I stood in the doorway of the tram, staring at Nines on the hill. My breath caught in my chest. The past few nights without him had been pure hell. It struck me how I had become so used to his presence in my life. I missed the nights spent with him and Jack, shooting the shit over a bottle of Jauger, in the bar or my haven while Heather eyed them with worry and distrust. I took off running towards him, crashing into his chest and throwing my arms around his neck. He wrapped his arms around my waist, laughing.
"I missed you, too, kid," he said. I pressed my face into his neck, savoring the moment. I pulled back, looking at him urgently.
"I didn't tell LaCroix about the thing at Grout's mansion, I swear! He said he had 'a source' that told him, but it wasn't you, it was the Kuei-jin leader posing as you and…" Tears sprang to my eyes, but Nines shushed me, smiling gently.
"It's okay," he said. "Shhh. I know you didn't betray me. I know LaCroix was playin' us both. Shhh." He pulled me back to his chest and rubbed my back.
"LaCroix wants me to try and get you to ally with him to fight the Kuei-Jin," I said, gripping the fabric of his shirt in one hand. Nines hummed and ran a hand through my hair.
"Does he, now? You know, we just ended a war with them and we lost a lotta people - too many," he said. "Does he expect us to do all the fighting while the Camarilla throws mean looks from the sidelines? Or are they ready to go toe-to-toe with those goddamn devils?"
"Who knows what he's planning," I muttered, holding onto him tighter. I wanted this all to be over, I wanted to be shooting the shit with him and Jack while we lounged around, I wanted LaCroix and the Kuei-Jin to go away so we could all be free, I wanted my unlife not to be a fight every damn night.
"I still don't trust LaCroix. But then again, the Camarilla didn't wholesale slaughter us upon arrival," he grumbled. "Goddamn it... I'm stuck between a rock and a son of a bitch."
"Your people need a leader right now," I said, tilting my head back. "More than ever." Nines looked down at me, his face unreadable.
"Have you ever fought 'em?" he asked. "Do you know what they're capable of? How they view our kind? They're demons in battle - killed my predecessor. It's strange though... LaCroix wanting to war against them all of a sudden. Something's not right…"
"I know," I said.
"Not what I mean, kid," he said. "Smell that? Smells like smoke. We gotta get outta here."
"What?" I asked.
"Kid, we've been followed. That fire's coming from all directions - it's man-made. We gotta get outta here - this is bad."
"It's far off," I said, not wanting to let him go. "We'll be fine."
"No, kid, you don't understand," he said, pushing me away. "The fire wasn't set to kill us. Come on, we gotta get to the tram."
"What's wrong?" I asked, worried.
"I didn't hide out here because it was a nice view. I did it because no one would come lookin' for me in these parts. This is werewolf country."
"So? What does a fire have to do with that?"
"The wolves are gonna be out for blood for that fire. C'mon, move!" Nines grabbed my hand, trying to urge me towards the tram.
"Can't we just tell them it wasn't us?"
"Werewolves don't talk to us - werewolves don't care. They kill on sight. Now let's move."
"Are you scared?" I asked, teasingly. Nines glared, showing me just how serious this was. I felt a knot form in my stomach.
"Yeah, I'm scared o' werewolves! Five-hundred pounds of hair and claw. Guns are useless and getting close is suicide. The only thing to do is run. Now let's get to the tram - we can't waste any more time."
We ran towards the tram, but it was already making its way down the mountain without us.
"Shit! It's leaving," he swore. "C'mon, kid, we've got to get inside that building until it comes baAAAAH...!"
I watched in horror as an enormous wolf tore Nines away from me and pushed him into the forest.
"NINES!" I screamed, running after him. I heard a growl and looked over to find another giant beast making its way towards me. I choked back my tears and ran.