Liam sipped down the last of the tea from his cup as Alice questioned him regarding his career, his work. He had expected that question to come up, though that didn't make answering it any easier.
As he drained the last drop of honeyed tea, he sat his cup aside, leaning back in his seat with his arms crossed, his face holding a straight look of slight sternness. He looked Alice right in the face, holding the serious expression that begat his pale face.

"I am a..." he started, his eyes remaining locked on her face,"surgeon."

"A surgeon," he repeated, a little louder than the first time,"you know, blood and the general works. It's not really a pleasant topic of conversation, least of all now. But to answer your question sweet Alice; I am a surgeon. My work is my very life, my...point of existence."
He finished with a slight smirk and a sideways glance out a nearby window before looking back to Alice, his redundantly warm smile of the evening returning once more as he looked upon her.

"Is there anything else you wish to know?" He asked kindly.

So he was a surgeon. A interesting job and rather needful. It also sounded like he shared her passion for their chosen occupation. Alice gave a smile as she nodded in agreement. It wasn't something that could generally be talked about over meals or tea. All that gore details and such... Alice prided herself on being a lady and a lady that could handle the sight of blood. But that was a tad more than 'some'. "It seems we both enjoy our work." She commented, sipping away the last of the tea. It had gone rather quickly hadn't it?

Tilting her head silently at his question, Alice blinked her green eyes. Musing over the answers she could give, the tailor set the cup down next to Liam's. Her slim fingers dabbing the remains of the tea from her lips with a napkin. "Anything else I wish to know?" Her voice dipped as she chuckled slightly. "You'd rather I not answer that, as I would try to snare you to be a model." Alice teased the man lightly, meaning every word. He was a dashing figure and plenty of her line would look wonderful on him. But that was neither here or there and she doubted he would agree to it. "But, no. I'll keep my peace for now." She leaned back, hands in her lap as a gentle smile formed on her lips.

Liam returned her smile and glanced across the little cafe at nearby clock.

"Oh dear," he said with a glint of surprise,"it's nearly nine-thirty."

True enough, on the nearby wall clock, the hour hand was halfway between nine and ten o'clock, while the minute hand creeped past nine twenty-eight, edging toward the marked six at the bottom of the clock face.

"Time has flown it seems," he said looking back to Alice,"such as is when in fine company sadly." He smiled coyly at Alice on his remark, suddenly drawing up his thin lips and making a kissing motion at her. His smile unwavering, his dimples deeply riveted into the corners of his mouth. At this point, he saw little point in holding back on his efforts of flirting with Alice.
After all, he felt they had broken the ice thoroughly.

He stood up before Alice,"Shall I see you home? The streets of New York are no place for a young lady to be traipsing about alone."

Alice looked at the clock, then did a double take. "Oh dear! So it is!" Time really had flown along with her thoughts apparently. Her cheeks flaming as he blatantly flirted with her. Wishing he had gotten to the point a bit sooner, Alice couldn't help but smile shyly in return. It was a relief to know which way the wind blew- as so many books would say. She might not be big on those foolish vampire novels but she did enjoy the historical romance novel. It was more... grounded so to speak? Yes, that seemed the right word.

Setting the napkin aside, Alice nodded in agreement as Liam stood up. Following the motion herself after a second. "I'd appreciate that." Her soft voice admitted, not caring for the stories and mugging and horrors on dark streets. "Especially at this time of night." She added on, sliding her arms into the coat that had been previously hanging from her shoulders. Frowning slightly, she cast a worried look to Liam. "I hope I'm not keeping you from your work?"

Liam waved off her words of concern.
"No, don't worry," he assured her,"I do have a...procedure tonight to perform, but it shan't conflict with me walking you home. Once I've done that, I'll be off without fuss nor confliction. Besides, I couldn't let you walk these streets alone at night, it's not safe."
He playfully poked her in the ribs with one finger as said his final words.

He walked her to the door, and they departed the quaint little cafe and headed out into the dark New York City streets.



Even at night the streets of New York were overflowed with vehicles; cars, trucks, semis, commuter buses, and more.
The sidewalk was crowded with people, passing Liam and Alice from both directions. While not terribly far from Alice's place, they had a thick crowd to move through, as well a traffic light ahead to contend with. Liam wasn't sure of the time, though he speculated it to already be past ten PM. Quite late indeed.

As they walked, Liam suddenly stopped, looking off to the left of them.
He stood still for a minute before turning to Alice.

"Would you be fine cutting through this alley." He asked, pointing his left finger down a long alley just to their left.



"It's already quite late," he said,"and if we cut through here we just
have to cross a small side street and then we'll be nearly through.
With this crowd, who knows how much longer we'll be getting you home, and I do still have a procedure to perform. We can save time if we shortcut through here." He said, smiling at her.

Alice stifled a slight yawn. She had been up early preparing for that bridal part that had come through, and now was leaning decently on Liam's arm. Propriety forgotten for the moment. Alleys never bothered her, she had used them several times to get into her shop when she accidentally locked herself out. Nodding in agreement, the tailor frowned at the crowd. They were out rather late- they, being the crowd. Usually by now, most people were fewer. But it was New York and such cities never truly slept.

Giving Liam a apologetic smile. "That's fine, I wouldn't want to hold you up too long." Alice frowned slightly, as she followed after Liam's lead. "Though if you really need to get to the hospital, I can make it the rest of the way on my own." She offered, clearly not wanting to inconvenience him. Liam had been very kind and she had enjoyed the flirting. Laying her head on his shoulder, Alice gave a small smile trying her own hand at the flirting. "But I do enjoy your company, very much so!" She beamed up at Liam.

Liam smiled at Alice as they shuffled down the alley together, the crowded sidewalk behind them growing distant. No longer resisting, he leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead and a broad smile to follow. His perfect white teeth glimmered in the darkness.
They continued down the alley together, and soon the sidewalk they had departed was nearly gone from view, and the narrow side street Liam mentioned was becoming clear up ahead. There was not a soul in site, no one else in the alley or along the fringes of the street up ahead.

Liam suddenly came to an abrupt stop, sliding his arm across Alice's back and pulling her close. He turned completely around to face her, a rather simple smile etched across his face as he gazed into her eyes.
"How I hate for this evening to end," he said, a rather melancholy tone in his words,"I was so enjoying your company, my dearest Alice, my evening star."

He raised his hand to her face, running two fingers down her left cheek.
"Please," he said,"allow me to taste of your sweet lips, let me fall beguiled to your magnificence and your mesmerizing beauty." His words were thick with flattery, and his sly smile held true.

(prepare for the bite my next post.)

[/hider]

The alley was quiet, a welcome respite from the usual noise of the city. Alice enjoyed the quietness of life, but she had needed clients, so her shop had been open in the Big Apple. Needless to say she was a tad shocked when Liam kissed her on the forehead, her eyes wide. It wasn't a bad thing by any means. In fact the tailor found herself enjoying her romantic side. It was a failing she had, being a romantic. But Alice had always chalked it up to being a tailor, a artist of sorts.

As she was pulled to him, Alice went with his movements. Enjoying the thought of what was coming. His words however left her a tad lonesome. "You need to go-?" While it was phased as a question, in reality it was a plea to stay. Her green eyes growing sad and hopeful at the same time. Alice swallowed heavily as she leaned up into Liams touch. "Sweet words from a gentleman." She whispered not wanting to break the alleyways silence.

Liam pulled Alice against his chest, holding her both tightly yet gently with both arms, his hands pressed into her lower back.
He leaned forward, his blue eyes sparkled at her with warmth and a sense of passionate glee. He merely touched his lips against her own, not completing the kiss she surely anticipated, and then glided his lips down her left cheek and onto her neck. He then gave her a deep kiss on the neck, his tongue forked from between his lips and pressed lightly against her soft skin.

Magnificent.

He could feel it, the pulse of blood rushing through her mortal veins, throbbing against the beneath of her soft neck.

He had waited long enough, she was now his for the taking, his sweet little evening course to appease his hunger, time to taste.



The bloodlust consumed Liam, his own immortal blood pounded at the ecstasy of the situation and at the pounding of her heart, her sweet mortal blood ripe for his own tasting.

Liam pulled his mouth slightly from Alice's neck, and then, a pair of sharp, beastly fangs protruded from beneath his upper lip, shining in the night.

Without warning, or hesitation, he bit.
Liam sank his newly revealed fangs deeply into the side of Alice's neck. The shredding of flesh and slight grinding of bone split the quiet air around the two, crimson blood poured from Alice's neck into Liam's mouth, it ran down onto her blue coat and splattered against her upper neck from the pressure.

Liam's once blue eyes, now a fiery, demonic red, burned brightly as he tasted of her blood.

Wonderful, her flavor his like nothing I've tasted before! He crowed in his mind, never drawing his mouth from her neck, but instead slurping down the stream of blood he now drew from her neck.

Drawn into Liam's embrace, Alice shivered as she was pressed tightly against him. Her eyes dreamy as his lips bushed hers. But the kiss never came? Slight disappointment crashed through the tailor, followed closely by thrill as his lips skimmed her cheek down to her neck. How daring of him! Alice could only lean her head slightly to grant him more access to what he seemed to seek. Breathing in his scent as she felt his lips close on her neck. This was merely a bit more of a odd romance, it wasn't like Alice had read about such things before. Though she'd been in one or two romantic situations her family scared the suitors away.

Though what followed was not exactly what had in mind. Not in the slightest. The woman had gone from a small gasp, to a prettified scream of pain. It felt like two hot knives pierced her neck, as blood flooded down her shoulder. The warm red liquid she needed to survive. Alice didn't know she was screaming, didn't know her voice was her own. She just heard the bloody- pun not intended- shriek of terror and pain. The scream that violated the night's quiet bliss a moment before. Struggling, Alice tried. She really did try to get this man- to get Liam Enduro off her. But her arms shook and her legs gave out as that scream wound down. Dying as the wailing woman felt herself fading. Giving pathetic hoarse whimpers, Alice struggled to remain abreast of the pain and weakness that was swamping her. Dragging her into the depths. She needed to scream! But all she could do was whimper and cry! The tears slid from her green eyes and down hr cheeks into Liam's hair.

With a harsh force, Liam pulled backward from Alice, tearing a strip of hide from her neck, which flew from his own mouth into the air and onto the ground behind him with a sickening plop.

He released her and let her crumble to the asphalt floor of the alley, her blood smeared across her neck and shoulder, as well as across his own mouth.
He now stood towering over her, his pale skin shining in the night, and his now red eyes glowing like balls of fire in the shroud of darkness. His gleaming fangs peeked out from his upper lip, which was turned up in a coercive smile with his lower lip. A simple yet cold-bearing smile of cruel intention, blood dribbled down from the fang tips and from the corners of his mouth.

He then knelt down next to Alice, his red eyes burned into her face, his cold smile unwavering and leaving his newly seen fangs exposed to Alice's view.

"Oh, sweet Alice," he cooed,"it took everything in my willpower to keep from draining you dry. Your blood is so...succulent." He practically hissed this final word.

He leaned down closer to her face, her own blood dripping from his mouth down onto her cheeks and forehead.
"I have never tasted such a sweet red honey, an ambrosia of the human heart," he said,"how I wish there were more like you, those with such a fine taste, like the best wines on the hottest day. I do hate that this must end, that I cannot treat myself to blood like yours regularly. How I wish I could..." His voice trailed off, his smile slightly fading, his lip lowering back over his fangs, covering up all but the tips.

Of course! his mind echoed, I can have her for always, I can savor her blood as often as I want, but.... no. It might be-....Dammit all!
I must have her, I will take her as my feeding concubine. But still, she...
He closed his eyes tightly, a smile curving back into the corners of his mouth.

"So be it." He said aloud to himself, his red eyes flashing back open.

He raised his right hand, lowering it just over Alice's face.
From his fingers protruded sharp, blade like claws, each at least an inch long. He raised his left hand and extended his index finger and, with swift motion, sliced the sharp claw of his pointer finger across the bottom of his wrist. Blood almost instantly came oozing out.

Liam then used his left hand and roughly prized open Alice's mouth, stretching her jaw downward. He then lowered his skit wrist over her mouth and arched back his hand, the pressure forcing out a stream of blood, which spilled into Alice's mouth and ran down her throat...

The ripping of flesh silenced the whimpering of the woman. Alice heard the plop but it was a distant sound that merely was registered as she folded like a limp doll. So many said she resembled a doll. That she was just as fragile and delicate. But she had brushed it off so lightly. Perhaps she was not so unlike the china dolls one sat upon the shelf. Though as green eyes gazed up at the nightmare that towered over her. The red eyes- those red eyes- the clearest thing in the darkness. She would not forget those red eyes. Her body was unresponsive when her mind shivered in revulsion as Liam knelt next to her with those horrid fangs.

Alice would have wept at his words. At his cooed voice as though she was some fine rose to be plucked for his wanting. Though she supposed she was. How could she stop him? Her blood dripped onto her face as he stared down at her, speaking such wonderful words about so horrid a thing. The woman was unaware of the tears that still slipped from her eyes that still ran down her cheeks as he seemed to muse to himself over something she had no knowledge of. But he seemed to reach a decision. Which Alice thought was good. Perhaps then, she would be spared from the agony that made her weep. Her vision blurred as she felt her jaw opened and liquid fall into her mouth. She felt helpless as it ran down her throat. She wanted to whimper, to scream, to rip the cloak from him. But she was just so very tired. So very weak and so very ready to be done. Her vision was fading, and Alice gave in...

But she would remember. She would remember that coat of hidden silver, and the man of handsome nature and hidden horror.

Liam withdrew his hand from Alice's mouth, several drops of his blood pattered down onto her neck and on her shirt beneath her now blood soaked blue coat.
Liam wiped his bleeding wrist off on his pants, and rolled over his hand, watching as the small slit slowly healed shut, sealing his skin back together.

He looked back to Alice, that same dimpled smile that had graced her all night now leered down at her coldly in her helpless state. He reached down with his right hand and cradled her cheek gently, the black claws extended from his fingers pricked into the skin beneath her ear.

"Don't worry, my pet," he said,"you will not die. You will be reborn."
"I need a companion Alice, a young, beautiful woman like you to walk with me in the shadows, hand in hand. Sole immortality had grown so lonely for me. I need a companion, and I want that companion to be you. Be mine, my love."

His final words were accompanied by a widened grin and narrowed eyes, the smirking grin on his face was almost seductive.

"Don't worry," he said soothingly, stroking her face,"the pain will end soon."

THUNK.

There was a spray of blood, Liam's red eyes suddenly flared open widely, his pupils dilated to the size of pin-tips. He leapt up and away from Alice in an instant.

From his right shoulder sprouted an arrow.
Liam whirled around, facing off to the right. Standing there, alone, in the middle of the alley, was a tall figure in a heavy poncho-like coat with dark clothing on underneath. The lone figure's face was covered by a black bandana, and on their head was a coal black wide-brimmed hat. It was clearly a man from the body build and height.

In his right hand, which was outwardly extended, he held a crossbow.
He stood there, silent and still, his weapon aimed at Liam.

With a snarl, Liam yanked the arrow from his arm and flung it to the side.
The cloaked man fired in response, another arrow came whistling through the night air and slammed directly into Liam's forehead, which resulted in a short cry from Liam as he staggered back, madly grabbing at the arrow driven between his eyes.

The cloaked man dropped his crossbow and suddenly rushed forward.
In a flash, he whipped out a shimmering blade from from beneath his coat, brandishing it smoothly at his side as he dashed toward Liam.
Liam wildly ripped the arrow from his forehead and cast it away, a gaping, bloody wound now marred his forehead.
As the cloaked man approached, he took a mighty one-handed swing with the narrow sword he brandished.
Liam eloquently leapt backward, avoiding the attack.
He then swung his leg up and forward in a mighty kick, which knocked the cloaked backward and sent him tumbling across the ground. As the man came to a stop, he lay there unmoving for a minute or so before finally raising and clutching at his midsection, grunting slightly in pain.

"How dare you interfere! How dare you attack me!" Liam yelled at the now crumbled over man.

Thunk!

Liam staggered forward with a growl of pain, another arrow sprouted from the left center of his back.
He turned to see another cloaked man like the first, perched on a nearby fire escape, armed with a crossbow of his own.

"Damnable Inquisitors!" Liam cried.

The man on the stairwell released another arrow which streaked towards Liam's chest. Liam leapt to the side, just barely avoiding the shot. He then reached back and pulled the arrow from his back, pitching it away, it landed with a clatter next to Alice. Liam's blood coated the arrow's black tip.

The fallen man down the alley stood once more, shaking off his daze and firming himself into a stance while gripping his blade with both hands this time. He held his ground this time, taking up a defensive position, while the man on the fire escape reloaded his crossbow and prepared to take another shot.

Liam looked down at his newly bought coat, now splattered with blood, both Alice's and his own. His faced was streaked with blood from the arrow he had taken to the forehead, the wound still to heal.
He then looked around to Alice, still laying as she had when he first attacked her and drank her blood.

He gave Alice one last sideways look, and with a snarl went sprinting down the opposite way, away from the sword bearing man. The figure on the fire escape futilely fired a wild shot with his crossbow at Liam, the arrow missing and clanging against a nearby dumpster.

The cloaked man on the ground sheathed his sword beneath his cost with a short screech of metal and approached Alice...

There was a new noise. Alice registered this dimly, but she was past caring. Everything just hurt like nothing she had ever felt and everything she never wanted to feel again. There were loud noises of something hitting a solid object, shouts, and footsteps. The tailor didn't care, as her blood and tears seeped onto the ground of the alleyway. Her coat beyond repair as was the dress beneath. Blood leaked from the corner of her mouth as she stared blankly at the fuzzy outlines of the buildings. Liam... Liam Enduro had done this.

Why? She had made such a lovely coat, he had been so spectacular in it. His manners had been lovely. It was going to be a lovely night, she thought as a tear trailed down her cheek. Her chest shallowly rose and fell as she heard the clang of a bell, but there were no bells here? Did it matter? Alice supposed not. Nor did the shriek of metal matter as she heard footsteps approached her. But, she did one last thing- one last word. It was the least she could do. For whatever she had done to cause this. Had she done something to cause this? What was this even? Why? Her thoughts spiraled as she whimpered in pain her tears falling like slow raindrops. SO helpless, so useless. She was merely a tailor. A woman of cloth and needle. Prey had he said? But seemed to find her so beautiful and charming. To appreciate her work. So why? "Why-?" Alice whispered or did she? Her vision blurring and slowly dimming to the point she would not be able to see things for much longer. Why had this happened to her? She just wanted a nice life.

Buildings and people streaked by as the black sedan cruised along through the streets of inner city New York. Businesses, homes, and scores of citizens were not but blurs through the passenger window of the car, which was driven by Thomas, who sat unnoticing of the symphony of unclarity to his left.
His attention remained solely on the road before him as he drove along at a progressive speed of fifty miles an hour.

Though focused on the road, the back of his mind swirled chaotically with thoughts of the hunt. This pursuit of their elusive target, Liam.

It's been three months now, three months and hardly any reliable leads. Thomas thought grimly, for all we know this hunt is pointless, that red haired bastard could be in other state for all we know, hell, maybe another country.

Thomas squeezed his hands hard against the steering wheel, his fingers causing a grinding squeak of leather as he gripped down on the black leather coated wheel.

I dare not mention the futility of the hunt to him though, not now anyway. His wounds are still deep, his lust for vengeance too fiery still. I doubt he would cease the hunt if it meant his life. Honestly, in a way, I admire his passion.

Thomas's grip on the wheel lessened, he exhaled loudly as he cruised along the busy New York street. Though traffic was thick, it moved at a fairly decent pace.

I'll give him two more months, if he hasn't folded by then, then I'll address him on it. Thomas thought positively.
He turned his gaze upward very briefly, looking up at the black, starless night sky before refocusing his eyes forward on the road and the car ahead of him, a blue Prius.

His cell phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket, slightly catching his attention.
As the line of cars came to a rolling stop at a red light, Thomas fished his cell phone out of his pocket with his right hand. It was a cheap burner phone with purchasable minutes and messages, a simple way of communication with little investment or potential loss. He glanced up at the still red light and then down to the glowing phone screen.

It was a single text message with little character yet obvious meaning.

The raven headed woman on white sterile sheets stirred with a grumpy snarl that did not fit her doll like appearance. The constant beep of something made the small figure stir again and growl. Mornings- or waking up, in general- were not Alice Lynch's specialty. Green eyes opened sleepily, as blurry images slowly solidified. Curtains were the first thing she took notice of, then the fact they were horribly white and had absolutely no style to them. The second thing was the ache in her head, it was a constant irritation. Pushing herself to sit up, Alice looked dumbfounded at the room about her. One hand straying to poke at the IV that was inserted into one arm. It hurt. Spying herself in the reflection of the window, her already pale face went white as the sheets she was surrounded by. Her reflect stared back with frightened green eyes, her black hair mussed into a messy tangle that fell about her in waves and curls. Her delicate features and doll like appearance making her thinking for a minute that this had to be some sick joke. That the bandages over her shoulder and neck were just some sick prank her family had pulled.

But her family didn't even care enough to pull jokes, and if they did it would be aimed not at her health or appearance but her business. Laying a hand over the wound, Alice gave a soft sob. The memories flooding back. The red headed man with piercing blue eyes. The black coat she had spent a month perfecting with the silver design she had spent even more time perfecting. The wicked, lying smile. Tears traced down her cheeks as Alice shook. The sound of sharp heels on the floor. "Oh my! You're awake! How are you feeling dear?" Alice looked at the shocked nurse and gave her a small smile. Then she did what her family did.

She lied.

She lied to the nurse, saying her was feeling better. Hiding the ache in her stomach, the drums in her head. She lied in the tears she wept when she claimed not to remember what happened. The nurses and doctors had frowned and suggested she remained. But Alice begged, pleaded, and swore to take it easy and rest, and still they refused. Leaving Alice to sit in her bed, staring at the ceiling and dwelling in her misery. Alice smiled at the mirrored window, her head pounding and her body wanting to curl up in the fetal position. "Hello, I am Alice Lynch." She whispered again and again. Practicing the lie, trying to shake off the horror. But she heard each and every time. "Liam, Liam Enduro." From that once flattering voice.

A sudden knocking came at the door, and immediately after it opened with the clicking of the door handle and a short squeak of the hinges.
As the door swung open, in strolled two police officers.

Both men were adorned in navy blue police uniforms, on their chests they wore silvery shield shaped badges, and the breast pockets of their uniform shirts were marked with NYPD in simple white letters sewn into the fabric.
At their waists were holstered pistols on the right, and "billy clubs" on the left.

They approached Alice from the door slowly and calmly.
They were both of average height and body build. One was an older policeman, with blonde hair which was steady receded from his forehead nearly to the top of his head. The corners of his eyes and mouth were touched with wrinkles, and his dull blue eyes carried an understanding yet stern light to them.

The other man was far younger, roughly in his mid-twenties. He had solid black hair cut short military-style and a thin goatee around his mouth. His young face held a harder more intense look to it, and piercing brown eyes that showed little sympathy. His walk, unlike the other man, had a sort of steadfast strut to it. His look and basic traits marked him as a gung-ho and potentially reckless officer.

They both stood at Alice's bed now, the older one beside her to the left, while the younger moved toward the foot of her bed with crossed arms.

The older blonde policeman spoke,"Miss, I'm Officer Johnson, and this is my partner, Officer Green." He motioned down to the younger policeman, who simply nodded, his arms still crossed, his face still grim.

"We're here to talk to about what happened to you last night. The doctor said the nurses found you outside of the ER room in the parking lot, unconscious, and soaked in blood." Officer Johnson said.

"With a large about of flesh seemingly ripped out of your neck." Officer Green chimed in, is voice harsh and forceful, a clear put-on.

Johnson continued, looking Alice dead in the eyes as he spoke,"We need the full story, letter to letter. We need to know where you were last night, what happened, and if it was someone's doing, we need you to tell us who."

Alice blinked at the sudden knock, startled from her haunted thoughts. She had not thought of dress making all day. It had been a torture to simply lay here and listen to the hum of the hospital's traffic. To feel wrack after wrack of pain and torment slip through her body. If only she could get her hands on a pen and pad of papers, or perhaps a needle and thread. Add a bit of color to the drab sheets. Alice had dozed and sobbed through out the day. The latrer only when she felt for sure she was alone. Tucking her hands in her lap, the woman eyed both men with clear distrust as the officers entered. It wasn't that she had a thing against police officers, but rather strange men were something she was a tad leery of. Understandable since her dinner partner had attacked her. Wincing at the young officer's harshness, Alice bit her lip. "I-I'll sound crazy." She whispered, her hands fidgeting with the sheet over her legs. As if she was trying to find a place to put the needle and start the design. Her eyes filled with grief and fright as she began.

"I had just gotten a bridal party= lots of works those. I work as a tailor, you see. They left quite the mess behind them and I had just finished cleaning." Her hands gripped the sheet tightly as she grimaced. "Then he came in looking for a long, plain black coat of the style I excel in. I had the coat- it was a beautiful thing. Black and long with silver trim and the fabric had a hidden silver sheen to it. A pattern that would only come out in the right light. Just as a he specified, save that I had to change out the black velvet buttons to silver." Alice shook her head giving a bitter smile. "I thought he was a model. He wore it like a glove and paid my asking price in cash." She then described the jazz cafe she had directed him to when he took for her for their 'drink'. Describing Liam to the two officers, while she bit down on her trembling lip. "I thought he was going to kiss me... I thought- He said he was a surgeon. B-But he-he-" Alice trailed off. Her arms wrapping about herself. Swallowing several times to keep back the horrified sounds though the tears feel from her cheeks. "He did something- I don't know what... Not really. But his mouth was on my neck- then- I- It was nothing but blood. Blood everywhere." Laying a hand over the bandages, Alice whimpered and shook with sobs as she bit into her fist to muffle the cries. "H-he was talking crazy." Alice sobbed out, her voice hoarse. "He was saying my blood was succulent- the best he ever had." Wiping futilely at her tears, the tailor dissolved into a shell of herself. Her eyes red with the tears, her arms wrapped tightly about her knees as she bit back the cries of pain she wanted to let loose as a wave of pain swamped her body.

The two men stood listening intently, Officer Green had taken out a small pad and was scribbling away Alice's story with a pen, while Officer Johnson stood with his arms crossed and an observing look on his face.

Green made a note of the jazz cafe and Johnson stated that they would remember to go there later today and question the staff that were working last night.
Green also scribbled down a description of Liam Enduro, as well as the jacket that Alice had made for him.

Up to this point, the two officers maintained a neutral air, but when Alice described the scene of the attack and the transpiring event, the skepticism began to show.
Or perhaps it wasn't skepticism, perhaps it was simple shock or disbelief.
Johnson had a concerned expression on his face, his mouth slightly parted and his light eyebrows were raised. Green's expression was a bit harder, with his eyebrows slightly arched downward and the corner of his mouth was turned into a slight smirk.

Johnson's face held what appeared as concern, while Green's expression made it obvious; as far as he was concerned, she was either lying through her teeth or in shock, perhaps a touch of a mental disorder.

"You say he bit you," Johnson said, his tone questioning,"he bit your neck and was...tasting of your blood?"

"This story sounds...weird to me," Green suddenly blurted out,"your saying this man took you out for a date, told you he was a surgeon, then bit your neck and was drinking your blood?"
Green's expression was now as skeptical as possible. This story just didn't add up to him. Sure, this was New York City, and sometimes strange things happened, but in his four years on the force he had never dealt with anything like this before.

"Just hold on now." Johnson said, looking around disapprovingly to Green, who returned this look with narrowed eyes.
Johnson looked back to Alice and asked,"Alice, where exactly were you when the suspect b-...attacked you?"

Alice shivered helplessly, as she wiped at her eyes. "I don't know. I just know I couldn't do anything." Her voice, which she had been trying to level out from her sobs, broke with a sharp edged sob. Why were they looking at her like she was crazy? Mad? She wasn't! She made fancy clothes and listened to jazz. She ran a successful business even. She wasn't insane, she knew Liam had bit her. But their reactions... It scared Alice. But she named the two streets the alleyway ran from. "He wanted to avoid the crowds and it was rather late. I didn't want to keep him from his job. He said he had a procedure to preform that night." She gave Green a pleading look. "He- kissed my neck. I thought he was being romantic. B-But then... I don't know."

She shivered. "He pierced my neck- his mouth was right there. What could he have done but bite me!?" Her green eyes pleaded with both officers to believe her. "I know it sounds- crazy. But there was blood all over. I didn't- he dropped me, and then said how good I tasted." Her voice was bitter, horrified and disgusted. "How I was an ambrosia, sweet red honey." Alice sniffed, wiping her tears. "I'm just a tailor. I fix and make clothes. I make people happy with my designs. I make myself happy with my work, creating beautiful clothes for people to wear. But that man- he! I've never seen anyone so beautiful with such a rotten core." She whispered, laying a hand over the bandages on her neck as she fell silent for several minutes. Giving the officers a pleading look, Alice begged in a small voice. "C-Can I go home now? I don't..." She swallowed heavily as a wave of pain crashed through her. "I need to do something. I've been laying here all day and I just..." Alice wrung her hands in the sheets. "I don't like sitting idle when I can be working on a design or something. I just keep seeing him smile down at me."