Chapter ten:

Roger groans as he begins to awaken then raises his head to find himself someplace unfamiliar. He tries to get up but can't so he looks down to see why. He is tied to a chair. He quickly looks up as he hears some footsteps and a voice.

"So you're finally awake." Near walks from around a corner to come a little closer to Roger.

BB and A move to watch from the area that Near entered the room ready to charge in if needed.

Roger glares at Near. "You really are one of them. Oh how I had hoped you weren't. Because it would mean I would have to kill you." He growls at the other. "Your kind is despicable. Tough I guess that's why you broke the norm hanging close to a wolf of all things."

"Look." Near stands before Roger staring right into his eyes. "I understand that what happened to you is a true tragedy. There was nothing that could be done to prevent it. However you have only seen the bad side. Not how things are more than what you saw."

"Is that why you kept me alive? To preach about how good you all actually are? Well I don't believe you! You are just trying to mess with my mind to your own benefit. So cut the bullshit and tell me your master plan. To make us humans offer ourselves to you like you're some kind of God?" Rogers words don't even get a reaction from Near who continues to stare back into those angry eyes.

"No. Hiding suits us just fine. What I want is to form a brief partnership. You have weapons and skills that could be useful in this. There is a specific substance that can make a vampire lose control. I have come to believe that someone is using it on our kind. This person is dangerous." Near explains calmly.

"Dangerous for you." Roger snorts and his snort makes Near raise a hand to twirl a strand of his own hair. "You just want them gone because they expose you all for what you truly are. Monsters. There is a reason you are in the monster category. A damn good one."

"Dangerous for our survival yes. However innocent humans fall into great danger if this is allowed to continue. Many and I mean many innocent humans will die if this goes on. Possibly enough humans to devastate cities before all of our kind is wiped out." Near moves closer a few steps to be a little more in Rogers face. "Do you truly want to carry that knowledge and let things continue? Or will you help us find the culprit? Possibly someone who is a hunter like you. Though who is going about it the wrong way. You decide what is more important to you. Vampires being revealed and slaughtered, or stopping the slaughtering of many innocent civilians?" He goes quiet to let his words truly sink in.

Roger is quiet for a few moments though won't stop glaring with small growls here and there. He clenches his teeth for a moment before relaxing. "That's what you want. You are trying to twist my mind to your side. You're just exaggerating."

'After what you have seen yourself do you really think that I am joking around?' Near questions in Rogers own head which sends a shiver up Rogers spine.

"What the fuck was that!?" Roger gasps with his glare turning to wide eyes. "I've never met a vampire that could do that."

'I can talk to you within your own mind.' Near explains in Rogers mind while Roger stares at the white boys red eyes that show as he uses his ability. He knows that his last resort has truly gotten Rogers attention and to actually listen to him. 'If we wanted to trick a hunter into siding with us for humans to offer themselves to us, then we would have chosen a hunter that would have been easier to convince. Now. Listen closely. We live in this world alongside the humans. It would not benefit either side if the humans were slaughtered. Whoever is doing this isn't killing or hunting the vampire in a way to make their drugging worth it to be a hero. They let the vampire rampage instead. This tells me that they don't care how many are killed. If this is a hunter then they may be trying to expose us by forcing us to go on mass and violent murders. Then allowing other hunters to kill them. So I ask again. Do you prefer watching us vampires go down, or would you rather help us stop the deaths of thousands of people?'

Roger stares wide eyed at Near for a long moment. "You're not a normal vampire." He manages to get out still sounding like he is reeling in shock. "What are you?! Some kind of hybrid!? Some kind of super vampire form!?"

"Hey! That isn't something that you need to know!" BB snaps starting to stomp closer. "Just tell us if you're joining or not!" He stops when Near raises a hand like a stop signal that can be seen over his shoulder. He moves back away from the scene with a slight grumble under his breath.

Roger's eyes flicker to what he can see of BB then back to Near as the other lowers his hand. He stays quiet as if sensing that Near might be about to tell him something rather important.

"I suppose that you can call me like a supreme vampire form." Near tells Roger who keeps his eyes on the other even when he lets his eyes go to his stormy grey eyes. "I hold abilities that other vampires cannot perform. So I look out for my own kind. And in return they show me care and respect. Though the details are not important to you. Tell me. Will you join us in stopping deaths of the innocent? We do not ask you to like us or to come to our side of the fight forever. All we want is your help in taking down the culprit of the drugging. Then we will leave the orphanage to never return. Never bother you again." He doesn't add the to end the suffering of vampires due to the drug since that is more of a vampire problem than a human one… At least in the way that Roger would see it.

Roger stares at Near and though he still looks angry and hateful he does look like Near's words are starting to get through to him. He shakes his head and lowers his head. "God damn it. I would rather save the innocent." He slightly shifts only enough to glare at Near. "However I don't trust your kind. You especially since you're some previously unknown super vampire. So I refuse to work with you on anything. Even this. I would rather do all of the investigation on my own."

Near lets out a breath. "Alright. Let us end our negotiations here. We can't let you go free without a deal in place. We know you'd come after us while we try to investigate." He turns around and walks out of the room gesturing for A and BB to follow.

"I will find you three one day and kill you all! I will save even more lives!" Roger calls to them as they leave.

"Well that went well." A lets out a breath after they are far enough from Roger. "Stubborn old bastard."

"Do not give up hope yet." Near turns to face the two after stopping in his walking to which the two look right back at him. "We have a final trick up our sleeves that may be able to convince him to at least join us for the sake of innocent humans." He slightly looks over his shoulder as he slightly turns despite nothing being there. "And I know that he'll be up to the task."

… In the hospital…

Mello slightly turns getting a slightly weird feeling like he is being discussed and yet there isn't anyone around. He turns back to Matt figuring that it must just be Near or Roger bringing him up during the negotiations.

Right?