CURSE OF THE MOON

NIGHTFALL

Seven years later...

San Francisco Bay area had always beautiful at night everything about it spelled romance. From the white sandy rocky oceans to the starry night sky, it was so peaceful. Soon she would be leaving it all behind to follow her dreams. At twenty-four she had the strength and time to do what she wanted. She decided to pace her life and not miss out on anything.

Scarlet McKyle and Kayla Turner were out for a night of fun. They had just done their finals, and soon they would join the world of work, but now they would have their fun. Scarlet thought of the day’s earlier events, graduation was beautiful. The day she and her parents looked forward to since she had first joined the university. Kayla’s mother and grandmother were there but her father wasn’t around much. Her parents divorced when she was five but still visited her from time to time. She had always made a fuss about it until that day. The day Scarlet’s parents died Kayla appreciated every call and all the scolding she got from her parents.

Scarlet had taken a major in psychology she wanted to help children who had suffered the same loss she did. A grief counselor, she understood all too well about grief. She knew in her heart that her parents were proud of her. She worked hard to make them proud though at times it felt ridiculous trying to please the dead. All her successes were due to her parent’s sacrifices and dedication. They always did everything together like Siamese twins that was why she was glad when they died together. She didn’t think one could live without the other. It all worked out in the end, she had graduated top of her class and now the world was her playing field.

Kayla’s grandmother and mother threw a party on behalf of the two graduates. It was more than she had expected. She had always known that Kayla’s family took her as one of their own. They had been friends for the past four years. She held her hand when she watched the two coffins with her parent’s bodies as it was lowered into the ground. She was her best friend and sister to her.

They had held the party in their little home on Russian Hill Lombard Street. The houses there were a bit costly but she was comfortable there. Besides, she and Kayla had jobs and could pay for their necessities. Scarlet's parents had also been kind enough to give her some money which she received in installments from the executioner of the will.

She chose Lombard Street because it was far enough from where she lived with her parents but not too far, and also because the house reminded her of the home she shared with her parents. Scarlet traveled to San Jose occasionally to visit their graves, and even when she tried, she could not run away from that part of her life no matter how far she chose to go.

Scarlet had applied for a Psychology internship in Washington, she hoped to get it. She needed a change of scenery but she still knew she would have to come back in October. She looked over to her friend an aspiring journalist hoping to work at the Washington Post. They went everywhere together as long as the universe allowed it. Kayla was a bloodhound and her sassy attitude favoured the career path she had chosen.

Although people thought she was better suited as a lawyer, the one thing they didn’t know was that she resented them. She blamed them for being instrumental in her parent's divorce. Some of her opinions and beliefs were absurd but no one dared to challenge them.

They walked into the darkness and headed toward the next spot. Kayla loved club hopping and tonight Scarlet was indulging her every whim.

Kayla was five foot six with ebony skin and curly hair. Her long legs held up a curvaceous body, and her luscious lips and brown cat-like eyes made her look like a goddess. Scarlet always thought that they had a huge contrast between them. Kayla was beautiful and confident in her beauty and she was shy and reserved. They were the same height and resembled in all but some of their features. Her white pale skin, her thin lips, her long straight brunette hair, and the hazel color of her eyes. She lacked the confidence and presence that her friend easily commanded.

Scarlet had her guard up, strolling at night was not one of her favorite things to do. Two beautiful girls walking the dark lonely street seemed like tempting the fates. Martial arts were not something she had at her fingertips, but she had a can of pepper spray. She was doubtful it would hold up against a psychopathic killer but when she felt it in her purse she was comforted.

An eerie feeling crept up on her. She turned to look back a couple of times, it was like someone or something was following them. When she saw nothing she passed it off as her usual paranoia.

***

Stephan had taken to attacking unsuspecting drunks in the dark. Now he had his target's insight, feeding on the two girls would last him a week. They were a bit petite but they would do. Planning his course of action, he decided to start with the black girl who talked too much and finish with the white one she looked timid and wouldn’t fight him. Not that she could wrestle him off anyway. He needed an easy kill and they were it.

He wondered why the white girl kept looking back, it was as if she knew he was there.

Whatever, it didn’t matter to him much. With a snarl, he flashed before them, his lips pulled back as he bared his teeth, but stopped. The look in her eyes, her hazel eyes pulled him into them. Though their eyes weren’t the same he could see Sotera’s gentle nature in them.

He noticed her chest wasn’t moving. The function of her lungs ceased not allowing her the air she needed to scream. But the other one found her voice. “What do you want? Money, here take it!” She threw her purse at him. “Just take it, please don’t hurt us!”

Stephan paid no attention to the other girl, she was screaming something at him but he couldn’t take his attention from the one standing before him. She was petite, and couldn’t be more than five foot six. Compared to him she was like a child. Way over six foot three, his body was the size of three human men combined. He lifted his hand to stroke her cheek his senses pleading to touch her but froze mid-air. He couldn’t go through with it. Unable to bring himself to hurt her he turned and walked away.