Under Sookie's behest, I reluctantly showered and changed my clothes after arguing with her for at least twenty minutes about how pointless it is for me to change, or even wear clothes for that matter. They're going to wind up destroyed one way or another. I hate clothes.

Can't I just claim to be a nudist? I thought, tugging a grey, long-sleeve, v-neck shirt over my torso. I pulled the sleeves up.

She giggled. "No, you can't."

"Fuck you, get outta my head, Sookie," I pouted. "Why not?"

"Nudism is weird."

My jaw could have dropped off of my face at that statement. "And who are you to say what's weird or not? Hun, you read thoughts, are friends with vampires and shifters, and are currently talking to a demon. That's not weird?" I shook my head. "What are you?" I asked, wanting to hear her tell me what she is. For all I know, Eric and Pam could have been messing with me.

"A human, a waitress…"

I slipped my shoes on. "Bullshit. Normal humans don't smell that good," I focused on her stomach, where most of the body's energy is concentrated. I can't pull anything from her. "And they don't have the ability to resist someone feeding on their energy," I looked up. "Either you have no soul, or you're not entirely human."

"I guess I have no soul then. I'm going to meet Bill. Will you come with me?" She opened the front door and paused in the doorway.

"I wish I could, but I need to check on Eric. I'll meet you there."

"Okay. Be safe, Adrian," She said.

"You, too, Sookie. Don't get into any trouble."

And with that, I left not for Fangtasia, but for the Lamb.

. . .

Two large bouncers, hybrids, seven feet tall and built like body builders, guarded the front door of The Slaughtered Lamb, their golden eyes hidden behind a pair of black sunglasses. The one closest to me, one of the very few Hounds I considered a friend, Nils, turned his bald head toward me. His stubble coated cheeks puffed as he smiled at me.

"What're you doing here? Micah doesn't have any bounties for you," He pulled me into a tight hug.

I nodded, stepping back from him. "I know. Something happened though."

"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow. "What's going on?"

"Some of the red eye's are causing trouble in the area. I need to see Delilah. Think I can go in?"

"Anything for you, chick," He stepped to the side, allowing me to go inside. "If you need help, let me know."

I grasped the heavy handle on the door. "Expect a phone call then."

The club is much, much larger than Fangtasia. Before it had been converted into the Lamb, the building was once an abandoned button factory set up a few years prior to the Great Depression. Since then, it turned into the refuge it is today for Hounds and vampires. The machinery had been replaced with speakers, and televisions, couches, stools and tables set up for people to sit and relax. In the center of the massive floor is the bar, designed to look like a large rectangle. In the middle, a column containing every type of alcohol imaginable, as well as packaged bags of chilled blood.

Real blood.

They had painted recently, apparently; the walls were no longer a deep grey, but a very dark red. In place of the lamps that had once adorned the high walls, were torches, providing a low, warm light. I looked around toward the dance floor. Hounds thrashed about to the heavy metal pumping through the club's expensive sound system. The energy ran high in here, high enough to make it almost impossible for one not to shift. I continued on, behind the bar and through a door after my pass code had been punched in, granting me access to the back room.

Delilah and Micah's office.

The two Hounds are only a few hundred years older than me, and long time friends. When I had chosen to abandon my life down below, they welcomed me with open arms and gave me jobs, bounties, to carry out so that I could support myself.

Micah runs the club along with Jakob, a Hound who is rarely ever seen, but his presence is feared. He chose not to sit behind a desk, but to continue working in the same field as me. A contract killer, bringing in souls, as well as an end to those who had wronged the trio. And most happened to be humans, believe it or not.

As for Delilah, she handles finances. She was the first to look up at me when I entered the room. She set her pen down and stood up, motioning for me to sit in the leather chair across from her desk.

"You rarely ever come in unless we call," She said. "Running short on cash?" She asked with a smirk.

"No," I laughed. "I wish that was the case. I still have enough money from the last job."

"Then what is your reason for being here?"

"The vampire's are having a bit of trouble," I said, becoming serious. "They've been disappearing, and quickly."

"How many?"

"Fifteen so far."

Delilah put her pen down and leaned forward on the desk. "And how do you know this? As far as I know, you have no ties to vampires. Not anymore."

"That changed. Anyway, I was told by a vampire. The owner of Fangtasia-"

"Eric Northman," Delilah said.

"Yes…he and the King informed me of the disappearances. Asked for protection."

Her brow furrowed. "If that's all, then why are you here? You know we don't object to side jobs. You're free to do as you please, Adrian."

"I know this, Delilah."

"But?" She asked expectantly.

"I've been bound. To Eric," I grimaced. "I was at Fangtasia when the invocation was performed. I couldn't resist it."

She leaned back in her seat. The leather groaned. "I see. Well…what were you doing there in the first place? You weren't hunting, were you?"

"Delilah, you know better than to ask me that," I said, disgusted by the fact she would even ask that. I may have hunted vampires in the past, but I gave that up a long time ago after Alistair. Never again would I harm a vampire. "I was there because I was bored at home. I needed some place new to go. And I'd never been there."

"I'm sorry this happened," She frowned. "I assume you won't be available for any contracts."

"I won't be, no."

"You look like there's something else you want to tell me," Delilah toyed with the ballpoint pen.

"There is," I leaned against the chair next to me, resting my elbow on the back of the seat. "I know who's behind this."

"Who? Does the Fellowship have anything to do with it? We can eradicate them if need be," The words sounded casual. As if killing off a whole group was normal.

But, oh, right. It is.

For us anyway.

"I'm not sure if the Fellowship is involved…but a group of vampire hating fanatics summoned Riggs. And I'm guessing his pack also," At this, Micah's head shot up from his work. In a flash, he appeared behind Delilah, staring down at me.

"What?" He bellowed.

"Riggs is killing off vampires. Hunting them," My jaw clenched tight.

"How can you be sure?"

"He was at Fangtasia earlier. Attacked Eric Northman, and then tried to burn Merlotte's down. The human I am guarding works there. He tried to kill her as he did Eric."

"Why would he do this?" Micah asked.

"He's always been a bastard. But, after what happened in the 10s, he's had a vehement hatred of vampires. I knew he hated them, definitely, but I never thought him to have the…the balls, for lack of a better word, to kill them. Only now, he's attacking the one's I am involved with."

Micah sat on the edge of the desk. "Yes, that sure as hell helped bring about his disdain for them. How would he know who you are watching?"

I shrugged. "I'm not sure how long he's been here, but he's always kept an eye on me, ever since then. Riggs must have caught my scent and followed it to wherever I had been. And in doing so, he found them."

"How would he have even crossed into the human world is what I want to know," Delilah said quietly. She looked up at me. "Didn't we place a rule against Collector packs walking amongst humans unless they were needed? Which they never will be again. There is no need for them anymore."

"Somehow they got up here. And now they're killing off Louisiana's vamps. If anything, we need to protect the vampires," I looked between the two of them. "The Lamb has a good following of vampires; inform them. Don't let them walk around blind, not knowing they can be taken and killed."

Micah nodded. "I'll make sure of that. Is there anything else you need?"

"Help. I need help watching the vampires in my area. I can't keep running between Shreveport and Bon Temps and expect to be able to save them all in time if something happens. Especially if Riggs is making use of his pack."

Delilah rose from her chair. "I'll go with you. Micah and Jakob can handle Mooringsport."

"Are you sure you can handle this?" I asked Micah.

"You know I can, Adrian. Go off, help your vampires. And call if you need anymore Hounds," He said. Suddenly, he smiled. "You know Nils would be enthralled to work beside you."

I smiled back. "I'm sure he would be."

. . .

I dropped Delilah at my apartment in Shreveport, only a few blocks away from Fangtasia. I walked the way there, taking my time instead of rushing, even though I am close to an hour late.

Finally, I reached the bar.

Pam stood at the door, checking the ID's of the humans trying to get into the bar to commune with the dead. I scanned the line, reading each one of them for malicious intentions. All but one were simply curious about vampire culture.

In the middle of the line of pale, leather clad mix of teens and adults, stood a rather calm man. He was sure of himself, and confident in his purpose for being here. His pale eyes flitted around in the dim street lights, his hands stuffed deep into his coat pockets, the bulge indicating his hands were balled into fists. He was gripping something tightly, as if his life depended on it. Maybe it did. Whatever it is won't save him from me.

If only I could see through things. I sighed, and focused intently on his thin frame and listened to his thoughts. Nothing was heard, though. It was like his mind is void of any thoughts or activity. Odd. Even vampires I can read from time to time, but this one is empty. Like a body without a soul. I cocked my head to the side and walked toward the man.

"Excuse me, sir?" I called.

Slowly he turned his head toward me and answered. "Yes?"

I need to come into contact with his skin, and I can't just walk up and grab him. That will cause a scene. What to do, what to do…ah!

I smiled brightly. "Hi, my name is Anne. Could I ask you a few questions? It'll only take a moment." I stuck my hand out as I spoke. He grabbed it.

When our skin touched, his body froze instantly, and I sank a nail into the veins in his wrist. I listened, and pulled him off to the side, far away from the long line. What I heard, sounded like a breeze blowing through an empty home; he is hollow, a walking vessel as I had expected. A faint scraping sound could be heard. Souls. They're knocking, looking for a body to inhabit. I'm surprised he hasn't been possessed yet. Just the other night, this was the site of the brutal death of a group of hicks, and I am positive there have been other deaths here as well. The area is teeming with souls and rather strong energies. A perfect place for a person like me.

"What are you doing here, sir?" I asked calmly. Vessels like this one are highly unstable. Any amount of stress can cause extremely violent outbursts, or in cases like this, the body could be overrun buy souls, and torn apart before the host's soul is brought back to the body. It isn't good for him to be here.

"My job," He deadpanned.

I reached into his pocket for whatever he was holding onto. The man has silver bits in his pocket; necklace chains, rings, a small crucifix. "And what is that?"

"To drain the sheriff," He grinned. "My boss said I'd get paid good if I brought his blood back."

"Oh, yeah?" I smiled back.

I closed my eyes and began muttering in Latin, performing the incantation that would cloak me no matter what form my physical body was in. When my body disappeared, the man began looking around, confused, startled at my sudden disappearance. I leaned forward and sank my nails deep into his flesh and lit him on fire, reducing him to a mere pile of ashes in seconds. I released the spell and stepped over the remnants of his body and walked toward Pam as if nothing had happened. She and those standing in line stared bewildered in my direction.

"What?" I asked as I reached Pam.

"What the fuck was that? Why the fuck are you roasting humans out in the parking lot?" Pam hissed.

"He was sent to drain Eric. It was either that, or kill him inside the bar. And I don't think you vampires wanna be anywhere near fire," I glanced behind me. "No one saw me do it, and they all know you can't do shit like that."

"What if people start asking questions? How the fuck are we supposed to explain someone spontaneously combusting?"

"Call it 'divine intervention'. Or retribution. Whatever fits," I smiled and entered the bar, leaving a pissed off Pam behind me.

. . .

I crossed through the walls and into Eric's work space, to find him, Bill and Sookie seated, and talking quietly amongst themselves. Eric's eyes locked on my own, and I can tell he is annoyed. Most likely by having to wait. Both Bill and Sookie said hello, and asked where I had been.

"I had some things to attend to before I met with you," I said. "I'm sorry I kept you waiting."

"I understand you had something to discuss with us?"

"Yes, I do." I looked at Eric. "I think I know for a fact now who is behind the vampire disappearances. I wish I could say they packed up and left, but they have all been kidnapped and killed by a faction within the Hounds."

Bill's face contorted. "Why?"

"I think of it as a hate crime," I said. "His reasons are personal, and now he has found a way to exact revenge on what hurt him deeply in the past."

"So, the entire reason vampires in Louisiana have gone missing, is revenge killing," The King said, baffled.

I nodded. "Basically."

"How do you know so much about this? This Hound's reason, this pack," Eric asked.

I dropped my gaze to the floor. "I belonged to a pack of Collectors."

"You don't anymore?"

"No, I don't," I hesitated. "I was exiled from the pack when I was found housing a vampire rather than bringing him down to be killed."

Alistair, I thought, I'd kill to see you now.

"Why didn't you kill the vampire?"

I looked up. "Something about him…I couldn't do it. Couldn't take him. So I protected him, watched over him, l-"

"Loved him?" Sookie asked.

"Yes," I admitted. "Believe it or not, we are capable of love. But when the pack found out what I had done, I was forced to return to the Pit, and was exiled. I haven't seen him since. And that was over a hundred years ago," I changed the subject, "Anyway, he's going after them. I know he is."

"How do we stop him?" Bill asked.

"By killing him. It's the only way to stop it. He's a collector. And Collectors won't stop until the hunt is over. Same goes for all Hounds. A task isn't over until the bounty is dead. And his bounty, is every vampire."

Eric considered my words. "We're going to need to alert all vampires in the area that they're being hunted."

"Putting them on alert won't help much. You're going to need other Hounds."

"Why? Won't that just cause more harm?"

"Not necessarily. Not all Hounds are Collectors. If I could band them all together, a small army of sorts, we could kill off the ones taking the vamps."

Sookie spoke up. "How are you going to get other Hounds to help?"

I leaned against the wall. "That is what I was taking care of before. I've enlisted the help of a few Hounds, and gave them the order of putting all vampires in their area on alert."

"You're sure that they'll help?" Bill asked, rising from his chair.

"I'm positive. The Hounds that I know have a very strong relationship with vampires. They'd do anything to help. And to see Riggs dead."

"Riggs better be dead. I want you to kill him, Adrian," Eric said. "I want him dead for what he's doing. For what he did to me."

And I want him dead for what he did to me.