Miranda off boarded the plane to SFO and walked down to baggage claim. Exhausted from having been up since eight am New York time, she yawned.

Hitting street level, she hailed a cab, inhaling the smell of brine and sea air as she pulled her jacket over her shoulders. This was the weather she loved--cold and windy. Compared to New York's blizzards, the weather of California was easy to deal with.

Stopping in front of a large multi story building, Miranda paid the cab driver and grabbed her briefcase. Her luggage would arrive at the hotel later that day. The meeting she had scheduled with Connie Maxwell was at ten am sharp. She thought it better not to piss off the ancient vampire accountant.

The building felt ominous, angry and dark. It looked like every other building nearby, large, multi windowed and tall, but felt different. It was as if being inhabited by vampires made all the difference to Miranda.

Slicking her hair back, she smoothed her hands over her red skirt and adjusted her suit coat. Faking confidence, she strode past the large glass double doors, and glanced up at the sign that plainly read "X Corporation." A banner with words inscribed stood under the large X.

Her shoulders tensed up, and she felt the tightness in her spine. Clutching her briefcase, Miranda walked toward the elevators, but a hand on her shoulder made her spin around.

"May I help you?"

Miranda stared open mouthed at the elderly woman dressed in a plain blue dress. Her hair hung loosely over her shoulders. Her pale skin contrasted with the lively look of her deep blue eyes. Hell, even her lips were plump, red.

"I don't know. I mean, I'm uhh," she saw the elderly woman's fangs in her smile. "I'm looking for Connie Maxwell's office."

"Top floor, dear. Shall I alert her of your presence, Miss," the woman looked at Miranda's nametag, "Raven?"

"Please."

That wasn't so bad. In fact, the secretary seemed downright polite, except for the fact she was a bloodsucking vampire.

"You know," she escorted Miranda to the elevator, "we're not all bad."

Miranda blushed. "I don't know what you mean."

The elder woman smirked. Reaching for the phone on the desk, she picked it up, dialed four digits and waited.

"Miss Maxwell, a Miss Raven is here to see you. Shall I send her in?" Nodding, the elder woman hung up the phone and turned to Miranda. "Miss Maxwell is expecting you, Miss Raven."

Miranda felt heat from embarrassment over her skin, and knew her face was flushed. Bowing, she forced a smile. "Thank you."

"You are welcome, child. Do try to remember that not all of us are evil, angry or power hungry. Some of us have even retained certain human qualities."

Nodding, Miranda felt somewhat at ease. "What's your name?"

"I'm Lucy. I'm slightly over two hundred years old and have seen much. Humans can be cruel if they choose, or they can ignore their darker nature and live a wholesome life."

"When all you've seen is death, it's hard to hold onto the idea vampires can be good."

Lucy smiled. "I know, dear, but have hope. Trust your instincts. They will guide you a long way."

"Thank you," Miranda bowed again.

The elevator doors opened and Miranda stepped inside. The thought occurred to her that for a large medical supply company, the building seemed rather empty.

Turning to face Lucy, she realized the woman may have been just over a few hundred years old, but her heart told her Lucy had only done what was required of her life. The wear on Lucy's face said plenty about her life.

New anticipation bubbled in her stomach. Would Connie Maxwell be as kind?

The elevator rose to the top floor. The doors opened in a smooth motion and Miranda stepped through. Spotting a wooden desk, she saw what looked like a human secretary, who was busy typing at the keyboard. A man walked past her, leaving a file on the woman's desk. "These are due today. The person," he said with in a mocking tone," will be here shortly."

"Ahem?"

Miranda set her hands on her hips.

"Oh, you must be Miss Raven. Delighted." He didn't offer a hand in greeting.

"I'm sure. I'm here for--"

"Miss Maxwell. Right this way." His pursed, thin lips bothered Miranda. Something about him, besides the fact he was undead, made her not trust him.

The man pushed open the large wooden double doors to Connie Maxwell's office and let Miranda enter.

The doors closed behind her with a loud thud. The room was empty except for a large black leather chair, desk with a glass top, and a liquor cabinet. Two metal chairs sat in front of the desk. A large window offered a great view of the city.

"Wow," Miranda whistled.

The room was quiet. Stepping closer to the window, Miranda couldn't help but gaze out at the skyline. Admiring the beauty of San Francisco, she could easily see the ocean from her vantage point. It was amazing.

Vampires had used capitalism to gain pleasures the living have cherished for so long.

How annoying.

But Lucy was sweet, non judgmental.

Of course, the male who let her into this room was a dick.

The door opened behind her with a loud creak. Miranda jumped and let out a breath when she turned to see a tall woman enter the room with a large file folder in her hand.

"Miss Raven, I assume?"

"Miss Maxwell?"

"Indeed."

Connie Maxwell was impeccably dressed. Her auburn hair was done in the latest style. Black rimmed glasses hid oval green eyes. Connie's narrow face looked distrustful, but Miranda couldn't put her finger on the reason.

Connie's blue green skirt complemented her pale skin. Full, pert breasts jutted out proudly. Long, slender hose colored legs walked across the carpet. Connie stood a few inches from Miranda. Extending her hand, she tilted her head to the side.

"Truce?"

Setting down the briefcase, Miranda smiled weakly, then hesitantly took the other woman's hand and shook it. "Sure."

"Have a seat, Miss Raven."

"Please, call me Miranda."

"Okay. Miranda, call me Connie. As you can see by the file," she handed the thick file to Miranda, "our practices are well documented. Why is the SEC so interested in us?"

"That's a very good question, Connie. I have to tell you, I was a little stumped when my boss asked me to come out here and take a look at X Corporations' balance sheets."

"Does he think we're pulling an Enron?"

"Again," Miranda sighed, "I'm not sure."

The phone on Connie's desk rang. "Excuse me," Connie picked up the phone. "Hello?"

Nodding, Connie stood. "Pardon me for a moment, Miss Raven. My assistant has something for me that I must open."

Miranda's stomach tightened. Knots formed and tugged at her. Adrenaline flowed through her, making her nerves jumpy.

"I'll return in just a minute and we'll see if we can sort out this mess. I presume you brought everything the SEC gave you?"

"Indeed." Miranda patted her briefcase.

"Good. I'll be right back."

Connie turned and walked to the door. The large doors swung open then closed with a loudness that echoed throughout the room.

Miranda's heartbeat picked up, becoming the only sound in the room.

A click behind Miranda brought her attention to the window. Spinning around, she faced a large flying creature, flapping gigantic wings. Long fangs protruded beneath his beaked nose. Thin yellow eyes glowed.

Miranda was shaking.

The beast's body was more man than animal, but she wasn't going to stick around to see if he had cognitive reasoning skills.

"Oh. My. God..." Turning to run toward the door, Miranda tripped over her own feet. Picking herself up quickly, she grabbed the briefcase and flung it at the creature as hard as she could but didn't wait for the sound of leather connecting against flesh.

Miranda bolted for the door and reached the doorknob in time to turn the handle and yank it open. A hand caught her foot.

Kicking out at the creature with her one free leg, she realized she hadn't hit it at all. His grip on her ankle hurt. Adrenaline pumped through her veins. "No! Go away! Leave me alone!"

Her body had been dragged across the carpet and flung across the room. Standing, her head woozy, she saw a blurry path past the large winged vampire. "What do you want?"

It flew in closer, large muscled arms spread out. Razor sharp claws reflected the sunlight behind her.

Miranda had one chance. Make a run around the creature and sprint through the doors. Backing up, she stopped long enough to slip off her pumps. Holding one in her hand, she took aim and threw it as hard as she could at the creature's head.

The creature cried out angrily when the shoe smacked him dead center in his left eye.

Miranda grabbed her other shoe. "Come on you bastard, I've got one more." She backed up further, and continued to taunt the creature with one hand until she'd bumped against the desk. "Oh shit," she muttered.

The creature swooped in, one arm back to strike Miranda.

She saw her one chance and threw her other shoe at his face.

The creature moved his head and backed off.

It looked like he had a smile on his face.

Miranda edged her way behind the desk, and hoped he'd come after her and not try to fly overhead. She was surprised his wings could hold his large body, but hey, they lived in times where vampires owned companies traded publicly.

Miranda did the only thing she thought of. She braced her hands against the underside of the desk edge and forced it upward into the beast, sending millions of glass shards flying. She saw blood but didn't stop long enough to see if it was hers. Miranda hesitated long enough to grab her briefcase, and ran out of the office screaming for help.

The lobby was empty.

The lights were off.

Miranda hammered on the elevator button, hoping it would be nearby. She heard glass and the sound of other things breaking in Connie's office. Glancing around, Miranda found the door leading to the emergency stairwell. She took off in a dead run, heard her stockings rip from the strain. One more thing to upset her today.

Jumping shoulder first into the metal door, it only budged a little.

Miranda pounded on the door, then gave one more hearty shove against it. This time it opened. She darted into the darkness, and ran down the stairs as fast as her feet would carry her. She didn't care about the distance, as long as she could get out of the building and find someone to help her.

Reaching the bottom floor, Miranda's felt hope. "Finally," she panted. "No time to stop. Gotta get outside. Those damn things can't hurt me outside."

Miranda grabbed the metal handle, and gave the door a yank. This one swung open easily, slamming against the wall hard enough to leave a dent. She stepped through the threshold, and bumped into a hard object.

"Miss Raven," a deep male voice made her freeze in her tracks.

Miranda stepped back and stared at the barrel sized chest of the man dressed in black. She felt something low in her body she hadn't experienced in a long time.

"We have to get out of here!" Reaching for his hand, Miranda realized it was just as pale as Connie's. In fact, as handsome and rugged as his face was, his skin was pale.

"No! You can't be with..." Her jaw dropped. It was hard to believe this gorgeous 6'7 male.

"I am merely an assassin, and I am here to do my job, Miss Miranda."

Large, steel arms gripped her shoulders tightly.

Kicking out, Miranda landed a knee in his stomach.

He winced. Then he laughed. "You aren't the match for me."

Being thrown around like a rag doll, Miranda's head lolled to one side before the vampire parted his lips. She watched his fangs lengthen, scared of the wicked, yet seductive smile across his face.

"Were you this good looking as a human?"

His fangs sunk into her neck. "Better."

Pain followed by bliss made Miranda feel at ease. Her body became light as a feather. Her eyes shut, her body went limp.

She would die in a matter of seconds. She was certain.

Then her world blacked out.