North American Vampire Council & Past Calling (Hypernaturals 12 & 13)

Anything Else is a Diss

After the healing of the loving, Denise and I went to my office to meet with Anne. It almost threw us behind the scheduled meeting time, so we skipped the shower. We were there before her anyway.

My office is next to the one Morgan used to rent for the PI business. We bought the building, so now she does not pay rent. The other businesses in the building pay us rent. Saw what you will about Helen and I have been and I will be, she is always up for buying property.

Now Morgan and my offices connect. Before Helen's new political screwing of her spouse, it was meant so that I can quietly write code, or I can cover both businesses, in case Angel and Morgan are out.

In theory, Angel, Morgan, and I do not need to keep up external work for the agency, because the Crew adjacent Vampire work keeps us pretty busy. That was before Helen's scheming bullshit added the extra dimensions of Crew to our lives.

The office is the public face for 'Olsen and Sagan', where clients can come have a sitdown. It may not have been required anymore, given the kind of work we do and where it comes from. Morgan wants the office, the public face, the business as distinct from the family, and so it shall be.

If Morgan wants it, I will make it happen. This one is easy. We just need to not move.

The three of us still work with my brother Don in addition to the Vampire based job dispatches. When Don calls with a PI need, he gets the family treatment. Morgan by herself and as a human was deeply effective for Don. Now 'Olsen and Sagan' are two hyper-sensed Vampires and an Astral. There is nothing we can not figure out for Don.

That was before I suddenly had full access to Crew resources. Helen and Victoria's conniving will help my brother, at least. Might as well make the best of a bad situation. Don may not understand why we are so effective and accurate, but no one in this town is going to win against him. Don, for his part, will only take on cases he believes in. Money does not buy Don. Innocence and being wronged does.

Now that I have my Helen-gifted, stupid new Council duties, having the office will be even handier. Since we own the building, we will add more space here for Denise and hopefully Anne.

Anne came into the office and I came around the desk to greet her with a hug. "Hey. Thanks for coming. Appreciate it. While I am up do either of you want anything from the kitchen?"

"I'm good." Denise said.

"Me too." Anne said.

"Anne: Did Denise tell you what I asked you here?" I asked.

"Whoa there Nelly: First male Vampire on Council? We aren't going to talk about that?" Anne asked.

"Nope. I would prefer that never come up again. It was fucking Helen's idea. She did not even ask me if I wanted it." I said.

"You don't want to be on Council?" Anne asked, disbelief filling her voice. "You went from Parole to Council in less than 10 years and you don't think it is worthy of a mention? Hell: I was there with Denise at your house! You were offering us tea. Now, in literally no Vampire time at all, you are Council????"

I looked over at Denise. Got a sweet conspiratorial smile. The unspoken message: we are a team now. "I told her nothing."

"Anne: Hell no. I get it. I know I bitched like hell about the plight of my gender in the Vampire world. I know I made waves and noises about it. I know I stood up on top of the hill yelling about it. I was there when the proof about males needing more time literally drove up to my house in a van. I am not being egotistical to say that I am a damn lighting rod. I know. Does not matter: I am not a politician. I hated the Liaison gig bad enough. Just hated it. You have no idea what it was like to sit there and act like a smarmy male with the Sirens. Lurking on the ladies. I LOVE women. I hated that!"