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'I need to see Doc. Are you his bodyguard now?" As always, it was incredibly inconvenient that Sally was a homebody and always around. "I didn't think I needed permission."

"What do you want, Sage?" Sally's tone was unimpressed as she frowned softly at the younger girl.

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"I didn't realize I was restraining you." If she wanted to walk, she could walk. Shock wasn't going to chase after her or anything. She wasn't that kind of vampire. Otis would never let her breathe a word of her connection to casters, but that didn't erase it. Draining one pointlessly was of no interest to her. "You're not scared, are you?"

It was way past Elodie's bedtime, actually. Veronica typically banished her to her bedroom before it even hit 8 o'clock most nights. Sometimes even earlier if her stepmother was in a mood. What Veronica didn't know was that Elodie had snuck out of her window for a late night walk. She should have known to be more careful, but by the time she saw the other girl blocking her way in the street it was too late. "I think we'd both have a better night if you just let me go."

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"How long doesn't matter. It just matters that it's his now." The wolf could growl if she wanted to. Shock made it her business to know things. Information was one of the ways she, Lukas and Brant stayed of use to Otis. Word tended to get around quickly. This werewolf — Henley — she had hung around with Greta Queen's stepdaugther before she turned. Now, that stepdaughter sulked around with James Kingsley, who worked for Otis. They were all connected in way or another. Shock sat on that piece of information, deciding to save it for later. "What does it matter to you?"

Henley had to hold back a growl in the back of her throat as she narrowed her eyes at the younger girl. "Since when did Otis own a piece of the reserve?" It felt like his territory was expanding inch by inch every day.

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"My favorite thing in general? Or my favorite thing that goes bump in the night? Be more specific." Normally, she'd just tell him it was none of his business. He had happened to catch her on a day where she was bored and more willing to play along.

Jim can’t help but smile. He looks behind him as it there’s maybe a kid standing there that she’s talking to instead, but nope. She had been addressing Jim, that much was clear. He cocked a brow. “They say lots of things, right? I’m interested what your favorite is.”

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"That's right. You're the big, bad Nico Dios." He might have scared other vampires, but Shock had grown up with Otis. The boogeyman smiled at her and told her he was proud, like that meant anything. He didn't know how his young wards really felt about him. He was just means to an end. "Thank goodness you're both so trustworthy and good at sticking to agreements."

"I don't have a bedtime." Nico quipped back, his eyes rolling with annoyance as he took a step closer to the younger girl. "Otis and I have an agreement. We coexist." And if one of his little minions was loitering around his club, it couldn't mean anything good.

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"Isn't it a little past your bedtime?" The street was quiet and empty save for the two who stood on the dark pavement. "You know what they say about all the things that go bump in the night."

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Otis kept eyes everywhere. It was well known without Walt's Landing. The reigning leader of the vampire was well versed in playing the game and what was needed to stay on top. Knowledge was power, and he was dripping in it. Shock didn't always mind her job. Sometimes, it wasn't bad. It kept her busy if nothing else. Other times, she longed for privacy. Her recent meetings with Doc Finkelstein needed to remain private. Lock and Barrel weren't going to rat her out, which usually meant she only had to work to avoid Zoey or Jack if they dropped by the human's house. Even with all that considered, however, Zoey Spencer didn't feel entirely like an enemy. Shock worked with Otis out of necessity. He had raised her, after all. That didn't mean she always felt positively about the vampire. The proposed change intrigued her if nothing else. This, Shock kept to herself.

"Not unless you're going to tell your brother to stand down." The smile went unreturned. "But we both know you won't do that. So, like always, no. Where's Jack anyway? I didn't think he went places without his keeper."

Zoey believed sometimes she could be too observant. While it did come in handy for her research into the different species inhabiting Walt's Landing, she also sometimes didn't know when to turn it off. She had her journal out at the moment and was currently jotting down notes on the human entry, as she eavesdropped someone behind her talking about their gift. She could feel someone observing her at the same time. She closed her journal and turned until she made eye contact with someone. Zoey tried to give a small, not-awkward or threatening smile. Then she waved, examining them for a moment. Getting up, she started to walk toward them. "Can I help you?"

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"Why? Are there monsters?" The words were coupled with a sardonic tone that Shock found herself unable to shake. "I'd bet that it's more dangerous for you than me here, but it wouldn't be fair as you'd automatically lose. This part of the woods belong to Otis."

"You do know that wandering around the woods at night is stupidly dangerous... Right?" Henley didn't think it had to be said out loud, but she was feeling snarky. It was rare that she wandered into anyone else this late at night while out in the forest.

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JENNA ORTEGA Photographed for FAULT Magazine

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TVFILMSOURCE’S TOP 5 HALLOWEEN MOVIES:

3. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)