*Ring* *Ring* *Ring*
"Hello?", Avalyn answered her noisy phone, groggily. "We've got another", Corey's voice filtered through the speaker. Avalyn groaned as she sat up in her bed. "Hitch wants us at the office in ten", he informed her. "Can you come pick me up?", she asked, sleep still lacing her voice.
"Already on the way. Be there in three", Corey said. Avalyn hung up without another word and jumped out of bed. She quickly got dressed and threw her go bag together.
This was the fourth body in two weeks. If the killer keeps up at this rate, they will have a dozen bodies before they are able to catch him. Avalyn believes that the killer is a vampire. And if so, then they are breaking the peace treaty that Avalyn had worked so hard to form over the last six years.
Her team on the other hand is a bit skeptical in Avalyn's theory. They have never really had to deal with supernatural cases before. Avalyn and her unit chief are the only ones who really deal with the peace treaty. Mainly because other than Finnick, Ava doesn't trust the others enough.
Hell, majority of the team doesn't even believe that Avalyn is a hybrid of werewolf and witch. They just happen to never mention it. Unless they need her powers for something. Ava's unit chief, Hitch, does a good job of making sure that Ava doesn't feel used though. He has gone above and beyond to make her, his second. For that, Ava is grateful.
Avalyn exited her apartment building and walked to Corey's SUV that sat parked by her front door. "Ready?", he asked. She nodded, as she rested her head against the glass window. They have been on this case for a week, with almost no break-through. Avalyn and her team have had a total of maybe 48 hours of sleep in the past 168.
Her mind hurt from exhaustion. "We need to stop and get Trey", Corey said, breaking the silence. "What about Finnick?", Avalyn asked. Finnick happened to be Ava's best friend. He has Asperger's, matching his IQ to Avalyn's. Ava has never been diagnosed, but she is hyper aware of all the signs that point towards her having it.
Ava has worked hard to mask her symptoms, using different techniques that she had read about. The biggest feat for her has always been social anxiety, in which she masks very well.
"Hitch is picking him up", Corey answered. That relieved Ava, Hitch is good to all his people. It is other members of the team that worry her. Their team consists of seven people. The unit chief, Tyler Hitch. SSA Corey Kiltz, Finnick Daniels, Trey Falon, Carey Fields, Avalyn Grant, and their IT Kailey Coons, whom usually resides at their field office.
Within a few minutes they arrived at Trey's house to pick him up. "I'm so sick of this man. All I want is a full night's sleep", Trey said, as he climbed into the back seat of the SUV. Avalyn ignored his comment, not really in the mood for his attitude. "We all do", Corey said, his tone bored.
Avalyn stared silently out the window as she thought about the case. The victims' heads are all ripped from their bodies, completely drained of blood. The team thinks whoever it is, has a mental disorder that makes them believe they are a vampire, but actually aren't.
However, they cannot explain the unique tears in the skin. Avalyn, on the other hand, can. It is the result of a head being ripped from the body with teeth. Now, she just needs to convince Hitch, before anyone else gets hurt. Once she has Hitch's permission, she will need to seek the help of the most powerful being known to man, Alexander Black, the Lycan King.
He is also a hybrid of vampire, making him the first man to rule over three species that are known to hate one another. Avalyn knew his father, Keenan. He is the one who helped her bring the species together to form a treaty among them. Alexander was working a mission in the Appalachia when Avalyn and his father worked together on the treaty. So, they never got the chance to formally meet.
Keenan has stepped down as Lycan King and handed the thrown to Alexander in the last three years. Apparently, once you are two thousand years old, you have to give up the throne. According to Ava's memory, Alexander's 1000th birthday should be coming up soon.
When they arrived at headquarters, Avalyn immediately jumped out with her bag and headed inside. Corey followed closely behind her, but Trey lagged back some. When Avalyn entered the conference room, the rest of the team was already present.
"What do we have?", Ava asked. Kailey clicked her remote for the projector making pictures of a decapitated female body appear on the big screen. "Kayla Winters, she was found about thirty minutes ago. She was a prostitute in Crescent Valley, a small town fifteen minutes from here", Kailey explained.
"As you can see, she was killed like the others, decapitated and drained of blood", she finished explaining with a sigh. Avalyn looked over the brief report that was able to be faxed.
"Okay, Daniels, Falon, and Grant, go to the scene. Fields, Kiltz and I will go to the department", Hitch instructed. The team stood and started moving. "Hitch, I need to talk to you", Avalyn said, as she picked up her bag and file. Her unit chief looked up, making eye contact with her and nodded.
They walked toward his personal office that connected to the conference room. Hitch walked in first, followed by Ava, who closed the door behind her. "Do you really think it's a vampire?", he asked worriedly, scratching his forehead. "I do. I have no other explanation for it. I can try and contact the king and ask for his help", Avalyn suggested.
"If our killer is a vampire, then he is openly breaking the treaty. The King would have to be involved. He resides over the vampires as well as the werewolves and Lycans", Avalyn explained. Hitch slowly nodded his head.
"Very well. Do whatever it is that you need to do", Hitch finally answered, exasperated. He was resigned to the fact that Avalyn Grant was right, they needed to involve the King, one way or another.
Avalyn nodded once before leaving Hitch's office and heading outside to the SUV that Trey and Finnick waited for her in. Once she was seated, she put her headphones in and pulled up her internet browser on her phone. Trey started driving towards the town of Crescent Valley, as Avalyn looked up Black Industries.
Black Industries is a well-known technology company, located in Sol City. The city right next to Crescent Valley. Avalyn called the number that was posted on the website.
"Black Industries, how may I assist you?", A feminine voice answered the phone. "I need to set an appointment up with Mr. Black. Today if possible", Avalyn spoke politely. "Okay. Let's see", the receptionist said, pausing for a moment. "You are in luck, he had a cancellation this morning, so he has an eleven o'clock available. Can I get you name and reason for the appointment?", the lady asked, nicely.
"My name is Avalyn Grant, the reason is… personal", Avalyn said, pinching the bridge of her nose for not coming up with a better reason. "Ookay.." the receptionist drug out. "Don't be late, Miss Grant. Mr. Black won't tolerate it", the receptionist added, harshly. "That will not be an issue", Avalyn retorted back, before hanging up.
"Mr. Black? Like Alexander Black, from Black Industries?", Trey asked, looking at Avalyn through the rearview mirror. Avalyn only nodded in response. "What personal reason do you need to see him for?", he asked, his voice laced with jealousy, and a scowl on his face.
"Oh, I didn't tell you?", Avalyn retorted. "Huh?", she puffed. Avalyn did not like the way that Trey acted. He always acted as if Ava was beneath him. He would boss her around and act like her father at times. She believed him to be a pompous prick.
Trey frowned hard, as he sped up. His anger getting the best of him. Avalyn ignored his antics and pulled Hitch's number up to shoot him a quick text. 'Meeting set up. 11am, today. Just me", she typed, before hitting send.
"This doesn't make sense to me. It has become more public with each kill. Like he is taunting us", Finnick said, as he flipped through his file on all the murders. "He keeps jumping state lines though, like he is avoiding being captured", Finnick added.
Avalyn had an inkling to what was actually happening. To her it seemed like the vampire was losing control when feeding. Then he is running until he is hungry again. Avalyn seen the remorse at the crime scenes in the way the killer would clean and cover the victims. As if he couldn't bear the sight of what he had done.
When they arrived at the crime scene, Avalyn and Finnick got out of the SUV and walked right up to the scene. Only presenting their badges at the tape to get through. Trey stopped to speak to the detective on site. Crime scene personnel was still present, taking pictures and gathering evidence. They already had the body removed.
"See what I mean? He keeps killing closer and closer to the public eye. Soon, he will be killing in the middle of crowded streets", Finnick said. "He is losing control", Avalyn mumbled. "I can see that too", he agreed.