No One Say The V Word

"I don't want to interrupt you, Nova, but first of all, I shall state the obvious. You are sucking that guy's blood. Secondly, the last time I heard, you were dead. Thirdly, hello, haven't seen you for a long time."
The person on the floor let go of her victim and lifted her head from the unfortunate soul's neck, inadvertently baring her fangs. She licked her lips and stood up, a pale, dignified figure with blood splattered over her clothes in a dimly lighted shop.
"Hello to you too, Raewyn. I see you got my employment letter."
"Very funny. So, I can only assume that you did get killed and now, you're back. How's a life of blood-sucking?"
"Fun. And tasy." She licked her lips once more, as if to emphasise her words. She blinked.
"I'm still somewhat hungry. Give me a moment, will you?"
"Sure. Go out and feed from some hapless fool. I find the thought amusing."
"I will make haste. Pardon me."
"Take your time. I'll just sit right here."
"Alright. Feel free to peruse my wares."
"Got it."
Awhile later, Nova returned, muttering a spell to clean her clothes as she walked through the door.
"So. November Upyr. What can I do for you?"
"I have... heard of the sort of thing you do. I have just started this business and I was wondernig if someone such as you would need such items as those I sell."
"Oh, I get it. You see the criminal world as another market to exploit, don't you? I like that sort of profit-centred merchant's outlook."
"Yes, you have accurately vivisected my meaning. I wish to mine the not-so-legal side of the city for as much business as I can. I, as a noble, would have much lesser difficulty getting more esoteric items which would be otherwise at ridiculously high prices. Less risk, lower prices. Lower prices, more customers. More customers, more profit."
"Well, I'm happy for you as a friend and happy that I'll have to pay less next time but I'm sure you didn't take all this trouble to contact me just to share the good news. Spit it out, what do you want from me?"
"You were always so direct, even as kids."
"Yeah, must have been that demonic influence."
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing. Inside joke. So what do you want?"
"Before I can actually start having lower prices, I needed some information as to the prices, the competition and most importantly, what reagents and items are most highly sought."
"I can't help but notice the past tense 'needed'. If you already have the information, what do you need me for?"
"Well, considering your reputation, I wanted to know if my informant was lying. For some reason, the type of people I have been able to get in contact with do not regard my kind with any respect."
"These people don't treat anyone with any respect. Or maybe its because they have to deal with the proverbial blood-suckers so often that a literal one fails to instill a measure of awe or fear in them. But yes, smart move, they would answer truthfully if I am by your side. Plus, I may not have detailed knowledge of the merchants' workings, but I have some knowledge and if they lie, I will be able to tell regardless of what I know."
"Excellent. I assume that you are going to help me?"
Raewyn shrugged. "It's in my best interests to help you. So, yes. When are we meeting this informant of yours?"
November fidgeted, somewhat embarrassed. "Ah, yes, you have already met him."
"What? Who?"
November gently kicked the body on the floor. The man groaned and moved a little. "Him. I left enough blood in him to ensure that he would live. I figured, what better way to ensure that he would tell the truth? He should be waking up in, say, fifteen minutes approximately."
"What's his name?"
"He wouldn't tell me, he said he didn't want retribution from the other undertraders for divulging their prices and what not. He's not too smart. Hopefully the lack of blood didn't cause any brain damage. Archon knows, he's dumb enough."
"We might as well chat a little while waiting for him to wake up. How've you been doing all these years, Nova?"
"I've been fine. I had a boyfriend and we were fine until he tried to kill me. Actually, he did manage to kill me. But, you know, my family."
"Blood-suckers, all of you."
"My parents are somewhat disappointed that I didn't manage to conceive a child before I became a... before I got to this state."
"Sounds like an understatement. I remember your parents. Wouldn't they have flown into a rage when they heard the news?"
"...Yes. They did actually. They're depending on my sister to continue our fine family traditions. Or maybe my brother."
"I thought Decem was already married. And Juno is quite the wildcard, isn't she? Your parents would have better luck relying on Decem." Raewyn pronounced December's short form with a hard 'k' as Dekem.
"Yeah. They would. Anyway then I had to go into some business and heck, I've already got alchemical training. My parents already have an interest in the criminal side of the market. I could probably run an undertrader's store and so here I am." Nova said, all her manners and cultured affectations of a noble going out the window. "Here, drink up." She handed Raewyn a glass of wine.
"Cheers. I hope you didn't poison it."
"I wouldn't. Anyway you'd know if I did."
Nothing in the wine that shouldn't be there. Libys assured Raewyn.
They drank and November continued.
"So Raewyn. What happened to you? I know your parents died and that their will specifically stated that there were to be no Resurrections for them. Most of the nobility would choose to live as long as possible so it came as quite a shocker to quite a few people. But apart from that, I don't know much."
"Not much. I apprenticed under Karasondrias."
November whistled appreciatively. "The draenix? I heard she's helped open a school recently."
"Yeah. After I left her, I had no idea what to do. Adventuring seemed abit too much like hard work so I decided to take bounties within the city."
"Really? The bounty I set for you involved the Wild Region outside city limits."
"I mean, I take bounties from within the city. I don't take those from other places."
"It's not as if you need the money."
"Yeah, but I'm not gonna start indulging my hedonistic epicurean side. And I get bored easily."
The man groaned and raised a hand.
"Ugh, why's it so dark in here? I feel dizzy.."
They both looked down at him.

"Shall I?"
"Go ahead, guest's honour."
Raewyn grabbed him by the front of his shirt and roughly dragged him to the wall. She put Aida's edge against his throat as November stepped forward. She knelt down in front of him and lifted his head, an immaculate fingernail pressed against his chin.
"I called upon your services. Now, serve. First. The names and locations of the other undertraders."
The man was terrified and sputtered. "I.. I told you I would tell you, you didn't hav-"
Raewyn pulled out a knife from a sheath strapped onto her leg and stabbed it into his thigh and he screamed, far higher than what one would expect from him.
"The next one goes onto your left hand."
"The names and locations of the other undertraders. I will not repeat again."
Weeping with the pain, he reached into his pocket. "Here... It's everything you.. wanted to know." He managed to say amidst the sobs of pain.
He's lying.
"Liar." Raewyn took a second dagger and stabbed it into his left hand, effectively nailing him to the floor. He screamed even louder, though his voice seemed somewhat ragged, worn from the pain. "The next one goes into your right shoulder and permanently prevent you from using your right arm. You left out some extra important bits of information. Write it on the paper with your blood."
Cursing and crying, he lifted his right hand to do as Raewyn said. After a few agonising (for him) minutes, he stopped.
"Very good. As a reward, I'll actually let you leave alive." Raewyn forcefully pulled out her daggers, making sure to cause a little more pain. Inside her, Libys all but sang.
Now this is the sort of thing you should do! I vote we work for the blood-sucker!
Raewyn ignored him and picked up the paper containing the information Nova needed.
"Leave now before I change my mind." As he scrambled out, leaving a gruesome trail of blood behind him, she passed the paper to November.
"There you go, girlfriend. Everything you needed."
"How did you know he was lying?"
"Truth and lies both have a certain smell. Its all in the pheromones."
November raised an eyebrow. "And you have an incredible sense of smell."
"Yes."
"Doesn't matter anyway. What does matter is that I have what I need. Now, your payment. You do want your payment, don't you?"
"Of course! What makes you think I don't want my payment?" Raewyn was indignant as she wiped her daggers on her armour.
"I don't know, maybe the fact that you were already filthy rich to begin with and that you don't need the money?"
"Hey, money is money. What's it matter to you if I'm greedy?"
"Nothing. Hells, I'm greedy too. If I weren't, I wouldn't be here as an undertrader. I'd be a merchant." November handed a small wad of money to her.
"I had fun doing this. If you've got any other job you need done next time, feel free to send me a message. By phone, if you please, pieces of paper can get lost too easily. Here, have my number."
"Got it. Good luck and have fun, Raewyn."
"And you too Nova. It's good to see you. The thought of you randomly going out and killing someone for blood will keep me amused for a week. Have fun."