Part 5 Susanna wasn't exactly sure what she was expecting when she arrived at the small town on the outskirts of L.A. where Selene had directed her to go. ~What were you hoping for?~ she asked herself caustically. ~Sunnydale? Sweet Valley?~ She made a gagging gesture. Her life was fucked up enough as it was. The town was called Greenville, and seemed fairly normal as she drove through the streets, like a town anywhere. Large houses with neatly tended lawns, two-car garages. Few people out and about, enjoying the bright sunny weather before the real September cold set in. Only a Night Person would be able to sense the distinct *differentness* about it. There was a Power in the air. Even sitting in her car Susanna could feel it crawling along her skin, raising the fine hairs on her arms and along the back of her neck. A feeling she disliked immensely. She'd never felt anything like it before. She hated being attuned to...*power*...in the air, knowing it was there, feeling it sucking at her. She shuddered, wishing everything could go back to the way it was before. She cut the thought off abruptly, as she pulled up outside of the house she was supposed to be staying in. There were two other cars in the drive, an ordinary every-day Ford Sedan, and a sleek silver-grey Porsche. Her eyebrow raised slightly. With a lump in her throat she ran the doorbell. A small girl with long red hair, bright green eyes and a friendly smile answered the door. Susanna found herself at a loss for words. What if she was at the wrong address or something? "I'm looking for..." she trailed off. Who *was* she looking for? "You must be Suzy. Come on in. We've been expecting you?" Susanna managed a faint smile. Not even than or Tiegra dared called her *Suzy*. ~Damn you Selene,~ she thought following the redhead into the house. She seemed to have been damning a lot of people lately. ~You're twice as damned as they are,~ a snide voice in her head sneered. Susanna ignored it, not wanting to deal with the harsh truth of the words. She was led into a small lounge area where three other people were on couches and chairs. On one couch a guy with long stringy blond hair and blue eyes that glowed like sapphires was lounging curiously. He was dressed casually in a white tank top and jean cut offs, showing off his muscular body. One girl in a blue arm chair was tall, even sitting down, dressed in a black turtle neck and a short black skirt showing off long slender legs. Black hair fell to her shoulders, dark eyes flashed strangely. Like most Night People her features were model-perfect. The third girl on another arm chair looked more human than the others, with ordinary brown hair, and an ordinary face, which Susanna found rather relieving. "I'm Shanna," the redhead said cheerfully. "The guy is Jack, the black haired girl is Kathryn, and the brunette is Bridget." Susanna tried to smile. "I'm Suzy." She was already starting to hate the name. There was an uncomfortable silence. Susanna could immediately tell they were already as curious about her, as she was about them. "Well, I'll show you to your room," Shanna said, leading her out the lounge. Her perkiness was starting to get annoying. Upstairs seemed larger. "There are three bedrooms, and two bathrooms, and a computer room," Shanna said. "I share with Bridget. You'll be rooming with Kathryn. Jack shares with Carter." Susanna's interest was slightly piqued. "Who's Carter?" Shanna's eyes twinkled. "He's not here right now. He's only the most gorgeous guy you've ever seen." Her smile turned dreamy. Susanna nodded her thanks before stepping in her new room and closing the door. After unpacking her meagre possessions she sat on the bed, wondering what to do. Who were those people downstairs? Everyone here was running from something. She was no exception. A slow pit of dread was growing in her stomach. Just *what* had she gotten herself into here? * * *