Time ticks by with Imani's index finger on the side of her Glock 17. The king of vampires against the wall is sleeping without a worry in the world.

In the meantime, she assembles the kind of questions to answer the missing pieces.

If he killed Pastor O'Malley, could that mean he and his group are responsible for the low crime rate? Why didn't he wipe my memory after we met? How is he not allergic to garlic? Damn it, Imani. You know how to pick them.

She crosses her arms while waiting for the timer to run out. Wait. Isn't Dracula from Transylvania? Isn't that in Romania? He has a Spanish accent...unless that's a ruse. What they did last night was magic...

She remembers that she stomped her right foot to activate the amulet's golden fire.

"As my last wish, wear the necklace to protect yourself."

She clutches the item hiding under her blue shirt. Who gave this to me and why?

---

His knees buckled with a hand over his heart. A terrible smell entered his nostrils from afar. Eyes of gray followed the long scent--

His heart skipped several beats. His footsteps rushed to his home.

Black smoke traveling up to the sky with hellacious flames crackling below. He threw on his black gloves to stop the madness. Trembling palms clasped together.

Matteo's tarp of darkness smothered the flames to allow him entry. A lump got stuck in his throat. He couldn't breathe from the sight of it all. Wooden stakes with bodies littering the house. Three stood out to him. Black gloved fingers ran through silky hair--

"MINAAAA!"

Enzo almost jumps out of his chair to Imani's shock. Heavy breaths leave between the extended fangs. Arms wrapping around his torso to soothe himself.

Soft thuds from the tears hitting his pants. In the middle of catching his breath, his mind brings up that the officer heard his scream along with the sight.

Although she instinctively raised the gun, her index finger never touched the trigger.

"Are you okay?" Genuine concern leaves her lips.

"Excuse me," a voice of shame comes out before his hand turns the knob to leave for a bit.

"Wait!"

Imani is left with more questions along with empathy for him. Despite not knowing the details, nightmares haven't left her either.

After ten minutes, the tan Dracula re-enters the room with poise. "Forgive me. I-"

"It never happened."

He tilts his head slightly. "What?"

"And if it did, I would empathize with you," a somber smile rests on her face.

Ba-dump, ba-dump. He clears his throat. "Afternoon, Detective."

Her eyebrows raise up before lowering. "T-That's not my rank," she softly corrects him.

"Well, I think you have the great mind of one."

Heat rises up into her cheeks while settling below the waist. Her honey-brown eyes turn away from him.

He walks over to the blinds and twists the rod. Sunlight gently pours into the room. Imani's eyes widen that none of it is burning the vampire in question.

Damn...I was wrong?

Enzo tilts his head with a smirk. "Were you expecting me to sparkle?"

An unexpected chuckle leaves her lips. "No."

"Oh, thank God. Someone with taste. You can keep your gun on me," before he takes a step towards her. "I want to say sorry for getting you involved. You got hurt because of me. I will make sure you have transportation back home and a check for the police cruiser. She went way too far with it."

Regretful grey irises almost unsettle her.

He stretches an open palm towards her. "Give me the amulet, please."

Manners aren't what she expected from the legendary monster of the night. She clutches the item under her shirt. "You will kill me when-"

"I won't."

She stares at him. "Why not? I'm a loose lead. What if I told someone about this?"

He hands over her phone. "Go ahead."

She blinks. "What?"

"If they believe you, we will just move. We've done that more than once." A hint of sadness was lying underneath his words. "And you're a good person."

The last sentence digs between her ears. Her past refuses to accept that statement.

"I did the same research you did on me. I know you're a good person because of what you did in Louisiana-"

He stops from Imani clutching her torso.

Shaky breaths. Teary eyes. Why didn't you speak up for him?!

Enzo flicks his wrist to summon Matteo. He then puts space between his palms. A blanket of darkness drapes over her shoulders. The warmth and comfort settle her racing heart and mind.

She manages to get her breathing under control.

He sighs. "Again, I'm so sorry. I didn't know-"

"Don't bring it up."

"Okay. I still stand by my statement that you're a good person."

He lets her keep the blanket around her. Imani's fingers feel the softness of the pitch-black blanket. Warm wisps emanate from it.

"Thank you," she mutters.

"De nada." He lets the silence sit between them before speaking again. "This will all be a dream once you hand it over," he curls his fingers towards him.

She grips the blanket. "Answer my questions before you wipe my mind."

"You're in no-"

"Oh, I am. And you know it," while pointing at the amulet. "When one of your kind grabbed this, it sent her flying back. And I bet those silver eyes can't compel me with this on. You. have. no. power," she emphasizes those final words with a knowing smile.

He opens his mouth but closes it. Damn, she's quicker than I thought.

"Maybe I will give it back. But I need answers first."

He pinches the bridge of his nose. "This isn't Interview with a Vampire...Fine. I will answer ten questions succinctly."

An excited smile catches him off guard. "Are you Dracula?"

"Yes and no."

"What?"

"Eight left. Just kidding."

Her honey-brown irises squint at him. "Is there an alliance between you and the werewolves?"

"More like an extended family. With fur," he chuckles.

"Do you want to take over the world?"

Pfft. "I can't stand most people," while crossing his arms. "Why would I want to add to my stress?"

A sigh of relief before the next question. "Did you kill Sean O'Malley?"

"I did without a single regret. I compelled him to lift his right hand to pull the trigger. Twas a last minute thing since I didn't know the injury to that particular hand."

"Is your group responsible for the low crime rate of the Bronx?"

"Bingo...among other places."

"Why?"

"Too many horrible weeds choking innocent flowers. We only feed on the worst of the worst."

"Okay...who gave me this amulet?"

His black gloves clench into fists. "A traitorous bruja. At least we know she's dead since it's in your hands."

The officer thinks back to how the dirty blonde vampire reacted upon seeing the amulet. Wrath filled her eyes from the horrible past.

"What's a Hunter?"

His body trembles while keeping his wrathful eyes away from her. "Mages sent by their master to get rid of my kind."

Pain and anger blending into every syllable.

"Who are they sent by?"

Darkness foams around his body, making her lean back against the armrest. A deep exhale settles it down. He takes out his phone to show the M symbol with a line crossing the middle.

His finger traces what looks like an A on the left side. Followed by the V resting above the horizontal line. And finally the last letter: H

"Abraham Van Helsing."

A shiver runs down her spine. That's impossible---Imani, at this point just accept it.

She thinks for her final question. "If I have magic, can I use it to heal someone?"

The last question has him shuffle back. "You could, but-"

"Then teach me."

He sighs before thinking it through. There has to be someone she has in mind. Dissuade her, Enzo. For her sake.

"That amulet can be sensed out by anyone with magic. How do you think that Jack Taylor found you? I need to get it far and away from you."

She swallows the near-death experience. "Then help me."

A hearty chuckle leaves his lips. "You wouldn't last a day with my regimen. It will be long and hard-"

"That's what she said," before covering her mouth.

Enzo hunches over while a melodic air leaves his mouth. The contagious laugh spreads to her.

He clears his throat. "Good one, but let's be serious."

"Let me try."

"Why would you want to learn from me?"

"You're skilled at it. Why not the best?"

"But I drain blood-"

"Only the bad ones," she puts her gun back into its holster. "Now that I know that you're responsible, I will just chalk it up to your group. I won't...arrest or go after any of you."

He leans forward from the hesitation. "You would probably get higher recognition if you somehow captured any of us. Why so eager to bend your code?"

Her silence and determined eyes answer him.

"Fine. Miguel is just an alias. Call me Enzo." He extends a hand, but she shakes her head.

"Two conditions. Keep Ruben at the department and when I make progress, you let me know a little something about you."

The second condition makes him smirk. "Curiosity killed -"

"It's the satisfaction that I desire."

Ba-dump. Ba-dump. She's really good. "First things, first. Will you let me heal you?"

"The amulet works on trust then?"

He leans forward. "See? Already a fine detective. Just lift your shirt up a bit."

The thought of his hands touching her skin splits her mind and heart. It's not the only place she wants him to touch. However, her mind reminds her to stay focused on the task at hand. After unbuttoning her shirt, she lifts up her white undershirt.

The sight of her closed wounds revs his heart. He turns his face away while covering his mouth.

Perfect for re-opening.

NO! Calm yourself!

If only that amulet wasn't there-

I won't harm her!

Her magic and blood must be delici-

A memory silences those dark thoughts.

The gentle hands of a brunette caressed his young cheeks. Emerald eyes that smiled at him. The amulet of a half crescent moon resting around her neck. Her arms wrapped around his small body with warmth that he never felt before.

"Are you okay?" Imani's question brings him back.

"I am now. Sorry."

He extends his open palms but hovers above the wounds to Imani's partial surprise. Another surprise opens her lips.

The scarring closes over with perfect stitching. New dark chocolate skin forms while the internal pain melts away like butter on toast.

She traps a moan to avoid embarrassment.

He withdraws his hands to let her know it's done. Her fingers touch her obliques. Not a single stitch of his handiwork. She stands up from the bed without any discomfort.

"How do you feel?"

"I...feel great. Thank you."

Imani's heart wants to thank him with an embrace, but she stops her feet from taking another step towards him.

The flecks of honey in her eyes display her appreciation.

His eyes look away. "Hand me your phone. I will put my number in there." After putting his contact info as Enzo's Pizzeria, he hands it back along with an envelope. "We will start tomorrow after you rest properly. I will call you with the info. One thing: never call me around lunch", while wagging his finger.

She smirks with a slight tilt of the head. "Nap time?"

He chuckles. "Por supuesto. Oh, make sure to open that envelope during your ride back. It's your first lesson. Have a good day, officer."

"You too, Enzo."

The sweet tone from how she uttered his name pounds on his heart like a drum.

He leaves the room to let her be. After leaving the room, he clutches his heart.

It's almost like Mina was standing--She's not Mina. Breathe. Just breathe.

"You good?"

He turns to see Ruben with Robbie beside him.

"I'm good. You never mentioned how stubborn she was. I now have to train her in magic."

Ruben's eyes almost explode out of his sockets. Robbie's lips open and close, trying to get the words out.

"I know. I will let the others know. And she still wants you to be her partner."

Happy tears break through Ruben's eyes as he latches onto him. Despite the strong pressure of the embrace, Enzo feels nothing.

Robbie pats his husband's back. "There, there."

After a moment...

Dracula leaves the embrace to check on Seamus again. V would appreciate that since she never left his side.

He can't help but feel the corners of his mouth tug upwards from Imani's willingness to learn magic.

But he kills the smile. Once it's all done, she will be at peace...and away from me.