A Drink, New Info, More Trouble?

["Rogue" Annie Amina Cross]

Alright, I didn't drink often and it was only one glass but after the last couple of weeks and everything that had happened I felt like I earned a bit of a treat. Plus I was here so drinking a bit of alcohol in a bar was kinda standard.

Downing the drink I gave a grimace at it's bitter taste. Yeah, still not that appetizing. Setting the drink down I glanced around the bar, noticing I was getting fewer looks and glances than last time I was here. The whole Raven incident had seemed to begun to disappear.

There had been a recent increase in body count down in the u district and as much as I wanted to barrel in I could hear that agonizing voice in my head telling me to make sure it was only vampires.

How I hated playing it safe.

I've lived for centuries just how I am! He could barely confront one man without getting himself shot!

With a sigh I messaged the bridge of my nose, trying to get his voice out of my head but not succeeding.

I hadn't needed anyone since becoming a vampire, not sure why I suddenly wanted someone.

'Liar,' a dark voice whispered in the back of my mind.

'Not right now.' For once the voice listened to me, probably finding this whole thing funny.

Finally a human came in that I had talked to before for information came in.

Yes, using Mal was so much easier but I had no time or patience for the damn mind games, plus I wanted to distance myself from anything to do with Doc for now but knowing how things usually happened I wouldn't do very well with that.

'You've certainly thought about him enough for tonight.'

'Enough!' Silence again.

Getting up I sat at the table with him, passing him a small envelope. This one wasn't interested in money, he was interested in rare herbs and ingredients. Thankfully I knew a few places to get them or people who knew where to collect it.

The man was probably some sort of alchemist but I never bothered to find out anything about the man. He usually knew demon and vampire groupings and thats all I was interested in.

"Whats going on with the increase of bodies in the U District?"

"Vampires," he said, after inspecting the contents of the envelope. "Twelve of them, most not very old but at least one is a bit more... experienced."

"Lovely. Well... thanks." Well wasn't THAT a huge waste of time? I figured they were vampires.

"They're in the abandoned building that was closed off from a meth lab last year," he continued as I stood up.

"Thanks."

"Until next time," he grinned a little to toothy for my liking but I didn't have to like him as long as he gave me information.

With more on my mind than I'd like I left the bar.

["Rogue" Annie Amina Cross]

Leaving the cold of the night behind me I entered a building I hadn't bothered returning to since before everything happened. Feeling my mouth go dry I looked at the hallway, a family coming home for the night trying to find their key to get in. Looking away I started up the stairs, part of me hesitating, not wanting to continue. Not wanting to go forward.

He might not even be home...

I wanted to run.

Do I really want to face the fact that I hurt him?

What if he wasn't healed enough for a nest of vamps?

Did I trust anyone else to watch my back? No... I could go to Maya and she would probably help until the vamps were dead but that didn't mean she'd stop at those vampires and not me. Not a gamble I was willing to make. Doc mentioned I wasn't on her no slay list and I intended to avoid her if at all possible until I was sure she wouldn't try to end me.

Gripping the rail I took a step back before stopping myself. No.

Walking up the set of stairs I raised my head high, gripping a few newspaper clippings in my free hand.

A few hidden weapons calmed my nerves. Three stakes, flask of holy water, an an extend-able baton. Not the same feel as a sword but it would have to do. With all the problems in my life I didn't need to be arrested for carrying such a weapon.

Of course carrying holy water might not have been the best idea but I wanted to hear something scream tonight. Cause some pain but taking on a vamp nest with twelve vamps, a couple being older might be a bit much even for me. Though it was questionable on if it was a good idea to have Doc with me.

But I couldn't wait. More people would die and that simply wouldn't do. More deaths equaled more slayers and more slayers would mean the less safe I was. Being out in the open didn't offer the same protection I had here. Here I didn't have to worry about being staked in my sleep. Not so much the case.

Maybe I'd have to hire some one to place a protection over the crypt. That would cost money though. After the run in with Raven I spent what money I had for new clothes that weren't covered in blood. Those same clothes were what I had on now. Dark red shirt which seemed to cling, less for someone to grab onto, jeans and a jean jacket. Unlike normal though my hair was pulled back. A large number of vampires meant I needed a clear head and hair in the eyes was not something I wanted. I needed to see everyone, could mean the difference between life and death.

The only bit of clothing on me that wasn't meant to kill was a dream crystal hanging from a chain around my neck. Either I was becoming paranoid or something was following me and I was planning on finding out who or what it was. It was a stretch but maybe I could induce a vision to find out who or what it was. If anything.

Grinning I could feel a canine press against my lip. I was truly dressed to kill tonight. Though not in the way most humans dressed to kill. There was going to be death tonight and I was going to cause it. Darker impulses were start to show through but they were in check. Having fed recently I could feel it course through me.

As much as I wanted to see Doc tonight was business. I needed help and he was the only one I trusted not to turn against me.

Showed how pathetic my life here was...

Friends get you killed. Haven't you learned that with Doc? You get distracted and then it's over. You hesitated in front of Raven and he got shot.

Not that that part was my fault but I should not have let him take control. A thing I would fix in the future. If there was one.

Feeling something cold and dark pulse through me I knocked on Doc's door, solid, not faltering, determination showing on my face. We might be in flux but that wasn't going to interfere with the job at hand.

[Jackson ''Doc'' Ellison]

He opened the door slowly, , poking his head out of around the edge, meeting her eyes for a moment. "Oh. Hi," he said briefly, slightly glad Maya had put up the un-invite spell. did he trust her? Maybe, kinda sorta. But not with anything big. Definately not with an invite. "How's things?"

["Rogue" Annie Amina Cross]

"Vampire nest, U District, twelve vampires, one or two of them older." Right to business. Having little patience for anything else from him for now it would have to do. "Either you can help or I'm doing it alone. Which is it?" Alright so I may have made that sound a bit rude but to bad. After the last several weeks he could just deal with a bit of crabbiness.

[Jackson ''Doc'' Ellison]

"Let me get my kit," that's what he called it now. His kit.

Closing the door, he moved to his closet, pulling out a small book back, checking the contents. 6 stakes, 3 wood, 3 silver, all etched with crosses and banishment spells. 5 small bottle of holy water, several different mixtures of blessed potions and a water pistol.

He close dhte bag, putting it on his shoulder and slipped his Glock under his shirt before leaving the apartment. "Ready then?"

["Rogue" Annie Amina Cross]

Raising an eyebrow at him I gave an overly cocky smile. "Luv, I'm always ready to go hunting."

But as quick as the smile came it faded away, turning away I led the march out the place that had almost become a home which of course she was no longer welcomed in but she figured as much. Thankfully the commons of the building was still fair game.

"Is it healed enough for you to fight?" I paused at the building's exit.

[Jackson ''Doc'' Ellison]

"Yeah," he said. "But I'm ready if it isn't," holy water plus squirt gun is always fun. Espeically in the eyes.

["Rogue" Annie Amina Cross]

"Fine, try not to get yourself killed tonight." Cold, but hunting wasn't exactly the activity I had in mind but it had to be done. He didn't know my motives behind it but that suited me perfectly. At least for now I had an even head.

The building was only two stories high but the smell of blood was perminating from it. That and the smell of drugs seemed to ozze from the walls.

"Closed down home, unlivable due to it being used as a meth lab." And home to pile of dusts here soon.

This certainly brought back memories. From both being alive and undead. One seemed to burn in particular but I shrugged it off. Memories should be forgotten sometimes. Which was contrary to what Ihad told Doc earlier but who said I practiced what I preached?

[Jackson ''Doc'' Ellison]

"Entrances?" he asked, thinking over possibilities. "Anything they could use for a get away aside from the obvious? Sewer access? Any way to come in from the roof?"

["Rogue" Annie Amina Cross]

"We're standing on the only sewer entrance big enough to get through. Why would you want to come in through the roof? Sure you get surprise but you loose energy, stamina and time. I say we campus the building, see where most of them are and I'll go through that way while you go the other route."

[Jackson ''Doc'' Ellison]

Well, actually I was thinking more 'weaken them by dropping holy water through a window or something right on top of them," he said. "But your way works too."

["Rogue" Annie Amina Cross]

"Keep holy water to a minimum please. It'll still burn me should I happen to grab one of them coated with the stuff." Though I'll keep to myself that I had a vial of holy water with me but I didn't intend to weaken one of them with it.

With a grin more to myself than to anyone else I crouched, following along the bushes, glancing into the windows which were dark except for some battery run torches and candles. Candles meant fire which was bad but it could also be good depending on the outcome, something to keep in mind.

Mentally tallying the number of vampires in the building only two were missing but I couldn't tell if the more powerful vampires were amoung the current ones or not. Others may be on the second story or out hunting. It was hard to know.

"10 in the building. Take the front. Most are towards the back door. Don't ring the door bell. They wont expect anyone they know or anyone in the neighborhood to use it. They'll know it's a hunter before answering." I said it in hurried whispers. None of the windows were open so I didn't have to fear of being overheard. Doc probably knew how the game went when hunting down nests but after getting himself shot I wasn't going to take any chances.

[Jackson ''Doc'' Ellison]

He nodded, reaching into the bag and drawing out two of his wooden stakes. he smiled, twirling them around his fingers. "Try not to be late."

["Rogue" Annie Amina Cross]

"I'll resist the urge," I replied, rolling my eyes. YEah, cause I was going to be late. I'd been itching for a fight for weeks. Raven went down to easily. Caused a lot of pain but he was easy to take down. No where near satisfying.

At the bottom of the steps I waited a moment, baton in my hand, ready to be extended at any moment but I didn't dare do so now since the click might alert the vamps inside the nest. With purpose I ascended the stairs before kicking open the back door. Sure slipping through might have been a better plan but they might then go for the front door and I needed their attention focused on me.

[Jackson ''Doc'' Ellison]

The bang resounded through the house. Doc shook his head, checking the lock and snorting in disgust as the door opened. Arrogant bastards, he thought as he slipped in. The vamps were all too busy with Rogue. Fine with him.

He started running mana through his body and s moved quietly towards the back. No need to let them know he was here just yet.