Her bike roared as she pushed the throttle faster, before her quick break and lean left across traffic into the garage. She didn’t let it stop there, pushing the machine hard up each ramp, until the top and she spotted Martinez and Rowan leaning against a dark SUV. She let the bike roll to a stop before killing the engine. 

“That. Was. Awesome.” Thalia whispered, “and fucking terrifying.” 

Mel snickered, ignoring the frowns from both Martinez and Rowan. They could be as serious as they wanted, she wasn’t going to let them ruin her fun. She deserved to enjoy the precious little she’s had these past two weeks. Thal attempted to dismount but nearly stumbled, legs shaking from the adrenaline. 

“The leech is here,” Rowan scoffed, “And like all leeches, it revels in the dramatic. A poor attempt at intimidation.”

“You must be a real blast at parties, girl.” Melody retorted, “Forgive me for enjoying what little advantages I have as a corpse.” 

“Yet you endangered your fool hardy friend with your… stunts.” 

“You have no idea what level of agility and control I have now.” Melody spat, “Don’t pretend you do. She was in no danger.”  

 Thalia watched wide eyed and glanced towards Martinez, who merely shook his head. Mel took a breath, let herself calm, feeling that red haze settle. Though she could still hear the steady beats of their hearts, something just out of sight, something she just couldn’t ignore. It reminded her she hadn’t really fed since that night she first met Rowan. 

“Right, vampire bad, human good. Now that we have the morality settled let's stop the pissing contest and get on with it. It seems we both failed to impress our guests.” Mel grumbled. “You extended this olive branch. Let's lay our info on the table.” 

“Melody,” Martinez said suddenly, “You aren’t being yourself. Just breathe. Look, I don’t… I don’t understand all of this, not really but you don’t need to hone yourself to a razor’s edge.”

Melody sighed. She was pushing too hard apparently and they were catching it. She didn’t feel like she was any of what he said, she really didn’t. It just… felt right. The speed and movement and action. 

“What do you know of it, Jules. I mean, really, as if you had any fucking idea what it is I feel and have to do to keep living. Don’t act like you know what it is like to die and get back up, what it’s like to feel the creeping cold of the grave every night and the stillness of your heart.”

Anger, then sadness crossed Martinez’s face. Melody was sure he thought he could find an analogy, but as far as she was concerned, there wasn’t one. Some may liken it to a drug, sure she could say the rush she gets with blood similar to the time she tried coke. Yet blood was her life, her water, her steak tartare, her goddamn whiskey all rolled into one thing.

“Forget it Martinez,” She said with a sigh, “Don’t try and pretend you get it. You won’t. Just know that it’s hard to sit still, like a constant electric hum demanding to be put to use. It… isn’t all bad.”

She ignored Rowan’s grimace. 

Lighting a cigarette she began laying out everything she knew. What she could remember of her death. Of rising again and what she heard and letting the one go. From her description of him, stocky, black hair and slight scar on his left cheek, Rowan confirmed it was a hunter and detective in the PD. Detective Jack Callahan, and he was not supposed to be there that night. Nor was James Keegan. 

“So, vampire, you say you have evidence, but evidence I wouldn’t believe.” Rowan asked. 

“Yes. You don’t like what I am and honestly,I get that. I just want to keep on living, but the one who… saved me said that my throat had been torn out like these other so-called vampire attacks. The blood I was covered in was my own.” 

Rowan grimaced and folded their arms, clearly not accepting that, but lacked anything to refute it with either. Mel sighed, content, as Thalia placed her hand on her shoulder. Thalia was proving to be her only ally time and again.

“See, the thing is, new leeches always say that. That they just want to keep living. But you have to take more and more to do so. How can you justify your life over others? Then there is whomever made you. If you were meant to be some postured victim, it is awfully convenient you just get to get back up.”

“You think I chose this?” Melody scoffed, “Besides, tell that to the cows, as they get lobotomised.” 

“You wouldn’t be the first to want this.”

“Just as you're not the first sanctimonious little prat, who thinks their answer, their solution is the only correct thing and must impose it on everyone around them.” 

“Listen, whoever you are, stop calling her leech. She has a name. Use it.” Thalia spat, butting in. 

Rowan tense, before taking a long and slow breath, but otherwise ignored Thalia. She kept her eyes trained on Melody.  

“Miss, none of this is safe. You really shouldn’t be involved.” Marinez said.

“I am safer with Mel than either of you.” 

Marinez looked skeptical to say the least, and Mel didn’t bother to hide her smile. She was sure to let it be nice and toothy so they could see all her fangs, all six of them. Martinez didn’t look that skeptical anymore. He looked nervous. Afraid. She could hear his heartbeat speed up. 

“Yeah, so she was brained by some asshole, and I don’t think that will happen again. By the looks of those teeth, she’d tear their throat out. I trust her.” Thalia said, stepping up beside her.  

“You’re a fool.” Rowan said, voice cold and quiet. She shifted her stance back into something defensive.

"Mel… Can we trust you?” Martinez asked, voice low.

“Depends on what. But I won’t let anyone harm Thal.” 

Martinez stared into her eyes, a long pregnant moment. Then he nodded, once. It didn’t matter to her whether he believed her or not. As long as he stood on that side, she wasn’t sure if she could trust him.  

“Look. I don’t believe you, at least that you were to be made out as one of these postured victims. Your words have held truth, but you have nothing to corroborate this with. I propose this: I will begin looking into our hunter group and leak you certain bits of information. You will spy – nothing else. Use your camera to collect evidence.” Rowan spoke hesitantly, “If you’re right, we have a big problem.”  

Mel was shocked. She hadn’t expected a relatively fair appraisal of the situation and despite her instincts screaming in her head about this, she agreed. 

“That is,” Mel said, holding out her hand, “a very fair deal and assessment. And you’re right. If your group is compromised, a lot more people will end up dead.”

Rowan grimaced, but shook her hand and so the deal was struck. Mel looked to Martinez and back to Rowan. She was frustrated at the pitying look Martinez gave. Regardless if she hated what she was now, or loved it, it wasn’t the right thing to feel about it. Rowan, she could understand, even respect. 

“For what it is worth, I am honestly trying to… manage this. It is difficult.” Mel admitted hesitantly. 

“For your honesty,” Rowan responded in turn, “We usually only handle the odd drifter. Lira tends to keep hers in check. She used to be better at policing those in her ‘territory’. It seems she has grown complacent.” 

“Lira? I haven’t heard that name yet.” 

“If you haven’t yet, you will when she learns of this.” Rowan said, with a dry humorless laugh. “Stay alive, at least until we deal with this mess.” 

"I will give you the benefit of the doubt—for now. But understand this: the moment I suspect you of betrayal, I will not hesitate,” Rowan sneered almost as an afterthought, “leech.” 

Mel nodded, her grip tightening slightly before she released Rowan’s hand. She had no doubt that Rowan meant what she said, and honestly, that was fair. This arrangement wasn’t about trust—it was about necessity.

Martinez exhaled, rubbing a hand over his jaw. "We’ll be in touch when we have something. And you—" He turned his attention to Thalia, who had been otherwise quiet up until now, though her gaze had never stopped analyzing.

"You sure you know what you’re getting yourself into?"

Thalia gave him an easy, crooked smile. "Nope. But that's part of the fun, isn't it?"

Mel smirked. "She knew what she was getting into before I did."

Martinez slumped his shoulders and Rowan scoffed but said nothing. The conversation had reached its end. Mel flicked her cigarette to the ground, crushing it under the toe of her boot before turning on her heel.

Thalia lingered for only a moment longer before following, her presence a warmth at Mel’s side as they made their way back to the bike. The engine roared to life beneath her, and with Thalia’s arms locked around her waist, as Mel pushed the bike to its limit faster than is safe… for a human, and off into the night.