A Modern Myth II

[<^>Krustine<^>]

~Trudie's POV~

When I got up that morning and felt that feeling with the ghost, I just tried to ignore it. I knew I shouldn't and didn't want to-- no wait I didn't know what I wanted. Just knew what I was going to do, Ignore the fact that some ghost was in the kitchen with Kynaree and I.

"Hey Kynaree, I don't want to freak you out or anything, but There is a ghost in here." I said. Then thought 'That was stupid'

"WHAT!" Yup I was right.

"Calm down, I think they left." I lied, realizing what I got myself into.

She just screamed and ran up to her room and slamed the door.

I finished my breakfast then Valkyrie came downstairs already ready for school. "You know you shouldn't scare her like that."

"I spoke before I thought, Hey how was your day yesterday? I heard about the whole thing with Wyatt." I chuckled.

She told me he was getting on her nerves so she got on his. Simple as that.



When I went to my first class I felt the ghost feeling again. Only now I had to put thought into action, I couldn't put all my classmates in harms way. So, I asked if I could be exused(stw) because I had a 'family'(what family) vacation and was leaving in a little while. Total lie, but it worked. Stupid teachers. Valkyrie was the only one that knew what was going on and asked if she could go to the bathroom to see if she could help.

We both got to the hallway and she started talking to me but I was already putting all my thought into trying to see who the ghost was, so I didn't hear a thing she said.

Finally she snapped me out of it, I guess she was trying to tell me that she knew where I was coming from, she could hear it's thoughts.... and they weren't positive.

[×|{å†ìe×]

~<>~Kynaree's POV~<>~

After my small ghost scare I told everyone they could leave without me, Cecil and Theo were coming to pick me up. I wasn't sure why, it was a waste of gas but I agreed anyways. It sat at the kitchen table gazing out the window for a while until I started worrying because they were five minutes late.

I only had to worry for another minute or so and then I seen Cecil's car making its way up Valkyrie's driveway. I was relieved but when I walked closer to the car I realized there was only one person instead. "Where's Cecil?" I asked.

"I don't know, he didn't get out of bed so I left" he shrugged and I got into the passenger's seat.

"We can't just leave him! What if an alien is eating the insides of his brain right now?" I started to worry again and I wondered what was wrong with me, I usually didn't worry this much did I? Something must be wrong if I was worrying. I kept worrying to myself as we rode back to Cecil's tiny house and Theo just sat there grumbling about something or another.

I had myself so panicked by the time we got there I jumped out of the car and rushed into the house. The first thing I saw was a mug on the stand near the couch. It was half full of coffee and when I touched the side of the cup it was cold. Theo came up behind me, "Geez, and he's always complaining about me leaving dirty dishes all over the house"

"Cecil didn't finish his coffee?" I said mostly to myself.

"Yeah, he went to bed early last night and I didn't hear him get up this morning. It was pretty weird I'll have to say" he answered seeming kind of impatient to get out of here.

"He didn't even get up to make coffee?"

"Nope" Then I almost started to cry because my eyes got all teary and my nose began to get stuffy. "What's wrong?" he put his arm around my shoulder.

"He's dead isn't he? The alien got him, it's too late!"

"No, I think he's just sick" Theo said and started leading me to Cecil's room. I was scared at first, what if he was wrong and I seen the remains of Cecil's bloody corpse. I reluctantly pushed the creaky door open and seen a pile of blankets in the middle of his bed. At first I thought he wasn't in there but then I realized he was under the pile of blankets. "Wakey, wakey" Theo called snickering.

I heard a muffled response from under the blankets "So, you're not dead" I replied suspiciously. It was probably the alien trying to trick me, I grabbed the gun I knew he always kept underneath the end table by his bed and shed off all his blankets.

I pointed the gun at him and I then I knew it was Cecil, "Go ahead and shoot, I'm going to die anyways" he mumbled.

Theo let out a long frustrated sigh, "What is wrong with you? The flu isn't going to kill you"

"In the United States alone did you know that about 36,000 die from the flu every year?" he said in a raspy voice and pulled up the hood to the navy blue hoodie sweatshirt he was wearing. He was also wearing sweatpants that were way too big and ugly gray socks.

"Bull" Theo argued. Cecil pointed to his blackberry on the nightstand, Theo just shook his head, "You're just frigging insane. Come on Kynaree, I'm sure he'll be over it by the time we get back from school"

"I can't! He might die. I need to stay and watch him" Theo looked like he was going to argue but just said that he'd see me after school walked out the door. Cecil already had himself covered in his comforter again. I knew the werewolves had the flu right now too and I wondered if I should call and ask what to do. However, I changed my mind when I read the list that Cecil's dad gave me in case of emergencies.

I made sure I locked myself in the bathroom when I read it because Cecil wasn't supposed to know about it. I wasn't sure why but his dad told me not to tell him. I searched through the list for illnesses. Underneath the bold 'sick' it read 'Call me immediately' and so I did.

"Hello?" Rodger answered after the first ring.

"I think Cecil has the flu" I said trying to sound as calm as possible.

"I'm on the first plane there" he replied without any questions and hung up. I gulped, was the flu really this serious? I thought about calling Valkyrie, maybe she'd know what to do. Trudie was a human and might know some things too. I thought about it but just sat there on Cecil's bedroom floor biting my nails in the corner.

At some point I got over it and asked him if he needed anything and he just said a bucket. I ran out of the room after he started hurling into it, I hoped Rodger got here soon and I wished Theo would've stayed and kept me company. I didn't want to deprive him of school though. When it was noon I called Valkyrie because I knew they would all be at lunch worrying about Cecil. "Hey, he's still alive" I told her after she answered.

"Yeah, I know. He's got the flu Theo told me"

"Well, I was just letting you know he's still breathing and not dead" I wondered why she wasn't more worried.

"Kynaree, he's not going to die. It's the flu" she replied and then said she had to go even though I knew she didn't. After his last vomiting spill I sat at the end of his bed as he curled himself back into a ball.

"Valkyrie says you aren't going to die"

"Given the chances I probably won't" he sighed and then added "Just don't tell my dad"

"Um.. why?" I gulped.

"He'll just overreact like he does about everything" Now I knew where he got it from. I looked at the clock and wondered how long it took to get here from England. I lied and said I had to go to the bathroom. I called Rodger back but it went straight to his voice mail. I called him six more times and frowned when I realized he was on the plane already. Oh well, it wouldn't be that bad we could all laugh about this in a few weeks, or months, or years, or decades.

[Kàylà]

~Valkyrie's POV~

I followed Trudie out of the classroom hearing another new 'voice' in my mind. This one seemed a little more familiar though and I told Trudie as we were walking down the hallway that I knew how she felt. The thoughts hit me harder then and I looked around to see where they were coming from. I didn't see anything though but the thoughts were loud and seemed to be coming from in front of me.

'A host.. I need to find a host.' The thought was repeated many times. The voice sounded so familiar but I just couldn't place it.

'I will find a host and take my revenge. Oni and Lian will be the first to die and then I'll take care of the rest of the mythical creatures.' Why couldn't I think of who it was? Then it hit me. The thoughts were coming from Dr.Dartan, but he was dead right? I saw him get ripped to shreads by the hybrid mutant freak but yet his thoughts were loud and clear in my mind.

The bell rung and Trudie and I were still standing in the middle of the hallway like a bunch of idiots. I pulled her along with me as I snapped out of my daze. "Trudie, the ghost that you felt was Dr.Dartan! He is looking for a human with no soul to take over so he can start his revenge...again." I told her.

"What!!! How do we stop him?" She asked panic written over her face.

"How am I supposed to know your the ghost expert." I exclaimed.

"I'm just as new to this as you are!" She almost yelled. If we continued to talk about this in the hallways we were going to cause a scene.

"We'll talk about it later." I told her walking to my lockering and hastly opening it. I grabbed my books and hurried to my next class. During my classes I couldn't concitrate, Nathan looked at me with worried eyes as he noticed the slight amount of stress on my face. Lunch came and I didn't even realize it.

I sat at my normal table that normally held me, Kynaree, Cecil, Theo, Trudie, Rayna, Nathan, Tryst, and sometimes the rest of Rayna's pack. Today though it was just me, Nathan, Rayna, Tryst, Wyatt, and Theo. Mase and Rem were still sick and Kynaree and Cecil were nowhere to be found.

Wyatt was once again annoying me through his mind and I was about ready to slap him. Dr.D's thoughts still rang in my head as was the new girl Ember's and then the mysterious thoughts that I still couldn't find the source to. I had concluded that the thoughts only occured when Rayna was around but I didn't know why that made a difference.

My cell phone rang and I answered it when I saw Cecil's id pop up. I remembered Theo telling me now that Kynaree was taking care of Cecil since he was sick. "Hey he's still alive." Kynaree told me from the other end of the line.

"Yea I know, He has the flu, Theo told me." I said.

"Well, I was just letting you know he's still breathing and not dead" She seemed like this was a miricle.

"Kynaree he's not going to die it's the flu." I told her and then explained that I had to go. I really didn't but I was already starting to get a headache and I didn't want her to make it worse.

'Ah poor Valkyrie having a rough day.' I was seriously going to kill Wyatt.

"Okay that's it Rayna tell Wyatt to stop the mental attack on me." I gave Wyatt the death glare as I told her.

"Wyatt leave Valkyrie alone, don't forget that she could easily take you." Rayna scolded him like he was a little child. Even as she said that his metal attack didn't stop. I knew with further distance that it would be less annoying. I picked up my tray and nudged Nathan.

"Where are we going?" He asked.

"To sit with the new girl." I told him smiling. I saw her in the far back of the lunch room sitting by herself. I cautiously walked up to her table and stood there.

"Do you mind if we sit here?" I asked her. She looked up and I saw the shock in her eyes as she questioned herself why we would want to sit with her. Ember shook her head and Nathan and I took our seats. I reached out my hand and introduced ourselves to her.

"I'm Valkyrie and this is my boyfriend Nathan."

[--Kyle--]

Xian's POV

I sat there quietly. Lunch was rather slow and I was in my own little world. I saw Valkyrie get up and leave the table. I could sense somthing was up but I wasnt really paying enough attention to care.

I didnt know why I was so down. I thought that Aurora finally making it easier and just coming would make me happy, but it wasnt making me happy. Cause now it was getting closer to Aurora's death and I was feeling guilty.

I promised Aurora that I would talk to Ethan and make sure he didnt go, but some strange turn of events would get him there and he would kill her. I didnt even know why. I just knew it. The reason I knew was because I was still having the dream.

Aurora was going to die, and I actually cared. I almost laughed. After all that had happened i havent been the same. I was actually going insane. I could feel it.

I almost had to sew my lips shut to keep me from laughing during lunch. I was getting angry at myself too. Then I stopped laughing in my head and was yelling. Yelling at nothing in particular just yelling. Curse words, names, anyhting that popped in. I startted yelling words in alphabetical order. Anything to get it out. But in my head was not working.

I got up and ran outside into the woods. The cool fresh air hit me and I was feeling better but I still needed to let it out. I ran as far as I could so no one would hear me. And finally I yellled. Just like I had in my head but this time aloud. I yelled and screamed and cried and yelled somemore.

I needed a vacation. Or somthing. I needed to run and be free of all this. I needed to run. Run. Run. Run. The thought kept pouring in. So I ran. I ran fast and hard.

It was getting dark and I have been running for hours. But it felt good to run for so long. Sweat dripped from my nose and forehead. I was tired but at the same time wanted to run some more. I looked at my cell and I saw it was midnight. Wow, I ran along time. I had no idea where I was.

I found a road and saw that I was a state over than where I should be. I was too tired to run anymore so I walked down the road. There was no cars for a long time but I finally saw head lights.

i hitched my thumb and waited. It slowed to a stop and I climbed in...

[damiana]

~*~ Rayna's POV ~*~


What I would do for a good vacation away from Wyatt, I think I can say the same for Valkyrie too. I thought about lunch today and how Valkyrie had to physically remove herself to escape his constant jabbering...all I need is some rope, some ductape and a key to the basement no one will ever know.

I thought evil thoughts on the way to my house, Tryst was driving cus I still wasn't feeling good from the flu I had yesterday, I'm better now but Rem and Mase are still out, unfit for events such as school lucky them they don't know what we have to go through these days.

I glanced at the rearview mirror and saw Wyatt in his candy green car, he was bobbing his head up and down and making funny hand gestures, I don't think I wanna know what he's listening too.

I looked over at Tryst who was just as exhausted as I was, he stayed up all night with me when I was throwing up, what a trooper. He caught on that I was watching him and gave me a curious smile.

"You look tired" I told him, although he obviously already knew that about himself.

"Same can be said for you" he said back, I smiled then looked out my window and watched the trees pass by... bad idea, the nausea was coming back.

"PULL OVER!" I yelled, Tryst swerved to the side of the road and I had my door open before the car even stopped, already emptying my stomach contents.

Wyatt came to a stop behind us and leaned out his window.

"Ewww, that's sick Rayna"

I flipped him off before getting back in the car.

Upon entering my house I heard my dad having a conversation with someone unseen, I turned the corner and he was just hanging up the phone. He turned around and became face to face with me, he didn't seem to excited.

"Who was that?" I asked

He gestured to the couch and I took a seat as did Tryst. "That was Anna Lynne an alpha of a pack from up north, and a very old friend of mine, she knew you when you were little but you were probobly to young to remember, well she called with some...news"

Tryst and I looked at each other when he said news. "What kind of news?" Tryst asked

"Well you two know that there is a greater number of packs up north, and well, Lian paid them a visit and managed to talk with the "top dogs" as you would say. Anna said that he told them about our alliance with the vampires and they were furious-" He paused and looked into our waiting faces.

"Thay want to finalize our denial, and Lian is pressuring them to think about alpha replacement in our pack, Anna didn't stick around much longer after that, her and her kin left when they had the chance and are probobly now in the same position we are, she called from a little town a few states from here..." he lowered his head

"Alpha replacement?" I didn't fully understand the concept

"That means they want to eliminate the problem causers in a pack, it means death" Tryst said glummly

"What!?, but they can't do that it's against our laws" I argued

"We broke the law first and I don't think they're going to let us off as easily as last time, this time when we formed the alliance with the vamps, we broke the oldest rule of all, and by our laws that can only result in death." Ralph explained

I started shaking my head "That's not fair, Lian killed a member of his own pack, his own mate, he should be the one who has to die."

"Yea but the elders don't know that now do they" Tryst said

My dad was still looking down trying to figure it out.

"Is Anna and her pack heading this way?" I asked

Ralph nodded "Yea, but I'm gonna need some one to go to them first and bring them back here, she remembers where we use to live but now that we moved she has no idea, so now the question is which one of us is going to go?"


"Rem and Mase can't, they're in no condition to go" I said right off the bat

"and your not going, because your still sick" Tryst told me

"So that means your not going either cus without a doubt your going to go or stay anywhere I do" I said

"I can't go, I have to stay here and keep an eye on situations" Ralph said

"and mom can't go cus she's not a wolf"

"So that leaves one person to go" Tryst said and as if on cue Wyatt walked into the room with a ginourmous bowl of cereal and he was about to take a huge bite.

"Why are you guys looking at me like that?" He asked slightly frightened

"Because you're going to take a little road trip and pick some people up." Tryst said simply.

"Ok now I understand why you were looking at me, but I still don't understand why Rayna is looking at me like she is" he said then took the bite of cereal

My eyes were like daggers as I watched my cereal disappear into his fat mouth.

"I mean she doesn't need to be looking at me like that ...blah blah blah" His voice was drowned out by the anger rising inside, everytime he talked he would take a bite of cereal and chomp away, mouth wide open.

"You better hope there's some left" I said through my teeth

"Oh this" He pointed to the bowl "Naw the stuffs all gone." He took another bite

"You're Dead."

What happened next is a certain series of events that cannot be identified for they are to graphic for young viewers, lets just say football tackle and flying cereal.

[Shinju]

There I sat in the lunchroom staring at what was supposed to be mac and cheese. This day had been progressing terribly slow. A headache had been raging for the last thirty two hours in my skull.
I looked up forlornly to see two people approaching my table. The mind reader and her companion. Eh, I didn't feel like dealing with anything at the moment. Suddenly I was aware of my petty thoughts. *Great she's probably listening to me right now* I went into my brick wall mode. Think of nothing a a blank brick wall. But then of course the *why the heck do they want to sit with me* the thought invaded my mind.
"Do you mind if we sit here?" She asked. I nodded. Why not. She introduced herself and her boyfriend and reach out her hand. I stared at it. An awkward silence ensued. I wasn't acustomed to handshakes or embrace or any sort of bodily contact, because most of the time no one wanted to be within a hundred mile radius of my person.
I sighed grabbing her hand gently. It was a rather odd action because I had never done it. A slight look of amusement enter Valkyrie's eyes. Eh, socializing was such a damn pain.
"I think you already know that I'm Ember..." I stared at her scarlet eyes for a few moments. I suddenly thought about the emerald facade I had on mine. A fleeting thought of letting my true eye color came. I immediately pushed it away.
I am such a self conscious dimwit. One of my personality flaws really. How the hell was I, a disgusting half-breed going to impress this mind reading blood lover. I decided right then and there that I must try to befriend this interesting character.
I tried and utterly failed to make a small smile on my face, it probably came out looking like a deranged grin.

"

[×|{å†ìe×]

~<>~Rodger's POV~<>~

The rental car smelled better then the last one I burrowed from this place, I noted lamely as I cruised steadily at sixty miles per hour. It was 1:15am which meant I'd been up the past 23 hours, the only thing keeping me awake right now was my cup of coffee. I supposed I was just lucky I was driving on the right side of the road right now.

The lights of the town were gone and I was now passing trees quickly. I wondered if I was really going sixty miles per hour, it seemed like all the trees were going by too fast. However, the odometer still read 60 in its bright orange lighting. I never even bothered to ask what kind of car this was, I realized, my mind kept flipping from one subject to the next until I seen figure at the side of the road. I normally didn't pick up hitchhikers but I wasn't in my right mind so I pulled over.

When the hitchhiker slipped into the passengers seat I discovered he was a Dartan. One I was familiar with, when the battle happened not to far from here he was on our side. It took me a few seconds to remember his name was Xian. After associating with so many mystical creatures I was surprised I remembered, "Thank you for picking me up, I was lost for a while, can you bring me- Wait a minute" he narrowed his eyes, not in anger but curiosity "are you Cecil's father?"

"Assuming he's still alive, then yes" I tried to joke but it just didn't sound right.

"What's that supposed to mean?" his asked.

"He has the flu, and has the tendency of being a bit over dramatic", I rolled my eyes as memories of Cecil filled my head. He was always my little actor.

"Well, I hope he's feeling better" The kid was pretty polite I had to admit. There was an awkward pause before he continued "Your with the MMC, could you do me a favor?"

I shrugged, "Yes, depending on what it is"

"Well, I need to track down a certain Dartan. Aurora? The girl I was with when you were here, well I suppose she left before then... Anyways, I just need her location. Do you think you could get that for me?" Before I could answer he added "If it's not too much trouble"

I smiled, "You could've just asked Cecil"

"Yeah, I know, but Cecil is really, well, I know he's your son but he's a little strange. And he's massively addicted to coffee. I don't think he would like me. He kind of likes my friend Ethan though... I always feel like the outcast." Xian sounded like he was in thought and mumbled the last part.

"And the coffee addiction is my fault. He started drinking coffee at the age of four. He used to come to work with me and felt the need to drink coffee because everyone else was" I explained and then I went into work mode and said "Outcast... Well, most mythical creatures at one time or another feel like outcasts. However, that's not the case it's mostly just a part of realizing where you fit in, in the world" After I said it, it kind of reminded me of a hallmark card, a mystical creature hallmark card.

"Well, I don't know, I just feel that way someti-- wait a minute, how do you know about this kind of stuff? And why am I telling you it...." He started to mutter to himself and I knew he needed psychological help, but I was too tired for that.

"I work with mystical creatures everyday and I know quite a bit about their psychology"

"Oh, well what do you think I should do? Aurora and I are having issues because I saw a vision where my best friend Ethan, also a Dartan, -although you probably knew- was going to kill her. But I don't care, before the war she left me for dead. I don't know what to decide. Let her die or stop Ethan. The weird thing is, Ethan doesnt even want to do it, he's just as confused as I am..."

I knew I shouldn't have said anything so I told him what was going through my mind earlier, "You know, I've been up for the past 23 hours and the only thing keeping me up is this cup of coffee. I really wouldn't be asking me any advice if I were you"

"Oh, well I am sorry to bombard you, I'm just" He sighed "Never mind. So can you get her location then?"

"If we have a file of her it should be easy. If not, it'll be difficult but I'm sure we can manage"

"Well, I am sure you will have a file if you followed Dr. Dartan's 'research' for the last ten years..." He did an air quote on research.

"Yeah, I'll just get Cecil to do it. I'll probably be leaving tomorrow or the next day" I replied. We were reaching the town and Xian started giving me directions to where he wanted to be dropped off.

"Thanks, for all of this" he said once again.

"No problem. I'm sure it'll all work out" I told him and stopped the car outside of the building he pointed to. He said thank you once again while getting out and I finally asked "Why were you in the middle of nowhere anyways?'

"Long story" was all he said and I was happy I didn't have to listen to it. I really needed sleep, I was getting irritated too easily and this caffeine wouldn't last me long.

After all the time it took to get on the plane, ride on the plane, and drive here, I was finally here. I shut the car off and headed into Cecil's dark house. The door wasn't locked and I let myself in. When I shut the door behind me I heard a faint snoring on the couch, and somehow immediately I knew it wasn't Cecil's snore. I guess it was just a fatherly instinct, I got close enough to find out it was Theo. I knew him well, he'd complained many times to the MMC in England and in practically every other country, state and city he came to. I loved the kid. My other co-workers may have found him annoying but I thought he was humorous.

I was glad he was staying with Cecil and even more happy he was dating Kynaree. The two made quite a pair. I tiptoed into the last door on the right and then I seen the light was still on. I walked in to find Cecil and Kynaree both asleep. She was lying on the end of the bed taking up Cecil's leg room, they were both curled up into a tight ball. At least he was still breathing, why was I so worried in the first place?

I realized my phone still wasn't on and pressed the power button. That was a big mistake because the phone make a loud singing sound and everyone in the room woke up. One second everyone was asleep and the next I had a gun pointed at me, Kynaree made a loud thud on the ground and I hear a curse come from the living room.

"Hey, Rodge, what are you doing here?" Kynaree mumbled from the ground almost inaudibly.

"You feeling any better?" I asked Cecil.

"Hm, seeing I'm having hallucinations I'd say no" he answered stuffing his gun back into place.

"I would tell you I'm not a hallucination but I know you'd just argue with me so go back to sleep" Kynaree was already back to sleep still curled up into a ball on the carpet. Cecil sighed and closed his eyes too. Now where was I supposed to sleep?

[--Kyle--]

--Xians POV--

I felt better after talking to Roger. Although he didnt really help me because of his coffee and sleep withdrawl, but I took what little he said and found a reason for my decision.

All I needed to know was the reason Ethan would kill Aurora. I needed to know. Ethan didnt know so he was out, and Aurora didnt know so she was too. I needed a reason why Ethan would do it. I needed an answer.

I walked into the house and locked the door. I could hear upstairs that the TV was on but it was a the ppssshhhh noise that came on after 1 A.M. and Ethan was probably asleep. I walked into the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water.

I drank it and put the glass by the sink. But that wasnt enough for me. I needed something stronger. I needed somthing to take this feeling away. I needed....

I walked to the cupboard above the sink and moved some of the cook books that hid my stash. I only drank when I was really in need of it. Maybe I shouldnt rely on it but I had to rely on somthing.

I grabbed the glass and filled half of it. I drank that and had another and another and another. Soon it was 4 AM and I was tired. I grabbed the bottle and went to my bedroom.

I made a promise to myself that this was the first and only time that I would drink like this. the alcohol was getting to me and I tripped on my dresser. "damn, freakin dresser." I muttered and went to my bed. I stripped my clothes off, un-gracefully falling when it came to my jeans, I landed on my bed and just layed there.

I finally got the pants off and went under the covers. i set the bottle on the end table and turned off the light.

I woke the next morning with a headache and my teeth felt like they were wearing fuzzy slippers. I rolled out of bed and realized I only got four hours of sleep. And school was starting in twenty minutes.

I jumped in the shower and brushed my teeth vigorously (stw). I got dressed slowly, fearing another incident. I went to the car and realized Ethan was already in it. I put on my sun glasses- the sun made the headache turn to the dark side- and aproached the car.

"Mornin," I grumbled, my throat raspy and dry. "How'd you sleep?"

"Dont do that. Dont play like nothing is going on," Ethan's voice began to rise and his concern showed in his violet eyes. "You left in the middle of school. Where were you? Why did you leave? You left me there with out an ounce of knowing why you weere going or where you were. I cant believe you! And dont even pretend to think I didnt see the bottle."

I didnt know where to being, or even what to say. "I am sorry. You have no idea what I am going through right now."

"Oh really!? i have no clue? Thats right, i have no clue because I dont know what it feels like to know when someone you care about is about to die. Well try being the one to kill her!" When he was done yelling, he fell silent all the way to school.

[Kàylà]

Valkyrie's POV~

I couldn't help but laugh inside as I saw all the conflicting emotions on Ember's face. The small smile she tried to put on her face looked a little deranged but I didn't think anything of it. I was the same way when I first interacted with humans after I went through 'puberty'. I tried to look inside her mind but her mind walls were up and for that I was grateful.

"Thank you." I said.

"What?" She seemed confused.

"Your mind barriers make it a little easier for me. You have no idea how many headaches I get in a day from all the stupid humans and their relentless thinking. One voice silenced is like heaven to me." I explained.

"Don't forget Wyatt, Valk he counts as ten humans." Nathan reminded me finally joining the conversation.

"I'm about ready to kill that flea bag." I murmered as his thoughts broke through my weak walls. I was getting better at sheilding my mind from the others around me giving myself a little silence in a day but Wyatt always went out of his way to make my day living hell.

"Who?" Ember asked still confused. I turned around and pointed at Wyatt.

"That is Wyatt. If you ever get mind reading abilites stay away from him. His mind is worse than a humans." I told her.

"I'll remember that." She said almost slightly laughing. She seemed to be relaxing a bit but thankfully her mind barriers never went down. I could tell she was hiding something.

The bell was about to ring so I wrote down my address on a napkin and told her how to get there. "If you need a place to stay or if you just wanna hang out drop by anytime."

"Uh thanks." She said. Nathan and I got up and dumbed our untouched food into the trash can. Every day we got dirtty looks from the cooks but I just smiled sweetly and headed out of the room to my next class. The rest of the day went by quickly and I was grateful when I got home. Kynaree was still with Cecil and I drove faster than Trudie so the only minds in my mind was Nathan's, and my parents'. So much silence was a relief and I wondered how long it had been since I hunted.

I looked at my eyes and I saw that they were starting to get darker but nothing serious yet. I decided to put off hunting for another night. I quickly did my homework and I was just finishing up when Trudie walked in the door. I smiled at her as she sat down next to me and pulled out her homework also.

"Anymore encouters with Dr.D's ghost?" I asked her.

"Nope."She told me shaking her head. "You?"

"Nope." I shook my head too. When Rayna didn't show up at my house I was surprised and not surprised. I was surprised that she wasn't here because she normally did stop by after school, but I also wasn't surprised because she still didn't look like she was feeling to well at school.

My thinking was interupted by the Disturbed ringer on my phone. Without looking at the caller id I knew it was Kynaree, even though my ringtone was the same for everyone.

"Do you need me to come pick you up?" I asked her before she said anything.

"How did you know it was me?" She ask in a nervous voice.

"I'm psychic." I joked.

"No you're not!!" She yelled.

"Okay fine. I'm just that good, so do you need a ride or not?" I asked her.

"Nope I'm gonna stay here and keep taking care of Cecil." She told me. "I just didn't want you to worry if I didn't come home tonight." She sounded proud of herself for thinking head.

"Alright. See Ya tomorrow maybe." I said and then hung up the phone. Tired, I said goodnight to Trudie and Nathan and headed up to my room. I changed into my pajamas and climbed under the covers.

'Oni what are you up to?' I wondered before falling into a deep sleep.

[Shinju]

I peered down at the napkin with the address on it. When Valkyrie and Nathan walked away I did a little happy dance. A few people around me gave me a 'wtf' look. I neatly folded up the napkin and put it in my front right pocket. Had I, a disgusting demon with a horrible secret just made friends? My inner self scolded me. Getting so hopeful over one encounter was foolish. I had experienced a few, and had gotten my hopes up only to be crushed when I let them in. But that small child-like part of me longed for a lasting friendship. A flashback tried to force itself upon me again, and I knew which one is was. The one that had always haunted my dreams.
"Saielle, could I ever have a friendship now like the one I had with you." I held on tightly to the napkin in my pocket.
Lunch was almost over now and the other students were filing out. I got up and threw away my uneaten lunch. One of the lunch ladies gave me a death glare, but I was too enwrapped in my thoughts to notice.

[×|{å†ìe×]

~<>~Kynaree's POV~<>~

I woke up with the smell of coffee filling my nostrils instead of vomit. Cecil was feeling better I realized and bounced off the carpeted floor and into the living room. When I arrived in the room the hope of Cecil feeling better was gone. He was still on the couch looking sickly as ever. Rodger was humming to himself in the kitchen pouring coffee with a big plate of scrambled eggs in his hand.

"Good morning" I chirped trying to lighten up everyone's day. I got a grumble from Cecil and Rodger replied happily with "Mornin' Kynaree. How'd you sleep?"

"Wonderful, how did you sleep?" I wondered and sat on the couch next to Cecil's feet.

"Didn't" he said smiling, and I could tell he was overtired.

"Wheres Theo?" was my next question.

"Showering" The rest of the morning went as normal as it could be and I went to school knowing that Rodger would take care of Cecil today. Everyone I told was happy to hear Cecil was still okay, well they sounded happy to me anyways. I was surprised to hear I didn't miss much and I wished I'd skipped today again because there was a weird octopus movie in biology, at least I got to sit by Theo.

One thing I did miss was a new girl named Ember joined our high school,"She's pretty" I commented at lunch.

"Most half-demons are" Nathan replied.

"H-half d-demons" I stuttered glancing back at Ember almost seeing a whole different person now. "Shouldn't we like.. kill it?"

"Nathan, why would you tell Kynaree that a half-demon is going to our school?" Valkyrie asked. Nathan shrugged but looked like he regretted telling me. I just decided to try and forget it by chatting with Theo.

"So, you haven't been very talkative at all today" I noticed, "Are you sad?"

"Nah, just tired. It's hard to sleep when some idiot goes and pukes every few hours in the room next to you"

"Cecil isn't an idiot"

"Sorry, I'm just a crab" he said with a small smile. I told him it was fine and then lunch ended shortly after that. In Orchestra we played the same songs we'd been playing for two months or possibly longer. Art took too long to end, I didn't have Cecil to talk to and was forced to talk with Xian and Ace. They didn't have much to say and looked kind of mad at each other, I didn't ask questions.

"I wonder if he's feeling better" I said after school on the way to Cecil's house.

"Hopefully" Theo agreed.

"Mmhmm" I muttered and failed to keep the conversation going. When we finally got there I was happy to see Cecil eating and drinking coffee again. He and his dad were watching the weather channel, the most boring channel ever invented by mankind. "You're better!"

"Yeah" Rodger answered for him and patted his head.

"Turns out you really didn't need to come did you?" I mumbled.

"Well, I was planning on coming back for a while anyways. I wanted to tell Cecil about some new research back at home"

"What kind of research?" Theo asked finally involving himself into the conversation.

"Oh some new research about phobias and we think we might be on to something about preventing them" he seemed almost too happy about this.

"Don't give up your hopes. Even if it works its not going to mean anything" Cecil was in a bad mood, I could already tell. After that I called Valkyrie to come and pick me up. I was too tired to visit with Rodger right now.

[Kàylà]

~Valkyrie's POV~

I arrived to school in a good mood. My good mood quickly dropped though when Xian got to school and I heard his thoughts. The idiot had a hang over. I walked over to where they had parked and the smell of alcohol drifted lightly off of Xian. I grabbed Xian by the arm and started to drag him behind the school.

"He'll be back in a sec Ethan I just need to talk to him about something." I assured Ethan over my shoulder. I dragged Xian to the back of the school where no one would over hear us. I had the urge to slap him but I didn't.

"What are you doing?" Xian asked putting a hand to his head wincing from the pain in his head.

"You are being a complete idiot." I told him.

"What are you talking about?" He glared at me.

"Don't act stupid I can smell the alcohol on you and your headache is giving me a headache." I said.

"So I have a hang over why do you care? You haven't had to worry about when your best friend might kill the once love of your life." He continued to glare at me.

"Wait so are you saying that your problems are greater than mine." I hissed.

"That's what I'm saying." He told me.

"You have no idea what my problems are. Try running your own clan having to watch your every move to make sure you don't make a mistake. Try having to worry about what Oni is going to do next and having to keep everyone safe. Try watching your little sister die in front of your very eyes by the person who is standing in front of me." My voice raised a little but I kept myself under control.

"What are you talking about I never killed anyone related to you." Xian scoffed.

"Oh so now you're denying it. I remember every little detail about that night. It was you, Aurora, Dr.D and a few older Dartans. My sister and I were playing in a field and my parents were watching in the woods. We were playing tag when all of you jumped into the field. My parents had told me about your kind before so I had screamed.

My parents knew what was happening and they were already fending the older Dartans off. I had hidden in the forest and so far none of you had found me but when I looked to see if Olivia was with me I heard her scream in the field." I shut my eyes as the memories flooded back through my mind.

"When I turned my head to see where the scream was coming from I saw a younger version of you standing over my screaming, crying sister. In a flash that was impossible for me to see since I wasn't a vampire yet, you broke my sisters neck and ran off with the rest of them." A tear escaped my eye and I quickly brushed it aside before he could see.

"I'm sorry. I don't remember any of this but I'm still sorry all the same." He mumbled. I didn't say anything, I walked away and headed off towards my first class. Nathan was waiting for me at my locker even though the bell had already rung.

"You okay?" He asked putting his arm around my shoulder as we walked to our first our class.

"I'll be fine." I assured him. He gave me a concerned look but left me to my thoughts. It had been a long time since I had let myself wander in those memories. The first three hours of the school day went by quickly and then came Biology.

The lights were already off and the TV was light up. A movie day..great. Movie days were the least favorite on my list of things to do at school. It was the day for everyone's mind to wander and put me in a worse mood. I sat down in my seat next to Nathan and put my head down on the table trying to focus on building my walls up so I could block everyone elses thoughts.

I looked up around the room once the movie was started. Kynaree was clutching Theo's arm since there was a big octopus on the screen. Theo's thoughts were usually pretty boring but today my walls slipped at the right second and I heard something very interesting.

'Hmmm I wonder how I can get out of this relationship with Kynaree without everyone getting on my case. Especially Valkyrie and Cecil they are the scariest when they are mad.' Theo thought.

I started tapping my fingers on the desk, my day was starting to get even worse. 'I mean I only went out with her in the first place to tick off Cecil.' My tapping started to increase and harder.

'Hmmm maybe I can give her the whole you can do better than me routine.' 'Nah she would just say that I was being sweet and she would just like me more. ' These thoughts continued through out the class. Nathan looked over at me a couple times and tried to send me calming thoughts, unfortunately they weren't working.

When the bell rang I waited outside for Theo and Kynaree to come out. "Kynaree I need to talk to Theo for a second okay." I told her calmly not showing any sign that I was the least bit mad.

"But why?" She whined.

"Don't worry he'll be right back I just need to ask him something real quick." I assured her.

"Okay." Theo followed me until we were out of Kynaree's sight. Making sure no one was watching I slammed Theo against the lockers.

"What was that for." he complained.

"I'd be careful of your thoughts from now on. If you even try to hurt Kynaree I'll break your fingers one at a time until you regret ever thinking about hurting her. Trust me I will do it." I whispered threateningly. He nodded in understanding and we walked back to Kynaree and Nathan looking like nothing had happened between us.

[--Kyle--]

--Xian's POV--

I felt even worse when Valkyrie had told me the memory she had. I never meant to do it, if I would have known...I never would have. I dont even have any memory of this, but that was usual for memories to slip by. I can not remember my childhood, before my Dartan years, and I cant remember the years I was under the control of Dr. D.

His name sent shivers down my spine. I hated that man and I was glad he was dead.

I walked down the hall, the day had gone by faster than normal today. I saw Valkyrie push Theo into the lockers, the conversation I could not hear, but it was heated.

Valkyrie started to walk away with him back to Nathan and Kynaree, but I needed her to understand that what had happened was a long time ago and I had no recolection of it. I was truly sorry, and horrified that that had happened.

'Valkyrie.' I thought to her. I knew she would understand that I wanted to have an 'inside' talk. She turned slightly and nodded.

'I am sorry for what happened. You must understand that I have no memory of what I had done in those years. I was under the control of Dr. D and-' I thought to her but she lifted her hand behind Nathan's back just before they turned the corner. Over her shoulder she nodded a quick nod, understanding. I hoped.

I didnt know if this had resolved anything, and I didnt know if she forgave me, but it was atleast somthing. Atleast she knows.

Later in the day I went to Art. Ethan was still mad at me, he was staring at a window outside. Not speaking.

Kynaree talked to me a little, just quick small talk through out the hour. She was obnoxious as usual but in a more friendly way today atleast.

I walked to the car and got in. There was a note on the passenger seat.

Xian,
Went to the mall, maybe a movie, I dont know, just dont wait up for me.
Ethan.

I crumpled it. How much longer would this go for.

I went home and made a quick dinner and finished the small bit of homework we had. It was simple and it only took a half an hour. It would have taken less time if it wasnt for this damn headache. Note to self: No more drinking.

After that I made some tea and tried to get this hangover away. I went to bed early, it was eight o'clock. Hopefully tomorrow I could start without the headache.

[Kàylà]

~Oni's POV~

I walked around the woods trying to find where the Ro clan was located. So far Lian and I had been able to convince other wolves and other vampires to join our cause. The nymphs, and demons were already on our side wanting to cause a little chaos. Ah there it is. I saw a small village in the distance. The Ro clan was a forest loving clan and their powers usually dealed with earth and life.

I had to be careful not to anger there vampires. They were one of the oldest clans of our time but yet they were still not in power since the Ourera clan was bigger and far more powerful. They would surley love to take down Valkyrie's clan and claim what was rightfully theirs. Lian and the rest of our party was waiting around the perimiter incase something went wrong.

I walked up to the largest house where I knew the royal family lived and knoced on the door.

"Come in." A voice as soft as the wind called. I opened the door and was greated by a human servant. From the look at her neck she was a feeder and was only kept alive for her suculent(stw) blood. "Ah Oni welcome. We are very surprised that a member of the Ourera clan has come to visit." The airy voice greeted me. I turned around to the right to notice a younger looking man with firey red hair and gray slate eyes hiding in the corner.

"Ah Dimitri you see I am no longer a member of the Ourera clan, they have taken on practices that I don't agree with." I told him with a small smile.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I hope your not trying to join our clan you know mother and father won't allow it." Dimitri told me.

"Not to fear Dimitri I was hopping your mother and father would join my cause in a little war against the Ourera clan, they have amde an alliance with a pack of wolves." I frowned as I thought about it.

"Oh really? Right this way then" Dimitri grinned and lead me to the living room where his parents were. Everything was going according to plan.

~Valkyrie's POV~
I heard Xian's apology in my mind and I nodded to let him know that I heard it. I wasn't able to forgive him just yet. I was to good at holding grudges to just let it go. We arrived at the lunch table and I wasn't really paying attention to the conversation going on until Kynaree mentioned Ember.

"She's pretty." Kynaree mentioned.

"Most half demons are." Nathan replied before I could stop him.

"H-half d-demons." Kynaree stuttered looking back at Ember.

"Nathan, why would you tell Kynaree that a half-demon is going to our school?" I asked him. He shrugged his shoulders and in his mind apologized to me. I sighed. The rest of the day went by quickly thankfully and before I realized it Kynaree was calling me to pick her up from Cecil's. This was perfect I would be able to tell her about Theo without Theo being there.

I parked in front of the building and Kynaree came bounding out of the apartment. She opened the passanger door and climbed into the passanger seat. "Thanks." She said after she closed the door and I drove away from the curb. I was driving slower than normal and Kynaree noticed it.

"Valkyrie is something wrong. You aren't driving at your psycho speed tonight." She said with a bit of concern in her voice.

"I need to talk to you about Theo, Kynaree." I told her with a sigh.

"What about him?" She asked truley worried now.

"He's not what he seems to be." I started but she interupted me.

"He's not a faerie? Well of course he is Valkyrie I think all the mind reading is going to your head and you are starting to imagine things." Kynaree giggled a little.

"No Kynaree what I mean is that Theo doesn't really like you, in Biology today he was trying to find ways to break up with you." I told her gently.

"Pfft. Valkyrie I didn't know you were jelous about me hanging around with Theo so much. I know we don't get to hang out as much any more but there is no need to get jelous and start making up lies about Theo." Kynaree said in her high voice.

I sighed there was no way I was going to get through to her by myself. I needed help. I pulled into my driveway and Kynaree headed up to her room right away. I sat down on the couch in the living room and sighed again. Today sucked.

[<^>Krustine<^>]

~Trudie’s POV~

A couple days pasted and it was pretty boring. Kynaree had been spending a lot of time at Cecil’s so I’ve been reading even more than usual. I managed to finish all of Dean Koontz books in two weeks. And I’m pretty sure that was over 40. I lost count at 34 and there were plenty more after that.

Kynaree had just walked through the door of my room and said she wanted to do something. I asked what she wanted to do and she said drive somewhere. So I said what the heck. At the time, I didn’t know that she had just gotten home Cecil’s house, so I drove her there. The whole way there she kept asking where we were going and I told her it was a surprise. I thought Theo was there. I thought it would make her happy.

We were getting closer and she recognized the road, and she started freaking out.

“What? Are we going to Cecil’s?” She asked

“Yes, Theo’s there isn’t he. You’ll have fun.” I winked as I said the last part.

She told me about how she was just here and just came home and it will look weird if she comes back with no excuse and how Theo wasn’t there. I told her I was sorry. And she said we could go anyways. It didn’t matter, she freaked out for nothing. Ha, when does that happen?

We pulled up to his house and even in the car I could hear Cecil freaking out inside. “Whats going on?” I asked.

Kynaree just sat there, I could tell she was debating whether to go in or not. I talked her into going on inside, and when we got there we walked into two Cooksley’s deprived of coffee, fighting.

“What’s going on?” Kynaree screamed over the fighting.

“We are out of coffee.” Cecil said in a ‘Why-are-we-fighting-over-something-so-stupid’ voice.

“We can go get you more.” Kynaree offered.

“Wh-“ I started to object but Cecil cut me off. “That sounds great.” He said coming over and giving us money.

“Okay we’ll be back.” Kynaree said.

“Why can’t you go get it yourself?” I started to object again.

“Cause somebody went and crash BOTH his car and my rental.” Rodger piped in.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Whatever, lets go Kynaree.” I said between chuckles.

We went to the store to get the coffee. When we got inside, I felt the ghostie feeling and I knew right away who it was. Dr. D and he was searching for a host. I could tell he was the same as in school that day, when I saw him for the first time, and Valkyrie heard his thoughts. I didn’t want to freak out Kynaree but I had to tell her. I didn’t even know if she knew about him yet.

“K-Kynaree” I said a little shaky of what her response might be.

“What? You’re never scared, whats going on?” She was already freaked, I could tell.

“Don’t freak out on me Kynaree, but we need to get the coffee and leave.”

“Why?”

“Well, actually, there is a ghost in here.”

“Who?”

“Like I said, Don’t freak on me.”

“I won’t who is it?”

“Dr. D. He’s trying to find a host.”

Her mouth dropped open and I started walking away hoping she would follow me. Luckly she caught my drift. I tried to find the coffee and it wasn’t working to well.

“Its over here.” She said grabbing the first one she saw and we ran to the checkouts and I froze. Kynaree noticed after a while, came back and asked “what is it? Where is he?”

“Nevermind” I said not wanting to scare her anymore that he was standing in one of the lines checking out a body like staring up an down it. I tell ya, he is nuts. But I guess I am also.

“Okay, Come on.”

We went through the checkout, one that Dr. D wasn’t in, and ran out the door.

When we got to Cecil’s he made coffee poured some for himself, and then spit it out in my face. Seriously, can my life get any worse? I screamed cause it was really hot! “What did you do that for?”

“OMGosh!” Kynaree screamed as if it was her getting hot coffee in her eyes.

“ITS DECAF!” Cecil screamed.

“I’m so sorry” Kynaree started screaming. “We were in a hurry, I just grabbed one.”

“What could you be in such a hurry for?” Cecil started fighting with her.

“Dr.D . Was there.” She said extremely quieter than she was before.

Then I saw him. Dr. D. In Cecils house. I sat in the corner of the bathroom in the fetal position. Then Kynaree ran in and saw me in the corner. She ran over to comfort me. Not that she’s that good at it. I sent her away, because she wasn’t to good at comforting.

I left the bathroom and walked through the living room were Cecil and Rodger were sitting on the couch. “Sorry about that.” Cecil said.

“Yeah Whatever.” Was all I said and then I went into the Kitchen were Kynaree was. She was heating something up in the microwave and I saw a empty Pepsi bottle on the counter.

This can’t be good.