Prologue: Blue-Eyed Baby
Diane Weatherly lived in a house on the edge of a large forest in Scotland. Her grandmother had owned the house before she did, and now she owned it along with her husband David. Her daughter, Lizzie, who was only four years old, was currently playing outside while Diane read her book.
a girl... little, very little... looks tasty...
"Mummy! Come look what I made!" Lizzie called.
"I'll be right there, honey," Diane said back. She looked at her watch, it was almost lunch time.
it's almost lunch time...
"Lizzie, darling, do you want a sarnie?"
yes... little girl sarnies sound good right now. good thinking...
"Yes, Mummy!"
what should we do about the mother? she's going to be out any second...
Diane got out the food and started making the sarnies.
stop making so much noise, you'll attract attention...
There was a small scuffling noise from outside. Diane looked out of the window to check on Lizzie.
"Lizzie? Are you okay?"
"I-- I'm fine... Mummy!"
ah! she bit me!
it's a toddler, what did you expect?
she drew blood, dammit...
Diane put the sandwich on the plate and went into the garden where Lizzie was playing. Lizzie's toys were spread all around, but Lizzie wasn't there.
quick! run! run! run!
"Lizzie! Are you hiding?" Diane called.
"Mummy, come and find me!"
idiot! you idiot!
Diane put the plate onto Lizzie's play table and looked around.
"Lizzie?"
don't say a word!
"MUMMY! MUMMY! MUMMY!"
run! leave the girl, we can find something cheaper later!
Lizzie came running out of the forest crying. She latched onto Diane's legs, blubbering.
"Lizzie, what happened?" Diane asked. Lizzie looked towards the forest. "Is there something in the forest?" Lizzie nodded. "Now, I'm sure that's not true. There's nothing to be afraid of in the forest, see-- look, I'll go in and see, all right?"
she's coming! hide!
i'm not going to hide from potential food. i'm starved.
Diane ventured towards the forest and went a little ways in. She turned back to Lizzie.
"See? Nothing there--" she was cut off by something dropping in front of her from a tree. It was a girl, probably in her late teens with long silvery blonde hair and skin so pale that it was almost transuculent. She was wearing a sort of white, thin smock that covered her from the top of her neck to her ankles. "Are you all right?" Diane asked. The girl looked up at her, then smiled.
In one moment, the girl had leapt up and pinned Diane to a tree.
"Maxine! We don't have all day!" she yelled.
"Who are you?" Diane asked. The girl ignored her.
"Maxine!" Another girl dropped from the trees.
"God, I'm here. I'm here," the girl said.
"Come on, get your share--" Lizzie started screaming loudly.
"You take this one, Sal, I'll get the baby," the girl named Maxine sneered. She stalked over to Lizzie and picked her up. 'Sal' turned and looked Diane in the face.
"Well, you're not exactly the pure-thoughted virgin I would have liked," she said, taking one hand off of Diane, but still effectively pinning her to the tree. She held up her free hand for Diane to see clearly as long, sharp claws grew from it. "But, you'll have to do, won't you?"
"What are you?" Diane asked.
"Keep that fear up, it'll make it sweet," Sal said. She placed her hand onto Diane's face, her claws digging deep into her cheeks. Diane felt all of the blood drain away from her face, she started to feel lightheaded.
"Oh, great, not you two again." A voice said. Sal and Maxine both turned towards the voice to see a tall boy holding a plastic bag in his hand. "I thought we exiled you,"
"Yeah, we came back," Sal said.
"Easy way or hard way?" the boy asked. Sal rolled her eyes and dropped the woman.
"I'm sick of the hard way, we'll go quietly this time," she said, holding out her hands.
"Great," Sal and the boy both looked over at Maxine. "Max?" he asked. Maxine dropped the limp girl and started walking towards him.
"Just so you know, this was all her fault. If we had just hit the hospital, like we normally do--"
"Save it for the Philodox, Max," the boy said, pulling gloves onto his hands and grabbing them both by the arms. "I'm pretty sure we now have enough on you for the death penalty,"