Erin Kingston paced around on the top of the Millenium Tower, her anxiety building rapidly as the sun lowered into the horizon. She nibbled on her thumbnail, her teeth chattering rapidly. Her short, choppy brown hair fluttered in the gentle San Francisco breeze, and her green eyes were narrow like a cat's, and began to glow as the darkness began to settle. A string of pearls lined her neck, and her ears sparkled with her latest theft-priceless diamonds, over twenty thousand dollars in cash. Her raid in Paris had been sweet, but the ecstasy of the trip had made her forget.

Now, it was time.

Erin looked out anxiously upon the horizon, and her heart dropped to her stomach.

The sun sunk into the waters.

Immediately, night gripped the city, and the city lights lit up like a Christmas tree. But the Millennium Tower stayed dark.

There was a whisper of wind, and Erin knew ...they had arrived.

"Hello, Erin." A voice greeted, sweet as honey. Through her acute night vision, Erin could see the two figures-one of them with her back turned, the other almost completely obscured by a pitch-black cloak. The one with the cloak stepped forward, her face hidden in shadow.

"I trust your vacation in France was good?" The cloaked one asked innocently.

Erin stared, too terrified to speak.

"I asked you a question, Erin." The cloaked figure's voice now had an edge, like a hidden knife. Erin swallowed, hard, and her voice came out high and pitchy.

"Oh, y-yes!" She cleared her throat, and this time her voice was steady. "I mean, yes, it was enjoyable. Shame you couldn't come."

"Oh, we had errands to run. Speaking of which," The cloaked one took another step forward. Erin, too terrified to move, stifled the terror rising in her throat. "Did you complete the task we asked of you?"

"Oh, yes, of course!" Erin's tongue stumbled over her rehearsed alibi, but she prayed they didn't notice. "Right before I came to France, I trusted the goods to a consultant of yours-she goes by J, doesn't she? But when I came back, she seemed to have misplaced them. Of course, I am currently searching for them now, cleaning up after her mistake." She said quickly as the cloaked one advanced rapidly. Erin backed up, but her feet slipped on the edge of the Tower. Right before she fell, a hand shot out and grabbed Erin by the front of the shirt.

"But we trusted YOU, Erin. Didn't we?"

"Yes, I'm deeply sorry. Truly, I am." Erin's voice rose hysterically, as she dangled over the city. The figure's grip tightened, and the one with her back turned muttered something like, "-never trusted her, anyway."

"I'm sorry too, Erin." The cloaked one said.

And she let go.

Erin held back a scream as she fell through the night, willing her powers to activate. Immediately, feathered wings sprouted from her shoulders, and her body morphed into a small, bird-shaped form. Erin picked the wind up with her wings as she soared upwards, letting a sigh of relief whoosh through her.

She blinked and screeched to a halt. There, floating in midair in front of her with wings that seemed to be made from pitch-black flames, was the cloaked figure.

Erin tried to scream, but a rope made of pure shadows wrapped around her neck. Erin immediately shapeshifted back to her human form, choking as the rope tightened.

"Stupid animal shapeshifting Conduit." Her tormenter spat. She drew back the hood, and Erin saw pure black eyes, leaking with black flames, and a pointed smile.

"You can't run." She grinned, raising her hand, and a jet of dark red energy burst from her palm, engulfing Erin.

Erin screamed as the nightmares began.