The office was silent as I walked in that morning, entering a little later than usual. I sat down at my desk, spotting my name tag that rested atop the shirt counter above my desk. I placed my bag on the floor under my chair, and my mug of coffee beside my keyboard. I turned my head to Saria. "Morning, Sar."

Saria shot me a strange look. Her eyes hung low, and she shook her head without saying a word.

I cocked my head slightly, maneuvering my head around to see if she was trying to signal something. Everyone in the department was quiet.

A note appeared atop my keyboard.

Link's partner was killed last night in an attack.

My right hand flew to my mouth. I looked at Saria quickly, holding in anything I had to say. I wanted to know where Link was, so that I could give him condolences. Most of all, I wanted to apologize to him for being so selfish. All night I wondered why he "stood me up," when really he was dealing with something far worse than a date night.

At the bottom of Saria's note was a splotch of blue ink.

He's been in the southmost interrogation room all morning; the one that is hardly used anymore. No one has been able to talk to him yet.

Without thinking much, I stood, leaving the note on my desk. I walked away from where Saria and I worked, despite the noises she made as I walked away, almost begging me to stay behind and leave Link alone. I had to see him, to apologize to him, and tell him I was sorry he lost someone so important to him.

I received strange looks as I walked through the department, being only a secretary but making my way to the interrogation rooms.

As I walked by, I caught a glimpse of his blonde hair. His hands were clutching one another, his fingers pale. His elbows were placed upon the small wooden table. His eyes closed, then opened. Slowly, his hands moved to rest on his face.

The door was cracked. Instead of knocking and possibly scaring him, I pushed it gently. "Link," I whispered.

His hands moved away from his face. He stood immediately. "Zelda, I am so sorry about last night—"

He walked toward me as I held up my hands. I shook my head. "Link, you don't have to apologize." I crossed my arms over my chest as if I were hugging myself. "I should be the one to apologize."

Link shut the door behind me, sitting me down at the interrogation table. He pulled his chair closer to me. He held my hands in his. "Zelda, you do not have to apologize for anything. I'm sure you waited for me at Telma's, right?"

I nodded my head, opening my mouth to speak.

Link continued. "Then you have nothing to apologize for. I'm sorry for making you think I wasn't going to show—"

I squeezed his hands, feeling relaxed but strange for mine being comfortable in his. "You... had every reason to be away..." I stared at a ring on my middle finger, one Malon had bought me for my twenty-fourth birthday with all of her allowance. It was a small, silver ring, with a dainty heart in the middle. "I feel so guilty for wishing you would come and sit with me at Telma's. You were dealing with something I can't even fathom." My eyes met his for a moment, and I felt my hands begin to shake. "What happened?"

Link's head hung low. "A vampire... it attacked a group of kids at the park. Only two made it out of six."

My eyes widened.

"Good Lord, I just had a very filling meal only a few hours ago. Should I go for more?"

"Zel, your hands just got really sweaty," Link said, sounding worried.

I pulled them away, rubbing them on my pants. "I-I'm sorry," I laughed nervously, "that's so embarrassing. That just sounds so..." I trailed off, unable to finish my sentence.

Link reached for me, but pulled away after noticing my withdrawn body language. He closed his eyes for a moment. "It killed Daruk as we were trying to save the kids..." his voice was pained as he spoke. "I chased after it all night, but I couldn't seem to find its trail..."

"I think it attacked me," I sputtered.

Link's head rose. His eyes were wide with fear. His hand raised to my cheek, as if he were inspecting me. "And you got away?"

I swallowed, flinching at his sudden touch. "Did it have black hair? Wore a kind of suit?"

Link nodded slowly.

"I bargained with it," I lied. "He said he was trying to hide after having "a very filling meal—" I stopped, biting my tongue, remembering Daruk was one of its victims. I took Link's hands in mine once again apologetically, despite feeling their dampness still. "Anyway, I told the vampire I wouldn't tell anyone I had seen him, but..."

Link enveloped me in a hug. "You're safe..." he whispered. He sniffled, and I wrapped my arms around his back. "I'm so glad you're safe..."

I could feel how bad his body was shaking—how scared, sad, and hurt he was. His trusted partner viciously killed by them—by my kind—was gone.

"I'll avenge him," Link whispered, his voice in my ear sending chills down my spine. "I'll get rid of all of the vampires so the city will no longer suffer. I'll do it all by myself if I have to."

I nodded my head, unable to speak. I was too frightened to say anything that would upset him. My heart sank, wondering how he would feel if he found out that I—

"Detective," an officer called from outside of the interrogation room, somewhere in the station. "Detective Link!"

Link looked at me with a sad smile. "I'll make up last night to you eventually, I promise." He stood, quickly exiting the room. "Yes?" I heard his distant voice call back. His footsteps echoed through the hallway, slowly fading until he was gone.

Crossing my arms atop the desk, I lowered my head in the middle, sighing. "This is horrible..." I muttered to myself,

If he finds out about me... I began thinking to myself. About what I am... will he want to kill me, too?

I felt my fingernails tingle. I clenched my hands into fists, feeling the tips of them sharpen. My heartbeat sped as I frantically tried to calm my nerves.

I'm just nervous about the situation, I tried to calm myself. Everything is fine, I don't need to shift, not now. I'm safe.

As I worked on controlling my breaths, I could feel the length of my nails reduce. I shuddered, holding my hands out. They still were a little longer than their original length, but no one would notice.

I took my leave from the interrogation room, returning to my desk. Saria smiled at me as I placed myself in my chair. "Link almost seems as if he's back to normal," she whispered. "I mean, I'm sure he's still mourning. I understand."

Link smiled from across the room with the other officers and detectives, babbling on about something.

"But his smile is already back," Saria finished.

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sorry for the short chapter this week!