A real case? So that's how he saw it. Why care about one young woman from out of state? I tried a few more questions, hoping to push him into cooperating, but he didn't budge. He and his colleagues hadn't even bothered to check the address Aniya's mother had given them. Jack didn't seem concerned when I pointed out its lack of inhabitants. That should have been a red flag.

After a few more attempts to gain his cooperation, I gave up and stormed out of the police department, but not before leaving him my contact information and a picture of Aniya. Just in case.

It was ridiculous that they cared so little about a woman's life. I didn't want to believe the police-in any town-could be this careless. If they couldn't be bothered with Aniya's disappearance, I doubted they'd be much protection for me if things went wrong. It looked like I'd have to watch my own back. Luckily, I'd already considered this.

A local gun dealer held the .45 Sig Sauer I'd shipped up here a couple days before. Taking it in my luggage hadn't been an option and neither had driving the long distance to transport it. That left the postal system. Mailing a handgun in the United States had been no simple task, but I'd figured it out.

After stating my identity and purpose, the man at the counter asked me to fill out some paperwork before handing the gun over. It felt good to have it back, like my personal security blanket. I purchased some hollow point ammunition for it as well. The weapon wouldn't do much good against vamps, but a well placed bullet of the right caliber could damage a werewolf, along with several other races. Maybe even kill them.

Only a few prying questions slowed me down. The nice man seemed to understand the gun being for safety concerns, which made things easier. He didn't need to know what kind of threat it was really for. Besides, I considered werewolves and vamps to be a form of wildlife.

A few hours and a change of clothes later I was prepared for a night out. My hopes were now pinned to finding locals who might have seen Aniya. The backpack wouldn't be appropriate for the venues I planned to visit, which meant stuffing what I could into my purse. My gun fit in the concealed holster I'd tucked into the back of my pants and a leather jacket worn over a silky tank top covered it up. A few other small weapons of possible use were also hidden underneath my clothes. If all went well, I wouldn't need them, but for the duration of my stay they would always be with me.

The first bar I found appeared to be crowded, despite it not even being dark yet. Of course, the sun wouldn't set until almost 10:30 pm. Most people wouldn't bother to wait that long before going out. The place had a rustic appearance to it with the heads of various animals hung on the walls to add to the ambiance. Hunting game was known to be a big activity up here. I had my own kind of hunting in mind, in the form of whoever took Aniya, but any resulting heads wouldn't be all that appropriate.

Almost all eyes were on me as I entered. Out of what must have been dozens of patrons, maybe a third of them were women. Maybe the male to female ratio here reflected the average American woman's living preferences. I suspected most of my gender wouldn't be caught dead living in a place where it reached a chilling negative sixty degrees in the winter.

Having dealt with even greater gender ratios in the army, I figured it could be used to my advantage. Of course, even buying a drink for myself turned into a challenge. I let the guys come; acting nice enough at first, then flashing Aniya's picture in the hopes they would recognize her. As it turned out, no one did. I had to keep running the prospective suitors off.

It wasn't my looks that drew them to me as much as my availability. No matter where in the world you go, if a woman walks into a bar alone, it draws male attention. The drunker they are, the worse it gets. After more than an hour of constant attention and no progress, I left to try my luck elsewhere.

The next two places turned out to be a bust as well. The sun had set by the time I reached the fourth at almost eleven o'clock. My senses rose to high alert with the encroaching darkness. There were a couple of werewolves in the vicinity, but none were inside the bar I entered. My range went to about half a mile. They could be at any number of places. So long as they weren't at this one, it didn't matter where they chose to hang out.

At least most witches wouldn't reduce themselves to watering holes such as this one. The vamps had yet to make an appearance anywhere nearby. It made me wonder if they lived farther outside the city limits. I hadn't sensed any of them yet.

My current locale had a mixture of military and locals inside. Despite the dim lighting, I managed to count out five women. Four appeared to be wives or girlfriends, based on the protective postures of the men next to them. The fifth woman might have been military. Her clothes were flashy and the hint of tone in her body implied regular exercise. I could see a lot of her due to the short skirt and sleeveless blouse she wore. It almost made me snicker when she tossed her long, red hair back and all the guys followed the movement, almost drooling over the sight. This young woman, who couldn't have been more than twenty-one, seemed to be enjoying the attention she received. More power to her.

I went straight for the bar, noting the impressive craftsmanship of it. The carved, mahogany wood was smooth against my touch and lined at the edges with shiny brass. A middle-aged man with a heavy beard and dark hair took my drink order while the male attention continued to be diverted to the red-head. He served it to me while I sat on a bar stool drumming my fingers and studying the place.

Two guys walked up a few minutes later. They were both close to my age and semi-sober. I sized them up in a glance and recognized their type. Before either one could speak, I started in on them.

"You two stationed at Ft. Wainwright?"

They both nodded.

The taller one with short blond hair asked, "How'd you know? We haven't seen you around here before."

"I haven't been in town long, but you both have army written all over you with those haircuts." I smiled so they wouldn't take offense.

"Yeah, that usually gives us away. My name's Matt and this is Jason." He pointed at his darker haired friend. "Mind if we take a seat?"

I nodded at the empty bar stools next to me. "Go ahead. So what do you do in the army?"

Matt leaned back and puffed out his chest with pride. "We're airborne infantry."

It took extreme effort not to roll my eyes. Airborne infantry usually served on the front lines in battle and always had big heads. They believed their short lifespan in combat made them braver than everyone else. Little did they know I had been airborne during my career as well, though not infantry, which was reserved for men. It made it hard for me to be impressed.

Not to mention my experiences in the Middle East proved anyone could be attacked. The enemy didn't care what your official job title was, though mine would have gotten me killed faster if they'd caught me out in the open. I was an interrogator. The bad guys hated us. In the Middle East, we had high dollar price tags on our heads.

"Must be exciting." I managed to squeeze out a bit of awe into my voice.

Jason spoke up. "I didn't catch your name."

"That's because I didn't give it." They weren't going to find out either, safer for all of us.

"Listen guys, I'm not really here for social purposes." I pulled out the picture of Aniya from my purse and held it up. "Have you seen this girl?"

Jason shook his head, but Matt focused in on it before replying. "As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure I did. Back a few weeks ago, maybe a month."

I sat up straighter. "Where did you see her?"

"Actually, it was here," Matt answered. "She was with a guy. They didn't stick around long. I only saw them on my way to the bathroom. By the time I came back, both of them had left. Jason, you were here that night too. Don't you remember her? Not a face you could forget."

Jason shook his head. "Nah, I didn't see her man. A girl like that, though, would grab my attention." He indicated the picture of Aniya. Her Indian heritage showed. She had a beautiful face and glossy, black hair. The olive tone of her skin would stand out as well.

Their answers gave me the sinking suspicion that the vamps in the area were using their mesmerization skills to wipe the memories of any humans who might have seen them. The only reason Matt remembered seeing her was because he'd been out of the room when everyone else's memories were wiped. That led me to believe a vampire might have taken her. It would make my search and rescue a lot more difficult, even if my sensor abilities could help.

Focusing my attention on my witness, I continued my questioning. "What were they doing when you saw them?"

He shrugged. "Sitting at a table having a drink. There may have been someone else with them, but it was crowded that night and not easy to tell."

"What did he look like?"

Matt rubbed his chin. "I think he had dark hair, maybe a couple inches long. His skin was pale too, but that's the norm for this place."

Considering Matt's own skin still had a golden tan, I doubted he'd been stationed here long. The description he gave fit what I remembered from a picture of Philip that Aniya had shown me before coming up here, but I needed more details to be sure.

"How about the man's size?"

He shook his head. "I'm not sure. Maybe not that big, though, or I might have remembered. Like I said, it was crowded that night and I only saw him for a second. Wouldn't have noticed the guy at all if it weren't for the girl. So, why all the questions?"

"It's a personal matter." I waved my hand away. "Nothing to concern yourself with."

He leaned forward and spoke in a low tone. "Is she in trouble?"

My head jerked up. My senses had just sparked a warning. Two werewolves and a vampire were headed straight for the bar. Shit. I needed to get out of here. I did not want to be drawing any supernatural attention if I didn't have to.

"Look, I'm sorry to cut this off, but I gotta go," I said, getting up. "Thanks for your help."

"Wait..." Matt called out. I ignored him and hurried for the door, darting between drunken patrons as I went.

I didn't make it outside in time. The sups pulled a late-model, black BMW into an empty parking spot right in front of the bar. My SUV sat three spaces past it. I kept walking.

Please don't let them notice me.

"Hey, pretty lady," the driver said. The only vamp in the group had to be the one to notice me. He stepped right into my path.

Avoid the eyes or he'll know.

I stared at a small stain on the collar of his brown suede jacket. Dried blood?

The two werewolves snickered. "You can take that one for yourself, man. We're going inside."

Rock music spilled out as they opened the bar door. I didn't look back. The vamp in front of me held all of my attention. He appeared to be in his mid-twenties, but was actually closer to thirty. He'd been undead for about five years. I could take him...probably.

My hand itched for my gun, but I remembered Wanda's words from long ago. "Melena, don't ever bring a gun to a vampire fight. You'll get one shot off before they kill you."

Okay, fine, plan B.

I put my hands in my pockets. "You wanna get out of my way?"

"Why don't you look at me, pretty lady?" Yeah, because that would be such a good idea. He was too young to compel me with his voice. In another few years he'd have that skill, but not yet. He had to use the eyes for now.

I continued to stare at the stain on his jacket. He had hurt an innocent human. For all I knew it could have been Aniya. I clinched my fingers around my pocket knife. This guy had to be handled very carefully.

"Get out of my way," I said through clinched teeth. "I'm not interested."

His hand shot out to wrap around my throat. I flinched, but his grip wasn't so tight I couldn't breathe. Dead prey made bad meals for vampires.

"Look. At. Me." He forced my head up, but I kept my eyes averted. In my hand, I flipped open my knife-the same one I'd used on Noreen-and pressed it hard against the bulge in his pants. The tip didn't go through, but the threat was clear. He loosened his grip on my throat enough so I could speak.

"Back the fuck off," I said, "or else this is really going to hurt." Some people think the bigger the knife, the better. If used properly, a three inch blade could be every bit as effective.

He backed off.

"Bitch," he spat.

I smiled and held up my weapon. "Go inside before I change my mind and use this anyway."

A muscle ticked in his jaw. I thanked God he was too young to be a real threat. He hesitated a moment longer before making a move to pass me. I stepped aside, giving him plenty of room. My knife stayed up where he could see it.

He tried to catch my eyes one more time. He kept going when it didn't work. I'd had years of practice keeping my eyes averted when vamps were around. It had kept me alive, though I preferred to avoid them altogether. One day, I'd run into a vampire who wouldn't forget he could heal from a knife wound-even if it was pointed at his genitals.

Chapter Four.

The next morning, cool and crisp air hit me as I stepped outside. My tank top and shorts didn't give me much protection from the cold morning temperatures of Fairbanks, but I'd warm up after a mile. Driving around town yesterday gave me a basic feel for the area, but it hadn't been enough. Fast travel usually resulted in my senses being overloaded with too much information at once. A morning run would give me a better mental picture of the demographics and what I might be dealing with. I needed the exercise, anyway.

After taking a few minutes to stretch, I took off down the road, staying parallel to the street. The muscles in my legs protested at first, but as my feet found a steady rhythm the tightness faded away. Not many cars were out yet, making the run more pleasant. I hated choking on exhaust fumes.

A mixture of businesses and homes appeared along the way, each of them in varying conditions. Some people took care of their houses by giving them regular paint jobs and having manicured lawns with beautiful gardens. Others spent a lot less time maintaining their places and had trash and junk spread all around, much like the "shack" I'd visited the day before.

My pace slowed as I neared downtown so I could take everything in. The landscaping was colorful near the Chena River with an assortment of flower beds set in key places for aesthetics. Multistory buildings rose up to contrast with the flowing water running alongside my path.

I felt a vile presence up ahead. The sensation of the troll it represented made my stomach want to revolt. I could've taken a longer route around, but I didn't think it would be worth the effort. He'd cast a look away spell, which I sensed as I neared him, and he didn't appear to want trouble. It would disrupt fishing with the fancy pole he used. Curiosity made me take a second glance before averting my gaze. Wanda had shown me pictures before, but this was the first one I'd seen up close. They weren't that common in cities. Few of the fae races were, except pixies.

The troll was an ugly, squat creature with hairy arms and legs. He had a bulbous nose that could be used to sniff out prey. His kind didn't like anyone paying attention to them, and if they caught you looking, things would get nasty quick. A small number of young children could see them. They often disappeared if the troll caught them staring. An adult could be taken as well. I did not want to risk him noticing me. Trolls were carnivores and not picky about what kind of meat they ate.

I veered off in another direction and headed into downtown. When I reached 2nd Avenue, there were a number of gift shops, restaurants, and bars lining the street. With the light foot traffic, I was able to get a brief glimpse into places that caught my eye. One was a bakery with the sweet-smelling aroma of fruit pastries wafting from it. The scent almost made me stop my run. I'd always been a sucker for baked goods.

This was no time to linger, though. I forced myself to keep going and headed back into the residential areas. Other than the troll, there hadn't been any other sups around.

A short while later my senses picked up something I hadn't expected. A warm and tingly sensation ran over me with familiarity. It had been a long time since I'd felt anything like it. The shock hit me hard enough I almost stumbled over a street curb. A female sensor was a little south of me. We were such a rare breed that this was the first one I'd encountered since Wanda's death. I let my senses guide me to her. Anticipation thrummed through my veins at the opportunity to meet another of my kind.

Within minutes, her home came into view and the condition of it almost brought me to a halt. I slowed to a walk, not liking the scene. It was a dilapidated place that might have been decent a couple decades ago, but didn't look so great now. The decorative shutters hung loose with chips in their green paint visible even from a distance. White siding lined the outer walls; it was discolored and falling apart.

I made my way to the front where a sagging metal fence, tangled with weeds, surrounded the yard. The gate was missing with broken hinges left as the only clue it ever existed. I took cautious steps past it while trying not to trip on the numerous cracks in the sidewalk leading up to the entrance.

Part of me hadn't known what to expect, coming here without a plan. It turned out the sensor I was searching for sat on the sloped cement porch appearing forlorn and lost. She had to be about fourteen years old. Her head was bowed down while she poked at a large rock with one of her bare feet. A ponytail kept most of her brown hair off her pale face, but uneven bangs prevented me from seeing her eyes. The clothes she wore told much of the same story as the house. Whoever took care of this girl didn't do a good job of it. She wore faded jeans with numerous holes in them and a stained, yellow t-shirt.

I cleared my throat to get her attention. She lifted her head to reveal a pretty face and stark blue eyes. Surprise flickered in them briefly, making me think most people ignored her when they passed by. Not knowing what else to do, I said the first thing that came to mind.

"Hi, I'm Melena."

She continued to stare at me. I'd thought I was guarded at that age, but she had me beat by a long shot.

"Is your mother home?"

She shook her head. "Nope."

"Is she always gone this early?"

The girl shrugged. "More like she's always out this late."

"So you expect her back soon?"

She kicked the rock away from her. "She won't be back before dark."

What kind of mother left her young daughter alone all night and day? I frowned. "Do you have someone else who watches over you?"

The girl narrowed her eyes. "Who are you? Child protective services or something?"

"Um, no." I shook my head. "Nothing like that, but I do think you know we have something in common. Do you mind if I take a seat?" I waved at a spot about four feet from her on the other side of the steps.

Her brows furrowed as she looked at the empty expanse of porch. A long moment passed before she shrugged her shoulders. "Yeah, sure."

"So do you know what I'm talking about? How we are alike?"

"You feel...familiar," she said, as if surprised by the conclusion.

I nodded. "Yep, how long have you been sensing things?" It couldn't have been long, based on her age. It always started around puberty.