After 100 Years

Prague, 1936

Rosa felt the heavy air of terror and uncertainty slowly creeping through the Czechs metropolis. She experienced such feeling only once before in her lifetime. It was 20 years ago - shortly before WWI started. Rosa shut her eyes tightly remembering the pain, hopelessness and the lost lives during that horrible time.

She found her former gypsy clan and led them to the safety. But she didn't manage to save everyone. Two thirds of clan members died in effort to give their children chance o escape. The clan was decimated between by the revenge of Darla, sire of Angelus, and his childer - Spike and Drusilla about thirty years before WWI. Only 40 members of the clan were alive after the World war.

Young vampiress shuddered violently at those memories. She fulfilled her last obligations to the Kalderash clan when she saved the children. They didn't know she was a vampire and she didn't advertise it. The children were grateful for her help. Soon the remains of Rosa's former clan melded into other gypsy clan's. That chapter of her life was finally closed.

Rosa stopped in the middle of street. It was midnight. A full moon let his soft light lighten the darkened streets. Her body didn't shadow the ground. Her black clothes contrasted sharply to the snow covering the ground. The dark-haired vampiress hid in the shadows waiting for an unsuspecting prey. And soon enough young couple walked along her hiding place. Rosa inhaled greedily the wild scent of their arousal. She didn't feed last few days. Her hunger woke awoke with frightening intensity. Rosa's control snapped.

The vampiress pounced on the lovers who were locked in the kiss completely oblivious to the world outside them. Young woman fell on the ground unconscious with the blood dripping from her head on the snow. The blood strained the pure whiteness of cold cover. The man attacked Rosa. The rage of seeing his love laying helplessly on the ground lent him power to knock Rosa down. Vampiress snarled angrily at his audacity. She jumped on her feet and punched the man in stomach. He fell next to his girlfriend gasping for breath. Rosa straddled his waist to immobilise him. She sank her teeth into man's jugular. His warm blood flooded Rosa's mouth.

Her senses exploded in sensations. Fear-laced blood tasted like ambrosia. Rosa moaned appreciatively. Gulping the red substance she felt her power to regenerate. She withdrew her fangs and sealed the injury. However her hunger wasn't sated completely. Rosa crouched to the unmoving woman. The blood was still dripping from injury on her head. Rosa lifted the woman's head and sucked softly on the cut. The flow of red substance slowed. With last one gulp she licked the injury sealing it effectively.

Suddenly her senses went into alert. An unpleasant familiar feeling crept into Rosa's mind. The vampire rolled from woman to face her opponent. Young woman - hardly in her late teens - stood in front of her. Rosa narrowed her eyes and snarled. ''Slayer.''

The teen lunged at the vampiress. Rosa jumped aside to avoid the kick but she didn't manage to avoid girl's silver cross. Rosa hissed at the sharp pain which exploded on her neck. She caught the wrist of young woman and removed the cross from her delicate skin. The Slayer yelped in pain and let her cross fall on the ground. With her left arm Slayer hit the vampiress onto her chest freeing herself from the older woman's grasp.

Rosa stumbled few steps. Immediately she regained her balance. The Slayer withdrew the stake from hidden sheath on her clothes. Both opponents tried to stare the other down. They were gauging other's next moves. Rosa frowned. The Slayer was good. Teen didn't make any unnecessary movements. She was methodical, precise.

'A real threath.' Rosa thought. Then she attacked the girl viciously.

The Slayer dodged and counterattacked with her stakes. She grazed Rosa slightly on her left shoulder. Rosa snarled in anger and slapped the Slayer hard. The teen was sent crashing into the wall by the force of vampire's blow. Somewhat the Slayer got together and stood up heavily. Rosa liberated a dagger from the young girl. Something flickered in girl's eyes while she was leaning against the wall. Then she threw the stake in Rosa's direction. Rosa jumped aside. The Slayer got another stake in her hand. She smirked ferally at Rosa who was advancing menacingly at the younger woman.

Rosa twirled the dagger expertly in her hand. She learnt how to use it during her time with Lucien. The Slayer leaped at the vampire. Rosa blocked the stake with her new dagger. Both women were locked in their positions. Rosa caught the Slayer by her throat and hurled her back into wall. The teen fell painfully on the ground. The Slayer was certain she had at least second one broken rib. She decided to make her last desperate stand. She took out her second dagger and straightened. She shouted and attacked blindly. Rosa caught girl's arm which was holding the dagger. She squeezed the wrist painfully. Younger girl groaned in pain. Her arm was broken. She fell on the ground defeated. She knew her end was coming. Rosa straddled Slayer's waist and swept the wisps of hair falling into teen's pretty face. She forced Slayer to look into her eyes. ''What's your name, Slayer?''

Young girl gulped heavily and answered fearfully. ''Milada, The Vampire Slayer.'' She knew the vampire was only playing with her.

Rosa licked Slayer's neck and whispered. ''You fought well, Milada.''

Then she torn girl's throat with her teeth and drank powerful Slayer blood. The power was filling all pores in Rosa's body. She sucked Slayer's blood hungrily Rosa's injuries she acquired in fight were healing at alarming rate. After she drank her fill she sealed the injuries she left on dead girl's throat. Energized Rosa stood up. She gave Slayer's corpse one last glance. ''Good luck in your next life, Milada. May the gods smile at you.'' She threw some kind of black powder on the body and commanded. ''Fire.''

The corpse was enveloped in blue-green flames. Rosa turned on the heel and left. She noticed to see an elderly man vanishing into night. ''Watcher.'' Rosa murmured. She was certain now she would be listened in their diaries as a very dangerous vampire. After all she managed to kill their two Slayers fairly easily. She moaned. 'Now I'll be hunted by those Neanderthals. And either I kill another Slayer and they give up or they manage to kill me. Ah, Lucien. I miss you.'

Daniel was one of the advisors to the Prince. The city was one of few under control of Nosferatu. Daniel belonged to the Brujah clan. He was first childe of their Primogen. Few weeks ago they sensed an arrival of powerful vampire into the city. He was charged with finding the vampire and bringing him to the Council. Daniel thought it would be an easy assignment but he was proved otherwise. The vampire was very intelligent. He didn't have a set patter. It was difficult to even find a trail he left behind.

Daniel had luck today. He came across familiar scent. He followed it until he found vampiress feeding on the young couple. He smirked victoriously when he saw her. He was certain she committed a crime against the Masquerade until he saw her to heal the bite marks. He moved to confront her but opted to stay in the shadows when he sensed the Slayer. The vampire was certain that the woman in front of him would fall to Slayer's stake. He prepared himself to report the vampire's unfortunate death.

The fight began. It was clear from the beginning that the Slayer was outclassed. The vampiress killed her opponent viciously and drank her blood to celebrate her victory. Then she sprinkled something on the girl's body and ignited it. The fire consumed Slayer's remains. He noticed she saw the Watcher on the other side of street. Daniel knew he had to get her to the Prince somehow.

''Show yourself, vampire.'' the she-vamp's voice called him seductively.

Daniel slinked out the shadows and bowed to her. ''Lady. The Prince sent me to invite you to the manor.''

''Whose city I entered then?'' Rosa asked. She sensed the older vampire was a Brujah like her. She hoped it was their city. But her hope was squashed by Daniel's answer. ''The Prince of city is Miles, Primogen of Nosferatu, Lady.''

Rosa nodded and followed Daniel. She hated politics. Last time she got fed up with it, Ferdinand of Venture clan and Master of Rome was assassinated by her. Then Manuel took over. She got a substantial sum of money for her kill and quiet thanks of every vampire in Rome. Ferdinand was annoying. At least Manuel knew not to piss her off. She was his second-in-command during WWI as well as his mistress. Their ways split violently when he forbade her to save the remains of her clan. She didn't listen to him, of course. She took half of her money and gave it to Kalderashes in hope they would find a new place to call home. Then she was exiled by Manuel from Rome.

She was standing in Prince's audience room in no time. He was as hideous as other Nosferatu. However her resolve didn't waver. She straightened proudly under Prince's penetrating gaze. Lucien taught her to endure the stares. And Rosa didn't give up. She curtsied gracefully.

The Nosferatu Prince said. ''You are only child. A Brujah if I'm not mistaken. What's your name, childe?''

Rosa narrowed her eyes dangerously. She purposefully masked her presence and power but the Nosferatu still knew what clan she belonged to. The vampiress held his gaze evenly. ''I'm Rosa of the Brujah.''

''Rosa? I heard about you. You killed a Slayer in Rome. Got into nasty argument with the Prince of city and was exiled.'' Nosferatu mused outloud.

''And Slayer in Prague.'' Rosa added fearlessly.

''Most impressive, dear. Two Slayers for young vampire. You had to be very powerful. How would you like to become one of my enforcers?'' The Prince suggested.

Rosa knew such offer couldn't be rejected. ''It'll be my pleasure, Prince.'' Rosa exclaimed. Inwardly she sighed. 'How do I always get in these situations? At least I was offered a status befitting my skills. Hopefully I'll be able to use it to my advantage.'