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A.N Honestly, I'm sorry Perri's Australian – I couldn't help myself! Call it patriotic pride XD

Anyhow, thanksya for reading! .

Oh, yeah, and sorry this chapter is so crap. I had writer's block. .

Ah, and also, after much deliberation, I've decided that yes, Annie Shan will be appearing again. Not anytime soon, though. Possibly in a few chapters time. She will play a somewhat big part in my story. I have also decided that I will try my best to stick to the books as much as I can up to book 8 – after that, though, the story is all mine, and I shall turn it slightly AU. .

And one more thing: Thankyou, crazy-beast-boy! I feel spekal now!

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By the time I got back to the fast food store, most of the people had left, it being just after four in the afternoon. The guy behind the counter was still there, leaning on a mop and talking to one of his co-workers. I heard his bark of laughter as soon as I stepped back into the store and made my way immediately to the counter.

"Hey, you, er… Jay," I called, reading his name off of his nametag. His eyebrows shot into his spiked, coloured hairline, and he walked over.

"Oh, so you did come back," he said, and grinned. "So, what did you want?"

"That woman, you know – Perri – do you know her well?"

Jay blinked at the question.

"Yeah, I guess, I've known her for a while now…"

"Do, do you know where she lives, or any of her hangouts, or anything?"

"Heh, she got you too, eh?" Jay asked with a knowing grin and wink. I didn't know how to answer, so I just stood there, looking intent. He sighed and shrugged, running a hand over that gelled hair of his. "I met her at this nightclub a couple of weeks ago. She goes there practically every night."

"Nightclub? Where is it? What's it called?"

"It's the Shinkei, on the corner of Thursday and Firs – hey, wait, aren't you gonna order?"

"No, I've got a club to get to!"

"But – it's over eighteens only!"

I paused, one hand on the door, and peered at the guy, giving him a good look over. He looked like he was the same age as me – possibly even younger.

"How'd you get in there then?"

Jay seemed taken aback by the question, and quite tongue-tied. I didn't allow him to answer, though – I was already out the door and halfway up the street by the time he figured out what he was going to say. I had more important things than listening to how a guy got into a nightclub.

I had a vampire hunter to catch.

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I found the club about three hours later. It took me so long because it was on the other side of town and I had to walk all the way over there – that is, after I found out where it was. That part alone took up more time than it should have.

Luckily, there was a small restaurant on the opposite side of the street, facing the cream and red front of the club, so I set myself up onto a table outside, so I could easily get up and away when I had to. I ended up ordering something, though – after all, I hadn't eaten since the night before. I quickly shoved the food into my gob, ordered a drink, then settled back to wait.

I lost track of how long I was sitting there waiting for. People began walking into the club, and I could distantly hear the faint thump thump thump of heavy music playing. I got myself another drink, and hugged my jumper closer, burying myself in its warmth. God, I hated the cold.

 I could hear the waiters inside begin cleaning up. A few of them were sending me dirty looks – probably because I was the only customer left, and looked like I had no intentions of leaving anytime soon. I was just beginning of thinking that I should probably leave when a flash of blue and silver caught my eye opposite me – a short woman, shrugging a black leather jacket over her low-cut blue top, came walking out of the club, laughing. She turned around and waved to someone inside, shouting a farewell – then turned and walked down the street.

Quickly, I stood up, throwing a few notes onto the table, and began walking quickly after her. She chose a quiet way to walk – there was no one else around in a few minutes time, just her and me. I tried to keep my footsteps as quiet as possible, matching her steps with my own. It wasn't enough, though.

It wasn't long until she stopped walking, not turning around.

"I thought I told you I don't like being followed, kid," she growled. I stood my ground, keeping my hands by my side, muscles tensing as they readied for action.

"One more chance," I told her. "Just give me one more chance."

Perri turned around slowly, a slight smile visible on her face in the semi-darkness. The tattoo on the left side of her face twitched slightly.

"I have to hand it to you, kiddo – you definitely don't give up, do you?"

I nodded. And then I leapt forward, throwing another punch aimed at her face. She smirked, and stepped easily out of the way – but this time I was ready. I put my foot down, stopping my movement, and hurled myself to the side, ramming her into the wall with my shoulder. She hit the wall with a loud 'Oof!', and slumped over, breathing heavily. I pushed my shoulder deeper into her solar plexus.

"So, are you going to teach me or not?" I asked. She looked up slightly, a small, ragged smile on her face.

"How bout not?"

Perri grabbed my arm with one hand and punched me in the nose with the other. As I stumbled back, clutching at my throbbing nose with my free hand, she pulled the other hard back, holding my the same way the police had the night before, and slammed me face first into the wall. I tasted blood in my mouth.

"I told you I'd take you on only if you could beat me. So far, you haven't. G'night, Steve."

She took a step back and began walking off again as I slumped down onto the ground, breathing raggedly. She had disappeared into the shadows by the time I was able to stand back up again. I cursed loudly.

"Actually," a voice said – I jumped, looking into the direction the hunter had disappeared into – she had come back again. "I'll give you one last chance, kid. I wasn't able to keep up with the vamp last night – he's still out there, alive and kicking. If you get to him and kill him before I do – I'll take you." Perri took a step back, but stopped again, a small grin on her face. "And this time, take a weapon. And try not to get arrested."

Then, for the fourth time that day, she disappeared from view, leaving me leaning against the wall, nose and lip bleeding freely.

One more chance. She had given me one last chance.  

I wasn't going to fail this time. After all, I had a vow to fulfil.