Ev stared out the window at the gray sky as they drove back to Hawthorn headquarters, deep in thought. The vampires were growing in strength, coming out earlier now and even on cloudy days. She pressed her forehead against the cool glass. They were evolving, just as Malcolm said they would. The charms on her silver necklace tapped against the car door, an array of talismans from different religions- all effective against vampires.

Steve turned up the radio, a boring weather broadcast for the week. Overcast and rainy, perfect for the rapidly-changing vampires. The rest of their thirty minute journey passed wordlessly, both of them too anxious about the night to come. There were other hunters on call, but if tonight got bad… Ev decided to rush home and get some sleep now, just in case.

She waved to Steve, “Good afternoon!” she shouted with a grin, it was their way of saying good night. She clambered into her Honda hybrid, tossing her kit onto the passenger seat with her purse, and started the car.