Story I'm writing at the moment. This page was mainly built for the benefit of the That's yours fanfic forum members, to enable them to keep up with the story

I raced along the dark street, my feet making hardly any noise. I saw the source of the screams, and froze. Two small children, a boy and a girl, crouched in a corner at the end of the ally, shivering with fear. A moment later, I saw the reason. Before them, there stood a figure, monstrous, a crimson cape, splashed with substances which I dare not even guess the origins of , was draped about it's shoulders. I heard I quiet whisper behind me 'Amicus, amicus, conspexit meus'. (Friend, Friend, Look here at me!)' I turned my head slowly. Anyone speaking Latin, especially addressing me as 'friend' was likely to be of my own kind. Crouched in the shadows was a young, female, showing the small silver pin that marked her as a member of the Incanus, my own clan. I crept to her, and she greeted me with the traditional kiss on the forehead, and an explanation, spoken in fast and fluent Latin, which basically translated that "I would go nearer, but I dare not, but together, we may, sister". I smiled, but I was still perplexed. The woman had addressed me as sister, and yet I had never seen her before in my life. "Ummm…this may seem rude but….Who are you?" I asked, only a whisper. But there was no time, in that moment, the monster turned, and I saw the face. It was human, but so scarred and blistered, it looked alien. As though hit by simultaneous thoughts, we both leapt for the creature, digging long sharp nails into scarred flesh. The putrid smell of rotten flesh and old blood that hung about him made me gag, but, holding onto my stomach contents, I bared my fangs, plunging them deep into the flesh of the neck. The other woman ran to the children, standing before them, a dagger in her hand, guarding them from the creature. I drank and drank, rich, warm blood, nourishing every inch of me. The creature sunk to the floor, until he lay dead. I covered his head with his own blood-soaked hood, and walked over, joining the other woman, and the children.

The boy, who was closest to us, had spread his arms, shielding the girl, who was presumably his sister, from harm. The girl was small with long, dark blond hair, maybe 5 or 6 years old, and the boy, a thin, wiry creature, with a shock of dark hair, must have been about 7. They both stared up at me with the same, pleading brilliant blue eyes. "And what's your name?" The other woman whispered softly, smiling at the boy. "E-Elijah, miss; but, please, don't hurt my sister; she's only little" the boy quivered as he spoke, still grasping his sister. She looked at the boy with something like pity "I swear, Elijah, I won't hurt you, or your sister". Elijah seemed to relax a little, letting the woman reach in to pick up his sister, who whimpered softly. I had to hand it to her, the woman was good. I reached out my arms, cradling Elijah. He cried softly, clutching the folds of my dress. The woman looked to me.
"We must take them to the police, they will return them to their parents" she said in her low, soft voice.
"The Police? Are you mad, do you want to scare them to death?"
"What would you do? Take them back with us? You know as well as I do, they are merely food to others of our kin" she retorted.
I knew that she was right, I gathered my cloak around my weeping burden, and myself and we crept, cat-like, to the end of the ally. Although silent, my movements were clumsy next to hers. I wondered how I should address her, to thank her for her help. As I thought, she turned, looking at me with those deep, almost black eyes.
"Nicola, Just call me Nicola".
I smiled. The mind of this young woman ran much deeper than she ever let on. We left the children, small, and alone, on the doorstep of the police station. We watched from the shadows as A thin, hard looking woman in a police uniform found them, picking them up like bundles of rubbish. Behind her came a young male officer, just out of his teens. "Come on Alice, you're frightening them". He gathered the sleeping girl into his arms, tender. I smiled, knowing they were in safe hands.

Lifted to the rooftop once more, I watched as Nicola disappeared into shadow, then I realised. What was I doing? I raced after her, which flits between patches of darkness. My footsteps were silent, and though the wind tugged at my cloak it doesn't make a sound. Obviously I had not judged how perilous damp, mossy tarmac could be. I slipped, falling flat on my face. A loud "Uh" escaped my mouth as the breath was knocked from my lungs. Great. Trust my great clumsy feet to give me away. Nicola stepped out of the shadows nearby, a smile gracing her pale features. "Surely you know, young Elizabeth, that it is incredibly rude to follow without an invitation". She offered a hand to me. I had to fight my pride to take it. She lifted me up, and whispered softly, her lips right next to my ear "It's not safe hear, follow me, I know a safe place, but you must be silent, you must be careful, and you must keep up!." I nodded, and we began, rushing through the street like two velvet ghosts. We came to the main road, Nicola ducks aside into an ally, I almost ran out into the middle of the speeding traffic. She dragged me back, her fingers digging through the fabric of my dress. We backed into the ally, breathing hard, Nicola stood behind me, her shaking fingers holding my shoulders in a tight grip. Though I was unscathed, she had still been shocked. Afraid. A sickening crack and a scream of pain shot through my ears, and her hands fell from my shoulders. I turned to see Nicola, sprawled upon the ground, knocked back by a figure, cloaked and hooded in black. In his hand was a bright-bladed sword; he held it against her throat. One short sweep could slice through her jugular vein or remover her head completely. Over my dead body.

Without thinking, or feeling, i rushed, using only the hand-length dagger that Hans had presented me with, i rushed, leaping onto the creatures back, stabbing the blade into the creature's shoulder. It threw me like a bucking horse, but i clung, stabbing again and again. The creature fell back with me beneath it, surprisingly light. Nicola scrambled up, unhurt, and helped me to me feet.

I lifted the hood of her attacker, and a pale face looked out at me, black tangles that were once curls stuck to the sweaty skin. Half-closed green eyes stared up at me. Hans.

I fell back into Nicola, my breath coming in gasps. But no. Girlish fainting fits were of no use now. Sobering myself, I knelt, gathering Hans' head into my arms. He lived still, but his breaths were short and laboured, and even as I watched, bubbles of blood foamed upon his lips. Pressing my cloak over the wound, I soaked his velvet-clad chest in tears. He gurgled, trying to speak, but nothing came of it but more blood. Nicola motioned me to follow, and, picking up Hans I did so, rushing through the maze of back streets. His head lolled limply, jiggling as I ran. We came to gateway, with a stone arch, carved with angels. Nicola walked right up to the vacant face of the celestial form on the gatepost, and cried aloud "Morteus te salutam!". The woman was mad. Plainly absolutely crackers. Or at least she was until the gate creaked open of it's own accord. Feeling half-stupid, half-afraid, I followed into a dark courtyard, down a flight of stone stairs, slippery with moss, and into a chamber at the end of the corridor. Coffins lined the walls, ornately beautiful. "Astrophil! We need you!". A woman, young and fresh, but still deathly pale, and clothed in sumptuous red velvet, rushed in. Taking one look at Hans she gathered him from my arms, and laid him out on the floor, studying the wound closely. "What do you need, ma'am?" Nicola asked softly. "Well…" she peeled away the sodden linen of his shirt. "The weapon…a drop of blood from the attacker….and vodka". "Vodka?" I asked, startled. "Cleanses the wound, removes evil influences, with the right chant". "The right chant?" I was mystified. Astrophil looked to Nicola "Really Nic my dear, these youngsters, you could at least teach them to address their superiors" she muttered. I said nothing, though the 'youngster' part stung a bit. Looking annoyed, Nicola turned to me. "This is Astrophil, the leader of our clan, her gift is healing. Address her as Astrophil or ma'am, she may seem a little 'ahem' sharp, at times, but she is powerful, wise, and kind". Astrophil smiled, softer now "You flatter me, young Nicola".