A/N: Here is chapter two. Nothing great happens here but I hope you like it anyway. :)

I stepped off the bus into warm air. L. A. was flowing with energy and around me everyone scurried from place to place. No one really cared about the blonde girl standing alone. The drunken man had gotten off and immediately retreated into the crowd. The rest of the people strayed to their own destinations. Soon, I was standing completely alone.

I began to walk down the street, not really sure where I was going. I knew I needed a place to sleep. Sleep, of course, was the furthest thing from my mind. Come sundown, I would be able to mourn in the only way I knew how… kicking some strong demon ass. The weather was perfect for the vamps to wander out looking for a meal. The sun would be going down soon… I needed a weapon.

I wandered down a street until I came across an old flee market. Inside was a sweet old lady sitting on a rocking chair. She smiled and asked if I needed anything in particular. I shook my head and wandered into the back. Behind a big stack of boxes I found an old walking stick. It was made of strong wood with a vine running up it. It was beautiful and would make me a fine set of stakes. I went back to the woman and waited as she addressed another customer. Finally, she turned her attention to me.

"How much is this?" I asked, immediately reaching for the spare money that was in my pocket. It wasn't much and I knew I had to spend it cautiously… but I needed stakes.

"Oh, dear. That was my hubby's. I think I will give it to you for $5."

I looked at the money in my hand and then back to the stick. It was beautiful and worth a lot more… but I couldn't afford a lot more. I looked up at her apologetically. "Would you take $3?"

The old woman looked at me and I could imagine what she thought. Maybe this little girl has a grandpa who needs it. Maybe her father is sick. Maybe there is someone very close to this girl who needs it and she doesn't have the money. For some reason, the woman smiled at me. "Honey, I think I will take $3."

I handed her the money and walked out with my new prize. Now, the only thing I needed was a sharp knife to whittle me a stake. The only problem with that was finding a knife to do the job and still have a slaying purpose.

It was late… the sun on its way to bed. I was walking around the park. The walking stick was still clenched in my hand. I had not found a knife so I had had to find a backup plan. Unfortunately the backup plan had to consist of a demon yielding a sharp knife.

I waited until the entire city was bathed in darkness. I began wandering around the shadows… my ears were listening for any sound I could decipher.

"Hello pretty little thing."

I turned and faced a young man. I could smell the vampire on him and I smiled. "Hi. How are you?" My eyes scanned his stature and he didn't look too big. He had his hands folded as he leaned against the building. To my satisfaction he pulled out a nice sized dagger.

"How about you follow me?" A sneer came across his face and he spun the knife around in his fingers.

I smiled back at him. "You know… I like that knife. How about you give me that?"

His lips curled as he changed into his vamp face. "Listen here, Sweetheart, you're going to follow me or I will just kill you here."

I shrugged. "Works for me."