Rook kicks at the dirt, knowing that she played things wrong with Vivienne. She rehearses her apology in her mind, preparing as she walks back through the cemetery and across the street. She steels herself before walking through the red door.

The front room is empty, but she can hear voices coming from the back room. “I done told you, she ain’t here.”

“Vivienne, it’s imperative that I speak with her,” Jeziah answers in monotone.

“That ain’t none of my concern. She was staying here, but I told her she wasn’t welcome anymore.” Vivienne makes a pfting sound before continuing, “You being here is exactly why. I don’t need no entanglements with the likes of you.” Vivienne calls out louder, “That’s why I told her she needed to go right now.”

“Why would you be concerned about vampire’s visiting your shop if she were staying here?” he asks, thinking he’s tripped her up.

“Because pretty young blood can have that effect. Now be off with ya and don’t come back,” Vivienne bleats.

Rook hears the footsteps coming her way. Shit. She bolts out the front door and runs to the cemetery, hiding behind one of the mausoleums.

Her heart beats so loud in her chest she’s sure the occupants of the graves may wake. Rook works to regulate her breathing. She’s learned that vampires have excellent hearing but usually can’t hear her. Terror runs through her as she hears footsteps coming closer. She makes a break for the tree line and seems to escape the immediate danger.

She races to get to the crowded streets and the bar. She needs to talk to Samuel. If Jeziah is bold enough to go up against Vivienne, who everyone knows isn’t to be trifled with, Rook clearly got his attention and not in a good way.

She darts through the alley and is about to reach Broad Street. Rook’s taken by surprise when she feels the cold hands wrap around her neck. Her body thuds as he slams her against the building, “Is that the first move they teach all of you in supernatural school?”

“Go ahead and joke, you might as well be laughing while you die.” Jeziah’s breath is foul with blood, it could drop a dragon.

Fight or flight takes over and Rook chooses to fight back. Kicking and flailing her arms is proving futile and her voice is strangled in Jeziah’s hold.

He leans down close to her ear, “You’ve pissed off the wrong vampire.” He loosens his grip and her feet touch the ground.

Her hands rub around her neck as air fills her lungs, “You?”

“No, not me. As you’ve pointed out previously, I’m harmless.” An evil smile dances across his features, hitting her with a wave of fear.

Jeziah inhales deeply, “I can smell that, you know.”

“Smell what?” she says, trying to still her trembling.

“Your fear. It’s delightful,” he says, roughly threading his fingers through her thick curls. “I’m going to enjoy this job.”

She eyes him with curiosity. He’s bluffing, no one can smell her. “What job? Someone’s paying you to do this?”

Jeziah shakes his head, “No, I’m doing it for free.” He gets closer, “But I want you to know I volunteered. I wanted to be the one to shut you up.”

For a split second she realizes she can scream. She gulps down a breath to let out a howl, but Jeziah sinks his fangs into her neck before she can make a noise.

A flash of pain spikes in her neck, “Oh, that was a mistake.”

Jeziah draws back, puzzling at her reaction. “You’re the one who’s made a mistake, I’ve been given permission to drink you dry.”

A derisive smirk tugs at the corners of her mouth.

“What are you smiling about?” he asks with an edge of irritation in his tone.

“That this will be over.” She tilts her head back, giving him full access to her to neck. “You need more.”

He studies her closely, giving her a moment to say more, then dips into her neck to finish drinking. He stops drinking, “It’s a shame I’m going to kill you, you’re delicious.”

“Yeah, I’m like fast food, quite tasty. Watch out, though, cholesterol kills.”

He squints his eyes, searching for some modicum of rationality left in her, “You’re delirious from blood loss.” He huffs a laugh before leaning down to drink again. “Or crazy.”

Rook’s heartbeat slows to a low thrumming, “No, I think the word you’re looking for is…deadly.”

“The word you’re looking for is dead.” Jeziah bends to her neck and latches on to take his final drink. His body stills completely, relaxing his hold.

She slides down the wall, working to keep her eyes open. She doesn’t want to miss this.

Jeziah’s face contorts with horror, “What’s happening?”

Rook’s head flops the side, her lethargy unable to steal her satisfaction, “I’m a Rook, asshole, it’s not just my name, it’s what I am. I hope you enjoyed your last supper.”

Jeziah’s fingertips turn grey and harden, “No, what’s happening?”

The effect moves up his arms until the color completely engulfs him. He stumbles to the street, freezes and turns to dust.

Rook chuckles, “Dumb ass,” right before she passes out.

“Hey,” Samuel’s voice is low and full of concern. “Rook? Come on back to me.”

She hears him and tries to respond unsuccessfully.

“She has to swallow this.” Vivienne hands Samuel a small vial with green liquid inside.

Samuel examines the vial, “What is it?”

“It’s a protein shake.” Sarcasm rolls off Vivienne’s tongue.

“Is it safe? I mean you know she’s not a supernatural.” His concern isn’t misplaced, he’s seen what can happen when a human takes a potion meant for a supernatural.

“Of course it’s safe.” Vivienne shoots him and angry glance, pushing him out of the way. She mutters under her breath, “Wolves.”

“It’s a fair question,” he defends.

Her voice lowers with seriousness, “Don’t ever question me.”

Samuel shrinks back, feeling the burn of her anger. He holds his hands up in surrender, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to question you, I’m just worried about her.”

Vivienne scrutinizes his motives, “Why are you so worried?”

“Because she’s a sweet kid, I don’t want anything to happen to her.” The responsibility of putting her in harm’s way weighs heavy on his conscience.

“If you really cared, you’da sent her packing when she got here.” Vivienne turns her attention back to Rook, “She got no business snoopin’ on the vamps.”

“She wasn’t supposed to get that close, her job was to tell us when the vamp left the bar. I told her specifically not to follow them.”

“And you thought she’d listen?” Vivienne lets out an outrageous laugh, “Fido, you don’t know the first thing about this girl…” Her eyes scan him up and down, “You may be pretty, but not the brightest bulb in the bunch.”

“We were very specific.” He’s having a hard time defending himself.

“And now look at her,” Vivienne motions to Rook’s motionless body. “I hope you’re proud of yourself.”

“I don’t want anyone to get hurt. She knew what she was getting into.” Samuel’s voice trails off, unable to defend his own actions. “She was willing to sacrifice herself to stop blood slave trade.”

Vivienne watches as the last drop of the potion leaves the lip of the vial. She spins around, pushing past Samuel with her hands held up. “La, la, la, I don’t need to hear any of what you’re talkin’ about. The less I know the better.”

Samuel follows behind her, “You’ve known for a long time and have done nothing.”

“What you want me to do?” she asks in earnest. “You want me going out there and following the vamps around? You want me to call you every time a supernatural does something outside The Directive’s rules?” Vivienne shakes her head, “That’s how you get dead ‘round these parts.”

“We were trying to protect her…” Samuel hangs his head, “But we failed.”

“I’d say you did,” Vivienne scolds, hurrying back to Rook.

Rook mumbles something and balls the threadbare comforter in her fists.

“Stay easy, baby girl. You’re gonna feel a little weak and queasy.” Vivienne sits on the side of the bed.

Rook keeps her eyes squeezed shut. “A little?” She lurches forward, about to throw up.

“No, child, you hold it in,” Vivienne warns.

Worry furrows Samuel’s brow, he takes two steps closer to the bed, “Are you okay?”

Rook holds her hand to her mouth, holding off the nausea. She closes her eyes and takes in a deep breath, determined to overcome the feeling. She nods before wrapping both hands around her arms protectively. “I’m okay.”

Vivienne puts her hand on Rook’s back, “Atta girl, you’d best not scare us like that again.”

“It’s not going to happen again.” Samuel’s tone is absolute.

“What’s that supposed to mean? You’re finally going to bust those vamps?” She purses her lips with the question.

“We’re going to protect you.” Samuel cocks his head to the side, “My main concern is keeping you safe from Augustus.”

“I can take care of myself,” Rook fires off, then thinks better of her words. “I mean, thank you very much for taking care of me, but I would’ve been fine.”

“What exactly happened?” Samuel has been unable to piece together the events. “I got the tip that Jeziah was going to make a move. I got there as fast as I could, in time to watch Jeziah turn into a pile of dust.”

“You don’t know what she is?” Vivienne delights at knowing more than Samuel.

“I know she has nearly no scent at all, but other than that she’s just a kid from a small town with a big attitude.” Samuel smiles.

“I don’t have an attitude.” Rook scowls in defense.

“She is a rook.” Vivienne puts her hand on Rook’s forehead, checking for a fever.

“She is Rook.” Samuel’s confused.

“No, she is a rook. If a vamp drinks from her, she takes their life force and they die.” Vivienne turns back to Rook. “She’s toxic to them.”

“That’s very interesting.” The gears inside Samuel’s head are spinning, forming ideas.

“Whatever it is you’re thinking, forget it. We need to get her out of town.” Vivienne pins him with an uncompromising stare.

“Why? She’s immune to vampires.” The excitement in his tone is short-lived.

“She’s not immune.” Vivienne gets choked up, “They can still kill her. Just because they can’t drink from her doesn’t take her out of harm’s way.”

“She’s right here, and she hates it when people talk about her like she’s not in the room.” Rook swings her legs over the side the bed to stand. “I’m not leaving town.”

“Oh yes, you are,” Vivienne insists as though the decision is final.

“I’m a grown woman and I can make my own decisions. I have no intention of leaving town until we bust Augustus for running blood slaves.” Rook stands on unsteady feet. To prove a point, she remains standing for as long as her body will allow. With a controlled fall, she lands on the bed, “But not right now, maybe in the morning.”

Samuel’s glance shifts between the two women. He kneels in front of Rook and takes her hands in his, “I’m sorry, but you’re not doing this anymore.” He looks down at their hands, “I can’t protect you and I never should’ve brought you into this.”

“What are you saying?” Rooks eyes wrinkle, she’s on the edge of anger.

“I’m saying your freelance career is over.” He waits for her to blow up.

Rook doesn’t react, speak or move.

Samuel wonders if she heard him, or if she’s gone into some sort of trance. He shares a glance with Vivienne. “Do you understand?”

Rook nods and answers with a short, “Yup.”

He eyes her suspiciously, “So you’re okay with this?”

“I don’t really have much of a choice.” She shrugs, getting up from the bed.

“Just like that?” Samuel gauges her reaction.

Rook looks around the room, “Where’s my backpack?”

Vivienne nods toward the front room, “It’s in there.”

Rook’s movements are stiff, afraid to speak and let out a deluge of angry tears. She hates how she cries when she’s pissed off. Everyone mistakes it for weakness. “Thank you for everything, Vivienne.” She throws her arms around her to say goodbye.

“You don’t have to leave tonight,” Vivienne offers. “You can stay for a few days until you figure out a plan.”

Rook turns to Vivienne with a sly look, “I always have a plan.”

“I want you to understand this is only to protect you. I can’t have humans getting hurt.” Samuel follows her to the front of the shop.

“It’s a little late for that,” Rook says through gritted teeth. “I’ll pick up final payment from Julio tomorrow and I’ll be gone.”

“Where will you go?” Vivienne asks.

“Away.” Rook closes the door softly on the way out.

Vivienne and Samuel look at each other stunned in silence. Samuel shakes his head, “That was too easy.”

“Yes, it was.” Vivienne nods, still stunned by Rook’s reaction. “She’s not leaving, is she?”

Samuel huffs a knowing laugh, “She is.”

“Really?” she asks, looking at him for more clarification. “How do you know?”

“Because she’s heading for Biloxi,” he says with a nervous smile.