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Vampin Chapter 1 Before crossing the street, Starr tucked the wad of money shed made that night, working at Billies, into her black leather lace up boots. She didnt want the others to see she had cash because kids had tried to break into her room before. Since Starr was a sixteen year old runaway living with undesirables whose ethics were, somewhat, skewed, she had to be careful of all she possessed. Not that she owned much; just a few articles of clothing and a picture of her older sister whom she missed, terribly. She walked along a couple yards of six foot high chain link fence that, behind which, stood an old abandoned building with boarded out windows and partially rotted walls. The place used to be a clinic, but was now a forgotten, condemned building in the nastiest part of town. Although they had only been there less than a year, Starr didnt think there was much chance of them getting caught. Not only did the cops rarely make an appearance in that part of town, and especially not after dark, but with the way the neighborhood looked, she couldnt imagine 4

many people wanting to move in and start a business, or, at least, not anytime soon. So far, shed been right about not getting caught, but there were still dangers; like every once in a while a hobo would wander in, looking for a place to crash, or someone would notice her and the others going in and out, and make a fuss about it. At times like these, it was up to Starr and the others to take care of them, and only use force when they had to, and, sometimes, they did have to. She ducked under two slanted pieces of wood, nailed across a small walk way that lead to a glass door. The warm air blew back her hair as she pulled back the glass door and walked into the hazy lit entrance where several kids were hanging about, doing homework. Not all of them were untrustworthy thieves, though. Some of them really went out of their way to look after each other, and had become like a second set of parents or siblings. Take Shane, for example, who could have moved into the Columbia University dorms on her scholarship, but, instead, chose to stay and would often be found helping the younger ones get through school work; or check out Marla who was already done with college and made a full time income working 5

as a night auditor for the Mayflower Hotel, yet stayed on and contributed much of her income to re stocking the food supply, when she could, and making sure strangers didnt wander into the clinic during the day while it was nearly empty; lastly, there was Mica, social butterfly and bartender enrolled at the Soho beauty academy. She already had a steady list of clients and was making more money than any of them, yet she went out of her way to make sure the kids had clothes, and would try to get jobs for them through her many connections. Hey, Starr, called Lily. Hey, Sweetie, she bent over and kissed the top of her head and rubbed her shoulders. Lily was a twelve year old girl who attended middle school on the other side of town. Her mother was never around to take care of her, so she was often found hanging out in the clinic. Starr found her sitting and shivering on a stoop one night when her mother had locked her out of their house. It was midnight and the freaks were out, so she brought her to the clinic and, since that night, shed been a regular. Although Starr was no mind reader that was Shanes bag - , she 6

was still good at reading people, and it was easy to see that Lily was a neglected, affection-starved child. You eat, tonight? Sometimes there wasnt enough food in the clinic, despite their trying to keep the clinics staff room and refrigerator full for them. Feeding a dozen people three squares each day was hard work. Yeah, I had a couple grilled cheese sandwiches. Marla made dinner tonight, before she went to work. Did you get veggies? Lily hated vegetables, so Starr was always trying to convince her. Three pieces of celery, she grinned. Alrighty, then, finish your homework, brush your teeth and go to bed. Okay? Okay. Lily was a sweet girl and if Starr could have had another sister, it would have been her. She hoped her mother would never come for her, and even imagined what shed do if she did come around. Not that she would do anything violent, but she could, and especially if she was hurting Lily in any way. 7

Becoming immortal and, in many ways, invincible had instilled a cocky sort of arrogance in Starr. Before they took her, she was just like Lily: sweet, trusting, looking for affection. Perhaps that was also why she went out of her way to be there for Lily; because, for Starr, it was that sweet nature that got her into trouble. More than anything, she wanted to protect Lily, the way her sister tried to protect her tried and failed. If only they had turned her sooner, she would have saved them both. She would have torn their limbs right out of their sockets and sucked the marrow from their bones. Not that she could get much, out of Lily, about why her mother was never around, but Starr didnt care. The fact was a mother let her child wander the streets, and that was enough information for her. She would just trust that Lily would tell her about her mother or family when she was ready. Starr walked down the hall to the third door on the left. It was not a great place to have a room, with people always walking past, but it was a good way to keep an eye on all the kids. She, Marla, Mica and Shane stayed in the front rooms while the kids stayed down the hall, so if a hobo wandered 8

in, they were likely to hear it, or, at least, Mica would: super hearing that was her bag. She closed and latched the door behind her. Kids loved to come in and sneak things, and, sometimes, they were able to do so without her knowing until later. The fables would have people believe that their kind is ultimately supernatural in every way, meaning they werent easy to fool, that their superhuman instincts would protect them always, and that they lived by rigid rules of nature, but it wasnt so. The truth was only their natural strengths were intensified after death, so if a person, like Mica, had good hearing while they lived, that person would have super hearing after death; if a person was an insomniac, and the insomnia was due to a natural lack of serotonin in the brain, then, like Marla, that person would never need to sleep; same thing with Shane, she was already prone to glimpsing the thoughts of others, as a mortal, so now she was the ultimate mind read. And Starr? She was a natural runner, black belt in karate, and could bench press like a man, and now she was literally a real life woman of steel. There were only a few things they all, consistently, seemed to have in common: quicker minds, quicker reflexes, stronger 9

senses of smell, pale skin, brilliant eyes, resilient organs, and, yes, a thirst for blood. Other than these things, and their natural predispositions, they were much the same as they were before they died. Whether they would truly live forever was a question that remained unanswered, as neither of them had ever met another one of their kind before, but all the research theyd done pointed to the fact that they might be around for a long time. Carefully, she pulled out the half dozen silver ear rings and hoops from her ears and laid them on her desk. Fortunately, her ears were already pierced before she died, and so they didnt heal themselves every night, like Shane whose mother would never allow her to get ear rings as a child. Starr twisted her waist-length hair up into a tight bun on her head. If she could, she would cut it off, as, before she died, she always preferred short hair. Unfortunately, it was the first thing that changed when she died: it grew and it didnt stop growing until the next day; the same happened when she, later, tried to cut it again. Luckily, the hair seemed to absorb hair dye like a sponge absorbing water; a small consolation because she loved her long, sleek black hair, now. 10

She began to unbutton her black leather vest and untie the strings of her black leather boots and pants. Coating a cotton ball with makeup remover, she smeared the black eyeliner and mascara away from her eyes, revealing the depth of her soul in the mirror. A long, deep sigh, she exhaled. She still had trigonometry and a paper to write, but she was exhausted. Pulling on her jammies, she climbed into bed. ~~~ The next morning, she was the first up, as usual. It was selfish, but Starr liked to enjoy the mornings in peace and quiet, so she would be the first up and the first to leave, often taking coffee and a bagel in a shop a couple blocks from school. The fables would also have people believe that they only drank blood, but it wasnt so. She could go many nights without it, and, if she had to, New York had tons of butchers in the city; shed go and get a raw haggis or an uncongealed blood pudding. Contrary to popular myth, certain animals blood was just as good, if not better, than a humans, like sheep, goat, and even dog. Sturdier breeds of animal turned up the 11

best tasting. Funnily enough, chicken blood was way better than cow. According to Shanes research, the reason people thought human blood was the ultimate is because they are arrogant, she read from a journal shed picked up from the library, one time. Being turned, turns one into a hunter, and there was nothing better than hunting a human, wrote the author, L. S. Credenza. Theyd lost much of their animal instinct millenniums ago, and along with it, the ability to cloak their bodies chemistry; that chemistry that smelled like fear. For their kind, it was the scent of fear that was most seductive. It was the hunt, more so, than the blood (L.S. Credenza, 1955). What Credenza wrote was the truth; they didnt actually need to eat anymore, let alone drink human blood, but it was hard to resist all the fear in the city, like watching an attractive mate; a mate who arouses lust, so like it, was the scent of fear: walking to the store, walking to their cars, walking in the dark, everyone was afraid of something. Still, they could eat just like anybody else, if they wanted. Although coffee and chocolate didnt seem to have the same stimulant effect as it did when she was alive, 12

the flavor and smell was still just as inviting and, sometimes, irresistible to her new sharpened senses. One time, she passed by Godivas and the intoxicating scent incited a fever in her. Her mouth watered like a fount and bits of perspiration soaked the shawl around her neck. She walked in and bought chocolate macaroons, chocolate truffles, and cherry chocolates. As she ate, the fever came down, and they tasted delicious. Later, as she told Shane about her experience, she confided that shed had a similar one when the aroma of hot chocolate wafted passed her, one day, at the university. A horribly embarrassing tale of how she pushed through students, filled a Styrofoam cup, and gulped down the 100+ degree formula without burning her tongue, as a hundred students in the commons area watched on in amazement. Between them all, the scent of chocolate was like an exotic cat nip to them. They couldnt find any research to support what theyd experienced, but it was very real. They found nothing from Credenza on the subject, who theyd contemplated writing to on several occasions. Although much of the authors research was published in the fifties, they considered that he, or she, 13

might still be alive, and could help them fully comprehend the limitations of their conditions as well as how to deal with them. But they never got around to writing; afraid that to do so would tip him or her off. Instead, they snuck into the library and stole all the books by L.S. Credenza, and kept them locked away in Starrs room. Starr looked outside the window; it was still pretty dark and the chill was deepening, as it was October. Unfortunately, they needed to figure out how they were going to get a new generator because the old one was broken. Maybe shed go and meet her friend, Michael, at the Salvation Army on the way home. Between all four of them, they should be able to get something. Not that they ever got cold, anymore, but the kids would need it. Now that shed been turned, the only thing she felt was warmth, when in the direct sun. Her skin would perspire and burn. One time, she left her arm under direct exposure to see what would happen, and, though she felt nothing, her skin turned mocha-color and gave off a foul odor, like burning trash. When she pulled back her arm, it began to instantly heal back. Fortunately, sunscreen did work, and even on their kind which confirmed L.S. Credenzas assertion 14

that it was the ultra violet rays that were dangerous to them. Still, that didnt mean they couldnt freeze. Apparently, in the mid-twentieth century, a piece of glacier arrived off the coast of Greenland. Geologists went to inspect, as even then they were worried about global warming, and inside they found a man had been frozen. A fable, to most, but to the author, Credenza, it was real: it was nosferatu. A quick shower, into her usual black garb, and a smear of her vampire red lipstick from Manic Panic, and she was off. Just as she ducked under the rotted boards blocking the entrance to the glass door, she caught Mot, a Danish kid who, if possible, was even whiter than Starr, smoking. Mot! I thought you promised to quit! Where I fr-r-rom, he rolled his r, everybody smoke. Fine, just as long as you keep out here, but, Im warning you, if you attract unwanted attention like cops or hobos Im coming after you!

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Mot was a good kid, though. She just wished hed stop smoking. The smell drove her nuts; it was worse than a toilet. He was fifteen years old, attended remedial school on the East side, and had a penchant for trouble. Though he was usually loyal toward those he cared for, he was the kind who always looked for an easy way out; he was the kind youd expect to wind up in jail one day. From what Starr had gathered about his father, Mot didnt fall too far from his tree of origin. She hunkered down at the bakery, her usual morning haunt and finished her homework. Another advantage they seemed to have in common was their tripled reflexes. Anyone whod seen Mica slip up, when cutting hair or serving drinks would see her move fast as a flash; it was why she had so many clients and made the most money. She worked in an industry where speed was valued; that and she was great at doing hair! In the early mornings of the bakery, shed often finish her homework just as quickly as Mica could serve up a few dozen cosmopolitans, which was about twenty minutes. The lighting was terrible, but not to her dead eyes that could see better, now, than 16

when they were alive. Still, the dark bakery was advantageous because it was quiet and no one would see how fast she could turn pages. Starr looked at her watch and saw she had twenty minutes until class. She packed up, put on her leather jacket and entered the cool morning air. As usual, the kids at Victorian High were lined up to greet her, graciously. Hello, Satan, said Marcus Rent, a typical school jock with his head so far up his butt that his breath reeked from a distance. How are you today? he asked. Starr opened her mouth to say something mean, but then he convulsed, shook his hands, jumped up and squealed, Aaaaa, shes cursed me, aaaa, hahahahah he laughed and ran back to his buddies.

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Making Frenemies Chapter 2 The day was another typical day. Rachel, who was Starrs sworn enemy since the day shed started at Victorian High, made sure to let everyone, in their chemistry class, know that Starr was an apostolate from hell, and, if they wanted to save their souls, theyd sit far away from her. Hey, Starr? Why are your lips so red? Have you been kissing demon butt? she asked. What about that chain around your neck? Is that a chain from your father? Is that from Satan himself? If so, please stay back. I dont wanna go to hell, chimed her best friend, Chloe. Starr just ignored them as usual. She loved the metal chain look, which she first saw a girl in a comic book wear. It was nothing more than a thick metal chain that one might tow a truck with, clasped off with a full sized lock that hung around her neck. Starr wore the same thing; the key was in her pocket at all times. 20

Funny because, before shed died, she would have been angered by her classmates constant taunting. Now, however, she rarely felt moved enough to even acknowledge them. This was one way, in which, the fables sort of got things right. According to Shanes research, sometimes the turning induced more of a base instinct; more simplified animal-like nature in humans (Credenza, 1955). In other words, the virus that turned them also numbed out the chemical parts of their brains that were responsible for the more complex emotions that humans felt. So maybe theyd feel extreme love or hate, but, like an animal, adjective torment name calling - could become meaningless. They couldnt feel the complexities of loving something, yet hating it at the same time; wanting to achieve, but fear and anxiety holding them back. The nervousness and insecurity that humans were capable of feeling were disabled, once they were turned. Although Marla disagreed, claiming she still felt anxiety from time-to-time, for Starr, Credenza was right. For example, even with Lily, it wasnt her personality and sweetness that she loved, but it was a need to protect her innocence and her person, rather 21

than the character that she was. It was more like a dog protecting her puppy rather than a human valuing the virtues of a loved one. Besides, her classmates couldnt hurt her. If she wanted to, she could crush them like cockroaches and feed them their own hearts while they still beat. No one would ever catch her; her abilities put her above the law, as she already put them to the test when she was first let out on the streets, alone and thirsty. That and her hope for the future had been restored since shed been turned. She knew that she would be around long after her tormentors were gone. Inside, she knew that she would accomplish great things with this mysterious gift that shed received. But it did worry Starr that Marla didnt turn the same way she and the others did. When Starr was human, sometimes human feelings made her want to withdraw from humanity. Being absent from emotional complexity is what made each of them sharper people in the world. It was only after Starr was turned that she was able to pick up her grades at school, and forget about her crappy home life. Numbing of those 22

emotions made her circumstances less important, and, therefore, unable to stand in her way. Her demons, or proverbial closet of skeletons, died meaninglessly. This philosophy was, also, addressed by Credenza, whod noted the common trend of rising to success, among their kind. Quoting, it wasnt only due to thievery of their victims, but the turned ones became newly driven beings while those who died, like Marla, were doomed. Starr often asked herself, How many lifetimes could Marla last? Credenza noted, in another journal, that this type of sensitive would, likely, end up in seclusion, or premature end of life; maybe not even make it to the end of, what would have been, their own natural life. Starr thought of going through several lifetimes without hardwiring as having the same dream over and over again; each time with the same painful punch lines. Eventually, she would have to end it, for who could stand it? Finally, Alec, the instructor walked in. 23

Alright, everyone, and the room got quiet. We will begin. Then, noticing Rachel and her best friend, Chloe, in the corner sniggering, he said, Not today, ladies, and not in my class! They stopped, immediately. Alec had little patience for their brand of high school idiot; that and he liked Starr very much. Despite their connection being chemistry class, he was also her sixth grade literary professor, and he, too, had a dark side. Still, she never knew why he was keen to her until she spotted him, one evening, in the corner of the bar where Mica worked. As he danced with a wanna-be manga girl, Starr noticed that, unlike his appearance during the day, in the evening it was almost like his inner ghoul had come out: spiked hair, tight black tee shirt, black jeans and metal tipped boots. From across the room, Starr marveled at the metal bar that pierced his eyebrow, and the thick line of eyeliner, that was slightly smudged off. The truth was Alec totally dug Starrs style. Before, she didnt know, but since 24

being turned, she could sense animal attraction. Not that Alec was a perv, though; she could tell it was more of a nostalgia that he had when he saw her. Countless occasions, she wanted to ask him who it was, she reminded him of, but didnt want to cross any student-teacher boundaries, as one thing she always worried about was getting too close to outsiders. ~~~ As usual, Starr walked home after school. Normally, she was alone on her afternoon walks, but, for some reason, Rachel and Chloe were up ahead of her. Sensing that she was behind them, they turned and, seeing it was Starr, they made dirty looks at her. Starr couldnt help but think how silly they were, to think that they could get away with taunting her outside school, where there was no one to protect them. Inwardly, she dared them to turn and say something, so she really could frighten them. It would be such a laugh to send them running, screaming down the street. This was another difference between her, before she was turned, and after. Before, 25

the thought of scaring them was purely vengeful, but, now, it was a sadistic pleasure, sort of like cat and mouse, serial killer and prey. To be more specific, Starr found she liked playing with people. It really was a thrill to, not only, kill, but to push her food across her plate. That first night, when she escaped them, she stalked her prey for thirty minutes before caging her. Just like in the movies, the girl sensed she was being followed. Scared, and looking for a quick way home, she was stupid enough to walk down a dark alley, and it was a dead end. Star decided to approach her. But, yes, people had a habit of doing stupid things when they were scared, the movies are always right to depict such idiocy. The girl tried to walk passed, but Starr, like picking up a wistful cat, grabbed her by the neck and threw her up against the wall. The satisfaction she got when seeing the look on the girls face was orgasmic; she wanted to do it again. The girl, then, tried to run past her, but Starr slapped her to the ground. Grabbing her by the hair, she dragged her toward the exit of the alleyway. Starr did this, not with the intention of letting her free, but for the 26

sadistic pleasure of giving her hope that she could escape if she gave one more fight, and then she dashed that hope, gleefully, like breaking her spirit. The woman was her lady-madam. Although Starr had never met her before, she could smell them all over her. It was she who abducted girls and put them in that place. Still, no matter how much she deserved what she got, the fact is Starr didnt do what she did for vengeance, but she did it for pleasure, and that was the vampire in her. After shed done with the ladymadam, she felt bad for a long time: dirty and disgusting. Despite promising shed never participate in such twistedness again, she sometimes found herself fantasizing about scaring those who feared her the most; from them, shed get the most sadistic satisfaction. Despite her fantasies, she never acted on those impulses again; although sometimes she couldnt help but taunt those who feared her, and those who were fearless; like exactly what would happen in a pack of wolves, or a lion in its den: hunting, breaking the weak, and challenging the strong. Savage as it sounds, in her neighborhood, it was very much a reality. The strong preyed on the weak, as is what happened with Starr and her older sister 27

because they were too sweet, like Lily. The only difference between Starr and human predators was, despite her pack animal instinct, her morality was still intact, and, for that, she was grateful. She would never be a kind of monster like them. Rachel and Chloe turned right at the stop light. Starr, though she reminded herself again and again that she would not hunt, would not kill, would not drink fresh blood, would not be sadistic, followed them from behind. They continued to turn their heads, only they werent giving nasty looks anymore. Starr could see, in their eyes, and smell, from their pores, fear and aggravation that she was still behind them. Rachel noticed the smirk on Starrs face; although her hearing wasnt super, like Micas, her senses were still improved. They were really starting to panic. What were they up to? Starr was really curious because they were acting like they had something to hide. Finally, they turned into a fenced off clearing. They were waiting for her, on the 28

inside. Pretending she didnt know, she walked in. Okay, Satan! Chloe grabbed her and threw her into the fence. Inwardly, Starr couldnt help but laugh at Chloes attempt to be tough. Shed never thrown a punch, ever in her life, and was clueless as to how to fight. Think this is funny? she spat. Stop following us. You just spit in my face. Do it, one more time, and I will make you eat dirt, Starr said nice and calmly. Starr couldnt repress the smirk that tugged at the corners of her mouth. Hey! a tall girl in a black bustier with a black, long shag hair cut shouted. Starr laughed at the surprised look on Rachels and Chloes face. The girl looked tough; like a woman from the amazon. Beautiful and fearless, a conquer-ess, thought Starr. Quickly, they backed away, turned and ran. Behind the tall girl was half a dozen, just as tough, looking people who were about Starrs age. 29

Thanks, said Starr, still smirking. No problem, said the girl, and she turned and walked off. For a moment, Starr watched the girl walk back to where her and her friends were hanging out. Rowdy, they were, as they huddled together drinking and smoking. Another advantage of her being turned was she could sense dangerous people, almost as if they were of a genetic code. The one in the middle, with the plainest look of them all made the hair on the back of Starrs neck stand up. He didnt notice her, though, which meant that he wasnt very clever. The tall girl was the clever one. Starr could see, in her eyes, that despite her actions in the present, in her mind, she was thinking a million thoughts. ~~~ As she walked up to the clinics entrance, she saw Mot outside smoking again. Always, outside smoking, she said irritably. 30

I like to smoke, but Starr was starting to wonder if something else were going on. Do you realize how delicate things are for us? If we want to continue the way we are, we have to be careful. You, hanging out here, day and night, is not good. Yes, yes, okay. I move over there, and he walked to the end of the block. Inside the clinic was chaos, as usual: there was ceaseless noise and racket. Danny and Kay, two kids Marla and Shane picked up off the streets, months ago, were sweeping the waiting room while Misty, a girl who followed Kay to the clinic one day, and who was the youngest at the clinic, was dusting. Starr went to her room and set her things down. Starr? Yes? Do you have any money for the new generator? I went ahead and talked to your friend, Michael. Hes gonna help us out, but its gonna cost $300. I got $250, off me and the others. Of them all, Marla was her favorite to hang with. She was a straight shooter and 31

they had similar tastes in clothes and entertainment, plus she often shared the same sense of humor as Starr. Sure she loved Shane, too, but it wasnt the same because it was hard being friends with someone who always knew the truth of what she was thinking or feeling. Shane knew this, though, and she was trying to learn to restrain herself, as she was new to being such a powerful empath and telepath, as she seemed to be a little of both. Nevertheless, according to L.S. Credenza, vampires, like Shane, could learn to control their empathy and telepathy with practice. Unfortunately, Credenza didnt write how it could be done, so Shane was left to figure it out on her own. Fortunately, zen masters and yogis had studied these matters for centuries, and it was all a matter of mental discipline. Shane was getting better at controlling it, though, but there were times when shed slip up, and it would make them uncomfortable. Like the time when they were talking in the staff room of the clinic, and, all the sudden, she started crying and beating the wall. Turned out, a little girl theyd picked up, off the streets, was having a tantrum in the next room; it was her power of empathy picking up the girls vibes, and causing her to 32

act exactly as the girl. She went home the next day, to Shanes relief. Then there was the time they were all having dinner in the waiting room. Marla was having a flashback to her father abusing her in the bath tub. All of a sudden, Shane said, Why did your father tell you to get into the bath tub when your mother had already bathed you? Shane, telepathically, overheard part of the replay Marla was having of the conversation with her dad and, without meaning to, embarrassed her, greatly. Since that night, Marla had been a little wary of her. Lastly, Shane had a bit of a breakdown, and locked herself in her room for a week straight. Screaming, crying and beating the walls, until Starr brought her back her first 24 disc zen masters collection: remedy to tranquility. She listened to the discs for three days straight before coming out of her room. It was only then, that Marla truly forgave her for being what she was. Of them all, Shane really did suffer the most. Now Shanes room was littered with discs on meditation, and she even downloaded over a thousand different meditation tracks, called white and brown 33

noise, from the internet to help her block out mental noise. Despite the issues with Shanes telepathy and empathy, Starr and the others truly felt that her abilities were the most useful of them all, and felt that shed saved their necks too many times to fully discredit her. It was her who had gleaned malicious intentions from the drunken teenager whod followed Mot home, one day. Shane knew, instantly, that the kid was severely addicted to drugs and wanted for robbery. The rest of them could have sensed he was bad news, too, if it wasnt for the fact that he was masked in alcohol and sweat. One night at a club, their superhuman senses unfocused due to being surrounded by a hundred people at once, it was Shane who heard the thoughts of a serial killer who was attracted to Mica. They didnt believe her until they sensed him following them home, afterward. There was no choice but to kill him. They could defend themselves, but what about the other girls in the clinic? Yes, it was hard to be around her, sometimes, but every time their superhuman senses failed them, Shanes power saved them. 34

Like a team of superheroes, they each had predispositions that, when together, made them invincible. Even Mica, who drove them nuts with her yammering and was always on the go, was important to their group. Her ability to hear across rooms, and even through walls, enabled them to outwit others and, in incidents passed, to know other players moves before they made them. This was important, as people were prone to saying and doing things, contrary, to what they thought. Mica had a serious thing for fashion, though. One day shed be wearing furry Uggs, and be a spitting image of Paris Hilton, and the next, a Prada model, or the epitome of emo-scene. Whether Starr liked her look of the day, or not, she always got the best clothes from her connections, and always got the best seats at fashion week. Starr and the others were always itching to get a peak inside her wardrobe, which Mica kept sealed with a make-shift cement closet that, not even she could break. Starr walked over to her desk and, from the top drawer, pulled out a small stash of cash. Are you waitressing at Billies tonight? she ran her hands through her long 35

brown hair. Her eyes were the color of bluish crystal, as she stood under the fluoresecent lamp, lamps which they hung in the hallway and were battery operated. Once theyd get a generator, they could get rid of them. Yeah, I have an hour before I gotta go. Are you going to work, too? Yeah, Im going to drop off this cash, first. Michael will drop by later with the generator. Since youll be at work, Ill ask Shane or Mica if theyll be here. Or Lily, shes trustworthy. When you get off, if you arent too tired, stop by! You know I get bored, working all night. Seth will be working tonight, she looked at Starr as though she tossed her a lure with a diamond hook. Seth was a hot guy who Starr had been crushing on for a while, now. With a face like a model, nearly black hair and shamrock green eyes, it was hard to stop looking at him, sometimes. Starr smiled and shook her head, Alright, maybe Ill stop by after work. ~~~ That night at Billies was another delightful disaster. A wannabe biker came in 36

with his bros and thought it would be awesome to do a beer funnel upside down, in between the tables. During which, he nearly choked to death on his half regurgitated steak, which Billie was kind enough to order her to clean up. Maybe I should go work with Mica? There, the girls dont have to clean up puke; that was the barbacks job. She was so tired of the scum that came into her place. Not that The Gaul club was so much better, with its many creepy frequenters, but, at least, shed have some respect. Walking along, she sensed that someone was behind her. Her nose told her it was the girl from earlier that day. Starr turned around, but she wasnt in sight. Her new senses never fooled her; she was probably hiding. Come out, now. I know who you are, and I know you are there, she said calmly. From out of the shadows, she appeared. 37

Im gonna give you, this one time, a warning. Im a very dangerous person, and I advise you not to threaten me or you will be dead quicker than you can blink. Im not threatening you. What do you call following someone, and then hiding when they turn to acknowledge you? You must think Im stupid. The girl said nothing. From the girl, Starr couldnt sense any malicious intention, but she had been fooled before. Sometimes, peoples body chemistry changed, giving off a distinctive smell when they were lying or up to something shady, but sometimes they didnt. Starr supposed that it was an advance in genetics. Shane agreed with her but said it could also be human conditioning. In other words, when a person does wrong for so long, they may lose their sense of morality, leaving them unable to feel things like regret and fear, despite knowing their actions are wrong. If such a person was not the result of genetic advancement, then he or she may be a most broken specimen of human. She had already come across these types, and they werent hard to miss in her 38

neighborhood where most of the vermin of the city resided. Starr didnt fear the scentless ones out of weakness, but she just didnt like not knowing what a person was likely to do from moment-to-moment. One minute, this cold, cold person would be a best friend and, the next, put blade in that same persons back. Which one was this girl? Given her position, it was better not to take a chance. And with that thought, she said, Go, now! The girl watched her a moment, and then turned. Starr watched her walk down the street a moment before going on her way. Starr continued on to the hotel where Marla worked. Inside, she said hello to the desk clerk and walked to the back where she knocked on the door of an office. Come in, came Marlas voice. I smelled you when you entered the building. Her head was on the desk and her eyes were closed. What are you doing? Trying to remember what it was like to sleep. I havent slept in seven days, you know? 39

Well, youre lucky. Think of how much you could get done. Yeah, but after a while, it gets boring to always be working on something. Night life sucks; mostly wierdos are out and about. Have you thought about trying a sleep aid? Yeah, I took some Ambien. All the rumors about the Ambien zombies, I figured why not try it. How much did you take? The whole bottle. How much sleep did you get? Three hours. Jesus, Marla. That would put a normal person to death. Suddenly, she shot up, over jerking her body, tossing her brown hair onto her back. Lets get a drink. Maybe Ill get drunk and get some zzzzs Marla, alcohol doesnt affect us anymore. Oh yes it does. We just have to drink a lot of it. Maybe you should just get a hobby. Ever think of that? Or a second job? We could really use the money. 40

They stepped into the elevator and went up to the seventh floor where a large empty restaurant was dimly lit by the backlights of its bar. Behind the bar, was Seth setting up glasses. Hey, he said as they sat at the bar. Whatll it be? Cape cod, said Star. Two Irish Car Bombs and a Zombie. I.D.? I showed you my I.D. before, said Starr, fishing her wallet. They made it a priority to get the best fakes in the city, for that, they went to the local cosa nostra in Little Italy. Yeah, alright. I was just teasing, anyway. Its just you both look so young. After pouring himself a quick shot, he set to making the drinks. So what are you guys up to tonight? I just got off work and, get this, some weird girl was following me. Earlier, today, I was cornered by two bitches at school. This girl, the size of a mountain, scares them off. Had you seen her any other time before? 41

No, but keep your eye out. Its very suspicious, I think. Leaning over, she whispered so only Marla could hear, Shes got no scent. Cheers, interrupted Seth. They sat drinking and talking and, Marla was right, she was starting to feel a little something, but it was a very light, euphoric feeling. Starr just about jumped out of her socks when Mica snuck up behind them, shouting at them: Seth knocked over his bottle of rum and Marla shrieked. Ah haha, she laughed. You suck! Dont do that! shouted Starr. What? You didnt sense me? No, we didnt. Its harder to sense our kind, said Marla. I thought you sensed me earlier? asked Starr. Well, I smelled your deodorant. Were not all the same, remember that. Just because you can do something, doesnt mean I can. Well, I sense you two all the time, so youre right, were not all the same, she 42

laughed. You probably didnt sense me this time because I focused on cloaking myself. What are you girls talking about? Seth looked confused. Nothing important, said Mica. How was work? asked Marla. Was alright, I guess. Didnt make too many tips, though. It was slow and Jason kept telling me what to do, like hes my boss or something. Id like to slip my fang across his throat, sometimes, she said out of the corner of her mouth. Do you think they would hire me? asked Starr. Why? You didnt get fired, did you? No but Im sick of the drivel that comes into Billies. Tonight I had to clean up someones regurgitated steak and beer, it was horrible. I just dont want to do it anymore; bikers are trashy people. Well, let me ask. Im sure he could use you for something. What drinks do you know how to make? Uhhh. None. But I can learn them, no problem. You know that. Okay! shouted Mica. Lets show Starr how to make some drinks. What do you say, Seth? I say lets do it. 43

They were up until 4 am teaching Starr the many popular drinks that would come up, in a bar like The Gaul: Adios Mother Effers, tequila suns, cosmopolitans, dirty martinis, purple nurples, lemon drops, and much much more. Then, about 4am, they cleared out of there so Marla could close up, and leave before Meredith, her boss, came in.

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Proper Introductions Chapter 3 Starr had two hours until class. She, Marla, and Mica walked back to the clinic. I dont feel anything! exclaimed Starr. Neither do I, said Mica. I feel something, really dizzy. Maybe its something to do with my brain. I was an insomniac when I was alive, now I never sleep. Is there a connection between serotonin and alcohol, maybe? Marla asked. Ask the brain, Shane, said Starr. They walked along the chain link fence, reminding Starr of Mot. Have you guys noticed Mot hanging out here, smoking a lot? Yes, I told him to move it to the next block. He was out here for a few hours straight, Marla replied. You think hes dealing drugs? asked Mica. I dont know. It occurred to me but I didnt ask. I dont care what he does, just as long as he doesnt do it here, replied Starr. 46

I care, said Marla. If he doesnt straighten up, then we need to get him help. We promised to protect these kids, so we cant just turn our backs on them when they get into trouble. Marla, said Starr, were not his parents. We made it clear that they need to look after themselves, or else they have to leave. Well, hes looking after himself, alright, Mica said sarcastically. He thinks hes slippin by, right under our noses. What else could he possibly be hiding? Whatll it be next? What if hes storing drugs in the clinic? asked Starr off the top of her head. They all got extremely quiet. Starr supposed they were thinking what she was thinking. That if he was selling drugs, he had to be storing his supply somewhere. It was likely that place was the clinic. If there was one thing cops did come to their part of town for, it was to catch drug dealers. One could see them following suspected dealers on the street, and sometimes pick out the cops who were staking out houses. If there was one thing 47

Starr was certain of, it was that all drug dealers get caught, eventually. Starr and Mica walked behind Marla, up to the rotted wood boards covering the short walkway. She turned around and said, Alright, then. Hes gotta go. Ill talk to him about it later today. Wait for Starr, to do it. Mot can get loud and violent sometimes. If he tries anything, Starr will put him in his place. Marla looked upset and worried. It was times like this, when Starr thought about Credenzas estimation of vampires like Marla. One day, Starr was going to sit down and talk to Marla about getting into zen meditation with Shane because she needed to get her emotions under control before it would be too late. ~~~ You guys suck, Shane greeted them in the waiting room where she, and several others, ate breakfast. Sometimes Shane got jealous because, not only was she excluded because 48

of her mind reading abilities, but also because she worked the most opposite hours of them. Shane worked in the registrars office of the University so she could get discounted classes while keeping most of her award and loan money. Since she was off work, and often done with classes, by 5 pm, shed be home while Starr, Marla, and Mica were just heading out. One by one, as their shifts would end, theyd stop by each others work while Shane was stuck with the kids at the clinic. Oh come on, said Mica. We were teaching Starr how to bar tend. Great, she said and took a bite of her egg. Well go out tonight, said Starr. Dont look so down. She walked over and gave her a warm hug around the shoulders. ~~~ Starr showered and changed for school. The morning went by in much the same fashion as it always did: Starr trying to stay awake during lectures, which had become too slow for her fast brain, and being 49

awoken by the giggles and pricks of her tormentors after nearly slipping off into sleep. Hey, Starr, whispered Marcus from a few seats behind. Why are you always sleeping in class? Do you walk on the dark side, at night? It must be a rough road, going to hell every night, only to return in the mornings. Did you get permission to come to this school? Because hell is not in this district. Tuh, said Starr; their taunts got more and more stupid. Sometimes she contemplated testing out and going straight to college. Then, at least, could get ahead, quickly, and put to good use, her full potential. The only thing that held her back was that she wanted a diploma, not a GED. She contemplated these thoughts over her lunch when a boy in a black leather jacket approached her at her table. Hi, he said. Ive seen you before. Oh yeah? Yeah, dont you remember? 50

She looked at him a moment and, although she did remember, she decided to let him introduce himself. Im Antony, no H, just Antony. I saw you get cornered by those two girls, the other day. My friend, Bielz, helped you out. Starr tried to read him, to get some sense from him: friend or foe to her, but she got nothing. He was the plain one, but unlike his friend, he gave off the distinct scent of danger, despite her not being able to determine if he was a threat to her, specifically. Taking measure of his calm eyes and face, and bleached out hair that was meticulously spiked, she decided that he appeared friendly, at the moment. Im Starr, she said, serenely. Why do you look at me like that? Are you scrutinizing me? Do you not trust me? The question threw Starr, for a moment. Rarely, had she been directly addressed in such a way, before; rarely, had another read her as accurately as she could read them. Perhaps she underestimated him when she thought he was the least clever. Maybe he was the cleverest because he noticed her without letting her know it. 51

Inwardly, she remained suspicious but meeting him and seeing his strength of mind was attractive to Starr. So I see you got the sloppy joe I love these things, and he stuck his finger into the side of her sandwich, lifted some meat and sauce to his mouth and sucked. The shock must have shown on her face because he laughed loudly, afterward. She decided she didnt like him. Go away, she said aptly, and returned to her lunch. Wow! You really are a straight arrow kind of girl. You said that without the least bit of feeling, and I almost believed it. Believed it? That you want me to go away. Starr noticed a smirk lurking at the corners of his mouth, and the smile in his eyes: he thought he was being cute and flirtatious. He thought he was irresistible. She leaned over, looked deep into his eyes and said, Believe it. Go away. You know, I just started here, a couple weeks ago. My father works for this company called She stood, picked up her books and tray, and walked to a table on the other side of the room, but Antony followed her, still talking. 52

She knew it would do no good to walk away, for he would just follow her. It was obvious, to her, that this was part of his plan to make her like him. So she allowed him to talk as she ate and did homework, as if he wasnt even there. When the bell rang, she gathered her items and left without a word. Yeah, Ill see you later, he half shouted at her back. At the end of the day, as Starr walked out of building, she looked to her right and noticed a crew of men in white jump suits with power washers in their hands. On the wall, the words cut and bleed had been spray painted, and they were attempting to power wash it off, as it was a brick building so paint wouldnt do. As she walked along the school fence, she also noticed a small group of kids hanging out across the street from the power washers. One of them was Antony, and one of the others was the girl who followed her the prior evening. They saw her watching them and waved, but Starr ignored them and kept on. 53

~~~ Back at the clinic, it appeared that Marla had already cornered Mot. In his room, he sat on the bed with a red face. Marla, I thought you were gonna wait for me? He was about to leave, and I didnt know when hed be back. We need to take care of this quickly. Mot raised his red, saddened eyes to Starr. She could sense he was upset and knew she should feel sorry for him, even if she, really, didnt. Listen, Mot, Starr said, we dont want to send you away. We like you but we have to put our needs, and the needs of the others, first. I know. I just tr-r-y, he rolled his r, to make a-something for myself. Well, we can get you back into school, and we can get you a job. You know thats what were here for, to help you, said Marla. I not a citizen. My dad was arrested and sent to immigration facility. He was deported two weeks ago, he wiped his tear streaked face, silently, on his sleeve. 54

Marla gave Starr a sad look; another instance of Marlas humanity that was still intact. Starr could see the caring and pity in her eyes. For a moment, the look in Marlas eyes disgusted her. She wanted Marla to be strong, to be better than what she was. Yes, Starr knew she should feel sorry for Mot, but he could spend the rest of his days eating out of trash cans, and Starr wasnt sure that shed feel an ounce of guilt. So you thought drugs was the answer? You thought it would be okay to get us all pinched? asked Starr. No but I dont want to live the r-rrest of my life, like zis. No offence. Well, we dont either, so none taken. We can help you get the life you want, but youll never get it with drugs. We can help you with your legal status, but you have to stop what youre doing, now, said Starr. Mot sat silent for a moment. He stood up and walked over to a section of linoleum square. He lifted it and pulled a pouch of white powder. He will not like zis, Stephen. He is big time, and might hurt you. It would be better for me to just go on the r-r-run. Well return it, for you. Theres no need for you to go anywhere. Weve got our 55

own, shall we say, resources. Dont worry, we got this. Just tell us where to find him. Marla wrote Mica and Shane a note while Star went and changed into her black, steel toed boots. Inside her jacket, she stored two throwing stars and a dagger. She wrapped a makeshift belt around her waist; it held two machetes. From around her neck, she unlocked the chain she wore and wrapped it around her fist. She hoped she wouldnt need to use them, but drug dealers were the worst sort. They must have looked menacing as they walked down the street because people seemed to eager steer away from them. Marla carried the drugs in a bag she held close to her gut. She looked scared, as if she already knew what was coming. They continued on until they reached a large rundown red brick building. From somewhere inside reeked out a broken sewer pipe. After looking at each other, one final time, they walked up the steps and rang the door bell. No answer came, but someone buzzed the door open. Starr first, they walked up the pine cleaner scented steps. 56

Oh man, Marla cried. When I was alive, I could barely stand these smells, but now, and she started to make gagging noises. Starr stopped and waited. Are you okay? Yeah, Im fine. Lets go. Finally, they reached Stephens door. Starr knocked; the door opened. We want to speak to Stephen, said Starr. Whos asking? asked a sullen faced man, but Starr could sense that he was the man they were looking for. Im Starr. Im here for Mot. We have your product, and we want to return it. The man stepped aside and let them through the door. Im sorry but the deal I made to Mot was that he would move this. Now you bring it back? Give it to someone else. Well, actually, he still owes me $300, judging by the fact that this is all you have.

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Marla bent over and got some money from within her shoe, but the man didnt look like he wanted to take it. Look, maybe we can work something out. I know you dont want your friend working, but its only because of kids like him that I can move this stuff. He cant be held responsible and, without parents, he cant be questioned. We dont care. Hes our friend, and hes off limits. Yeah, okay. Fine, but he didnt look fine. Starr could sense his body giving off the dangerous chemistry. He was planning one last attack, a little payback. One look at Marla told Starr that shed picked up the same vibe, too. Look, were gonna give you one chance to change your mind about what it is you plan to do, said Starr. I plan nothing, you can go. But youre lying. Youre planning, right now, to attack us. To beat us down, to show us up, Starr replied. Yeah, so what, he shoved Starr, but he might as well have been pushing a brick wall. He looked at her, strangely, but quickly recovered and said, I can do what I want, now get the hell out! 58

The man reached out to push Marla. Starr raised her hand, quicker than he could blink. He slammed his fingers into the palm of Starrs rock hard hand, and there was a multitude of loud cracking noises. He lowered down his hand, holding his wrist: several of his fingers were, clearly, broken. Oh crap, said Starr looking at his misshapen hand. She knew this was bad; that she might have unintentionally started a war. Now he was, for sure, gonna get back at them. Starr pulled Marla aside, We have to kill him. What?Were not killing anybody! They thought he couldnt hear them, but Starr sensed his change from pain to desperation, which meant he was planning an attack right there. She was right, for he pulled out a gun and shot Starr directly in the stomach. It was like being whacked in the gut with the flat head of a crow bar. The wind was knocked out of her, not that she breathed anymore, but she could feel air, that occupied her lungs, forced out. Both Marla and the man looked at her; Star could see the concern and curiosity 59

in Marlas eyes. None of them had ever been shot before. And then the pain lifted, but the bullet was still inside her, she could feel it resting against her stomach tissue. No time to waste, though. Starr grabbed the gun from Stephen. But then there was a terrible feeling in her gut, like acid. She could feel it burning up into her esophagus. It was the bullet, like it was melting inside her. She doubled over, fell to her knees, and then to the floor. Starr? Marla freaked out. Whats happening? Its uh- the b-b-bullet. Its d-ddissolving inside me, and it hurts. It smells and feels like acid reflux, b-b-but a million times worse, and she writhed about the floor, moaning in pain. Oh my lord. You should be dead! screamed Stephen, and he lunged for the gun and readied to shoot Starr again. Marla kicked him the balls, which sent him down in much the same fashion as Starr. Kill him, Marla, or hell be back. I cant, and she pulled Stephen up by the neck, yanked back a fist and punched 60

him in the face, knocking him out cold and spattering blood all over the floor. Ugh! I think I broke his nose or teeth, or something, and she wiped her hand on the carpet. They may not have been as strong as Starr, but they were still stronger than most men. Come on, Starr. Get up! We gotta go! Starr walked limply with her arm around Marlas shoulders. The pain shot up to her neck, and down to her calf with every step they took. Sensing Starrs pain, Marla slowed down their walking pace. Lets just sit here, for a moment, said Marla. No. If someone comes by, like a cop, they could force us to the hospital. We dont know what theyd find about us, with medical devices. As they walked, the pain began to, slowly, alleviate. By the end of three blocks, Starr was walking with a limp, but without leaning on Marla. By the time they were back at the clinic, Starr was completely fine. 61

How do you feel? Marla had asked her over and over. Stop asking me. Im fine. You know that bullets dont hurt us; Credenza said so, too. If they did, I wouldnt be walking, would I? So dont worry. Inside the clinic, all was chaos as normal. A few of the kids were doing homework while others prepared for dinner and a movie, as they did on Friday nights. Mot was standing at the stove in the corner of the waiting room stirring a large pot of spaghetti sauce on the stove that Michael, Starrs friend from the Salvation Army, installed months ago. Despite the way things went down with Stephen, Starr didnt want Mot to worry. As she walked by, she winked and gave him a thumb up, as if everything was fine. Well, everything is okay, unless that jerk knows where we live, said Marla. I know, said Starr. Im worried, too.

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