A New Moon

A bald man in a lab coat walked into an 'Authorized Personal Only' area. He walked over to a metal lab table and picked up a chart, scanning it.

"Excellent," he murmured almost in ecstasy. He looked at another person in a similar lab coat. "I never seen such a mortal undergo so much and still be with us. Master will surely be pleased..."

Jerek nodded and took out a pocket watch. "10:20 P.M. Keith Ryder improving. Most than likely would make an excellent vampire solider. Test results are complete. Let Alexandrais know he will be given quite a feast."

Va'Shanna banged her forehead on the table, growling. She was sitting in a sports bar with one of the local werewolves that she had been rescued by at least a year ago when both her and Nick had been captured and tortured.

"Kyle..." she began, lifting her head up. "Let me try to explain this to you again, I am *not*, NOT being a dancer for you." She rubbed her temple and showed him the wedding band. "See that? I'm bonded to someone, namely a guy that you pissed off a year ago."

Kyle was sitting back in the booth, amused. He had unruling curly brown hair and a five o'clock shadow. "Ah, yeah...I seem to remember Nick. He didn't like me holding you, did he?"

"Hey, you can't blame me for getting a buzz off of my blood, now can ya?" Kyle leered at her slightly, his brown eyes innocent.

"Isn't that your job?" he remarked, blinking those baby browns at her. He looked up as Nick walked over. "Ahhh...hello there Nicky."

V leaned back and said, "I've heard that there's two of your pack members missing, is that right?"

"No, unfortunately." Kyle shifted uncomfortably, leaning towards them. "Remember a year ago when there were a lot of those crazy human and vampire doctors running around, experimenting on everyone?"

"They've grown greatly and expanded. They've taken in working on witches, fairies, and now werewolves."

Nick ordered a coffee and after the waitress went away, he said, "Do you think they've taken your friends?"

Kyle nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure of it. They're the KKK of the demon society." He shook his head.

"I thought werewolves and vampires don't get--" Nick broke off as the waitress came back with his coffee and left again. "Along," he finished.

"They don't," Va'Shanna commented, playing with a toothpick. "Usually, anyway. There are different types of werewolves that are more...wilder than others. I can call wolves to my aid, Kyle's type. I've saved their lives numerous times and they returned the favour a year ago."

Nick nodded slowly. "Okay, great. We find were they're being kept, shoot the baddies, and walk out. Piece of cake."

Murdock was curled up in the chair, scanning through a one hundred-ninety-six page novel of Eight Tales of Terror by Edgar Allan Poe. Nick crossed the room, putting on his brown leather shoulder rig.

"Amontillado!" Murdock cried out. "I have my doubts!" "Amontillado!" "And I must satisfy them." "Amontillado!"

Murdock nodded, grinning. He wore his usual blue baseball cap, tan pants, Reebok shoes, and a brown leather bomber jacket over a Navy blue shirt with the image of Mickey Mouse.

Va'Shanna walked in and said, " As you are engaged, I am on my way to Luchesi. If anyone has a critical turn, it is he. He will tell me--"

Nick shook his head. "Quiet, the both of ya." He lifted his duffel bag filled with nice little toys. A new member of the gun family was a MP5 "K" that Va'Shanna had given him for Christmas.

He held up the newspaper and pointed at the local weather. She shook her head and said, "Ah."

"Okay, so it's eleven-fifteen. We're going into some territory that a few won't like...namely the macho vampires and wolves down there..." She looked at Murdock. "If Kyle tries to do anything you know what to do."

"Good." Va'Shanna was dressed in skin tight leather pants and thigh-high boots that crept up her slender, toned legs. A crimson crushed velvet tank top under a leather jacket that stopped at her waist completed the outfit. Her dark red hair had been pulled back in a tight and secure bun. Two silver knives were sheathed at her wrists and inside her ankles. She picked up her sword carrier and slung it over her head so that the strap rested against her breast.

Nick, as usual, was dressed up in his usual trusty jeans, a black medium short sleeve shirt under a leather jacket. He carried on him two holstered guns, his SEALs knife that was sheathed to his ankle and hidden inside the jeans, and a .357 inside his coat. Plus, he did have his bag of goodies.

After waving good-bye to Murdock, he and V left, taking off in his prized '68 red Mustang to A New Moon, which was a bar located on the other side of town. A dangerous side of town, full of the most scum of the earth, vampires, lupine, and other unknown ungodly creatures. Some walk in the park.

When they pulled up, a neon-green sign flashed: A NEW MOON PRESENTS YOU ENTERTAINMENT! CHEAP BEER! GREAT WINE! AND THE BEST WOMEN YOU'LL EVER FIND!

"Let's go." She opened her side of the door, grinning despite herself, and moved over to meet him. Nick hated to leave his bag of goodies...but no club would allow him to walk in there with that much fire power. Unfortunately.

They made their way towards the enterance. Va'Shanna encircled his arm with her elbow. It was a long wait to get inside the club, but they walked up past all the waiting customers. All of them yelled, "Hey what're you thinking you're doing?" "Assholes!" None the least flattering.

V. stopped when they reached a meaty black bouncer. He was bald, intimidating, and stared at them with cold dark brown eyes.

"Boba then." Her elbow caught Nick in a rib as he started to snicker at the name. "I'm Va'Shanna."

"Tell him Va'Shanna is here. We go back quite a ways. I'm sure he'll be very disappointed if you deny me."

One of her daggers suddenly appeared at his groin. "Deny my friend and I access, and I'll serve your balls on a platter as a side dish for your dick." V growled lowly, making a wolfish noise.

Boba opened the door and Va'Shanna passed through, followed by Nick who patted Boba on the shoulder. "Good boy."

Industry music blared as a band performed on stage. Va'Shanna sashyed in and all the men's eyes drifted to her. The majority of them were discouraged when they saw Nick, but some remained hopeful.

She walked towards the bar and squeezed in between two large men. Leaning over the counter, she looked for the bartender. After spying the tender, she frowned. The bartender saw her and shook his head, walking towards her.

"There are worse places, V." James was a short person for a guy, coming only to five-six with large green eyes. He had survived not only four vampire attacks, but one werewolf attack. Before he and V had met, he had started to become a vampire junkie; becoming a donor and getting his kicks out of vampires hurting him.

His large green eyes lowered again. "Up the stairs, the second unmarked door. You didn't hear that from me."

"Of course not. Thank you." She wedged herself out the two ment, and if Nick hadn't been there, she would've found herself on her bum.

He nodded, letting her lead the way. The staircase was wide with black stone steps that never seemed to end. Nick jogged up the stairs with ease and blinked at the five women in lingerie. They giggled and made suggestive motions at him. Va'Shanna soon joined them and hissed at them. They hissed back, showing fangs.

A woman in a blue corset, thong, and garter straps stepped in front of the others. Her curly black hair as almost as long as V's, but it stopped short of a few inches.

"Depends on the bullets and where they penetrate. He is an excellant shot. That's why he's beside me, not behind me." V let her own fangs show. "We'd like to see Ethan without decorating his walls with your worthless blood."

The vampire whores flicked their tongues out, eyeing Nick, letting their gaze rake him over. They made no effort to move.

"Sure." He lifted his right hand and fired, shattering the black hair's knee. She shrieked in pain as the others looked them in hear. V's Aegean sea coloured eyes shifted to a haunting violet.

V shrugged and walked over her, Nick at her heels. Without preamble, she kicked Ethan's office door open. A tazer stick lashed out and attacked V. She grunted as several more tazer sticks came out, jabbing her in the side, back of the knee, and neck. She crumpled to the floor as Nick tried to back her up, but Ethan's musical voice said, "I wouldn't unless you like your women as ashes."

Va'Shanna curled in a tiny ball as she continued to get shocked. Nick hadn't put his gun down. "Tell your goons to lay off of my friend and you might walk out here alive." He crinkled his nose from the smell of burnt flesh.

"You're being foolish. I don't give a damn what you are, much less who, but you will receive a nice hole if you don't pull them in reserve." Nick kept his gun on target. "Make your choice now."

V grunted in pain as the tazers kept making with her skin. She vamped out, slowly losing her nerve. Ethan clapped his hands. "Enough my servants. Leave us."

A few more hits were made before they were withdrawn. She was left writhing as the servants left.

Nick still covered Ethan who was relaxing in his black leather chair. He just noticed the woman curled up beside the desk, totally nude except for body painting in Egyptian designs and gold jewelry. Her eyes were a deep yellow and inhuman. Cat eyes. They were gorgeous. Long gold hair spilled over her breasts as she purred, looking him over.

"Now what business do you two wish of me, I wonder?" Ethan questioned, leaning back in his chair. He looked like an evil version of David Bowie, the way looked like in the 80's, hair and all.

"And what would I have done -- or I should say -- what would I know about some furry beasts, Remirez?"

"You've resided here for more than twenty-five years. I know you better than that. You're nosy and a mischievous little bastard."

"Such harsh words coming from a lady." Ethan finally stood, ignoring the pointed gun. "Say if I did know something, what do I gain from telling you?"

"What would you want in return?" Va'Shanna stepped closer as he walked out from his desk wearing black slacks and a long sleeve, royal red satin shirt. His pale hands were gloved in leather and calf-high boots covered his feet. He circled around Va'Shanna like a shark.

"I will not cause her anymore harm...tonight." He caressed her cheek until she pulled back. "Same as you always were."

"Give us proof that you know something before we negotiate, okay pay?" Nick growled, his gravelly voice deepening.

"May the elements protect their souls." Ethan leaned at the corner of his desk. "They were taken by William's men a week ago. William betrayed our kind and I banished him from the city and state, including Jersey."

"Shit." Slowly, Nick lowered his gun. "You knew and didn't do anything?" He sounded outraged.

"The vampires haven't been united in centuries. The dogs are more organized than we will ever be. Only when our existence is in danger do we worry and leave our differences outside." His eyes lingered over V at the last sentence. "But nevertheless, I am part of the British Council--"

V looked at Nick as he said, "He aligned himself with those that tortured you and nearly drove you crazier than Murdock! How can you talk nicely with him?!"

"Because he was under probation, I think. Plus the council that did that to me was composed by my...father." V swallowed hard as Nick looked confused.

She glanced at him, her eyes finally returning to their normal colour. "How much of it do you want?"

He smirked, then leaned over the desk, jotting down something on a sheet of paper before passing it to V. She took it and looked it. It was an address.

"I will be expecting you to hold up the side of your bargain, or my pet gets a new toy." He leered at Nick. "Him."

"You will get what I promised. Let's go, Nick." She backed towards the door, her eyes watching the female cat that was watching Nick. He did the same, reaching out for the knob. He opened the door for V and she stepped out, followed by him, closing the door after them.

He nodded, taking her hand in his free hand. Slowly, and carefully, they made their way out of the club and rested inside his Mustang.

She closed her eyes and looked out the window. "He is a vampire warlock among other things. During the 1970's I was...still fighting my darkside. He was a tempting bastard that found me when I was still lurking the sewers and alley ways." She paused. "Ethan gave me so much, he was like Jared without the sex slave part."

She looked at him. "I told you there were things that you'd find out about me that you'd hate, I told you that before we married."

"I know," Nick said softly. "He's not getting you back." He leaned over and kissed her. "Let's go save Holly and Lero, okay?"

"Yeah, let's do that." She managed a smile. Nick put the car in gear and pulled out onto the road.

V leaned into the seat and sighed. There was a time that her and Ethan did a dance that snakes di.d A time she almost allowed herself to be dominated by a man by choice and love it.

She swallowed hard. Just what was she getting herself -- heck -- even Nick into by helping a bunch of furballs?

Well -- at least there was one upside to this; neither her sister nor the rest of the gang were involved in this. They were safe.

Nick frowned, leaning against the wall, closing his eyes tightly. Things couldn't seem to get any worse, and he himself was relearning how to breath. He could see how vampire such as Va'Shanna could wear so much tight leather, but he had to wonder about some of the humans that wore it also.

Va'Shanna told him that they'd have to dress up, mostly him, and had to put on an act. He dreaded it, especially since she mentioned a little detail of him acting as her pet.

"Son of a..." he growled, fighting with the zipper. The things he did to save people. After that fight was done, he pushed himself away from the wall and went into the bedroom to look at himself in the mirror. He thought the pants made him look like either a vampire wanna be, or begging for a stripper job in a vampire joint. In either case, he hated it. The pants squeaked every time he moved. Now for the shirt.

The top was a white silk, renaissance shirt with billowy sleeves and instead of buttons, it was meant to be laced up. When he started to do that exact thing, V walked in and swatted his hands away.

He looked at her outfit that left little to the imagination. She wore a mini nylon skirt hidden under chainmail, and the skirt no matter how careful she walked, it still rode up a bit, showing plenty of leg. Black fishnet stockings covered her long, slender legs. A matching bra top and calf-high leather boots with thick heels completed the outfit. The bra was outlined with chainmail.

Her hair was pulled back in a loose French twist, where several loose strands of hair tickled her neck.

He glared at her, then sat on the bed to struggle with the boots. She sat next to him, putting on leather cuff-bracelet on each wrist with spikes, and then another with stars on it, similar to what average day punks and Goths would wear.

She wondered to herself where the world has come to. In the 1980s, the gothic movement was just beginning, and it was so much unique and original back then. Of course, in the 1970s, you had the Bee Gees and disco music. She frowned a bit, never thinking that in seven centuries that the world would've gone this bad. V shook her head and looked at Nick who still wasn't comfortable with his attire.

"You could say you let me wear'em cause I like them so much and that I'm so obedient that you let me have my way in that," he looked at her hopefully.

"Yeah," he muttered, also standing. He shrugged into his leather jacket while V pulled on her black cloak with arm slits. She didn't bring the hood up, instead left it down as Nick made his way downstairs and to his pride and joy, a '68 Mustang.

As he drove, V leaned back in the seat and stretched her legs out a bit. "You wouldn't believe who else the crazy doctors have held hostage besides werewolves."

"Keith Ryder. You know, a vampire hunter. He trained another hunter, Natasha Romero." V fiddled with her Celtic ring. "They were lovers up until four years ago when he was mysteriously captured by a local gang of vampires, or so they say. I found out that during the course of the four years, one year of which he spent as a prisoner."

"Kyle told me," she said. "He...um...got news that the Alpha in Jersey was killed two years ago by another werewolf in the pack, to become the new Alpha." V looked at Nick. "Wanna hear the most interesting thing though?"

"Oh great," Nick shook his head. "So former vampire hunter is Mr. I turn hairy every new moon. Peachy. Does this Natasha...wait. Natasha...Natasha...the one that tried to kill us a year or so back?"

Doctor Jerek walked into the authorize personal area again, slamming his fist against the desk. "A werewolf is no use for us! A year of treatments wasted. No wonder why he healed and survived so long." Jerek pushed the monitor to the computer off the desk and let it crash to the floor.

"DON'T you think I know that?! Fool! He will kill us. No, not us. I am not at fault. I wasn't informed. Yes, that's it." He nodded to himself. "He will not be pleased with the rest of you."

A green haired woman named Iris, wearing too much vinyl walked into the room. "Calm down little Jerek. You can redeem yourself and your...staff."

"Yes." Iris smiled, pleased with herself. "I want the human, though. You can have the Irish vampire. Better yet, if you could break her and bring her back into the fold, Waataar will most than likely take you under his wing and let you live."

Jerek thought this over. Finally, he smiled and clapped his hands. "What are you baboons looking at? Get them!"

Nick glanced around in distaste. The club reminded him more of an 80's nightclub with the music and dancing styles. Humans were held captive in cages, wearing leather outfits that made him think that they belonged in a

He shook his head, walking beside V, his arm around her shoulder. As they walked, heads turned like crazy, and Nick really only had himself and V to blame. He was human after all, and walking into a club controlled by mostly vampires and/or werewolves, he was just radaiting off a sign saying COME AND RIP ME OPEN! PLENTY OF HUMAN FLESH FOR EVERYONE!

V led him to the bar, and he sat down. She sat in his lap and called for the tender, banging her palm on the counter. "Yo! Some service here?"

The bartender looked dead, which didn't surprise Nick at all, given the location and all. A cigar was held in between his lips as he rolled his brown eyes at her.

The bartender's face showed an uncomfortable expression. Surprise? Shock? "There ain't no William here."

"Oh I believe there is," she countered, pulling out a fifty dollar bill from her bra. "Tell me where he is, and my friend won't kill you."

The tender pried his eyes away from her chest, then to the counter where Nick's right hand was, holding a gun. Nick simply grinned at the man. "Good weather tonight, isn't it?" he murmured.

"Why don't you look at him for yourself?" the bartender said as an awkward silence filled in the air.

"I thought as much." She sighed as she was yanked off of Nick's lap, and before Nick could act, two fat men grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and dragged him off.

"Naw. My mom used to say, 'Now Nick, never let anyone put you down. Stand your ground little man, and fight with fists'." He smiled brightly as he was socked in the gut hard. "Oomph!"

The men pushed Nick in a chair and held him there while V shrugged off the hands holding her and stared at the man behind the desk.

Jerek chuckled as William moved behind his chair and slid his hands around his neck. Nick crinkled his nose at the affection, wanting to gag.

"William here promised me if I could make werewolves obey not only the strong vampires with the power to call animals, but to lesser vampires, that he'd grant me eternal life."

"Thank you Mrs. Vari," Jerek said, clapping his hands. "I have a present for you and your human husband."

"I think not," Jerek said as the door opened and a tall man with short cut blond hair stood in the doorway with a brown haired woman. Both Nick and V turned towards the door and realized that no one was home, the moment they looked into their amber eyes. The two were robots, zombies. Actually, they were the missing werewolves, Holly and Lero.

"I'd rather not go," Nick murmured as he was pulled from the chair and held a good three inches up off the ground by his arms. His gun had fallen on the floor from the amount of pressure the fat men applied to his arms.

"Oh but you must," Jerek insisted as hands grabbed V's forearms and kicked her in the back of her knees. She fell to the floor as Jerek stood up, needle in hand, and pig stuck her in the neck, emptying the contents of the needle into her system. "After my wolves have nearly ripped you to pieces...well...I'll be back just in time to save the important attributes about you."

The hands let go of her as she growled, rubbing her neck and blinked, feeling dizzy. Nick struggled to free himself, kicking his legs in the air, but soon hands controlled his legs after seven minutes of fighting. Four men handled Nick out, followed by William, who stopped outside of the door, waiting for the good doctor.

Jerek patted down V, looking for weapons, and relieved her of the daggers sheathed at her arms and ankles. Then he walked out of the room and turned to the two werewolves.

They nodded as they stepped inside and the door closed. Nick yelled, still putting up a fight.

"You bastard!" he yelled, fighting madly, pushing with his feet against the men holding him.

"No, my parents were well married and in love when they had me, sorry Mr. Vari. Take him to the lab."

Kyle looked at Murdock as they watched Woody Woodpecker on TV. "You be careful Woody," Murdock said as the cartoon character attached an electric shock device on the doctor's ankle, "they tried doing that to me."

"I think you--" Kyle was cut off as a knock sounded at the door. He stood up from the chair he was relaxing on, putting the popcorn to the side. "Coming."

He leaned against the door and looked out the spyhole. Frowning at the face, he opened the door. "Keith?" he queried, astonished.

"Sure." Kyle stepped back and closed the door after the man. Keith looked around, then saw Murdock.

"Long story. Look, they brainwashed Holly and Lero. I don't think there's anything left of them...and last I heard was that they were taken up to Jerek's office to kill a vampire."

"Don't ask me. I just heard it. I saw them taking a human to the lab when I left. I didn't have time to go back and rescue him."

Kyle and Keith fell quiet. Stepping forward, Keith said, "I don't know. Medium built, around five-nine, I suppose. Had, uh, sandy brown hair."

Kyle rolled his eyes. "Murdock, this is Keith, Alpha of the werewolves in Jersey. Keith, this is Murdock, a friend of the vampire and human they have. We need to get to them."

"I am insane!" Murdock exclaimed. "The address man. They're my friends, and owe them a lot. Where are they?"

Another man had to help restrain Nick on the metal examining table. They bound his wrists to his side with steel bars as two fought to hold his legs for them to secure his ankles and knees. They looped a black strap around his throat and forehead to kept his head still. Then, thinking better of it, they also looped straps around his hip and stomach.

His hazel-green eyes looked around as far as they were allowed with the restraints, and he saw more people, if not creatures, chained to walls, tables. Some were locked inside of a thick glass cage. In that moment, he

realized there was someone that reminded him of Crysolite. From the looks of the lush green hair, it was natural, and he recognized it as a faerie.

"Research, observe other races, and my favorite, experiment," a female voice answered. He guessed it was Iris. He fixed her a glare.

Her hand touched his lips. "Yes, little one. Saved you. They would've tortured you, do things that Nazi's did to Jews during the war." Her lavender eyes trailed him over. "You know, cut off your arm, sew it or another back

"Oh? And that would be what, Spongebob Square Pants?" He had a vision of Jolie, V's sister, watching that in a hotel months ago and smiled inwardly.

"No, no. Some Mutant show. There was this woman that had powers from the feline side. You know, like a tiger." She smiled. "You'd make a handsome panther."

"Of course not." She chuckled, stepping backwards for a moment and reappeared with a mean looking needle. "Make you a deal, join me, or you can take this and see what it does with your system."

"Always the hard way," she said, disgusted and jabbed the needle into his skin without rubbing alcohol on it first.

Va'Shanna looked up at the office ceiling fan, taking a great interest in it. Her side stung from the werewolf claws that Lero had popped and attacked her with. Pushing herself up, she touched her bleeding side and grimaced, then looked at Lero's fallen body that she had no other choice than to shoot twice in the heart with Nick's gun, that luckily enough had silver in it. At least he did listen to her from time to time.

She slowly made her way over to the female werewolf, Holly. Her knee was shattered, thanks to herself for literally ripping out the knee bone. Now looking at it, V shuddered at not only all the blood, but the pain she knew she caused. Oh well. It was either Holly's knee or V's throat, and V seemed to like her throat where it was.

Va'Shanna knelt down beside her and craddled her in her arms. The woman's face was pale and she was clammy. Slowly, she moved her hand on top of Holly's head and she forced herself in the girl's mind, trying to find the damaged that Jerek and the mad scientists had caused.

With deep searching, she found the problem. All of Holly's memories and her well being of sense was hidden in a black nest of hot tartar subtance. Withdrawing energy from herself, V broke the nest and Holly let out a loud

She nodded. V rose, and picked up Holly who seemed lite as a feather. Moving towards the door, she told Holly, "Grip a hold of my neck. They locked the door from the outside and I need my hands to break the handles."

"O-ok." Holly did as instructed and Va'Shanna broke the handle with ease. Stepping outside of the doorway, she was surprised to find no guards in sight. Maybe the good doctor was overconfident.

Opening her senses, she searched for Nick's scent. Picking up on his blood, she looked down the left hallway, and her upper lip curled into a snarl as she took off in that direction.

"Who needs a voodoo priestess when you have technology?" Iris questioned to no one in particular, watching over Nick.

"A serum that they tried to use in one of the Indian wars," Iris said. "The Indians believed that all in their tribe had an...animal inside of them. Hawk, wolf, you name it. But one Indian went on a quest, perhaps I should say

spirtual quest...at any rate, he searched, and searched, until he discovered it wasn't true. Knowing this, he started working on a way to make animals."

"I was there," she hissed, her eyes shifting until they were slits, like a snake's eyes were. "And I devoured him whole."

An eerie silence lingered in the air until she continued. "Then a Chinese man had the same thought! Only he took this more to the heart. He experimented on his child, years. Until he found the right mixing." She smiled. "He was in the wilderness, under a full bright moon when his last test was worked into his son, only these results were different."

"The Chinese man's son started to have convulsions. His skin boiled and boiled, popped as if an army of bees had stung him. The boy's heart stopped for five minutes." Iris circled around the table that Nick was strapped on. "Then it beated, stronger than it ever had. The boy began to sweat, cry out, bones shifted in order for the new change."

She fixed him a twisted smile. "Of many things. Unlike I, born of snake's disease, the boy was given the gift of a shapeshifter. He could turn into anything he wanted. Another person, ant, animal."

Iris shook her head. "It drove the boy insane because he couldn't control the power. He killed himself. His father couldn't deal with what he had done, figured he disgraced his heritage, and took his life also." She petted Nick's

"WWI, they found his notes and put it into the works. By WWII they had it up and ready to test it on their prisoners. You never read about any of this in your textbooks because the Germans dare not share this with anyone. They made a league of...disfunctional vampires, werewolves, and a new breed of shapeshifters. The most dangerous of all creatures for their power of fooling the hunter of their scent, their race, everything and anything."

Twirling a piece of Nick's hair in her finger, she said, "Which, to answer your question...he will be our solider. Our new shapeshifter."

Jerek broke out in a smile. "Iris, you wonderful beaut, you are. You shall be rewarded greatly."

Kyle closed his eyes tightly as Murdock piloted the helicopter that bared a resemblance to an Army one. Keith shook his head sadly at Kyle. "You afraid of heights, man?"

Murdock licked his lips, as he sang in a Frank Sinatra voice, "Strangers in the night exchanging glances/Wond'ring in the night/ What were the chances we'd be sharing love/ Before the night was through..."

Kyle growled as Keith said, "My grandpa used to sing this song, Strangers in the Night by Sinatra." He spoke in the headset that Murdock told him to wear because of the noise, they couldn't use just their voices.

"Something in your eyes was so inviting/ Something in you smile was so exciting/Something in my heart/ Told me I must have you," Murdock continued singing as they reached their destination and landed on the roof.

Va'Shanna frowned. She had followed Pinky and the Brain, aka William and Dr. Jerek, to the lab, and took cover behind some equipment. She had lay Holly on the floor and told her to keep quiet while she overheard everything Iris had said. She frowned at the news and hoped she was just as overconfident as

Peeking out from her crouching spot, she looked around, eyeing all the creatures. If she could free the vampires and werewolves, she might have such a distraction to free Nick. Then she eyed the area above where Nick was at. There was a catwalk.

Looking back down at the injured werewolf, she lowered herself down more and whispered, "I have to go after my friend, which means leaving you alone. I hate to do it, but I got to. You'll be safe here."

"I have to," V insisted in the same whispering voice, but firm now. "Trust me. I know that's hard to do after I took out your kneecap...but you have to."

V looked at her, puzzled, and decided it was shock talking. Patting her hand, she looked out from their hiding spot, raising up slightly, and went airborne.

Iris and the other two were too busy and engrossed to notice her actions at first. She landed on top of a vampire that was chained to a wall and spoke with him mentally.

Okay, listen very carefully to me. It's Va'Shanna, you try to kill me after I free you, I'll feed you to snake woman. Understand?

Why are you helping me? he asked, confused. You kill your own kind, now you're helping us again?

Don't try to understand me. Not even my family can. You owe me a life debt, are you hearing me? But I'll make you a quick deal. You help me create a distraction so I can free my friend, we walk away, never to see each other again.

He didn't reply as she silently, yet quickly, freed him from the wall. She ripped the cross neck off around his neck and swore quietly at the instantenous burnt mark she received on her palm.

Good. Free some others, vampire or not. We'll need all the help we can get. V offered him her hand. Uneasily, he took it and stood up, complenty confused, but he did move to help to free the others.

After they had free at least five more, three of which were hungry and pissed off werewolves, they made noises and Jerek looked at Iris.

Iris looked at him as Nick started to breath fast and sweat. "Your subjects, perhaps? Check on them you banboon!"

As he went to move, a werewolf pounced on top of him, pounding claws into flesh. William vamped out and yelled, moving to aid his fallen gay lover. Out of the blue, another werewolf and vampire jumped William.

Iris snarled and rolled the table with Nick on it away from the area and almost made it to the door, only V was blocking it. Va'Shanna bared her fangs at Iris, eyes blood red and dark.

V kicked Iris hard, sending her flying backwards a few feet. Looking down at Nick, she ripped the straps off of him and worked on freeing his wrists. She didn't have to look back to see the fight, she heard it through the howls of the wolves and inhuman growls of vampires.

Nick's eyes flew open and he stared at V like a person on crack, his lips shivering. She smiled down at him, trying to reassure him.

"I know." She freed one hand before something lashed out into her back. V doubled over above Nick, feeling her back open up. Snarling, she kicked the door open and pushed the table out, hoping Nick wouldn't get hurt by a wall.

She turned and faced Iris, who was now very different than before. Her waist was now in snake form and she hovered above V a good seven feet. Iris in snake form made a werewolf at nine feet appear to be a hobbit.

Iris' fork tongue flickered out as her tail hit Va'Shanna, sending her flying into a wall, and breaking it. Moving from side to side like a python would, she took off after V, who was slowly recovering from being trapped under bricks. She rolled out of the way just in time before Iris reared her ugly face and tail in.

A shriek sounded from the snake that reminded V of a banshee's calling card. Stumbling a bit, she started to run, and yelled out to the other creatures, "GET THE HELL OUT! WE HAVE A VERY PISSED OFF SNAKE LADY CRAWLING AROUND!"

The majority of the werewolves, vampires, the one faerie, and other animalistic creatures took her advice, while the ones tearing up and eating Jerek and William's remains stayed.

Va'Shanna looked around for something to use. She had never, in her five-hundred-sixty-two years of exisiting, faced a snake, or anything else like Iris for a matter of fact.

Murdock picked the lock on the outside door that was located on top of the roof. After opening it, he looked at the two men. "And the great Murdock said...let there be an entrance!"

Keith and Kyle shook their heads at him, but slid past the threshold, Murdock watching the rear. They moved swiftly, and Kyle sniffed around before shifting into wolf form. Actual wolf form, on all fours. Murdock blinked,

As they neared the lab area, they heard something rolling down the hallway and swearing. Murdock moved past Keith and broke in a lite run, the wolf following behind him. He stopped slowly when he realized what it, well, rather who it was.

As the table came closer, Keith took a few steps forwards and grabbed the side of the table, stopping it. Nick appeared momentarily relieved.

Murdock looked at him oddly as Keith broke the binders free of his wrist and ankles with his inhuman strength. Nick sat up, rubbing his wrist, and nodding his thanks to Keith. He leapt off the table and brought up a finger, silencing Murdock when he started to speak.

Nick just stared at Keith for a few minutes, then shrugged. "Best chance we got, I guess." He started running back towards the lab. He was amazed at how the pain was dying away so fast

As Kyle ran, he slowly transformed back into human form, and stopped at the lab door. Nick was painfully reminded of his state of being weaponless, and he hated it, to put it mildly. Pushing open the door, he looked at them.

Murdock blinked at Nick as the four of them entered. Nick looked around for V, and saw her lying on the ground in an awkward angle, and not moving. As they got closer, Nick saw that her right shoulder was left on by only threds and fragments of skin and muscle. But before he could scoop her in his arms, the ground rumbled as if an earthquake was taking place. They held onto each other as Iris burst through the floor, screeching.

Kyle and Keith nodded to each other, grabbing rocks and debris off the ground and throwing it at Iris. Some hit her while some didn't.

"C-come and get me!" Kyle yelled and Keith shook his head as if saying 'can you get any worse lines?'. Once they attracted her attention, they started to run, the snake following after them.

A few minutes passed, Nick staring at Murdock in awkward silence. "I hope they'll be okay," Murdock said slowly.

"They will." Nick bent down and examined V's injuries. Whatever Iris did to her, it was bad. If he hadn't been in the Navy or the Gulf War, he doubt he would've been able to handle the site of V.

She was becoming more of a trouble magnet than he was. Damn. Murdock took off his jacket and passed it to Nick. "Here man."

"Thanks." He lifted the upper part of V and slid the jacket around her before scooping her up in his arms. They started to leave, but they heard a girl calling for help. They followed the voice until they reached Holly. Nick's

"Please," she sobbed, "Va'Shanna said she'd protect me and wouldn't let any harm come to me."

Murdock looked at Nick, who studied her carefully and thoughtfully. After a second or two, he said, "Murdock, can you get her?"

They ran together, but were slow down by the women they were carrying. When they reached the stairwell, a loud scream shook the fountain of the building, the walls, rattled everything and everyone in its quake.

As the building shook and trembled, they stayed still, not sure if they moved it would be for the best. Holly started crying, and Murdock tried to comfort her. Ten minutes passed and Nick made a decision.

"We're in the middle of the building," he said. "I can get to the basement...can you get to the roof and fire up the bird?"

Nick shook her head. "I don't think a hospital is ready to handle a werewolf. Take her back to Kyle's place, he'll know what to do with her."

Nick had driven a long ways to take Va'Shanna to a vampire doctor, namely one that she trusted for a long time. His name was Adam Vareny. The first time he heard of Dr. Vareny, all he could think of was that it was another Van Heilsing.

"I bet. Please, come inside." Vareny showed them in and closed the door after Nick. He carried V to the back room and placed her on the bed, carefully before he removed Murdock's jacket.

Varney came in a few minutes later, after putting on his doctor's smock and latex gloves. "Oh my," he began. "This is a mess."

"I would, but I won't." Adam grabbed his doctor's bag and sat himself down in a stool chair with wheels and moved up beside V's almost torn out arm. He turned on a special light and took out some tools to examine the tissue damage.

"Well, this might explain why the skin nor bone is reknitting itself as it's supposed to," Adam exclaimed, pulling free green slime.

Nick nodded as Adam worked on V. After twenty minutes, Adam started up an IV with blood and turned to Nick.

"There's something I need to take care of, and if she's healed so soon...you'll be short a patient, I think."

Varney frowned. "I'd hate to have that happen. She's one of the few vampires that I help that pays me good and doesn't threaten to turn me." He smiled briefly. "I guess I could do that, but only for a day," he warned.

He called and checked up on Murdock, who told him that Kyle and Keith made it out alive, and Iris didn't. Ah, too bad, Nick thought sarcastically. After that, he had gone home and changed before paying Ethan a visit.

Amazingly enough, this time around, there wasn't such a battle to see him like last time. He knocked on Ethan's door and entered after he was called in. Another man sat across from Ethan.

He wore a business suit, white dress shirt and tie. His eyes were deep midnight blue and he turned in the chair to face him. His hair was molten gold, and slicked back. "Hello," he smiled faintly.

Lacard stood up gracefully and strolled out of the office. Nick watched him leave and then looked back at Ethan.

"I'm fine, thanks." Nick walked closer to his desk. "Whatever you wanted from V, she ain't gonna give you. She was nearly killed at the labs."

"Ah, yes. As I am told," Ethan's musical voice filled the room. "I heard that she saved a lot of lives and that she's won some vampires' respect."

Ethan propped his feet up on the desk and leaned back in the chair. "My pet is out running an errand, so I suppose we can make a deal. I know that you are very loyal to Va'Shanna, and I cannot blame you. She has...a way with men of all types." Ethan smiled. "So I will make a truce with you, Mr. Vari."

Ethan stood up. "I know Ms. Iris injected you with something, and please give me the respect to not lie about it." He watched the human carefully. "I know what sort of things she deals in and I could cure you if you're willing to offer me part of your energy."

He sighed as Ethan stepped up closer to him and lifted his right hand to his chest. "This might hurt a little."

Va'Shanna was healed and back to her usual self. Her shoulder was healed and good as new. Nick was all right, though he was still a little on the pale side from two nights ago. Ethan had kept to his word and cured Nick so that he was still normal. Well, as normal as he'd ever be. He was still human.

He and V had a long talk and he suffered an hour long lecture from her about how she hated him doing dumb things like saving her life and yadda, yadda. But he managed and lived through it. Spending five plus years with a five hundred some odd vampire, and then marrying her, taught you a lot.

Kyle had treated them out to dinner, including Murdock and Holly, as a thank you for what they did. V order a rare steak and tried to eat it that way, but it really didn't work out as they hope. She settled back with a glass of red wine, leaning against Nick.

An unison of "cheers" followed after with clanking of glasses. Ah, another well perserved night.