Disclaimer: Meh! I don't own anything.

A/N: j0 everyone. My new fanfic! Don't worry, I'll still be updating Along the Way (I know, I'm getting lazy, lol...). Enjoy!

Chapter One: It Begins

I stare as a bunch on hobbits walk into the prancing pony. Their eyes are wild, at least the blue-eyed one's are. I yawn and lean back in my chair. Ah, so, this is the great ring-bearer. I yawn again, and hope that something will happen very soon.

Imur is telling them how they have nice rooms for hobbits. I snort. Yeah, I guess you could call them that.

I redirect my attention to Strider. I know his past well. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and heir to Isildur's throne (though I know he would never admit it). I don't know him personally, but I have read his mind. It's easy when you're a vampire. I lick my fangs. I'm hungry.

"Bartender!" I yell, "A pint of human blood!"

The hobbits stare at me as if I were going to drink their blood. I flash my fangs in an evil smile, and they look away. I laugh. The ring-bearer goes by the name of "Underhill". I search his mind, and find that his real name is Frodo Baggins. Well, that name isn't very honorable either.

"Meow!"

I look down to see my black cat,. Hikari, staring at me. I have her with me because seeing her form allows me to transform into a black cat. And she is my animal counterpart.

I smile, "Hello, puss."

I feel a presence coming up behind me. Another vampire, I'm sure. And sure enough, a boy with shoulder-length black hair appears. His blood-red eyes and black-feathered wings make him an unmistakable vampire. He might have come to hit on me. I am quite a pretty vampire. He doesn't look bad himself. We vampires are elegant, in our own dark sort of way.

"What do you want?" I ask him.

"A kiss," He says, flashing his fangs, "I'm--"

"Pheneus." I finish casually for him, "And that cat's your animal counterpart, Ryu."

"Touché, Remi." He shoots back at me, grinning. The grin is a taunting, provocative one. We vampires hardly smile from happiness the way humans do.

I sigh, "Go away. If you wish to know more, I'm 500, but my body is 15.That cat is my animal counter part, Hikari."

He licks his fangs, "I'll be back for you, baby."

I growl, as he disappears, and turn my attention back to the hobbits. One of them (Pippin, I decipher) is staring at his friend (Merry's) beer.

"They come in pint's?" He asks, "I'm getting one."

I watch as Pippin walks over to Imur, and asks for a pint of beer. I grimace. I hate beer. It tastes like shit.

Who was that Pheneus? And I was correct, he did want to hit on me. Ugh. I should have drained his blood out when I had the chance. "I'll be back for you, baby."? Whatever.

I direct my attention towards Strider. This time he notices me. He is passive, until he realizes that I have black wings and blood-red eyes. Then he scowls, and I think he has lowered his barriers so that I can read his mind. Humans can't send mind messages. Vampires can.

Fowl creature, I see you looking at the ring-bearer and his friends. I'm sure you have read his mind .Do not hunt them, for we taste my blade, He thinks.

I send him back a message, Hahaha. Men are such fools. I came here to help guard the ring-bearer. But first I stopped by Rivendale. You see, like you, I am a ranger. Your dear Evenstar bids you hello.

Arwen? What do you know of her? Is she well? Strider's eyes are open wide.

But I don't answer, because Hikari mews, and point in Pippin's direction.

"Underhill? Him?" Pippin is saying, more than a little drunk, "That's Baggins, that is. Frodo Baggins."

I growl. What an asshole. Looks like things are going to happen sooner than I expected.

Strider gets up, and I send mental message to him, What's your room number?

5, He thinks back. I head to his room, and wait for him to come.

Strider walks in, and throws Frodo on the floor. I have shape-shifted into a cat, and I now sit in the corner with Hikari.

Frodo scrambles to his feet, his eyes wild, "What do you want from me?"

"A little more caution from you. That is no trinket you carry," Strider answers.

"I carry nothing," Frodo states, but I can hear the slight waver in his voice. Pitiful hobbit, never been out of the Shire.

"Indeed," Strider replies sarcastically, "I cant avoid being seen, if I wish. But to disappear entirely-"

Strider takes a moment to remove his hood.

"-that is a rare gift."

"Who are you?" Frodo challenges.

"Are you afraid?" Strider asks, and it sounds like a taunt to me.

Frodo nods, "Yes."

Strider's reply is, "Not nearly frightened enough. I know what hunts you."

At this point, the hobbits Sam, Pippin, and Merry burst in. Sam shouts, "Let him go! Or I'll have you, Longshanks!"

"Pfffffftttt! Hahahahahahaha!" I cannot hold in the laughter that overwhelms me, and I change back to my human form, although I am in the shadows still.

Strider rolls his eyes, "Vampire, reveal yourself from the shadows. And you, you have a stout heart, little hobbit. But that will not save you now. Gandalf will not come, Frodo. They're coming."

I stay in the shadows, amused at the faces of the hobbits. Hikari stays too. Pippin and Merry are looking into the shadows for me, but I blend in perfectly. Sam and Frodo seem to be wondering who "They" are.

Strider rolls his eyes again, "Vampire, I said reveal yourself."

I smirk, and step out of the shadows, "That's, Remi. And the cat's Hikari."

Frodo and the other hobbits stare at me. I laugh, "What? I don't bite, unless if I'm hungry. But you should get some rest. You're safe with Strider and me."

The hobbits eventually fall asleep, and I find myself sitting on the windowsill across from Strider. Both of us are waiting for the Nazgúl, we know they will come. Hikari is on my lap, and I am stroking her neck.

Strider stares at me, "May I ask you something? How did you know my name? How old are you? How old is the body you are in? So you are a vampire? Why are you here? How is my Arwen? Do you accompany us to Rivendale?"

I smile devilishly, "Yes. Telekinesis. 500. 15. Yes. Because. Fine. Yes."

"So then," he asks, "You serve the ring-bearer."

"I serve no man," I growl, "As it is, I'm here because I was bored. Vampires prefer to live life on the edge."

The rest of the night goes in silence. The first noise we hear, is the screech of the Nazgul, fooled by our fake beds. This wakes the hobbits.

"Who are they?" Frodo asks.

Strider looks distant, "They are the Nazgul. They were once 9 great kings of men. Sauron the Deceiver gave them 9 rings of power. Blinded by their greed, they took them without question, one-by-one, falling into darkness. They are neither dead nor alive. and they will stop at nothing to find you, Frodo."

"We leave, then?" I ask.

Strider nods, "We leave."

A/N: Thanks for reading! I hope j00 liked it!

Remi

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