The night wind blowing through the open window was cool on my bare shoulders.  Uncomfortable, I rolled over in bed, trying to take somecovers with me.  I looked up.  The bright red numbers on my digitalclock read 3:00.  Somewhere in the back of my sleep-clouded mind I wondered why I had awakened.  Then it hit me:  Someone was in myhouse.

Sliding out of my bed, I grabbed my sword from its mount on the wall.I looked out the door.  The living room was illuminated with soft light.  And I never leave the lights on when I go to bed.

Someone sat in a recliner at the far end of the living room.Flickering candlelight illuminated his profile, making his silhouettestand out in stark relief.

"What do you want," I intoned gruffly at the seated figure.  His fangsglinted in the candle's glow.

"You have such horrid manners, Lauren," he said.  I watched his gringrow wider as he looked me over.  "Gosh, must be a cold night."  Hisvoice held a trace of laughter.  Making a mental note never to weara tank top in public again, I crossed my arms over my chest.  It wasdifficult with the sword, but I was not willing to let it go.  Not with a vampire sitting in front of me.

"Get to the point, old man, before I kill you."

His grin faded.  Even after 700 years, he still thought of himself asthe 20-something babe he appeared to be.  As they say, appearances aren't everything.

"You wouldn't kill a friend, now, would you?"

I snorted and laid the blade of my sword against his pale neck."You've never been a friend of mine."

He grinned again, flashing his fangs for effect.  "You wouldn't."

"You know I would.  A flick of the wrist," I added just enough pressureto dimple the skin, "and you've got no head.  Poof, no more obnoxiousvampire."

He sighed.  "Enough of this juvenile posturing.  I have a job for you,if you're interested."

I took teh sword away from his neck, reluctantly.  "What kind of job?"

"Hey, I'm just the courier.  You'll get the details if you agree todo it."  In other words, it was going to be big and messy.  Fun.

"How much do I get paid?"

"500K up front, 500 after.  And a nice bonus if they get to keep thehead."

I whistled through my teeth.  One million dollars.  This was going tobe bigger than some federal job.  "I'm in."

"Good," he said, standing.  "You'll get the package in the morning."He bowed politely, and I nodded in return.

"I'll be waiting," I said as I turned to leave the room.  The air shimmered with his power as he swooped toward me.  "And if you evenconsider sucking my blood, I'll have your fangs hanging over my fireplace."  I turned to face him, our eyes barely six inches apart."I'm not joking."

He glared at me.  "You're no fun."  With a sweep of power, he snuffed out the candles and disappeared into the night.

"Damn bloodsuckers. . ." I muttered as I returned to bed.