10.

Sleep was a fitful occasion at best. At first, I hadn't been able to rest as my mind teetered between my absolute disgust for Torque and my continued disgust laced fascination with Vega. As the night wore on, my mind focused on one person. Vega. Yeah, I know. That's somewhat stupid considering Torque was my immediate threat. He was damn near trying to kill me, and all I could think about was Vega. Ridiculous.

I tried to tell myself that I didn't care what Vega was doing, but he was out there feeding. On innocents, maybe. I'm not sure. I knew he took some perverse pleasure in getting me all riled up. There were people out there who were willing—more than willing—to let Vega take their blood. What was a few pints of missing blood for the chance to have Vega all over you, right? Heh.

I couldn't get his words out of my head. I didn't want to be the prey, but I didn't want to be considered a "hunter" in the sense that he meant it. And I wanted to be repulsed by him. I wanted to really hate him. I wanted to load up a gun (or three) and put him out of my misery. I couldn't go hunting him down, though. If I killed him, I'd go to jail. That's if I didn't die first. Then, I wasn't really sure if I wanted to find him, anyway.

I tried to concentrate on grading tests that needed my full attention. I couldn't concentrate. I looked over tomorrow's lesson plans, sang and danced to Diana Ross, called JP at the club. None of it worked. Vega'd burrowed himself into my skull and wasn't letting go. I couldn't just walk away from this, from him.

I rested against my pillow, trying to will him away. I was stronger than this mentally. Who the hell was I kidding?

Goddess, what was I going to do?

When my alarmed sounded the next morning, I wanted to throw it into a wall. These late nights were going to kill me yet… if I was lucky. I reluctantly pulled myself from bed. A hot shower would make me feel better. It always did. I was overdoing it again, but it was always all or nothing when it came to me. Jean said it was an admirable quality in me. I called it a horrible character flaw. I couldn't give everyone 100 of my effort. I should focus on those who needed me the most—the X-Men and the children.

Raising the dead, chasing vampires around like a happy heathen. I should leave that to people ten years younger than I was. I should be working on making this place safer for mutants. People were willing to accept vampires and weres, but they still denied us. That should be my focus, my life's work. I'd never be able to give up this life, though. I knew it.

As much as I complained, I knew I had some fascination with it. Villainous mutants were one thing. The supernatural was another. I got a thrill from both parts of my life. The pursuit of good and evil thrilled me like nothing else, made me feel alive. However, I was starting to get in a little deep, but I had to continue. I had no choice. Vega saw fit to do that for me. And until I found some way to free myself of him, I had to keep down the path.

I was amazed that I was able to float through my classes like nothing happened. I always prepared my lesson plans weeks in advance, but my mind wasn't on the children, much less history. A million thoughts swirled through my mind. I'd successfully pushed Vega out of my mind, but now, there was still Torque to contend with.

After classes, I made a store run, buying a few necessary things. Shopping always helped me to clear my mind. It didn't matter whether I was grocery shopping or clothes shopping. Nothing could help this nagging feeling in my stomach, though. I purchased my items quickly and made my way back to the mansion.

Once I arrived home, I fixed myself ice cream. I sat at the island table in the kitchen eating peach ice cream in a cone. Goddess, it was sin on the tongue. It was an impromptu pick up while I was the store. I saw it and a light bulb flickered over my head. Peach ice cream, it sounded divine. So, I bought it. Cue the heavy, half-lustful sighs reserved only for chocolate and ice cream—never men. I had a date with the danger room tonight. I wasn't coming out until I burned ten million calories. I swear.

Though, I could think of other ways to burn ten million calories, and one of them was walking through the door right now, as if called. But he didn't look happy. I wondered who pissed him off now—not that it took a whole helluva lot to piss him off. "What's goin' on with you and him?" Logan asked, mouth tightening, eyes narrowing. No "hello, how the hell are ya"? How rude.

I choked on the swallow of ice cream in my mouth. "What is that supposed to mean?" I asked.

He looked sort of ticked off at me. I was the one who'd pissed him off? I hadn't done anything. I hadn't seen him for more than ten seconds since I returned to the mansion earlier. I couldn't have possibly made him mad in the span of ten seconds… unless he knew about last night's foray that hadn't involved him.

"Cut the cute shit," he grumbled.

I almost laughed when he said. It made me think of what Vega said when I told him to stop being cute. No, I would not think about Vega. I would not. He was not cute, not even a little bit. Okay, I'm lying to myself. He was awful, though, a one-man ego trip, but still, he'd made a clever remark. I wanted to smile. One look at Logan's face quickly quelled that smile, though.

"Elaborate, please," I said, continuing the coy act.

I don't usually play games, but I wasn't ready to discuss this with Logan, yet. I knew it was coming, but I wasn't ready for it now. I didn't even know what was going on with Vega and me. I knew what wasn't going on, though, and if Logan thought that was what was going on, I had another story for him. I took another bite of my cone. When did peach ice cream decide to become such a delicacy? I was just happy it wasn't strawberry.

"What's goin' on with you and the vampire?" He said "vampire" like it was a dirty word. I guess he really wanted to say "Vega," but I'm glad he didn't. I didn't want to hear his name for the next three weeks, if it could be helped. I had enough of him and his "predators and preys" bull to last me the rest of my life. Yep, I'll keep telling myself that.

"I'm not sure what you're trying to insinuate," I said, eyes widening.

I was stalling. I really didn't want to tell him. I just couldn't. It wasn't my fault, but I just didn't want him to know. He didn't really want to know about how this human servant deal was starting to play like a very bad dream. He didn't want to know that Vega wanted to sleep with me—and maybe I sort of, kind of, probably, somewhat wanted to sleep with him, too, not that I'd ever admit that to Vega, but he swore he already knew…bastard.

But back to the point. Logan did not want to know that. I didn't even want to know. He wasn't stupid or blind, though. He saw the packages, the messages, the flowers. Thank goddess Vega never called. He had that much decorum. It was always a non-issue between Logan and me. We never discussed it. Maybe it was because I was so adamant about not wanting to have anything to do with Vega. Even if he did know about last night, he knew there had to be a good explanation for it. Logan was not pleased right now, and I might think he was jealous if I didn't know better. He couldn't be jealous. Could he?

"I think you know," he said. "You went to meet some prostitute with him." So, he did know. I still didn't know where he got his leaks from, but when I found out, someone was in trouble. Leaking my business like they had the right. I can't believe someone would do that.

"I just needed to talk to her because she used to date Torque, and I took him because Rafe had to go check on his mother. I didn't want to go down there alone, and it was a stupid mistake for me to take him." I felt like I was floundering. I could hear the apologetic tone in my voice. This was weird. We shouldn't be having this discussion.

"You just up and decided to take him with you." Wasn't this starting to turn into the kind of discussion you had with someone you were dating? It was going in that direction, and it was making me feel… funny.

"No, I was at Suckers. He owns the club." I couldn't even finish my cone. I walked to the trash and threw it away. I was going to try to make my escape, but Logan blocked my path.

"What were you doin' there?" he asked. His voice was low and unkind. I definitely wasn't there to ravish Vega on his desk, if that's what he thought. I decided to keep that smart-ass comment to myself. I guess I'd better start filling in the gaps.

"When I met with Robert the other night, Vega caught me after dark. I promised to meet him at the club, so we could get this mess sorted out. That's why I was late getting to the cemetery. We agreed to meet at Suckers. Rafe was there, but he had to go. When he left, I asked Vega to come along. It was stupid. I admit it. He's an asshole, and now, I have to reverse the invitation I gave him to come into my apartment…" I trailed off.

I still couldn't believe I'd been stupid enough to do that. He could come and go as he pleased as long as the invitation was there. That was not something I wanted. I didn't trust Vega, and he's already let me know what he thinks our relationship is going to be all about. What would I do if I woke up to a naked Vega? I could tell you what I probably wouldn't do if he showed up naked in my bed—kick him out. Trust or no trust, my good girl behavior had its limits.

I shouldn't be thinking that. I should focus on Logan who was giving me an award-winning glare. I have never needed a vacation from men I had nothing going on with, but I needed one now. This situation was just starting to get weirder as time went on.

"There is nothing going on between us. He even admitted the only reason he saved me was so I could be his trophy servant. He wanted to known as the one who got the vampire hunter. He wants me to come to stupid vampire meetings and bring my guns for show. Does that sound like any kind of functional relationship? He doesn't care about me. I don't care about him. What kind of woman do you think I am?" I said, hoping to clear the muddy waters.

Silence filled the room for a few more minutes before the discomfort settled. He looked away from me with a hangdog air. Yeah, this was an odd position to be in. "I'm sorry I questioned you like that. I was just worried," he explained.

"But I'm okay, and I'm touched that you care enough to worry. No harm. No foul," I said. He only cleared his throat. "This is a little awkward, isn't it?"

No sense in pretending we were exactly at ease. Right? I was starting to find that the best way to handle embarrassment was just to face it headfirst. I didn't want Logan to be embarrassed that he worried about me, even if we were starting to tread on uncharted territory.

"Yeah," he said.

"We can just pretend we never had that conversation," I said. I didn't think this would be the last time we discussed Vega, but for now, it was best to move on. I went to the freezer and pulled out the carton of ice cream. "Want some ice cream?"

He smiled.

My cellphone chose that opportunity to ring on my hip. Why? Why? Why? I placed the carton on the counter, as I answered the phone. "It's Bayman. We've got the warrant for Joanna's house processing. We've also got another murder. Same as the last one, a single family home."

My stomach turned. It was one thing to see the mangled bodies of adults. It was another when children were involved. I wasn't quite hard enough to handle that. I breathed in deeply, glancing over at Logan. His eyes formed questions. "Give me the address. I'll be there, ASAP." I said.

"It's pretty far out. Almost in the next district," Bayman said slowly. Was that supposed to deter me? He knew I had to come if they called. Then, I wised up. That wasn't the point he was trying to press.

"Why choose a family way out there when there are so many single family homes closer?" I asked aloud. This further cemented my thoughts that someone was controlling this monster. Why would it need to go way out?

"Are you directing that question at me? I'm not the zombie expert. If I were, you'd be out of a job." He let out a strained chuckle. Didn't sound like that was working out for him.

"Rhetorical question," I said. I paused before asking my next question. "Is it as bad as the last one?"

Please say no, I pleaded silently.

"Worse," he said before he hung up.

I gripped the edge of the counter, closing my eyes. This was all a bad nightmare. I'd wake up in a minute in my bed, in a world where the supernatural was still scoffed at. I wouldn't know how to raise the dead. I wouldn't know a thing about preternaturals. I wouldn't… I felt Logan's fingers touch mine, bringing me out of my thoughts.

"There's been another attack on another family. I have to go to the scene," I said without looking at him. I sought out his fingers for a moment for reassurance before deciding it was time to man up. Couldn't stand in the kitchen holding hands all day. "You can come if you want. They won't let you in the house, but you can come to the scene."

There were reporters packed from Westchester to hell when we arrived on the scene. It was thick, and they all turned toward my car like one carnivorous mass when my car pulled up. "Ms. Munroe, do you have any comments on the murders?" a chorus of reporters chanted as I made my way toward the house.

"No," I said, pushing Logan and myself through the throngs of people.

"Who is this?" one reporter asked, motioning toward Logan. "Is he reinforcement? Can he raise the dead, too? Is he some kind of supernatural expert?" I wouldn't even deign those questions with an answer. I gave Logan an apologetic shrug. I should've figured the media would be here. These murders were going on borderline sensational. All this shindig was missing was Robert. I couldn't believe he was missing from something this big.

Sometimes, I hated the media. They had a way of making things worse. A photographer was persistent in following me through the crowd, attempting to take pictures of me at every possible angle despite the mass of bodies surrounding us. One day I would punch one of those bastards in the face, if my good sense ever failed me.

"Please, don't take my picture," I said, covering my face with my hand. The photographer was persistent. "Don't—"

"Didn't she say she didn't want you takin' her picture?" Logan said, snatching the camera and slamming it to the ground. A slight murmur of surprise rumbled through the crowd. Oh great, that's just what I needed. If there was ever any way to make them pay more attention to you, it was by causing a stir.

"Stay here," I said to Logan. "I'll be out as soon as I can."

I don't think the media would eat him before he ate them. If they thought they were going to pester Logan until he gave up something, I felt sorry for them. Not only would he not give up anything, some of them would be going home a little beat up for their troubles.

There was blood everywhere in the house. It covered the walls like paint, splashed against the floor like water. It sloshed under my feet, threatened to coat my hand when I even pondered touching something. My stomach turned. There was one significant difference between fighting mutant villains and preternatural villains. Mutants made less of a mess. I wouldn't say the body count was any less, but the blood factor was always significantly less.

I walked to one of the bedrooms. The smell was enough to choke me, and I gagged slightly. I didn't want to look. I kept my eyes concentrated on the ceiling. All I saw was blood. "Oh goddess…" I had to stay strong. I was a leader. I fought in combat. I'd seen plenty of people die over the years. I could not let this get to me.

I heard someone come behind me. "Hey, Ororo."

"How are you, Davison?" I asked, turning around. He looked tired. Davison was supposed to ooze with Southern charm. It was his specialty. Right now, he looked defeated. "Have you been home, yet?"

"No. As soon as you look at the body, we can go home," he said. I nodded at him. I'd try to get this over with as soon as I could. I didn't want to be here any longer than I had to, and if the look on Davison's face was any indicator, these men needed rest and time to recover from the massacre.

Bishop entered the room with a weary nod, just as Davison started to lift the sheet from one of the mounds on the floor. I couldn't make out any remains on the floor. It looked like half-chewed, raw meat. The next mound was a woman. Some of her limbs were missing. Her body was saturated in blood. I swallowed hard, looking at her ribcage surrounding nothing—everything was gone. A leg sans the bone was on the bed along with a clump of hair. The leg was definitely male. Why did I put myself through this?

"Can you tell us anything?" Bayman asked.

I hadn't even heard him sneak up on us. You'd think a guy as big as Bayman would make a little noise. I held up one finger in response. I continued to trail Davison until I saw a small white blanket with a balloon border on the other side of the bed. There lay the mangled remains of a small child. A girl, maybe six or seven. I couldn't look anymore. I turned around, quickly, backing away from the scene.

I wouldn't look at him. "It looks like it entered through the sliding door."

"Same as the previous murder." He grunted. The zombie was smarter than most. He was obviously more focused, more agile, more everything. The sooner we found this thing, the better off we'd be.

"Right, it's definitely the same monster," I said, not that anyone had their doubts about that. "I think the parents heard the commotion. The father went to the girl's room and brought her to this room, their room."

"Didn't do them much good." He looked around at the carnage, and I followed his line of sight as it rested to a point beyond the bed, the most gruesome part of the whole thing.

I nodded in agreement. "Did anyone hear anything?" I asked, walking around him. I just wanted to get out of that room as quickly as I could. Bayman walked with me away from the room. I tried to ignore the disgusting sounds the blood was making under out feet. It was working out too well for me. Stay strong, I said to myself.

"A neighbor said he heard a commotion around dawn, but went to work. He didn't want to get in a domestic dispute," Bayman answered.

Dawn, huh? How about that? "Was this family known for fighting?" I asked.

"No."

"If the asshole had just called the damn police…" I said, wanting to slam my fist against something. There wasn't anything in sight that wouldn't cause me to come in contact with blood.

"What could they have done?" he asked, looking at me as if I'd say I wanted to kill all the cops. I know he was thinking that there would've been more bodies. Maybe, but most likely not at dawn.

"They could've cornered the zombie until someone could arrive to dispose of it. This thing was just killing this family at dawn. If you haven't noticed, he took time to eat them as well. That would've taken some time. A perimeter could've been established without the men actually coming into the house. There would've been no point for them to enter since the damage was done."

"Hmm." Bayman didn't say anything else. That meant he wanted me to elaborate.

I had an idea brewing. Things needed start happening fast. "Seal off the area. Evacuate the residents. Get rid of the reporters," I said.

"What?"

"Seal off the area," I said a little louder. I was going into command mode. "It's still around here. It's hiding."

"Zombies can walk around in the daylight. It could be miles away from here by now," Bayman said. Now, he was looking at me as if I'd just lost my damn mind. Poor Bayman. He never knew what to expect when I was involved.

"True, but they won't do it unless ordered. They hate the sunlight." I chewed on my thumbnail thoughtfully.

"I'm not following you."

"The thing attacked at dawn."

"Just as the fucking sun was coming up," Bayman said, realization set in. "Would it go to a nearby cemetery?"

"No, it's not like a vampire or ghoul. It doesn't need a coffin or a grave. It just needs a place where it can be away from the sunlight." Score one for us. I think.

"We're talking garages, storage buildings, a kid's treehouse."

Thanks for the horrible mental image of a zombie sitting in some kid's treehouse playing tea with Mitzy and Bitzy the pink elephants. That's what I wanted to say.

"Garages and storage buildings, yes. A treehouse, no. Notice that all the houses in this neighborhood are one story, just like the houses from the last neighborhood. It's purposely chosen houses that don't require a lot of climbing."

"And that most likely have basements."

"Right. As a rule, zombies don't climb. They're not good at it like ghouls. And it's likely this zombie rests around a similar neighborhood, so it would feel comfortable in this setting."

"The M.E. thinks the zombie is probably around six-two judging from the attacks. Most likely male because of the height."

"Then, have men around the same height sweep the neighborhood, looking for places that would be easily accessible."

"Get an exterminator team out here." I wanted to add not to pick the one with the jumpy kid that I met the other night. "And tell your men to be careful. Zombies don't attack during the day unless under extreme duress. This one is aggressive. It may not even take that much."

"Anything else, chief?" Bayman said with a laugh.

"I want a gun. Something powerful enough to blow off limbs."

"You're my kinda woman, Munroe."

"Too bad you're already married," I teased. Good to see I could still tease, even if now might've not been an appropriate time to do so.

He didn't tease back. He looked thoughtful. "I don't think we'll be able to get the team out here, Ororo. We're going to need more than one, at least a dozen. I don't think that's gonna fly."

"We can bring one team after dark. The zombie will definitely move then," I said.

Maybe I'd even bring Vega. He'd know where to find the stupid thing with his vampirely senses and all. That's a joke. I would never bring Vega anywhere that required he encounter other humans. He wasn't fit for public interaction. Besides, he'd only rub it in my face or want something in return. No thank you. We'd do this the old fashion way.

"We can still conduct the search. Who knows? We might get lucky. And we'll still need to evacuate the residents and establish a perimeter."

The phone at my side rang again. Damn, I sure was popular today. It was William Burke. What timing. He wanted to know if I'd found out anything about his brother's death. I told him to meet me at the morgue. "It's Cole's brother. You think you could get me access to the morgue?" I asked Bayman after my call with William.

"You're planning something."

"It'll help us." Hopefully…

"I'll see what I can do. Don't forget. We still have to search Joanna's once the warrant comes through. It should be any minute now."

"Call me."

"Will do."

Things were getting hot. I was actually excited that we were near the end of this case. I wasn't so excited at the thought of seeing Joanna again. My arm throbbed in agreement. Things were moving toward some sort of resolution. I should've been relieved, but I wasn't. Things rarely ever went as planned in these situations. The best I could do was be prepared.