A hunting we will go...

[homeless_npc]

Who: Beryl, Eric, McKinnon
When: A few weeks after Jason's arrest.
What: Honey trap

"Eric, hey," Beryl called softly. She was...staring at the crockpot Nat had set up and it wasn't done yet but since they'd bought this place, well, Eric was their neighbor, downstairs basement fuck buddy, and friend. IT was nice, but also..."hey, got a moment?"

Eric paused, glancing at her? "Always Beryl. What do you need? I know things have been very messed up. If you have anything I can help with..."

She smiled sharply, all teeth for a moment, "I have an idea," she admitted. "Ayunna has been tracing the ill intent behind the whole arresting Jason thing but I have some suspicions."

"Do tell," he grinned as wide, leaning on the counter between them. "I don't like simply letting things pass."

Beryl nodded, "don't tell anyone? But that cop has been pretty present outside the shop making doe eyes," she snorted.

"Ohhhh, the one that can't get in now?" he laughed. "Creeper?"

"OH yes creepy as fuck. Khem just pretends he doesn't exist since he can't get in but it's weird he's stepped up his presence you know? Could be reactionary, but I'd rather know."

Eric traced a finger along the counter smirking, "so espionage?" he laughed. "I like it. DO I get to eat him?"

"Absolutely," she growled softly. "Even if he isn't involved that at will at least knock him out for a bit and keep him away from the shop."

He nodded, pulling out his phone to dial Asher and Nat, mainly Nat was his occasional snack and Asher was his vamp so he had promised to not hide shit in order to be allowed feeding and friendship. "Hey, I'm eating a cop tonight in relation to the Jason thing. I'll have the phone recording, gives us research options hopefully," he chuckled.

"Love you babe," Beryl tossed in on speaker just so he knew it was her idea. "I"m kissing Eric in thanks."

"Oh, hot," Eric laughed, "thanks!" HE WAS SHAMELESS IN HIS SNACKING!

"Yeah yeah, just one kiss," Beryl snorted. "Shoo man."

"Going, going...."

* * *

It was a misty night and Eric stepped out of the shop, turning around to lock it as Khem would. He knew his prey honestly, and that was an ominous car parked just up the road. IT was nice to hunt instead of just drift through honestly, it reminded him that his kind were apex predators. A bit a pause, then he turned to look at the car, feigning nerves, before he hesitantly stepped toward it.

People saw who they wanted after all, but body language could sell the bit as it were. Hesitance, grace, a bit of shuddering from the damp chill. That was Khemrys these days.

Vulnerable.

Bereft.

...free of entanglement.

He knew the game. Some people had sick obsessions and needs they didn't show to anyone but their targets. In his life he'd encountered enough terrible people to fill the catacombs of France honestly. They varied in degree of course but it was hard not to just cull the herd sometimes. Even terrible people were useful meals and he didn't want to cross the line that would let him kill meals that easily.

No going back after that step after all. Ubii could spiral.

HE drifted up the road, hugging himself before pausing to peer in the car window, "deputy?" he breathed. A nickname, and not a good one given what he knew of city cops but the damn idiot didn't realize that honestly.

"Khemrys," McKinnon breathed, rolling down the window, "you forgot your coat, it's chilly out!

"Ah..." he noted, blinking, "my shawl..."

"Hey, get in, I have the heater going,"

Eric reached into his pocket to tap his phone, recording starting, then moved obediently around as he sprawled across the seats to pop the door open, "the children..."

"Hey, your friends have them right? That's best," McKinnon soothed. "You need some you time away from the wolf brats."

He gasped, "they are NOT such! They are good children!"

"Oh come on," McKinnon snorted, "you were never meant for such...whelps."

"Whelps," he deadpanned.

"Well, you could have had, and should have, someone who isn't infected you know? Those twins won't have a good life here you know." The deputy reached over, covering 'Khem's' hand with his own. "That disease is no joke. It's sheer luck you aren't infected yourself."

Eric nearly gagged, looking the man over, luck. Yeah. Sure. "My Jason is a good man." Especially in comparison.

"Is he? He's locked away for a reason!" McKinnon snarled. "Because he's dangerous, even with his own kids. You're lucky you weren't home."

HE flinched, "lucky..." like he was buying that shit but fantasies were fantasies. "I'm so worried for my lord," he sighed.

"Worried," McKinnon sighed. "Why?"

"He's not here with us!"

"Khemrys! Khem...Khem....he was always gong to fail don't you see? It doesn't matter who pointed people at that wreck but he was some vampire twink, he was never faithful, what matters was that he was contained before he hurt you!"

"Really?" Eric breathed.

"Really," the cop smirked, touching her cheek. "He lied to you about what he was and what it was like here when you came. Mail order bullshit am I right?"

"My children..."

"I'll take care of them," the man promised, smirking. "Just trust me..." Then he was smashing his lips on hers, hands harshly palming an imaginary chest.

Well hello dinner. Yielding was amusing, and let him get this over with honestly. Back seats were never his favorite but the possessive way the damn cop patted his stomach and smirked afterwards really tempted him to drain him to death....or at least hospitalization. "what...?

"Don't worry, I'll take care of everything," McKinnon purred. "It will be how ir was supposed to be. You, me, our child...."

"But..."

"SHhhhh, he won't have any hold on you. Do you know there's annulment laws in case of shifter infection?" he gloated. "You can have a clean slate, everyone forgives you..." for the poor taste in partners and fathers!

Eric winced, "but..."

"Innocent means dick all, that's why I made sure people knew about him," McKinnon soothed. "Just wait, I'll handle everything."

Eric writhed, grabbing his shirt and kicking the car door open. Uggggh. "D....don't...." yup, running. It was the sure fire escape from shit like this that didn't result in his hands around an idiot's neck. Fuck fuck fuck.

That sound file from his phone was going straight to Asher!

"Cute," the shadows whispered in his ear, making all his hair stand on end!

"...what?"

Ayunna chuckled in the mist, "thanks for the lead, hungry one. I wish you better meals tomorrow," she purred.

"Fuuuuck." GOING HOME NOW YES.

His home was clean, and nice and he could go hug Beryl and wait for Nat to get home from work to wash the taste out of his mouth....