Back and forth they seethed, bodies pushing, rushing. And yet, standing on that platform, she managed to feel all alone, as if she could scream and not a head would turn. She had only barely stepped away from the train, a bag slung over one shoulder, a suitcase in her other hand. People pressed past her, around her, even against her, just trying to get to and fro. It was astounding to her. So many people here, especially in the middle of January.

She tugged on the crimson overcoat, pulling it over herself ever tighter at a slight gust of the frigid winter wind. Finally, she took another step forward, moving as if she were molasses, especially when compared to the bustle she was surrounded by. Several steps and a bench later, she had been plowed over twice and elbowed so many times she couldn't remember them all. With a rather indignant sigh, she plunked herself down on the concrete slab.

The cold bit straight through her jeans and coat, to the ashen flesh beneath. She shivered, her gaze finding the given name of the place she had landed herself into. Demaitre... Where the hell is that? She pondered, reaching up a hand to run fingers through the locks of red and gold that hung about her form. Again, she sighed, glancing down at her wristwatch. 7:53 pm, it flashed in ugly black numbers. She frowned slightly, chewing on her lip, before she stood again and made another attempt at escaping the train station.

((I'm new to this, so please be nice. *puppy eyes* And please don't bite her either. I want her to actually get into Demaitre before she's Vampirized...^_^))

Naturally, Cole was far from home. He had learned long ago never to hunt near where you lived, lest you catch the attention of the local police department.

On this particular night, he was crammed onto the train with thousands of others. He stood, pressed against the glass, surrounded by a few young women who didn't seem to mind their close encounter with him.

After all, Cole was rather handsome. Between his jet black hair, dull blue eyes and his tall lean build, there wasn't much that wasn't good looking about him. Tonight he was clad in black slacks, black leather shoes and belt, a light blue t-shirt that sported the Mercy Hospital logo, and a long black wool over coat.

He got off the train at the Demaitre stop and glanced around at his selection.

Her attempts were almost and entirely in vain. She grunted in frustration as her previous courtesy for others space continued to diminish. Finally, she just quit caring and just marched her way through the subway. "When do you all you fucking people go home?!" She snapped and, as she did so, she bodily collided with someone. The contact caused her to lose the suitcase, falling to the concrete with a clatter, though thankfully remained closed and the bag over her shoulder slid to the crook of her elbow. Dark blue orbs darted up to glare at the masculine figure she had managed to run into. She curbed her apology. "Watch it, bub." She hissed.

Cole glanced up in surprise as he collided with a young mortal and nearly fell over. He laughed a little, grinning and apologizing, until she so rudely addressed him. "Watch yourself," he replied curtly.

For a moment, he made deliberate eye contact with her and decided then and there that she would be his victim of the night. He hated rude people. Especially after having lived with Corrigan for so many years. That man was the king of rudeness.

He disappeared back into the crowd, but kept his eye on her. He'd have to wait until she moved into a less concentrated area before he went after her.

She was taken aback by his words, surprised by her own rudeness. She bent to pick up her luggage. "Hey, look..." When she looked up, to apologize he was gone. She turned her head, not daring to turn her entire body in the crowd. "Huh..." She murmured, shrugging on her shoulder pack, pushing her way back through the station.

As if by miracle, she found the red glow of an exit sign and made for it. She smiled as she pressed free of the crowd and into a room that was doubly as big and much less filled, though the people here seemed in as much a rush as the others within. She sighed, continuing on through. Demaitre here I come... She thought, heading onto the street where she hoped she could flag down a taxi... Or something.

As she hit the pavement, Cole was on her and had her in the alleyway in a flash. He pressed her against the wall, a sly look in his eyes. He had her box in, one arm placed firmly against the wall, the other over her mouth to keep her quiet.

"Hello, Miss." He took his hand away and took a bracelet from his pocket. "You seemed to have dropped this." He had snatched it from her without noticing one bit as he snatched her off the street. Hurray for diversions!

She was glaring viciously to hide the terror that was hammering her heart against her ribcage. You sick fuck... She wanted to say, but instead quelled the bitch, knowing full well that this could cause some rather unwanted and unhealthy responses from this stranger. She reached up and snatched the bracelet.

Squirming, she snatched her face free of his bizarrely cool flesh. "Are you in the habit of running over and snatching up women or are you normally this weird?" She asked. "And if you so much as try to pull my clothes off, I swear to fucking God I'll mace you." She hissed, trying to reattach her bracelet. "To think, I almost apologized to a mugger..."

((Mmm... Bitchiness...))

Cole laughed heartily, his hunger rising in his eyes. Over the past few nights, he hadn't had much more than a few bags from the blood bank while at the hospital with Raen. He wanted something live and firey.

"I haven't taken anything off of you yet, now have I?" he teased, pushing her back against the wall. "But a little apology wouldn't hurt."

He stared lovingly at his victim, the pupils dialating over his cool blue eyes. Her thoughts were clear as day and he found the fact that she was a stripper to be quite amusing. If it hadn't been on the street, he would never have met her.

"Get off at the wrong stop, Little Miss? I believe Las Vegas in all of her glory is a little south of here."

(I love you, Amber... You're so cute!)

She had bit viciously at her lip to keep from gasping when he pushed her back against the wall. She wouldn't freak out. She couldn't. Not now. She had to keep her cool. And then, he mentioned Vegas. "What the hell are you talking about? I got off where I meant to." She asked, feeling that heated rush of anger flood her veins. Was it how she dressed? How she walked? Would her past haunt her forever?

His words were processed by this point and she realized what he had said to her. "You better not take a damn thing off of me." Or else what? She pushed that away, attempting to regain her confidence. She couldn't let him even get the slightest hint that she was afraid of him. It's what gave predators like this creep their edge.

The only way to get rid of him had to be to rough him up a little. Guys like this one didn't expect their victims to fight back, she had learned that in the long years of her life. So, she pressed forward with all the force she could muster, bringing her knee up toward his rather unguarded groin. If she was lucky, he'd not expect it, she'd push him away and take off. Forget her stuff, she'd rather be stuffless than dead.

((^_^ Cute? Where do you get cute? But, Amber loves you too!!))

Cole groaned, his hands moving immediately to shield his groin. As she moved away, he fell against the wall, his shoulder aching as it hit the bricks, though not near as much as his groin.

He swore softly and clenched his eyes shut. Let her go, he wasn't that hungry and she wasn't near as worth it. However, this was twice now that she had been disrespectful to him, and, though Cole didn't get angry often, rudeness just about did him in.