SOLVED. Urban fantasy. about a young woman who is a guardian. It is a position that is passed from mother to daughter. She literally cannot refuse when someone asks her for help [s]

[Michael]

This series is about a young woman who is a guardian. It is a position that is passed from mother to daughter. She literally cannot refuse when someone asks her for help, or the things that go bump in the night will come after her. Can't recall when I read it, but I'm pretty sure it was at least five years ago. It may have been out for at least the same amount of time when I read it. That's all I can remember about it. There may have been a vampire involved and she may have belonged to a witches coven who really don't like her. Those last two might be from another book, but I added them just in case.

[Michael]

EDIT: forget the description above, and I'll offer this instead. A young witch. Lives in a huge studio apartment. Loves dancing and/or martial arts. The book begins when she senses something evil and runs upstairs where some college kids have unintentionally summoned a demon. Well, she uses her ritual sword to to get rid of it, then proceeds to chew them out for being idiots.

Does any of this ring a bell?

[Tathariell]

Diana Tregarde! By Mercedes Lackey. The first book is Children of the Night, with the vampire and the ignoring danger coming back to bite her. I believe she has a flashback or tells someone about the college situation.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Michael, please add some plot details to your header, per the group rules.

[Michael]

Tathariell. That's the one. Thanks. Mark this one as solved.