Well it's the start to a possible book I may end up writing. I haven't decided if I should continue yet. But um yeah. It hasn't gotten into much since it is just the first chapter. Let me know what you think??

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Shadow City
Chapter One
A walk through the park on a dark and dismal night. It had snowed the night before so the air was crisp and fogged with each breath that escaped the lips of the woman as she walked home from her twelve hour work day at the restaurant. Her feet ached but with the smooth iced liquid soaking through her small black velvet shoes the ache began to turn to numbness. She exhaled a large breath causing the air to fog her glasses. A crow cawed overhead causing her to sharply take in breath and then nervously laugh at herself. She walked home every night from work so why was she tense this night? She wasn’t sure but it caused her to quicken her stride.

The flap of wings overhead made her freeze. What had startled the birds into flight? She started to turn slowly unsure of what she may see behind her. Movement in the shadows of the trees, not much really giving it away. The deeper black within the darkness and the glowing eyes that in no way could ever be called human. The sound of claws ripping over wood floated on the wind to her ears. Her eyes widened showing far too much white around her iris. What was this figure? It hadn’t been there when she originally walked past that tree and she hadn’t heard the steps of anyone else in the park.

A sudden harsher wind blew through the park making the branches of the dead trees scratch against the lamp posts. The figure never moved from its spot where it was clearly watching her with those animalistic eyes. She turned back to the way she had originally been going content to forget what she had just seen and just get home to her fireplace and hot chocolate. She had gotten only a few steps when she felt the breath along the back of her neck. She spun to confront the shadow but before she could do anything her world went black.
. . .
Piercing beep after piercing beep was giving me a headache even in my sleep. Who the hell would page me when it was still dark out? I rolled over on my full size bed and barely managed to not fall off the edge. Growling with a few choice words my hand snatched my pager from the side table. Hitting the button the little screen lit up showing an emergency code. I tried to get up swinging my legs over the side of the bed but upon taking a step I found myself on my stomach with my feet tangled in the sheets. I kicked the sheets away and scrambled to my closet. Grabbing a pair of black jeans I pulled them on over my boxers and then grabbed Romans t-shirt. Not quite sure what the emergency was I still didn’t much care what I wore. It was their damn fault for waking me up at four in the morning. The next item I put on was of course my black and neon green converse high tops. The green matched my t-shirt not that I ever really cared. Taking my wallet, watch, and pager from the dresser I ran for the door only to slide on the hardwood floor and turn back to the table in the hall to grab my gun and keys. Once sure I had everything I bolted out the door of my condo to my ’67 Mustang convertible parked across the street. Unlocking the car I thwumped down into the seat and turned the key in the ignition. The car roared to life and a few lights went on in the apartments around the vehicle. Not really caring about them I used the radio to call dispatch to see what was up.

“Detective they need you in Mid-City Park,” the officer that answered the call explained. “Murder of what seems to be a 23 year old woman on her way home from work.” He was quiet waiting for me to say something which of course I did. Being considered young at only twenty five had its perks.

“What the hell Steinman?” I said covering my face with my hand. “Call Vanhue for this isn’t he on call at night?” Not happy at having been called at night I was ready to kill the other homicide detective.

“Vanhue went on vacation four days ago. As his partner shouldn’t you have known that?” Steinman asked. I could hear in his voice that he didn’t believe what he was hearing. How could a detective forget the plans of his partner? Yeah I know I am really absent minded so sue me.

“crap I forgot. Work has been so slow it’s not like I missed him much.” Vanhue had gone on a three month vacation with his family. Old fart liked taking vacations. “Alright let them know I’ll be right there. Has CSU already gotten there?” I put my car in drive and drove down South St to Mid-City Park as I waited for Steinman’s response.

“They are on their way. Morgan told us to contact you first and McAlister didn’t want to call you at all,” Steinman said. I sighed Menfis Morgan was in charge of the thirteenth precinct and Anabel McAlister was my bitch of a captain. I could swear up and down she was lesbian and hated anything male. It didn’t surprise me that one wanted me there and the other didn’t. Morgan only hired me at first to piss McAlister off then he learned I was actually good at the job. Turning the corner onto Mariebell Lane I was able to see the strobes from the police cars at the park.

“I’m almost there Steinman,” I hung up without another word. I wasn’t much into talking but I was devoted to my job, no one could question that. Turning onto Aspen Road I had to park my car because of the police barrier that had been erected to keep out civilians. I jumped the cars in one try landing on the balls of my feet and walking slowly into the scene. My breath misted in front of me as I walked but I couldn’t feel the cold.

Walking onto the scene some of the police turned to look at me, as did a face I only knew because of one miss encounter at the ninth precinct last year. “Nightmare what brings you here?” I asked with a not so friendly smirk.

“Spinster been a while,” Enya Night was one of seven homicide detectives in the lower precincts what the hell was she doing in my jurisdiction I had no idea. “I’m here because Morgan said you needed a temporary partner and my captain was more then willing to hand me over.” Night was as difficult and good at her job as I was. Wasn’t much of a surprise her boss hated her too.

“So what have we here?” I asked kneeling down next to the body. She had been about 5’5 from what I could tell. She was covered in blood but that came from three cuts. Bleeding to death was slow and I hoped she hadn’t suffered.

“Five foot five female walking home from work at Julia’s Italian. Slits on her wrists and neck but that’s not what killed her,” Night said reading from her notes.

“No it’s the bite taken out of her stomach.” My mouth was watering with so much blood around the scene. I felt the tiger within me stirring at the scent. I hadn’t fed in a while and the smell of a fresh kill, fresh meat, wasn’t helping.

“A bite Spinner? Actually that’s a good way to put it,” she scribbled in her notes my words just as CSU drove up. Dr. Bucks was the first one on the scene.

“Alright all of you back,” he said with his strong British accent. He pushed at my and Night until we were closer to the trees then the body.

“Well damn is he always like that?” Night said her hands on her hips.

“We just let him do what he wants Night. He’s the best in all of Shadow City,” I said leaning against the tree. I smelled a musty scent that made the hair on my arms stand up. I turned to the tree I was leaning against and saw the claw marks. “Get a camera over here.” Night gave me a skeptical look but did as I said. I had him take pictures of all the marks and the area around the tree.

“Want to explain this to me?” Night asked and I think she sounded curious. I looked at her with a smile that simply said my thoughts, you really want to know and I’m not ready to tell you yet.

“At the precinct with food I will,” I said walking back to my car. “You need a lift?” I didn’t see her ’86 Viper which meant she came in one of the cruisers. She followed me and got into my passenger seat as I started the engine again.

“How can you eat after seeing a murder scene?” she asked buckling her seatbelt. I didn’t bother with mine, didn’t really need it. Her face had paled at the mention of food. How often did Night see a homicide scene for real down in her precinct? She really shouldn’t be this green about it. I was usually almost always eating something after a scene, maybe that’s just because I am what I am.

“I haven’t eaten yet today and I’m not usually awake at night to begin with.” I didn’t add that it was three nights to the full moon and I wanted something meaty and bloody. I also didn’t really answer her question since I didn’t really know how to explain that. I put the car in gear and headed back up Aspen to the thirteenth precinct.