Tommy Joe Ratliff is a police officer who works for the San Diego Police Department (S.D.P.D.), in the year 2022. He is sent to question a group of vampires about some murders that happened in the area recently. He runs into a familiar face and takes a trip down memory lane.
Once Bitten, Twice Shy
Prologue
By Laura Nelson
Tommy Joe Ratliff felt a shiver of half anticipation, half fear, run up his spine, as he walked down the dark, deserted alleyway. A streetlamp further down the alley flickered on and off, offering little light to see by. The only sound was the echoing of his boots, resounding against the alley walls. He breathed deeply in, then out, watching his breath fog out before him on the cold December air; wrapping his arms tightly around himself to keep out the cold. It was eerily silent.
A few minutes later, he reached the end of the alley, a wire fence separating it from the derelict houses beyond, which were deserted except for a few homeless people littering the steps. A metal can over-flowing with trash was pushed against the fence, and he wrinkled his nose against the smell, reaching into his jacket pocket, and taking out a scrap of paper with directions written on it, as he faced the metal door set into the wall.
A quick glance at the paper. Yeah. This was the place.
He pushed the paper back into his pocket, and reached into the inside of his jacket, feeling the hidden holsters there, and making sure that the 'safety' was off on both pistols.
Just in case. He wouldn't shoot unless he had to. He wouldn't want to provoke the undead unless completely necessary, unlike some of his fellow officers. Fools.
He was just here for information. He hoped it wouldn't come to bloodshed. He'd most likely lose.
He took a deep breath, before raising his un-gloved hand, and rapping his knuckles against the door; they'd hear it even through the metal.
Tommy's heart leaped painfully in his chest when the door was opened unnaturally fast, before he even had the chance to remove his hand, but he hid his fear. A tall, pale, blond woman stood before him, wearing only a red thong and stilettos. She was unnaturally beautiful, with red stained lips, and bright purple eyes that surveyed him up and down a little tauntingly. She was completely unashamed of her nakedness.
"Why, what is a tasty treat like you doing all the way down here?" Her voice was the voice of an angel, sweet and serene. Tommy felt disgust well up inside of him as she spoke.
He hated vampires with a passion.
He reached into his jacket again, becoming business like, taking out his badge and holding it in front of the bitch.
"Officer Ratliff. I was sent here by the S.D.P.D. Chief of Police to ask you, or one of the others some questions regarding the murders of Amanda Beckett, Scott Brown and Matthew Nelson."
Her gaze became slightly colder, but she gave a girlish giggle all the same. "Are you accusing us of something?"
"Of course not," he countered, coldly also, "but the murders happened around this general area, and the victims were completely drained of their blood. I was sent to question you, just in case you know something. I do have a warrant." He put away his badge and took out the piece of paper, holding that out for her also.
She considered him a moment, before stepping aside from the entrance of the building, nodding curtly (but still gracefully) at him. "I will take you to our master, he may be able to tell you something. I don't keep track of the comings and going's around here, but he may be able to put a stop to this terrible misconception."
