Chapter 44

Rossi took a deep breath. "Ok, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad thing. I mean, come on, you're not human either."

Hotch looked at him and then his brows rose as he considered it. "That's true."

"Is it another vampire?"

Hotch shook his head. "No."

"Alright. Do you think it can tell you're here?"

Hotch inhaled through his nose and then shrugged. "I don't know. I don't know what it is to say whether or not it can tell what I am or not."

Rossi nodded and then smiled. "Then call Sabastian. Isn't that what he's there for?"

Hotch licked his lips and then nodded as he went out the door and he took out his phone and put it on speaker.

"Aaron, what can I do for you?" Sabastian answered on the second ring.

"I have a question if you have the time," Hotch started.

"For you, and all of my offspring, I have all the time needed."

"Alright. I'm working a case in Hawaii, and. . ."

"Hawaii? Damn, please be careful in that sun, Aaron. It's not the most hospitable place for vampires with it being closer to the equator than what you're used to."

"I know, but I'm fine with that."

Sabastian took a deep breath. "Alright, then what do you need help with?"

"I think there might be another type of being here," he started. He couldn't bring himself to say monster or creature anymore because in his mind calling them one would also be calling himself one. "I can hear its heart and it's definitely not human, and I was wondering if maybe you could help me figure out what it is."

"I assume you can talk freely?"

"Yes. I am outside with Dave and no one else is close enough to hear."

"And the being?"

"It's in the station."

"It's a cop?"

"I don't know. I didn't want to get close enough to figure out who it is exactly. I was a little worried about it figuring out what I am."

"Understandable. There are a few other beings that have the ability to hear or smell us. What did its heart sound like?"

"I think it had two hearts actually, and they were both beating really rapidly like an infant's sort of, but the two were just enough out of sync that I could tell there was two." The growl that came out of the phone made Rossi wince and his eyes were full of concern as they locked with Hotch's. Hotch cringed. "You know what it is."

"It's a shapeshifter, Aaron. It has to be. They are the only things I have ever come across that have that type of heart. It's actually only one heart, but it has several more chambers than the human heart that's why it sounds like that." He took a deep breath. "Please tell me your case is not about a victim missing its heart."

"I really wish I could do that, but. . ."

"Son of a bitch!" Sebastian yelled.

"You're telling me this shapeshifter is our unsub?" Rossi cut in.

The ancient vampire sighed. "Not necessarily. Like with any species, there are good and bad, but shapeshifters are born, they are not changed like vampires. They were never human even though they look just like one, and they are born with the ability to change into any other living creature besides humans. Once the shifter turns sixteen, though, there is a ritual that requires the young to devour a human heart and that lets them gain the ability to change their human form. After that, all they have to do is touch a person and they can change themselves into that person at will, and not only do they look like that person but they have all of that person's thoughts and memories which makes it almost impossible for anyone to distinguish between the two. They can look like one person and in the blink of an eye they can change and look like someone else. That's what I don't like about them. I find the whole thing a little too unsettling."

"Jesus Christ," Rossi uttered as he looked back at the station.

"So what, we're dealing with some rouge shapeshifter?"

"I honestly don't know, Aaron. Most modern shifters have contacts within morgues and funeral homes. The ritual doesn't call for a fresh heart, but I guess there could be a sect who is bent on keeping with the old traditions."

"So we might be dealing with a whole group of these things who are allowing all of their children to this or who are killing these people to provide hearts for their children?" Rossi asked trying to make sense of it all.

"Victims, as in plural dead?" Sebastian asked and the shock in his tone wasn't missed.

"We have four dead already," Hotch told him.

"Four? Oh shit," he uttered. "If this is a shifter, this might not be about the damn ritual. What you might have, Aaron, is a case of bloodlust."

"Bloodlust?"

"Just like with some people who get changed into vampires, like me in the beginning, I have heard of shifters partaking in the ritual and finding the taste of the heart to be so addicting that they can't fight against it and continue killing to feed that addiction."

Hotch ran a hand down his face. "So this could just be one adolescent doing all of this?"

Sabastian sighed again. "I don't know, Aaron. I wish I did, but what I do know is that you should get the hell out of there."

"What? Why?" Rossi asked before Hotch could.

"Because if this is a bloodlust thing, then the shifters are probably trying to handle it. Like any group, they like to keep things in house, but if it has gotten so bad that they can't handle it and the cops have taken notice and have called you all, then you can bet your ass the hunters have taken notice, too!"

"Hunters?" Hotch asked as his stomach tightened.

"That's what hunters do, Aaron. They keep watch for strange things like this to happen. When they see it, they investigate, and when they find out what's doing it, they attack. They probably know it is a shifter, too."

"But if Hotch keeps a low profile, they shouldn't even know about him," Rossi tried knowing there was no way Hotch would back out of any case.

"But unlike shifters, Aaron can't tell who a hunter is. They are human and they are experts at blending in. Hell, they could already be there and be posing as cops or reporters or anything."

Hotch ran a hand through his hair. "Can these shapeshifters tell what I am?"

"No, but. . ."

"Then if I am careful, no one will know about me," Hotch tried.

Sebastian sighed heavily. "Please be careful, Aaron, and not just of the hunters. Shifters may not be the most well skilled fighters, but they are strong and cunning. It will not be easy hunting it down."

"Can it hurt Aaron?" Rossi wanted to know.

"In a one on one, no."

That made Rossi relax a little.

"But your team wouldn't stand a chance against it, Aaron," Sebastian countered and that made Rossi mentally cringe.

Hotch massaged his forehead. "Maybe we're jumping to conclusions. We have had cases where unsubs took organs. There's nothing saying it is a shapeshifter. Maybe the one in the station is just a local who happens to be a cop."

"That's true, but tell me this, Aaron, did those other unsubs rip the heart out of the victim or did they cut it out? It takes a lot of strength to rip the heart out of the human chest, and I would know because I have done it."

Rossi cringed as he pictured it and Hotch winced because those other unsubs had used some form of weapon. "I understand, and thanks for the information, Sabastian."

Sebastian snorted. "I should have known you wouldn't give this up, but that's what makes you such a great man. Call me if you need anything else or if it is indeed a shifter and please be careful!"

"We will be," Hotch assured him and then ended the call. He sighed and then looked at Rossi. "I guess we should go back in and try and figure out who in there isn't human, huh?"

Rossi ran a hand down his goatee. "You don't think it will be a little suspicious us going back in there now. How about we go check out the scenes like we planned, and if it's still here when we get back, you can do it then?"

"What if it is our unsub?"

Rossi cringed. They had had plenty of unsubs who had put themselves into the investigations. He took a deep breath. "Your call."

"I guess if it's here, then it isn't out killing someone else," Hotch offered.

"There is that," Rossi offered with a little grin.

Hotch nodded and started for the SUV. Rossi followed as he took out his phone and sent a group text to the whole team: 'Don't let anyone touch you. I'll explain later.' He didn't want to give the shapeshifter and possible unsub the opportunity to change into one of them.

Once they were in the helicopter, Hotch rode up front with the pilot and Rossi sat in the back. His mind was racing trying to make sense of everything that had happened and his phone vibrated. He took it out and frowned at the text from an unknown number, but he opened it: 'David, this is Sebastian. I need to talk to you without Aaron if possible.'

Rossi groaned inwardly but he responded. 'If you can do it through texting, I'm available now.'

'Good. If your killer turns out to be a shifter, it cannot be arrested, and I know Aaron is too good of a man to do what must be done. I am hoping that my instincts about you are correct and that you can take care of it.'

Rossi frowned even more. 'Exactly what are you saying?'

'Think about it. A shifter could never be taken into custody with its abilities. It would easily escape and probably kill a lot of people in the process. You either need to step back and let the hunters have it, or take care of it. I hate to be so blunt, but I know Aaron could never do that, so it is up to you.'

Rossi sank back into the seat. Son of a bitch! He knew Sabastian was right, though. 'Alright. How can it be killed?'

'Silver. Its heart must be pierced with silver.'

Rossi huffed. 'Oh. Then I guess it's a good thing I carry my trusty silver spear with me on cases.'

'Sorry. I know what I am asking is difficult, but there is no other way. I could possibly check with a few contacts and maybe we can get something to you.'

'Don't worry about it. I'll figure something out.'

'Alright. Contact me if needed or if I can think of anything way to help, I will contact you, and please watch Aaron. He is still so young in all this.'

'I will,' Rossi assured him and after several moments without anything else from Sabastian, he put his phone away. He looked at Hotch staring out the window and sighed. You better be glad I love you so much, Boy.

XXX

After looking over the scenes and not getting anything more from them than the police did, Hotch and Rossi headed back to Honolulu to meet up with the team hoping that one of them had had better luck. As Hotch walked into the station, he focused on hearing the hearts around him. He took the long way through trying to go by everyone there, and by the time he got to the back where the conference room was, he looked at Rossi and shook his head letting him know that the shifter wasn't there.

Rossi shook his head and when the team looked at him, he could tell they wanted to know about the strange text he had sent out earlier. "When we get to the hotel."

They all understood and then started briefing them on what they had learned.