Cameron loads his bags into the back of Emily's SUV. He wishes he could see Terra properly before he leaves, but he can feel how hurt she is through their bond. It's times like these that he wished Emily weren't a part of Social Services. If she weren't, he wouldn't have to deal with this. She just can't keep her hands to herself and it was getting on Cameron's nerves.
Cameron slides into the back seat, forcing Lawrence to sit next to the ghoul. If he had to sit with her, Cameron was sure her hands would wander to inappropriate places. He shuddered at the thought. Emily slid behind the wheel and Lawrence in the passenger seat.
Emily's eyes found Cameron in the rearview mirror and she winked at him. Shuddering again, he turns away and looks out the window as they start the long drive to Alpha City. The trip is going to be mostly open road, so they should arrive quickly. That's a small blessing for Cameron, as being in a close space with Emily made him uncomfortable.
Cameron's mind turns back to thoughts of Terra. She was such an unusual woman. Most women in the Vampire world become self-absorbed and pretentious at their newfound social status. It had always annoyed him. With Terra though, she was down to earth, and still acted as though she were human. The social status that came with being a female Vampire hasn't caught up with her yet. Hopefully, it never would, Cameron wished. When he was away from her, she was all he could think about. When he was near her, he never wanted his hands to leave her skin. It confused him, how a single woman could captivate him.
Before, he had sworn that he'd never Mate. For centuries, he strictly dates any species other than a Vampire, just to avoid this very scenario. Why had he made this oath to himself? The answer was simple. His mother. Or more specifically, the way his father had treated her, and what became of her afterward. Lily Knightwood was a sweet and humble woman when she met Samuel Demonte. Or at least, that's what Cameron had been told growing up. For the first few years of their Mating, the two were a happy, idyllic couple. Once they had Cameron though, things began to change. Cameron had long speculated that the stress of having a child was too much for his father to bear. Samuel started traveling abroad when Cameron was just a babe, not returning for months at a time. At first, Lily was okay with this. She found company among other male vampires who coveted her beauty. She had left Cameron to be raised by the live-in nanny, which suited him just fine. His nan was a sweet woman who took good care of him. But somewhere, in the back of his mind, he still wanted his mother.
After some time, when Cameron was only a few years old, Lily's resolve started to crack. Being her first Mate, she was closer to Samuel than any other male that she had brought in. After being separated from him for so long, she had a mental breakdown. She would often go into random panic attacks and have to be in bed for days afterward. Seeing his mother like that, Cameron feared that if he ever had a mate, he may end up just like his father. He never wanted to do that to another person. His mother was never the same and still isn't. She often gets migraines these days, still spending time in bed, even though as time passed, Samuel came to his senses and started spending more time at home.
As Cameron got older, he would go long periods without a sexual companion. He never really seriously dated another, due to Vampires having such long lives. If he got too attached, he'd have to suffer through seeing them age, and he hated that feeling. Often, he would get lonely, his friendship with Lawrence only helping so much. If he had to admit to himself, Cameron was scared. In the back of his mind, he could never shake the feeling that he would die alone, with hardly anyone to remember him. He would lie awake at night thinking about this. It cost him many nights of sleep. It was around this time that he started burying himself in his work. He decided to join Social Services because it always gave him something to do.
Cameron groans internally. Did he have to think about all of this now? He had been doing so well lately too. Looking out the window, Cameron sees that they're passing suburbs. Just how long had he been lost in thought? A while apparently. Looking out the front of the car, Cameron sees the city cropping up, like a looming mountain growing closer. Soon they'd be at their destination. Soon he'd get the revenge that Terra deserved.
As they pull into the city, they stop at a shabby hotel located somewhere in the outer part of the main city. Close enough to walk anywhere, but far enough away that they would go unnoticed. It was the perfect location for what they needed.
They quickly unload the SUV and pack everything into their room. They managed to get a suite, of sorts, courtesy of the Vampire Council. The thought made Cameron smirk to himself. Because of the situation, the Council was flipping the bill for all of this. He was going to charge so much to room service, just to spite President Knightwood. As far as he was concerned, the old hag deserved it.
The suite they acquired had a living room and kitchenette so that they didn't always have to eat out, and three separate bedrooms. Cameron silently thanked the gods. He loved Lawrence like a brother, but his snoring was terrible. And Cameron sure as hell wasn't sharing a room with Emily. He'd just have to lock his door. The ghoul could be very crafty when she wanted something badly enough.
Once all the bags are in the room, the group goes through everything and begins setting up a sturdy base of operations. Emily acquired a map of the city, while Lawrence made sure to pack all of the necessary equipment for the surveillance operation. Cameron had packed the computers as well as different disguises for everyone to avoid detection. And, just in case, he packed a few weapons. Nothing terribly dangerous, just basic police-grade stun guns. But it would be enough to bring someone down in a pinch. Soon, the walls are covered in maps and diagrams, and the kitchen table is filled to the brim with different types of video and audio devices. Many of them were small enough to go unnoticed, but a few were quite large, presumably to take long-distance photos. This was going to be a fun mission if Cameron's hunch was correct.
Once everything was set up properly, the group sat on the couches in the living area to discuss a game plan.
"So," Lawrence started, "Our sources say that Crimson is here and is hanging out with Justice Wolfbane. Rationally, if we can find Wolfbane, we should find Crimson as well. Do either of you have any ideas?" Lawrence looked between Emily and Cameron.
Cameron thought of different ways to get the information they needed without being discovered. He looked over to the map of the city. There should be a club that Justice owns. If they could catch him there, they may be able to get wind of if Crimson was there or not. "We could infiltrate the club."
"Are you sure that's a good idea," Emily asks. "If Justice does actually own it, he could have a bunch of goons working there. We might be made. If that happens..." She didn't finish her sentence, but the others knew what she meant. If they got caught, all of them would be dead by the next morning.
Lawrence arches his fingers and places them under his chin. He often took this pose while thinking deeply. "It might work, if the right ones go in."
Emily looks at him. "What do you mean?"
"Oh come on," he says. "It's obvious that if you and Cameron go in there, you wouldn't be able to keep your hands off of him. If you and I went in, you'd ignore me like week-old bread."
Lawrence had a good point. Emily's actions were always predictable. It was the nature of a ghoul. Unable to keep their emotions secret. Cameron addresses the whole group but locks eyes with Lawrence. "It's settled then."
Somewhere out in the city was the man who hurt Terra in the worst way possible. He made her vulnerable, the worst feeling for a new Vampire. And she wasn't handling it very well, to say the least. It made Cameron's blood boil. If it was the last thing he did, he would bring Crimson to her on his hands and knees and make him beg for forgiveness at her feet.