Alexandra Erin’s Assorted Tales

I blow softly on my nails, willing them to dry faster.

I got a late start and had to rush. Sloppy. I almost messed up the heart decal on my right index finger.

Almost.

This business doesn’t give you a lot of second chances.

When I’m sure the polish is solid all the way through, I check my make-up one more time and then it’s time to hit the streets. It’s the night of the full moon. That works to my advantage. My night vision is good… for a human. The things I’m hunting aren’t human, and they don’t need moon light to see.

Of course, sometimes the full moon brings about other complications, but mostly… a full moon is a good thing.

I hit the streets sashaying. I vogue through alleys. I flounce around corners, my sparkly stake at the ready.

Like my prey, I’m hunting on instinct. There is no rulebook for the game we play, no instruction manual or one of those yellow books for dummies, either. You learn by doing, or you die in the effort.

The first hard lesson I learned is that while some of the plastic tiaras may be very pretty, you’ll wish you had something with real silver before too long. You can always buy a thrift store prom dress if you need to cut a few corners. You don’t skimp on the accessories.

I don’t know what draws me to the particular alley, but I’m already tensing when I hear the vic’s scream. I spring into action.

“Hey!” I shriek, in well-practiced tones of shrill indignation. “You’re not being very nice!”

The vamp doesn’t have time get out more than an “Excuse me?” before I have his heart, and then… well, it’s not clean like it is in the movies. Real vampires are dead and rotting on the inside. You can’t break through the outer shell, the thin veneer of humanity, without letting some of that rot out.

Blood and ichor spurts everywhere. I do my best to stay out of its way, but when you’re a Vampire Slaying Pretty Pretty Princess, a little ickiness on your leotard comes with the territory.