Chris and Diamond hurry down the loading bay entrance to the morgue floor and enter the morgue to see the body was set up on one of metal tables and Nix sitting at her desk in there. She was in green scrubs and her face in her hands with her back to them. 

Chris held his hand out to stop Diamond and Diamond could smell the stress and rage radiating from Nix. Chris started to move slowly to Nix and Diamond found it reminded her of a cowboy slowly walking up a spooked horse, which is probably the best way to approach Nix in this state. “Nix…” Chris whispered quietly and Nix flinched.

Diamond took a closer look at Nix and noticed that long black tail ended in black plume of fur. Nix shifted in her seat and Diamond spotted the tip of a curved horn that would be coming out of Nix’s forehead. “Chris…” She whispered before becoming a blur.

If Chris was in any true danger Diamond would pull him back and pin down Nix but Diamond felt no danger from Nix’s movement. She was hugging Chris close and burying her nose into Chris’ shoulder, she was careful not to stick Chris with her black unicorn horn. Her tail wrapped around his leg and Chris held her close while rubbing her back.

Diamond had seen this before or more she had been in Nix’s position and breathing in the scent of Alex had helped relax Diamond before. Chris’ scent must have the same effect on Nix and Nix’s unicorn features retreated and she regained her composure. Chris had started rocking her when she hugged him and stopped when she gently pulled away.

“Thank you, I need that.” Nix whispered and looked at Diamond to give her a small nod of thanks to her too. She took a deep breath to let out a loud sigh and turned around to grab a folder. “The victim is Alice Greenwood, who has been missing for two weeks now.”

Nix turned around to hand the folder to Chris and he opened it up, “It says here that the cleaner couldn’t pick a scent and he blamed the garbage smell from the alleyway behind the bus stop she was last seen at.” Chris said and leaned the folder to allow Diamond to look.

Nix gestured to Alice’s body and led them to it. “This wasn’t a feeding.” She said and pointed Alice's throat to a single puncture wound then tilted the head, showing the other side hand similar single puncture wound. Diamond had never seen a feeding wound like that but what happened next made Diamond growl and Chris jump.

Nix opened Alice’s eyes and one eye was a pure black like a ghoul and the other was a normal human blue eye. On seeing that Diamond realized that Alice’s scent was a strange mix of vampire and human and sent her neck hairs to raise up. Diamond understood why Nix had such a reaction to Alice’s body and Diamond only hissed one name, “Peter Braun.”

Chris raised his brow at Diamond, “Peter Braun was a vampire and Doctor who was part of the Nazis Germany party. He had performed inhuman experiments to try to turn humans into vampires...He was one of the reasons for us to come to light.” Nix explained as gripped the metal table. “I was one of the vampires that raided his lab and chased after him.”

“He was caught and put to death, publicly.” Diamond snarled and felt her shoulders teased up. “It was believed he had burnt his work to escape justice but others theorized he hid them away.”

“So it could be a vampire had found these Peter Braun’s notes and is trying to continue his work?” Chris asked and only silence answered him. “Or a vampire is inspired by his work to try to do it himself without the notes.”

Diamond started to drift off to focus on Alice’s body as the scent of sewer and Alice was filtered out, leaving only the killer's scent. Diamond flinched as the scent hit her and memories that she buried deep in her mind were dragged to front of her mind. She felt her whole body tensed up and her blood run cold. 

The sound of a heart rate machine filled her ears and blinding light from surgery lights flooded her sight. A shadow of a man appeared in the light and Diamond couldn’t see his face but his scent filled her nose before a mask was placed on her face and the smell of ketamine knocked her out. 

Diamond let out gasp as returned to the morgue and she squatted down with her forehead pressed against the metal slab. Her hands were gripping the metal slab, but it was crushed under her grip. Diamond could feel a cold sweat run down her back, she hoped it was cold sweat, and she could tell she had been breathing fast before.

Diamond slowly rose up and in the corner of her eye saw Nix had pulled Chris away to the wall furthest from Diamond and had him behind her, ‘Good…’ Diamond thought seeing Nix fast acting to protect Chris from Diamond. “Victor King…” Diamond barely whispered and slowly pried her fingers from the twisted metal slab edge.

Chris moved to say something but Nix elbowed him and kept him from moving. Diamond flexed her fingers before shoving them into her jacket pockets and turned on her heels to exit. She tried her best to keep her breathing slow and could hear Nix saying something but Diamond ignored it to escape the scent, she needed to retreat to somewhere safe, home was safe.

Diamond rushed into her dark apartment and spun around as fast she could once the door was closed behind her to lock the deadbolt. She quickly shed her coat and holster and allowed them to fall to the ground. She kicked off her shoes wildly and she felt like she was still on edge after that panic attack she had. ‘I need to get his scent off me…’ Diamond thought and rushed to the bathroom, didn’t even turn on the light. 

She went to take off shirt but stopped when an extra pair of large hands put their hands on her back. “Shhhh… You’re safe.” Alex whispered and Diamond froze from not hearing Alex approach. “I’m going to turn on the light, okay?”

Diamond stayed still while closing her eyes and tension in her muscles loosen under Alex’s warm hands. Alex removed one hand to turn on the light and Diamond took off her shirt. She threw it to the ground and grabbed her left wrist. 

She could feel Alex’s eyes scanning her back, “No blood.” Alex whispered before gently turning Diamond around to see her front. “Oh…love…” Alex’s voice was full of sadness and worry and rested their forehead on hers.

“S-Shower…his s-scent off.” Diamond finally growled and Alex nodded. They helped her out of her clothing and Alex joined in stripping out of their clothing as well. The shower was uneventful and allowed Diamond to step away from the far more violent panic attack she was edging towards after the first.

Once out of the shower Alex helped Diamond to dry her long hair and Diamond closed her eyes as Alex hummed a familiar tune but she couldn’t place it. Diamond didn’t fight Alex when they dragged them to the bedroom and once in the bedroom Diamond found a pair of panties to put on.

Alex put on gym shorts and white muscle shirt and grabbed a dark blue sweater to hand to Diamond. Diamond paused before putting the sweater on her and her nose was filled with Alex’s scent causing Diamond to become happily dazed.

In such a state she didn’t notice Alex had took her bed and held her close under the covers. Once Diamond realized what happened she buried her face into Alex’s soft chest and Alex held her close as Diamond fell into a deep sleep.

Before Chris knew what happened to make a loud metal crunching sound, Nix had pulled him back so his back was against the wall and protected him. His eyes locked on Diamond to see her squatting and her hands had crushed the edges of the metal slab. He could hear Diamond breathing hard and fast and he could feel the hair on the back of neck stand up. 

Chris slowed his breathing and kept very still as he saw the signs of panic attack in werebeast. He was taken aback from the werebeast having the panic attack was Diamond as he rarely saw her have any expressions besides grumpy, disappointment, annoyance and disapproval.

Diamond’s breathing started to slow down and Chris just noticed that Nix had been holding her breath until Diamond’s breathing slowed. Diamond stood up and Chris became worried from the expression plastered on Diamond’s face, fear.

“Victor King…” Finally Diamond barely whispered and Chris watched as she slowly pried her fingers from the twisted metal slab edge. Chris was about to ask what that meant but Nix gently elbowed him and he caught the weariness on Nix’s face.

Chris’ attention flicked back to Diamond as rushed out of the room, “Don’t follow her, she is too close to a more violent panic attack.” Nix said as lowered her arm from Chris. Nix walked over to Alice’s body and let out a loud sigh. “I need to clean her.”

“Who’s Victor King?” Chris asked as walked over to where Diamond was standing and carefully touched the crushed metal. “Why did he cause such a reaction from his scent?”

Nix took a minute to look at Chris before sighing, “I’m guessing you only did surface level look at Diamond.” Nix said and Chris nodded as he was about to say something Nix waved him to silence. “I probably could guess why you only did it but if you want a deeper explanation I suggest you talk to the chief.”

Chris grimaced before rubbing his neck, “Well, I do have to tell him that Diamond’s panic attack, guess I can ask him while I’m at it…do you think he’s still in?” Chris asked and Nix only raised one of her brow. “Ya, you're right, he's probably in bed by now.”

“Which you should be doing yourself,” Nix said while pointing a scalpel to him. “You’re only human, and both werebeasts and humans need sleep.”

“And vampires don’t?” Chris asked and he saw Nix narrow her eyes. “Honest question, do vampires need sleep?”

“Yes but not as much as the other two races.” Nix said as moved Alice’s bangs. “This poor angel had to go through such harsh torture but now she sleeps forever and away from that monster.”

Chris relaxed his shoulders and felt a wash of sadness in looking at Alice before righteous silent rage boiled in his chest. “We will stop this monster.” Chris whispers his promise to Alice’s corpse before turning to leave Nix to perform her duty that hopefully helps them in their hunt for this monster, Victor King.