Disclaimer: I own none of the original Death Note characters. Maud is my OC. I own her, but no one else.

Chapter 1:

He stood on the street corner. Watching. Waiting. Waiting for something. Someone. Several cars sped past, clouds of dust and small rocks being flung across the pavement. The streetlights were flickering weakly providing poor illumination. Minutes became hours as he waited for the streets to empty. Fewer witnesses made an easier job; anyone who lived to see his actions would not see much else.

The roads began to clear as the few teenagers who were still out were beginning to rush around frantically in order to make it back before curfew. A loud growling filled his stomach. He had not fed in days. As the hunger began to take over, he found it increasingly difficult to control his cravings. "Just wait a little while longer", he thought to himself. "There are still too many people out".

This soon became almost unbearable. Then finally she came. His sweet release from the hunger that was burning him inside out. The street was completely empty other than them. An evil grin spread across his ghostly pale face. No witnesses!

Making sure that he hadn't yet been spotted, he started following her, observing every aspect of her appearance. She was roughly the same height as him; 5'6. She had very long light, brown hair that tumbled down her back in loose ringlets. She was wearing a school uniform; it belonged to the local comprehensive. Her skirt was rolled up; she was wearing high heels and had a massive handbag sitting in the crack of her elbow.

She turned around suddenly, making it necessary for him to hide. Fortunately, he had pretty sharp reflexes and there were multiple trees planted into the tarmac. He took refuge behind the nearest one whilst she looked around behind herself. She was shaking. Partially with cold and partially in fear. This made his grin widen. Ooh, this was going to be interesting.

The frequency of her looking behind increased to once a minute. His patience was wearing thin. He managed to get a good look at her in the process though. She looked incredibly nervous, grin widened still but something bothered him. She was wearing a shocking amount of makeup. She was only fifteen (her tie was the year 10 one) He sighed slightly at this. Whatever, she was entitled to do as she pleased; especially as that ability would be lost relatively soon.

A while later, she decided that she was safe and finally stopped turning around. It was getting quite late so his chances of getting her were getting slim. For some odd reason, she turned into an alley way. "Is she an idiot or what?" he thought. Why the Hell would you go into an alley at quarter to ten in December? Oh well. Made his job easier. He began to pick up his pace. His was right behind her. He could clearly see the veins in her neck. See her blood. Smell it.

He was fighting every urge to just attack her then and there. It was so difficult. He swallowed saliva to try and satisfy the thirst. It wasn't working. He had to do it. With grace and dexterity that few possess, he gripped her shoulder tightly and swung her around, pinning her back to the wall of the alley.

She screamed and dropped her bag, the contents of which was littering the pavement. Her eyes widened in terror as his grin became a smile; a cruel, blood curdling smile that sent shivers down your spine. He didn't cover her mouth. He wanted to hear her cry. Scream in terror, beg for her life, and howl in pain. It was one of the few things in his pathetic excuse for a life that began two years previously that he still enjoyed. He laughed softly to himself at this thought.

"w-what are y-y-you?", she stuttered as his eyes turned crimson. He responded with a cold laugh that made her shrink back in fear.

He slid her neck back and ran an ice cold finger across it. He then ran his tongue across it, his icy saliva dripping down her neck causing her to whimper. Without any hesitation, he plunged his fangs deep into her, tearing at the flesh of her neck. Her shrieks of agony echoed around the alleyway. The pain was indescribable.

After a while, he decided that he had fed sufficiently. He pulled away from her and smashed her against the pavement. "p-please d-d-don't hurt m-me." she managed, tears rolling down her checks. Maniacal laughter sounded from him with blood dripping from his mouth. He tore her to shreds.

He retrieved a small container of petrol and doused her body in it. Her face had the look of surrender as his laughter subsided. He pulled out a lighter and dropped it on her body.

It combusted almost immediately. He stood over the body, admiring his handiwork. He was grinning like a pyromaniac, his fangs illuminated in the glow. He had never heard one of his victims make so much noise. Her howls of agony were painful to hear. A foul smell filled the air as her flesh began to melt in the heat. Her skin was bubbling and clouds of smoke came of her body. There were two sharp pops as her eyes burst. He grinned again.

The young vampire ran his fingers through his fire-red hair, pulled his amber goggles over his eyes and pulled out a cigarette. He leant over the smouldering body to light it. The clouds gave in and rain came down, putting out the flames. She was completely unrecognisable, but there were very distinct stab wounds and two massive puncture marks amongst the torn flesh of her neck. He stood up again and walked off into the darkness. He heard in the distance the screams of people who found what remained of her body. He grinned again at this but continued back home.

"The body of a teenaged girl was found in an alleyway in Hackney in the early hours of yesterday morning. We have identified her as Kathleen Elis from her school ID card that was found next to her. The police are interrogating suspects. From the post-mortem, the coroner thinks that she was burnt alive but somehow lost large amounts of blood. There were multiple stab wounds across her body. Her neck had been torn to shreds and there were two curious puncture marks. If anyone has anyone information about the murder, it would be greatly appreciated." The red-haired vampire went to turn off the radio.

"Well, we'll have to be more careful," he said to his friend. "There is a homicidal arsonist on the loose." They grinned at each other laughing softly.