When Alex did not follow, something between relief and concern for him settled heavily in Victoria’s heaving chest. He had found her once, and she did not want him to find her again. He knew her well. [i]Too[/i] well. Patterns, behaviors... from what little she knew, his kind were rather attentive at the worst of times.
	When her legs started to protest, she slowed to a brisk walk. She had to act different, opposite. So, despite every instinct telling her to run and hide every time she caught a glimpse of a supernatural, she kept to the crowds, carefully steering clear of every shadow she could. When she finally found a main street she recognized, she hurried down it, hoping she went toward the school. 
	Her fingers never released her pendant. The feeling that she had let her parents down made her stomach churn. After all, she had let one of the very things that killed them into her life.
	[i]He saved me from that... that [u]shade,[/u] though,[/i] a small voice reminded in the back of her mind. 
	She shook her head and ran a hand through her hair. [i]But I wouldn’t have even been in that alley in the first place if it wasn’t for him.[/i]

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	Nyaira slunk easily behind the girl, suspicious, yet thankful, for Alex’s absence. She watched the girl as they went, a vulture waiting for its prey to die. Then, she noticed Victoria’s behavior toward a few people; she moved away, fear crossing her face as she looked toward the ground. 
	Nyaira made it a point to walk near them, and every time, their scent told her they were one kind of supernatural or another.
	She had found the one Luc wanted. Of that, she was certain.

[center]*	*	*[/center]
	“Well, [i]hello![/i]”
	The darkly cheerful voice made Victoria’s blood run cold. She choked back a sob when she turned to see Nyaira approaching her. She stumbled back and looked around at all the other people walking the sidewalk. Though not as crowded as the square, a few handfuls of people, both alone and in groups, passed by.
	“Victoria, right? Alex’s friend.” Nyaira gave her what looked like an attempt at a friendly smile, but the sadistic glimmer in her eyes made Victoria shrink back.
	She turned to run, but the vampire was beside her in an instant. Nyaira locked Victoria’s arm in hers, her grip painfully tight.
	Victoria whimpered as she placed an arm around her shoulders. She tried to push away, to stop, but Nyaira easily forced her forward.
	“You and I have some things to talk about, [i]peu mortel.[/i]” Nyaira pulled Victoria tighter into her side, all but dragging her along with her as a small group of men in suits passed by. “Come. Take a walk with me.”