First chapter for the 20-words Contest. I will not keep to merely one pairing or character, but jump between them as inspiration comes to me.

But I hope it will still be a good story :)

Love

Elena

PS: although this is a contest, do not hesitate to review! This is my latest work, and I'd love to hear some constructive critique!

PS2: I don't own any of the characters.

Dawn

There are few things as mystique as the rising of the sun. The moment when the dark hours of the night have ended and chaos is driven back by the strict logic of the sun and the light. In the day nothing can be hidden, and humans can peacefully live their lives on the surface of the planet, knowing they are safe.
But when the sun is gone, all their fundaments and logic is also lost, for there is only darkness, and darkness has no rules, and obeys to no one. Darkness if filled with hunger and blood, with magic and things that have no name. This is the world of the creatures of the night, which can no longer live underneath the burning judgement of the sun, for only the darkness hides the blood that sticks to their hands.

But there is this moment, when neither night nor day is in charge, the perfect balance between light and darkness, the combination of gold and purple on the painting which is the sky. This is the moment for lovers to awake and admire each others beauty in the pale morning glow. This is the moment for silent slumber and peace that can even reach into the darkest hearts.

And for some, it marks the end of one life, and the beginning of another.

Darren Shan was lying on the roof of the old movie theatre, and watched this unification of night and day take place. He was peaceful, and his mind was already drifting. The body that held his soul to this earth would soon vanish entirely, and he allowed the peace of the morning light to fill his thoughts.

He knew that not too far away, a little boy slept tight in his bed, never knowing the horrors he had escaped. He knew that in another bed, a different boy was crying himself to sleep, because his dream of becoming a vampire had been crushed this very night.

But for both these boys, a new day was coming, a day of friendship and trust that would not be darkened by Desmond Tiny's plans.

Darren thought of Larten Crepsley, who was asleep in his coffin beneath this very roof. His beloved mentor, whom he would now…- He smiled sadly at the thought -…never get to know.

But things were better this way.

And while Darren Shan closed his eyes and allowed his soul to drift away to paradise, a new morning sun awakened the earth.

"Come inside now Mika, the sun will rise soon."
The dark man nodded absently as he stood by the entrance to the mountain. Paris smiled a little. The two were sharing a rare moment of peace and silence, and he decided to let it last a little longer.

"Where are your thoughts drifting?" The old vampire asked while seating himself on rock. "To the ceremony maybe?"
Mika shook his head and continued to watch the slopes on the mountain and the harsh landscape beneath them. The sun was merely a thin golden line at the horizon, and the moon was still visible as a faint silver coin in the west, next to a few stars that had not faded yet. A streak of warmth was coming from the east, flowing as a warmer stream in a cold river of air, but it was not merely enough to warm them from the cold chill in the rocks.

"It is strange Paris. I feel completely calm. Although I will be a Prince in a few hours… it feels like it is not of importance."

Paris chuckled, and Mika glared at him. He did not often share his thoughts, and he didn't like Paris taking them so lightly. The older vampire smiled apologetically.

"Forgive me Mika. I just was under the impression that the last hundred years of your life had been consisting of getting this far, and therefore I thought that becoming a Prince indeed was important to you."

Mika returned to watch the sunrise.
-"Of course it is of importance for me… But it feels like… there are more important things happening somewhere. I know it sounds stupid…" He sighed and pulled his black cloak tighter around him, not finishing the sentence. "Let us go inside. I cannot come late."

Paris smiled and got on his feet, following the other man inside. Mika was right, he felt it too. Somewhere… the wheel of destiny had taken a different turn.

-"Liz…"
The soft voice reached into her dreams and gently lifted her back to consciousness, where a tickling kiss was placed in the curve of her neck, just beneath the line of dark red hair.

A smile crept upon her face as she realised in whose arms she was resting.

-"Gavner…You're back..." She turned around and faced the man holding her gently in his strong embrace, her eyes starting to shine with joy and love. "You are back!" She let out a squeak of happiness and hugged him tight, feeling his arousing scent fill her nostrils and his scarred but oh so gentle hands pat her hair.
-"I just thought I'd pop by…" He couldn't say more before she kissed him, and she felt him chuckle against her dry lips. "And it seems like you have missed me… oh Liz." He hugged her tighter.

-"What took you so long?" She murmured. "You were supposed to be here a week ago…"
He snuggled his head between her soft breasts and murmured something about a delay. She felt a sting of sadness, of course, there was always a delay. That was the price for loving a vampire…

-"Guess the sun brought you back to me then." She smiled. "Couldn't hide in the darkness no more, could you?"
-"Why would I ever hide from you Liz?" He chuckled again. "But it is true, I came here as fast as I could… or I would be vampire toast by now."
"But the sun hasn't even risen yet…" She replied and played with his chestnut coloured hair. Both lifted their heads and looked out the window. The few clouds floating in the sky today had a soft, pink colour and the roofs of the houses had turned golden. As they were watching, the first ray of light fell inside the room, like a small kitten, carefully searching its way across the floor.

-"Let me just close the curtains." Liz smiled while she freed herself of his embrace and walked to the window. One moment he watched her standing there, bathing in the light, and her beauty took his breath away. An angel… she was an angel, walking here on earth. Loving him.

With a swift movement she closed the heavy curtains, and returned to the bed. Destiny and wars, worries and changes, for the two lovers, nothing really mattered right now, except being close to each other.

"Dawn is the time when light and darkness unite." Kurda rested his pen against the paper and sighed. Was it possible? To unite light and darkness, the two oldest enemies in time? At least the thought was nice… The pen started moving again, as his mind drifted away.

"I wish it could be dawn forever."