It was getting late. In the dim moonlight, the statues atop the gravestones in the town cemetery cast strange shadow-shapes across the ground. Standing just outside the cemetery, Elisa scanned the darkness among the gravestones with her mind, searching for any hidden danger. Finding nothing, she sighed heavily and leaned against the cemetery's granite wall. She'd been on patrol for hours without finding a single vampire. Board and frustrated she decided to call it a night and head home. Scanning the streets for any sign of vampires she hurried to her car parked in an empty parking lot across the street.

Even with the light traffic it took the better part of two hours navigating the close city streets, eventually getting on the southwest highway to get home. Or at least the newest set of walls and ceilings that she and her fellow hunters called home. The house was on the southern outskirts of the city, a university suburb. Considering some of the places they had stayed in it was a nice little town full of students and shops that catered to the young and young at heart. Most importantly, it was teaming with vampires. At least that was the case until three weeks ago. With such huge bounties on their heads, vampires were getting harder and harder to find. Normally her and her team would bring in at least two vampires a week, lately they were lucky to take out one a month.

The house had a front yard not much wider than the car, pebble covered instead of grass, but there was a neat little backyard space that was protected by a privacy fence where grass grew and a body could stretch out and relax after a long day. Pulling into the driveway, she got out of the car, keyed open the door and cut off the alarm on her way in. Shedding her coat, she stopped by the laundry nook and stuffed it into the washer, pulled off her black, high-necked shirt as an afterthought and put that in too. Adjusting her red halter-top, she walked down the hall, working at the buckle of the waistband that contained her weapons, a two and a half foot long wooden sword and a silver dagger. As she neared the bathroom she heard the sound of running water from the single bath, which meant one of her partners had already claimed it. Detouring to the kitchen she laid her sword and dagger on the table, opened the fridge and searched for a cold beer. Finding a long necked bottle, she snagged it, sighing with pleasure as she took that first frigid swallow.

"Don't you ever go hunting by yourself without tell anyone again."

Elisa half canted her head towards the doorway, not having heard Jason pad down the hall, hardly able to see his face now in the shadows of the room. She stood there in the dim light of the refrigerator bulb and considered the dangerous tone in his voice. Considered the rigid set of his silhouetted shoulders, the sheer indignity of the stance . . . and felt her own anger swell.

"Or what?" she asked softly. "You'll spank me? God Jason, you're my leader not my master. I can take care of myself."

"Fool," he hissed.

"For what?" She flung the mostly full bottle and it hit the cabinet over the stove, not shattering, but clattering to the range-top, spilling its contents into the burner wells. "For trying to keep food on the table? We need money Jason. Pickings are slim here yet nobody wants to move. The problem is we've all gotten lazy, lost our focus. Kyle is more interested in going to nightclubs and Steve has completely shut himself off from us ever since his mother was killed last month by vampires. Someone needs to be out there, hunting and bringing in money. If you don't like me doing it then get off your ass and do something."

More than through with the conversation she stalked towards him and the doorway, pushing past him, her shoulder colliding with his. Jason turned and shoved her hard against the wall, leaning in and growled. "I meant what I said. I'm the leader here, if you can't follow my orders then - - -"

Elisa's elbow swung up and slammed solidly against the side of Jason's head, causing him to stagger back, stunned from the unexpectedness of the blow.

"Don't fucking push me," she snarled, pushing Jason roughly away and continuing down the hall towards her room.

She pulled on the first shirt that caught her eye, grabbed her purse and a jacket and was through the living room and out the front door while Jason was probably still wondering what the hell had possessed her. It was one thing for him to go on rants and get pissy for little enough reason - - it was quite another for her to lose it so thoroughly. Damn Jason anyway, to get high and mighty with her for trying to keep the team from being thrown out on the streets. They needed money, normal jobs were out of the question since none of them had completed high school or had any family who could or would support them. Hunting paid good, one vampire was worth a couple of thousand depending on how old it was. Why couldn't Jason understand how desperate their situation was getting and do something.

No one came to the door as she squealed tires pulling out from the front of the house. She sped down the little side street lined with houses to the intersecting one that was filled with shops and restaurants. It was too late at night for much of anything to be open, but then again she wasn't in a people mood. There were plenty of places to park, scenic little grottos and historic parks. Easy enough to stop by an all night convenience store and pick up a six pack of beer on the way and sit and watch the sun rise away from all semblance of human life.

And brood. She loved Jason, he was like a brother but sometimes she wanted to shake him so hard she could taste the coppery tang of adrenaline at the back of her throat. After an hour of driving, she found a small, quiet park and pulled into the parking lot. After a quick mental scan of the area for trouble, she turned off the car and tried to relax. If the team was going to stay together, something had to be done and it looked like it was up to her to get it started.