October 2001

Paige sat down at the bar and signaled the bartender for a glass of water. She'd been dancing for what felt like hours. Some random guy had pulled her over, and there was no way to describe his magnetic pull.

"That was fun." The guy, blond and wearing leather, dropped down onto the stool next to her. "Let me buy you another Coke."

Paige glanced down at her watch. "Sorry, can't; work in the morning. It's already later than I wanted to be out. But it was nice to meet you." She stood, and the man grabbed her arm.

"Please?" He winked at her.

She feigned a laugh. "I really need to get home," she said. "I'm going to call a cab."

"Let me at least give you a ride."

"No thanks, I don't get into cars with men I've just met."

"Fair. At least let me keep you company while you wait outside."

"Fine," said Paige, letting him lead her the crowd. "Hey, you never told your name."

"Leo," he said, pushing open a side door and easing her through. The lights of the alley flickered.

"Actually, I think I'd rather–" Paige tried to turn around, but Leo slammed the door shut behind him, his smile never faltering.

"No second thoughts here, Paige. It's just common courtesy. A man buys you a drink, and he expects something in return."

Paige went pale. She fumbled in her purse for her mace. Leo shook his head. "Don't worry, it's not your body I want. I have a girlfriend."

Swiftly Leo grabbed her, pulling Paige's arms behind her back. "I just want your blood," he whispered, laughing. She tried to disarm herself like she'd learned in her self-defense class, but he was incredibly strong.

Leo stroked Paige's neck. "You've got beautiful skin," he said. "I've seen you around– you pop up in all of the usual late night haunts. Just like me."

He placed his finger on her neck, as if he was feeling for her pulse. Paige turned to look at him, and saw two huge fangs sliding out of his gums. She gasped and tried to break out of his hold, stomping on his feet, elbowing him in the chest.

Leo laughed as if Paige's blows tickled him. "I love a fighter," he said. "They're usually screamers too. Go ahead; give me a show." He wrapped a hand around Paige's mouth and sank his teeth into her throat. He was right: she screamed bloody murder until she passed out.

While Leo fed, Piper emerged from the shadows, silent and deadly as a snake. To anyone who knew her while she was alive, she was almost unrecognizable. She wore her dark hair long and loose, with tiny braids mixed in that she enjoyed twirling around her fingers. Her eyes were rimmed with sooty eyeliner, her lips stained with something red– with blood or lipstick, who could say? Piper wore a black leather trench coat tied back at the waist, revealing a thigh length red lace dress and knee-high stiletto boots.

Leo pulled back from Paige's throat, lips soaked in blood. His eyes were bright. "Damn, she tastes good," he said, almost shuddering in delight. "Best I've had in a long time."

"You're such a tease," Piper said, before mimicking Leo: "'You've got beautiful skin. Bet you're a screamer'."

"Come on, the games make it more fun," said Leo. "The sweet talk, the compliments… they never see it coming. You remember, don't you?" Leo held out Paige's limp body. "Want some? You're going to feel like you're glowing."

Piper moved towards her, and Leo tilted back Paige's neck. But before she could feed, Piper screamed as holy water splashed on her bare chest and legs. Her skin sizzled and burned.

Leo dropped Paige and turned around to see what fool harmed Piper. He scowled; he knew this fool all too well.

"Keep away from her," said Prue, brandishing a stake and a bottle of holy water. She was also almost unrecognizable: extreme exercise and subpar nutrition had made her body lean and muscular, her face angular and hollow. Her brown hair was long, stringy, and tied back in a loose braid, framed by a black bandanna. She wore ripped jeans, Doc Martens and a black t-shirt so old it was nearly gray. Leo could have laughed; nothing but clichés for this vigilante vampire hunter.

Piper smirked but followed her command, backing away. "Oh, look, St. Prude. Patron of the lonely and annoying."

Leo growled. "Come on, Prue, you could never kill us," he said, wrapping his arm around Piper. "Well– you might kill me, but not her. Could you really murder your own, your own blood?"

"The second you sired her, she became your blood, Leo." Prue's voice could have frozen water in July. "And apparently it's not that difficult. You two killed Phoebe."

"Actually," said Piper, raising her hand like an eager schoolgirl, "that was all me." Her smirk deepened. "I sent her right to Hell where she belongs. I mean, do you remember the kind of stuff she used to wear? The men she'd bring home? God, what a little slut."

Prue's eyes widened, enraged. She waved her arm and sent Piper and Leo flying into the brick wall. Both of them collided with it and slid down, but they brushed off the blow easily.

"I don't know why you miss her so much," said Piper as she rose to her feet. "She was always making trouble, going out of her way to piss you and Grams off. Aren't you glad to be free of us?"

"Enough," said Leo. He brushed off his shoulders and adjusted his jacket lapels. His voice was calm but his eyes were deadly. "Next time we meet, Prue, it will end with fangs in your throat… and this time I'll drink you dry."

Prue wanted so badly to attack Piper and Leo, but the girl bleeding on the pavement took precedence. "I dare you," Prue snapped as she picked up Paige's body. "I swear to God–"

Leo sneered at Prue. "Have the past few years proven nothing, Prue? There is no God: the game is us, versus you. And personally, I like our chances of winning." The two vampires shape shifted into their bat form, narrowly flying over Prue's head and out of the alley.


Nightlife had changed significantly in San Francisco in the last four years. Last call was two in the morning for mortal bars; but the hole-in-the-wall vampire bars– nameless, address-less and teeming with sin– stayed open until the sun rose. There was one in every neighborhood but there was a cluster downtown, alongside the rest of the bars and clubs. Mortals rarely wandered into these spots unaccompanied; most of them couldn't put their finger on it, but they could sense that these speakeasies just weren't the place for them.

Piper and Leo shapeshifted and entered the bar. At first glance it wasn't too different from a mortal bar, with its dim lighting and thumping sound system (currently playing: Black Sabbath), but there was no bartender on duty, or menu, or even a cash register. Somehow, there was a well-stocked refrigerator that seemed to refresh itself.

It was almost three am: the vampires were leaving the mortal establishments, giddy and high on their stash, but not ready to end their evenings. Piper was growing irritated with hunger, and didn't appreciate seeing everyone around her happy and well-fed. But she suspected there would be a snack for her at the bar.

Piper enjoyed the way all eyes flashed towards her and Leo when they entered. All of San Francisco's vampires were descendents of the Queen, but with her being imprisoned for the better part of a hundred years, her closest children acted as her eyes and ears above ground. Leo didn't much care about what anyone who wasn't him or Piper did with their time, and the other vampires respected him for it. Their "brother", on the other hand–

"Good evening," Rowan greeted them. The vampire was behind the self-service bar, pouring what was either blood or very thick wine into glasses. "May I offer you a drink?"

"Is that liquor or booze?" asked Piper.

Rowan smiled. "Both."

"Two, please," said Leo.

Rowan did as he was told. "I heard you two had a run-in with Prudence the Vampire Slayer. Still having a hard time killing her, are you?"

"How do you know about that?" said Leo, exasperated. "That was like half an hour ago."

"One of my children saw you. That's the benefit of siring so many." Rowan handed them their glasses. Piper drank hers in one gulp; it soothed her raw hunger and much of her irritation (with the world at large), but only blood from the source would truly satisfy her and soothe the rest of her irritation (with Rowan).

Leo finished his glass as well. He threw it at the wall; it shattered. Someone whistled their approval, while Rowan rolled his eyes. "I suppose," said Leo, kissing Piper's cheek. "Then again, I've always gone for quality over quantity."

Piper smirked as Rowan gave Leo a brittle, polite smile. He turned his attention to Piper. "Is there a reason you're letting your sister stay alive?"

"She's not my sister," said Piper, scoping out the room. Had anyone brought a human date? "Rowan, you're more my brother than Prue is my sister."

"If that's the case, why haven't you killed her?"

Piper looked at Leo. Prue had become a strong witch in only a few years; she certainly held her own against Piper. Even so, Piper had sworn Leo to let her be the one to kill Prue. She wanted to take a chainsaw to the Halliwell family tree herself, cutting off the final remaining branch. Lucky for Piper, Leo loved her enough to let Piper take her time, even if it pissed off the Queen and Rowan (honestly, Piper thought Leo secretly enjoyed that as well).

Before Piper could respond to Rowan, Leo got her attention. "There," he said quietly, nodding towards the back of the bar. A woman with bleached blonde hair stood out like a hazy halo in the dark establishment, seated at a corner table. She sat across from another woman, who was olive-skinned and dark-haired, with piercing eyes. But where the darker woman was obviously a vampire, the blonde had bite marks in her neck and arms. The vampire held her lover's hand, and seemed to be going out of her way to trace the fresh wounds with her fingertips.

Piper nearly salivated. "Excuse us," Leo said to Rowan. He led Piper over to the vampire and her pay-to-prey. "I'm sorry to interrupt…"

"Leo," said the vampire, inclining her head slightly. "Of course. How may I serve you?"

"My lover had her dinner spoiled by a vampire hunter," he said. "Is your date available for a squeeze?"

The blonde woman's eyes widened. "I haven't had her yet tonight," said the vampire, "but be careful. I took too much yesterday, and I'm thinking about turning her."

"Adorable, and noted," said Leo. The human blonde lifted her arm within Piper's grasp. Piper grabbed her by the wrist and sank her fangs into pre-made bite marks.

After four years of being a vampire, there were aspects of her life that Piper didn't care for: living underground, the constant looming presence of the Vampire Queen, the inability to enjoy garlic…but the taste of blood, and the way it made her feel, made up for it. She was lost in the taste, and it took a gentle, then firm, tap on the arm from Leo to make Piper pull back. The blonde woman pulled back her wrist, wincing; her vampire companion glared daggers at Piper.

But Piper didn't care. Her human self had instantly buckled with shame at the slightest breeze, but Piper the vampire? She was newly fed, and her entire body was screaming with pleasure. Maybe she would take this vampire's head and put it through the wall, then pull Leo into the bathroom and screw him into next week.

Leo seemed to sense Piper's train of thought. He looped his arm around hers, nodding to the vampire. "Thank you," he said. "I'll tell the Queen you were most helpful this evening." The vampire nodded, her smile wary.

Leo turned to Piper, leaning in. "Let's not make trouble tonight," he said, his voice just audible over the sound system, which now pumped "Bela Lugosi's Dead". He ran his hand through Piper's hair, curling his fingers around one of her braids. Piper pulled him into a long, sweeping kiss, pressing her body against his. She felt Leo's body respond, the taste of fresh blood mingling in their embrace. "At least, not here," he said.

When she pulled away, Piper could see the desire in Leo's eyes, and his teeth: his fangs had emerged. She laughed wickedly. "Then where should we go?" Piper ran her ruby nails down Leo's chest. His lips curled into a smile– but it slipped off when he tilted his head, as if someone was calling him.

Piper felt the blood inside of her pulse with rage. "Don't tell me–"

"The Queen needs to see us," said Leo. "We've got to go back."

"I hate cutting the night short," snapped Piper.

"Come on, princess," he said, cupping her chin in his hand. "You know I'm sorry. After the Queen tells us whatever's on her mind, I'll make it worth going home early…"

Piper narrowed her eyes and transformed into a bat without another word, flying out of an open window and into the night. Leo followed.


Prue scooped up Leo's victim with both arms and carried her out of the alley. Her van was idling on the street. "Gary!"

He got out of the van, grabbing the victim's legs. They laid her down in the backseat. Gary climbed into the driver's seat, Prue the passenger's, and they started the journey home.

"Leo and Piper?" he asked.

Prue nodded. "God, I can't believe I let them go. I was so close this time."

"It's more important to save the innocent. I'm sure you'll get the opportunity again," said Gary, keeping his eyes on the road. "No one ever said that the vampire hunting business was easy." He gave her a small smile. "And those who did got themselves killed."

Prue nodded as she stared out the window. It was nearly one in the morning, but people were still on the streets, walking and laughing. Was I ever like that?

When Prue received her powers four years ago, she immediately started training in martial arts and witchcraft. She'd honed and sharpened her telekinesis, and her power had grown: she could astral project, although she couldn't use her telekinesis in astral mode. But she'd been so wrapped up in hunting that she was fired from the museum, and had been forced to take out a second mortgage on the manor to stay afloat. Prue slept during the day and hunted at night, and definitely hadn't dated since her relationship with Roger ended.

But at least Prue was a good vampire hunter; she saved lives every night. That made up for having no life of her own. Doesn't it? thought Prue.

They pulled into the driveway. Gary and Prue hauled the victim up the front steps and into the manor. Prue ran to the cabinet in the conservatory as Gary set her down on the living room couch. He quickly assessed her injuries. She hadn't lost a lot of blood– more than if she were going to the doctor's, but not enough that Gary needed to drive to the emergency room.

Prue came back, holding a jar of something called "vampire balm" and a first-aid kit. Gary wiped the blood from the victim's neck before applying some of the balm to her wound. The redness and irritation around the bite marks faded. He put a compress from the kit on her neck, sealing it with medical tape. As he did this, her eyelids began to flutter.

"She'll be fine," he told Prue. "Get something to get her blood sugar up."

Prue disappeared into the kitchen as the victim slowly regained consciousness. She squinted up at Gary. "Hi," he said gently. "Do you know your name?"

"P– Paige," the girl replied, sounding weak but steady. "Who are you?"

"I'm Gary." Prue came back to the living room with a large glass of apple juice and a handful of Oreos. "This is Prue. We brought you here after you were attacked. Do you remember being attacked?"

The girl looked confused for a moment, then her eyes widened. "You mean– that man was really a, a–"

"Oh, he sure was," said Prue.

"But vampires aren't real!" said Paige.

"You need to eat something," said Gary, helping Paige into a sitting position. She winced and went to touch her neck.

"Wrong," said Prue. "Vampires, demons, all of them exist. They feed off the living, then kill them, or sometimes they sire them to add to their kind. They're all obsessed with sex and murder, and will do anything to corrupt the innocent."

"Thank you, Prue. What a nuanced picture you've painted," said Gary.

Paige accepted the glass of apple juice from Prue and took a few sips. "How do you feel?" asked Gary.

"Like I just found out vampires are real," said Paige. Gary recognized that look: to the untrained eye, Paige might appear entirely unemotional, but the distant look in her eyes told him that she was rapidly trying to accept this new reality.

"Yeah. It sucks," Prue said bluntly. "But hey, better to have a reality check sooner rather than later. I wish my Grams had done the same for me. Now I should be out hunting. Gary, keys?"

Gary tossed the key ring to her. Prue caught them and left the manor without another word.

"She's just a burst of sunshine, isn't she?" Paige cracked. She was very pale and sweating, Gary noticed.

"Are you all right? I mean, more than– sorry, I know that it's hard to learn everything about vampires and everything in one evening."

"I'm OK. Actually, it all makes sense," Paige told him. "I've known people who went partying, then I never see them again. Is it possible that vampires…." Gary nodded. Paige stiffened and attempted to internalize this. "Gotcha. Okay."

Paige turned her head to say something, but sniffed the air instead. "God, what reeks?"

Gary passed her the jar of vampire balm. "Sorry, it doesn't have a lovely aroma."

"What's in it?"

"Lemon balm, cinnamon, garlic, horseradish," he recited. "Magical herbs."

"Magic?" Paige said. "Don't tell me wizards are real, too."

Gary shook his head. "Wizards are a whole different network, but I'm a witch, and I can assure you we're very real. I do spells, potions, you name it. Prue's a witch, too."

"Do you have, like, powers?"

"I can see the future."

"Cool. You couldn't happen to tell me this week's lottery numbers, could ya?"

Gary chuckled, and it surprised him. It was a physical reaction he wasn't sure his body still had in him, to respond to external stimuli in such a way: it had been so long since he laughed. "No, I don't see those kinds of things. I do see a lot of bloody deaths, though."

Paige handed Gary back the jar of balm, and their fingers brushed against one another. It sent a jolt through him, but not in a pleasant way. He froze in place, eyes suddenly hazy.

"Gary? Gary!" said Paige as she joggled his arm. He couldn't hear or feel her touch. He was lost in a horrifying world.

An earthquake emanates from beneath the Golden Gate Bridge and moves towards the city, devastating San Francisco. From beneath the wreckage rises a pale woman with ebony hair and eye, her mouth stained crimson: the Vampire Queen, clutching a stone tablet covered in an ancient, unreadable text. Piper and Leo flank her, laughing as they watch vampires ravage the city. Just behind them are Gary and Paige, bearing their own fanged grins.

Gary felt Paige shaking him. "Gary? Are you okay?"

He had to take a long, deep breath before responding. "No," he said. "No, definitely not."