Ares was sitting in his usual chair by the aquarium, typing up notes from Wednesday on his small, red laptop. It was Friday, but because he taught a chemistry class on Thursdays for the university, he hadn't had a chance to finish up the official paperwork. He had his notebook out and scanned it while he typed up his report. He wished the Detective had a bigger office, not only because he wanted his own desk but also because it would put more space between himself and Alexandria.

She was reading a newspaper in the Detective's recliner in the corner next to him, with an old quilt hanging sloppily over her legs.

There was a bookcase between them and it was not nearly enough for Ares. He could hear the air going in and out of her lungs, relaxed and easy like the sound of waves. Her perfume tickled his nose, and her heartbeat, though slow, pounded inside of him. He wanted to run out of the room screaming, but instead he sat there, composed and continuously fighting to regain his focus.

Ares couldn't take it anymore and got up. He hit print on his laptop, which he'd connected wirelessly to the new printer he'd gotten the Detective for his last birthday. God only knew how old the previous printer had been. Ares shuddered at the thought of endless paper jams. He grabbed his paper from the printer, opened the large filing cabinet at the opposite side of the room, and searched for N.

Yesterday's case was what the Detective considered an ND—a Neighborly Dispute. To him, gremlins sabotaging planes over someone building a hangar on their burrow was a simple misunderstanding between neighbors. Ares was searching through the S files for "Skipper" when Alexandria broke the silence.

"Hey, did you guys read this? The paper says that the Toronto Huskies' star player Tony Anderson has been suspended until further notice on suspicion of being a half blood. Why would they suspend him for that? Just because he is mixed shouldn't mean he can't play hockey."

Ares spoke before the Detective could reply. "It's illegal to have a half blood on a human sports team. Otherkin and fairy generally have great strength, speed, or some other heightened sense or skill that puts them at an unfair advantage. That's why otherkin and fairy are not allowed to play human sports."

"Really? I think they should play. It would make sports a whole lot more interesting anyway." Alexandria folded the paper and looked out the window thoughtfully. Small flurries played along the windowsill, and a stray hair lay along her cheek.

"Oh, you think so?" Ares asked with interest.

"Oh, yeah. Could you imagine the intensity? The speed, the action. If otherkin could play sports, it would be more like an art form. The grace and speed of the elves, or how about the sheer brute strength of an ogre pitted against a werewolf, or a vampire like yourself," Alexandria said. Her feet bobbed with excitement from under the quilt, exposing some rather fuzzy pink socks.

"Excuse me?" Ares asked, abashed and emptied of all previous thoughts.

"Oh—I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..." Alexandria stuttered and went pale.

"I say, what was that, my dear? Nothing to apologize about," the Detective said as he stood up from his seat. "H-hem. Now, what's this all about, eh?"

Ares could not respond. He couldn't imagine what his facial expression was, but shock, anger, and uncertainty were probably a good start. How had she known? Neither he nor the Detective had told her. The university kept his age and race a secret. He hadn't been out as a vampire in years.

After winning the Nobel Prize, he sank back into society. With extremist groups and vampire hunters out there trying to make a name for themselves, it wasn't safe to parade around. So how had she known?

Had he been careless or was she toying with him?

"Listen, Ares, I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were not open about it. I just thought—"

"Oh! I say, Alexandria! Come, come. Ares is in shock, and why wouldn't he be, eh? What an astute observation! There must be a little detective in you yet. Ha ha. Now then, how did you figure it out?"

Ares arched his brow, staring at her. He felt exposed.

"I guess, I uh—I don't know. I just knew. You see, I have this strange—it's not something I talk about often, but sometimes I see ghosts. I don't know how or why, but sometimes they find me, or I simply bump into them. Earthbound ghosts, spirits who haven't crossed over yet, they feel heavy and thick, like they are weighted to the ground.

"A very old spirit, one full of pain and negativity, would feel consuming and draining—and vampires, well I've noticed they feel the same. Plus, I mean, he's pale and he's never at the office before dark—and he's super fast."

Consuming? Draining? His heart sank. Is that what she thought of him? With those descriptive words in the forefront, one could hardly care for "fast."

Ares stared at the floor, processing this new information.

"By Jove! Alexandria, you can speak to spirits! What an amazing gift! How fascinating. How long have you been able to do this marvelous thing?"

Ares felt the Detective fill with excitement, thrilled at a new mystery, while Ares simply grew more confused and upset. Why would he care what Alexandria thought? She was just—some hippie that couldn't dress herself to save the planet.

"Oh, I don't know. I guess I've always been able to do it, and the otherkin and fairy, I've always been able to see them too. The Great Awakening wasn't really an awakening for me, just a relief. I was relieved that everyone else could see them too." Alexandria turned to gaze out the window.

Ares looked at her. He could only imagine what it would have been like for a little girl growing up, seeing things other people couldn't, and being told she was wrong—until one day everyone realized she was right. What happened then? A pat on the shoulder. "Whoops. Imagine that, Alex, you were right all along."

Ares understood all too well what it was like growing up and knowing you were different, but he was proud of that, whereas Alexandria seemed uneasy discussing her youth.

"Anyway, it doesn't matter," Alex said. "I mostly ignore it. Ghosts never make for good company."

"Alexandria, my dear, I assure you it is a great gift, I must say. Had I that talent! Ha ha! By Jove."

The Detective walked over to her with a comforting smile and put his hand on her shoulder. Had he been any other estranged uncle he might have been hesitant, but the Detective was his own brand of human.

Ares stood by the filing cabinet, trying to figure out why he was feeling the way he was, but before he could give it any real attention, someone knocked at the door. Everyone turned in unison, but it was the Detective who said, "Come in."

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