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Cellissee has never been shot before. People like her didn't get shot. She's seen the back of a cop car, but she was a nice suburban girl, cops never even pulled their guns. That was that time her girlfriend went to prison.

Cellissee was out front, smoking a cigarette on the porch. They just pulled up, no sirens, no noise, just boom, there was the FBI. Cellissee's eyes were wide as quarters, blue-gray quarters, and they just walked right passed her into the house. One of them told her, in a not too hostile way, to come with him. He just sat her in the back of a cop car and stood there waiting. No cuffs or anything. She brushed her auburn hair out of her eyes, it was always getting in her eyes, and watched as Natalie was walked out of the house, her hair tied up in a messy bun, still bare foot in her sweatpants and hoodie. They didn't cuff her either, just sort of walked her out with her hands gripped behind her back and sat her in a different car. She looked at Cellissee, just before they put her in the car, with a look that said, they got me babe, nothing to be done. It was ransomware, that was how they got her. Cellissee told her it was a bad idea, but she helped anyway. They were partners after all, like Bonnie and Clyde of cyberspace, but Clyde was female, and probably not named Clyde. Natalie made a mistake, and it led them right to her, but there was nothing that linked Cellissee to the case, so she walked away a free girl. That didn't stop her from fleeing the country. It was possible that the Feds would be satisfied with Nat's conviction, wham bam case closed, headlines in the media, job well done. It was also possible that a link could be made given enough time. Nobody's perfect. So Cellissee found herself in Harper Rock, where she was shot for the first time in her life. Oh, and she became a vampire, yeah that happened too. She's had a bad time of it lately.

Cellissee woke up in an alley, at night, it was raining. Maybe there was a classical string quartet on the roof playing the saddest music imaginable. The first thing she realized was she was thirsty. Her mouth had never felt so dry. She just felt thirsty, and empty, was a good word. She was thirsty and empty and there was a craving she couldn't identify, but it was painful. She moaned and sat up against a wall, next to a dumpster. She was dying she thought, this is what death feels like. Her limbs were stiff and rubbery. How did I get here, she thought, what happened to me? She didn't remember anything. Nothing that happened that day at all really. She remembered everything about the day before. She got a room for another week, decided it was time to quit being such a shut in, and wanted to get out for a bit. See more of the city. There were supposedly vampires running around, and they were nice, or something, so wouldn't it be weird to meet one, like weird in a cool way? But she didn't, at least she didn't think so. Everyone seemed normal. She just looked around some shops, had a few drinks at some night club, didn't really talk too much to anyone, went home before midnight. Kind of a bummer night really. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't remember anything after her head hit the pillow.

Cellissee moaned again and wrapped her arms around her stomach. She felt so weak, so tired. Her vision was blurry, but still she felt like she could see better than she ever has in a weird way. She could smell the dumpster, like really smell it, and something else she couldn't put her finger on, something that excited her to her core, and it was getting closer. Two men dressed in chefs clothing rounded the corner of the alley. They were holding trash bags. They were heading to the dumpster. Cellissee felt a surge of excitement, and all thought ceased and was replaced with need. Some ancient instinct told her to be still, and she listened. Two men reached the dumpster and opened the lid. They were laughing about some co-worker or something, Cellissee couldn't really concentrate on their words, or even their language, it all just slurred together. All she could hear was the blood, and beating of their hearts, she could smell it in their veins. Then it just happened. The urge was too strong, the instinct too insistent that this was what she needed, this would fill her emptiness, this would heal her pain. Before any of them could react Cellissee lunged around the dumpster and latched on the the closest one to her. She bit into his neck, savagely growling and clawing. She drug him to the ground and the other man screamed, probably said holy **** or something, and ran. She was grunting like an animal, like a beast, his friend said to the police, she was a goddamned monster. Gasping, Cellissee lifted her mouth away from the man's neck. She was on all fours over his now convulsing body. Her mouth covered in blood. She was in bliss, she felt feelings that can only be described as euphoria, satisfaction, relief. That feeling you have when you are doing exactly what you were meant to do. When you get into the zone and just forget about everything else. The emptiness was gone, the pain was gone. Her body was on fire, it was alive, more alive than it had ever been before. She laughed and began to lick at the blood on her lips. Then she looked down at her latest meal, and that instinct slipped back into the background and left Cellissee staring at this poor guy. Her attack was so savage that his neck was completely shredded. She didn't completely drain him but he was in the process of bleeding out, it wouldn't be long. Cellissee gasped and fell over herself trying to get off the top of him. Both hands were over her mouth and her eyes were as wide as quarters again. Then she heard the shouting, the cries and the screams. She turned around and saw small crowd at the end of the alley. The red and blue of the police was already illuminating the walls around her. The crowd parted as two uniforms rushed out of the car, guns drawn and raised. They didn't even say anything, they just fired. Gunshots deafened her ears and before she could react she felt something like a sting in her abdomen. She cried out in pain and surprise, then she ran. Three more hit her before she rounded the corner at the other end of the alley. Luckily they were the first response, and Cellissee managed to get away before the cavalry arrived.

Two hours later Cellissee sat against the edge of a roof she managed to climb to without being spotted. Her head was buried in her hands and she was crying. Sirens wailed in the distance.

As the sun began to rise Cellissee knew she needed shelter. She knew enough about Vampires to know the sun burns, what once gave life now takes it. Every fiber of her being screamed danger, get away, fear the light! So Cellissee stepped off the edge of the roof, just a two story warehouse, no biggie for an undead lady, and landed crouched in a grassy strip against the east facing wall. She groaned, the landing strained her gunshot wounds. Wounds that have long ago stopped bleeding, but were still very tender. She slowly stood and took in the scenery, reflecting on the night, and the wild turn her life has taken. That man's blood was still on her hands, on her face. It was all over her clothes, it was caked in her hair. It hung now in clumped bloody tangles that spilled over her left shoulder down to her waistline. She stared at her hands, slowly, almost casually, turning them over in the moonlight. The night sky was beginning to fade into day. Wouldn't be long now.

Cellissee thought about breaking a window to the warehouse and sleeping in some forgotten nook. She was sure there was some sort of closed off maintanence room, or something like that. She quickly decided against it. Too exposed, she would most likely be found, not to mention breaking and entering attracted the police, stupid. She ducked and flattened herself against the wall as a pair of headlights turned the corner. The warehouse was a good distance from the actual road, but Cellissee, thanks to her newfound Vampire vision, could see that it was a police car. It drove by without incident, but while watching as it passed, Cellissee noticed the manhole, sewer access. She frowned at the thought, but only for a second. Is it better to burn into a crisp or sleep in the filth of Harper Rock? At the moment, the decision wasn't as instantaneous as one would think.

"**** my life," Cellissee muttered as she lifted the manhole, much easier than she expected. Vampire strength.

She slid the manhole closed and descended an old ladder that was really just a bunch of, now slightly rusted, metal rungs bolted to the brick wall of the sewer. She covered her nose, the smell hit her hard enough to jerk her head back. It was much worse than it would have been. Yeah yeah, she thought, Vampire senses enhanced, get used to it. Still covering her nose with the back of her hand, Cellissee looked around. No light would shine in these tunnels, she quickly surmised. She would be safe down here, as long as no one found her. Something told her the police would steer clear the sewers in a city filled with Vampires and god knows what else, at least she hoped so, because the sun was rising, and she was out of options.

Cellissee walked the tunnels for a bit until she found a nice secluded section, a forgotten nook, and curled up into a ball, trying to look as small and unoticeable as possible. Above, the sun had already risen, and Cellissee slept the second her eyes closed.

11:15pm A little over two weeks later

Cellissee walked the streets of Harper Rock with one hand in the pocket of her jeans, and another gripping the strap of a backpack slung over her shoulder. Her hair was shorter now, shoulder length, and tied back into a ponytail, it bounced with her slightly hurried stride, a sort of hurried but trying to look casual stride. She hated being outside the Sanctuary flat Bjorn let her crash in since the whole cure incident. Human/Vampire relations were strained at best, and being a Vampire had become a bit more tricky. She hardly left Wickbridge at all, unless she was hunting, but that was before. Now things were different. The city was scared, it was paranoid, and Cellissee had been caught feeding one time too many.

She shifted her grip on her backpack, it contained something she was reluctant to try, but would regardless. She just hoped she didn't, by some stroke of **** luck, fall or something, and burst the bloodpack stowed away inside. Wouldn't that be ackward, would anyone believe it was ketchup?

She looked down at her feet as a group of three Canadian military rounded the corner across the street. They were in Harper Rock to keep the peace, there have been protests, and even a few lynch mob style vampire killings, but Cellissee knew at least a few of them had to have itchy trigger fingers. She was sure they would love to bust a cap in at least a few vamps during their stay. She realized she was holding her breath as she passed out of their view, then remembered she didn't have to breathe in the first place, old habits and all, and continued on. She wanted to get back, no incidents, no craziness, no attention, and see what blood in a bag tasted like.

As Cellissee neared Wickbridge station, she noticed a small group of decidedly inebriated girls, stumble out of the Metronome Club onto the walkway in front of her. It seemed not everyone was too paranoid to have a good time. Cellissee noticed they were around her age, and chuckled when she overheard that it was their friend's 21st birthday today, and they were going to get her ****faced. Cellissee remembered her 21st, which was like a little over a year ago, not like ancient history or anything, anyway...

It was the eighth of June, 2016, Natalie put a bottle of Jack Daniels in the freezer all day, so when they drank it, it was super cold. They put away the whole bottle in just a few hours. Natalie tried to three point it into the trashcan from the couch and it shattered against the wall like twenty feet away or something. They started laughing, then Natalie leaned in and kissed Cellissee gently, "Happy Birthday babe," she said. Cellissee smiled ear to ear, and started to say, or slur, something like, "s.s.sper smoove," but jumped up instead and declared, "Oh my god, I'm gonna ******* puke..." and that she did, all night. It was one of the funnest most horrible nights of her life. Just her and Nats...

Cellissee, still grinning, watched as the birthday girl snuck a peak behind her. She locked eyes with Cellissee and quickly turned around. Puzzled, Cellissee watched as she reached into her purse and pulled out a hot pink, overly bedazzled, compact mirror. She opened it and raised it to her face, and finally Cellissee realized what was happening. Before she could think, "Oh ****," she watched birthday girl's eyes grow wide as they looked in her direction from their reflection in the mirror. She almost dropped it, as a result of her now trembling hands, and all but clawed at the girl's shoulder next to her, "Holy ****, guys, guys, there's one behind us, she doesn't have a reflection!" Cellissee felt a surge of panic as they all turned their heads to look at her then started fumbling for mirrors of their own, or phones, or guns. The last thing Cellissee wanted, other than gunning her down like it was the O.K Corral, was for them to take a ******* picture of the Vampire chick stalking them that one time. In her mind's eye, like a series of flashing images, Cellissee saw...

her picture posted online, going viral, a soldier's rifle raising up in the air, firing off round after round at an already wounded Cellissee, running for her life. She saw herself waking up to a Paladin standing over her, sword raised, just a breath away from hacking her head clean off. Cellissee couldn't move, or scream, and could only stare in silent terror as he loomed over her. As he swung his blade down...

Cellissee involuntarily jumped to a standstill. Before any of them finished their frantic fumble through the clutter of their purses, Cellissee ran across the street and into the field behind Grosseto's. Without looking to see if there were smartphones flashing, or gun barrels, she turned the corner and instead of heading straight for Sanctuary, which she really should have done, Cellissee ran across the street, passed Wickbridge station, and into the dark and secluded alleyways of a cluster of commercial buildings and skyscrapers a short distance to the south. Once she felt safe, Cellissee stopped. Still rattled, she raised her hands out in front of her and squeezed them into fists to stop the shaking. "Son of a *****," she cursed as she leaned against a wall and slid into a crouch. Remembering the blood pack, she took off her backpack and looked inside, Cellissee was relieved to see that it was fine. She considered just drinking it there, but quickly changed her mind and zipped up the pack. With her luck somebody would show up just as she was squeezing the last drops or something. It's totally ketchup dude, I swear.Cellissee just sat there for a minute, basking in the solitude, the sounds of the city somewhat distant. She felt insulated there in the shadows of the alley way, but she would feel better at Sanctuary. With a reluctant grunt, Cellissee stood up and slung her backpack across her shoulder. That was when she heard something she didn't like very much, and she liked what she knew she was going to do even less.

A Few Moments Later

Cellissee pressed her back against the corner and peered around timidly. She already knew what she was going to see. She had been, as quietly as she could, making her way toward the source of a savage growl, and a scream of painful surprise, that cut out almost as soon as it sounded. Cellissee thought about just ignoring it for a moment, and then cursed at herself for wanting to take a peek. Just a quick one. Something wasn't right, it didn't feel right. Nothing psychic involved, just that pure mysterious instinct all living creatures possess. Cellissee could feel that sense of, get the **** out of here, grow more and more insistent the closer she got to the source of the sound. She could smell blood, a lot of blood. It's aroma was thick and intoxicating. Something was chewing, and slurping, and grunting between gulps of buckets of some poor bastards blood. What she saw shocked her to her core.

Her clothes were in tatters, and filthy. Nothing more than rags really. Her blonde, or maybe brunette hair, kinda hard to tell, was matted with dirt, and blood, and filth. She was on her knees, bent over a heavyset, heavily tattooed man, head buried in the side of his neck, which gushed blood as she fed. She seemed to be chewing on his neck, grunting and growling as blood gushed all over her, and everything else. Cellissee stared slack jawed. Everything in her told her to run, run as fast as she could and just forget this ****, but she couldn't budge. She couldn't look away. It was in an alleyway similar to this one, not two or three weeks ago, where Cellissee attacked and killed her first human. It was like an outerbody experience, she was there but not really. She felt it, and reveled in it, but it wasn't her. She tore his neck to shreds, and laughed. She laughed, and now she stared at this creature covered in blood and gore from head to toe, and couldn't look away. Or maybe she wouldn't because, That could be me... The Vampire's feeding frenzy suddenly halted and she jerked as if she had just heard something. Cellissee shuddered as a voice as savage and feral as the Vampire before her echoed in her mind, mine, my kill, my blood, kill you, kill you. She was a telepath.

The woman's eyes met Cellissee's, a shade of blue slightly darker than her own. She raised her head and opened her mouth, blood flowed down the front of her as she shot Cellissee a gurgling hiss. She didn't even need the blood, she was killing just to kill. She was gorging herself. Heart pounding, Cellissee stepped around the corner with her hands outstretched to show she meant no harm. She decided to communicate telepathically as before, afraid the sound of her voice would startle the woman, I'm not going to hurt you ok? See, look. I'm not a threat to you. I don't want your kill ok. I don't want it. The Vampire gripped her kill in both hands and hissed at Cellissee as she emerged. Cellissee took another hesitant step. She was completely freaked out, but she wanted to try and help this woman even more. What if she never met Bjorn, or Every? What if she never got off the streets? She knew it was their advice that calmed her down. It was their kindness and generosity that allowed her to come to grips with what had happened to her. She didn't think it, she knew it.

This could be her.

It's ok, it's ok. You don't need to feed anymore tonight, yeah. Look, it's all over you. You don't have to do it like that. Please, let me help you.

The feral vamp growled and retreated a few feet, pulling her meal with her. Cellissee, nodded and stopped. Ok, I get it, no closer I get it ok. The woman, snarled and bit into the man's neck, sucking at what little blood remained. Cellissee just stood there, letting her feed for a moment, taking the time to gather herself. She felt like she was getting somewhere, the woman's demeanor seemed to be less hostile, more scared animal. Cellissee took her backpack off and set it next to her feet slowly. The woman hardly noticed.

Hey, do you have a name,the woman looked at Cellissee, her eyes widened. yeah, a name? I'm Jessica. Cellissee hadn't meant to use her real name, it just came out, but she hardly noticed. I'm Jessica, what's your name?

She looked confused at first. She stared at Cellissee with wide uncertain eyes. Then her grip loosened on her prey. Cellissee saw something flash in her gaze, some sort of recognition. How long has she been this way? How old was she? Cellissee had no way of knowing. The woman seemed to be trying to remember, but whatever that look was quickly vanished. It was replaced with a vicious scowl. The Vampire bared her teeth and lunged at Cellissee, screaming and slashing wildly in the air. Somehow Cellissee knew what was going to happen seconds in advance and managed to dodge to the left just in time to avoid her. The Vampire landed where Cellissee previously stood and immediately lashed out at her. Cellissee managed to move her head back just in time to avoid getting clocked by inches, but before she could recover the woman leapt again, this time slamming her against the wall. Cellissee winced as she painfully crunched against brick.
The feral vamp went for Cellissee's neck, fangs bared, with a savage snarl. Cellissee screamed, and grabbed her by the neck, pushing her back with all her strength. Cellissee clinched her jaw and pushed and squeezed the woman's neck as hard as she could, but she was much stronger. Cellissee knew she couldn't hold her for much longer.
Cellissee reached behind her and wrapped her hand around the hilt of a dagger she had holstered sideways along her belt. She unsheathed it and blindly stabbed at the enraged Vampire. The woman screamed in pain as the blade sunk into her side. Blood squirted from the wound and Cellissee's hand slipped from the hilt.
The Vampire backed off, fumbling for the blade buried in her side. Cellissee wasted no time and drew a golden modified G-12 she had holstered under her T-Shirt. Cellissee squeezed off an unwieldy barrage of rapid fire. The woman screamed in pain as several bullets found their mark, tearing into her flesh. The feral vamp hissed and turned to run, leaving the now deceased man lying where she left him. Without looking Cellissee fired again in her direction and dashed for her backpack, now sagging against the opposite wall where it was kicked during the struggle. She scooped it up with one hand and ran in the opposite direction, firing blindly behind her as she ran. As she turned the corner she previously emerged from, she snuck a glance behind her. The walls were pockmarked with bulletholes, and blood was everywhere, but the woman was nowhere to be found. Wasting no time, Cellissee holstered the G-12 as she ran. When she reached the street she quickly peeked out, looking for any police or soldiers that may be rushing to the sounds of gunfire. Seeing none, and the street thankfully empty at the time, Cellissee broke into a brisk walk, deciding that running would attract too much attention. This time she was heading straight for Sanctuary.

Cellissee sighed with an upturned head, "thank god," she said as she saw the bloodpack was somehow unharmed. She placed it and the backpack on a chair next to her and sighed in exhaustion and relief. She was still shook from her encounter with the Vampire in the alley. She felt stupid. What did she think was going to happen? Did she really think she could get through to her? What then? Would she teach her how to be a 'civilized' vampire? Would they live together and be all like, happy, like a family or something? She just couldn't stop thinking about that night. When those two guys approached the dumpster, when she leapt onto the nearest one, tearing into him with complete abandon. She was like her. She was like an animal, out of control. She wanted to kill him, and if his friend hadn't run away, she would have killed him too. She knew if she wouldn't have come to, she would have leaped into the middle of the little crowd of on lookers, and tore into their flesh with a smile on her face. The same smile that forms every time she bites into the neck of her prey, and that sweet flow of blood fills her mouth and drips down her throat with a warmth and pleasure she's never felt before.

"I love it..." she said to no one at all with an expression of one that just discovered a horrible yet inevitable truth.

Cellissee stared down at the bloodpack, and then turned and walked over to a window overlooking the street. The same group of girls she encountered earlier, perhaps emboldened by their ability to spot and chase away vampires, were loudly laughing and making their way toward the Drunk Wicker Tavern. Cellissee licked her lips and then scowled as two soldiers turned the corner. She visibly deflated and then turned away from the window. Cellissee put her hands on her hips and glowered at the blood pack and sighed, "I'm just gonna pretend it's a Bloody Mary."