So this chapter is a little slow, but I'm just setting it up so that chapter 3 will be a lot more action packed. So it will be longer and a lot more exciting. And thank you for all the reviews they really helped, I really appreciated them.

Hope you enjoy :)

Disclaimer: All characters within belong to Kim Harrison.

The car ride so far was quiet. I looked out the window. The buildings sped passed, and the sky looked as if a dark grey sheet was slowly decending toward us. Or I guess you could just say it was overcast.

I was feeling very nervouse sitting in a car with a vampire a few feet away. Every time I would glance her way she would look right back at me, which would cause me to turn an embrassing shade of red. We had crossed over to the Vampire sector 10 minuets ago, and not much looked different. except for the fact that there was no one around, the streets were deserted, except for the odd person. The farther we drove into the city, the more I became nervous. I kept bouncing my leg, and my fingers kept spinning my charm ring around. My charm ring was made by my father, it is meant to cover my freckles giving me a clear complexion.

"Rachel, you don't need to be so jumpy." Ivy said quietly.

My head snapped toward her. She was looking at me again. I tried to read her facial expression, but I had never been good at reading people. She looks sad, or maybe that's longing. nope that's not it. "I'm not that jumpy." I said. Turning away from her I looked out the window. I could see her reflection in the glass, but she turned away a few seconds later.

"You could have fooled me" She laughed quietly.

"Why do you keep laughing at me." I said crossing my arms in indignation. I turned and looked back at her.

"I can't help but laugh at things when they are funny." She said with a smile on her face.

And for some reason, I found myself smiling too. I never would have thought that me, Rachel Morgan, would ever be sitting in a car with a Vampire, or even laughing with one.

"Are we almost there?" I asked, changing the subject.

"There is still a 10 minuet drive. The city centre is further away from the sectors edge." She said, in a business like tone.

"Oh okay, umm...how long have you been working as a runner?" I asked.

"two years, I mostly work in homicide, but they thought it would be best to put me on this case." She said.

"That's...nice?" my statement came out more as a question then what I intended.

Ivy glanced back toward me. "Yes"

The conversation died fast. The rest of the drive was in silence.

After ten minuets of driving we pulled up to in front of a big grey building. She parked around the corner and she got out of the car. I followed, stepping out into the cold. the weather was not what I would have liked, the icy wind whipped between the buildings sending shivers down my spine. I quickly followed behind Ivy who was walking toward the front of the building. I started to walk faster, wanting to get into the warm air of the building, which brought me so I was walking right next to Ivy rather then behind her.

She opened the door, and moved so I could go in first, which I did, the blast of warm air that greeted me was amazing...Except I felt a little light headed as if I was tipsy. I swayed to the side, and staggered trying to get my footing.

"Are you okay, Rachel?" Ivy asked gripping my arm.

I just nodded, the feeling was weird. I do remember back in school when we learned about other species and that vampires had the ablitly to pull auras, but I don't remember what the teacher had said after. Dammit Rachel why couldn't you have paid attention in class.

The white walls and desk looked just like any other office building. The elevators off to the right front desk to the left, and what looked like a common, or waiting room strait ahead. Ivy started walking to the elevator's. And I followed silently behind her. After the doors closed, I felt completely fine again.

Ivy grabbed my arm, which caused me to turn and look at her, "Rachel. The head of this division is Kisten Felps. I have been friends with him for a while, and I just want to tell you to watch yourself okay?"

Does Ivy think I'm going to swoon over this guy! What kind of person does she think I am? "Don't worry, I'm sure I can handle it." I said with a smile. Ivy just looked more concerned, which caused made me o feel more anxious the further up we went.

The doors opened and we both stepped out, I walked behind Ivy through the long hallways, to a door. She knocked, and then entered without even waiting for a response. I myself have walked into Marshals office before without knocking, but here among Vampires I mean what if they went all crazy on you, and from what I've learned Vampires can be very dangerous creatures.

I was a little hesitant to follow her in, so I slowly walked into the room. Sitting behind the next was a man with blond hair combed neatly back. But what I noticed most was the piercing blue eyes, that made me feel like I was prey that was about to be eating.

Ivy stepped closer to me, "Kisten, this is Rachel Morgan." She said

Kisten stood up, and walked around his desk, he held out his hand, "Pleasure to meet you Miss Morgan, I've heard many things about you from Marshal." He said

I reached out and shook his hand. He motioned for us to sit down, "well, I'm sure you've heard what is going on with this case. So I'm going to keep it short and say that we have a lead, and yes it's very soon in the case. But I believe it could be worthwhile. From what we've heard there is some sort of activity going on down at the docks and we would like it if you two could go check it out."

"Tonight?" I asked

"Yes, the times of activity are around, 4am to 7am." He placed both his elbows on the desk in front of him, and leaned forward.

I glanced over at Ivy, who seemed lost in thought. "Where is the information?" Ivy asked, her soft tone she had been using when talking to me was gone. And she sounded more uncaring, which made me uneasy. Glancing at her again, I saw her eyes darken. Is that normal? I wasn't sure if it was the lightening or if her eyes were actually getting blacker. I glanced at Kisten, he seemed amused for some reason as if Ivy being like this was some big inside joke. But I couldn't dwell on that to long.

"Right here" Kisten responded handing a file over to Ivy. She grabbed it and began flipping through the pages, her face not changing expressions once.

She shut the folder and then looked at me "we are going to need to do a stake out tonight, this lead might not last very long." She said.

"Okay" I said. I was confident in my ablilities to make it through the night, and honestly Vampires so far didn't seem so bad. Maybe Witches were just biased about what they teach in schools. But in the back of my head I felt a little worried, but I brushed it off, without a second thought.

We stood to go, Ivy holding the folder, and still glaring at Kisten, who seemed unfazed by her stare. He smiled at me "It was very nice to meet you Rachel, hopefully we can see each other soon" The way he said it made me feel as if there was some underlining message, that I just didn't get. But by the way Ivy stiffened next to me, I think she might have understood.