A/N: This story was written for a competition. The only rules were that it had to be between 500 and 1000 words long. Before I send it off I’d like to know what people think. There’s also something interesting about my main character, if anyone notices what it is, tell me coz I want to know how obvious it is :p Please give me feedback coz it makes me happy!

On that dark, stormy Thursday afternoon, she had no idea that Fate was about to intervene in her life and change it; forever. Her bag was heavy with homework and she wasn’t really concentrating on where she was going. It was only when she realised she was in an unknown district that she realised she’d taken a wrong turn. She groaned inwardly; she’d lived in the same place her whole life; how could she miss her turning? She was soaked by the icy sheets falling from the heavens that looked more like hell. Stopping in the nearest doorstep, she dropped her bag to the floor and sighed, gazing out at the pelting rain. She jumped as she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning, she saw a tall, raven-haired girl standing behind her.

‘What’s a young thing like you doing standing out here in the rain?’ Her voice, though gentle, had an edge to it, a bite of danger, that couldn’t quite be placed.

‘I’m just going. Got a bit disorientated.’ She tried to walk away, but was stopped.

‘Come with me. I’ve got a decent place, we can get you dry, and you can meet the Others.’ The way she said ‘Others’ and smiled at the same time sent a chill down the spine of the soaked girl. Shrugging, she nodded, despite the voice in the back of her mind telling her to say ‘No’ to strangers. ‘Follow me. It’s not far.’

As they entered the dusty underground room she hesitated to call a crypt, there was a faint smell in the place, something familiar, but oddly disturbing.

As she turned to use the bathroom, where she’d been told there would be a change of clothes, she glanced over at Anima – the girl who’d found her – who nodded her assent.

Locking the door, she leaned against it and sighed, contemplating her situation. She was alone with a strange girl, who had a strange aura about her, possibly with others in the place.

Catching sight of her reflection, she looked around in the cupboards for a change of clothes. They all seemed to be centred on a Gothic theme, with blacks, reds and purples dominating the colours. At least she had dark hair, she mused, picking out a floor-length, black velvet skirt and black lacy corset with long net sleeves over a deep blood-red vest top. Finding a shelf of make-up, she thought she might as well look the part; she didn’t want to stand out from any friends of Anima. After applying heavy black eye-liner and shadow to her green eyes, and scarlet lipstick to her mouth, she ran a brush through her straight black hair and stood back to admire the result. Pleased with it, she twisted the key in the lock and stepped into the main room.

‘She cleans up well, Anima,’ commented a voice from the corner.

She turned to see a shape in a chair, hidden in the shadows.

‘That she does. I suppose you’re hungry?’ Anima turned her eyes to the girl.

‘Yeah,’ she answered.

‘You’ll get some food soon enough. This is Colmillo, my … partner. The Others will be arriving soon, and then we can start.’ Once again, she felt a shiver run through her as Anima spoke.

One hour later, she found herself in a circle of young people, dressed in a mostly Gothic style. Anima stepped into the centre and began to speak.

‘We are gathered here to witness the turning of a newcomer.’ She gestured for her to join her in the middle. She glanced around the circle nervously, wondering what the word ‘turning’ meant. Seeing them watching her every move closely, she stepped forward, slightly apprehensive. Anima walked around her in a close ring, whilst chanting in what she presumed was Gaelic; she had some family in Scotland who still spoke in the old dialect of their ancestors, and she had picked up a few words from them.

‘Omnis spiritus in munde.

In nomine dei In odorem suavitatis.

Tu autem effugare, diabole.

Appropinquabit enim judicium dei Tu autem Effugare,

diabole Abrenuntias satanae?

Et omnibus operibus eus?

Omnibus pompis eu?

Exorcie te.

Omnis spiritus immunde.

Adaperiae.’

She shivered; the atmosphere in the room had taken on an almost threatening quality. Anima stepped closer to her, and pulled her hair away from her neck on one side. She closed her eyes; she suddenly realized what was happening. She had thought these creatures existed only in fairy tales and supernatural horror films. Apparently she was mistaken. As Anima sank her fangs into her neck, draining her of life, she realized what the strange smell in the room was. Blood.