Shard liked this time of year because this time of year was warm and often dry.  She'd been living on the streets for years and both those things mattered.  Of course, more recently she'd found a squat to reign in as queen, staying out of the elements while protecting the other squatters, human and mutant alike.  The thing about those who had nothing is they were more willing to group together in order to protect their own, even given disparate backgrounds.

Once, a group of outsiders and thugs had owned the building, but she had helped fight them off and through blood and violence won the right to call the abandoned building hers.  She carefully chose those who were permitted to stay within, some for their talents and powers, others because they had nowhere else to go and she took pity on them.  All she required was loyalty and the willingness to put the group needs about their own needs.  Her human followers were almost as loyal as her pets.

For now, her little collective was well fed and there were others ensuring no outsiders tried anything funny.  With responsibilities met, for now she was bored and when she was bored bad things tended to happen.  Happen to other people, that was.  Glittering red crystal wolf at her side and royal purple crystal falcon on her shoulder, tonight most of her body was covered in different colors of crystal, with the exception of her joints.  Soon, perhaps, she'd have to melt some of it off.  Inside her backpack was also hidden a dozen crystal bats.

What should one do when one was bored?  It was well past midnight and there were all sorts of devious options to consider.  She began singing as she walked, slightly off tune gibberish, feeling a unusual sense of optimism.  Tonight she was going to have some fun.

The night still had a few hours before it became time to go inside, but there was a problem. Victoria was bored and wanted to do something fun. She wasn’t sure what would be fun, but being bored for hours didn’t sound enjoyable.

So, she walked the streets keeping an eye out for something to catch her attention. There were lots to see, different people doing various things from hanging out in front of stores to business people going to and from work. Most of them didn’t get more than a brief glance from the vampire.

She continued on until she heard someone singing. This caught her attention as most people didn’t sing out in the open even if it was off key. Victoria started moving in for a closer examination and to see what the person was doing.

Shard liked things that were shiny.  Maybe it was her power, turning herself into something glittering and beautiful along with her gleaming, gorgeous pets.  Maybe it was the fact that she had been abjectly poor her entire life and jewels were a sign of wealth and prosperity.  Regardless of the reason, she liked them.  A lot.  And tonight, she wanted some.

Until recently, the acquisition of jewels wasn't something that was possible in her life.  Without a place to call her own, there was no place to store such things.  Now things were different.  Now she had a place that was hers and that meant there was a lot more freedom to do what she wished.  Laws didn't apply to her and the laws of possession indicated that you only deserved to keep something if you were able to defend it against those who wished to have it.  Well, tonight she wished to have it and she was going to get it.

Still humming softly to herself, she changed directions and started towards one of the more affluent areas of the city.  She wasn't exactly known for herself but she was smart enough to find the right target without getting caught.  The not getting caught was half the fun anyway.  The falcon on her shoulder screeched its challenge to the universe as she began her newest quest.

Trailing for some time, the Vampiress continued to watch this new person and listen to her humming. It definitely wasn't a song she knew of. Maybe the person made up her own songs as Victoria had done before. Either way it wasn’t terrible at least.

Victoria wasn’t sure where this humming person was going but she had what looked like a crystal bird with her. That in itself was rather interesting. It even moved and screeched as if it were a real bird with feathers. This new person was gaining more and more of Victoria’s interest. Now to see what she was up to.

Victoria started closing the distance between herself and this new person.

If Shard had been able to see through the eyes of her pets and hear through the ears of her pets or if she had been capable of true communication with them, she might have been aware of the girl trailing behind her.  As it was, whatever they happened to hear or smell remained a mystery to her and she remained oblivious to her young stalker.

As she walked, the relative squalor of her usual haunt began to transform itself into a more respectable area.  Buildings became better kept, alleys were less filled with garbage and detritus and and the sights and smells of poverty became less evident.  The types of people seen on the streets also began to change, from the homeless and often drug addicted or mentally unwell, to party people out for a late night good time.  This was going to be fun.

If she were more inclined to stealth, she might have chosen to remain in the shadows.  As it was, she enjoyed the looks of apprehension sent her way.  She hadn't actually done any thing yet and true fear applied to few so far, but those looks gave her a sense power.  She should be feared because she was dangerous.  Fear was good.

A young girl, far too young to be out at this late hour, travelling with her mother looked towards Shard and her pets, pointing her out to her mother.  A menacing growl from her wolf and a sadistic grin from Shard elicited a scared little shriek from the child.  Oh, but this certainly was fun!  

While getting closer to the person of Victoria’s interest, she began to catch glimpses or shiny bits on the girl. Some had a similar appearance as the bird, and the wolf she hadn’t seen previously. Strangely the bird and wolf looking creatures weren’t the same colors. Perhaps someone who could create such things could also make them any color as well. It sounded like a neat idea anyway.

Victoria eventually got plenty close enough to observe the other female in much better detail and clarity. She could see the people nearby alter their paths to avoid getting near the crystal creature creator. It was probably smart on their part to do so.

When a small girl and her mother crossed paths with miss sparkles and her pets, it allowed Victoria to get within a couple steps. “Little kids scare way too easily.” She stated in a rather plain tone. “I bet if you had yelled boo she would’ve screamed and maybe even wet herself.” Victoria nodded assuredly. “So, what are you up to?”

Shard was about to continue on her way when another young girl approached her, a little older, in her teenage years.  This one, however, was different.  This one was actually speaking to her and didn't seem to be afraid.  In fact, not only did she not appear to be afraid, but she was offering observations on the state of fear in little kids.  How intriguing.

"Maybe they do," she agreed.  "But it's still funny when they scream."  Both the wolf and the falcon stared at her with unblinking jeweled eyes.  Whether intriguing was good or bad she wasn't yet certain.  

"I'm going to find some rich lady and relieve her of some of her jewels."  No need to lie and besides, subterfuge had never been her strong suite.  If the girl reacted badly, her pets could act faster than the girl could run off after the cops.  It wouldn't be the first time she'd left someone bloody.

"Why aren't you afraid of me?"  That was the answer she was most curious to learn, and she cocked her head to the side as she looked at the girl.

She did have a point. It was funny when kids screamed, even more funny when adult men did. The latter usually didn’t do so until it was far too late for help however. At least that was from her experience. Things could be completely different when you’re about to be mauled by a wolf that looked to be made out of crystals.

“Well that sounds like more fun than doing nothing. Is that how you make your pets or is that what they eat?” Victoria looked a little closer at the wolf and the bird. They were rather pretty, and it amazed her how they acted like living creatures.

Looking back to the other girl Victoria took a closer look at her as well. She immediately caught flashes of reflected light bouncing off crystalline growths on her skin. Maybe the jewels were for her instead? Whatever they were for it sounded like more excitement than she was previously having. “I’m not afraid because I’m tough. So, after you get the jewels I’ll take the lady.” Victoria smiled sinisterly.