Entering the Nightshade Inc. front door there was no surprise to hear soft jazz music playing in the background but what caught Diamond off guard for a second was Alex talking to Ophelia. Diamond shook off the surprise just as fast as it hit her and walked over to them. 

“Well I see why I sensed so much happiness off you yesterday.” Ophelia cooed and Alex smirked as Diamond just snorted in response. Diamond noticed that Alex was wearing more public clothing, that was a pair of baggy blue jeans, her old brown combat boots, white tank top and red flannel jacket.

Alex raised a brow from Diamond looking her up and down, “You look like a lumberjack.” Diamond stated and gently tugged on the sleeve of Alex’s jacket. Alex leaned down because they were six feet and three inches tall and Diamond had to get on her toes at the same time to give Alex a small peck on the lips. 

The hair on the back of her neck raised as the shopkeeper bell ding and returned to be flat on her feet to look over her shoulder. “Hey Diamond, your cell phone fell out of y-” Chris stopped in his tracks and all three stared at him for a moment. Diamond turned on her heel and went over to Chris, which he lowered her cell phone for her take. “Your sister, Daisy, was asking about dinner.”

Diamond took her cell phone and pressed the side button for screen light up to see the text message. “Thank you,” Diamond said as turned to walk back to Alex. 

Chris adjusted his hoodie before speaking, “I’ll be off than, got things do like get warrant for Red Mist list-”

Ophelia perked up at the mention of Red Mist, “You need a list of blood drinkers of Red Mist? The main house or one of the branches?” She asked and Diamond noticed Ophelia tapping the store phone as she waited for an answer.

“Branch, currently being ruled by Pierre Beauséjour the III.” Diamond said and saw Ophelia smiled ear to ear. Diamond had seen that devilish smile on Ophelia’s face a lot and she knew Ophelia was about to play the vampire social game.

“I can easily bypass the little weasel and don’t worry it will be legal too.” Ophelia said as she was about to point but stopped and used her chin to gestured to Chris. “Just wait in the corner and let me play puppet master~”

Alex leaned down to kiss the top of Diamond’s head, “That’s my cue to leave. See you later at dinner, Dia.” Alex whispered and Diamond nodded to Alex then held out her phone to Alex to see. “Don’t worry, I’ll call Daisy and tell her we need more ‘us’ time~” 

“Thank you, Alex.” Diamond said and Alex nodded before walking towards the door. Chris moved out of the way of Alex and Alex paused to look over Chris. “Have a nice day, Officer Quinn.”

“You too.” Chris could only muster before Alex left the shop. Chris took a moment before walking over to Diamond. “So who was that and why did they answer your phone this morning?”

Diamond slid her phone in her jeans and took a moment to think about her answers before just shrugging, “That was Alexandra Olsen and they are my spouse.” Diamond finally said and saw the disbelief just form on Chris’ face.

Chris opened his mouth to ask several questions but he stopped himself to rub his stubble. “I have so many questions but I think I’d just get a grunt or growl or worse, the complete silent treatment.” Chris finally said.

“That thinking is why you even get their name.” Ophelia said and picked up the store phone. “Now hush children, I’m on the phone.”

Chris gave Diamond a smirk and Diamond just sighed from the comment being called a child. Diamond knew that Ophelia was the oldest being in the shop and was at least over five hundred years old. Diamond watched as Ophelia dialed the phone and happily hummed as the dial tone rang.

The tone stopped when someone picked up the phone, “This is Claire Beauséjour, who is interpreting my i-important work.” A female voice asked and Diamond could tell she wasn’t alone on the other end with her breathy voice.

“Claire darling, this is Ophelia Ashwood, tell whoever is having a very delicious french meal to stop,” Ophelia cooed and twirling a bit of her bangs as she spoke. “How would you like to stab your slimy and crooked brother in the back?”

There was a long pause before Claire muttered something to someone off the phone. “What are you offering me, Pirate Queen?” She asked and her voice was no longer breathy. “While I like twisting my weasel of brother’s no-”

“The police are looking into his branch’s coven because of the murder of a human and went to his coven to get a list of their blood drinkers.” Ophelia interrupted and smirked. “He shooed them off and now they need to get a warrant to get that list.”

There was another long pause before Claire responded, “That warrant would not be good for the coven after what happened last time…” Claire said and Ophelia stopped twirling her hair. “Ophelia I suggest to change the warrant about drugs my brother is making in his secret basement. You even can put me down as the one who tipped you off and I will fax that list over to you.”

“I will pass that over to the officer in charge of the case and this will look very bad on the weasel.” Ophelia said and glanced at Diamond. “Enough to kick him off your coven’s leadership position.”

“Yes and we never had this conversion, Pirate Queen.” Claire said with a sharp tone and Diamond saw Ophelia’s face shift. It still had that divilish grin on her face but something about it made it far more angry than before.

“Indeed, Paris Harlot, we never had this conversion.” Ophelia said and it was just oozing poison and spite. There was a loud click and Ophelia put the phone back in its dock.

Ophelia took a deep breath and when she let it out she returned to her motherly demeanor. Ophelia moved her eyes to Chris and gave him a fast explanation of what happened. 

“So was Claire exiled like her brother?” Chris asked once Ophelia was finished explaining everything. “And why would she want him off the coven leadership position?”

“No, she came here on her own and became a power on her own, not riding her father’s name.” Ophelia said and got up from her seat. “As for the second part, she wants her niece to live with her. He ripped that chance out of her hands when their youngest brother died, and also took his younger brother’s spot in the coven under her nose too.”

“Niece and younger brother…and what about the niece’s mother?” Chris asked and Diamond sighed before elbowing his side. She was seeing they were about to go through long vampire family problems and that always gave Diamond a headache.

“Young vampires can’t switch covens or homes until they are twenty-one unless there is a very good reason for relocation but Adeline is only eighteen when her father died.” Ophelia said and sighs along with Diamond. “Her mother died in childbirth and rest is vampire bureaucracy.”

“Vampire giving birth is slightly riskier than human birth.” Diamond said and rotated her neck as it started to feel stiff. “While the vampire bureaucracy is more red tape and back stabbing, figuratively and literally, you think they are running to be Prime Minister of the World."

“Sounds stressful and would explain a few things.” Chris said and Ophelia walked into the back as the fax machine started to print something out. Chris leaned into Diamond, “Mainly that there are a lot more vampires than werebeast becoming politicians .”

“Normally modern werebeast do one on one beefing that end up in fist fights and afterwards they’re getting beer like their best friends.” Diamond said while crossing her arms. “In the past the end result would be one of them dead.”

“That only happened due to the pent up stress of them having hidden themselves.” Ophelia said as came back into the room with some paper. “Nowadays they have places to vent and fight without humans freaking out.”

“Some places became commercialized and now all of us can watch for entertainment, just like any other combat sport.” Chris said as took the paper from Ophelia and tilted it so Diamond could read it too. “About four pages here…some of them have markings on them.”

“The last page has notes about those marks,” Ophelia said and Chris flipped to the fourth page. “Also red names have been gone for months, vacationing back in old lands for holidays.”

“Vampires hate the holiday travel rush, well they hate any kind of travel.” Diamond said and Chris nodded to that comment. “Though modern werebeasts are similar to that too, thanks to not needing to hunt for food.”

“Well any creature that finds its needs in one place, they wouldn’t want to leave that place.” Chris looked at the back list then at Diamond. “Well with that tip off the warrant will be issued in an hour, why don’t you come back to the station with me.”

Diamond shifted her hands to be in her jacket pockets before nodding and walking towards the door. “Good hunting.” Ophelia called out and Diamond happily huffed.

“Thanks for this, Ophelia.” Diamond heard Chris say before catching up with her. They got into the truck about the same time and Chris looked to Diamond, “Have you ever thought of joining up one of those werebeast fighting leagues?"

“No, and I think they would have a problem with my past and present reputation." Diamond said as she buckled up. “Also those aren’t fighters in the ring, those are athletes.”

Chris  buckled up and started the truck. “Good points, and it will be hard to get a real athlete to get in the ring with ‘The Butcher of North St.’...” Chris trailed off and Diamond could see him looking in the corner of his eye. Diamond smelt fear came off Chris a lot of times but never from being scared of her reaction and she didn’t like it. “Sor-”

“Just drive, Chris.” Diamond let out a huff with crossing her arms and slightly sinking into her seat. The fear dissipated as the truck shifted into drive and got into the flow of traffic. 

“I think that was the first time you ever addressed me by my name.” Chris said and Diamond just closed her eyes as he kept driving with a satisfied smile on his face.