Gazing out from the window of the taxi, Raven's red lips curled upwards softly. It was a beautiful night. The driver didn't ask for payment as he was anxious to get her out of his cab - he didn't know why, but the woman in the back seat sent shivers down his spine every time her dark eyes caught his in the mirror. Something deep within the soulless stare would gleam menacingly and make him sweat with a sudden fever. There was a taint against the simple beauty of her face, modest it was too, yet the flaw was there. A kind of poison that only pain caused; a cynical stain of timeless wisdom that would forever bruise. Pity welled up in him to accompany the fear.

A leather boot hit the cobbled road as she stepped elegantly out into the street, her movements very feline like and her stance had a sense of dignity. Before closing the door she threw something onto the back seat, the taxi raced away and the driver glanced in his mirror to catch a glimpse of a small crocus flower. The fever returned and he sped away.

No one else was around as she stood with her hands on her slender hips; her pale skin seemed to glow as she looked around. Beneath her broad brimmed hat her fair face was guarded and barren of tell tale emotion. There was a fear in the street, it stuck to every inch of the deserted place. Every cobble, brick and pane of glass shrunk away as though terrified of an invisible demon lurking everywhere - though this fear was not of her, a mere stranger, no. The evil had already passed this way and left its stench behind.

Paris lay in a smothering slumber; there was nothing but the almost inaudible whistle of the breeze that drifted against her bare neck to cause the hairs to twitch. Not even the general buzz of life managed to filter under closed doors as it would have usually on any other night, it was all trapped by terror, gripping with such strength it had stolen the very breath from the city. Although normally resilient to such childish fears she couldn't escape the deafening hush draped over every house, street and shining star, it was everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Never before had Raven witnessed such silence in a town of such size. Swallowing her concerns she walked away from the road and down into an enclosed alley.

In amongst the deep shadows that concealed her, she peered out at the empty street, there was still no sound or sign of company. With a silent movement she pounced to the other side of the street, for a moment falling into a pool of nearby lamp light and revealing her oddly enchanting image, yet in a fluid movement she prowled along back into the shielding darkness. Keeping fixedly to the overhanging dark that the surrounding buildings were providing conveniently she went along. The only accompaniment she had was her equally stealth concerned shadow. As silent as a ghost she came to a corner; dark eyes glimmering ominously as they studied the open space, darting from one shadow to the next sceptically searching for any danger. Caution wasn't what she had - just experience. Still nothing and still no glimpse of existence emerged from the quiet night. Though at last a slight movement beside her caught the corner of her eye, with one fluent movement she drew her knife with stunning speed, deadly point aimed low, ready to kill at the slightest flex of her slim wrist.

It was a cat.

The lethal blade was pointed at an alley cat who stared dispassionately for a moment before walking round the weapon, she rolled her eyes whilst the creature leaned up against her leg purring before licking the edge of her blade playfully. Raven retracted her steel, ducked down to pick up the cat carefully.

"Such a delicate little lady should not be out on such a night... with one so beautiful and fine, who knows what waits in the gloom to pounce upon your innocent tail," she murmured as she gave the cat a single stroke before setting it back onto it's grey paws and letting it trot away, confused by the humans reaction to it's affection.

The wind gave a sudden puff and went whistling past her, down the street to round the corner - it too acting as though in retreat from an invisible evil. Raven straightened up, she could feel her fear creeping around amongst the cold air and still shadows. Like an image from a ghost story it glared back at her intimidatingly. Threatening to rear it's grotesque head, baring row after row of jagged teeth, readying to sink them into her heart and start the blinding panic, it would sear through her veins, burning all caution to who would hear her screams. Yet she had fought fear before, this time would be no different, many wounds had been given to both parties, and yet both still lingered on in the dusk. The moon continued to shine; everything in it's path receiving a strange, unnatural allure. A yawn escaped her, it had been a long time since she had slept - the evenings pale light and cold air gave such temptation, the weight of her eyelids made them flicker lazily. Sleep, they said sweetly to her, sleep, lie down and sleep under the watchful stars. Stubbornly she shook herself down and continued on, resisting slumber as though it were the forbidden fruit upon the tree. The knowledge of what would occur if she gave in was all too clear, the visions would return and with them; the nightmares.

Through the thin streets she continued, ducking behind corners her heart rate remained the same calm steady pulse, this was a normal state for her. Darkness had ironically become her ally. Between the surrounding homes that contained sleeping families she felt almost safe, though the close walls made her anxious. Containment wasn't a favourite of hers, but it was one of fears'. However that brief moment of feeling safe was swept away as she came across a small square. The dark eyes gaped at the clear sky. So very open. So very vulnerable. The cold air pressed against her upturned face, she felt a near by presence, friend or foe she could not tell, but it was close by and watching her every move. Her hand slowly towards her knife once again, feeling the leather as a comfort. Just in case.

"Very odd," she chuckled, "Someone spies upon a mere stranger in a town filled with a thousand unnamed souls. Why, I wonder, my coming causes such interest in this spies heart," the red lips smirked lightly and the eyes scanned the surroundings for the ever watchful unseen. A whining sound zipped along the breeze, cutting through it's slow current like a hot knife through butter. Having already been on red alert, her keen eyes darted right, catching sight of a sudden silver flash. In an instant she reached out and caught a small dagger with a thin and sharp blade. A disgruntled gasp sounded far off to her left and she laughed quietly - almost giddily - pocketed the dagger, then dashed off in the direction from where the knife had flown.

With her light footsteps, speed like lightning and a mind so focused it almost hurt, her confidence swelled. Soon she caught a glimpse of a running figure, retreating from the chase, desperate for safety. Weren't they all? Another light laugh bubbled through her crimson lips and she ran mercilessly after them, certain of capture and then with that, questions. A few strands of her blood red hair fell out from under her hat, it fluttered in the air as she tore down the streets.

The figure turned and sprinted down a thin lane looking back over his shoulder every so often, panting frantically as his chest grew tight. When he set eyes upon another corner he got ready to dive round it, but instead he felt his foot catch on something and fell flat onto the cobbled street, his nose smacking off the icy ground hard. While he grumbled on the ground a cat went running off hissing angrily at the sudden attack from a human shoe, it glared out from behind a barrel licking it's bruised nose carefully.

Little whimpers of despair squeaked from him as the man tried to steady himself and run off again. Flee with fresh adrenaline. Though with every sin comes a consequence. Call it fate, destiny, or karma, no matter it's name it was knocking at his door and an ice cold point was pressed against his throat. He froze and was pulled up onto his sore knees by a surprisingly strong arm. Warm breath wafted against the back of his neck, each hair responding by giving objecting twitches. Before he could breathe evenly, chilled lips were placed by his ear. As he swallowed the blade was run up and down his stubble covered throat, crackling as it went, it was a warning for him not to move a muscle, or the consequences would be all the more disturbing.

Gazing out from behind her prey, Raven's red lips curled upwards softly. It was a beautiful night.