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Chapter 1:

"Not one day goes by
That I don't know
That I am dying."
~Vast, I'm Dying

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November 19, 2003

They call it the present. But is it? I have gotten nothing from this. I see myself in the mirror, when I can, and I cry. I have to thrive on other's misery. That's right. I'm not sure what kind of creature he was, but I must have misery, other's bad feelings, in order to survive.

Now as I stalk the streets of New Orleans, I feel the presence of others, and what could be disaster.

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Part 1: The Arrival

I remember coming here with Keith. We went for a vacation once. I remember the smells, the sounds, the insanity. Not much has changed. I really wished that it would. The thought of Keith now added an edge of nostagia and angst to my life.

I now have been tracking him for years. We met in certain places. The meetings were brief. I caught up to him. He said a few muttered phrases. Then he vanished. I would fall to my knees, then. I would sob for everything that had happened and what is to come. Now, I have a chance. I have found his latest haunt. I will find him. I will talk with him. I will convince him to stay with me.

I motion to Aurora. She has been hit just as hard by this than myself. I do feel sorry for her, though. She did not deserve this. Not like I did, but she seems to be less able to cope. She makes whimpering sounds as we walk toward the cathedral.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stamm is so foolish. I know how to catch Keith. I know what he wants. Me. I know that he feeds on misery, something of which I have plenty. I also know that he is part vampyre anyway. This will allow me to become one with him. All I have to do is find him, now. I walk towards the cathedral that Stamm motioned me towards, smiling inwardly. "That little fool."

I look to the sky. A dark grey. "Perfect," I think. I know when he likes to kill. I know when he likes to hunt. Keith loves me. Heaving a heavy sigh. I start in a dogtrot towards the building. He'll come. I know it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Why did she come?" I ask myself. I know what she wants. She knows that I will know. Yet she continues to come. I almost want to tell her...

"NO!" I say to myself. I can never see her again. Stamm maybe, but not her. I couldn't. I couldn't resist. Coming in from the cold of the roof, I turn on the microwave. A cup of water is already in. I wander off to spend the few minutes while I wait for the microwave. I catch the image of a yound fox by a lake. It makes me smile. While I did like the masters of old, I still am amazed by the advances that computers are giving us and the quality of the things that come out of them.

I hear the microwave beep. Walking over, I pull out the cup of tea. The porcelin burns my paw, but I could care less. Plopping down in front of the computer, I start my search in earnest. As I steeple the tea, I start up the explorer. Tossing aside the soggy tea bag into the trashed flat, I hold the hot cup to my lips.

After the transformation, I still got a few of the traits that a traditional vampyre has. Including the well-known thirst for blood. And although my digestive tract, or lack thereof, couldn't digest the liquid, my senses enjoy it. I could feel the heat coming off it; that was invigorating. I could smell the tea and raspberry scents. This allowed me to somewhat taste them.

A sense of urgency and alarm came from outside. This would normally slip my mind, but this seemed too familiar. I stalk out onto the porch with a bit of apprehension. I'm sure what to think of this. I haven't had any doubt about anything in a long time.

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I fly about the cathedral. So many perfect specimens. And in one place. How perfect. Oh, how rude of me, to interrupt this narrative without introducing myself. I am Beghorra. I am what is not-so-commonly known as a Chiroptera. Or as I am usually called, a bat.

I am and have been a scientist for years. I used to be a demolitions expert, but lately my studies have turned to these Vampyres. Now a bit of action will present itself to #42. Or Keith as his 'friends' call him. I still find that hard to believe. A horrible monster like that having friends.

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Part 2: The Antithesis

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We enter. Now I can see the inside of the cathedral. It's celing is painted with many images of pain and misery. This does not bode well. It seems to exhude a sense of foreboding and a stifling kind of closeness. I keep close to Aurora. She looks at me with a wry face and goes backk to watching the door. I remember my duty and start to walk towards the front of the of the aisle, securing our flank. We have become almost a strike team now. I smile at the thought.

I pass by a small bundle in one aisle. I sit next to it, murmering a prayer. It looks at me, but the darkness in the cathedral limits my vision.

"Hello little one." I whisper.

"'Tis one that speaks." it rasps at me.

"What do you mean?" I ask it, perplexed.

"This kind usually aren't bright. Typical." It crows, flying into the rafters. Only then do I notice that it is a bat.

Mulling over what the bat just said, I start to walk forward again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I watch her move toward the front of the aisle. Gleefully, I leave my seat. Moving along the pew as quietly as possible, as not to disturb Stamm, I slip to the aisle. Scurrying up it, I get outside the door. I slam the hard wood behind me and rest up against it. It feels good. Solid. Like what i need right now. Someone who is solid.
 

I look at the ground, noticing a few more footprints than two. Cautiously, I start to take my weight off the door, onto my paws, when a paw slams into the wood near my head. I see a pair of dirty-looking shoes, with equally filthy feet in front of me. Unfortunately the shadow is quite large as well. I look up to see a bum. A bum dares to touch me? He is a ragged excuse for a stoat.

"'Ello miss." He rasps, the rancid breath making me tatse bile, "Care for a dance?"

I move away from the arm on the door, to slip away, when I feel a strong paw on my arm. I look at him with a hatred in my eyes. Then I see his gun and the hatred turns to unbridled fear.

"'Ey Joerge? You found one?" A voice asks.

"Yeah. Pretty. Prbably rich, too." The stench of garbage actually does make me retch. "Look what ye' did to me suit!" He slaps me. I feel the heat from where the impact struck as I neatly pirouette to the ground.

I can feel the mud soak into my dress. I can feel the cold of the ground. I am worried.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I can feel the fear from below my flat. I look down at the cathedral. There I see it. My weakness. The one thing that will be my undoing. There she really is, but when I see the blow strike her, I feel the blood rush into my limbs. That preternatural blood. That blood that never dies. I swiftly turn and go into the flat. I lift the matress od my bed. Underneath lies my only real friend. It is an eight-gauge shotgun. Pretty rare nowadays. In fact I have never seen another. Fortunately it has 3 shells. There may be 5 of them, but I still have my little pistol.

I rush to the outside, seeing the thugs surround her. This has gone too far. They will pay. I pick up a rose in my teeth as I leave. Something of a gift.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I flutter to the outside through a window after having that otter talk to me. His daughter. Bah! I hear the commotion outside, though, and I know it will attract him. Ready for the show, I set up my camera on the weathervane. It will be a good show indeed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Part 3: Paint It Black

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I can hear something outside. I'm not sure what it is though. "Where did Aurora go?" I think to myself. I hear a scream. That is enought to get me to the door. Felling the weight on the other side, I start to look for something to bash it down with. Curse these doors for being so thick.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Their hands. They won't stop. I start to cry out as they touch me. I won't let them. Never. Stop.

I bite one of them on the arm. I can taste the alcohol the had imbibed in his sweat. I can also taste his matted fur. It hasn't been washed in ages. I feel the sting again as I hit the ground. Then the world blackens.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As I get out in the open air, I see her hit the ground. I aim at the one scum who is unbuckling himself. He seems like he hasn't opened those clothes to change them even in years, the scum is caked on so thick. Scum on scum. How ironic. I pull the trigger. A flame leaps out of the gun, it jerks back, and it barks like a giant, enraged dog.

I see the vermin spin and hit the ground. Half of his torso is on the wall. The other 4 react quickly, though and pull out their pieces. 2 pistols, a shotgun, and a small automatic pistol. Well, I know who's next. I race along the roof, taking cover behind a chimney. As I crack the breach, I hear them start to spread out to put me in a crossfire. Grinning, I stick my foot out to my left and promptly spin to my right, firing. The bluff works, their fir ricochets off the where I would have been, had I spun the other way. Another vermin with a pistol falls.

Well, 2 down, 3 to go. One more shell... I don't like the odds. I crakc the breach yet again, slamming the last shell home. Smiling, I spin around to the same side, shooting blindly to where the one with the shotgun was before. I hit a target as I spin around to draw my pistols. I unfurl my wings ad fly to the top of the chimney. These vermin must not be too smart, becasue the are still looking at the sides. I drop down the courtyard below.

I shoot at one, unloading close to a clip into him as I dash behind a car. I eject both clips, panting as I reload. Strangely enough I still hear the "Tat-tat" sound of pistols hitting my cover. "I thought that I had gotten all but one."

I leap over the car, unloading into one's chest. He falls, the blood spraying a nearby fountain. I can smell the blood. It stings my nostrils. A good sting. I land in front of the last one. "Now I know I'm crazy" I think as I land, "I know I've killed 5." I tackle him. Ignoring my firearms. As I pound his face into the ground. I wonder who the other person was. I leave the bloody mass that was jis head on the ground. He is next to his friends, if you could call them that. I wander over toward the door. Halfway there, I stop. I see her body laying in a pool of blood on the ground. Then it hits me. It was her.

She starts to stir, getting up. I look at her face. She has a grimace of pain, but she seems hopeful as she sees me. I smile, but then hear a "Tat" again. A stream of blood falls out of her midriff as a bullet passes through her. With a primal scream, I run to her, catching her just as she falls. I look into her eyes, seeing them to begin to mist over.

"Keith. I miss you." She whispers. Blood tears begin to fall on her as I look up, seeing the offender has just expired,  he just had enough left in him to kill her. I look back down at her. Our eyes meet for the last time. She gets a small smile as she exhales deeply. I continue to look into her eyes as a light snow begins to fall. All I see for many minutes is my reflection. When flakes begin to stack on her, I know it's over.

Desperately, I cut open my wrist. I started to drip the fluid into her mouth. As it pooled, I waited for her to stir. It starts to trickle out the side of her lips. I keep putting it back in.

"Please wake up." I murmer. "Please."

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This is most interesting indeed. He has evolved wonderfully, yet he still has feelings. Apparantly, there is more than meets the eye with this specimen.

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Chapter 2: The Awakening

"I close my eyes
Only for a moment and the moment's gone
All my dreams
Pass before my eyes, a curiosity."
~Kansas, Dust in the Wind
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I know that I should not drown my sorrows, but I must. After the fight, Stamm came out of the building, saw me and started to weep. She cried even more after seeing Aurora on the ground. I had to flee. So I did. Something i must note. While we may not consume alcohol, if we feed on someone who has, we feel the effects, likewise with other drugs. So I went to find every wino I could. Also after the fight, I was drained. I needed a drink. In more ways than one.

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Part 1: Le Rouge

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I noticed a piece of paper flutter by me. It seemed lost. I could relate. The cold snap had ended, but the snow remained. I picked it up, looking at the gaily colored letters, it advertised a club and bar a few blocks away. Well, I needed a drink, didn't I? I can see the lights of the club, smell the smoke from the machines, hear the music asthe bass pounds into the night air. I walk to the entrance, stubbing my toe alongthe way and cursing under my breath. The bouncer is a fat badger. He seems quite gruff and sure of himself. Like a skinny fox could get past him.

I walk right up to him, a gleam in my eye. He steps in front of me, holding a hand to my chest. I look him in the eyes.

"I will pass."

He smiles, he wants a fight. "Dream on, toothpick." He gruffly says, puffing himself up like some scared kitten.

I disdainfully look down my chest, seeing the offending hand there. "You will remove your hand and syep aside."

"Let's go then mouthpiece." He yells angrily, swinging a fist at my stomach. I tense up and he hits with a 'Thud'. I grin and pick him up with one arm.

"OK then, I'll let myself in." I throw him to the side, hearing a crack as his back lands against a pole. 'Oh well,' I think. 'at least it's not broken.'

I walk into the place seeing the young bodies writhe around me in a strange semblance of a druidic dance. Smiling I think how history always has a srange way of repeating itself. I go to a corner booth. An intimidating, but cute wildcat walks up in a waitress outfit. "What'll you have?" She growls, leering at me.

I smile, enjoying a bit of flavor to the otherwise usual atmosphere. "Something hot. Very hot. In a mug. No alcohol." I give her a grin. She looks me in the eyes.

"You seem familiar." She says, a bit lees intimidating. I think to myself the many reasons she's had to be like that. Lecherous drunks and all. "Heh. Wimp." She mutters as she walks off.

As she walks of, looking all the world like she's on a mid-morning stroll, I sit back and enjoy the sights. As long as I have been in this state, I still am amazed by the tiny things i can notice. I count the number of sequins on a girls dress. I count the number of piercings on a person across the room. I see my waitress navigate her way abck through the crowd.

"Rapsberry tea. And a gift." She puts the mug down in front of me, along with a pack of gum.

"What'sthe gum for?" I ask.

"I had to quit once, too. The gum helps. So does a healthy sex-life, but, heh." As she says this, she has been slowly leaning forward, so I can hear her. As she finishes her last sentence, a drunk gets the wrong idea and gooses her. I see the rage build up behind her eyes as she turns to him. "What the hell."

He looks around innocently, "What?"

"Touch my ass again and you'll be getting hemmroid surgery when you have to crap out those fingernails."

He looked whipped and hung his head, shutting up.

I smiled and sat back, enjoying the feel of the hot tea against my hands and face.

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I wish I could find Keith. I wander the streets, looking for a place where a vampiric angel might be, but I just can't think like him. Where would he go? I decide to head back to the hotel. As I turn, I see a tall shadowy fox walk towards me. I run to him, throwing my arms around his waist. Then I feel a small prick into my neck. I look up to see a face foriegn to my with the most soulful eyes. I black out.

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By Bronstein's foot, 'tis cold! I wish that specimen 42 had chosen a better place to hunt. Like Tahiti. I realize it's New Orleans, but this cold sap os starting to get the better of me. I start to fly into the club, following the trail of the vampyre. The heat of the close bodies warms me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wow. I've never seen such a wonderful person before. That guy was courteous and cute too. In a angsty, gothy kind of way. I hope I can catch him before my shift is over.

"Hey! Get back to section 5! We've got 8 people waiting!" Bellowed the boss.

I hope he's got a job, too. I could just do without this place. I hope he has other things as well. I giggle to myself as I wait on the other patrons. I may be here, but my mind's in Section 1. Where that fox is sitting. Crap. I didn't even catch his name.

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Part 2: The Devil's Advocate
(Author's Note: Stamm and Begorra's parts will be replaced by Lestat and Mitya Shostak's respectively)

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The tea is wonderful. As I said before, we cannot drink anything else, but a warm drink is appreciated. We can smell it, bask in the warmth, and enjoy the felling of the warmth on our lips if we touch them to the liquid. I sat there, savoring the feeling on my skin. I can see the wisps of steam as they rise up from the tea. They seem to strip the red of the mug, giving it a shimmering, pale color. I sense another presence in front of me suddenly. I looked up slowly, in no mood for games. In front of me was another vampyre. I smiled.

"Hello there, friend." I said slowly, in an inaudible whisper.

"You know me?" He asked back, I knew then that he must have been another vampire. He heard me. I looked at him again. He had flowing brown hair, fine features for another fox, and the most piercing blue eyes. "I cannot say that I do know you."

He smiled, "That's a welcome first. I am rude, however. My name is Lestat."

"Keith," I say in a detatched voice. Don't get me wrong, I'm relieved to see another ofmy kind, but I'm preoccupied.

"That girl?" He asks. An incredulous look must have passed my face because he smiled again. "Bad news. Believe me, from experience, they are bad news."

I smile ruefully, "So, why do you come?"

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It was quite a direct question and i applaud him for it. Not many would dare to do that. "I am here to advise you."

I smiled again, "I've been around..."

He interrupted, "I've been along for much longer, now show me the respect I am due, and pay attention."

I look at him sharply as if to say, 'Don't try me.'  and motion for him to continue.

"We have been on this earth for centuries. Ever since Akasha started it all. Now we have seen many things pass by the race of vampires in that time. We have seen every war. We have seen every famine, plague, and natural disaster you can think of. I have been to Heaven and Hell. I have seen and done all of these things, yet you are a first. You are a fallen angel, I know by your aura. When you bacame a vampyre, you estranged both sides of the conflict. No one knows what to do with you. Now I am telling you this because you are in danger. Many people think that having you around is a very bad thing and will stop at nothing to end your unlife. I personally would like to befriend you, yet I must continue on my way. May the best of luck be with you."

I got up, leaving him alone with his thoughts. He's an enigma all right.

"Wait."

I turned around, looking at him. "Yes?"

"May I ask you one thing?"

"Yes."

"Why did you accept it?"

"I didn't. I was forced." And with that I walked off.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I could see that the young fox sitting alone was troubled. Although he had a conversation, I still thought it would be nice to speak to him. I'm not one for speaking, understand, but something compelled me to talk to this tortured soul. I walked over to him, being careful to avoid the drunk around me.

"Umm... well, you know, I couldn't help but notice, well, that you're..." I started to say.

He motioned me to sit, thankfully. I saw a bit of sorrow in his eyes and instantly wanted to console him. Not out of pity, but out of kinship. "Keith." He gruffed.

"Mitya, Mitya Shostak, I played here before it became... well, this."

He smiled at me and I could sense he felt the same way. "So Mitya, what do you exactly play?"

He picked the right topic. "Well, I'm a composer, you know, I also conduct. I'm working on a few pieces now, actually..."

He raised an eyebrow, "The Redwall Cycle Mitya?"

I found myself grinnig sheepishly, "So you heard that?"

"Heard it? It was wonderful!"

"Thank you, thank you." I mumbled, blushing. "Very kind."

He grinned wildly, "Excuse me for asking, but why did you want to talk to me?"

I looked to my mug. "I could, you know, see the pain in your eyes. I wanted to ask why."

He joined me in inspecting his cutlery, "I've lost someone I loved."

I looked at his bowed head and mumbled something consoling. I do not remember what. I did pat him on the shoulder, though, causing him to look up. "Take this." I whispered. Leaving him as unbidden tears sprang into my eyes. A CD being all that was left on the table. It was my only recording of a goodbye to a friend. I thought that he would appreciate it.

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I slowly walk towards the now vacant table. He'd gotten quite a few visitors in the time he was here. I thanked my luck stars he still was here. I wearily walked to the timeclock and punched out. Piece of crap was always behind. I slowly crept towards his table as most of the beasts had filed out of the place. The rave being over and now only the too drunk or those with too much on their mind stayed.

Walking up to the table, I slowly sit down next to him.

"Bad night?" I ask, innocently.

He looks at me, a strange redness accompanies the tears in the corner of his eyes. "Not anymore."

Feeling like a million bucks, I slip my arm around him. "C'mon. Let's go my apartment. I have some really good lasagna made up."

He smiles and nods slowly. Silently cheering, I lead the way to my car.

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Part 3: Coming to a Head

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I followed this succulent girl to her car. But she seemed more than just a meal to me. I wanted more. I wasn't sure what, though. As we got into her car, I could smell her scent on everything. It was very exciting. It didn't help that she was in season when he decided to hunt her. As we arrived at the apartment complex, I noticed few people, but heard what she could not. There were a few drug dealers hanging about the area. This would hinder many things when going and coming. I felt her arm slip back around me as we entered her flat.

"Would you like the dinner or dessert first?" She asked coyly. Smiling, I decided on the dessert.

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Wow. This is the most amazing thing that has happened to me. I could still feel the warth coursing throughout me from earlier. He slept beside me, or so I thought. I felt a stirring behind me and looked to see him in fact out. I smiled and got up. I thankfully had some Chai here. I dug through the cabinets, coming up with two old, wrinkled, yet undeniably Chai packets. I started to heat some water, think of the night.

'Well, it seems life stopped crapping on me.' I thought, praising my luck that hadn't after all run out. Hearing a groaning from the bed, I looked over and saw him in the throes of a dream. Smiling, I crept to the laundry room. I needed to get my clothes out of the washer. Halfway there, I felt a small cylinder at my back.

"Don't move, or speak and you'll be allright."

I started to sob. Keith was right. I should've gotten out of this place while I had the chance. No wonder the rent was so low. I heard my door close as Keith came out with his pistol aimed at the thug's head.

"I don't think that's a good idea, buddy." I hard his harsh voice.

The thug whirled around and put the gun to my head, grinning at Keith, "I could say the same for you."

He got a determined look to his face, "I really wouldn't suggest that."

I winced and held my breath, waiting for the shot.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I kept my piece trained on the thug. He didn't know who he was pushing. I saw his barrel move up, aiming for a bit above her head, now. If I shot it would go into the ceiling. I kept a completely straight face and as we stayed in this standoff longer, I saw the gun point more and more upwards. Without a word, I pulled the trigger, sending the bullet straight into his head. He fell backwards with a garbled scream. I saw the blood splatter against her face, leaving a trail of red. It also hit the wall, going into the neat little hole created by my small caliber round. I see her mouth go open as she retches on the ground. Moving to her side, I pick her up easily and carry her to the apartment.

"There now, you've had enough for today." I murmer as I tuck her into the bed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excellent. This specimen can also mate. He has recovered from his depression and found another to love. This allows for so many more possiblilities. I must interfere more directly next time, though.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, I traced his accounts to a hotel downtown. I arrived to find all of his belongings there, but he was missing. I looked on the desk and saw an old picture of us. I sat down on his bed and started to sob. I would wait for him here as long as she could. Until he arrived. Flopping back on the bed, I decided to get some well-deserved rest.