Diamond heard fast moving footsteps moving behind her and slowed down as they got beside her, it was Chris she saw in the corner of her eye. “Belle is staying with the body and Nix,” He explained. “Figure it would be better if I ask questions and let you be the scary back up.”

Diamond kept her face unmoved but inside she was smirking at Chris’ comment and knew Chris was better at dealing with the public. She put her hands in her coat pockets and changed her walking to slower and more human stride that allowed Chris to keep up comfortable to follow.

Diamond caught a small thank you nod to her with the change to her walking and he took the lead when got to the gas station. When they entered the man behind the corner looked confused and Diamond could smell fear but not from them.

“Are you guy’s psychic or something?” He asked and Diamond spotted the man was holding a phone and the name tag had ‘manger’ on it. Chris raised a brow at the man’s words, “I was about to call the police because my night shift employee, Katie Wester, is missing.”

Diamond left Chris to deal with the Manger, who was clearly human from his scent, and she started to wander around the store. Her nose picked up the scent of normal gas station smells at first but she stopped as got close to the back as she smelt magic, vampire magic. Vampire magic had a unique scent, which reminded Diamond of peat bog on fire, and thankful that vampire made magic didn’t carry that smell.

Her eyes glanced up to see the security camera that was slightly melted and her eyes narrowed, “Any other electrics melted or not working?” Diamond called out and looked over her shoulder to the two humans.

“N-No, everything is working fine…” The manger trailed off as he looked up at the melted camera. “I h-haven’t checked the camera recording room yet.”

Diamond grunted and looked away as she could see and smell the man’s fear when her full attention was on him. “Why don’t you show me,” Chris said in a calm manner and Diamond didn’t move from her spot.

Diamond wasn’t too worried about Chris being alone with another human, especially that the Manger was a pudgy little man, he kind of reminded Diamond of a middle aged santa claus. Diamond still watched the two walk into the backroom in the corner of her eye and once they disappeared into the back she returned to looking around.

She wandered around and let out a small growl as she couldn’t pick up any other scent but took a pause. ‘I can’t smell any old scent either.’ She thought and spun around towards the door. She stuck her head out of the front door and took a deep breath.

She easily caught old scents of both werebeasts, vampires, and humans traveling in and out of the building. She took a step back into the building and she didn’t smell those scents anymore, as if they were erased. 

“The camera is fubar all the way into the backroom and the person that Katie was meant to work with had called in sick.” Chris said as he walked out from the back with rubber gloves. He held up a driver’s license and Diamond could clearly see the picture on it, it clearly matched the corpse in the alleyway. 

“At least we know who she is now.” Diamond whispered before glancing at the counter and noticed the machines on it were perfectly fine. “All werebeast, vampire, and human scent seem to be erased in the building but not outside.”

“Are you thinking of a magical artifact for the scent erasing?” Chris asked and took pause to grimace as Diamond nodded to his question. “That means the CSI crew is going to complain about that.”

Diamond let out a small grunt as both of them left the store and Diamond figure Chris called CSI crew in to check the gas station when he was in back. Diamond stopped as Belle trotted up to them and saw Devilish smirk form on Chris’ face. 

“Hey Belle, we found the identity of our victim, Katie Wester.” Chris said and held up the license to Belle. “CSI crew is heading this way, mind waiting for them?”

“No problem,” Belle said automatically and Diamond walked past her, not trying to make eye contact. “What’s up with her?” Chris just shrugged and went to walk past Belle.

Diamond could see Chris start to walk backwards, “Oh maybe it’s because Diamond figured out there is a high chance that a magical artifact was used.” Chris said quickly and spun around just quick to walk faster. 

Diamond didn’t look back but she knew Belle’s hair had puffed up in annoyance as she just figured out she was about to be neck deep with complaining CSI crew. She was yelling something but Diamond didn’t speak Japanese and Diamond kept her walking speed the same as before.

Chris on the other hand had gone into light jogging speed and chuckling from dumping the CSI crew on Belle. He got to the truck first and had it started as Diamond got in the passenger seat. “You know she’s going to get you back for that.” Diamond said as buckled up.

“Oh, no question about it, that one fox never forgets and holds a grudge like no one.” Chris chuckled but the smile faded and he let out a sigh. “I have to interview Katie’s husband…she had three kids…”

Diamond sunk in her seat and crossed her arms as she looked out the windshield. Snow started to fall down, “Winter’s Song is starting to play.” Diamond muttered and felt Chris glance at her for a second.

“Winter’s Song, the time of year when the werebeasts slumber and immortal vampires dance to its song.” Chris said and tapped his finger before clicking something on the wheel, causing the radio to turn on.

Diamond was sitting on the window sill of the window behind Chris’ desk while waiting for Chris to finish up with Katie’s husband. Chris had taken her husband to one of the conference rooms that was in the police station and Diamond kept her eyes outside as the snow fell.

She gently pressed her forehead to the window and tried not to let out a sigh out of boredom. Diamond always felt like she should be doing something but she was never good with emotional people and best if she just waited.

Diamond perked up as she saw in reflection of the window, Chris walking over and she didn’t move as he sat down in his chair. He let out a sigh and Diamond finally moved to look at him. His face was in his hands and using them rubbed his face at the same time.

“That bad?” Diamond asked and Chris spun around in a chair to face her. He removed his hands from his face and Diamond could see all the distress on Chris’ face. 

“They were a loving family unit and…” Chris trailed off and let out a long and deep sigh. “So are we a hundred percent sure it’s a vampire?”

“Vampire magic zapped those cameras,” Diamond said and shifted so her back rested on the window. “If it was stored in vampire magic then it wouldn’t have smelt more like burnt wood.”

“While if it was druid born there would be signs of backlash.” Chris noted Diamond's explanation. “And as you said, Winter's song is playing…by the way why aren’t you affected by it.”

“Only modern bloodline werebeasts are effected by it, my mother’s bloodline protect me.” Diamond said and pointed to her chest. “Having a mother who has been frozen in an iceberg since the Pleistocene era has its benefits.”

“Right, winter back then would be a lot colder and this would seem like a cold snap.” Chris smirked and rubbed his chin. “A short-faced bear like you wouldn’t be bothered by this cold for sure.”

Diamond gave him a toothy grin and Chris slightly jumped while looking away from Diamond’s face. “Yes, and none of my younger siblings are affected either by the Winter’s Song.” Diamond said and remembered the disbelief on Chris’ face when she told him what breed of werebear she was. 

All modern werebeasts were more modern animal breeds like timber wolves, red foxes, or grizzly bears. With expectation of Diamond and her mother’s bloodline, as they had all born all Pleistocene animal breeds like short-faced bear or smilodon.

“That’s right, you have siblings.” Chris spun around in his chair when his laptop dinged and he opened up his email. “More than half Katie’s blood was missing and a vampire kiss compound was found in what’s left of her blood, a fatal amount too.”

Diamond got to her feet and glanced at the time. “Means you need to look up which vampire coven is close to the gas station, which will need a warrant to coven listing, and talk to Katie’s friends to see if she had run in with a vampire.” Diamond said and roasted her arm. “Not my speed, so if you need me I will be home.”

“Fair, Katie’s husband said most of her friends were human and I can handle that alone, if not I’ll get Belle’s help.” Chris waved Diamond off and paused to give Diamond an up and down scan. Diamond saw he wanted to ask something but shook his head, “I’ll call you if I need you.”

Diamond walked into her apartment and she let out a loud sigh as all tension released from her shoulders once in her apartment. She kicked off her shoes and put her coat up on the hanger by the door. 

She could sense and felt Alex walking up behind her and carefully wrapped their arms around her waist. Diamond let out soft hum as Alex nuzzled the top of her head and their strong arms around her. “Welcome home.” They whispered. 

“I’m home,” Diamond hummed and twisted around in their arms. Diamond took a pause from Alex’s clothing. They were wearing a familiar uniform which was an off white dress shirt, black vest, and black dress pants. “Why are you wearing a bartender uniform from Corvus' Nest?”

“Your father offered me a job when I told him I was coming back.” Alex chuckled and kissed her cheek scar. “He was the one that got me the key to your new apartment.”

“It's not my fault I got a new apartment.” Diamond growled and remembered her old apartment was blown up because of a mafia case. “Though they made good examples not to target me or my family.”

Alex let out a small chuckle and gave her a small kiss on the lips. “No more talk about work,” They whispered and Diamond let out happy rumbling from her chest as Alex held her closer.

“Okay,” Diamond let out huff and felt Alex looking at a way to get her holster off. “Front buckle release.” Alex let go of her and undid the holster buckle to allow Diamond slide it off her shoulder.

“I’m going to cook up some supper,” Alex said and Diamond just let out a happy sigh as she let her mind drift away. She just wanted to melt into Alex's arms and not think of the outside world at the moment. Diamond could see Alex read her body luggage and swept her off her feet.

Diamond let out a happy yelp and wrapped her arms around Alex’s throat. “I love you, Alex,” Diamond whispered and Alex smiled.

“I love you too, Dia.” Alex whispered back to her and took her to the couch to cuddle.