Title:  Aggrieved the Wolf, part 1

Author:  Frau Hunter Ash

 

Disclaimers:

Ownership:  This story is not meant as an infringement of any copyright. Any relation the characters within the following story have to other people living, dead or fictional is purely coincidental. All characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices.

Copyright © 2002 by Hunter Ash. All Rights Reserved.

Subtext/Alt Fiction/Sex:  The story assumes a loving and sexual relationship between people of the same gender and of the opposite sex.  If this offends or is illegal for you, then please leave.  Come back when you are older, have an open mind, moved, or changed your laws. Please note there are (or will be J) scenes of a graphic sexual nature at intervals in the story.

 

Language/Violence: The story does contain action scenes and some adult language. Some violence is depicted graphically.  This is a horror story with werewolves, vampires and insane people running around.

 

Special Note:  There is a blunt telling of some of the atrocities committed against the Jewish people and Slaves by Nazi Germany and might be disturbing. 

 

Feedback:  Always welcome and I do respond!

 

Setting/Summary:  This story takes place in modern times and deals with vampires, werewolves, love and other impossibilities.

 

Aggrieved the Wolf

Part 1

 

* * *

 

Case Quinn leaned against the wall of the bar, keeping to the shadows as she watched the band.  The noise in the place was deafening but Case wasn’t surprised.  She had been here before and heard this band many times over the last two months.  Even from her position at the back of the bar it was loud. 

 

The bar was a typical dive bar.  The bands were usually what were considered Alternative but this band was more a mixture of Gothic and Hard Rock. Case winced in pain.  She mentally cursed her lack of foresight for not bringing earplugs.  It was stupid and she knew better! This could be a bad sign, she thought. Case was not known for making mistakes; oversights could get one killed.  Permanently dead! That was not a pleasant thought.  She had put in too many years working on this project to abandon it or get herself killed.

 

The bar was dark, with only red, blue and green lights flashing around the place.  The main lighting was saved for the band while they played.  Case knew they would play for an hour, break and then play for another two hours.  She also knew from experience that most bands *usually* got worse by the end of that last two hours, usually depending on the physical strength of the band members and how many beers they managed to consume during their sets.

 

The crowd was a mixed group of young Goths, middle-aged rockers and bikers.  Straights, gays, bisexuals and unknown genders, as well.  The clothing was predominately black, with lots of silver jewelry. 

 

Case was an exception; she knew it because it was intentional. 

 

Among the dyed black and too red hair, Case’s long copper-red hair stood out.  So did her black leather pants and green bodice type top.  She looked Goth enough to fit in but elegant enough to catch everyone’s eye.  Because of her appearance and her bearing, Case stayed in the back of the bar in the shadows.  She had already pointedly ignored several attempts by male, female and unknown genders to approach her.  Her cold manner and polite but short conversation made it clear she wasn’t looking for company.

 

Case had come to see the band.  She could tell there was some talent under the pounding decibels but it didn’t rest with the lead singer.  He made up for it by screaming the lyrics instead of singing. 

 

Case dismissed him and moved her eyes over the rest of the band, again.

 

The drummer was amazing but couldn’t hold her attention; neither could the female bass player.  Case eyes lingered on the lead guitarist.  If the band was going to get anywhere, it would be on the strength of the guitar playing and lyrics, not on the singing. 

 

Case’s eyes always came back to the rhythm guitar player.  The one she nicknamed “Elf.”

 

Kelly Wolf was small and thin but had a natural strength that showed through in her stance and her walk.  Sharp features with naturally black hair and the brightest blue eyes Case had ever seen.  “Where did that come from?” Case demanded from herself.  Was she actually thinking fondly of a target? 

 

First overlooking small things and now thinking of the prey lovingly?  This would not do!

 

The high cheekbones revealed a bit of Indian blood but the pale skin spoke of a more northern origin to Case.  Even with the sharp features, the face and body were the type that would get the owner carded at any bar across the country until she was forty.  Case smiled; that was common among her prey.

 

The guitarists’ eyes were closed as her body swayed with the music and Case smiled. She watched as Kelly lost herself, letting the frenzied energy of the crowd sweep over her.  Kelly Wolf’s lips were slightly parted, revealing fangs.  The tall red-head watching the band wasn’t really surprised, the entire band sported fangs. 

 

Nosferatu's sound was a rough mixture of punk, metal and Goth with enough talent to keep them in gigs but not enough to get the attention of any record labels, not even the independents.  The group consisted of the leader singer, Mark Webster, now calling himself Marcus Wolfstein; lead guitar player, Lance Jackson, now called Lash; bass player Nancy Gonzalez, calling herself Madame Maria all looked like something out of an Anne Rice movie.  The drummer, Jeremy Strummer, who didn’t bother to change his name, had stripped off his frock coat and frilled shirt to play stripped down to the waist with gray slacks and played barefoot.  Case smiled when she realized he hadn’t even put in his fangs for the evening.

 

“Drummers,” she thought. “Give them drums, sticks and a stool and they’re happy.”

 

The one that kept drawing the green eyes was the rhythm guitarist, the female named Kelly Wolf, her band name Kel Wolfram.

 

Kelly wore tight black jeans with black combat boots.  The only color to the guitarist, aside from her pale skin, was the blond tips of her black spiky hair and white ruffled shirt.  The shirt was tucked into a wide leather belt and open to the waist, occasionally flashing a bit of breast to the crowd.

 

Case had spent a month researching the musicians and then the bar scene they played in.  The hunter had let another month pass before she began haunting the bars that Nosferatu played in.  Up until now, none of the musicians noticed their new "fan."

 

The band was wrapping up their usual music set and jumped off the cheap homemade platform that acted as a stage in the bar.  The males headed straight for the bar and the women, Kelly and Nancy, headed towards the back hallway.  Case knew they were probably heading to the storage room that doubled as a changing room. 

 

Case Quinn turned back to the bar and finished her drink, as the guys reached the well-worn wooden fixture.  The hunter worked her way casually through the crowd and stopped at the entrance to the hallway.  She glanced down the dimly lit passage.

 

The hunter saw Nancy come out of the storeroom and hand Kelly a bar towel.  The young punker grinned wolfishly and toweled her hair roughly, spiking it up again and then ran the towel over her face and neck.  Case could feel the desire towards her bandmate coming from Nancy and saw Kelly's eyes narrowing slightly as the Latina beauty moved closer to her.

 

Case pulled her attention back to the dance floor and pretended to be interested in watching the couples and threesomes as a young Goth female walked past her into the hallway. 

 

The hunter frowned.  She had seen the girl before at every Nosferatu performance.   Seems I'm not the only fan, Case thought to herself ruefully.  A glance down the semi dark hallway confirmed that Nancy and Kelly had seen the girl approaching them.  Nancy glared for a moment and then shrugged her shoulders before closing the storeroom door behind her, leaving Kelly and the young Goth to face each other.

 

With the heavy dance beat pounding as loud as the huge speakers would allow, Case wasn't surprised that she couldn't hear whatever conversation the young guitarist was having with her adoring fan.  Case figured what was happening didn't require a lot of talking, judging by the look of arousal on the girl's face and how she moved her body next to Kelly's molding her breasts under those of the rocker. 

 

Case swallowed and felt her breathing increase as Kelly pulled the girl against her, the young punk rocker seeming to radiate power and sensuality even though the other girl had been the aggressor.  Short black hair cut with bangs and dark makeup made her look like an Anne Rice double and Case doubted the girl was even 21 yet, believing the girl probably had a good fake ID instead. 

 

The hunter couldn't decide if the girl looked more like a vampire or a hooker.

 

Case moved silently into the hallway and then into the shadows of a doorway to observe the two.  The hunter could almost feel the heat pouring off the guitarist and cursed to herself.  The last thing Case wanted to do was approach the skittish prey when Kelly was keyed up like this.

 

Case watched Kelly laugh and throw the bar towel around the girl's neck, pulling the Goth closer to her.  The guitarist's fingers laced through the girl's hair and behind her neck, bringing the lipstick-covered lips to her own, almost roughly.  Case's hyper aware senses heard the girl moan with desire and then whimper with surprise when Kelly moved back, breaking the kiss off.  Kelly laughed softly again and fell against the wall while maintaining her hold on the bar towel around the girl's neck.  The girl fell into Kelly with a grin, planting both hands on either side of the rocker as she became the aggressor again. 

 

Kelly moaned and pushed the girl back slightly nodding towards the back of the bar hallway, to where boxes of beer were stored and the shadows were deeper and darker.  The girl nodded eagerly, reaching for Kelly's hand.

 

With surprising strength, Kelly lifted the girl and placed her on top of a large stack of beer boxes and moved between the girl's legs to kiss her fiercely again.  The girl whimpered as their lips parted and she could feel Kelly's fangs, her tongue fighting for dominance with the rocker.  The girl's hands reached out and pulled Kelly's shirt out from the jeans and belt, freeing the guitarist's breasts for the girl's hands.  Case saw Kelly's knees buckle slightly as her breasts were teased and tormented.  The rocker shifted and moved her own hands up to the girl's top, moving it up and aside as she trailed her lips from the girl's mouth to her neck.  Then she moved down to breasts, taking first one nipple and then the other in her teeth, running her tongue over them.

 

Goth, as Case began to call her in her mind, moaned with pleasure and her fingers laced through Kelly's spiky hair. 

 

Case felt trapped, she hadn't expected the two of them to get sexual in the hallway, dark shadows or not.  I don't need to frickin' see this! Case knew if she moved that they might see her and it would be too awkward of a meeting.  Kelly might get a good look at the Hunter before Case was ready for that.

 

The hunter glanced back down the hallway and found Kelly had one hand on the girl's breasts, her lips and teeth on the other nipple and her hand moving slowly under the Goth's skirt.  The girl wrapped her legs around the taller woman's waist and was hanging on tightly to Kelly's shoulder, her teeth beginning to bite into the rocker's shoulders as the desire obviously grew higher and higher.

 

"Please! Your teeth," the girl pleaded.  "Please use your teeth!"

 

Case felt a quick intake of her own breath as her eyes widened in surprise.

 

"They're not real, you know," Kelly answered, her voice low and husky, as if she had been drinking whiskey and smoking all her life.

 

"I heard you can use them. Please!" Goth begged.

 

Kelly looked up from the girl's nipple, catching her eyes and slowly ran a fang over the Goth's nipple.  The girl bucked in her arms and moaned, almost reaching orgasm just from whatever fang or vampire fetish the girl had.

 

"It feels good but it hurts," Kelly warned.

 

"Please! I want it!" Goth begged.

 

Case watched Kelly's eyes darken.  The rocker grabbed the girl and kissed her roughly, almost brutally and then moved to the Goth's neck.  The Hunter watched Kelly shift her weight and reposition her hand under the girl's skirt. 

 

With a startling swiftness, Kelly's head flashed to the girl's neck and the hand moved forward.  The girl screamed and clawed at Kelly's back, pushing the shirt aside to reach the rocker's skin, baring Kelly's shoulders. 

 

Case's breath caught in her throat as the girl buried her nails into the pale flesh as Kelly pounded into the Goth and worked the girl's neck like a vampire.  Blood began to flow down Kelly's back in furrows.

 

Fuck, how do I get out of here? Case muttered mentally.

 

Kelly's body rocked forward as the girl's hips began to buck and rock with the rhythm that Kelly's fingers were setting.  The guitarist's head never left the girl's neck and Goth began to whimper, moaning louder and louder as the energy between them built out of control.  Goth threw her head back and Case could almost feel the scream that escaped from the girl's lips as Goth's body shuddered again and again. 

 

The girl clung to Kelly and went limp after a moment.

 

Case blinked, breathing heavily as Kelly pulled Goth's top up and then picked the girl up in her arms easily.  Case closed her eyes and tried to catch her breath as Kelly moved down the hallway and kicked open the door to the storeroom.

 

The Hunter moved closer to the storeroom as she heard Nancy's laugh.

 

"Another conquest, I see," the beautiful Latina woman giggled.

 

"Yeah," was Kelly's simple reply.

 

"What about you?" Nancy's voice asked.

 

"You always please them but what about you?"

 

Case could easily picture the bass player moving closer to the rocker in an almost predatory manner.

 

"You know the energy gets me off," Kelly's voice replied.

 

"Bullshit," Nancy growled and Case knew the woman was almost in Kelly's arms. "You're not that butch."

 

"Hey!"

 

Case heard Kelly's protests and the sound of a zipper.  She didn't realize she was clenching her hands into fists until she looked down, curious at the flash of pain from her palms.  Next came the sound of bodies hitting the sofa and muffled moans.

 

"Do you really want me to stop?" Nancy's teasing voice filtered into the hallway.

 

"Ah…I…," Kelly stammered.

 

"I've been after you for months, now shut up and enjoy the ride," Nancy commanded and Case heard the guitarist moan loudly.

 

"Oh my God, you're so wet!" Nancy exclaimed.  "Your girlfriend's awake and watching."

 

"Oh gods, don't stop," Kelly's voice begged and Case turned to move down the hall unsteadily with a scowl.  Groupies she could handle, if Kelly was taking a band mate as a lover, could complicate things.  It might give the young rocker some grounding in her life and Case wanted Kelly off balance when she made her approach.  It made the hunt so much easier.

 

As she left the bard, Case knew she'd have to be patient and wait for her prey.

 

* * *

 

It was another month before the strikingly handsome woman got near Kelly or the band again. Case had become a frequent bar hopper while following the band but stayed in the shadows, out of sight.

 

The men, on the other hand, had noticed their frequent fan.  It had been harder to remain in the shadows.  To avoid Nancy and Kelly, Case often watched from the bar area and that's exactly where the males headed before and after a set.

 

At first both Marcus and Lasher were arguing and placing bets as to which one of them Case had the hots for.  Of course, both ending up frustrated when she refused their offers of drinks, drugs, and sex.

 

The Hunter did find it amusing that the drummer seemed to not even notice the antics of his male or female band mates.  It appeared to Case that he didn't hear anything other than the tempo in his head; his hands were always in constant motion, even when he wasn't on stage. 

 

Case found herself in the uncomfortable position of being "hunted" by the overly insistent singer and guitarist.  After a week of politely, and then not so politely, refusing all offers from the two, Case had retreated back to the shadows.  The Hunter began entering the bars after the band had begun their first set and leaving before they finished the last chords for the night.  This effectively kept the males at a distance, since being on stage and in the spotlight was even more important than getting laid.

 

Case slowly nursed a drink for the evening and watched the elfin woman.  Watching every move and expression on the rocker's face, studying her prey.

 

* * *

 

Finally, one night Case followed her target to the small studio apartment that Kelly called home.  It was in a neighborhood that saw frequent changes in tenants with few questions asked.  The Hunter thought it was very likely that the apartment manager hadn't even asked for an ID when renting the place.

 

Case waited that night until she saw Kelly leaving, guitar case in hand.  The young musician got into a cab and the Hunter moved in quickly.  Case kept to the shadows and attracted no attention as she moved in front of Kelly's door and easily picked the locks.

 

The inside of the apartment was dark, even with the overhead lights on when Case flipped the switch. Like most studio apartments of the neighborhood, the furniture consisted of a pull out sofa bed, which was out and unmade; a table with three chairs that didn't match the table or each other; and several milk crates that were used as chairs, shelves, and tables for a small stereo system and amps.  An electric and an acoustic guitar were about the only decorations. 

 

With the approach of a professional, Case quickly moved through the apartment, taking note of everything in her head: simple dish set for four; three plates dusty.  "Well, at least you do your dishes," Case muttered.  "And you don't entertain company."

 

The Hunter noticed a stuffed animal next to the pillow on the bed.  Case reached down and lifted the stuffed fox.  "Warrior with a soft spot?" she whispered to the empty apartment. 

 

Case continued to look around and noticed the stacks of cd's and tapes.  This didn't surprise her, neither did the equipment for the electrical guitar.  What did surprise her were the books.  Lots of them!  Most were stacked against the walls and the woman knelt down to quickly scan over their titles.  They were mostly paperbacks of the horror genre, dominated with vampires and werewolves.  The majority of the books were second hand and had seen a lot of use, Case noticed.  "A little rough keeping up a library when you're moving constantly," she muttered.

 

Next Case moved to examine the CD's and tapes, taking in the quirks of her prey from Kelly's musical tastes: Alice Cooper, Melissa Etheridge, Acid 9, Dokken? Marianne Faithful, Godsmack, Sheryl Crow, Garbage, hmmm. Motley Crue, Warrant? Cycle Sluts from Hell, Danzig, Guns n Roses to Iron Maiden.  Limp Bizkit, Megadeth and Metallica. Oh, you love Alice Cooper and Ozzy Osbourne, do you?  Gods, there's everything from Goth to Gothabilly, Popular to Metal. 

 

"You are one weird kid, my warrior."

 

The Hunter's face grew serious and she began the secondary search, the thorough one.  There were small signs and mistakes and she shook her head, expecting them but disappointed to find them.  An old address book with the owner's name ripped out but Case knew that keeping it had been careless.  Someone could be traced through their friends.  A military camouflaged jacket with the name N.ULFHELM printed along the inside the collar; very careless. 

 

It took awhile but Case finally found the last confirmation she really needed besides fingerprints.  Hidden in a CD case that once held Wagner was a set of military dog tags. 

 

The Hunter left everything in the condition she had found it except for the dog tags, these she slipped into her pocket.  Case started to leave the apartment when a sense of playfulness hit her and she smiled as she approached the young woman's bed.  She moved the stuff fox into an upright position on top of the pillow.  Unless Kelly returned to her apartment very drunk, she'd probably notice the change but wouldn't be sure.  Doubts might begin to creep in, adding an edge of skittish paranoia and that would suit Case.  Not enough paranoia to send the guitar player into the shadows, Case hoped.  It had taken long enough to find the woman and Case didn't tolerate losing in a hunt.

 

* * *

 

Case entered the bar with a determined gleam in her eyes.  "Time to play, little one," she muttered as she took her drink and moved through the crowd towards the band.  The place was crowded but the Hunter moved with a grace that eased her through the mass of bodies without causing upset feelings or much notice.

 

The Hunter stepped up the hunt by letting herself be seen by the elfish figure behind the gray and white guitar.  Case moved into the lights and felt Kelly's blue eyes focus on her immediately. 

 

Case let a smile creep across her face when Kelly spotted her the next night.  She smirked to herself as Kelly's lips parted slightly when the rocker spotted her, both of them only watching each other after the first moment of eye contact.

 

The tall, red-haired woman felt her body wanting to respond and fought back the desires and emotions.  Emotions made a hunter careless and Case was the best and didn't intend on failing.

 

Case stayed away for the next two band gigs and on the third night she kept to the shadows in the back of the bar for the first two songs.  The Hunter claimed an opening victory when she noticed the young one looking the crowd over with a frown.  Calculating carefully, as always, Case stepped into the light and smirked at the dark haired rocker when Kelly spotted her.  Case could almost hear Kelly growl as the smile disappeared from her face. 

 

Kelly did indeed growl at herself and then looked down at her fingers.  <What the hell was she playing, anyway?>

 

The musician saw the red-head laugh and walk back towards the bar, looking back to ensure Kelly was watching her.  Kelly scowled and concentrated on her playing.

 

"The game is off and running, my warrior."

 

* * *

 

The Hunter kept the game of hide 'n' seek going with the guitarist over the next month.  She had observed Kelly long enough to know that the rocker occasionally enjoyed a sexual romp with Nancy.  Case knew it was more sexual release than anything close to a relationship, other than friendship. 

 

That pleased and suited Case very well.

 

After four months, Case could tell Kelly was getting very frustrated at the distance Case was keeping between them.  It wasn't something Kelly expected from someone interested in her and the red-head was apparently very interested in the musician.

 

In her frustration, Kelly was getting careless, just as the Hunter planned.  She was no longer watching her back nor ensuring she wasn't being followed.

 

"Time to teach you a lesson, youngling," Case whispered.

 

* * *

 

Once again, Case wasn't surprised that the bar was crowded.  Nosferatu was beginning to get noticed and several bars were fighting for prime time gigs from the small group.  The Hunter noticed record exec scouts beginning to attend performances as well.

 

Kelly had taken to wearing dark sunglasses all the time and Case approved; they suited the young woman actually.  The red-haired woman couldn't see Kelly's eyes but she caught the jerk of the guitarist's body. Kelly had seen her.

 

 The tall red-head wondered what the guitarist would do if they actually got a record deal?  Probably disappear and be replaced quickly.  It wouldn't be hard to replace a rhythm guitarist in Los Angeles.

 

Case made sure she caught the musician's eyes and smiled.  She slightly inclined her head towards the hallway that led to the back door and storage area.  Her message was very clear to the young rocker, it was time to meet in person after the set.  Case walked over and stood next to the hallway and watched Kelly with a smirk.

 

Kelly felt a growl leave her throat.  The rocker knew she was being played and felt helpless to stop it.  She knew that her face was flushed and dropped her head, concentrating on her guitar.  The guitarist was confused and couldn't understand what was happening to her.  Kelly knew she could have almost any woman in the place in her bed, even the straight ones.  Why was this woman tormenting her thoughts and driving her insane with desire? 

 

Kelly was angry with herself and the other woman.  This was obviously a game and Kelly hated sex games.  She didn't mind casual sex but she did hate mind games.  The rocker decided to play as good as was being given and leaned over her guitar and began to play with undeniable skill.

 

Marcus hated it whenever she pulled this type of grandstanding; it detracted too much from him and those insufferable admirers of his good looks.  Kelly didn't care right at the moment; she was playing games and knew how to play this one.

 

Kelly had seen Melissa Etheridge onstage many times and when the famous rocker played her guitar in just this way, it was a caress, a worship of a lover.  Most male guitar players used their instruments as if it were an extension of their sexual body parts; Melissa Etheridge had played her guitar like it was her most treasured lover and Kelly knew first-hand the jealousy a guitar cold cause in a girlfriend and especially in a boyfriend.  They knew instinctively that they couldn't compete and most couldn't understand it was a different type of love; it was a different passion.  An all-encompassing passion but different than anything you could feel for a human lover.

 

This was how Kelly was playing, letting the music capture her and caress her soul as her fingers danced over the strings and frets, pulling her in and seducing her as it stunned and played with the crowd.

 

Kelly blinked and grinned when she saw several faces in the audience almost drooling with arousal and surprise.  The elf-like player glanced towards the tall red-head and then threw her head back and laughed.  The red-head's mouth was open and she was unconsciously licking her lips as she watched Kelly's moves with the guitar.

 

The Hunter realized suddenly what had just happened and blushed profusely, her body jerking upright against the doorframe. 

 

Case almost screamed in disbelief when Kelly turned her back to the Hunter and focused on the guitar and her audience.

 

Dismissing Case.

 

The Hunter stormed out the back door, trying to convince herself that she didn't hear laughter following her.

      

* * *

 

Kelly was still laughing to herself as she unlocked the chain from her bike and secured her guitar to the back.  The musician knew the stately looking red-head had been playing with her for at least a month or longer and it felt good to have controlled even a few minutes of the situation.  Kelly hated being out of control and for over a year now she hadn't been in control of anything, including herself.

 

The rocker had the feeling it was time to move on.  The red-head didn't look like a cop and didn't act like one but Kelly was uncomfortable with anyone getting that close for this long.  Besides, the band was attracting too much attention.  As nice as that was, it was way too dangerous for the elfish like woman.

 

Kelly pulled the motorcycle out of the alley, barely glancing around and so not noticing the figure in the shadows. 

 

Case stayed in the shadows as Kelly confidently drove off on the small motorcycle.  The prey was becoming predictable in her movements and barely paying attention to her surroundings. 

 

"It is really time to teach you a very hard lesson, young one," Case said softly.

 

* * *

 

The Hunter waited patiently in the alley in the dark alley.  She sank further into the shadows as voices came down the hallway and the back door to the club slammed open.  Case had already determined that Kelly wasn't one of the voices and merely waited until the young couple stumbled down the alley towards the main street.

 

The next time the door opened, Case was waiting.  Kelly walked out of the club, barely glancing around as she headed for her bike.  The Hunter smiled a feral grin when Kelly suddenly stopped, a snarl forming on the young woman's lips.  Kelly shifted the guitar case from her right hand to her left.  Her right hand hovering near her belt.  Case already knew about the knife on Kelly's belt and the one in her boot.

 

Case moved into the light.

 

Neither woman spoke nor moved for a complete of minutes and then Case took control of the situation by projecting a disarming smile. 

 

"I wanted to say that I like your bike and your playing," Case said softly, a slight catch and insecurity in her voice.  She moved slowly towards the smaller woman and the motorcycle.

 

"Uh, thanks," Kelly muttered with a frown.

 

Case resisting smirking.  Kelly's typical butch confidence didn't seem to be working as the tall red-head walked closer to the bike, casually tossing her long hair back.  "Yours?"

 

"Uh, yeah," Kelly muttered, moving closer to the bike.

 

The Hunter could feel how tense the musician was: muscles taunt, ready to spring or flee, poised on the tips of her toes, almost growling in suspicion.  Case could see a jaw muscle twitching with "fight or flight" energy pounding through the rocker.

 

Case reached out and ran a seductive hand over the gas tank of the red motorcycle.  The bike was a small Yamaha, not what you would expect from the musician in front of her but Case thought Kelly might be trying for a lower profile with the motorcycle. 

 

"Nice, I like bikes," she said with a purr.

 

Kelly's growl rumbled deep in her throat.  She knew the red-head was attempting to play her and didn't like it.  The rocker preferred to be in control and felt her eyes narrowing. 

 

Case then did the unexpected as she saw Kelly's scowl, she laughed.

 

"My poor berserker, don't know what to make of me, do you?"

 

Kelly slowly put the guitar case down without taking her eyes off the woman in front of her.  She knew they were playing a game of cat and mouse and knew exactly who thought they were the cat and Kelly didn't like it.  She hated head games, the guitarist had been on the wrong end of players before and preferred upfront, and open dealings with people, especially in relationship.

 

The tall red-head was dressed in expensive jeans, cowboy boots that had never seen a dusty trail, a designer shirt and a gold necklace.  Kelly felt a familiar irritation and rebellion against "class" and money creeping to the surface.  The other's woman's hair was professionally cut and styled; everything spoke of money.  The punker was more than a little anarchistic when it came to money, especially in her sexual encounters.

 

But, damn! The face and body were to die for, reminding Kelly of someone like Nicole Kidman or a tour poster for Ireland.  The wonderful red-head hair with a hint of copper to it, pale skin, and green eyes that spoke of … what?

 

The confusion and conflict were evident all over Kelly's face.

 

"Would you rather I had on Doc Martins, ripped jeans, and a black t-shirt?" Case asked softly.

 

"I don't care what you wear, what do you want?" Kelly snapped, her voice tight and strained.

 

"Just to say hello and get a ride home from you.  I promise I won't bite," Case smiled, leaning against the bike, letting her hips thrust out slightly and she resisted smiling as Kelly's breathing increased.

 

"I don't even know you," Kelly growled.

 

"Do you know any of them?" Case countered. "I want you in bed, is that so different from any of the others you take in the hallways or take home?"

 

Kelly finally nodded with a frown and picked up her guitar case.  "You'll have to hold this. If we wreck, I don't care about you. Just protect that case," Kelly warned.

 

"Of course," Case smiled and Kelly's eyes narrowed.  She had the feeling that the woman didn't take the threat seriously, even if it was a threat in the form of a joke.

 

The musician moved around the red-head and leaned down to unlock the chain when she heard a familiar jingle sound in her ears.  Kelly looked up and saw a pair of dog tags dangling from a typical military issue chain. 

 

A chill shot through Kelly as her heart skipped a beat.  Before she could move, darkness slammed her to the ground. 

 

Case sighed and put something behind her back, latching it to her belt and put the dog tags back in her pocket.  The Hunter bent to pick up the musician and threw the small woman over her shoulder before grabbing the guitar.  Case's boots seemed to make no sound as she walked down the alley with her prey.

 

 

* * *

 

"Good morning, Nikita Vladka Ulfheim," a voice broke through the darkness.

 

Kelly felt an answering growl coming from her throat and tried to sit up but couldn't.  With panicked eyes, the rocker looked around and down at her condition.

 

Kelly/Nikki looked down and realized she was strapped down on a gurney by several leather restraints.  They were very efficient and gave her little room to move any part of her body. 

 

Nikki glanced to her right and saw the red-head sitting at a gray metal table in an equally gray chair, another chair was on the other side of the desk and it all screamed government furniture.  The musician closed her eyes and fought against the panic threatening to overwhelm her.  The young woman knew she couldn't get out of the restraints, especially with someone watching.

 

Nikki fought hard to control her breathing and calm herself.  After several moments she opened her eyes and looked back at the red-head and took in the woman this time. 

 

Her hunter had put a laboratory coat on over her clothing and that was somewhat disturbing but the worst thing was the Glock pistol resting on the table in front of her.  The red-head noticed the glance and reached behind her.  Nikki's eyes narrowed as she took in the stun gun the woman placed on the table next to the pistol.

 

"That's what took you out.  Better than a gun held to the head and forcing you into a plane and drugs, don't you think?  Hmm, no, you probably don't."

 

Nikki glanced down and saw that she was dressed in hospital scrubs, which caused her to blush.

 

"Don't worry, I admired every inch," the woman grinned and Nikki struggled against the straps in anger.  The red haired woman's eyes narrowed and she lost her smile.  "We can do this the easy way or the hard way.  The first level of hard is you staying there until you get tired of struggling against those straps."

 

Nikki's rage was all very apparent and Case bit the inside of her lip to keep from grinning as the rocker in front of her weighed her options.  Case knew that Nikki felt frustrated and helpless enough without the Hunter laughing at her on top of that.  The object wasn't to break the spirit unless absolutely necessary.  The easiest way was through cooperation instead of struggle.

 

Case watched the rocker closely as Nikki struggled inwardly with the conflicting emotions.  The Hunter knew that all Nikki wanted was to be loose and at Case's throat, probably with fangs.  Common sense was telling the metal-head that struggling wouldn't get her anywhere and Nikki visibly forced herself to relax, the rage flashing in her eyes but under control.

 

"The easy way," Nikki hissed.  "For now."

 

"Good," Case nodded.  "Now, I know you're intelligent so I'm not going to go through the usual motions of putting the gun to your head and pulling the trigger on an empty slide. The next part is where I chamber a round. Or I take the stun gun and stun you again, all of this to show you that I'm in charge, right?"

 

The dark haired elf's face was flushed with anger but she nodded in agreement.  Case walked over and easily undid the straps, pistol in her hand and casually at the ready.  She returned to the chair, never taking her eyes off Nikki.

 

Nikki sat up on the gurney, rubbing the back of her neck where the stun gun had connected with her body.  She watched Case closely.

 

"Let's go with the short story, I'm tired and your muscles probably feel like they've gone through two rounds of an obstacle course. You've been kept drugged for two days, you probably don't even remember being fed or led to the bathroom," Case said calmly.

 

Case motioned Nikki to sit in the other chair and the musician moved slowly off the gurney, stretched up on her toes and bounced a couple of times.  Nikki noticed Case was tense and was resting her hand on the pistol.  Nikki sat down slowly and placed her hands on the desk.

 

"Explanation time?" Nikki asked.

 

"Just what you need to know right now," Case said calmly.  "We're both tired and I know those tranquilizers we've been feeding you are making you sick.  You are Nikita Vladka Ulfheim, what a name," she exclaimed with a playful shake of her head. 

 

"Your parents were of German and Slavic descent and are dead.  Your father died when you were five and your mother just last year.  You joined the United States Marine Corps two years ago and finished at the top of your platoon.  You were guaranteed a spot in the next class in Intelligence training.  Until then, they put you on temporary loan to the Rifle Range at Parris Island, South Carolina."

 

Nikki didn't respond so Case continued.

 

"A year ago you were called to a supply hut by a Gunnery Sergeant Landers. You were found approximately two hours later.  You were incoherent, covered in blood, clothes ripped, as well as being bruised and cut. It was later determined that the blood was both his and yours, mostly his.  You were catatonic and diagnosed as suffering from shock and extreme emotional distress."

 

Nikki glanced down at her hands and Case noticed the young musician was beginning to shake.

 

 "Landers was torn to pieces," Case continued and Nikki shifted uncomfortably.  "You were taken to the hospital having no memory of what happened. Before the doctors and officials could figure it out, you somehow escaped the hospital ward of the brig.  You then did the impossible; you got off Parris Island with everyone looking for you.  Since then, you've been on the run.  I found you a few months ago."

 

"Who are you? Military Police?" Why didn't you just arrest me the first night you found me? Why the goddamn games?" Nikki demanded.

 

"I'm not Military Police, nor Military Intelligence," Case said calmly. "They're also looking for you, by the way." 

 

Case sat back in her chair, Gl