The Heroes of the Department speak!

Topaz Delirium

From the Personnel Files of Department 57: Jasper Lebec

One of the heads of the Department, currently running the French branch, based in Paris. Talent - classified information, contact Lebec directly or Cristos for more information.

Lebec is also the head of the House of Lebec, one of the top fashion houses in the world. He designs most of the house's output.

Lebec refuses to become romantically involved with any woman, although he is heterosexual. The reason is connected with his Talent and may prove a weakness in an operation, although so far has not proved to be so

Jasper: I have made mistakes before, but not like this.

Svetlana Yevchenko has been my Muse and principal model for several years now, although she doesn't know what kind of relationship I really crave.

Until recently she hadn't any idea just how much I want her. Now she does.

I should never have allowed it, but she was perfect for this Department operation. I have always avoided anything but a professional relationship, and even then every time I looked at my longing for her clawed at me inside.

But apart, it's even worse.

My destruction I can bear, but not hers. I won't be the cause of her death. If I can't find happiness, then I want Svetlana to find it.

But she won't find it with me.

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Cats' Eyes

From the Personnel Files of Department 57:

José Aristides da Costa Santos (Ari)-Parents owners of the Santos company, manufacture pharmaceuticals. Currently working at the male strip club Hel. Partner to Devante Sirutis. Looking for the dealers of the drug Cephalox, produced by his father's company, formula leaked to the PHR. Ari is calculating, utterly loyal to a very few people and doesn't trust easily. A jaguar shape-shifter.

Devante Sirutis - Unknown parentage, native Brazilian appearance. Currently working at the male strip club Hel.Sirutis is the author of a biography, detailing his life as a child on the streets of Rio de Janeiro. Working with his partner, Ari. Devante is devoted to his adopted family, loves Ari but has his own concerns, mainly to improve the condition of Brazilian street children. A jaguar shape-shifter.

Ari: Stripping every night for a pack of screaming women was fun at first, but it's getting old fast. I need to get back home, I have work waiting for me, but we have to clear this up first. Nobody steals from my family.

Then I met Silje. She moves me like no other woman before, but she moves Devante, too. I hope she's broad-minded enough to accept both of us, because I want them both.

Devante: Silje is the best thing that's happened to us for years. I don't want to leave her behind, but when we go back home we might have to, if she doesn't want us. As a full-time agent for Department 57, Silje has her duties and her own life.

If only I didn't want her so very much.

Jewel of The Dragon

From the Personnel Files of Department 57: Deverell Wyvern, usually known as Dev, is a Welsh shapeshifter, taking the form of a wyvern dragon. He is a top auctioneer, specializing in Old Master paintings. He makes regular trips to New York and other auction centers, but is based in London and Wales.

Deverell is six foot two inches tall, with green eyes and short dark hair. He wears spectacles in his human form, usually of the gold-rimmed variety. He prefers to wear Saville Row suits for work, with custom made shirts, and jeans and polo shirts for casual wear.

He is stylish, sophisticated, and happy with his life. Wyvern is a playboy, seen with several internationally famous women and frequents society events. Highly intelligent, useful agent. He is in New York to sell a major Rubens painting. Sent in to investigate a jewelry shop thought to be a center for PHR activity.

Deverell: Art is my passion, but like most of the shapeshifter community, it's getting harder to retain any constants in a long life. I've managed to keep my house in Wales, but it's been a struggle. Department 57 helps me with that, so I help it when I can. But my job comes first. Or it did.

But I met Alix Lancaster on a recent operation. The Department got word the PHR was operating from a jewelry shop in New York, so, with my art history background, they sent me in.

Turns out Alix is one of the sexiest women on earth, but she's bad news. Her brother is definitely a PHR member, and she probably is, but I'm hooked on her.

Now what? Why the hell is she so sexy? It's not difficult to find out what my weakness is - beautiful women - so has Alix Lancaster been told to seduce me and then kill me?

She might just be worth dying for.

A Griffin's Treasure

From the Personnel Files of Department 57: Josh Griffin, English soccer star and shapeshifting griffin. Josh and his brother Laurie play for the Manchester Rovers team, currently in the English Premiership. In everywhere but the States he is a star and instantly recognizable, but relatively unknown in the USA. His team has recently been bought by George Skeffington, American businessman and suspected of anti-Talent activity.

Josh is lean but athletic with blond hair and amber eyes. A womanizer, who has a sense of humor that can get him into trouble at times. A mature Talent who co-operates with the Department.

Josh:Until recently my life was perfect. Playing the sport I love, working for a man I respect, my brother Laurie playing for the same team. Then Laurie vanished on a trip to San Francisco.

I'm sure Laurie's in trouble. I can feel it deep in my bones. He's still alive but he's not communicating with me, and I can't get a fix on him. Laurie comes first.

The last time anyone saw him was with a beautiful woman in San Francisco. Then he dropped out of sight. However involved he is, and Laurie does tend to get involved with women, he'd contact me. I'm really worried.

Then I meet Skeffington's step-daughter, Chana Rafiz. Half Indian, half American, wholly gorgeous. The last thing I need is a temptation like her. I can't get her out of my mind. Sexy, clever, funny, and working on a contract as his hostess for a year.

I suspect Skeffington's asked her to seduce me and find out what she can, either about the Rovers or the Department. I don't know which. Can I risk accepting the challenge? I have to, because I can't resist her for much longer. I can't help the yearning every time I see her.

I want her so bad I can taste it.

Rubies of Fire

From the Personnel Files of Department 57: Andreas Constant, vampire and full time CIA field agent. Constant has high security clearance. Short dark hair, dark brown eyes, six foot three inches tall. Powerfully built.

Constant was found as a teenager living wild on the streets of New York, all his personal memories completely erased. Cristos acted as his foster father and is closely affiliated with him. The Department has never found Constant's family. A young vampire, but mature, in full possession of his powers. A useful member of any team, especially good at undercover work.

Andreas: This has to be the most boring assignment I've ever been given. Working as a clerk in a CIA internal department really brings it home to you that not all CIA work is the dangerous, exciting kind, the kind I thrive on. But as soon as I've mentally scanned everyone in this department and collected some internal records, my work here is done. The cheap suits I have to wear and the cheap, sleazy attitude I have as a cover are driving me crazy. My work colleagues are dumbasses. I keep reminding myself how important this job is.

Department 57 can't afford any leaks, so we have to close this down. Once I've mentally scanned them all, and investigated the computer records, I'm done here.

If only I hadn't left Roz Templeton until last. She's gorgeous, and because I didn't want my work to interfere with her, I left her until last. Or that's what I keep telling myself. Now I discover she's a vampire and the probable cause of the leak. But I can't help wanting her.

She is sexy, funny and fits in my arms as if she was born to be there. Every time I see her I go mindless with the need to touch her, take her. So do I take her and hand her over to interrogation? Over my dead body. I've never been this conflicted before. Now what do I do?

I can't take it much longer.

Diamonds Of Ice

From the Personnel Files of Department 57: Fabrice Germain, virgin Sorcerer and advertising executive. One of the most powerful Sorcerers in the world. Friend of Andreas Constant, they work well together.

Recent tragedy has given him a desire to put his past behind him.

Update: Fabrice has moved to London to work for his ad agency there. He has been referred to the head of the London branch, Will Grady.

Fabrice: London suits me. Nobody asks me questions I don't want to answer, and I like the climate. You can be private here, like in very few places on earth. New York, maybe, but I don't want to be there. I'm not much use to the Department, but I can still work as well as ever for the ad agency TTFN.

I'm a senior consultant now, and I'll make partner before I'm done. I'm pitching for the Lebec perfume account, along with all the other major agencies, but I'm going to win this one.

Two vampires have taken me under their wing. Not that I need it of course, but they're good company. And now I find the head of the team from our rival agency, and my competitor for the Lebec account is their friend too.

I could keep my personal and private lives separate, except that Gemma is the sexiest thing I've ever seen this side of the pond. Hell, no, anywhere. But she's bad news. If I want to keep my job. So what do I want the most? The account, or Gemma?

And can I get both?