AN: Jennifer's Body meets The Devil Wears Prada. I do hope you're hungry my darlings. *chuckles*

Warning: Some gore; will get worse in time

Chapter 1

Looking at my own reflection
When suddenly it changes
Violently it changes

The thirty-sixth annual Elias-Clarke Christmas Extravaganza was in full swing; light holiday music plays softly in the background, colorless lights twinkling from their well-placed holds, and an endless supply of alcohol flowing. It set a sort of relaxed festive mood that had all of New York's top movers and shakers chattering obnoxiously to one another. Decked out in the finest dresses money or loveless sex could buy, women of various ages glided across the inky marble flooring with their heads held high and their movements stiff in a clichéd look of snobbery. The men, although clad in mostly Armani suits and Ralph Lauren ties strutted around like proud peacocks competing in the age-old game of whose was bigger. Their pompous bragging echoing throughout the room in an attempt to impress the females with their thick wallets and sickening charms.

In the centre, amongst the social chaos, Andy and Emily strolled behind their 'Queen' like faithful canines, whispering names that long should have been ingrained into a brain but never really were worth the time. "You simply must stay for the after party, Miranda; I hear tale that it is going to be different this year." An older posh woman coaxed following it with a light laugh, her voice sounding like a typical rich bitch.

The brunette inwardly cringed. The woman was every stereotypical upper-class woman rolled into one. From those light blonde curls piled on top of her head to the Oscar de la Renta baby pink dress, which in Andy's opinion looked far too young for her, that draped her surgically altered form. Her aura was one that screamed; I am and always will be better than you.

"Oh?" Miranda feigned interest, lifting a glass of sparkling champagne to cloak the annoyed purse of her lips. She was dressed to kill tonight, the midnight black low cut Valentino she'd chosen contrasting beautifully with her milky skin giving the illusion that the woman was glowing. She and her assistants were the only women wearing black tonight. A bold statement given the fact that this was supposed to be a cheerful holiday affair. Not that Andrea minded, Miranda personally picked out the backless modest Chanel that was now clinging to her shapely body like a glove. The brunette would not admit it to anyone but that kind of made her feel special that The Miranda Priestly took time out of a busy schedule for her, a second assistant, a nobody.

The woman smiled almost predatory, showing off all those gleaming chiclets. "Oh yes, I heard it's going to be most spectacular."

The 'interest' faded into a hum of 'disappointment'. "I'm afraid, I am not going to be able to stay for rest of this little;" Eyes narrowed as if trying to locate the correct word. "gathering this year, you see my girls." The Ice Queen trailed off, turning that regal head slowly elsewhere, boldly letting the other woman come to her own conclusion.

Oh Miranda, you big liar you, Andy thought quarreling with the urge to snort. The girls were a little over a hundred miles away at their grandmother's for the whole entire week.

"Well, I'm sure your girls' babysitter will be more than happy to keep them for another hour or so." A slimy masculine voice sounded from behind them interrupting the conversation and royally pissing off Miranda. The women turned around in sync only to have Irv, in all his five foot two glory come into view. With his tiny arms crossed and gray lips broke out into a Cheshire grin, he looked far too pleased about something.

Sapphires intensified into a glare that could melt flesh from bone. "Like I said I simply can not." The statement was low yet carried enough venom to ward off the stupidest of men.

Yet, it did not.

"Oh nonsense Miranda, they'll be fine. Call your babysitter if you must." There was an unspoken threat behind those words that practically screamed you will or else.

"Alright, I suppose it would not harm me to stay for just a bit longer." Miranda relented although it came through gritted teeth. Her reward; A sickly grin of pure triumph.

Mrs. Chiclet Teeth clapped her hands together lightly, thoroughly pleased at the decision. "excellent" Scratch out chiclet teeth; Hello Mrs. Burns. Andy giggled. As soon as it burst out of those plump lips she automatically clamped a hand over them; her wide brown eyes darted around the group hoping beyond hope that she was not heard.

But alas she should have known better than to hope.

Four sets of eyes weighed down upon her with various emotions flashing across them; two of curiosity, another with a level of embarrassment that rivaled her own, and the last, most important one, was indescribable. "Care to share with the rest of us just what is so amusing, Andréa."

Heat ascended an elegant neck only to settle onto two pale cheeks causing them to run crimson."Noth..nothing Miranda." Mortified utterly completely mortified, if Andy could have crawled underneath a rock right this minute she would have.

A hum was the response. Letting Andrea know that Miranda knew she was lying but would drop it. For now at least.

The older woman behind brayed like a donkey." Awe she is just adorable, Where ever did you get her, Miranda?"

Andy inwardly scowled but managed to kept her face neutral. What the hell did she look like a prize poodle? "Oh one has their ways" Miranda smiled baring her teeth like an agitated cat and that's when Andy felt it; a warm hand on her forearm gently signaling her to come forward until she was standing side by side with Miranda. "Claudia, this is my second assistant Andréa Sachs." Feeling uncomfortable underneath all this scrutiny, Andy sifted her feet a bit and gave the older woman a dorky little wave. "Hi." Christ, she sounded like a timid school girl.

The woman's gray vulture-like eyes seared an unwelcome path over Andy's body; beginning at her classic up-do, they moved downward hesitating for a moment on the pixie round face, then stopping to lustily gaze at a shy cleavage, still they dragged onward onto and over long coltish legs, finally coming to an conclusion at a matching pair of black Louboutin heels.

"Well, she is a beautiful one." The woman licked her lips making Andrea shutter in disgust.

"Indeed" The hand that was once on her arm mere moments ago was now placed upon her lower back; its blunt nails digging slightly into her skin involuntary showing Miranda's discomfort. She silently cursed, of all the nights, she had to choose this night to wear something backless. Wait, Miranda thought see was beautiful. For some reason, Andy's heart fluttered for a moment then fell in the next. This was probably just some kind of pissing contest. Oh, you have a pretty assistant? Well, have a look at mine, type of deal. Angry mounted within Andrea, prize poodle indeed.

A moment of awkward silence fell over the group like a saturated wool blanket.

"Andréa" The brunette's gaze snapped upward only to have them drown in an ocean of deep blue irises. "I need you to pick up the book for me tonight." The voice was low enough where only Andy had heard. "Yes, Miranda" Miranda turned her head towards Emily to see if she was listening and of course she was. "You two may go."

They both nodded in acknowledgment like the good slaves they were and headed towards the nearest exit. "About bloody time." Emily mumbled when they were a safe distance away from sensitive ears.

Nodding, Andy snorted in agreement. "You're telling me. I thought we were never going to get to leave."

And there it was that wicked little laugh Andy only ever heard when was up shit creek. "Oh but you still have to retrieve the book don't you?" came a British sing-song voice.

That delightful relieved expression deflated instantly. "Shit" The hyena-like cackling turned hysterical. Andy's eyelids narrowed, taking in the other woman. Somedays she seriously contemplated murdering the bottle redhead.

Grumbling manically underneath her breath, Andy trudged into the mostly empty Elias-Clarke building with an aura that cautioned people that it would be wise just give this girl a wide berth. Why did she have to do this? Wasn't Emily the first assistant? White teeth clenched and the hands by her sides curled into fists in sheer annoyance. She was exhausted, frustrated, staving, and there were only three things she wanted to do; go home, eat a couple cheese toasties, and cuddle up with Nate underneath a nice warm duvet.

But as soon as she entered the printing room, those fantasies were shot to hell and back when Greg flashed her an apologetic smile that just rubbed her the wrong way for some reason. "I'm sorry Andy but the book is nowhere near done."

"What? Why? It's freaking;" She squinted at the clock on the far wall. "nine o' clock"

"Well, normally Miranda doesn't demand the book when she attends these events." Rage boiled deep within her gut, prompting angry tears to tickle behind her eyelids.

A few calming breaths later. "Okay, when is it going to be done."

He hummed pondering the question for a moment. "I'd have to say in about two hours."

Aggravation blazed and Andy had to quite literally resist the urge to punch him in those pitying puppy dog eyes of his. "Two hours?" She managed to keep a calm face but inwardly it was an altogether different story. Two hours! Two freaking hours! Christ! what did they make that book out of CoCo Chanel's originals and a vial Valentino's blood!?

"Yeah I'm sorry but like I said before the book is nowhere near done." Not trusting the famous Sachs temper of hers, she spun around in an agitated huff and strode out of the room heading towards her desk to prepare for two long hours of Solitary.

Those two hours went by surprisingly quickly once she figured out that the internet wasn't password protected. She grinned naughtily like a child getting away with stealing a cookie. It was a nearly microscopic victory but it was a victory nevertheless. As soon as the book entered her hand she was gone; out of that stupid building and onto the next subway to Miranda's. The ride, thankfully, was smooth with minimum crazies and lunatics. Also, the sidewalk was strangely vacate making Andy's nocturnal journey so much easier.

And so here she was almost three hours later standing in front of the mighty presence of the townhouse fishing in her jacket pockets for the key.

Quietly so as not to disturb the slumbering 'dragon', Andy silently slid the key in and unlocked the door. Creeping through the entrance, she unconsciously began to walk on her tiptoes over to the table and with all the concentration of someone defusing a bomb, she placed the book on its surface. She was just about to turn towards the exit when the heavy wooden door flung open with enough force to slam into the nearby wall.

Startled, Andrea jolted somewhat sideways causing her to nearly fall over. With a hand clamped over a now pounding heart, she just barely managed to stifle a terrified scream from bursting through her plump lips when her fuzzy brain finally recognized who the intruder was.

Chest heaving, Andy tried to collect herself. "Miranda! You scared me!"

Silence.

The older woman just stood there sagging heavily against the doorway. "Miranda, are you alright?" A creepy slightly clownish grin spread across thin pink lips showing off discolored teeth. Instinctively the brunette took a step backwards. Yes, perhaps it would be best just to wait for Miranda to vacate the doorway.

Finally, the older woman must have gained her bearings and drunkingly moved forward.

And it was then when the older woman materialized farther into the light, that Andy really got a good look at the overall damage. Skin normally a beautiful alabaster was now a sickly ashen, eyes usually crystal clear and hawkish were now two sunken dead orbs, and that crown and glory of silvery white hair was a dirty frayed mess. Last but not least that gorgeous midnight black Valentino, that hugged those curves so deliciously, just hours ago was now nothing but a decorative rag.

Jeez, just what the hell went on at these after parties? She had heard the stories. Well, actually she watched a movie on Lifetime once about what goes on a those after parties. Where they pass around goblets of drug-laced liquor and watched lustily as naked virgins danced on silken pillows but nevertheless it must be true because this woman had all the appearance of someone that had either been in a knockdown drag-out brawl or an orgy.

"Miranda?" came a mouse's squeak.

Once again no answer came, instead, the Fashionista merely stumbled past the dumbfounded younger woman and slid her way down the darkened hall. Not even acknowledging the pictures and painting hitting the carpeted floor in loud thumps that were unfortunate enough to be in her path. It took everything Andy had to resist the urge to help the woman but she knew if she were to even attempt it she would most likely be jobless tonight.

For a moment, Andy just stood there debating on what to do. Should she just leave and pretend like she'd seen nothing or should she follow her to make sure she was alright? In the end, the latter won out. Big surprise there. "shit shit shit" With muscles bunched and eyes wide, she crept through the eerily quiet house. She had never been this far in Miranda's house and truth be told she was seriously contemplating just backing out. A ragged breath left her lungs, this is Miranda, she won't hurt you. She hoped.

Finally the hallway came to its grand conclusion which not surprisingly enough was an enormous modern/ old style kitchen. With all the bravery of a cautious deer, she stepped through the entrance, wincing physically when her high heels clicked sharply against the linoleum. Sucking in a deep breath in a vain attempt to 'cowboy up', she walked farther into the room scanning the entire scene with unblinking eyes. It did not take her long to locate her prize.

A gasp of horror rushed through her now gaping mouth.

There, in front of an open stainless steel and black refrigerator, with various condiments littered around her, Miranda sat on her haunches, tearing into a whole roasted chicken with her bare hands and shoving fistfuls of the meat through greedy lips with a look of pure ecstasy written across those normally icy facial features. On her chin and upper lip, a sheen of grease mixed in with only God knows what, shinned in the dim light making Andy's face twist in disgust.

Well, at least it wasn't raw.

This kind of reminded her of the time Nate smoked salvia in college, he thought he was in a pool of chocolate pudding for two hours. She liked to have never have coaxed him out of that bathtub.

A high pitched whine shattered the room's silence like fine glass dragging Andy's cloudy mind back to the present. What the hell? head rotating and eyes darting in their sockets, it did not take her long to locate source; underneath the dining room table, an enormous furry shape sat quivering against the farthest chair.

Andrea squinted against the darkness. "Patty?" The St. Bernard's ears perked and head lifted.

A small smile split across full lips. She always liked Patricia, mainly because she was the only Priestly that was nice. "Hey girl, come on." she clapped her hands together. "come here."

The dog leaned forward a bit as if debating on whether or not to move, big brown eyes shifted over towards the fridge and a whimper made it's way through those massive jaws. A primal decision only known to Patricia was made and she carefully tucked that massive body of hers back into the safety of the shadows.

"Damn, Miranda you even managed to scare a hundred and twenty-five pound dog." Grinning, she shook her head, turning back to the woman in question. Just in time to see Miranda carelessly toss the skinned carcass over her shoulder and stand awkwardly in a motion that reminded Andy of a newborn foal. She made a few shaky steps holding onto anything and everything for support only to come to a complete stop a few feet from Andy.

Suddenly, she bowed over as if in agony; mouth falling open wide and veins budging she retched violently letting loose an inky black river of putrid liquid onto the pristine white tiles below. Filling the room with an acidly, bitter scent that immediately stirred Andrea's stomach.

The brunette stood still as a statue, contemplating on whether to aid or fetch holy water.

"Miranda, are you alright?" At the sound of Andrea's voice, that regal head snapped upward and those dull lifeless eyes slowly slid in their sockets only to come to a halt right on her. The older woman tilted her head to the side as if studying Andy.

An inhuman growl rumpled through those thin pink lips.

At the sound, mocha eyes widened to epic proportions Ooh shit. "Mira.." Before the full name could tumble from her lips Miranda launched across the room; shoving the brunette painfully hard against the nearest wall and knocking the breath from her lungs. Shit! she's strong. The thought vaguely crossed Andy's mind as her body bowed against the iron-like grip on her forearms. What the hell? The woman could barely lift a dress by herself without needing some sort of assistance.

Petrified, Andy could only stand there trembling as that Roman nose nuzzled into her shoulder and brushed against her cheek leaving a tingling path in its wake; it traveled to her earlobe for a moment causing eyelids to squeeze shut at the sound of heavy breathing and the feel of moist heat caressing her skin in puffs. Andrea's nostrils flared in a closed mouth gasp unknowingly inhaling a thick cloud of copper, perfume, and the unmistakable aroma of death.

She gagged; stomach turning and churning sending bile scorching a path up her throat. "Jesus, please forgi..Her internal prayer was halted by a movement downward. And in the next second she felt them; teeth, sharp and sure raking across the pale skin at the column of her neck. Andy froze entirely, her breath caught in her lungs and pupils were blown wide, her eyelids dared not blink.

She felt lips pull into a smirk against her skin then a second later that mouth was centimeters from her ear. "Are you scared, Ann-dray-uh?"

Swallowing thickly, Andy nodded slowly.

A throaty chuckle echoed throughout the room causing the brunette's body and heart to jump."Then perhaps you should leaveee." And that was all it took. The muscles that had been taut from the very beginning snapped like a rubber band sending her propelling forward out of the kitchen, through the hallway, and finally to the exit. The door thankfully was still wide open from before and without hesitation, she bolted through it running at full speed off into the darkness.

TBC...