Vendetta was helped up by Dusk and Ray-Roy to be taken somewhere quieter to heal. Valkyrie watched in silence. Dusk seemed to be oddly gentle with her while Ray-Roy fussed over her injuries. Skulduggery came up to Valkyrie. "She'll be okay," he said. His suit was slightly burnt and his hat was askew on top of his head. "She's a vampire, remember. She can't be killed by anything except her head getting chopped off and ingesting salt water."

Valkyrie nodded, "Yeah. I know. It was just so sudden is all. One moment I'm punching a guy in the face, the next I'm separating Scapegrace and Vendetta."

"Yeah," Skulduggery said. "I know how you feel. That was what it was like in the war. One moment, everything fine, you're winning. You think there's actually a chance to win. The next, you're on the ground with a sword pointed to your throat."

"Wow, a tad morbid huh?"

Skulduggery shrugged. "Maybe a little. By the way, where's Scapegrace?"

"Master!"

Valkyrie turned and saw Scapegrace, his upper half stuck inside of a trashcan while his legs stuck up in the air, kicking in vain. Thrasher ran up and got kicked in the face. He landed on the ground with a soft whump. Everyone fell silent as they watched Thrasher once again stand up. He grabbed Scapegrace's legs and attempted to pull him out but it ended with them both falling over once again.

Garbage went everywhere, giving off a horrible stink. Thrasher stood, his clothes covered in old wrappers and undesirable things, and pulled the trash can off of Scapegrace as the ex-head in a jar sat up.

Scapegrace's whole body was covered in garbage, a horrid stink wafted off his body, making everybody nearby hold their nose. A banana peel was stuck to his head and his shirt was now had stains all over it.

"Wow," Sanguine said. "I didn't even know this was possible, but you actually smell worse then you did as a zombie."

Scapegrace scowled and stood up, ignoring Thrasher's attempts to help. He went to take a step but ended up slipping in the mess. Valkyrie covered her mouth as she tried not to laugh. Then Vendetta stormed up and the laughter that had risen up died down.

The vampire still had blood all over her face and she still had a slight limp but was otherwise unharmed.

"What?" she growled. "Were you trying to do? I almost had him but you messed it all up."

Scapegrace cringed. "I-I saw Wreck getting away so I had Thrasher throw me up but he miss timed it, idiot, and I smashed into you. I'm sorry. Please don't kill me."

Vendetta's fists clenched and unclenched and her jaw tightened and for an awful moment Valkyrie was sure she was going to have to intervene before Vendetta killed Scapegrace. But then the vampire turned on her heel and stomped back to where Dusk was standing.

Valkyrie turned to Skulduggery. "What do we do now?"

Skulduggery straightened his clothes and his hat. "We head back to regroup and plan our next move. Wreck has gotten away, thanks to Scapegrace, but not for long. I'm sure there is something around here to tell us."

"Wreck did say that there might be something around here for us to find Ode," Ghastly came up at that moment. "But he might just be messing with us. He also said that Ode is with his employer now so we won't be finding him with Wreck now."

"So should we work on trying to find Wreck's employer?" Valkyrie asked with a frown.

Skulduggery shook his head. "I don't think so. Wreck is the only solid lead we have, there isn't anything else."

"So we keep working on finding Wreck."

"Exactly."

"Great," Ghastly said. "We'll work on that then."

…

Shoe had been so happy when Vendetta had fallen to the ground. That awful sound of bones smashing was music to her ears, and even though she knew that the vampire wouldn't die from that fall, a small part of her was still hopeful. Shoe watched Ray-Roy gingerly pick up the female vampire in his arms, jealousy making her face flush. Why didn't Ray-Roy show affection like that to her? What was so special about Vendetta? Why did Ray-Roy like that vampire so much?

"Vendetta," Ray-Roy was saying. "Are you okay?"

Vendetta looked at him. "I'm fine." And then her eyes closed and she went limp.

Ray-Roy swore and lightly shook her, trying to get her concentrate. When Vendetta was once again fully awake, Dusk and Ray-Roy helped her up, taking her over to a quiet corner. The vampire sat against the wall, her leg and ankle trying to mend. Shoe could tell that a couple ribs were broken as well. She watched Ray-Roy fuss over her, wiping some of the blood off her face while Dusk checked her leg.

Vendetta snapped something, making both back off slightly. Shoe came up, plastering a fake smile on her face. "Hi guys." She made her eyes big when she saw Vendetta's injuries.

"Are you alright? That was quite a fall. Oh, your poor leg."

Sanguine was yelling at Dusk about something and as soon as both Dusk and Ray-Roy were looking away, Shoe kicked Vendetta's bad leg as hard as she could, making the vampire hiss and swear and snarl in pain. Dusk and Ray-Roy looked at her.

Dusk frowned. "You okay?"

Vendetta glared at Shoe. "Yes, just the healing process."

Shoe knew that the vampire was going to get back at her but she didn't care. She turned to Ray-Roy. "Hey Ray-Roy," she said sweetly.

Ray-Roy looked at her.

"Can I talk to you for a second?"

"Um, sure."

Ray-Roy stood and followed Shoe away where they wouldn't be heard.

"I just wanted to say," Shoe twirled some hair around her finger. "That I am here for you. In case Vendetta doesn't make it."

Ray-Roy looked at her weirdly. "What do you mean? She's a vampire, she ain't gonna die from one little fall. I've seen her come out of a fight half slashed to pieces and still survive. This is nothin'."

"I know," Shoe said. "But just in case."

Ray-Roy continued to give her that weird look so she changed the topic. "I was wondering," she said slowly. "If this is over soon, or even if it isn't, would you maybe, I don't know, like to go get some coffee?"

Ray-Roy thought for a moment then frowned. "I don't know. I think Vendetta and I were going to do something."

Shoe's heart sank.

Ray-Roy turned back to Vendetta. "Hey Vendetta," he said.

Vendetta looked up.

"Want to go get a coffee after this is over?"

Vendetta looked at him. "I don't drink coffee."

Ray-Roy shrugged. "Want to go kill somebody then?"

Vendetta perked up slightly. "Sure."

Dusk frowned. "Wait, Vendetta. You are actually agreeing to go somewhere with Ray-Roy?"

Vendetta shrugged. "I need to get out. But don't worry. If it goes a direction I don't like I'll slit his throat and bring you his head."

Dusk patted her shoulder. "That's my girl."

Shoe growled and clenched her fists. She watched as Vendetta stood and stormed up to Scapegrace. Scapegrace immediately started to pathetically explain, then begin pleading. Vendetta seemed to be struggling with her temper, than she turned and walked back over to Dusk. Ray-Roy came over as well.

Shoe stomped her foot, fuming.

…

Valkyrie walked over to Vendetta as the vampire walked away from Dusk. "Hey Vendetta," she said.

Vendetta looked at her.

"Ready to go back to my house?"

"Sure," Vendetta's blue eyes reflected the moon. Her pale skin stuck out against her dark attire and the blood that was still on her face. "But don't bother me. I am managing not to kill everyone present, but all I need is one thing to tip me over the edge."

"Um, okay" Valkyrie said slowly. "So should we go?"

"Yes."

…

Vendetta drove into Cain's driveway and parked. The dark-haired girl hurried up to the door. Once she was inside the house, Vendetta backed back out onto the road. She arrived at the house she shared with her father and entered through the front door. She hurried upstairs to her room and went right to the closet. Vendetta opened it and pulled back the clothes she had hanging up to reveal the intricate map of pictures of people all connected by sting leading up to the empty space waiting for new pictures.

Some of the photographs were extremely old, with frayed edges and in black and white. Others were sketches, made before cameras were invented. Vendetta dug through her pocket and took out the picture she had snagged of Wreck at the Sanctuary. She put it up with tape and attached a line connecting it to a picture of a woman.

Vendetta stepped back and observed her work then turned to her desk. She rummaged through the old files and documents until she got to the very bottom. She pulled out the manila folder and put it on top of the desk. She opened it to reveal more papers with information, death certificates and false identities. An old, yellowing newspaper clipping was held to the papers with a paper clip.

Vendetta paused for a moment, looking over everything. Then she dug back into her pocket and pulled out the copies of information on Wreck and put them inside. I'm getting closer, she thought to herself, looking over the information one more time before putting everything away.

The female vampire exited the house and jumped back onto her motor bike. She arrived back at Cain's house. Vendetta went up to the house as well but instead of going inside, swung herself up onto the roof. She went up to the highest point on the house and sat down.

The shingles were rough against her skin but she ignored it and looked out around her. The sea thrashed and crashed nearby, the water reflecting the indigo sky above. The stars glittered like fresh snow while the moon hung a giant sphere among the darkness. The light from the sky filtered down around her, making the dew on the ground shimmer. The cold wind blew around her, tossing her black hair across her face. Vendetta ignored that as well and instead went over everything in her head.

She almost had him. The man she had been hunting for all these years. Within arms- reach. All the meticulous planning and information gathering, destroyed by a stupid zombie. She had barely contained her anger when she had failed. But instead, kept it bottled up inside of her. There was a certain person more deserving of the pain then the others. The grudge she had been carrying for centuries was still there. It was like an itch she couldn't scratch. Always there. Always ready to jump on her at any moment. It drove her nuts.

Movement behind Vendetta drove her out of her thoughts but she pretended not to notice. She sensed the movements, the silent way they moved and quickly put together a profile. Most likely male and a vampire, turned young. No heartbeat. That same scent from the night before. "Caelan," her voice, quiet as it was, seemed magnified by a hundred in the quiet night.

The movement behind her stopped and then an amused voice. "Nice to finally meet someone who can sense me before I make myself known."

He moved to sit next to her but Vendetta shot him a glare. "Cain is inside so you don't need to look out here."

"I'm not here for her this time," Caelan said. "I'm here for you."

Vendetta raised an eyebrow slightly. "And why," she said. "Would you look for me?"

"Because," Caelan sat down an appropriate distance from her. About ten feet away. "It's nice to have another vampire to talk to. I don't usually socialize."

"That so," Vendetta murmured, looking away from the other. She could tell he was holding something back but she ignored that. She didn't care.

"Yes," Caelan scooted closer and she glared at him until he backed away once again. "So," he said. "How long have you been a vampire?"

Vendetta immediately became alerted. Every time someone has asked her personal questions, bad things have happened. "Why do you want to know?" she said, eyes narrowed and her guard up.

Caelan held up his hands. "No reason. Just curious."

Vendetta didn't respond. Just stayed quiet. Her guard still up.

"I've been infected for about eighty years now," Caelan said. "I didn't want this. This curse. I would do anything to be normal. To be human again."

Vendetta still didn't respond.

"I had a good life," Caelan continued. "Until I was bitten and everything went crazy."

'Tell me about it,' Vendetta thought bitterly. "Is this all?" she asked. "Just to talk to me?"

Caelan shrugged slightly. "Why not? I don't have anything to do and you looked lonely up here."

"I don't get lonely."

Caelan nodded. "That's good. Never needing to crave companionship or someone to talk to. Wish I had that."

Vendetta ignored him. He was starting to annoy her.

"So Vendetta," Caelan said.

She looked at him out of the corner of her eye.

"I was wondering," he continued slowly. "Do you mind if I compliment you?"

That got her attention. Vendetta turned completely around to face him. "What?!"

"Do you mind if I compliment you? I can't resist, you are too beautiful to stay silent."

Vendetta looked at him for a long moment. "O-okay…" she said slowly.

"Your hair is as black as the darkest sin, your eyes like lighting in an electric storm. You're voice reminds me of the calm before a flood, so quiet but able so show force when needing. You-

Caelan was cut off as Vendetta got sick of the rambling and pushed him off the roof.

'Man,' she thought to herself. 'What a creep.'

SP(Guest): Yay! Another smiley face lover! XD

V-R.P: Yes, it has gotten interesting. DO you want me to do a chapter on here as a backstory however? I'm still wondering that. Thanks! :)

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