Sofia was pacing by the time Jackie got back to the hotel. The blinds failed to hold back the afternoon sun, she already had a headache.

  “How did it go with my mother?” Sofia asked nervously as Jackie kicked off her shoes.

  “Weird,” Jackie offered as she tossed her purse onto the table. “The first half was essentially an interrogation about myself. Then once your dad left she asked about you.”

  “And?” Sofia asked.

  Jackie frowned as she sat on the bed. “I don’t know. She doesn't know anything about vampires but… well, she doesn't need any convincing about stuff.”

  “My grandmother was a witch,” Sofia supplied. “Like an actual witch according to my mother. She used to tell me stories when I was little.”

  “You think that's possible? That she already knows about supernatural stuff?” Jackie asked.

  Sofia shrugged and joined her on the bed. “I think she already believes in otherworldly things. How is she faring with the whole… thing?”

  “Pretty good I figure. She felt really bad about meeting only with me and asked a million questions. Don’t worry, I stuck to the script.”

  “Thanks,” Sofia sighed.

  “She wanted my advice of all things, I guess cus I’m ‘in the know.’ I just suggested you guys spend time together so she can see nothing has changed,” Jackie added.

  Sofia huffed. Everything had changed but her mother was never going to know that. Sofia didn't want to give answers and her mother didn't really want the truth. Maria could know about vampires minus the depravity they had sunken into.

  Murder was of course a mortal sin. Murders might be a bit much for her mother despite everything. All her kills had been somewhat justified, that might keep Maria’s mouth shut, but it would irreparably harm their relationship nonetheless.

  "Just give it some time, take things slow,” Jackie offered reassuringly, squeezing Sofia’s shoulder.

  “That's what Eloise keeps saying too,” Sofia sighed.

  “Well, the only alternative I could think of involves mind-blasting your family…” Jackie pointed out.

  Sofia sighed. “I know, I’m just… impatient.”

  “How about a hunt? It’s that time of the month,” Jackie smirked.

  By now it was normal of all things, Sofia just nodded. The blood she had taken from Jackie had been a nice boost but she was quickly cooling again. It was strange to be a carnivore, wolves could go weeks between hunts if food was scarce. As much as she often felt like a time bomb that went off monthly she was still an animal and animals needed to eat.

  Still, she wasn't sure she would ever get used to how bloodthirsty Jackie was, even if Sofia had to admit it very much suited her.

  “Gem Creek is small, people will notice a murder,” Sofia pointed out.

  “Then we never let them find a body. I’ve been trying to find a list of potential meals but… well it’s not Toronto,” Jackie replied.

  “How do you even research this stuff?” Sofia asked curiously.

  “People talk, it’s a lot of gossiping,” Jackie offered. “But since everything is so personal here I might try going through court records which are all public. Maybe someone got off easy for something. Granted that’s not gonna offer anyone that hasn’t gone to trial so… not ideal. That and Googling, you can find anything if you know how to look.”

  Sofia squinted at her. “You would have made a good detective.”

  Jackie snorted. “Having that kind of access would be great. Otherwise absolutely fuck no. Thought…you could get a local to spill the beans easily,” Jackie pointed out.

  “That could be done,” Sofia nodded hesitantly. It could be more than done, all it would take was a glimpse of her eyes.

  “What we need is gossip, the stuff people whisper but no one does anything about,” Jackie continued. “Who’s the slut that was into it, who’s the clumsy wife who keeps breaking bones, who’s the runaway that still hasn’t resurfaced. Once we know that we find who to kill.”

  Sofia took in Jackie’s impassioned speech.

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  “It’s honestly a shame you need to drink blood, we can’t make it look like a natural death. The police wouldn’t blink at it twice that way especially if the victim is poor and uses drugs. Honestly, it sucks that the only people worth killing are those with power,” Jamie concluded with a sigh. “Didn’t you say your dad does security at the dump?”

  “I… yes,” Sofia replied. “But we are in no way involving my father.”

  Jackie hummed consideringly.

  Was it bad Sofia found herself mesmerized by this murderous woman. She made killing look like an art. Even if only two had been by her own hand she knew plenty. Anyone else would have been scared, but Sofia was very much the opposite.

  “Why are you like this?” Sofia asked softly.

  Jackie frowned in confusion.

  “I had to be reborn as a monster, but you’re just… gifted. Supernatural in your own right,” Sofia explained, the reverence clear in her voice.

  Jackie was still frowning. It had sounded kinda rude, Sofia hadn’t meant it that way.

  Eventually, Jackie shrugged, “I’ve always been… weird, my parents never had me tested though. It wasn’t until Mean Maddie on the playground that I even realized you could kill. I guess that was kinda a wake-up. I just decided that that was in fact an option when everyone else didn’t.”

  “I don’t know why I’m imagining you as Wednesday Adams,” Sofia offered.

  Jackie chuckled. “Maybe when I was little, but people are generally pretty simple. It’s all about telling people the right thing, not lying too much or too little.”

  Sofia didn’t love the way Jackie had phrased that. “Did you think I was… simple?” She smirked, keeping her tone light.

  Jackie didn’t bat an eye. “You didn’t give me time to dismiss you. You were quiet but not shy, friendly but you didn’t play the whole human game everyone does. Plus I could tell you were smart, are smart, probably smarter than me. You adjusted normally but evolved beyond your limits, I’m stuck as… weird.”

  Sofia blinked, somewhat stunned at Jackie’s analysis. Was that what Eloise had seen in her, the reason she had been turned? Actually, what did half of that really mean?

  “Are you just telling me what I want to hear?” Sofia asked playfully.

  “It’s the truth,” Jackie replied solemnly.

  “I don’t think you’re stuck Jackie, or I’m somehow ‘more evolved,’” Sofia said, not wanting to move on without addressing that part. “Also you’re in a STEM program and get practically perfect marks.”

  “No, see, that's what I’m talking about. You can go from monster to human in the blink of an eye. You manage both, you adapt and change,” Jackie retorted beaming proudly.

  “I suppose so,” Sofia offered neutrally. Was that really so different? Eloise had chosen her because she thought she could manage this life, thrive even. And now Jackie was telling her she was special too.

  It made her happy, it made her a little sad too. Mostly she was hungry.

  “That’s the house,” Jackie pointed as they walked down the street in the middle of the night.

  “You sure?” Sofia asked, tugging her hood up fright.

  “Yup, the house is blue. It’s like he painted a target on the house,” Jackie chuckled.

  They had spent a few days searching only to stumble into a target as they were returning to their room.

  A woman begging her sister not to bail her husband out of jail again. Sofia had stepped in to speak to the woman afterwards to inquire about what was going on, the woman obviously didn’t remember a thing.

  Rob and Miriam Ellis. Miriam was the clumsy wife who kept showing up in the ER, sometimes the husband got picked up by the police if he was especially drunk or violent but his wife got him out every time.

  Rob was an ex-military man who was honourably discharged after being wounded and forced into an early retirement. Miriam was a housewife and not much more. It seemed like a very depressing life.

  Even if Miriam was unwilling to do something about Rob, even if she loved him and thought he loved her, Sofia was more than willing to step in.

  Miriam’s sister had been the only source of information. It wasn’t as well planned out and clean as Sofia would have liked but she was famished. She didn’t want to wait until she wasn’t entirely numb or until Miriam was back in the ER.

  “Remember,” Jackie muttered, “this one is mine.”

  That was by far the most worrying thing for Sofia. The very human, very frail Jackie wanted to make the kill.

  They crept up to the house, Sofia could hear the television playing inside though the blinds were closed. This time she was the one to lead Jackie around back, her clear night vision a requirement in the unfamiliar territory.

  Climbing up the hill they approached the back door. Sofia hoped the door was unlocked, considering it was a small town the odds were good.

  A low growling made them stop in their tracks. Sofia spun to see the large rottweiler wearing a spiked collar. “Shit,” Sofia growled, firmly planting herself between the dog and Jackie who was flattening herself against the walk beside the door.

  The dog barked at Sofia. Sofia growled in an inhuman timber that made the dog take a few paces back.

  Someone yelled something from inside. Sofia winced. The dog barked again, drool spitting from its lips as it became increasingly panicked.

  The man inside, presumably Rob, yelled again. Sofia pulled her glasses off and stared down the dog. The rottweiler immediately stopped barking, a similar expression Sofia had seen of humans crossing its face. Thank fucking Hell that worked.

  “Sit,” Sofia tried. The dog obeyed. She slipped her glasses back on and glanced back at Jackie who gave her a shrug and a thumbs up. She held firmly onto control of the dog.

  “Daisey, would you shut up,” Rob groaned, pulling the door open and glaring outside. He froze when he saw Sofia.

  Before either of them could do anything Jackie lunged, looping the garrotte over his neck, turning her back to him and pulling.

  Rob didn’t get a sound out before he collapsed to the ground and drifted into unconsciousness in seconds.

  “Holy shit, holy shit,” Jackie muttered to herself with a grin as she adjusted her weight and kept the garrotte tight to stop blood flow to the brain. “I can’t believe that worked so well.”

  Sofia smiled, it was nice to see her so enthusiastic, even if it was for murder.

  “Rob?” Another voice called from inside.

  Jackie’s eyes went wide. Miriam. Sofia hurried to Jackie, they needed to move now. They couldn’t wait for Rob to die first. Panicking she grabbed Rob’s head and twisted, trying to snap his neck like they did in the movies.

  All she succeeded in doing was jerking his head to the side.

  Jackie stifled a snort. Sofia glared and twisted harder. With inhuman strength his neck snapped, his head twisting a full 180 degrees behind him.

  “Jesus,” Jackie muttered with horrified fascination as she released the garrotte.

  “Rob?”

  Sofia’s hold on Daisey, the scary rottweiler, was waning as well. She scooped Rob up, easily supporting his weight despite his massive size compared to her, and then she ran with Jackie on her heels.

  As they disappeared into the forest Jackie cackled with delight. Sofia wouldn’t stop herself from grinning either. That had almost been a disaster so many times but they had done it.

  They slowed their pace, Sofia having to adjust her grip on Rob’s corpse. She stopped at a large rock and sat down. Jackie joined her panting heavily.

  “Fuck yeah,” Jackie laughed as Sofia adjusted Rob on her lap. Jackie offered a fist bump, Sofia relented and then sank her teeth into Rob.

  Being dead she had to suck, a strange and far less effective method. Some of the vitae had already leaked from him, it was better to drink them alive but Sofia couldn’t afford to be picky.

  “How’s the takeout?” Jackie smirked.

  “Way too much alcohol,” Sofia scowled, the blood had a familiar aftertaste. “Also I can taste the cigarettes.”

  Jackie wrinkled her nose. “I’d leave a bad review but…”

  Sofia rolled her eyes.