Checking In

"Her blood is amazing," Conroy said his face in a microscope. "It's dividing at a phenomenal rate. She didn't even need a transfusion." He said, sliding over and looking at some papers.

"Happy to impress you," Kendra said, opening her eyes. She'd had a headache earlier but it was gone.

"What the hell were you doing? Do you know how lucky you are to be alive?" Riley snapped. Now he was worried about her well-being?

"No, please tell me," Kendra said, looking at Riley and his gaze darkened.

"With you down for the past day and a half, our plans on catching and or persuading hostiles have been slow going." Riley reprimanded. Was he serious? He needed to decide if she was part of this team and worth something or not.

"Sorry, I wasn't planning on becoming a snack." But she could still feel his mouth there and she shivered at the thought of it. Actually enjoyed the thought of it because while he'd drained it her, it had felt most excellent. So fuck them, she didn't owe them shit. Riley had shot her, but she was still hanging around him.

"We have several groups stationed here. One was hit last night, they were all killed." She looked at him.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I'm not sure what I could have done even if I was functional." She said moving to sit and swinging her legs off the bed. She felt fine, felt good actually, refreshed in a way.

"Wait, we have a few more tests."

"Why bother, I'm fine and you know it. I wasn't injected with his venom or I'm sure I'd still be out cold and in severe pain." She didn't feel like sitting here.

"More people have gone missing or turned up dead in the cities surrounding this area, and in countries close by. They are moving Kendra, we have to stop them. While you were out we found a nest and moved to kill them. Only got four, though there were seven or so down there.

"Ever think that was why they moved to kill the one group?" She asked cracking her neck.

"Does it matter? You have an hour to be ready and then you will be going out and telling us who is human and who isn't in this city." She looked at him.

"That so?"

"Yes. One hour." With that, he left the room as Derrick was coming in. He looked a bit pale and tired, he was relieved to see her awake and moved to her side.

"I'm glad to see that you are awake."

"Ouch." She said glaring at Conroy who stuck her with a needle and drew blood. He didn't say anything. Just moved back to the table and stuck his face in the microscope.

"I'm sorry about what I said before, or what it sounded like. I don't think of you as a thing." Derrick said. "I feel responsible for what happened, he could have killed you."

"I'm fine and right here I don't feel like talking about this." She said giving a gesture with her hand to Conroy who was looking in the scope muttering and writing things.

"I just want you to know I'm sorry. I want you to be able to trust me, not push me away like you've been doing with the others." She reached up and touched her neck and rubbed the exact spot where his mouth had been.

"It's okay."

"No, it's not." He said with a sigh. "There isn't a mark there anymore, does it bother you?"

"No, I was just thinking." She said standing. It didn't hurt at all. It kind of throbbed in a good way, though she was sure that was in her mind. "I need to go change and get ready to go out with Riley." She said and he just gave a nod. She moved and went up to her room, closing the door.

Kendra moved across it to her dresser and opened the drawers trying to find something to wear. It was getting colder. She needed some of the warmer things, she was pulling stuff out and stood up looking at the items as she did so. Her mind was a bit lost on why she was doing this and on this Xerxes. She didn't expect the sudden voice in the room.

"You know, this place isn't very secure. Considering the fact that they are after supernatural beings. You'd think they would be a bit more over the top." She jumped and let out a surprised sound. She reached grabbed a blade that was on her dresser and pointed it toward her intruder.

"What the fuck are you doing in here!" She snapped in an overly loud whisper. Holy shit, had he been here the whole time? Seriously no one noticed?

"First I was testing just how easy it was to get in. Second to check on you. You're up and moving around already. Looks like I didn't do as much damage as I thought." Xerxes said looking around her room, she still held the blade. Why hadn't she felt him when she came into her room? Probably because she wasn't paying attention. Second, what did he care if she was okay? She glanced at the window, wow the humans were not prepared for something like him, were they?

"What do you want? Actually, I don't care, get out of here before I'll shout for them to come up here." She warned trying to not let her gaze move over him.

"You won't do that, I'd end up killing a bunch of them, and then you'd be angry and that isn't conducive." Xerxes looked at her, she looked fine. Completely healthy and walking around. That was a first, even inhuman beings were down and out for a few days after he drained them the way that he drained her.

"Conducive, I'm not helping you if that's what you think or want," Kendra said. Though she didn't feel as much conviction as before.

"But you already are, you've let me in without actually trying anything to stop me. If you really wanted me out of here you would have done something by now. I think you already know the side you should be on." He glanced at the blade. "That won't kill me, just piss me off."

She lowered it but still held it. She figured that just standing in this room he was gathering all sorts of information about the place. Like who was here and who wasn't, how many they had.

"What do you want?"

"Obviously your help, seeing you were all gung ho about these humans. You know a lot and I want them gone. So tell me what will get them out of the way, or I'll have to do something a bit more dramatic." He had to come in here to tell her that? She had a feeling he was testing her while collecting information. Sadly she thought deep down that she was passing his test because she hadn't called for anyone. Secretly she was starting to think she should have just taken his hand when he'd offered it.

"Like I want to help you with how you attacked me," Kendra said with a slight tone. They were speaking softly. Human ears wouldn't pick it up, but there were Inhumans here too.

"I didn't attack you, you came on to me first," Xerxes stated feeling a smile inward. He felt Zani's humor mentally at his tease to her. Though his face was rather stoic.

"I didn't come on to you." She said indignantly. She looked him over, he was wearing some jeans and a black shirt that was open in the front\. She could see a black tattoo with a tint of purple on it. She didn't remember that being there before. It was in the shape of a dragon or so it looked that way. Her gaze also noted his muscle and how sculpted he was. Feminine hormones definitely took note. She kicked herself mentally, that was what got her in trouble the last time.

"I beg to differ." He said moving toward the door and opening it, she moved to stop him. He glanced out into the hallway.

"This place is very burnable," Xerxes warned. He'd just dropped down on the roof. Seriously, they had no magical guards or anything. How where they still standing? Then again most didn't attack from the air.

"I wasn't coming on to you, and please don't set it on fire. It wouldn't be very conducive as you put it. Even if you got rid of this place, more would just take their place." He smiled at her, and she felt a rush through her body. That flash of white teeth was damn sexy, just what was he doing here really? And why was her mind jumping to certain things? He did something to her, didn't he? Damn it, this draw was worse. She was reacting now.

"You're right, any woman coming up against a man and putting her hands all over him… definitely not coming on to him. Not that I was complaining." Was he just screwing with her? He was such a strange creature.

"Either way I came to see if you were willing to help me or not. We were interrupted." He continued.

Kendra was glaring at him, he kind of found it amusing. Zani did as well but he remained silent where he was. Her gaze kept straying to what looked like a tattoo on him. He wondered if she knew. Maybe, maybe not. She had a bit of a blush on her cheeks, but he didn't know if it was anger or embarrassment.

"If I help you it will more than likely get them killed. They won't leave peacefully."

"Then think of it this way, you'll be helping to get less of them killed." She stared at him for a moment thinking. He really didn't want to be rid of her, it was the humans he had a problem with. She should help her kind, help those that weren't human, clearly, she wasn't. That and she was kind of refreshing. When you went so long in a kind of haze, a reaction could be so welcome. Especially a positive one.

"Just what is it that you want to know?" A smile spread across his face. He felt satisfied with her answer.

"First off, the demon that they have. He is no low class, and you know that he is no friend to any species. Only for themselves." Xerxes did want information. Not to just see her, he had to admit that was part of the reason they were here. He could not help it.

"They," she cleared her throat. "are under the impression that he can get to you to kill you." She said because she didn't think he should die. He was the last of his kind, something that the world would never see again. Her mind asked her just who had the right to decide who lived and who died. But wasn't that what she was doing either way? Though he had yet to talk to her like a thing or item. Just a person who was confused as to where they should really stand. And maybe she was, though talking to him it seemed she might be changing her mind.

"Really?" He seemed intrigued by this, but clearly not concerned.

"Yes, it happened in the past." He was silent for a moment.

"Yes, I know of this. Methusa, her mate was long dead and she wished to join him. Her death was not a pleasant one and she went against the wishes of Telusine, her dragon who had…" He stopped talking suddenly and looked at her, she just stared at him. He needed to remember his susceptibility to her and saying too much.

"Who had what?"

"Nothing." He said, and his look said that he was going to say no more about it. Regretting having started talking in the first place.

"Okay." He glanced toward the door.

"You're humans, they will use you to tell who is human and who isn't?"

"Yes."

"Are you going to tell them?" He asked her and she hadn't really thought not to. Her silence seemed to say something to him. Kendra thought of all the things that had happened over the years to her and others. Human and non. She was tired, and she thought of the phoenix, just how much had they damaged?

"I can't not tell them things." He looked toward the door, and she too heard them talking down the hall waiting for her.

"Then why don't you tell them those who don't have young with them?" He said and she thought that was very fair. Ah, she was starting to turn, wasn't she? The seeds of doubt in her mind, and she agreed with him. She was becoming a plant with the humans, wasn't she?

"Alright. That I can do easily."

"That's all I need for now." He said looking at her. Kendra was a bit shocked at how quick he was to step forward and take a handful of hair. He pulled her closer to him. She was caught by surprise and half stumbled forward, his face was very close to hers and she met his green gaze for a moment. He just turned his head slightly, taking a slow measured breath. He studied her and her heart beat faster in excitement rather than fear. Though he let go of her a moment later. Xerxes stepped back and just looked her over.

"You smell really good and taste better." She felt a feminine reaction to how close he'd been a moment ago, and she wished he'd moved closer again. God how she wanted to feel him against her for no reason in particular. Just that she would enjoy it, instead of feeling odd at his comment it thrilled her. Something was wrong with her, but whatever she didn't care at the moment. That and he was someone that took what he wanted. If she was reading the signs right she was not the only one feeling this way apparently. That or he was screwing with her and that would make her mad.

"You are far too grabby for my taste." She said still holding her clothes and he just half smiled this time.

"I find you quite attractive Kendra." He said the last part of her name with a bit more emphasis than needed, though she liked hearing him say it. Kendra felt a thrill hearing that. Didn't sound like a lie and maybe she thought the same of him. Oh they were a strange combination, weren't they?

"Your humans are growing restless waiting for you." He backed up to the window. It was still fairly light outside but getting darker.

She moved over to it watching him. He went out and stood on the very thin edge of the roof there completely at ease, despite the three-story drop. There wasn't even anyone watching on this side of the building at the moment. She gripped the window as if to close it.

"You know what we are, care to share what it is you are?" He asked watching her as she was close.

"Haven't figured it out?" A bit of light came to her eyes.

"Clearly, I can't ever remember running across one like you. You are young, but I get the feeling your mind is not, your soul is older. You don't have talents like others, but still heal phenomenally fast, I'm at a loss." She gave him a bit of a smile.

"I don't have recognizable DNA. So actually I'm really nothing. I was found by the ocean as a baby you know that?" She said to him rhetorically. "From what I've been told, once I reach the end of my human years I will die and be reborn. I think it's more fun to make you guess what I am. Not like you have anything else to do with your very long life. And I have already given you help today." With that, she shut the window and moved away from it.

He stared in for a second and then took off jumping to the ground before darting into the woods. Xerxes was puzzling over what she had just said. He was trying to think of what it was that fit what she described. She'd given him enough, he found it interesting and odd that she didn't just tell him straight out.

Zani just stayed on his body thinking as well. Like she said they didn't have much else to do, but plan how best to fuck over the humans. Though she did give them plenty to work with, Xerxes always did enjoy a good puzzle to figure out.