Rise To the Light by BonBon

BonBon grabbed her papes and headed towards the harbor, her usual selling spot. Glancing over the headlines she found they were almost all about disappearing corpses. A dead body would be found but would found but before it was buried, it would just disappear. The bulls were baffled. So far, seven prominent citizens including Pulitzer and the Mayors daughter were missing.

"Nude corpse disappears from hospital" Bonbon called out. People crowded around her, eager to buy a pape and get some insight on the mystery.

In less than 15 minutes, BonBon had sold all 50 of her papes. That has to be a record, she thought. With headlines like this, everyone was happy. There was enough money for food, clothes and some gamblin money. Wrinkling her nose at the ever present smell of fish on the docks, she started walking to Brooks candy store. High times meant sugary goodness for breakfast instead of stale bread from the nuns.

"BonBon, wait up" her best friend, Stress called from behind her. BonBon stepped to the side to wait for her.

"Guess what?" Stress said, running up excitedly. "I jist sold 30 papes in 10 minutes. Can you'se believe dat?"

"yeah, cause I sold 50 in 15. BonBon said, smikring.

"the headlines shoah are great aren't dey? Everyday dey keep gettin better" Stress said

"great fer us but bad for da dead people" added BonBon

"true, ya wanna go celebrate at Medda's?"

"celebrate dead people? no tanks. not dat Pulitzer bein gone isn't somethin to be happy about. Whoevah da new poison in charge is is gonna lower da papes ta 40 cents a hundred."

"Dats great" cried Stress, rather loudly. "Now we can celebrate."

She grabbed Bonbon's arm and dragged her to Medda's.

Meanwhile, Aura and Pisky had finished sellin and were also headed to Medda's. Looking down the street Pisky noticed 8 or 9 bulls. They appeared bored. Pisky figured it was better to avoid them then to get arrested because they were looking for trouble. "lets cut down this way" she said to Aura and headed down a side alley. Aura followed. She had no clue where they were going but she knew that Pisky often cut threw alleys and wouldn't get her lost. Rounding a corner they found themselves in a particularly dark alley. Pisky hesitated.

"its darker den usual, it looks different."

"We're not lost are we?" Aura said frowning.

"No, it's just darker. Nothing big" Pisky said.

They started heading down the alley. Halfway down the alley they heard soft, sweet singing. Someone was singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, little star." Pisky and Aura tried not to laugh.

Suddenly, they each felt a cold hand on their backs. Spinning around, Pisky assumed a fighting stance and Aura glanced around for a weapon. Standing before them was a tall, thin woman in a white gown. Her raven hair set of her pale skin and her green eyes. She appeared almost ghostly.

"I'm naming the stars" she mumbled. She glanced them up and down. Her eyes caught hold of Pisky's cat necklace and she reached for it. Catching it between thin fingers she stared at it, entranced.

"Pretty kitty. I had a kitty once. My William ate it. but I'm still his kitten."

"Umm, dat's nice " Pisky mustered while trying to pry cold fingers from her necklace. The woman reeled more of the necklace into her hand. Pisky tried to pull away but the necklace tightened and she couldn't breath. Leaning in, the woman licked Pisky's neck.

"You taste like warm champagne" the woman whispered into her ear, Pisky struggled to pull away but her world was spinning from lack of air. She felt something sharp graze her neck.

"Let her go" Aura yelled. She grabbed a piece of broken wood and hit the woman squarely in the shoulders. Pisky's necklace was released and she stumbled against the wall, gasping for air. Aura pulled back to swing again but the woman seized her arm so tightly she dropped her weapon. Aura screeched in pain as the womans nails dug into her arm so much she could see blood running down her arm.

"You're a naughty, naughty cat" the woman scolded. "They'll be no tea for you today"

"Drusilla!" a deep voice boomed. Aura glanced up terrified. Striding towards her was the handsomest man she ever saw. She forgot about the pain in her arm. The man wrenched Aura's arm out of the woman's grasp and glanced at the bloody impressions.

"They don't look bad. Sorry about that. My Drusilla here can be a bit intense." he said in a perfect English accent. His ice blue eyes stared into hers.

"Dru, pet, what did I say about bothering the local children?" he scolded. In response, Drusilla began to cry and clung to him. He sighed.

"I hope she didn't hurt you. She gets this way sometimes."

"Its fine" Aura said softly. "No harm done"

"Good. I'm Spike and this is Drusilla or Dru" he said offering her his hand. She shook it.

"I'm Aura and that's Pisky" she said motioning to Pisky. Pisky was at the end of the alleyway, impatiently waiting for Aura.

"Do you know of any places to stay, Aura?" Spike asked. Aura almost melted when he said her name. He made it sound so beautiful. Although, in a British accent anything sounds good.

"Well, We'se stay at a lodgin house. We'se got a couple of empty beds" Down the alley Pisky couldn't believe her ears. A few minutes ago that crazy lady almost killed her and now Aura was offering them a place to stay. She was gonna stop this. She marched down the alley towards them.

"i'se really don't think our lodgin house is the best place fer you'se. Foist of all, you gots ta be a newsie ta stay there. but there is a nice Inn down by the harbor. Just take a left at the end of this alley and go eat for a block. its a real nice place." Glancing at her pocketwatch she decided it was time to go. "Sorry, but we''se gotta run now. we'se got papes ta sell. great meetin both of you'se though. good luck."

She grabbed Aura and hauled her down the alley and back to the lodgin house. Drusilla whined as she saw them go. She held her hand out towards Pisky.

"Sorry, Luv"Spike apologized, kissing her. "You can play with your new friends later. I'm sure we'll see the, again" "But she was tasty" Drusilla pouted.

"Like warm champagne"

"Tonight" he promised "Tonight, my darling, you can have any child is this blasted city that you desire." Drusilla's dollish features fell away to reveal glowing eyes and sharp fangs. Leaning in, she bit Spikes lip and suckled the blood.

"It'll be a great tea party, won't it" she asked.

"Of course, and maybe one of those newsgirls will become the child we've always wanted" Drusilla's features became normal again and she laughed and twirled around. Then the pair went to find the Inn and maybe a maid for lunch.