Callie's Shadow

Author's Note:

It's been a while since I wrote this or did any editing on it. I got a bit of a shock when I read Kendra and Stephie's names. So even though this isn't done here at Literotica, or at least done often, I had to give a nod to my real life Kendra and Stephanie. If not for who they are, I might never ever have tried to write again. So to my girls...I love you.

*****

Chapter Seven

Shadow gently pulled the blanket aside, expecting to see the partially decomposed body of a little girl. What he did see surprised a laugh out of him. "It's not her," he called, holding up the wrapped up teddy bear that had to be almost as big as the girl they were here to find.

Angel went to reach for the bear.

"No," Callie said. "Don't touch it."

Angel drew back her hand as if the bear was ready to bite her. "Why not?"

"It's bloody," Callie said, swallowing hard. "I can smell that and the violence on it. She didn't leave it here. Someone else did."

Angel went to the truck and grabbed a couple of bags out of the back end. The blanket went into one and the bear in the other.

"What else, Callie?" Shadow said.

"It's all confused, but they were here after our lab techs were."

"Can you scent the girl?" Shadow asked.

Callie walked back to where the cans had been pulled out, stooping down. She sniffed the air, closing her eyes to try to make sense of the chaos of smells that she drew in. The trash which contained leftover take out from some Italian restaurant, gone bad, hot dogs, cabbage and diapers. Then there was the crime scene smells, chemicals and blood, the scent of the different techs, the humans that had been in the area.

Just under it, she caught the faintest whiff of baby powder. "Shadow," she called.

"Yeah."

"Our techs and the cops' techs, their gloves, what do they use inside, is it just talcum or is it baby powder?"

"Talc, I think. I'd have to call and find out."

"Don't bother. I think I've got it," she said, rising and moving toward the dark area of the alley. She'd given Shadow her flashlight so she hesitated a minute to let her eyes get used to the dark. Then she was off walking with a steady gait toward the other end of the alley.

"Marcus, get in the truck and follow us. Angel, stay with him, I'm going to follow Callie." Shadow gave neither of them time to argue, heading off to trail after here, though he gave her plenty of room.

Noises assaulted Callie's sensitive ears, but she ignored them, her brain figuring out what they were even as she worked to keep that faint scent of child. "How long has she been out here?"

"The body was found two weeks ago. If she's not with somebody, she could have very well starved to death."

"No, she's not dead. She's not with the vampires either." Callie stopped moving, motioning for Shadow to stay back. Crouching down, she spoke softly to someone that Shadow couldn't see. "Hi there, little one. Was it your bear we found back there?"

Shadow missed what was said as Marcus drew closer with the truck. He held up his hand for Marcus to stop, hearing the two doors opening.

"What's she doing?" Angel asked, coming up to stand beside him.

"I think she found her. Stay right here." He walked toward the shadowed side of the building and disappeared. Angel squinted, trying to find him in the brick.

"How the hell does he do that?" she muttered.

"I'll tell you the story some day when we're lying in the crypt together." Marcus put his hand on her waist, only smiling when she brushed him off, giving him a dirty look.

Callie kept her voice low, soothing, trying not to scare the dirty child. "I bet you're hungry. I think I have a candy bar if you'd like it," she offered.

"M-my momma said not to take candy from people I don't know."

"Your momma is a very smart lady. Do you know where she is?" Callie asked.

"She comes and sees me some night," the girl said, her voice taking on a sing-song quality that frightened Callie. "She holds me when I'm sleepy. It only hurts for a minute."

Callie's eyes closed tightly as she tried to control her emotions. Her mother was a vampire, she was feeding off her own daughter. "What's your momma's name, sweetie?"

"Kendra," the little girl said.

"Kendra, what a pretty name. I bet she gave you a pretty name too," Callie said, moving just a bit closer. "What's your name, sweetie?"

"Stephie."

"Stephie? It's a pretty name for a pretty girl. My name is Callie."

Stephie nodded her head, the little curly haired girl holding onto another blanket with her hand near her face. She rubbed her eye with her fist and yawned.

"Would you come with me?" Callie asked, holding out her hand. "We'll take you somewhere that you could get a bath and a place that's nice and warm to sleep with a real bed. We'll even give your teddy a bath so you can put him to bed with you. Would you like that?"

"Can my momma come too?"

"Do you want her to?" Callie asked, scooting a bit closer. She could reach out and grab Stephie now if it were necessary. But she didn't want to. She wanted the little girl to trust her.

Stephie looked around then slowly shook her head. "She's cold and she scares me."

"Okay, we won't let her come with us then," Callie said.

"Who's going to stop me?"

Stephie gave a little scream, moving deeper into the small space between the wall and the dumpster. Callie stood, staring at the woman who came out of the deepest shadows of the alley.

She was pretty, though she looked like something out of a bad Vampire movie. Her hair was blonde streaked with black chunks, ratted and sprayed. She wore a black dress that was cinched at the waist with a corset. Bright red lipstick outlined her full lips and looked almost like blood against her pale skin.

The dress was low cut, showing off an impressive cleavage. Her waist was tiny, her hips full, shown off by the flare of the skirt. It came to mid thigh, her legs encased in fishnet stockings. She wore heels that gave her an impressive height and moved with a grace that showed what she now was.

"Kendra, I take it," Callie said.

"You take it right. What are you doing with my daughter?"

"Keeping you from bleeding her dry," Callie growled, her silver eyes swirling. "If you want to continue your undead life, you'll leave right now."

"NO!" Angel growled, stepping forward and glaring at the other Vampire with eyes that told of her distaste. "You won't let her go, she might know where my father is."

"You're Angel," Kendra smiled, her fingers moving over the front of her dress, tracing the neckline with a brightly painted nail. "He said you'd look down on us, that you wouldn't understand."

"Who said?" Angel growled. "Who's doing this? Who changed you?"

"He's had his eyes on you for a while, Angel," Kendra said, the nail going to her lips, her white teeth biting teasingly against the red paint. "You are just his type, and a pure blood. You're not half like the rest of us." She moved quickly, almost quicker than Callie's eyes could track. When she appeared again, she held her daughter in her arms.

"You want her?" she jeered at Angel. "Come and get her."

Then both mother and daughter seemed to disappear even as Shadow came out of the wall and tried to grab them. "Angel!" he shouted.

"I'm on it," she called.

"I'm behind you," Callie growled, throwing off her uniform and changing into the wolf before anyone could stop her.

She took off at a ground eating lope, following the two vampires by the scent of the little girl. There was no way she could move with the pace or the ease of the two female vampires, but she was determined to get to the little girl while she was still relatively unharmed.

"Dammit!" Shadow ran past Marcus just as he turned to head for the truck. Pulling out his communicator, he called for back up even as he slammed the front door of the truck closed behind him.

"Shadow to ASP," he repeated. "Agents are in pursuit of fleeing suspect. North on Dixon. Need backup."

"Ten-four," the female voice said. Shadow heard her calling out for their back up.

"There's Callie," Marcus said, pointing down the street just as Callie ducked across an alley. "She's turning left on Oak." He made the turn, hearing the sound of brakes squealing as he cut off a Honda. The car skidded, almost hitting them before stopping. Shadow reached up and grabbed his seatbelt, clicking it on.

"Where is she?" Shadow growled, looking for the black wolf.

"There," Marcus said, pointing at the edge of another alley. "She's heading down there."

Shadow heard Callie's howl, knowing she'd found what she was looking for. "They're down there."

Marcus cut down the alley, the lights on the truck illuminating the two vampire woman and the wolf, who paced back and forth in front of Kendra. She still held her daughter, stroking her dirty hair even as she bared her fangs at Angel.

Slamming the truck into park, Marcus and Shadow both jumped out, moving toward the standoff at the end of the alley.

"Move again and I'll break her neck," Kendra hissed, her hand against the back of her daughter's head.

"You'd do that?" Angel asked. "You'd kill your own child?"

"She's a human child. Humans are little more than food." Kendra sneered at them. "I've heard of you do-gooders and how you protect the cattle. I've been told of how you drink out of plastic bags. We're hunters. We own the night. The humans can never understand what we are. They don't know what it's like. They've never felt the air the way we can. Or feel the dark as it pulses against your skin. They'll never understand the seductiveness of walking into a room full of humans and taking your pick. I can have anyone," she scoffed. "Anyone!" she repeated.

"Then put the girl down and take me," Angel growled. "You think you know, you think you have half a clue of how it feels to be a true blood? You'll never even come close to knowing. Come and feed off of me," she taunted. "I'm a pure blood." She lifted her hands, taking one nail and slicing into her skin with it. Her blood rushed to the surface, filling the gash, the scent of blood, the coppery metallic sweetness of it tempting Kendra.

"No, Angel."

"Shut up, Marcus. Let her talk," Shadow said to the distraught warrior.

"Shadow," Marcus growled, ready to argue.

"Shut up, Wings. I got this." Angel didn't even look back at him. "Put the girl down, Kendra. You know you want what I am. Come on, have a taste." She waved her hand back and forth, letting the scent carry into the breeze.

Shadow could see the vamp was salivating. Keeping his eyes on the woman, he backed into the wall, walking through it and around. He took on the color of the trash bags as he walked through them, getting closer and closer to Kendra and the little girl she held so tightly.

"Let her go, Kendra. Let Callie have her and I'll let you feed."

Slowly, her eyes locked on the blood that dripped from Angel's arm, Kendra bent, letting Stephie find her feet. "Go to the big doggie," she ordered her child. "Now, Stephie, do as I told you. I'll be back for you in a little while."

Callie stepped forward, putting her furry body between the child and her mother. She felt the tiny hand tangle in the thick hair at her neck, walking away with her. A tormented scream sounded from behind them but Callie kept moving, nudging the little girl to keep her walking when she wanted to turn.

Passing Marcus, Callie whined at the winged warrior. He turned and picked up the little girl, smiling winningly at the tyke. "Come on, cutie. Let's go check out the truck and see if we can find that candy bar Callie said she had."

Stephie nodded, her hand reaching over his shoulder to play among the softness of his feathers. "You have wings like the pictures of the angels my momma used to have in our house.

"Yes I do," he said, glancing back at where the action was happening before he kept moving, speaking softly to the little girl. "That just means I'm a really good guy and you can trust me."

* * *

Shadow struggled to contain the fury of the woman in his arms. She fought him, using her nails against his arms and digging in deep even through the leather uniform. Angel moved forward quickly, feeling Callie's fur brush against her as she went into the battle as well. Between the three of them, they finally managed to subdue the woman, hearing her screeching and yelling.

Shadow stood, breathing heavily, blood dripping from his arms. He handed the female vamp off to the second team that showed up as they were finally cuffing her. "We got the girl, we'll bring her into the house."

Callie sat at the feet of the girl who stood on the other side of the car from where they were taking her mother. The girl's arms were around her neck, her face buried in her fur. Stephie was leaning into Callie, so tired she was half asleep on her feet.

"She's a tired little one," Angel said.

"She needs a bath, some food and sleep," Shadow said. "Let's get her back to the house."

Angel went to lift the little girl but she refused to let go of Callie's neck.

Marcus knelt down. "Come on, we'll let the nice doggie ride with you."

Stephie nodded. She let go of Callie and held her arms up for Marcus to pick her up. Marcus slid her into the backseat and buckled her in, letting Callie hop into the car and sit at the little girl's feet, her head in Stephie's lap. Marcus got in on the other side and gave Shadow the keys, sitting in the back with the little girl.

They stopped long enough to pick up Callie's clothes then they were back at the house just as the big clock in the square across from the garage sounded the hour of two a.m.. By the time they got the truck parked, the little girl was sound asleep, her fingers twined around Callie's fur. Marcus picked her up, getting a little yelp from Callie as Stephie kept hold of her fur. She followed them, slipping into the elevator to go down to the floor above the crypts where bedrooms were kept.

Marcus slipped the little girl into one of the bed, brushing her dirty hair away from her dirty face. "Poor little one. You haven't had an easy time of it. He went to turn and leave, holding the door open for Callie. "You coming, Cal?"

Callie jumped up on the bed, curling up next to the girl and feeling her snuggle into her. She lifted her head, giving off a bit of a whine. Marcus smiled, closing the door behind him, leaving her with Stephie.

* * *

"Where's my father, bitch?" Angel growled, back handing Kendra with enough force to send the woman swinging in the chains she was held in.

"Last time I saw him, he was begging for his life," Kendra laughed, licking the blood off of her chin. "I won't give Dorian up. You can beat me, leave me out for the sun and I'll still never tell you anything."

"Dorian Amante?" Angel asked, her eyes wide.

Kendra realized she'd blown it and shut her mouth. She looked off to the side, hanging loosely in the chains. "I'm done talking."

"You've said enough," Angel said softly. She wiped off her knuckles on a rag, a huge insult from a vampire, and then walked out of the 'interview' room. "Did you get that?" she said to Shadow.

"I got it but I don't think I've ever heard of Dorian Amante. Who is he?"

"The biggest mistake I ever made," Angel sighed. "He's one of the youngest of the Old Ones, brash and impulsive. I...spent a few decades with him back before I had any idea of what kind of man he actually was."

"So why does his name make you look even paler than normal, Angel?" Shadow finished wrapping bandages around his arms after pouring a healthy dose of holy water and alcohol over the deep furrows caused by the vampire bitch in the other room.

"Dorian believes that the Vampire should be the superior race. He wants the Old Ones to band together, to take over the running of the country and then the world. Humans would be used like cattle, the best kept to breed, the rest used for food. He had plans, huge, elaborate plans of what and how he would accomplish everything to that account. I thought he was full of himself but he was always a good time and if there was a party, Dorian knew where it was."

"So this is a party animal who has vampire Nazi ideals." Shadow glanced over where Daniels was sitting, watching the two of them. "What do you want us to do?"

* * *

Callie stayed with Stephie until she was sure she would stay asleep. Then she rose from the bed, changing back to human form to sneak out the door. Her uniform was still in the truck and since she didn't relish running into anyone while she was naked, she changed back to wolf.

Rising on her back legs, she hit the elevator button with her paw, sitting and waiting for the doors to open. She had to know what was going on. It was driving her insane not knowing. She hopped off the elevator at the main level, seeing the truck where Marcus had parked it. On the backseat were her clothes, waiting for her.

She pushed through the doors, her nails clicking on the cement as she headed toward the truck. Her nose went to the air, sniffing carefully, even as her eyes searched the area. No one was around. She changed to human, shivering in the air conditioned breeze that swirled around her. Reaching for the car door, she'd just got it open and was reaching for her clothes when he walked out the door.

* * *

Shadow stopped dead in the doorway, his eyes taking in the picture of wild beauty that was Callie. She stood in the opening of the car door, her body bare as the day she was born. His hands itched to touch her, to strip off his own uniform and claim her for his own. Fuck her father and Kent. Why shouldn't he take what she'd been offering him for the four years they'd worked together?

He moved toward her, his step even, the look in his eyes like blue flames, caressing her skin. "You keep showing up naked around me," he growled.

"What are you going to do about it?" she growled right back at him, turning to face him completely, proudly, her hands at her sides.

"Maybe I should just take what you're giving to him, maybe I should throw your ass in the back of the truck and fuck you until neither of us has the energy left to breathe much less move. Maybe I should..."

Callie stepped forward, grabbing his hands and putting them on her breasts, forgetting for a moment how to breathe as the heat of his hands sent pleasure soaring through her. "Maybe you should shut the fuck up and show me," she gasped.

He slammed her back against the side of the truck, his arms going around her, dragging her against him. "You talk too much," he said seconds before his mouth slammed down on hers, his lips parting hers, his tongue thrusting deep. Need, dark and desperate, almost brought him to his knees. His cock, hard and throbbing, pushed against the metal zipper of his pants. He wanted to lift her, free himself and push inside of her heat. He wanted to fuck her until neither of them could walk. He wanted to lose himself in her scent, her taste, the feel of her skin.

Tearing his mouth off of hers, he lifted his head. "Get your ass in the back seat, now."

She shivered and he turned her, his eyes on the rounded curve of her ass as she stepped into the truck. He followed her, slamming the door after himself. For a second, reality hit him. He couldn't do this, not to her, not here.

"Shadow," she growled, grabbing his hand and pulling him closer before lying over his lap, her naked body his to do with as he wished.

Reality disappeared. It became little more than his next caress, the next taste of her lips, the feel of her nipples as they grew hard in his mouth. Her cries of pleasure egged him on, her pants and gasps like sweet music. He pushed her down to the wide bench seat, pulling off his uniform shirt even as he felt her fingers against the button of his pants.