Victoria nodded as she watched the body burn.

"Yeah....unfortunately someone has to, otherwise these things will overrun the city...not to mention the world."

  Andy nodded, and wrapped one arm around her, holding her against him, her back to his chest as he said quietly "Yes.  But it is good to not like to kill.  If I began to enjoy the killing of what was once human, I would be losing more of the humanity I have."

Victoria sighed as she put her head on Andy's chest.

"Maybe...in saving you.....you're also saving me. My..."job"....as a Defender requires me in some cases to be meciless to my enemies, some of which are fiends from the Far Realm. Thank you for reminding me of what it is to be Victoria Castillo...not just the Black Jaguar."

  Andy kissed her on the top of her head, and said softly "Part of what I'm for.  I'm BRED to kill things that endanger humans, love.  I've spoken to my Dad.  He gave me all the dirt on that while I was in Hell."

Victoria chuckled for a moment.

"You know, you're one of the few people I can be myself around. You and Adri. I always have to portray a rough edge to whoever else is around."

  Andy chuckled, and hugged her.  "You are an amazing woman, Vic.  And I love you as you are.  You don't shudder when you see me without my 'humanskin' on."  He loved that, the way she accepted that he was a man, even if he wasn't human!

Victoria sighed happily as she put her head against Andy's broad chest.

"I wonder how the others are doing with their searches?"

  Andy said "Let me ask.  We all have at least one person with a mindworm on the team."  He sent by Mindworm How are the rest of you doing?  We put one vampire down.

Victoria nodded, and waited for Andy to get information back on the other "missions."

  Andy said "Looks like Ozzy and Meg got one, and one got away, and we got one, so we made two less vampires."

Victoria nodded at that.

"Sounds good. Shall we search a bit more here? If we found one here, there might be more."

  Andy nodded, and said "Good idea.  Hang onto my back, or my wings, whichever's an easier handhold, and I'll crawl over the cliffs to the next cave.  Or I could do the 'screaming meme leaps' and fly us."

"I'll hang on to your back," Victoria said.

  Andy chuckled, and moved so she could climb on more easily.  And once she was, he demonstrated how HANDY those six inch long talons were.  They let him move across the cliff faces like they were almost flat ground!!

Victoria was amazed at the ease that Andy moved along the cliff. Clearly enjoying herself, she waited until Andy found a place to set down.

  He grinned at her, and said "I learned all sorts of dirty tricks in Hell."

"You did learn a lot there," Victoria replied. "All right...same routine as before. I'll act as the Arcane Early Warning System.."

  Andy admitted "I learned a lot there.  But some of the things I learned are more tragic than anything else."  He sniffed, and then stretched his wings, while he had the room to do so.

"I am sorry about that," Victoria said softly as they entered the next cave.

  Andy hugged her, and said softly "A decade in Hell was more than worth making certain that Ahriman was contained.  I did not want him to permanently possess my body.  And he LIKED my body."

"It doesn't make it any easier," Victoria said. "Still...I'm glad you have the heart that you do. For that is who and what I love..."

She smiled at him for a moment.

"Hold still for a moment..." she said as she weaved a protective aura around him, the aura looking like a demonic suit of golden armor.

"I have a few tricks of my own." she said, still smiling.

  Andy smiled, and hugged her again, then indicated he was ready to venture into the darkness.  He wanted her safe too.  Which was why she had some Demonskin leather armor herself!

Victoria then began to traverse into the cave with Andy, searching for any more vampiric denizens.

  He moved with her, and his warm bulk behind her was a comforting presence in the darkness.  He rumbled softly "One of them has at least BEEN here.  I smell them."

Victoria nodded back at Andy briefly, then took out a wooden stake, ready to send the next vampiric minion to the afterlife if it showed up.