Page 14 of The Wentworth Vampire

Nik Hadden and Josef McQueen sat together at the bar. The place was nearly empty but would start getting busy later in the evening. It was popular for its ambiance and its fine liquor. Nik took a sip of his whiskey and set it back onto the bar but slowly spun the glass with his fingertips. He was deep in thought.

“The man was originally human, but through experimentation and alterations to his genetics, he was being sculpted into a chameleon. This person who is creating these things is using humans, hollowing out their lives and memories, and implanting foreign cells, twisting and destroying.

"We'll handle it," Josef stated and downed half his glass before setting it down. “The Fae energy is something we need to study.” He offered. “It stands against these things, and we need to understand how it works.”

"The man or slave, as he was, came here for the Black Wand. I found the memory of his Master instructing him. He wasn’t after Mateo; he was after Pascal, or rather, his Black Wand.” Nik finished his drink, and the bartender refilled his glass. “Thank you.” He said and then turned back to Josef.

“Were Pascal and Mateo notified?" Josef asked, and Nik nodded. He sent a guard to their apartment as soon as he discovered the man's intent.

“They will remain diligent, but I fear the creator of these things will go in search of a Black Wand elsewhere, and if he finds one and a Dark Fae willing to help him, our troubles will be multiplied." Nik glanced around the room, gathering his thoughts.

"Pascal was one of a kind; most Dark Fae are not good people," Josef interjected.

"We don't know the species, only what we've heard, so hopefully it isn't as dire as all that. Perhaps there are more out there like Pascal, quiet, decent, and dedicated." Josef turned to Nik and shook his head, definitely not convinced.

Josef raised his glass and said, “Here’s to hoping,” and Nik smiled and raised his glass.

“Here’s to hoping.”

THE END