CASSIE squinted as she tried to see through the windshield of the truck, muttering under her breath as she

wiped away the condensation that was building. The snow was blinding -- large, wet flakes driven by wave after wave of relentless gusts of wind. They plastered the glass, sticking like glue and making the world outside appear watery and surreal. Of course, she wasnt sure what it was she hoped to actually see as she peered into the murkiness beyond the headlights; the edges of the road were non-existent and she was relying mostly on instinct, memory, and no small amount of luck to guide her along. This is crazy, she muttered under her breath. From the passenger side of the truck Boomer sniffed loudly, then snorted his agreement, nodding his head. He was a great dog, she thought as she glanced over at him, and was grateful as always for his quiet dedication as he rode along beside her. She had driven only a few miles up the mountain when the storm thrown its first major punch. Dismal, swollen clouds clogged the skies, heralding its arrival as the wind began its assault and the snow started to fall. Twice now she had actually lost sight of the road completely, unable to see more than a few feet beyond the beam of her headlights, and she chided herself again for having made the trip at all. Of course, shed be damned if she was going to admit as much to Esper. Her friend had already made the trip once that morning and as hippie girl had been only too glad to point out Cassies insistence upon making a second trip this evening was a glaring reminder of Casss obsessive control issues. Aw Come ON! Cassie yelled, frustrated with the rapidly fogging glass. Before she could stop herself she made a fist and banged angrily against the dash, her usual calm shattered as her frayed nerves were finally pushed beyond their limit. Boomer jumped and was instantly on full alert, barking in surprise; she saw his disapproving look **damned if that dog didnt have more expressions than any human shed ever known, she thought** and cringed regretfully as she heard the aged plastic crack under the assault, feeling guilty about her sudden outburst. She sighed and fought against the urge to cry. It was no use. She couldnt go on if she couldnt keep the frost and moisture from building on the windshield. It was dangerous, and she had learned long ago that it was far better to swallow her pride than it was to risk her life. Defeated, she reached for the hand-held mic attached to the CB radio and was about to call for help when - to her surprise and relief - she heard a low mechanical whir as the fan kicked in. This was quickly followed by a sputter of heated air pockets that coughed outwards from the vents before the trucks defroster roared back to life. Well, now, thats more like it, she said, with a lopsided grin. Guess I just needed to talk its language, ay Boomer? From the passenger side of the cab, Boomer gave a non-descript snort and shook his head, and she laughed softly as she ruffled his fur.

I know, I know, she said as he grinned at her in that way that dogs have. Im the one who preaches to everyone about this whole maintaining control of your anger thing, but you have to admit that in this case my little outburst yielded positive results. Boomer only stared back at her, blue eyes shining and tongue drooping lazily to one side as he grinned and cocked his head to one side. Good grief, Im rationalizing with my dog, Cassie muttered to herself with a sardonic grin. Espys right, she thought; I need to get out more. Cassies relief was short-lived as she focused once again on her driving, realizing that her visibility was now little more than a few feet out in front of her. She frowned and gripped the steering wheel, willing herself to stay calm and alert. She still had several miles to go before she reached the main gate of the property, and at this rate it would take a good hour to get there. Plenty could go wrong in an hour when you were out in a full-scale blizzard on the side of a mountain. Shed found that out the hard way 2 winters back when her rental car had broken down on her way back from Sheridan and shed been stranded in a much smaller version of todays maelstrom, hence the reason shed had the scanner installed; it was much faster for obtaining information than the CB radio. Already this evening shed heard several reports of power lines being brought down by the strong winds, and it seemed that Mayor Raffertys barn roof was now little more than piles of twisted, broken lumber, stripped away and blown out across the narrow passage that led into and out of Beavers Canyon. Cassie reached forward to switch channels on the scanner, hoping to get an updated weather report. She looked away from the road for only a few seconds, but of course, that was all it took for her to miss the large swath of blackened emptiness that spilled out of the fog in front of her. She let out a surprised yelp as the truck bucked and skidded, hitting something solid with such force that the back wheels began to spin and lose traction. Cassie reacted quickly, turning into the skid as she applied gentle pressure to the brakes and feeling helpless as the vehicle swung sideways, trying not to overcompensate for the abrupt halt. Her heart raced wildly as the trucks heavy rear weight shifted before anchoring the tires and allowing the chains to once again grab at the snow and ice that now covered the ground. When the truck finally came to a stop, Cassie shifted into park, hands trembling. She sat back in the now idle vehicle, closing her eyes and catching her breath before resting her palm against her chest. A 200 foot drop was on the other side of the road up ahead where it curved sharply back in on itself, and with her sense of distance being distorted by the snow she was unsure just how far away from that curve she was. Beside her Boomer whined nervously before inching over to nuzzle her neck.

What the hell was that? she asked, giving the dog a re-assuring pat on the head, more to steady her own fears than his. She reached under the seat and grabbed the flashlight, then turned and carefully lifted the shotgun from its rack mounted on the glass behind her. Bracing herself against the cold, she pushed the door open and stepped out into the storm. Bits of ice and rock captured by the wind tore at her face, and she pulled the thick wool scarf up over her nose in a futile attempt at protection. She made certain it was firmly tucked beneath the hood of her coat, then hunched over and pushed against the wind as she walked towards the front of the truck. She searched the ground all around for signs of whatever it was she had hit, fully expecting to see a large buck sprawled out on the roadway before her. Cassie frowned, confused. There was nothing there. She rubbed her eyes to make sure it was not a temporary case of snow blindness, absurd though that seemed, but when she opened them, she still saw nothing but road, and frowned again. She walked forward, keeping herself within the beams of the headlights as she shined her flashlight along the ground, moving slow and studying the dirt for any signs of tracks or blood. No way she could have hit something that big and not find signs of the impact. At the very least she should be able to see well something. Shaking her head, she turned and walked back towards the truck, gasping aloud as she came close enough to see the grill clearly. Impossible, she whispered disbelievingly, leaning the shot-gun against the truck then reaching out with gloved fingers to trace the damage, eyes wide with confusion. The entire middle section was completely caved in, the steel frame bent back dangerously close to the engine block as if she had run into a concrete pillar. How the hell could that have happened, she wondered? She stood back and looked around, mind racing, heart pounding as she tried to see past the overgrown brush that lined the edge of the road, but it was no use. The day had grown dark and the snow was falling too thick and fast for her to see clearly. She began to move towards the trees, worry overcoming her fear. Clearly she had hit something, and was now convinced that she had knocked the poor beast off the road. What if it was lying somewhere along the underbrush, suffering? Nope, she definitely could NOT live with herself if she didnt check. Better to put the animal out of its misery than to leave it dying slowly, alone in the storm. From inside the truck, Boomer began to bark furiously in an attempt to get her attention. She stopped and turned to look at him, startled by his sudden outburst. He was livid, nails scratching along the inside of the window as he clawed furiously in an attempt to get to her. What on earth was going on with him? Boomer never acted this way, crazed almost, and as she continued to watch him, the hair along the back of her neck began to prickle and goose bumps began to form on her skin beneath the layers of clothing. She hesitated, actually considering abandoning whatever it was she had hit, but her concern for the animal got the best

of her and she began to move again, trying to shut out the unsettling sound of the dogs protests as they became louder and more frenzied. She turned the flashlight onto the row of trees and searched for a hole or gap in the vegetation that covered the ground; something as big as what she must have hit would had to of left a large opening in the tangle of bushes and vines. To her disappointment and growing concern she found nothing, and amid Boomers now fanatical protests she crossed the road to repeat her search. It was no use, she thought, shivering now, her teeth chattering as the bitter cold began to seep into her bones. Whatever it was, it had clearly been able to leave on its own, though she was unsure how, given the damage to her grill. With a resigned sigh, she shrugged and went back to the truck, grateful for the heat that rushed out to greet her as she opened the door. Boomer wriggled from head to toe, overjoyed at her return, and she had to push him back, laughing. I know, I know, she said soothingly, but you know I had to check. Now, move over and lets get going. This place is starting to give me the cree but before she could finish her sentence, the door to her truck was thrown back open and large hands pull her out into the night. She yelled with surprise as she was thrown backwards and began to struggle, gagging at the sudden, overwhelming stench of sulfur and rotting eggs. She squirmed and writhed against powerful arms that wrapped around her and locked her in a vice, squeezing so hard that the air began to rush from her lungs. Icy lips hissed close to her ear and she felt her blood run cold as her assailant spoke. Yesssss, he hissed, lisping like a snake and drawing out his words. Sssstruggle, female, and know my sssstrength. His voice was harsh and unpleasant, and she started to panic as it became harder and harder to breathe. Her heart raced and her thoughts spiraled out of control as she tried to calm herself, but it did little good. From behind her she heard him or perhaps IT, as something about him did not seem quite human breathe deep, felt his body grow hard and then tremble slightly before he began to laugh, low and menacing. So much power, little human. Youre fear stirs me like no other has before you. He tore back the hood of her coat to expose her neck and shoulder. His tongue snaked out to taste her, its flaccid surface prickly, scraping abrasively as he raked it across her skin. Oh yesssss . . . and I hunger . . . She felt his lips press against her flesh and part, pasty and thick, before razor-sharp teeth bit deep into her shoulder. Stunned, Cassie screamed out in pain and fear as he held her tight and began to feed, not able to fully comprehend what was happening to her. Her stomach lurched as she heard bone crunching between powerful jaws and felt her skin being peeled away as jagged teeth ripped and tugged. The pungent smell of blood drifted up, and she began to grow dizzy, feeling its warm stickiness ooze

down her arm and across her chest, quickly soaking through what was left of her shirt and coat. Consciousness began to shift and become clouded in a haze of suffering, and she realized in a brief moment of clarity that last nights nightmare was becoming reality. With a growl it continued to feed, sucking greedily at the warm blood and tempting flesh. She felt her knees begin to buckle beneath her as he slowly drained her, the world around her dissolving into a raging sea of blistering torment. He bit and tore with fevered abandon, and in the distance she could hear shrieked cries of agony, faintly aware that they must be her own. Moans of ecstasy came from deep within the beasts chest, and she had the bizarre thought that he sounded like a man in the throes of passion, lost in some macabre form of physical pleasure, and it sickened her. All at once he jerked, then pulled back abruptly and threw her away from him with such force that she skidded across the surface of the road to land with a solid thud against the front wheel of the truck. Her shoulder screamed and color exploded behind her eyes as her head made contact with the hard metal of the bumper. She slowly slumped down, faintly aware of Boomers panicked shrieks from inside the truck. What are you? he hissed accusingly, and she forced herself to open her eyes and focus on her attacker. He was huge, looming over her, and her only semilucid thought was that he appeared to be some hideous mutation of the fabled Sasquatch. Yellow eyes peered out at her from beneath a protruding brow; they were more like oozing, puke green bulbs, floating above grotesquely gray lips slick with her blood. The creature had two small openings where she expected to see a nose, and the skin was more like dried leather, wrinkled and cracked. He took a step towards her then stopped as he began to convulse. Before she had time to process what she was seeing, his body started to buck and heave, then the head twisted back so severely that she was sure the neck had snapped. He opened his mouth and a gurgling sound ensued before a black, gooey substance began to spill out over his chin and down his neck. He twitched violently as the spasms continued, then fell to his knees with an ear-piercing howl. He reached up with shaking hands to hold his head as jets of hissing vapor began to seep from his pores, forming human faces that seemed distorted and in pain, writhing and twisting before the entity vanished into an opening in the clouds overhead. As the last of the living mist disappeared, he gave one last gasping shudder, then his body collapsed in on itself, disintegrating into a fine dust of dirty gray powder that fell out across the snow like ash. Cassie kicked out with one leg, trying to stand, but it was useless. She had lost too much blood and shock was already setting in, the freezing temperature working against her. She was cold so very, very cold, and she knew with absolute

certainty that she would never be warm again. Breathing was becoming labored and torturous, sending fresh waves of pain across her chest with each intake of cold air. She was going to die here, she realized, and found herself surprised by the calmness with which she accepted her fate. Her eyes began to burn and ache, and she heard herself sob weakly, the sound of it foreign and out of place within the muted nothingness of the falling snow. And then there were strong hands reaching for her once again, only this time they were warm and soothing, and as they travelled along her arm she felt life, and comfort, and hope. She opened her eyes to study the man who now knelt before her, thinking him so handsome he was almost beautiful. He studied her back and she felt her skin prickle, afraid that perhaps HE meant to eat her now that the competition had been eliminated. You arent going to try and eat me too, are you? she muttered weakly, her words slurred, and the corners of his eyes crinkled slightly, hinting at a smile. He reached up with his hand and gently cupped her chin, leaning close. He smelled clean and alive, and his skin was warm and smooth as he pressed his cheek against hers. No, little human. I am not going to eat you. He whispered quietly. Good, she muttered as her head began to loll, her chin resting on her chest, because Id hate to have to kick your ass, too . . . She was sure she heard the low rumbling of laughter before darkness overtook her and there was nothing but blissful emptiness. ~~~~~~~~~~ DANTE held the female close, cradling her to him as gently as if he held a newborn babe. He had stopped the bleeding and closed the wound, feeling the bone mend beneath his touch before pulling her carefully into his arms. But she had lost much blood and was in shock, and he knew he needed to get her sheltered and warm. Dante had been talking with Dominique when he had heard those first, startled cries of fear, and had cut his friend off abruptly to seek out the source. He had little doubt that the minion he stalked had come across prey, feeling the disturbance of its euphoria with sickened comprehension. The bastard was feeding and would have increased his strength ten-fold by the time Dante could reach him. Pushing through trees and slicing through shadows with an unnatural quickness, Dante followed the trail, drawn now like a magnet to his foe. When the monsters fed, they became disoriented for a short time within the ecstasy of human emotion and were vulnerable to outside attack. Following their scent during arousal was like following a trail of stale breadcrumbs, glaringly obvious and repulsively

sour. He was getting closer, could feel the minions greed and hunger saturate the surroundings, pulling him in. Dante drew his sword and raised it in prayer to the Creator for strength, then pushed through the cluster of trees and onto the road, evils beacon calling to him with amazing clarity. The sight which greeted Dante stopped him cold in his tracks. The foul creature was feeding from a human, but before Dante could act the beast had thrown the female from him with a violent curse as a series of spasms began to rock his body. Dante watched in stunned silence as the minion fell to his knees, howling out in pain as souls began to bleed from his pores, swirling about with anguished cries of endless pain before coming together to rise up towards the sky. He immediately whispered a prayer of blessing as Lycopolis appeared, a fellow Guardian and opener of the Ways who also continued to fight against the darkness. He was centuries younger than Dante and tended to be a bit brash for the Ancients liking, but he was a loyal Guardian of the Light with the heart of a lion, acting as guide and protector for those souls who sought their way home to the Creator. The two greeted one another silently, using a Warriors gesture for Victory, before Lycopolist faded back into the night sky with the newly freed children of the Creator. It was always a good day when children were released from the grip of darkness, a cause for celebration, and Dantes heart rejoiced as he watched them follow Lycopolist towards the Heavens. Unfortunately, Dantes joy was overshadowed by his remembered concern for the girl who had somehow managed to destroy one of the strongest of Umbrians minions without raising a finger. Dante looked down and continued to study the young woman who now lay crumpled within his arms, concerned etched along his face. The minion had convulsed and then vaporized before his very eyes after attempting to feed from her -- hell, she was toxic to him, Dante realized. But how could that be? Never in all his centuries of existence had he encountered any species that was toxic to either the Amenthians, or Umbrians bastard race of halflings. She stirred slightly and he was overcome again with emotion as he looked down at her. She was so young, so innocent, he thought, finding himself uncommonly touched by the unspoilt face that was sprinkled with freckles. He stood at last, lifting her easily with him, then gathered the now docile Boomer from the truck who was only too happy to join him before disappearing into the shadows of the night. He had to save this little one, had to determine what it was that had made her so deadly to his adversary. It could be that this scrap of a human held the answer to defeating Umbrian and his vile hoard once and for all.