Giver of Light by Nicola Claire

idea of where to hide out at least until the wee hours. I headed out to catch a cab. The LoDo District - the Lower Downtown Historic District - was a mishmash of old brick buildings, historical Denver sights and a whole lot of pubs and clubs. I suddenly felt at ease.
    I knew the pedestrian mall I had started at would wind down at 5pm, but LoDo would keep going well after dark. Once the pubs and clubs all closed, I was going to have to think of another plan of attack. But for now, a club was the best place to be. The sun was getting low by the time my cab deposited me at my destination and I did a quick scan of the area, sussing out any dark alleys, dead ends, potential traps. The more time I spent away from the house, the more sure I was of how to look after myself. But still, I felt so weak. I'd been riding a high since I had escaped Jonathan, I knew any moment now I'd be hitting that low.
    I scanned the area for something loud, busy and pumping, something that wouldn't quit too early in the game. I wasn't after a good time, just a well hidden time for as long as I could get away with it. An Irish Pub was the best I could come up with, large enough to accommodate a good number or patrons and not likely to turf out a tourist with a Denver sweatshirt and crumpled jeans.
    O'Hagan's was in full swing. Irish music wafting out of the front doors onto the street, the smells of beer and hot potato chips and the sounds of laughter and merriment calling to me. I had no idea if I was a regular pub goer in my previous life, but O'Hagan's just seemed to be perfect right about now. Maybe I could even stomach a salted chip or two. A girl could only dream.
    I wended my way through the already busy throng of pub crawlers and made it to the bar. Ordering a Guinness - which I had no intention of drinking - and a plate of hot chips, I found a spot in a dark corner to hide and watch the front door. I knew instinctively that I was close to the kitchens and a possible back entrance would be available if needed. I was also up against a wall, nothing could surprise me here. I sat and picked at my plate of crispy spud slivers, even managing to eat one or two and spent the next hour just watching. No one approached me, maybe I really did look pretty pathetic, but also no vampire crossed the threshold either. The stars had appeared not long after I arrived, so I knew they would be out and about for sure.
    I could only hope by moving from where Gus had dropped me, having a different coloured top on and redoing my hair so it looked short from the front, would help to conceal me. But deep down inside I knew it was all futile. Vampires had ways of tracking you, a network available to find you, supernatural powers that only us humans could dream of. They were nothing if not efficient hunters and I didn't for a second think I would be difficult prey to find.
    That thought just made me more and more nervous as the night wore on. Finally, after being eyed a few times too many by the bartender, I thought it was time to move on.
    I snuck out with a loud group of revellers and walked at the back of their group for a while. My eyes darting from shadow to shadow, my senses on high alert, my fingers tingling with anticipation and downright fear.
    The group I was tagging along with actually ended up passing Union Station, which even at this time of night was lit up like all good historical buildings should be from the outside, but also bustling with human activity on the inside too. I ducked in through the main entrance before my group had finished passing the front doors and hid behind a flower stand to survey my next refuge. Train stations stayed open all night, didn't they? I could only hope so and looking at the number of people purposefully marching across the great expanse, heading towards platforms and waiting trains, or off towards buses and taxis out to one side, I felt my hopes rise.
    I waited for another group of commuters to walk past heading in the right