A/N: Okay, it wasn't guilt this time… it was sheep boredom and the lack of having any good stories in my favorite box that have been updated lately.

Disclaimer: Hi, quick question, if you are reading this, fully expecting what is here, then why read it at all? Just a little vampire sensibility for you.

"Stella!" Abel called out through the cool night. He knew there was no way Stella could find her way back to the church.

He ran in the direction he had thought he had seen her go. I have t find her. What if there are more vampires in the city? The thought made him run faster. He heard a scream up ahead. Ignoring the fact that it had no traces of femininity in it, Abel ran towards the sound.

He was in the park. He heard angry talking up ahead. Slowing to a walk so as to not walk up on a person who might be carrying a weapon, he stopped short as he saw Stella's short form holding a large, limp one and standing across from the tall form of a vampire. They were in front of the park's central fountain. The limp form breathed heavily.

"Why!" she spat out angrily, tears still in her voice. "Why would you do that?"

A cruel laugh found its way to Abel's ears. "Why shouldn't I? He's a Terran, and he was there."

Stella crouched to the ground, letting the figure slide with her. A light glowed from her palm and Abel identified a man's face. He started forward, but stopped at the sound of Stella's voice.

"Stay where you are, Abel." She didn't look at him, not even a glance in his general direction. The light grew brighter, illuminating Stella's face. Her face was etched with hatred for a second and then, as she looked down at the man, her face seemed to soften and she whispered words into his ear. If possible, the limp figure grew limper and Abel knew that the man's life had passed.

Stella placed the man's head down gently and stood to face the vampire. "You have lowered yourself to a point where even a Terran's dog could hold his head above yours." She said, quivering hate clinging to each word.

"Huh… you think so, eh, Terran?"

"Do not mistake me for something so low!" Stella's voice seemed to take on others, and an invisible wind whipped around her face. She lifted her arms, and something dangled from her clenched hand. The vampire seemed to draw back for a moment. The necklace! Thought Abel.

As if sensing his fear, both Stella and the vampire turned to see him. The wind around Stella's face dwindled and fled, but the vampire took on a new air of confidence. Before Abel knew what was going on, a sword was at his throat.

"Now then, Miss. I-"

"Don't say it! Do not tarnish my family's name!" Stella said sharply.

"Fine, I'm going to kill your friend if you do not let me kill you."

Stella hesitated before speaking. "I was born for a different purpose." She said so quietly that Abel almost missed it. Then she said louder, "I'm sorry, but my death cannot come at your hands, but I will not lie to you. You will loose your life tonight. I'm sorry." She turned to Abel. "Father Nightroad, please forgive me and know what I do is because I do not want you to get hurt. You can close your eyes, if you wish."

Abel would have told her not to do what was coming next. But the flat of blade came down hard on his windpipe. She raised her arms and a thick vine of water lifted itself out of the fountain behind her. She clenched her hands, and it froze. It was a dazzling if not terrifying sight to watch a young girl manipulate the water in such a graceful way. She moved her arms in a gentle dip and the frozen water followed. The vampire loosened his hold on Abel, and he took his chance. He dove out of the way, and, quick as a viper, Stella shot her hand through the air. The vampire was dead before he hit the ground.

Stella lowered her arms. She bowed her head at the dead body before her. Abel heard her sniff and saw her hand up to wipe her eyes.

"Stella?"

Stella turned and looked surprised. "Father Nightroad? You're still here?"

"Of course I'm still here."

"I thought that you would run…" she broke off. "You didn't close your eyes, did you?" It was a statement more than a question, but, nevertheless, Abel nodded. "I'm sorry you had… to see…"

"Stella, you have nothing to be sorry for." Abel said sharply. "You did it to protect me and yourself." Stella did not meet his gaze. Abel didn't know what to do. How was he to console one who had taken a life? Abel tried to recall what Esther had done for him when she had found out he was a Crusnik, but he was appalled to find that the memory was gone.

After a long silence and an internal struggle with his memories, Abel's head snapped up at the sound of Stella's light voice. "I suppose we should be getting back. It is well past the time Cardinal Kate told me I had to be back by." Stella blushed lightly. "That is if, you will still allow me to…"

"Let's get back. I'm on thin ice as it is." Abel said suddenly, hoping to stop the flow of her question.

Stella smiled and nodded almost happily. She looked at the two corpses. "What do we do with these?"

"I'll alert the proper authorities."

As they walked back, Abel stopped a mounted police officer and told him that a Methuselah and a Terran had killed each other in the park. The man, recognizing a priest's attire and the badge Abel had flipped him didn't ask questions. Abel sighed. Confession will be hell this week.

A/N: Sorry for the short chapter. But at least you all get to rest knowing I have a healthy conscience.