Resolved to jump through the vent, Sylvie had crouched when the agents started talking and responding to the radio. “ive, Director Powell. No movement here. It's as quiet as a mouse.”

  Deputy Director Powell’s voice calmly came over the inter. “My source tells us that the item is being tracked and to be ready. We moved it from the Uy t this trap.” She paused, “Gentlemen, tell me that the skull is secure.”

  “Ma’am, we have it here in the offider lod key. We have drones cirg the listed crate, along with twenty armed guards.” He snickered, “Even if these so-called ghosts appear, we should be able to tain them.” The man absentmindedly patted the inside of his jacket. “Plus we have pound-VaX, right?”

  “I don’t share the same se, Agent Brooks.” Powell paused, “Plus you and the ents have all of the prototype for that pound. I would rather you not use it if possible.”

  Speaking up with a worried tone in her voice, the dy agent addressed the Deputy Director. “Ugent Young here. Ma’am you said prototype. Does this thing even work? Assuming that the…I ’t believe I am saying this…vampires exist?”

  “I am reassured that the serum will do its duty for a few minutes. Agent Young, your panioo think that the dose is an answer. It is useful only if the target is weakened in the first pce.”

  Anent spoke up, “How the hell do you weaken a…” He snickered, “...vampire. Personally I think yoing nuts, Deputy Director.”

  “Careful with the tone you take, Agent. I am fident in my source, backed up by evidence of ongoing gang violen Rid.” She paused, “You just do as you are told ahat skull to me first thing.”

  “Why did we even bring it here, Deputy Director Powell? Wouldn’t it have been easier to just drive it to your office?”

  “Easier, yes. However, it is early night and you’d been in an armored truck that could easily be overtaken on the road here. Right now, you are in a base location and have at least oool that -might- help you. It is almost certain that these creatures would have collected the skull already.”

  Seds ter the versation stopped and Sylvie sat down, and began to think aloud. “They have that stuff. They also have the skull. A ge in the air to the st of radiant blood and almost sunshine permeated Sylvie’s nose. She looked up and grinned as Casey jumped and nded beside her without a sound.

  “I got it.” Casey beamed and kissed her girlfriend, “It’s a huge stash of this goop.” She saw the ed look on Sylvie’s face. “What is it, love-button?” She booped Sylvie on the nose.

  Smiling and lifting her spirit, Sylvie quietly giggled when Casey lightly touched her nose. “Unfortunately my dy-apple, they have more.”

  “They who?” Casey asked.

  Pointing down below them, Sylvie answered. “The four of them in the room below.” Her voice shifted to more of a mencholy tohey are aware of vampires, darling. It sounds like the four don’t believe their leader, but it's saying something that the leader knows and is taking it seriously.” She sighed, “It appears that we have a traitor in the midst. Someone has broken the veil in ways that I don’t think we repair.”

  “Then why bother with the fug skull, Sylvie? If these people stop us then we need not go in there and risk it.” Casey ran her cwed hand through her coppery hair, “We o tell the others we have a stool pigeon.”

  Recalling the vision from earlier in the night, Sylvie answered her progeny. “Towards the end of the dream, I kept thinking about Franco’s skull. There has to be a reason why.” She pointed down once more, “Whatever it is, we ’t let humans keep evidehat a vampire exists. Right now it sounds like supposition and whatever that stuff is you have..is new.” Sylvie went on to expin what she’d heard before Casey arrived. “That’s the extent of what I know.”

  “I know that my adaptation of blood-poison works. Well.” Casey lifted her eyebrows questioningly. “I am happy to go in there and poison them. You e in a that skull.”

  “I will go in with you.” Sylvie poio the vent. “I use my form lohan you .” She hesitated, “I feed once I am reformed and you’ve poisoned some of them.” She grabbed Casey’s hand and kissed it gently. “I hated that you left. We should stay together.”

  Seeing the absolute love emanating from Sylvie’s full moon eyes, Casey smiled and nodded. “Together. That will be the st time, Sylvie. We are strether.” Casey pulled Sylvie into a tight hug. “Let’s go save the others.” Casey then shifted into her small bck widow and quickly went down the wall.

  Watg Casey make it to the door, Sylvie gave a thumbs up and willed herself into a blue mist, roughly the shape of a bluejay and floated down the vent, through the small set of ducts and poured out behind the dy, Agent Young. F quickly to serve the remaining blood she had, Sylvie grabbed the unsuspeg agent and cmped her mouth closed, then bit into her ned drew out the agent's blood in frantic gulps.

  Right about the same time, two ents screamed out in pain and seds ter dropped to the floor. Sylvie finished off the dy agent and blew her sanguine breath over the st man’s nose. “Agent Brooks, right?”

  The FBI agent nodded pliantly.

  “How very o meet you, dear.” Sylvie smiled at Casey as the little spider took her human form. “Nothing like the kiss of a spider.”

  Kneeling to draiwo men she poisoned, Casey guzzled their blood within a minute and wiped her lips . “Damn that’s good stuff.” She poio the st remaining agent. “Why did you enthrall him, my rose-petal?” She blew Sylvie a kiss, and started searg the room.

  “In case there are others that o report in.” She quickly answered and turo Agent Brooks, “Now I heard you talking about vampires. You know they are not real, don’t you?”

  The agent silently nodded.

  “Good. Now then, how many more FBI agents are in this warehouse…” She paused and yahe door from the heavy metal lock box. “...and is there any more of that stuff stored somewhere?” Sylvie poi the white goopy serum bottle.

  Reag into his jacket pocket, Agent Brooks pulled out a mid-sized syringe and ha to Sylvie. “Two agents upstairs and six drones surveying the area, Ma’am.” He poio the liquid, “No more than what the two agents iher secure room have.”

  Moments ter, Sylvie heard another crash and witnessed a much rger safe door hit the floor. “Be a little louder, Casey. I am not sure that the base heard you.”

  “Ha, ha.” Casey stuck her to at Sylvie, “I will have you know that I found the skull.” She presented Franco’s bleached boo Sylvie. “I suggest we get the hell out of here.”

  Sylvie nodded quietly a over to drai Brooks pletely. Once his dust spread through the room, she patted her stomach. “I am gd you didn’t use ghost-form. I barely had enough blood to do it.”

  The two left the room and slid between the crates in the shadows. “I have an idea.” Sylvie ented with a grin. “I am going to burn the pce to the ground.”