Katherine Marie Ernshaw was tired. No--taking on an extra five hours a week at work--wasn't tired. This was bone shattering, mind numbing, needing four bottles of Nyquil tired.

Work was excruciating. Her boss had the I.Q. of a cold cucumber and the mouth of a wharf worker. Her mother had called at the beginning of the week to inform her that she was getting married, again--to husband number seven. Her half sister was flunking out of college and her pseudo boyfriend had decided finally to cut her loose; i.e. he had dumped her ass.

Yeah. She was tired.

"I need to win the lottery, move to Bermuda, get myself a couple of tropical drinks and a cute Cabana boy," Katherine muttered under her breath. She pulled the collar of her winter coat tighter and swore. It was freezing, absolutely freezing. Ugh, she should be sniffing daisies right now. Where the heck was spring?

Katherine frowned. Spring was probably taking a vacation--like she should be doing right about now. But oh no, no vacation for her. Her moron boss' idea of a vacation was taking a trip to Staples for an extra box of manila envelopes.

Oh yeah, life was just triple whipped candy dandy.

"Pretty, pretty girl ... come to me, pretty."

Katherine spun around, where had that voice come from? "Who's there?" Katherine felt her heart beat faster and she quickened her pace. It was too dark. How had she not noticed how dark it was? She began to fish through her purse for her keys. She had to get home ... she had to get home now.

"Pretty, don't run away from me..."

"Okay, whoever you are, you should just know... I know Karate," Katherine shouted. Well, it was sort of true. She had seen the 'Karate Kid' like four hundred times. She knew wax on, wax off, by heart.

Katherine screamed. Something had her neck. It was on fire. Her heart was pounding in her chest like two caged birds. She felt burning, shocking pain. Oh god, oh god, she was going to die.

"Oh pretty, just a passing death for you." The voice was at her ear now, low and grating, but surprisingly soothing.

Katherine's pain-filled eyes began to clear. "You ... you've killed me," she whispered.

"Ah no, never that."

Katherine saw him then. He was hideous, frightening beyond belief. Black hair, clumped around a round, white face, which was dominated by two large red eyes and a mouth--a mouth that was stretched impossibly wide.

It had fangs, oh my god, the creature had fangs! Katherine shook her head. She was delusional. She had lost too much blood and she was seeing things. There was no way she was staring at this thing in front of her. She had been attacked, mugged, that was it, yes that had to be it. Even now her mind was trying to compensate, to make sense of her attack. She was not seeing this.

"Oh yes, you are pretty. But then, noble blood should always have a certain bearing," the creature spat out. It was smiling, its mouth twisted into a gruesome parody of such things.

"Please..." Katherine whispered. She was lightheaded now, lightheaded and losing more blood than her body could bear.

"Yes, pretty... I plan on pleasing you a lot."

Katherine began to pant. She desperately tried to keep a rein on her quickly decomposing senses. She turned her head. Where was everyone? Sure it was late, sure it was dark, but there should be people here ... it was a crowded city street, right? Oh god, she was going to die.

The creature bent down and began to lick her neck. "The Council ... so stupid ... they could not even find their Hybriantu ... but I did, I found you, pretty ... so you are mine."

"Wrong, she is mine." The new voice that pierced the dark was beautiful, rich, smooth and creamy. It soothed, caressed and seduced the ear.

Katherine coughed. Blood dripped from her mouth and pain wracked her body. "Okay, I hate to break up this little ... convention, but I'm, I'm bleeding to death here..." She groaned. "I need a doctor." Well she could still give out a good quip--that had to mean she was still conscious, right?

The creature that had attacked her growled. "Mine. She is mine. You cannot have her. I found her."

"Nonetheless, she is mine." The man cracked his knuckles. "I suggest you leave her, and leave this place, before I take your head."

The creature shoved Katherine away. Her head hit the pavement. Blackness engulfed her. It was a blessing, for she could not have borne the pain much longer.

* * * *

Lex eyed the wraith in front of him. The creature was foul. It disturbed his sensibilities that such things were even half considered to be in the league of vampires. This creature was nothing but a shell. It was not human, not true immortal, merely twisted and unfulfilled. It was not and could never be a vampire. Then why did mortals believe such? Believe that this thing was a Night Walker.

"She is mine..." The wraith spat out. It was crawling now, crawling on all fours toward the shining dark one. This Night Walker could not have his prey, she was his, first bite, first claim ... it was his right. Suddenly he lunged.

Lex easily jumped back from the slashing claw that came at his face. It was laughable, this wraith thought to destroy him? With one graceful jump he was elevated five feet off the ground. He stood suspended there, waiting, eyes gleaming and anticipating. He crooked his finger at the wraith tauntingly. "Come. You want the girl--prove to me that you are worthy." He laughed as the wraith launched himself into the air toward him.

Lex's fingers pulled and stretched until his talons were free. Their points were razor sharp and with one swipe, he easily slashed the wraith's neck open. He watched as the wraith screamed and fell to the ground. It was so easy it was almost sad. "You see, you cannot win." He leaned over the wraith. "I give you a choice now ... easy ... or hard?"

The wraith was making gurgling sounds from its torn throat. Blood was pouring in great waves from its broken flesh. And yet it still had the strength and will to lunge forward, grab the dark one's leg and dig its claws into his flesh.

Lex pulled his leg free and sighed. "Hard then. It was your choice, wraith." Lex removed a long silver dagger from his arm sheath and with one efficient motion cut the wraith's head off. The wraith's body wriggled and jerked and Lex took that moment to cut out its heart and drop it along side of its head. It stopped moving then. "Your choice," Lex whispered, dropping the dagger.

Lex made his way over to Katherine. He checked for a pulse and when he found one he smiled. She was still alive, thank the stars for that. She was still alive, thus she could still be turned.

Lex gathered Katherine up in his arms and shot up, disappearing into the night sky, shadowed by the clouds.