The Waiting Game
                        Sam Hanken

	A cold and penetrating rain poured over the city, 
lowering its already cool climate to a biting cold. The 
streets were deathly still and well into flooding, rivers 
running down the steep hills into the square far below.  
Neon shadows shimmered in the raindrops as they fell through 
the air, the faint glow a refection from the lights of the 
square.  Lights drifted out into the open water, bobbing 
under the grand arches of a suspension bridge spanning the 
bay. The bridge's struts lit up in the night, painted a 
shining gold by its nighttime lights. The rain made the 
streets impossibly dangerous to walk, let alone drive. Only 
the brave or the homeless dared to be out in a night like 
this.
	Jacob glanced down the deserted streets, watching. 
Droplets of frigid water dripped off the fedora covering his 
black hair and onto the street. His clothes were black and 
immaculate under the dark gray trench coat, the buttoned 
shirt opened almost casually at the collar. His boots were 
soaked, but he took no notice of the damp or cold. His eyes 
were focused on the door across the way. He was all too 
aware that Mia was searching for him, watching from the top 
floor's only darkened room. This was the part he liked- The 
Waiting Game. It was all a matter of time and patience. He 
always won.

	Mia stared out the top window of Lori's townhouse, the 
room dark around her. It was unnaturally stuffy in the room, 
but she didnŐt dare open the balcony doors. She knew someone 
was out there, watching. Waiting. She hadn't seen him yet. 
She swore under her breath into the darkness, as if he could 
hear her breathing, let alone her curses. She felt his 
presence, tangible and heavy as a lead weight resting 
between her shoulder blades. The hair on the nape of her 
neck raised, almost feeling his breath there. 
	"You always win the game, you bastard. I'm going to win 
this one time- just to smack that overconfident grin off 
your face." She noticed a flicker of movement, almost like 
her words had been some sort of spell- breaking oath. The 
shadow flickered a second time, something more than a mere 
trick of light behind them. She grinned fiercely. "Hah! 
Gotcha!" 
	Mia crossed from the room's window, grabbing the step 
stool leaning against the nearest wall. Placing it under the 
hanging lamp, she stepped up and replaced the bulb with a 
few quick twists of her wrist. The light didn't turn on, but 
she smiled and returned the step stool to its place. She 
paused at the door to retrieve her backpack, barely stooping 
for it in the dark. With a slight turn for a triumphant grin 
at the window, she ran down the stairs to say her good-byes 
to Lori.

	Jacob waited from across the way from the storm 
darkened street. She had spotted his move, all right. He saw 
the faint glow of a light from beyond an open door, cut out 
as quickly as it came. She probably thought that just 
because she had seen him, she had the upper hand. He 
grinned, white fangs sliding over a pale and bloodless lip. 
This wasn't a challenge- He had dealt with all sorts of prey 
that posed more of a threat than she ever could. She was 
overconfident. His eyes glowed red at the thought of the end 
to this game. 
	He flew to the edge of the balcony, shaking loose 
droplets of water from the railing. The metal railing 
creaked slightly under the balls of his feet, swaying until 
he found his balance. All was silent again, save the patter 
of water falling onto the roof above. He waited there, 
watching, oblivious to the rain that had found its way down 
his collar and trickled along his spine.

	"Light's fixed, and I'll see you later, Lori. I have to 
do something tonight." 
	Lori watched from her wheelchair as Mia slung her 
backpack over her shoulder, opening the door. "You sure, 
Mia? It's a heck of a storm out there." Lori looked 
worriedly from her friend to the wetness outside the open 
door. She was so pretty, petite, and delicate... Would she 
be all right out there?

	Mia just grinned and started out towards the dark. 
"It's mostly over. See you tomorrow, Lori?"

	"You're always welcome, Mia. You know it." Shaking her 
head slightly as if to clear it, she asked, "Do you want any 
tea before you go, Mia? You'll catch your death of cold..." 
She could picture MiaŐs beautifully violet eyes red-rimmed 
and bloodshot, her dark hair lusterless from illness. To 
have looks- a life!- like hers and be twenty again!

	"It's all right, Lori- I'm never sick." Mia grinned and 
stepped out, already vanishing into the rainy gloom. 

	Lori nodded and waved out the door, smiling and sipping 
her tea. With a sigh and a last look after Mia, she closed 
the door. She picked up a brush for her platinum-streaked 
hair and laid it in her lap. Leaning herself forward and 
pushing hard with her hands to start, she wheeled herself to 
the lift, getting ready for bed. Waiting for the elevator to 
stop, she paused a moment to let her fingertips trace the 
crowfoot lines at the edge of her blue-gray eyes. Lori felt 
the familiar wistful pangs as always when Mia left. To be 
twenty five years younger.. What fun they'd have...

	Mia looked to where he was a minute ago. She became 
instantly worried- No longer there. The hair on the back of 
her neck prickled and stood up. She shot a look down the 
street, up it, across the way. Nothing.  Her skin crawled as 
she realized there was only one place he could be... Mia 
looked up. A dark shadow with red eyes dropped from the 
blackly clouded sky. Mia opened her mouth to scream-
	-Jacob slapped a white hand over her mouth, silencing 
the scream before it broke free. Jacob, grinning 
triumphantly, enfolded her in his arms tightly, holding hers 
to her sides. His fangs brushed the edge of her ear as he 
whispered to her. "You're dead, Mia."

	Mia stomped hard on her attacker's toes, making him 
release her. She whirled, her eyes glowing with anger. "Damn 
you, Jake!" She fumed as she watched Jacob grin with his 
infuriatingly easy insolence, not seeming bothered in the 
least by either her violence or the abominable nickname. 
"Not possible, darling 'sister.'" 

	She hissed at him, her fangs sharp and gleaming in the 
dim light. Jacob merely laughed at her display. "Really, 
Mia. We must do something about your breath." 

	She growled and ran at Jacob, and he easily pushed her 
into a puddle. This did nothing for her disposition, and she 
sat there, too angry to get up, throwing curses at him.

	Jacob sighed and smiled, patronizing, as he offered his 
hand to Mia. He wasn't surprised when she slapped it away, 
and his smile made the fact plain. "Oh, come now, Mia. How 
ever do you expect to feed if you can't wait?" 
	He grinned sadistically at his 'sister,' enjoying the 
look of pure hatred she shot at him. She certainly was a 
young, defiant one... Oh, if only looks could kill! He shook 
with suppressed laughter.

	Mia snarled. "Why do I have to play this stupid game? I 
can hunt without it." 
	Jacob's sadistic grin fell away, leaving his face 
blank. 
	She blinked, and he was no longer standing away from 
her, but kneeling next to her, his knees safely out of the 
puddle. Mia fumed as he grasped her arm, scolding her as if 
she were a child. "Don't mock the traditions, fledgling." 
	He gave her a reproachful glare, watching her for any 
signs of rebellion. 
	She glared with helpless rage at his back once he 
released her and flew off into the night.

	Alone, she looked at the deserted streets, her hunger 
almost unbearable. She watched the light in Lori's house go 
off, as she has done many other nights. She stalked up to 
the door, calculating. Lori wanted what she offered, perhaps 
would even embrace death at her hands. It would be so 
easy...

	A nearby scream told her Jacob found prey and was 
waiting. She turned from Lori's door, her eyes glowing red 
in the darkness. As she shot into the ominously dark night 
sky, she knew Lori can wait; After all, Mia is always 
welcome.

© 1997 S. Hanken - rowan@nexus.v-wave.com