Outside in the fresh, sunny air, both of the two men-turned-women shivered uncomfortably.
“Mistress, I don't like this,” whispered Vanessa.
“Hush, child,” said Tim. “We have work to do. And right now, it requires our presence in the harsh, cruel
light of daytime.”
Tim waved down a random taxi cab, then held the door open for Vanessa to get in first. She smiled
appreciatively at her superior, then took her place inside the cab.
“Where to ladies?” said a burly, balding man with coarse, stubbly beard.
“Finest hotel in town,” said Tim.
The cab immediately took off.
“We shall require a base of operations,” Tim told his young protege. “A place to shelter ourselves from...
certain powers whose attentions we are better off not attracting. And we shall also require a place from which
to plan and coordinate our actions.”
“What are our intentions, if I may be so bold to ask, m'lady?” Vanessa said politely.
“I had a deal with... The Master, as I mentioned to you earlier,” said Tim. “And I do not intend to renege on
that solemn contract. I now possess a firm comprehension of just the sorts of punishments that await liars and
promise-breakers in the afterlife. I have no intention of falling into The Master's trap.”
“Trap?” asked Vanessa. “I do not understand, mistress.”
“He is the Father of Lies,” said Tim calmly. “He never intended to keep his word. Oh, he will adhere to the
strictest, most technical interpretation of our agreement of course. But he sought all along to entrap me
somehow. The smartest thing I can do at this point is to avoid violating the terms of our agreement. But in
the meantime, I intend to expand my own power base. If I can corrupt and seduce enough souls in this town, and
then keep them for myself, adding them to my power instead of his... well, perhaps I shall find myself in a
more advantageous position when re-negotiating terms with The Master.”
“You seek to usurp him!” gasped Vanessa.
“Why I would never be so bold,” said Tim with a cool smile. “I merely seek to build a more powerful place for
myself amongst The Master's Legions... and to do all that, we shall require a base of operations in this town
from which to plot and plan.”
Throughout the conversation between the two ominous looking women, the cab driver kept shuddering. Why had he
picked up these two goth freaks? Sure, it takes all kinds to make the world go round. But had he really needed
the fare THAT badly? And now, just listen to 'em – they're talking about corruption and the afterlife and all
sorts of creepy things! The cab driver was a simple, god-fearing, Catholic man who had always been more than a
little superstitious. He nervously glanced into the rear-view mirror at his passengers...
...and saw only one of them.
To the cab driver's credit, he continued driving as normal. But his blood had practically frozen solid at the
reflected sight of the younger looking girl causally talking to... to... well, no one.
Then it hit him!
“You're a vampire!” he whispered, unfortunately a little too loudly.
“Hell and Brimstone!” cursed Tim. “I knew we'd forgotten something, Vanessa! Sheesh, you think you've dealt
with everything, but... I'm sorry, really I am! This was unplanned. I'm still new at this whole 'being a
demoness' routine, and...”
“Mistress, he's going to stop the cab and jump out!” hissed Vanessa.
“Oh, I know that!” replied Tim. “You're not the only one with a sense of precognition, my dear. He won't
succeed.”
What next?