Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Children of the Night ❯ Nightlife ( Chapter 1 )

Hi, well I wondered if any of you were confused reading this story. This is an Alternative Universe with the characters of Sailor Moon. There is no Sailor Moon, Sailor Senshi, or Moon Princess in this story. Also, the familiar Senshi that you know and love might not be so recognizable when you see them next. The only two people who retain their names (well this might change as the story progresses) are Usagi as Serena (remember, they are living in American and in this story, Serena is of American descent) and Mamoru. Can you recognize Faye and Sahara as anyone? See if you can guess who they are supposed to be. Also, could you please leave me some reviews? I'm very praise hungry…^_~

~*~*~*~

Children of the Night
Chapter I-Nightlife

By: Hime

hime@alloymail.com

~*~*~*~

"I love the nightlife. I got to boogie..."
-Alicia Bridges

~*~*~*~

The dance club was dark, with the usual flashes of multi-colored lights streaming along the walls and onto the floor. The music had a savage underbeat to it, perfect for the animals prowling inside the club. She was standing by the back wall, dressed in a crimson blouse held closed by two buttons, a black miniskirt, and black thigh-high boots. She had black hair, a swirl of midnight surrounding her ivory face. Her topaz-colored eyes had a 'come hither' look to them and her ruby-shaded lips were fixed into a permanent pout.

"Why don t I buy you a drink?" asked a handsome man, coming to stand by her. She slowly turned around, looked at him intensely before smiling, then nodding yes, she asked for a coke since she didn't want to get bombed tonight. The man praised her common sense and went to get her drink. It took him awhile to get back. He said he had to fight the crowd since the place was packed. She glanced down at the dark liquid in the plastic cup and gave the man a half smile. He watched in anticipation as she drank the entire contents without stopping. The cup dropped from her grasp and bounced once on the granite floor before spinning to a halt and getting crushed as the man stepped up to the girl when she started to wilt.

"Let s get you out of this heat." the man murmured to her as he helped her out of the dance club. He started toward the parking lot and managed to put her in his car. As he got in the driver s seat, his smile of concern melted into one of success. Who knew that this girl would succumb so easily to the drug he had slipped into her drink. He shut the car door and heard it lock without him touching anything. Startled, he turned toward his passenger and found her wide-awake looking at him. In the dark confines of the car it looked as if her golden eyes were glowing.

"What the hel-" He was cut off as she grabbed his shirt collar, bringing his face toward hers. Staring into her gleaming eyes, a strange lethargy came over him.

"One would think you re handsome enough to not need any date-rape pills, but I guess one never knows." She whispered into his ear, more to herself then to her hypnotized victim. She pulled him closer and leaned over to nibble along his throat. She felt his pulse speed up and smelled the scent of fear on his skin. Even hypnotized, his body knew her for what she was--a predator. Her ruby lips curved into a smile and framed the whiteness of her fangs as they slipped out from her upper jaw and sank into his flesh.

Ten minutes later, the door of the car opened and the woman stepped out into the night. Before closing the door she leaned over and spoke to the driver once more. "Go to the nearest police station and admit to your crimes. Remember nothing of me." she stepped away from the car as the engine turned over and as soon as the door of the car was shut, the car accelerated toward the nearest exit.

She watched as the car sped into the night and licked her lips in satisfaction. "That will teach you to mess with a defenseless woman."

*****

"Faye, do you know how late it is? And where have you been?" Serena Silvermoon questioned her roommate as she staggered into the New York City loft they shared with another girl named Sahara, really known just as Sahra Thomson. Serena's deep blue eyes flashed with anger, an emotion she used to keep her fear at bay, and her long blonde, unbound hair danced around her small frame.

The black-haired girl blinked, either in surprise or because of the fact that all the lights in the loft had been turned on. She looked at Serena and one eyebrow went up.

"Late enough and I've been out drinking," She smirked at the blonde, flashing her fangs at her.

"Can't you smell the blood on my breath?"

"Oh, you're so irritating sometimes. I don't know why I care." Serena whirled away and snatched the tray of tea she had made and took her load to the kitchen. Guilt, annoyance, and then a soft smile crossed the vampire-girl's face as she followed her friend.

"You care because you're you." Serena looked at her friend and smiled, forgiving Faye for the worry she had inadvertently caused. Faye picked up a washcloth to dry the dishes that Serena had begun to wash. "You shouldn't worry about me, I can take care of myself."

"I know you can take care of yourself. I mean, Goddess, you're a vampire of course you can take care of yourself. But I can't help but worry when you're out this late. You have nothing to worry about from a normal human being, but what if you meet up with another vampire or even a vampire hunter? What then?"

"You're such a worrywart. Don t you know that all true vampires are related?" Faye smiled ironically. "We're like one big happy family. And, as for the vampeals, they're only imitation vampires and I can handle them easily."

"What about vampire hunters?"

"What about them? The day a vampire hunter gets the better of me, is the day I die." Serena arched one eyebrow and looked pointedly at Faye. Rolling her eyes. Faye said. "Wrong choice of words. Anyway, if I was in serious trouble all I would have to do is call out to you and Sahra and you two would take care of the matter for me.

"I would do what?" Sahra asked and then yawned as she stumbled into the bright kitchen. She scratched her tawny colored hair that was dyed to a bubble gum pink on top and went into the freezer. Finding the carton of chocolate almond ice cream, she took it out and set it on the counter. Opening a drawer, she took out three spoons and gave one to each of her roommates.

"If I got into trouble you would turn into a ferocious leopard and fight off the evil vampire hunter out to get me." Faye told Sahra, reaching into the carton to get a healthy spoonful of ice cream. Sahra's grin was reflected in her purple eyes as she said, "And of course, Serena's spells will heal both of us after we're through kicking the shit out of him."

"Speak for yourself. I wouldn't need the spells. That vampire hunter would never be able to touch me. You on the other hand-"

"If you're so good why do you need me and Serena to come to your aid?"

Serena laughed at her friends and once more thought how weird it was to have a vampire and wereleopard as roommates. But I guess you can't be choosy, she thought to herself, when you're a witch. Digging a chunk of chocolate out of the carton, Serena paused in reflection as she remembered her first meeting with Faye.

*****

Two Years Earlier

"Miss Bloodstone, we'll let you know when we make our decision." Serena said smoothly.

"Miss Bloodstone, you would be the perfect roommate." Sahra said at exactly the same moment.

Faye looked at the two women interviewing her and sighed. "Why don't you go and talk about it amongst yourselves before telling me what."

Serena and Sahra looked at each other and then back to the beautiful girl before them. Nodding, they got up and went into the kitchen.

"Okay what's wrong with this one? If we reject her, that'll be the fifth person we've turned away." Sahra was exasperated. She had better things to do then interview perspective roommates.

"Hello, you're a wereleopard, can't you tell when you re in the presence of evil?" Serena all but screeched at her best-friend.

"Actually I resent that. I may be a vampire, but I'm not evil." Faye stepped into the kitchen. Serena began to mentally run through the defensive spells she knew off the top of her head and hoped they would be enough.

"You're a vampire?" Sahra asked curiously. "I thought I smelled old blood on you, but I just figured you liked your meat rare."

"Very rare. How about still alive!" Serena fired off, her voice as hot as the fire spell she was thinking of casting.

Faye sighed. "Just because I'm a vampire, it doesn't mean I'm the scrounge of the world, you know?"

"Tell that to 'Mina and 'Jonathon Harker!" Serena spat out.

Faye looked amused. "Bram Stoker? Is that why you don t care for vampires? If all literature was true, shouldn't I be wondering how come your place isn't set in the woods, made out of gingerbread?"

"Excuse me?" Now Serena's voice was so cold, Sahra had to restrain herself from shivering.

"You know, 'Handsel and Gretal'? You being a witch and all."

"How did you know that? I made sure my power aura was at human level."

"Yeah, but your talisman," Faye pointed at the silver crescent moon pendant hanging right below the hollow of Serena's throat, "That thing is just screaming power." Serena clutched at the pendant and just glared at the vampire.

"Yes well, I can say for sure I've never eaten children. Can you say the same?"

"Look, I understand your reluctance to share your home with a vampire-" Serena snorted.

"Don't interrupt me. I'm not evil and I don't kill anyone. I only feed on those who deserve it. I only prey on those who prey on the weaker."

Sahra looked at Serena, then at Faye, then back to Serena. She shrugged her shoulders in a loose feline way that made Serena grit her teeth. "I don't understand all the fuss. She doesn't kill anyone and only feeds on those who feed on humanity. Also, she passed our threshold, didn't she? If she was truly evil, wouldn't your spell have stopped her from entering?"

"The only reason you're siding with her is because you're a predator too." Serena accused her roommate.

"How can you say that? You know I'm a vegetarian."

"Wait a minute. You're a wereleopard but you don't eat meat? How does that work?" Faye asked, looking for the first time, confused.

"My family has always been vegetarians, and anyway, the only real nutrient in meat is protein and you can get that from beans and other vegetables."

Faye tossed a look at Serena as if saying. 'Is she for real?'

"Her mom's a zoologist." Serena explained. Her eyes became suspicious. "How did you know that Sahara was a wereleopard?" she asked.

"As soon as I felt her presence, I knew she was a were-something, I just wasn't sure what animal. I didn't know she was a leopard until you said so when you first went into the kitchen." Faye gave Serena a shrug. "I have exceptional hearing."

"I bet."

"And I thought her name was Sahra, not Sahara."

"My mom named me after the Sahara desert where I was conceived, but people just usually call me Sahra for short."

"Look, let me tell you some things about vampires. There are two types- the true vampire and the made ones called vampeals. The race of Vampires has been living just as long as your species. We are part of the natural food chain. Every species has a predator, and we are yours. And vice versa, yours is ours. We breathe air, walk in the sunlight, and live like other people. It's just that we have a few extra talents that we can use. The vampire hunters got rid of the stupid ones and the smart ones learned to hide their presence within the human realm. We learned to be discreet and clever. We are not allowed to kill our supper, just take what we need to survive. The ones that don t learn this rule, usually die, and not all the time at the hands of a vampire hunter. If needed, the vampire community will clean up it's own messes."

"If all you say about vampires is true, then how come the rumors say that sunlight kills you?" Serena asked.

"Born Vampires are natural, just a different species from yours. But there are those vampires that are made-"

"And those are called vampeals." Sahra interrupted, happy to be included into the conversation.

"Yes, vampeals. Those are unnatural beings and that's why naturals abhor them. They are the walking dead. You see, when the sun dawns, the vampeals die once more, and come back to life at sundown. They cannot cross running water unless they are powerful, they catch on fire easily, and wood can pierce the skin like a hot knife through butter." Faye tossed a glance at the fascinated Serena. "That's why witches especially hate vampeals. Vampeals destroy the balance between nature. Vampeals need to drink more blood than vampires because first of all, their body cannot produce it. Also, they need the restorative energy blood gives them when they come back to life each night."

"What can you do? I mean-" Serena stopped in the middle of her sentence.

"Me, personally or vampires in general?" Faye asked with a blank expression.

Serena glanced around the brightly lit kitchen and then said, "Both."

"All vampires are born with hyper senses. After werepeople, vampires have better vision, hearing, scent, taste, and touch. The average vampire is much stronger and faster than your average human, though some humans can exceed our speed or strength. We can will our bodies to lie dormant until time is better to have us wake once more. And we can do small spells like witches." Faye nodded her head to Serena. "We can do some hypnosis through our voices or eyes, some vampires are better than others with this skill. Vampires don't get sick, or at least hardly ever. We also heal fast and age slow. I'm a little over two centuries myself." Both Serena and Sahra looked shock. To them, Faye looked about twenty-two in age, about the same age they were.

"That's why a vampire child is rare," she continued. "Nature gave us age, but she made sure we wouldn't be able to overrun the Earth with our numbers. I am one of the last vampire children to be born in our circle. What I just told you is all I can do."

"But, how come in all the stories, vampires can do such awesome things?"

"Ah. while we are natural and have natural powers like those found on this world, vampeals are truly the abnormal and their powers are given accordingly. The powers they gain through death are a way to make up for the fact of their unnaturalness. It's like when someone becomes a psychic or they gain some sort of supernatural powers because of some brush they had with death. Well, it's kind of like that with the vampeals. There are different types of power that vampeals might have, but vampeals never get all these powers. Some can levitate and some have more hypnosis skills than most other vampires or vampeals. Some can actually hurt you without touching you and some gain telekinesis or a small dose of telepathy. A lot of power that is gained has to do with the mind. It seems after death the vampeal can use more of their brain then humans and vampires."

Faye was obviously done with her lecture. But Serena s curiosity was far from satisfied and as she opened her mouth to question Faye, the vampire shook her head and said, "Uh-un. If I'm not going to room here, there are other apartments I have to see before it gets too late." Once more Faye arched her brow at Serena.

Serena looked at her roommate and found Sahra examining her nails very hard. No help there. Taking a deep breath, Serena held out her hand to Faye and plastered a weak smile onto her face. "Will you be paying your two month's rent by cash or check?"

*****

The Present

"Serena, Serena! Put the spoon in your mouth already, the ice-cream is starting to drip on the table." Sahra said before mumbling under her breath, "And you-know-who is going to end up cleaning your mess."

Serena was just about to remind her roommate of all the times she had to vacuum leopard hair out of the rug when someone knocked on the door. Right there in the brightly lit kitchen, Serena felt a wave of foreboding go through her. Still, she got up and made her way to the door, her roommates following closely behind her.

"Should I open it, or you?" Asked Faye. Serena looked at Faye and pointed toward the door.

The vampire girl said, "You know, nothing good ever comes from a visit at 3:00 in the morning." Sahra nodded her head slowly as if Faye had just uttered something truly wise. Serena sighed in exasperation. Faye shrugged and positioned herself so that when the door was open, Serena would have a clear view--and Faye would have control of the door to slam it shut if needed.

The door was pounded on again. Whoever it was sounded very angry.

"Okay, you can open the dooooaaahhhh!"