Chapter 1

A bass track rattled through the air, making it impossible for anyone to hear even the person standing next to them. Nonetheless, amongst the crush of dancing, drunken, sweaty people a dozen conversations were being had; shouted from ear to ear and signed in wild gestures. This was the Ressaince. A club that catered to an older crowd, late twenties, early thirties. People put on their finest clothes, or their sexiest, and came out to party and draw in the opposite sex. And on the sidelines watched a predator. 
Lisa sighed and took another sip of her drink. She couldn't remember what it was called, something with rum in it. Or vodka. She hadn't had either 'before' and now they both tasted like orange juice past its expiry date. She was standing at the bar, ignoring the crowd of people all clamoring for more drinks.
She was a young looking girl, though she'd managed to pass for nineteen at the door with some help from Heidi. Her height had helped with that, she was six feet tall and been for the past two years. At that moment she was dressed in a loose fitting black top and tight dark jeans. Heidi had insisted on the stiletto boots though. Black leather and black top made her look marginally dangerous but combined with the long blond ponytail she looked dangerously attractive. Despite that no one, excepting the bartender, had bothered to talk to Lisa all night.
There was, then, a glimpse of Heidi across the dance floor. A flash of blond hair and golden dress. They made an interesting pair to see when they came in. One bright and glowing with energy, the other muted and withdrawn. 
Heidi was dancing with two guys at the same time. She had left Lisa to do her own hunting, which left the younger of the girls feeling alone and annoyed. It wasn't an uncommon occurrence but she felt that, having been dragged out to the club in the first place, she should be given a bit more attention from the person who did the dragging. 
The two men were completely different in their demeanor of course. One was rough and aggressive, he wore a designer t-shirt which was tight against his large and carefully sculpted muscles. The other was of a smaller build and wore dress clothes, carefully and minimally accessorized to give him an appearance of class. 
Lisa knew from experience which one Heidi would choose. She would take home the classy one tonight, and give 'muscles' her number so they could meet up another time. This was done because she had no interest in 'classy' other than what his body could offer. Where as the other would be tested to see if there was more substance to his personality. 
It was at quarter to one, when Lisa was on her fifth cocktail (she drank them fast to avoid the horrid flavor), that Heidi came back to the bar and demanded Lisa go to the restroom with her. They skirted the attendant and arrived inside the same stall, each standing on either side of the toilet. The noise from the floor was muted in here and Lisa was amazed at how well she could hear the two other occupants of the room, their hearts and their breathing.
"You're not even trying," Heidi whispered. Lisa had been expecting this since she had been abandoned. "I can see you're hungry, pick a guy and just call to him, instead of standing there like...like... a wall-flower." It was a lame finish but Heidi wasn't best known for her oratory. 
Lisa looked down at her Master and was confronted with an abundant amount of what she was known for. Heidi's ample bosom had been a major tool in getting the teen-aged looking Lisa into the Ressaince in the first place.
"I can't call," Lisa began, rolling her eyes at the displayed cleavage. "I'm no good at it, you know that. And I don't want any of these guys. I'd rather buy something."
"Buy something?" Heidi's indignation almost caused her to shout the words. As it was Lisa was pretty sure the rest of the room heard it. 
"You're not one of these dregs," Heidi continued, quieter this time. "Ahem, losers. You don't pay for what you need, you take it. You hunt, you choose, and you make them fall in love with you so they don't even see it coming."
Lisa fidgeted uncomfortably. Heidi was adamant that she learn the art of seduction, but every attempt or even mention made her stomach turn awkwardly. It was the best way to hunt, she had to admit, but it left her feeling cold, dead, and manipulative. 
"Do it, or go home," said Heidi. "Starving yourself may teach you something I can't." And with that the older vampire left the restroom, washing her hands on the way out and tipping the attendant handsomely.

Lisa sat down on the toilet and locked the door to the stall. Her mind buzzed with nerves and shame. And hunger. 
Not normal hunger, the kind of stomach rumbling that humans feel as acid overflows and muscles get restless. It was an empty feeling in her heart, her veins and arteries. Her body longed to feed and fill itself with energy. Not a lot. Just a little... just a little...
But no, she couldn't do it this way. She'd find an animal or buy something from a blood dealer. She knew they were out there, though Heidi had never taken her to one. The other girl filled her fridge and emergency stores with animal blood from slaughter houses, human being expensive to procure in a usable manner.
Eventually Lisa did as her Master had said and headed home. There was no point in moping around. The streets were crowded downtown, throngs of youths, and people of all ages really, wandered about seeking out the next thrill, or else headed home.
Heidi's, and coincidentally Lisa's, home was a forty minute walk from the club. Lisa normally would have taken the bus, but today she wanted to walk. No, tonight she wanted to walk. The sun being down should have been a clue to that, but to Lisa "today" would not become "tonight" no matter how many daylight hours she spent sleeping in her basement bedroom. 
The alleys being quieter she decided to take a few shortcuts. This turned out to be a mistake. Many things take place in alleyways at night. And although Lisa knew this fact she had never before been confronted with it, nor did she know what kinds of things.
Even as she rounded the corner Lisa could hear strange human sounds emanating. Her mind on her non-functioning stomach she ignored them. The alley was dingy and smelled of urine and garbage. Dumpsters lined the walls and someone had parked in the centre, blocking the way to anyone who wasn't walking. 
It wasn't until she had almost walked into them that she noticed the group of toughs, kicking and beating someone lying on the ground. 
At first Lisa stopped. Then the three men turned to face her, having heard the click of her boots on the ground. They were all young, in their 20s, white, and very big. The man on the ground wasn't moving as one of his attackers, a tall freckled man, stepped towards Lisa and smiled menacingly.
"Fuck off!" he said. "You didn't see anything!"
It was truly a lifetime ago, the days that Lisa would have run screaming from that place. But she was the new Lisa, a creature of darkness, in a sense, more foul than any of those men. Those boys. 
Lisa took a step toward 'freckles.'
"Oh, please, girl," he said. "You don't want to play with us."
Lisa took another step forward.
"Well all right then."
Lisa swung a fist. It was the first punch she had ever thrown. Had it connected it would easily have landed the recipient in the hospital for a good week. Well, a bad week really. Unfortunately it did not connect.
'Freckles' laughed as he stepped aside and grabbed her arm. Twisting he forced her to the ground and pressed a knife to her throat.
"Now don't move," he said, breathing into her face.


The alley was dark, a fire escape blocked the light from the stars and somehow no streetlights were close enough to illuminate the interior. It was a good move to duck inside.
Rafe ran the distance to the bottom of the fire escape and leaped onto the bottom rungs. He would have liked to fly but that would mean taking off his jacket to let his wings out, and frankly he was rather fond of the brown leather coat.
The loud pounding of footsteps sounded behind him as he scrambled onto the lowest platform. Cold metal froze his fingers as he brought his knees under him with his considerable strength, made even more so at the adrenaline rush upon hearing his pursuers enter the alley.
The pair below paused only momentarily before climbing after their quarry. Being weaker they could not climb onto the metal platform as quickly, but they managed all the same. They were an odd pair. One pale, one dark, both dressed in long black overcoats, under which they wore pinstriped suits.
Presently one of them, the paler, brandished a stick, a wand. With the murmur of a few words and a flick of the wrist he sent a white hot ball of flame upwards.
Rafe ducked aside as the fireball shot past. He kept climbing, running up the steps with as much speed as he could muster. It was a full five stories to the top, not counting the first which had been traversed by jumping. By the time he made it to the top he had dodged two more fireballs and was thoroughly out of breath. 
Gasping for air he hauled himself onto the roof of the building. Tar covered by pebbles, gravel met him crawling over lip wall. He then stood up and became outlined in the glow of the city's light. Rafe was small, or compact. He barely scratched five foot six. The leather was faded and his hair short and dark like his skin. On his feet he wore, as always, his steel capped leather boots. In the dim light of his surroundings he had the look of a teen runaway. 
But of course it was mostly an illusion. Raphael was a Goblin, a faerie. His human countenance was glamour, and the only thing true about the way he looked were his clothes.
Rafe realized he had a moment to think while his pursuers caught up. There was no way off the roof that he could see. Fighting was the best option, it was the option he would normally have chosen if not for the sight of the pinstriped uniforms. He squared his shoulders and faced the place where he'd mounted the roof. A plastic knife appeared in his hand and at a word became a broadsword. The goblin stood ready to face his adversaries.
The first of the two came vaulting over the edge landing on his feet, wand raised. He paused, taking in Rafe's stance and newly acquired weapon. With a flourish the wand vanished and was replaced with a similar sword. 
Rafe parried the first blow easily, having practiced fencing most of his life. Instead of a counter swing though he brought up his fist in a swift and precise motion, knocking his foe to the ground, wand returned and clattering away from his hand. There was just enough time, having downed his first opponent, to turn and see the second, the darker of the two, hurl a new spell.
Magic. It was powerful stuff. Channelling the will of the soul to alter the course and flow of reality. Reality, of course resisted this manipulation, which is why not everyone who can read a spell book can curse their enemies with leprosy. Humans were powerful in the ways of magic, those with the will, the Key energy, to make it work. Fey of course had their own magic, older and presiding from another realm. Thus, a well educated Faerie knew precisely how to turn certain elements of unfriendly magic to his will.
Lightning coursed from the ring on the wizard's finger. Pain shot through every fiber and nerve in Rafe's body, but through it all he concentrated on his ancestral affinity. He pushed and the electricity gave unto him. The swirling lightning ceased its cascade and became a ball of energy, sitting in the Faeries hands, ready, waiting.
The wizard was disturbed by this, a frown of confusion creasing his brow. His companion rose, recovered his wand and came to join the stand off.
In light of the moment Rafe dropped his glamour. Where he had appeared Latino and human, he now look gray and evil. His eyes were blood red, his teeth sharp and long like the fangs of a wolf, and his skin was a dry pale gray. He watched the hatred form on the wizards' faces at the sight of his true form and he shrugged off his favorite jacket. He was going to miss it, but two on one wasn't going well and there was one final option left open to him. 
Finally the pale wizard spoke. "The major wants to speak with you," he said. "You needn't make it difficult."
A smile tickled his lips as Rafe replied, "I'm a difficult guy."
He released the lightning, ran and leaped off the edge of the building. There was a rush of air and he tore his t-shirt off, letting his wings free. 
Unfurled as he fell were two gigantic bat wings. Huge gray and leathery, they caught the air and had him gliding through the night. They were barely capable of allowing him flight but as he flapped and turned into the breeze he began to gain altitude. 
Fireballs screamed after him, searing the air and in an ordained misfortune one punched a hole in his right wing. Crippled Rafe fell. Plummeting four stories into the street, just remembering his glamour as he hit the ground and blacked out.