Grey Morning
Rex tugged on his coat collar, fidgeting uncomfortably in the damp early morning chill. Somewhere behind him lay an old mansion tucked away in a corner of the Stone District where few would stumble across it; a mansion with ivy growing up the walls and a door knocker shaped like a falcon's head. It still unnerved him to see the place - perhaps less because of how forbidding it looked, and more because of the unpleasant thoughts it brought back. Thoughts of how much his life had changed because he'd been unfortunate enough to get attacked by a vampire and dragged into a world he barely understood, where non-human creatures battled for supremacy in the criminal underworld, ruled by a vampire who didn't seem to possess normal emotions.
It had taken him days to accept that this wasn't some kind of peculiar dream. Even now, years later, he still felt like he was existing in limbo, where nothing was the same as it used to be.
He had a job tonight. He supposed he ought to get on with that. He had been standing outside for at least twenty minutes, doing nothing but thinking. It was unlikely that Sargon - or his wretched assistant, Anastasia - would be happy with his procrastination.
Unfortunately, Rex wasn't sure where to go. He had been given names, but they'd slipped his mind whilst he stood out here, lost in thought. Number... something, Dairy Street... Oh, blast.
Just then, he felt a presence brush past him - not touching, but moving close enough to make his skin prickle. Flinching slightly, Rex turned while pressing himself against the wall at the same time. In the grey chill of dawn, he honestly hadn't expected to run into anyone else. The stranger paused five feet away and he was given a chance to steady his breathing.
Frowning, Rex studied them. It was a man - a vampire, judging by the crimson eyes - who was a bit taller than him and dressed in a long grey wool coat. Wild, wavy blond hair fell over his eyes, paired with a rough stubble.
'Can I help you?' said Rex coolly, gathering himself.
'I was going to ask you the same thing,' the man replied. He jerked his head back towards the mansion. 'I thought you had a job this morning? Why are you just standing around? You could get in trouble for that.'
Rex fidgeted with his collar again, a little embarrassed. 'I forgot where I was going,' he said gruffly.
'21 Dairy Lane, Silver District. You're looking for a vampire named Oswald Terence. He's holding supplies of blood that Sargon wants you to collect for him.'
'Right. Yes. Thank you.'
The blond man nodded. His expression was tired and preoccupied. 'You're welcome. Good luck.'
He spoke almost mechanically before turning to leave. Rex turned in the other direction, quickening his pace. He thought little of the unknown man.