everything she had, but it wasn't good enough.

She dropped my hand and stared vacantly at the wall. He wiped her mind of what happened, just as the others were doing to the women out there. I wish they could wipe away what happened to Jean as well, but that wasn't as simple. The only way Jean would ever be free again is if Triage was killed, and I didn't think I had the strength to do it.

"What do you want?" I asked.

"I believe Mr. Toynbee has already told you what we want." Vega answered.

"And I refused. But you just couldn't be happy with that, could you? You had to go and put someone I loved in it? You could've done a lot of things before you did this." I said coolly.

"Time is a commodity we do not have much of. We did not have time for persuasion tactics. Now," Vega said, waving toward Jean, "we know that you will help us."

What I wanted to do was help them both die. Bastards. "Well, you've just hired yourself an animator."

"I think we all know you're more than just an animator." Vega said with a wily smile. I knew he was referring to the episode earlier where I'd almost used my powers against Triage. "Your friend will not be harmed if you help us. I'll expect to see you here tomorrow night at midnight."

"I'm supposed to trust you and Don Juan over there to your word? I am not stupid."

"What other choice do you have?"

He was right. Damned if I do, and damned if I don't. I didn't like those odds, but I had to keep pushing my luck. "I want guarantees from his master." I said, pointing at Triage.

"I have no master." Triage answered, sounding slightly miffed.

"Are you kidding? I know you're older than Vega. I can tell from the way you move and act, but unlike Vega, you are not your own master." I said. "If you were your own master, I would've already been dead by your hands."

"There's no sense in trying to argue with her, Triage. She knows." Vega said. "I think your simple request can be granted, Ororo."

Carmen appeared behind the curtains then, and I smiled at her brilliantly. She looked uncertain. She had been a key player in this deception. She lured us here for this to happen. Oh, how I wanted to make her feel the pain I was feeling right now. "Hello, Carmen. Glad you could join the party." I said, walking toward her.

"You can't harm her. She's under our protection." Vega said softly.

"Is that right? So, I can't play with the vampires' whore today. That's fine." I shot back keeping my eyes on her.

My emotions threatened to war inside of me. I wanted to unleash all my fury on Carmen, but I had to control myself. I looked Carmen in her eyes and she smirked at me triumphantly. "I guess this is where the threat to kill me comes in. Well, save it, darling. I'll only come back as one of them."

My radiant smile continued to cover my face, her own smile sliding from her face as she watched my eyes cloud over. "If anything happens to Jean, there'll be no coming back from what I'm going to do to you." Thunder punctuated my sentence with a vociferous roar causing Carmen to jump. I blinked once. "Are we clear?"

"Crystal," she whispered. I could see her pale under that tan, and she quickly backed away from me.

Vega and Triage accompanied Jean and me outside. I hailed a cab, allowing Jean to slide in first. The poor girl looked like the living dead (no pun intended). Vega grabbed my hand before I got into the cab. I knew I should've snatched my hand away from his. I didn't like vampires touching me. He rubbed thumb across my skin, and I got the feeling he was trying to be seductive.

When he spoke his words came out with a note of regret, and here I was thinking vampires had no ethics. "Remember, Ororo. You must meet us here tomorrow night, or I can't promise your red-haired friend will see another sunrise. No weapons."

Now, that was incentive enough to come back. I nodded and pulled my hand away from his and slid into the cab beside Jean. I couldn't help looking back as we pulled away from the club. If I were a lesser woman, I would've given them one-finger salute, but that would've been childish (and possibly dangerous).

"I'm so tired, Ororo." Jean mumbled, and I allowed her to rest her head on my shoulder. I stroked her hair lovingly, my heart nearly breaking as the realization of what happened really begin to sink in. "So tired..." What was I supposed to do now? I should have never left her at that club with that... "Bitch." Jean finished for me.

She was reading my mind even in her tired state. I must have been giving off some serious negative vibes at that moment. "Jean, please, don't read my mind. Not now." I pleaded. Not now, anytime but now. I didn't need her finding out what really happened to her, and I didn't want her to feel how afraid I really was.

I should've made Jean come with me to the crime scene. She would've been angry, but she would've been safe as well. This was my worse fear. I would've felt better if he had just turned her. I know that sounds twisted, but she was just a puppet now. She would continue to live her life normally, but she was now at the beck of Triage. He could call her, and she would be helpless to his call. She was now Triage's possession. It was unfair that she wouldn't even remember becoming a vampire's new plaything.

Vampires just kept giving me reasons to hate them.

Soft snoring came from my side. She was sleep. How was I supposed to explain this to Scott of all people? Jean would vaguely remember what happened tonight, and I would be the one filling in the blanks for him. Scott and his insufferable questions, the thought was enough to make me not want to go back to the mansion. I knew I wouldn't tell him what happened tonight, and I would feel awful keeping such pertinent information from him. However, what other choice did I have? I couldn't tell him that I left his fiancée at a vampire club, and that she was now the property of an age-old vampire.

"Don't worry, Jean." I whispered. "I'll get us out of this."

And I would.