My presence in this town, so far, has caused the same reaction each time; a groan, a glare, and a slew of insults. Those who know of me aren't particularly enthusiastic about the new supernatural being taking up residence in their small town, and I share their lack of enthusiasm. I don't want to be here as much as they probably want me gone. It has only been a day or two now that I have been here, and they are, without a doubt, the longest two days in my life.

With the absence of the wolves, or temporary absence, this place is dead. I don't understand how humans could live like this. Everything is so slow, so dull, so…monotonous. I would have blown my own head off by now if I lived here as long as these people. At least the vampires and wolves are here to stir things up. They keep things interesting. And thank god for that, because I'm not sure how many days I'm going to be able to sit here kicking rocks across the parking lot, waiting for something to happen. I know the wolves will return. They're not stopping until they have her.

I looked over at the two siblings. Jason and Sookie had walked off to talk about something, probably me, and I didn't even put in the effort to listen. Rather, I drown them out and listened to the birds chirping, the wind blowing through the leaves, and felt myself begin to calm down. The woods, animals, nature…those were the only things I missed from the human world while I was in Hell. There was no fresh air, sunlight, any of that. Only the smell of rotted and burning flesh, the screams of tortured souls, and the one thing reminiscent of sunlight were the blindly bright infernos that burst through the thick rock.

Sometimes, I would leave Hell just to sit in the woods and relax, to escape that wretched place. Never was I able to sit for long, though. My energy levels were far too high, and the need to destroy, to kill, it was overwhelming. At least I had a sense of peace for a little while. It's nice to experience that every now and again.

And now, I'm able to do that whenever I please.

"Ah, fuck!" I yelled, gripping the side of my head. A sudden, intense pain concentrated in my temple, adrenaline shooting through my veins as the pain grew worse. A strong protective feeling rushed over me, then fear, like something was wrong.

I knew in that instant what it was.

Sookie and Jason rushed over, both of them asking if I'm alright. Blood trickled from my nostrils and Sookie pulled a napkin from her apron and began to wipe the blood off of my face.

"What's wrong?"

I pushed Sookie away gently. She stumbled back. "It's Eric. Something is wrong with Eric."

"What do you mean something is wrong with him? What's going on?" She questioned.

"I just know something's wrong. Look, I'll be back, alright? Stay out of trouble." I said sternly, still clutching my head.

"I'll go with you!"

"No! I was told to keep you out of trouble, now you stay here, and do not let me find out that you left." I looked at Jason. "Keep an eye on her. She is not to leave here under any circumstances. I don't know what's going on, and I don't want her involved."

Jason nodded. "I'll watch her."

. . .

I appeared at the front door of Fangtasia within seconds, and tore open the door. Men and women clad in silver chains stormed the bar, presumably searching for the vampires that reside within the club's walls. They jumped, startled, and turned toward me, an angry look in their eyes. The largest one in the group pushed through the cluster of tables and angry faces and approached me.

"What in the hell are you doing storming in here like that? Who are you?" He asked, his voice deep and loud.

"I believe the only one who should be answering questions, is you," I said, coming closer toward him. "What are you humans doing in a vampire bar? In the middle of the day I might add."

"None of your business. Now, get out," He waved, dismissing me.

I grabbed his wrist and twisted his arm behind his back. "It is my business. Now what are you doing here?"

"Nothing," He grunted.

I pulled his arm up higher in response. "Nothing? Why do I get the feeling you're lying to me?"

"I'm not," He said, his face reddened from the pain.

"Oh. Okay then. I'll let you go," I released his arm and shoved him forward, sending him flying into the wall on the opposite side of the room. I rushed toward him and caught the man by his throat, and squeezed, crushing his windpipe. "I don't like it when people lie to me. Tell me the truth or I'll force it out of you," I growled, extending a claw to graze the skin of his cheek.

The others began to grow worried for their friend, and threatened to shoot if I did not let him go. I laughed, thoroughly amused by the threat, and turned around, still holding him by the throat. "Go ahead, shoot me. It won't do you any good."

A young woman stepped forward, holding a gun aimed at me with shaky hands. "L-let him go. I'll fucking kill you," She said weakly.

"Oh yeah? Shoot," I dared her, walking in her direction with the man still in my grasp.

Without hesitation, she pulled the trigger, surprising me, as well as injuring me. The bullet had caught me right in the shoulder, and didn't heal instantly as I had expected it would. It took a few seconds before the wound began to burn like hell, so much so I gripped the man's neck so tight out of pain and killed him. I dropped to my knees on the hardwood floor. The bullet hole sizzled, and as the skin burned, the smell of sulfur permeated the air, causing the group to back away and cover their mouths. I dipped a claw into my flesh and dug the bullet out, hissing in pain as the bullet touched my finger tip. Once it was out, it began to heal.

"Iron bullets, specially made. I figured you'd come, seeing as how this is your vampire and all," A voice said. "Good job, Sarah, shooting her. A part of me thought you wouldn't have the gall to actually do it, but you did."

I stood. I know that voice.

"Thank you, sir," The girl whispered.

"Unfortunately, the iron didn't have the effect I thought it would. Oh, well, silly me for thinking such as strong, old Hound like you could be incapacitated by such a tiny little bullet. If only I could say the same for your vampire."

"Riggs," I hissed. "What have you done with Eric?"

The Hound leaned against the door frame, wiping what looked to be blood onto his black jeans. Riggs slicked his dark brown hair back, the style similar to Eric's, and hooked his thumbs into the belt loop on his jeans.

He smiled pleasantly. "Oh, I only shot him once or twice…or ten times." he giggled. "Being such an old vampire, I thought he would be able to heal faster, but boy was I wrong. He's been writhing in pain on the floor for a good while, now."

I rushed over toward the door leading to Eric's quarters. Riggs stepped in my way, blocking the entrance.

Out of anger, I grabbed him by the shoulders and pinned him to the wall. Riggs stared at me with his deep red eyes, a giveaway that he belonged to the younger generation of Hounds, unlike the Elders, who have bright golden eyes. The younger generation he is a part of shamed us all, the simple-minded, savage bastards. His lips formed a lecherous smirk.

"Why are you so angry? He's only a lamia," Riggs said, using the word Hounds used for vampire in place of the English term. Much of the language used in Hell is Latin, or tongues. Demons and Hounds can speak almost any language, but most prefer to use Latin, as that is the language used when performing spells or being summoned to the human world.

"You've brought death to so many, and now you are protective over one. Again. You haven't changed a bit, have you, ignis?" Riggs leaned in and sniffed my neck. "Humans, now?" He quirked a black eyebrow.

I ignored him. "Eric is mine to watch over. There will be no death," The group still stood close together in the center of the room, watching Riggs and I with wide eyes. "Who are these humans?"

"They are a special group, yes they are. Vampire hating Christians with an interest in witch craft, who wish to eradicate the vampire race from this very Earth. A very interesting bunch, don't you think? Christians using witch craft. And they summoned me for help," He cackled. "Oh, the joy I feel in having been chosen to serve a group of maniacal heretics!"

I rolled my eyes. "Leave Eric alone, Riggs. There is no bounty on his head, and the Elders have stopped…collecting them."

"I know that."

"Then why are you here?" I asked.

"On my own accord. And if you must know, I'm hunting. That," He nodded his head toward the hall, "and I just had to see the one who had summoned you. Thousands of years, and you never once allowed yourself to be bound. But when this one called, you jumped at the chance. There must have been some reason you were so quick to answer the call."

"I was already here," I released his arms. "There is no other reason. I was only curious as to what a vampire could want with one of us. And you know how strong the pull is. Even for me."

"Right."

"I mean it, Riggs," I said, frustrated.

"Sure you do. I believe you," He pat me on the shoulder. "We'll be going now, Adrian. It was nice seeing you. You might want to help your little vampire friend, and in the meantime, quit denying you have an ulterior motive for being here," He rounded up the humans. "Bye, now."

Fucking asshole…there is no other reason for me being here than aiding the vampires. What other reason would I have? I am no longer a Collector, so I am not out to kill the vamps. I sighed.

He just said that he is hunting…and I'm fairly sure it's not animals.

He's killing vampires.

"I need to check on Eric," I said aloud, momentarily forgetting he had been shot.