Ingrid looked at him uncertainly. She loved the idea of vampires, but he didn't think she really understood what it meant to view humans as prey.
"Hack into the system or whatever it is you do and move your flight up," he said. "I can make it to my appointment without you."
"I guess. Are you sure you don't need me around today?"
"No."
"Okay. I'll change my ticket." She said and waited for him to talk her out of it.
He didn't. His attention was on the blonde on the beach. Ingrid was wounded again. The girl had issues. He checked her thoughts to confirm she changed her ticket then rose.
"See you in a week," he said, striding into the condo. He went to his room to change for the meeting with his producer.
A few minutes later, the cat meowed at his door, indicating its entertainment - Ingrid - was gone. Xander stretched his senses to seek out any other minds in the condo. There were none. Xander cracked the door for the animal to enter and pulled on a shirt. The animal wound its way through his legs until he picked it up. His cat was as emotionally needy as Ingrid on a good day.
His wards gave off alarms again, this time indicating he had a visitor. He recognized this one and set the cat down to put on boots. When he emerged from his hallway, the Guardian he expected was seated in his living room.
"Nice place." The dark-skinned Guardian was covered in tattoos and muscular, smaller than Xander but still a worthy adversary. The most patient of the White God's brothers, Jule had a calming influence on those around him, including Xander, who felt his ever-present restlessness retreat some.
Jule, the Original Immortal, was the only Guardian that dared set foot in Xander's home. Their truce was formed pre-Schism; they had no choice but to be friendly to one another. Or at least, not to attack one another. With so few remaining from his time, Xander was usually pleased to see the man responsible for killing any vamps Xander created.
"It works for me," Xander said.
"I saw your show. You are the king of subtle, aren't you?" Jule's gaze fell to the cat. "Is that a vamp-cat?"
"Yeah," Xander replied and set down the animal. "Long story."
"It can't infect humans, can it?" Jule asked.
"No. Those …things Jonny's predecessor created in Ohio were freaks. This is a real vamp. She just kills things smaller than she is."
"Sounds a lot like you."
Xander sat down across from Jule. "Whatever Damian wants, the answer is no." Damian, the White God, had tried to task him twice in the past few months. "You can't use our truce to ask for favors. You're out of those."