a vampire or not. Blood and Brine Author: Greg Cox Collected in: Vol. II Setting: The Caribbean 1661 Robin Whitby is the captain of a schooner titled Neptune's Lady. She has been passing herself off as a man in order to be accepted by her crew. While sailing the seas, they come about a boat called the El Dorado which is strangely free of any crew members, save for a young Spanish girl. The boat is loaded with gold and treasures and in particular, an ugly little idol. After a brief mutiny on board her ship as soon as the crew realizes that she's female, half the members take the other boat and set off. However, the boat becomes plagued by the kraken, a water monster with fangs and squid-like arms, and Robin heads back to fight for the crew that once betrayed her. In a fight with the kraken, Robin loses her right forearm to the beast, losing a part of herself, yet still not defeating the hideous monster. Unholy Madness Author: Nancy Holder Collected in: Vol. I Setting: France, 1789 Marie-Christina is a Slayer of royal blood who lives in Marie-Antoinette's royal palace at Versailles. Unfortunately, the royals have become displeased with her work, as has her Watcher. Originally Marie despises the poor of France, an attitude shared by her Watcher and most of the court. Her attitude slowly changes upon meeting a young, innocent girl who lives on the street. Marie tries to confront L'Hero, a vampire who is causing rebellion among the poor. They know he is a vampire but do not care, as the situation he creates for them is better than what the royals ever did for them. Marie's life falls apart as the rebellion erupts around her. At the end, she herself finds out she was born a peasant, and her watcher doesn't care. As he is about to be guillotined, he says to her, "Once a peasant...." The story ends with the little girl grabbing Marie-Christina's hand, and having her hand feel like ice, probably a result of being turned into a vampire herself. The Ghosts of Slayers Past Author: Scott Allie Collected in: Vol. II Setting: England, 1843 The current Watcher of the current Slayer (who is from the run down east end of London) has absolutely no sympathy for his charge until he is visited by two Slayers from the