The group gathered in Maria's office. Things had started to be put into place following Declan's sound advice. Maria sat in her chair as Kelvin sat on the arm of the couch next to Tanya and Gabriel. Dustin leaned against the wall with his foot and arms crossed as Maria began to speak.

"Is Kat okay?" Maria asked Kelvin. Kelvin replied nodding his head and answered without a word.

"Right," Maria started to say. "Dustin and I have informed the fourth floor about Declan's plan. They’ve already left, and we have humans coming to view the apartments over the next couple of days. We’ll start on the third floor tomorrow and work our way down. So far, no one has mentioned a problem, and they left as soon as they could. We told them to forget about any notice period at work, and to go during the day, so nothing appears suspicious."

"What about us?" Tanya asked.

"We, unfortunately, are going to be the last to leave, although it is going to be days rather than weeks."

Kelvin looked at Gabriel. "What about your shaman?"

"Since things have changed, we are ready to go, and I’m glad you brought this up. We think we should all travel together, that’s if everyone agrees?" he asked, looking around the office to check reactions.

Dustin spoke his opinion from the wall. "I don't have a problem with it, and we have transportation. The van is rock-solid and won't let us down."

"Same here," Maria replied. "Since the camp was hit, I don't have anywhere special to go."

Kelvin looked at everyone in the office one by one. "You're all doing this to protect me, aren’t you?" he asked, feeling grateful that he would not be left to his own devices.

"Of course we are," Dustin said. "You're one of us now, so what do you expect?"

"I'm honored."

Dustin giggled. "Don't be too thankful, we do have ourselves to consider. If we let you fall into their hands, we could all be cactus."

Everyone agreed, they’d make sure they were ready to move as soon as the last apartment found itself let out to a human. Maria had already interviewed for the position of manager. They seemed to be set.

"Now, has anyone seen anything suspicious recently?" she asked. "We need to watch everyone."

Dustin shook his head. He’d already informed Maria of the person who had stood watching them in the coffee shop. Each day they’d visited the coffee shop, someone observed from a different area. They were ready to use Kelvin as bait, and see if they could catch a vlad, or find out who was in control of them.

Gabriel explained that the biker girls had been targeted, but as soon as the bearded bikers sprang from the shadows, the assailants had scampered in the opposite direction.

"When are we going to lure them out?" Maria asked.

"We thought tomorrow evening, that way it isn’t too close to us leaving," Kelvin remarked as he fidgeted with the arm of the couch.

"You two are okay without us?" Gabriel asked, but no one replied. "We are off to the forest for—” Maria looked at Gabriel and smiled. “For the afternoon, so we can have one last hunt before we move away from the Creek."

"We are fine. Kelvin’s going to leave the coffee shop and lead anyone to the street at the back. I will be sat there, waiting at the end, and Maria is going to follow behind, and then hopefully between the three of us they’ll have nowhere to run." Dustin watched and waited for a reply. None came.

"There’s one thing that we haven’t considered," Maria added, looking at Kelvin. "What's going to happen to Kat?"

"She is up and walking. Her shoulder still aches, but she can walk around," he replied as Maria noticed someone outside the frosted window. She tilted her head toward the glass. Kelvin held his nose in the air, and his wolf sense noticed the scent immediately.

"Talk of the devil," he replied. He stood and walked to the office door. Kat looked startled as he poked his head from inside the office.

Maria held her finger to her lips. Gabriel, Tanya, and Dustin nodded as if to say they wouldn't mention anything about their plan. Kat walked into the office and sat next to Tanya. She looked a little nervous because she was being stared at by Dustin and Maria.

"What's your plan?" Maria asked.

Kat shrugged her shoulders. "I have my apartment to go to, and then return to work, I suppose."

"Any idea when that will be?" Maria quizzed, not wanting to sound too forceful.

"Well, I can move pretty good now, so I reckon in a couple of days should be okay. I emailed my boss yesterday and told him of my plan."

"Well, it’s better to be prepared rather than trying to cram everything in at the last moment," Maria replied. She glanced at the whiteboard to make sure it faced away from any prying eyes. It did.

"What were you lot talking about?" Kat asked.

"Nothing much," Kelvin replied. "It was only how well the Towers have been going even though Declan is not here."

"Declan—Declan. I’ve heard that name before," Kat remarked.

"He is the building owner," Maria replied. "He’s gone traveling.”

Gabriel looked at Maria. "I knew it. All these years and he’d never tell me if he owned the place. No wonder he didn't mind the piss-poor salary."

Maria smiled at Gabriel. "You know, he’s not one to broadcast everything."

"I can see why he came back and humiliated me then." Gabriel laughed, though he held no grudges. Not now. Declan stepped up and showed what a true friend was like.

"I take it all you’re all part of this Declan's pack?" Kat asked.

"What gave you that idea?" Maria asked, trying to push her off the scent.

"I put two and two together."

Maria huffed. "Yeah! And you came up with five."

* * *

Gabriel and Tanya walked to the rear yard as Dustin worked on the van. He cleared all the rubbish from the back with the assistance of Kelvin, and they made it suitable for a load of gear and somewhere to sit. He pulled his head from under the hood and wiped the dipstick on an old rag.

"Last minute preparations?" Gabriel asked as he swung his leg over the seat of the bike.

"You know, check the oil, water, and all that stuff. And things that could catch you out," he replied. "What are you doing with the bike?"

"I’ll drop it back at the bar.” He looked up and saw Kat staring into the yard from the window. “And say my farewell. The bikers know the score about the guy I need to see, so they’re expecting to see the back of me."

"I bet Jemma won't be," Tanya remarked, giggling as she pulled her helmet over her swept-back hair.

"Funny ha-ha," Gabriel replied.

"Off for your last hunt then?" Dustin asked. “Make sure to be careful, we don't know who’s around up there prowling around."

"I think you’ll have your hands full here, I don't think any harm will come to us," he replied. "Remember, I'm very human at the moment, so I'm no use to anyone."

Dustin pushed the rod back into the engine and closed the hood. He glanced up and saw that Kat had now moved away from the glass. "I better get Kelvin ready, it's nearly time for us to make a move."

"Good luck with your vlad hunting," Gabriel said as he stomped on the kick-start. His fingers gripped the throttle. He twisted it and the yard filled with the deafening roar from the engine.

Dustin yelled over the loud noise. He said, "I'LL GET THE GATE."

Gabriel rolled the bike back and forth until he faced toward the gate. Dustin opened the padlock and pulled on the large bolt that buried itself into the huge concrete post. The gate opened. Gabriel relaxed his grip on the clutch. He edged forward, slowly.

"We'll see you later,” he said as he inched his way into the rear alley. Dustin nodded and watched them shoot down the alley toward the main road. Tanya raised her arm and waved. Dustin returned the gesture before he closed the gate. Next, he replaced the bolt and pushed it back into the deep hole of the concrete.

He looked up and saw Kelvin at the window tapping his wrist to signal the time. Dustin nodded and rolled up his tool roll and pushed it under the passenger seat. His fingers touched the cold steel of his revolver. Just in case, that was his security. He bolted the rear door as he entered the back kitchen and washed the oil from his hands. He looked at himself in the old faded mirror that sat on the window ledge. Dustin thought about what would happen. If they got spotted, there was no way they’d be able to do the same thing again. That thought fell from his mind as he looked at the dark patches under his eyes.

Wow, I need to hunt; and hunt soon. It's really taking its toll, eating human food all the time.

He reached for the red and white checkered hand cloth and wiped his hands. He could hear Kelvin and Maria laughing in the lobby. "Come on old man, shift your ass, will you?" Kelvin yelled.

"Quiet, you know he’s a little temperamental," Maria replied as she pushed her arm against Kelvin.

"You don't think I listen to his crap, do you?"

Maria giggled as they walked toward the door of the Towers. "Wait up," Kelvin said. "I never got a chance to tell you both, yesterday. Kat used my laptop and then deleted the search history."

"We’d better keep our eyes on her," Maria said as Dustin held the door open.

They walked into the early evening sun. Dustin said they needed to split up. He had the furthest to go, so he would make his way to the back of the town. Kelvin was set to pay a visit to the coffee shop and linger inside for a while. He would leave again, once the sun had started to fall and the street lights had started to light up. Maria hung back to remain in the shadows, and to watch for anyone who started to watch the coffee shop. She tapped her pocket to signal she had Dustin's binoculars and could watch from a distance.

They split up.

* * *

Dustin walked along the side of the busiest road in the Creek. Traffic had now built up, and car headlights made their way in his direction. He was close to the old, dilapidated, industrial park when he slowed his walk and found a place he could sit and watch the end of the street. If Kelvin came running, there was easy access to pounce on whoever was giving chase.

He pulled his phone from his pocket and texted Maria.

Dustin: In position.

Maria: One block out down the side of the laundry. It smells of fabric conditioner.

Dustin: It will mask your scent.

Kelvin: One latte with cinnamon (smiley face).

Dustin to Kelvin: Drink normal speed and surf the net or something.

Kelvin: (emoticon flipping the finger) okay, Daddy-o!

Dustin: Smack (smiley face).

Maria to Dustin: Let the show begin. I’ve now spotted someone.

Maria to Kelvin: Keep your eyes open, they are there.

Kelvin sat at one of the net computers. His eyes twinkled in the glare of the screen as his gaze peered over the top of the screen, through the window and toward the top of the street. He sipped his latte as he browsed for info on New Orleans. He made good use of his time, and no one would know he searched for any family there. His mom had said they had relatives, although, if they were alive, they wouldn’t recognize him if he managed to find them.

He glanced at the time. He sat in the coffee shop for almost forty-five minutes. That was enough to make his visit seem natural. His cup was now empty, and he stood and ordered one to go. Hot and black, no sugar or cream.

Kelvin hated black coffee, still, he knew it could be a good weapon. No one wanted scalding hot coffee in their face. "Do you have an insulated cup for that?" he asked the barista.

She replied with a smile and poured it into a polystyrene cup. The cap clicked as she pushed it over the lip. Kelvin stood in the doorway of the coffee shop. He glanced up at the sky. He looked left toward the top of the street. He turned right.

He pulled his phone from his pocket and texted Dustin.

Kelvin: On the move. ETA is five minutes.

Maria texted Kelvin.

Maria: I got your back. Suspect following. Stay in the light.

Dustin peered over the dumpster. He saw it was darker than anticipated from where he was hidden.

Fuck. This isn't the best position.

He checked up and down the street. He walked along the wall and hugged the shadows. He glanced at his watch. Kelvin should be rounding the corner in a minute or two. He stepped into a shadow-covered doorway as the darkness enveloped him from sight.

Dustin to Maria: Changed position.

Maria never answered. She walked briskly to catch up with the person who followed Kelvin. She started to jog as Kelvin rounded a corner and vanished out of sight. The thing following, never looked back. It disappeared around the back of the buildings in its chase of Kelvin.

Maria sprinted to the corner. She paused. Her heart raced as she peered around the edge of the building. One street light shone halfway down the street.

Where the hell is Kelvin?"

Maria nervously texted Dustin: Is Kelvin with you?

Dustin read the message and immediately ran from the doorway. He knew something was wrong. He reached the dim glow of the street light and glanced at the pavement. Kelvin's phone glared up from the street, the glass of it was smashed, with a coffee cup still rolling next to it. The steam still rising from the coffee that was spewed across the street.

Maria reached Dustin. He saw her breath in the chilly night air. "Where the fuck is he? One minute, that's all."

Dustin looked up. Maria followed his gaze. A tall figure stood on the roof as Kelvin's limp body flailed from side to side as something climbed to the top of the drainpipe. The figure stepped closer to the edge and peered down into the street.

Blue eyes shone in the darkened sky. They squinted as they looked at Dustin and Maria. The blue eyes blinked once, and then they were gone.

“There are no accidental meetings between souls.”