Questions

 I parked outside the station. I turned to find the man still sleeping. He'd refused an ambulance, insisting he was fine. I knew it had to have been a lie; his rectangle shaped face was caved in due to starvation. His alabaster casing was a deathly gray. His long, white hair fell to his hips. It was so brittle that the wind could take much of it away. His plump lips were a dull shade of blue. His eye sockets were dark and displayed little black veins that warned of illness but I knew better.

 He wasn't with the others, not necessarily, but he didn't have a pulse. He was pale and cold. Just like the others. He was dead. It was the most important information I had but I didn't know what to do with it. I couldn't tell anyone. Not if I wanted to keep my job.

 Lazily he opened his eyes but I didn't bother turning away. His gaze was as deep and intense as the man's from before had been but it wasn't invasive. Instead he looked at me like he'd been dehydrated and taunted with the thought of water for days and now he was finally standing before a babbling brook. His eyes, a bright red, sunk into me. I couldn't look away from him. I reached out for those red tendrils that must have been hypnotizing me but I felt nothing. I could see a purple mist in my mind's eye. As I stared at him I felt my lips tingle. My eyelids lowered at their own volition. A comforting cold spread through my body. The same feeling I'd get snuggling before a fire, wrapped in blankets, as a persistent winter wind brushed past me.

 "Should we go inside?"

 I closed my eyes and shook the daze from my mind, "Sorry. Yes."

 I got out and walked around the car to open the door for him. I flattened my hand over his back. I felt tingles run up my arm. He wore a black tank and torn pants. I could feel the grooves of his muscles. As we made our way into the station I found myself staring at him. I couldn't look away. His face seemed familiar somehow but I couldn't place it. I knew for a fact that I'd known him. I tried to stop staring but that caused me to catch myself glancing at him, which wasn't better.

 He held the door open for me and I stepped inside. We walked in silence into the bullpen where I saw Tim. He stood from his chair and followed me to the interview room. I guided the man to sit at the table.

 "Do you need a drink? Some food?"

 Those almond shaped eyes were drowned in the shadows his intense brows cast over his beautiful face. He made a knowing smirk. I didn't understand it, but at the same time I did. My confusion was beginning to exhaust me.

 I crossed my legs. I rested my elbows against the table and leaned forward, my expression neutral and my eyes gentle. The man, however, wore an unrestrained smile. His face glowed.

 "My name is detective Hazelwood. Do you remember your name?"

 He laughed to himself, but not at my expense, "Atrox Harvester."

 I knew that name. I'd have to look him up later, "Can you tell me what happened?"

 He looked to Tim, then to me, "Only you."

 I paused. My brows pulled together. I realized how I'd felt safe with him. He was one of those... things. They couldn't manipulate me but he clearly wasn't the same as them. I still wore the dagger around my neck. Would it kill him? Seeing my hesitation Atrox turned his attention to Tim. I held my breath as I watched his pupils dilate. I then watched as Tim left the room without a word.

 He started a fire within my chest. The inferno grew when I read regret on his face at the sight of my rage.

 I looked into Atrox's eyes and he returned my stare but without the silent challenge mine held, "What are you?"

 He leaned forward, crossing his arms over the table, "You must drop this case."

 "They kidnapped you. Why do you want their safety?"

 "I wish nothing but tragedy to befall them," He hissed, his jagged teeth gleaming in the light, "I want to protect you."

 "I will not drop this case. Tell me what is going on and I can help you."

 He reached forward and held my hand. I tried to pull away but he tightened his grip, not enough to hurt me, however. He stared into my eyes, again his pupils dilating. I didn't attempt to look away. I felt him slither into my mind and worked to cut him off only to be met with failure. It was then I gasped. That was the last thing I did of my own volition.

 We stood together and he walked to me. My hand rested between his shoulder blades again and we started out of the room, passed the bullpen, and outside. The sky was colored with streaks of pink that bled through the puffy clouds. The world surrounding me was neon. Even the tones that had been muted before were glowing before my eyes. My body felt warm and light. A gentle tingling sensation moved up and down my body.

 I slid into my car and watched as Atrox sat in the backseat. Faintly I recognized that he wasn't sitting beside me. I turned the car on and pulled out of the parking space and onto the road. The ride was a blur. Eventually I was home and Atrox was walking me inside. He guided me to sit down on the couch before crouching and placing his palm against my cheek. His cold touch led my eyelids to flutter shut. I felt him release me. Immediately my body felt even more helpless as it slouched against the couch. He held my cheek so my head wouldn't lull back painfully.

 "The two of us live in very separate worlds. You are a strong, ethereal, perfect woman. I am the same breed of monster as them and when I saw you had been taken I attacked them. I was overpowered. A human cannot be expected to face them. You need to leave this to me. I cannot lose you."

 I tried to speak but I couldn't so much as open my mouth. My eyelids were heavy and my limbs had turned to stone.

 "Sleep, now," He said before leaning in to kiss my cheek. He then bent and I felt the kiss of his fangs lightly against my throat before they were plunged into my neck.

 Warmth spread through me. A comforting groan escaped from between my lips. He remained deep within my veins as he maneuvered me to lay down. When he pulled away I was still floating on a cloud. I felt him ease off my jacket and shoes, then my socks. He tossed a blanket over me before securing a pillow under my head. Before he left he pushed my hair behind my ear and knelt to brush his lips against my cheek. The sound of the door closing broke my heart.

 I was carried off to another world gently and in the blink of an eye I was in an abandoned building. The walls stood tall and the roof had been lacerated with time. The windows were smashed in. I held my dagger to my chest, the blade shining in the morning light. It was the same knife I'd stolen. The hand that held it was wrinkled. I could see each vein through my translucent skin. Burning within me was determination as I marched forward toward the nonhuman I'd come to slay.

 I knew this beautiful sunrise would be my last. Perhaps it was fate that painted the clouds with blood, that casted heavenly light onto me to call me home. With every step I could feel the slashes and bruises that weighed me down. I could taste blood. If I turned I might even see the reaper. Still, I had a purpose. My body could expire when that purpose had been fulfilled.

 I leapt into the air, bringing the blade down to sink into the shoulder of the male before me. He punched me in the stomach, sending me flying against the wall. With a feral growl I fell to the floor. I heard Atrox call my name as the male rushed me again. I dodged his attack, spinning behind him and driving the blade into his shoulder. He turned to punch me again and I crouched, stabbing him again in the stomach. A dark blur rushed passed me and the male was sent flying. I approached Atrox who now was holding the male's arms behind his back. I fell to my knees. I raised the dagger over my head and with a yell I plunged it into his chest. The sound of slicing tissue announced his death. Atrox tossed him aside before he pulled me to his chest.

 "You are bleeding," He said, trying to ease me to my feet.

 I resisted him. My hand cupping his shoulder I guided him to sit with me, to hold me.

 "My time is up."

 "No. Come on."

 "I can feel it, my love. I can feel this body tiring."

 "I cannot lose you."

 "No," I assured him, "My dear, you can't."