“Layla, are you alright?” Aziza asked as she looked at her friend, who was looking green around the gills. Nix’s presentation has some graphic images that made Aziza feel nausea and Layla bolted up to rush out of the room. 

Aziza was stunned for a second before getting up to follow Layla and it was easy for Aziza to trail Layla into the closest woman’s bathroom. Layla rushed to the first open booth to start dry heaving and Aziza quickly gathered up Layla’s hair so it was clear from her face.

“Is everything alright?” Nix’s voice called out as Layla finally puked and Aziza looked to the opened booth door. Nix peeked in the booth with a very worried look on her lips, “Do you need any medical help?”

“I don’t think,” Aziza said as she moved Layla’s hair in one hand and using her free one rubbed Layla’s back. “Anymore, Layla?” Layla was panting before spitting into the toilet and lifting her face from the toilet.

“Yes, I think that was all of it.” Layla said after catching her breath and once standing up Aziza let go of Layla’s hair. “Sorry for worrying you, Dr. Nix.” Layla flush the toilet and Nix pulled out tissue for Layla. “Thank you.” 

“I guess I should have used less graphic images.” Nix said as pointed to the right side to her lip and Layla cleaned where Nix pointed on her own lips. 

“That, or maybe a warning instead as the images were needed,” Aziza spoke up and nervously smiled as both looked at Aziza. “A-Also Layla is studying to be a pediatrician and what you showed today mainly focuses on surgery.”

“Ah, working as a pediatrician has different skills and mindset.” Nix said as her and Layla went to the sink to wash up. “What about you, Aziza?” 

Aziza paused from the question for a second before turning off the water, “I don’t know, I’m still chasing my tail for what kind of doctor to be.” Aziza said used the air dryer and Layla joined her. “Some things have changed recently and I think I’d avoid surgery.”

“That makes sense from what I’ve heard from Officer Quinn.” Nix said and Aziza noticed the way Nix spoke Quinn’s name with a breathy voice and slight blush for a second. 

“Officer Quinn?” Layla asked as she finished drying her hand. “Who is Officer Quinn?”

“Chris Quinn, is the police officer that works with Diamond.” Aziza said and glanced at Nix. “Also seems like Dr. Martin has little thing with Officer Quinn.” 

“Oh more than a little something.” Nix giggled happily with a small blush. “He’s a keeper and I plan to keep him~” 

“Good to hear you found love, Dr. Martin.” Layla said, “I’m going to get my stuff, see you in the next class, Aziza.” Aziza nodded as Layla left the two in the bathroom. 

“I'm a bit surprised you showed up instead of Diamond,” Aziza said, “Though your softer personality is a lot more suited than Diamond stern personality for what happened.” 

Nix chuckled and nodded, “Diamond would be less empathetic and look a lot less empathetic to your friend’s human eyes.” Nix said and Aziza nodded. “Even through the speech Diamond would look like a stone statue to every human, but we saw every small quick smirk she made.”

“Does my facial expression move that fast too?” Aziza asked with a bit of worry in her voice.

“No, you currently have a normal facial expression, the effect of being raised by humans.” Nix said. “While talking about the effects, the winter season has an effect on therianthropes as well.” 

“Oh, like thicker fur coats or something like that?” Aziza asked, making Nix chuckle.

“Well that can happen but what I’m talking about is winter causing therianthropes to become more docile than normal. Research has shown therianthrope crimes lower in winter by ninety percent.” Nix explained and Aziza perked up at these facts. “The other ten percent are normally not affected by the winter and Diamond is one of those people.”

“That makes sense with her being a polar bear.” Aziza said then paused as she noticed she hadn't noticed any change in herself. “Could I be one of those not affected by winter?”

“Highly not, you have recently awakened your full power,” Nix patted Aziza’s head. “So your body is kind of super charged with energy but once it lowers to normal, I bet you will start to feel the winter effect when that happens.”

“I see…what with lower therianthrope crime, is that reason why Diamond is wearing more formal clothes?” Aziza asked.

“Yes, Diamond’s going to deal with vampires more in winter and most vampires can’t handle Dia-” Nix stopped as her head looked over her shoulder. “Maybe we continue this less public place.”

“Ah, good idea.” Aziza said, “Diamond is probably still in the classroom.” Aziza and Nix left the bathroom to return to the classroom but stopped seeing Diamond walking back to the classroom from the opposite direction.

“Done tending to your friend, Aziza?” Diamond asked as she was cleaning her hand with a handkerchief and Aziza could smell a small amount of blood. “Just getting information from a punk.”

“Wha-” Aziza’s words were cut off by a blood curdling scream and all three women started to sprint to the scream's origin. They got to the top of the stairway and looking down they saw two people at the bottom of it. 

“Don’t touch him.” Nix yelled as she rushed down to the stairs and Aziza turned very pale. She couldn’t believe her eyes as the body on the ground was Henry's and his head was facing his back. “Diamond, call Quinn!” 

Diamond took out her phone and dialed up Quinn and Aziza was frozen as other people started to crowd around the top of the stairs. Aziza’s mind swirled for seconds before a question entered her mind, ‘Why was Diamond called Quinn and not general nine one one?’

Her eyes started to scan the stairway and Henry’s body then it became clear to her. His body isn’t in the place where someone just fell down the stairs, it was too far from the bottom of the stairs.

The police arrived and Diamond was beside Aziza while waiting for Chris to finish with Nix. Chris walked over to the two and pointed to Diamond, “You are not on this case.” Chris said and Diamond put her hands slightly leaning back. “Good, got any information I can use.”

“Look into all the women he slept with.” Diamond said while Aziza was hugging herself while looking at the body bag Henry’s body was in. “He got around a lot.”

“You alright, Aziza?” Chris asked as he gently touched her forearm. “Did you know him?”

“Yes, he is-was my friend since middle school.” Aziza said as her eyes locked onto Chris’ eyes. “Before you ask, no, Henry and I have never slept together…though now that I think about it, he has been flirty with me in the past.”

“Aziza was also with Nix when the body was found.” Diamond pointed out and Chris looked at Diamond. “I was returning to the classroom after ‘talking’ with a Hellfist.” 

Chris glanced at Diamond's hand, “Get anything important to any case?” Chris asked and Diamond nodded. Chris glanced around before making a small gesture with his head to point outside and Diamond gave a hand signal for five. 

“Come on Aziza, let's get our stuff from the classroom.” Diamond said and Aziza followed Diamond back to the classroom to grab our things. The two walked outside and headed straight to the street where Chris’ unmarked police car was. 

“So what information did you get from that Hellfist you ‘talked’ to?” Chris asked as he walked up to his car. “And do I have another body hidden here?”

“I only punched him once when he was being smartass and he figured out who I was.” Diamond snapped back and Chris held his hands up as an apology. “A Wild Hunt has been put in order on the ‘Sons of Sand’.”

“Great, just great,” Chris muttered and sighed in annoyance. “We are either going to find lots of bodies soon or a lot of people coming in to be arrested.”

“Wild Hunt? What does the old Norse story have to do with gangsters?” Aziza asked as she shifted her messenger bag. 

“A Wild Hunt is a local gangster thing and only happens when all local gang leaders agree on destroying someone.” Diamond said. “It rarely happens bu-”

“But apparently the ‘Sons of Sand’ disturbed the ‘peace’ among the gangs.” Chris said and leaned on his car. “Basically all members of ‘Sons of Sand’ have target on their back while in the city.” 

“Leaving them the choice to leave, die, or get arrested.” Diamond said and pulled out her cell phone. “Though even if arrested, they aren’t fully safe in jail either.”

“This also means you, Aziza, can relax a bit more.” Chris said. “As relaxed a newborn like a therianthrope could be.” 

“I would say toddler like,” Diamond remarked and Aziza slightly blushed. “Anyways, I think it would be best if we cut the college classes short today, Aziza.”

“I agree but I’d like to talk to Layla before leaving.” Aziza said and Diamond nodded. “I’ll be right back then.”

“Alright, go talk with your girlfriend.” Diamond said without looking up from her phone. Aziza deeply blush before rushing away and Chris tilted his head.

“Girlfriend? I didn’t know she was dating anyone.” Chris said and Diamond looked up to Chris.

“Her name is Layla, they were secretly flirting all through Nix’s speech.” Diamond said. “Aziza was helping Layla because Layla became a bit green after Nix’s speech.”

“Oh, I did tell Nix to pull back on the pictures.” Chris said and Diamond looked back to her phone. “So you want me to drop you off at your apartment?”

“No, Nightshade Inc.” Diamond said as she put away her cell phone. “Aziza needs to keep her mind busy.” Chris nodded and unlocked his car.

“Let’s stay warm inside my car while we wait for two lovebirds to say goodbye.” Chris said as he walked around to the driver seat. “Ten bucks says she will have lipstick marks on her cheek.”

“I see you and it will be on her lips.” Diamond said and opened the passenger side.