She sat, staring deeply into the abyss. She sat, contently watching the fragmented images manifesting in her subconscious. If you love them, let them leave. Faint flashes of supple flesh became entangled, producing a creamily sensual image. Her senses tingled, exciting her placid body with the warm caress of pleasant luscious liquid. If you love them, let them leave. Cherry patterns filled her lusty vision. Primal. Delightful. She fled from her vision, terrified of her untamed imagination. Pale and flustered, she cowered against her pillow. She embraced it in an attempt for comfort.

Congealed blood leisurely traced across the stained wooden floors below, resembling a delighted childs finger painting. Unprovoked creaks echoed throughout the barren chamber. Shrill cries silenced by the waking morning breeze, laden with microscopic icicles. Golden tendrils fell sweat dampened and tinted by the life pooling by her livid neck. Delicate punctures, framed by coarse violet, enflamed her sultry skin. Sapphire eyes gazed aimlessly upward, masked by translucent curtains. Lost in the ages to an invisible assailant.

            Wiping a solitary trail of blood gracefully from her lip, she dismissed the visions as seductive nightmares. She habitually brushed her copper hair with ungroomed fingers. Images from previous dreams flashed, inspiring her darkest desires. Curious, she gently sucked the tip of her finger and savoured the salty tingle of fresh blood. Her soul ignited, wildly reflected in her wide eyes. Cravings gripped her aroused form as she crawled across her bed, clad in innocent purple satin pajamas. Why? She questioned her sudden addiction to delectable floods of scarlet sap. Letting her frosty feet dangle slightly above the plush floor, she glanced routinely at a solitary photograph placed in the centre of the cluttered wall. Guilt plagued. She could barely maintain eye contact with the likeness of her beloved. The shame of her seductive jealously overpowered the happiness his presence brought.

            The same thoughts constantly hammered into her mind. How can he love someone who barely feels human? How can he try so hard to fill me with his hate? The simple niceties of some people had become a fatal disease to her distrusting soul. Fire engulfed her serene exterior as she remembered the torture of those which had faked their compassion and their pleasantness only to manipulate and discard her as they saw fit. Jealousy ravaged her as she helplessly watched him admire one of them, a benign character identical to those which had deceived her. If I love him so much, why arent I happy for him? I've worked so hard on this, put so much emotional energy into one single desire. Where will it end?

*******

            "Fuck! Why are you doing this to me?" He punched the table, emotions choking his deep voice. The mobile phone rattled violently as his hands convulsed. He threw the phone across the room. He gazed as the machinery shattered against the pallid wall.  A metaphor for my life. Pain etched into his blank face. My life

            His head swimming with alcohol, he stumbled aimlessly through the corridors. Thud...thud. His shoulder creating dull music with the door frames. "The world is a scary place now that you've woken up the demon in me!" He sang in a raspy voice as he walked. "The world is a scary place now that you've woken up the demon in me!" He flopped exhausted onto the lounge and closed his glazed eyes. "you've woken up the demon in me..."

            Dazed. Floating effortlessly, hovering above her body. Sexily licking his lips, thirsty for life, he approached her body. Blurred vision tainted his seductive imagination. Red. Flashes of supple skin glided through his mind as the faint crackle of flesh echoed in his ears. Primal urge aroused his unconscious body. Sweating uncontrollably, he jerked awake, scared and confused. Wh...wha? he stumbled. Trails of dried blood wrapped around his fingers, contrasting pale flesh. He ran, trying to escape himself.

            Her body slouched in the office chair, draining blood slowed to a trickle. Smeared, bloody handprints traced across the computer monitor in terrified patterns. Two vicious puncture wounds decorated her neck. Bruising sloshed about them. Her soulless eyes stared forwards watching an unseen intruder. Odysseia absorbed the crime scene through the viewfinder. Bright flashes illuminated the room. Second one in three days. Her mind became consumed by thought as she stared at the punctures. "Almost vampiric" she murmured. "Trent would love this." She placed a scale next to the marks and focused the lens. Click! A gloved finger reached towards the puncture wounds. It stroked the flesh.

            "Been dead about six hours." Tim snuck up behind her. Odysseia jumped, startled. She looked up at the unlikely medical examiner. A shock of radioactive blonde hair excited a laugh from Odysseia.

            "Don't sneak up on me like that, its dangerous!" she chastised him between giggles. Her, Trent and Tim had known each other since high school. Slapping his leg playfully she added "Take a look at this." Tim's eyes followed the white finger.

            "Whoa! Even after all those games we played, I didn't think I'd ever see anything that looked even remotely like a feeding. Cult?"

            "I don't know. It was a well planned sacrifice if it was. Theres not even a sign of a struggle. She was taken by complete surprise. Pity Trent's not here." She walked away. "When you're done hacking her to bits, I want to cast the wounds." she trailed over her shoulder.

*******

            Grey paste smeared carefully over the womans neck slowly began to harden. Trent burst through the morgue doors, excited and chatty. Never one door, always two Odysseia shook her head at the impressive entrance. She craned her neck to make eye contact.

            "Is it true? Is it really a vampire attack?" Trent slightly bounced on his toes as he spoke. He reminded Odysseia of her nephew an excited and hyped up 5 year old.

            "There's no evidence of forced entry, or anyone at all. There's no physical evidence that even suggests that a second person was in the house, yet it cant be a suicide. The blood has also been collected. Besides the small traces on her neck and smeared across the computer, there's not a sign of the phantom four and a half litres!" she pointed to the photo littered wall. Carefully, she peeled the mould from the victim's neck. "Hang on..." her voice trailed "Given the length and shape of the impression, these are human teeth!"

            Trent spun around. "Human? Awesome! Finally, an interesting case. So can we chase our vampire?" Excitement bubbled through his body. Odysseia placed the mould into a jar and labeled it.

            "I can't, but I know someone who can."

            This feels wrong! Her motions became wispy and she felt light as she ascended. Circling around to face her sleeping body, she noticed a silvery chord adjoining her to the sleeping form below. Thirst panged inside. Primeval thirst. Calm images throbbed in her turbulent mind. Peaceful. Sleeping. Vulnerable. She sped through the landscape, eager to reach best friend's bedside. Blood raced as she spun around his still body. The slightest breath from his body felt like a turbulent updraft. He looks so beautiful. Waithe was the one who did me wrong. I miss him. Before a tear could escape she plummeted down towards his body, messily savouring his tasty blood.

            "Ahhhh..." she slowly sat up in bed, her head spinning. Strange, I dont remember drinking last night. Why am I hung over? She rested her head against the welcome coldness of the window. "Screw it! I'm not goin to work today!" Slowly she smacked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. Her face crinkled in disgust. "What the fuck was I drinking last night? It tastes..." horrified she lept for the phone and dialed her best friend's number as quickly as possible.

            He looks so peaceful Odysseia examined the scene. "Didn't even know what was coming she murmured to no one in particular. Yo Tim!" she shouted, snapping her gloves and rummaging for the camera. Tim trotted over to the bed.

            "What is it?" he draped his arm around her shoulder.

            "Same as the other scenes," she focused the camera and started flashing at the evidence. "How long he been dead?"

            "Seven hours, there abouts"

            "After the slicing and dicing can I..."

            "Get a mold of the tooth marks?"

            "Read me like a book" How does he do that? Hes been able to since we met "Trent, time to start collecting!" He cracked open the kit in silent agreement.

            Trent started in the main hallway while Odysseia carefully walked the room, meticulously searching for the slightest piece of evidence. Ring, ring. The piercing cry of the telephone echoed through the room. "Shit!" Odysseia jumped. "Hello?" she picked up. Heavy breathing. Stuttering. "Hello?" The dial tone rang out. Might have been the killer, or an annoyed girlfriend.

            "Tim, wanna stay for the molds this time? You can tell me what you found"

            "Absolutely nothing. Again, four and a half litres of blood missing, your bite marks."

            "Same with the crime scene. Same old. No evidence of any sort of cult involvement. Or human involvement at all. No break in. The only remarkable feature were those marks!" She pointed to the wounds on the jugular. "Even if it was a vampire like we know, they wouldn't be this meticulous. They'd break in, eat, leave." She smeared the grey paste along the wound, making sure it was packed firmly into the punctures.

            "Did you get the teeth back from the last vic?" Tim enquired

            "Not yet, Trent was gonna ring me when Keiran got them back."

            "Oh!" Tim excitedly jumped up. "I ordered a tox screen as always. The lack of struggle was because our man was utterly trashed"

            "Doesn't help me sweetie," She patted his back "All the other victims were sober. But either way, they're not connected" Odysseia peeled off the mold, bagged and labeled it. "Gahh!" she uttered in surprise. She reached for her wriggling phone. "Hello?"

            "I'm down at Keirans lab. Hes got a match!"

            "Gotta go!" she ran off.

            "Hey guys" Odysseia was buoyant. Trent gave a half assed wave

            "From the photos and the mold you gave me I was able to make a partial model of the top jaw and ran it through the database," Keiran began "Your perp is a business man by the name of Darren Lamming. Middle aged"

            "Keiran, youre a genius!" Odysseia hugged him.

            "I know..." he ran a hand through his thick red hair. His young, boyish face blushed slightly.

            "I have another for you. These ones look different."

            "They are. I'll have them for you ASAP"

            "Well, we have our man!: Trent bounced on his toes. :I'll call the police to come and make the arrest."

            "I don't think this is as black and white as that."

            "What the hell do you mean? Keiran said those are Lamming's teeth. He's the killer!"

            "Keiran also said that the teeth from the last vic were different even though its virtually the same crime scene"

            "How can you be so blind?" he yelled impatiently.

            "You said yourself it was something supernatural! What about the missing blood? That wasn't done by a human. At least not in their physical capacity." Her voice raised to a shout.

            "I'm goin to catch this guy! He's it and thats the end of it!" Trent stormed off.

            What a day! Odysseia kicked off her shoes. He could at least think of the possibility of a copy cat. He couldn't hurt his pride like that! Thud! She dropped her bag on the floor and proceeded into the bathroom. Idiot. Warm water flowed through the taps. She tested the water and added her favourite apple bubble bath. Thick pillar candles illuminated the room. Easing into the bath she reminded herself no more work, just relax girl. She began to meditate.

            Whoa! She floated above her relaxed body. I've never achieved astral travel before. She somersaulted through the fragrant air. Haha! She giggled to herself. This was amazing. Craving to play with Trent's head she willed herself to his house, still giddy with novelty and wonder. He sat staring at the television, convinced of another solved case. He shivered. Odysseia floated a few inches above the ground to his left. Must be a breeze, he reasoned. Sluggishly, he wandered to the window. "What the..." That windows been fucked for ages. His television started flicking channels. He shivered again. This isnt good! If only he could see Odysseia smiling and manipulating the television.

            Hehehe! Odysseia rushed towards him, spinning about his body. Her eyes fixed on his stubbly neck. She licked her canine teeth. Whats happening to me? She was entranced by the beating of his heart. This is trippy! Freaked out, she withdrew from Trent. Still craving, she bit her wrist, suckling at the wound. Whats goin on? I'm sucking at my own blood. At least the cravings are gone, I suppose. Mortified by her own behaviour, she willed herself back to her body. Trembling, she dried herself off and hurried to the phone. "Tim, you're never gonna believe what just happened!"

            "So you're saying that the guy Trent arrested last night didn't actually kill that girl?" Tim followed Odysseia through the parklands. He looked bewildered.

            "Well he did, but he wasn't physically at the crime scene"

            "Astral travel, out of body experiences?" his brow furrowed further.

            "Yeah, there are well documented cases from a variety of people. Some describe people performing day to day tasks, some ascend to other realms and some act out dark desires as some twisted stress reliever."

            "So our vampires are actually pissed of individuals who want to act out?"

            "Think about it," she paused "All of the victims had done something to hurt the vampire. I mean, I didn't even have that kind of temptation until I started fighting with Trent yesterday. We have this primeval blood lust in our brains. We haven't shut it out completely we've just suppressed it."

            "So our vampires are the primeval soul out on the loose. Interesting. But wouldn't that mean that essentially all people can be vampires? That pretty much blows everything out of the water!" Tim's face filled with a look of shear childish delight.

            "Well, we did learn that vampires are essentially animals the longer they're separated from humanity. Pain separates us from humanity. We want bloody revenge, even if we love them or its only for a few seconds." Odysseia plucked a daisy from the bush as she passed by. With a quaint giggle she reached up and placed it behind Tim's ear. Before he could spin around to grab her, she took off up the path.