Rip awoke when someone shoved a pillow in her face. “Wake up, you lazy ass,” a familiar voice smirked.

Rip grumbled and peeked over the pillow, sneering at the person who woke her up. “Good morning, Zorin,” she muttered, rubbing her eyes and feeling around her nightstand for her glasses.

“You mean ‘good evening,’ don’t you?” the tattooed woman asked, leaning against the wall and lighting a cigarette. Rip scowled. She told her thousands of times not to smoke in her room and she never listens. Zorin smirked and nodded towards the door. “Get up, you need to get ready.”

“Get ready for what?” Rip asked, sitting up and dangling her skinny legs over the bed. “What are you talking about?”

Zorin slapped her hand to her cheek and faked a gasp of surprise. “Oh, you mean no one told you?” she asked, pretending to be shocked. She tisked and shook her head, grinning softly. “Major is going to be so disappointed in you!”

Rip grimaced at her teaser. “Just tell me, Zorin,” she muttered, standing up from her bed and fishing through her closet for something to wear.

“Well, if you must know, I guess I should tell you,” Zorin sighed. “Two new members have joined and Major is holding a small ceremony for them. Sort of like a formal party, if you know what I mean.” She grinned and tossed the cigarette to the ground, stomping it out with her boot as Rip scowled at her now ruined carpet. “There’s going to be an orchestra playing music for us, a large banquet, and everyone is going to be there!”

Rip glanced from behind the closet door and cocked her eyebrow. “All this for two new vampires?” she asked, now curious about what Zorin was talking about.

The blond woman nodded. “Oh yeah,” she smirked. “They used to be hit men, of what I heard. Really skilled hit men… the best in the world. They’re brothers and,” she looked around before she spoke again. “Between you and me, I overheard from Doc that the eldest brother is probably the greatest creation he ever… well, created.”

Rip cocked her head and widened her eyes. “Really?” she asked and Zorin nodded. “How good is he?”

“Who cares?” Zorin sighed annoyed. “Look, you’ll find out later at the party. Right now, you need to get dressed. You’ve got a half hour to get ready.”

“WHAT!?!” Rip yelped, now frantically digging through her closet. “Oh no… what should I wear, a suit or a dress? Oh, but with what shoes? And with what jewelry? Should I even wear jewelry on this occasion?” Zorin didn’t even try to help. She took one glance at the hysterical Rip, threw back her head and burst out laughing. “Zorin, would you please help me!?!”

“What, and ruin the show?” Zorin asked. Her response was an angry growl mixed with a pitiful whimper. She grumbled and sighed, knowing if she didn’t do anything Major would punish her. She strode over, took a quick scan of her closet (all black clothes, who would have thought?) and threw a dress in her face. “Here, try this.”

Rip yelped and struggled to pull the dress off her face. She finally pulled it off, held it at arms length and pulled a face. “This thing?” she asked, holding it up to her body and looking in the mirror. “I don’t know…” she picked up one of the spaghetti straps between two fingers and grimaced. “Don’t you think this is too… revealing?”

“Then grab a shawl and put it over your shoulders,” Zorin sighed. “Besides that, the dress is fine… well, for your figure I guess.” Rip glared at her and Zorin shrugged innocently. “Hey, I only speak the truth. Now, I need to fix myself up a bit and see you downstairs. Hopefully, Major won’t get mad at you for wearing that.” She disappeared and Rip quickly stuck her tongue out at her. What a mean woman!

She shut the door with her foot, stepped out of her pajamas and slipped on the black dress. She glanced at the mirror, smoothed out the wrinkles in her dress and sighed. These brothers… were they that powerful? Especially the older one… ah, they’re hit men! They’re all the same. They’re gross, rude, dirty men who spend all their money on cigarettes, alcohol or women. Horrible, horrible men!

She scowled, picked up a black shawl made of lace and draped it over her boney shoulders. She looked in the mirror and sighed. Zorin is right… her figure is horrible. She was too tall, too skinny, had a flat chest and very pale skin with disgusting freckles and long, thin hair. She shook her head and frowned. Forget her! She’s just trying to make you mad. She always does! Rip slipped her feet into a pair of black high heels and glanced at the mirror again. Huh, she looked a little better… well, she’ll have to wait until the ceremony and see those brothers.

She slid out the door and walked quietly to the stairs. This older brother… what’s he like? Is he that powerful? If Doc says so, then it must be good. Still, is he strong enough to defeat… him?