Josephine stared at the thick book on her walnut colored coffee table. The books were flipped to where a blood-colored bookmark was placed. On the open page was a Polaroid picture of Father George glued on. A giant red ‘X’ graced the picture.

“And what number would that be?” asked Telera from the kitchen.

“Two. Barely scratching the list,” said Josephine. She turned around in time to see Telera placed a plate on the bar. “Thank you for making dinner.”

“Well, I had to considering your arm and your stubbornness to go to the Golden Arches to heal up faster,” said Telera as she eyed Josephine’s left arm in a sling.

Somehow they managed to escape their safe house with only a few scratches and a broken arm.

“In case Leora is there. She might recognize me. I wasn’t sure if maybe she saw me during the battle,” sighed Josephine.

They were in the middle of interrogating Leora when the vampires busted through their safe house. She had no idea how that happened since she was sure Telera and her had covered their tracks. It was almost as if someone told them. Mentally, she shook her head. Telera would never betray her. She had no reason to.

She stood up and started walking to the bar where a plate of roasted chicken breast over potatoes waited for her. She had drunk holy water earlier and in a few hours her arm would be fully healed. Her stomach growled when she reached the bar.

“I looked over the security videos. She had assistance,” said Telera. She took out her phone and played a video for Josephine to watch.

“Did you run a face profile on the boy?” asked Josephine. She started eating her meal with a fork.

“Yup, ran his face through the DMV records. His name is Elijah Lee Sagittarus. Son of Carmen Lee Sagittarus,” said Telera.

“I don’t care who he is the son of—oh, it’s somebody I shouldn’t mess with?” said Josephine. She stopped mid bite at the look that Telera gave. It was the look where something important was being explained that she really should listen.

“She’s one of the ‘No-Touch-People’ I told you way before when you nestled yourself in San Francisco,” said Telera. She rolled her eyes. It was hardly the first time she had to repeat herself to Josephine. “She is the High Priestess of the West Coast Coven.”

“Ah, yeah, I remembered.” Josephine gobbled down a couple of bites of her food. She waved her fork in the air. “Hmm, now here’s a thought. Do you think the vampires and witches here teamed up to make a vampire that walks in daylight?” she asked.

“Highly doubt it,” said Telera. She looked over to the video on her smartphone and watched Elijah blast another vampire with energy, “I would think this boy wouldn’t need to break out his friend if that were the case?”

“Could be bad blood. Wouldn’t be the first time the witches and vampires backstabbed each other,” said Josephine before putting down her fork. “Your take then?”

“On?” smiled Telera.

“Leora,” said Josephine.

Telera grinned. She spoke with a slight tilt in her voice. “I believe Leora was speaking of the truth. Like I said, she seems nice. Yours?”

“Hmm, yeah,” drawled Josephine. She rubbed her chin. “She didn’t really struggle when she woke up. Most of the time, they’d try to spit at me. So kudos for that. Save for her sun immunity, she’s a basic vampire. I suppose that's a good thing? A master vampire immune to daylight would be interesting if I were still hunting them.”

“Yes, very much so,” said Telera, shaking her head. “Speaking of Master Vampire, I think you should lie low. Elizabeth would be looking for you.”

“Oh, her?” frowned Josephine. She recalled her bomb going off and the master vampire disappearing. “She wasn’t even there. Just projected herself and let her henchmen do all the work.”

“That is why she is the only master vampire here in San Francisco,” said Telera. “Count your blessings you didn’t have to deal with Axel too.”

“He noticed anything?” asked Josephine. Axel was the alpha of the ruling pack, the Moonbloods, in San Francisco.

“Nope. So long as we don’t crap his drug ring. He’s good with us,” said Telera. She put her elbows on the bar and rested her chin on her hands. “So, back to your favorite subject: Leora.”

Josephine rolled her eyes. “I know what you’re getting at. I am not really interested in that vampire.”

“Uh, huh. That why you asked her out?” teased Telera.

“Oh c’mon, it was you always telling me to go have fun, and I was doing that. Just didn’t expect fun to be a vampire,” lamented Josephine.

Telera laughed. “True. You have terrible luck. Eh, at least she’s cute and sunproof. Maybe the two of you can go to the beach next time. ”

“Oh, did I mention that she epically failed to hypnotize me never to date her again?” chuckled Josephine.

“Ouch,” said Telera and shook her head. “Not surprised. You were drunk.”

Josephine raised her hands. “You win,” “she said. Then she went somber. “Let’s get back to my actual favorite subject, Elizabeth. I was thinking that perhaps this Elizabeth gets a little famous. News about a series of killings where bodies have an odd pair of puncture wounds on the neck. Maybe even tie it in with a recent diocese death of a certain priest. Something that would make my next target decide to come to San Francisco to investigate. My contacts seemed unable to locate her currently. Last known place she was seen was in South America. She probably went into hiding after hearing about Father George.”

“No Elizabeth, please. She’s a very dangerous vampire and a reason why it takes both a witch coven and a wolf pack to keep her in check,” said Telera and quickly moved on before Josephine could reply. “How about you take this time to recharge until your next target comes out of hiding or we get more info? Like I said, all work and no play--”

“Makes for a dead hunter,” said Josephine. She cleaned her plate of the remaining food.

Telera rolled her eyes once more. “Way to hijack a saying.” She took the now empty plate from Josephine and placed it in the sink behind her.

“I think we should keep an eye on both Leora and House Eagle,” said Josephine as her eyes trailed to the refrigerator. Did she have any beer left? “Strictly observing them.”

Telera shook her head. She knew Josephine wasn’t going to listen to her and just relax. “Just be careful of vampires,” she cautioned.

“Durr, I know. I am a hunter,” grinned Josephine.

***

Leora’s manager wasn’t happy that she could not do night shift for a few months.

“What kind of illness did your aunt have again?” asked Jones.

He hovered behind Leora like a ghost.

“Albimastocraniumo,” she said quickly. “Look, I am just trying to help out family until they settle. Then I get right back to night shift.” She observed her manager’s poker faced expression. She may have to hit Jones with a hypnotic stare if he doesn’t buy into her lie.

“Fine, but I want a timeline. I really need you at the night shift,” said Jones before going off to assist another of his underling. “Oh, and can you get me a large coke drink too?” he called back.

Leora let out a sigh before putting on her mic and earpiece. She started pouring into a large styrofoam cup a coke as she was on drive-thru duty today. "Welcome to the Golden Arches! Happily serving over a billion orders. What is your order today?" she said, hearing the rolling of tires stop right at the order speaker. Without looking at the little screen that showed the faces of customers at the order speaker, she waited for a minute expecting a greeting or a start of an order.

There was no response.

“What is your order again?” said Leora, barely putting on the lid for the coke.

“No shitting way,” said a voice through Leora’s earpiece.

Leora froze, instantly recognizing the voice. She slowly turned the screen and was horrified to see an extra pale Elizabeth with thick dark sunglasses in a brown, heavily tinted, sedan.

Elizabeth shook her head, her thick brown curls bouncing with indignation. "Have you no shame? No dignity?"

“How did you find me?” gulped Leora. Where was her phone? She mentally groaned as she realized she had accidentally left it at the apartment today.

"A little birdy told me. I couldn’t believe them when they told me that you work here so I came to see it for myself," said Elizabeth. "Why are you wasting your time serving humans when they should be serving you?"

"Because I need money?" said Leora. She had come to realize that money was everything here and the means to gaining power in this world.

“Does your master not supply you? Are you abandon?” asked Elizabeth rapidly. She leaned a little forward toward the intercom video. “Is it because that hunter put you to this? What a horrible bitch. Should’ve just put your life out.”

“I don’t have a master nor do I work for this hunter,” answered Leora angrily. The sun was blazing high in the sky, and she took note of that. “The sun not bothering you?” she asked.

“A very thick layer of the finest sunblock and triple thick sunglasses,” answered Elizabeth sarcastically. She leaned back into her seat and cocked a half-hearted smile. “Apparently, you don’t need it at all.”

Leora saw, for an instant, Elizabeth flickered like the screen of an antenna tv that couldn’t get reception. This wasn’t the real Elizabeth and somehow the master vampire was projecting herself in the car. However, who was driving the car? A ghost?

“Hey, Leora, is that drink ready?” yelled Jones in the back.

“Yes, sorry. I am having one of those customers,” yelled back Leora. She turned back to the screen. “Give me a moment.”

“Be quick, the sunblock only lasts for so long,” sneered Elizabeth. Then she added, “Don’t make me wait and hope I’ll go away. I know where you live too.”

Leora bit her lower lip as she turned around and gave the large coke to a co-worker who then promptly took the drink to the front. She returned to the screen. “Okay, I said I was sorry for punching Aric,” she apologized.

“He doesn’t matter,” brushed off Elizabeth. “Look, I’ve come here for a proposition. Best if you and your witch companion come to my place tonight. You will not be harmed—for the moment.”

There was a honk. Elizabeth whipped around through her open window. “Fuck you! I am having a conversation here!” she screamed.

“Look, I need to wrap this up or else my boss may fire me. So, if I agree to come to your place, then you will leave? Like now,” said Leora. She pulled at her collar nervously.

“Of course. Details already sent to your friend. See you soon,” said Elizabeth before driving off.

Leora slapped her forehead and groaned.

A black mustang with missing doors pulled up into her screen.

“Yo, you forgot your phone,” said Elijah in a deadpan voice.

Leora groaned again. “So what now?” she asked.

“I get a number one and at eight we head for the Presidio Heights,” said Elijah.