A Modern Myth II

[<^>Krustine<^>]

~Trudie's POV~

>>Night Before Valkyrie Gets There<<
I was in my room when Oni walked in to see if I needed anything. I told him maybe a book; it had been ages since I just ripped open a book and started reading. He said he'd see what he could come up with, that was early this morning and that was the last time I had seen him. He brought me a stack of books by various authors by noon. I thanked him and he said he would see me at dinner. I started reading one that was supposedly written by a Comedian. He started 'talking' about Nuns and there secret sex life and then I thought of Kynaree.

I wonder if she wants to see me.
Does she even care about me?
Or was I just one big joke to her?

Then, when I think about Kynaree, it reminds me of Rivers.
I wonder if he thinks about me at all.
Does he even know I'm still alive?
What will we say to each other if we do see each other again?

I don't know the answer to any of these questions, but I do kinda hope that Rivers might speak to me at some point in the near future. Kynaree, I guess. I mean I could really use a good laugh right now. I guess deep down I'm not angry at either of them. I wonder if Cecil is still addicted to coffee, since he probably didn't have any while he was stuck here. I kinda miss Rodger also, now that I think about it, no matter how much I hated my life before I came here. Now, I appreciate it. I appreciate Valkyrie's help when my apartment was attacked, and she took me in when I had nowhere to go. Valkyrie has helped us all I guess. I also know that without all these freakazoids I never would have made it through the crisis of this necromancy crap.

I broke my train of thought so that I could read the book Oni gave me. It was short, funny but short. It only took me an hour to read it; I was done with three of the twenty books Oni gave me by dinner. They were all short of course.

I walked into the dining room to see everyone was already eating. I guess I was later than I thought. “We would have waited for you, but we didn’t.” Theo said when I walked in.

“Sorry I’m late. I didn’t think I was that late though.” I said looking at the clock on the wall that said I was 15 minutes late. I wouldn’t have waited for Theo either though, so I shrugged it off, and sat down and ate. At least he isn’t starving us.



When dinner was over I went back in my room and read some more. It was only six in the morning when I finished thirteen more books. Five left, I better save them. I probably won’t get anymore. I took a shower and ate breakfast, then went in my room to read some more from one of the books Oni gave me that has poems in it. One was called Majestic Eagle by: Allison Chambers Coxsey;

The beauty of an eagle,
Majestic wings in flight,
Soaring there in splendor
Against an azure sky.
A symbol of our country’s strength,
Of God and family;
A nation undivided
Soars like an eagle. . . free!

I liked this poem. I didn’t know why, it just popped out to me, struck me deep.

That night, I heard Valkyrie’s voice in the other room. At first I didn’t know who she was talking to, but it appeared to be Oni. I listened to their conversation and I guess Valkyrie was going to sleep. Wish I could. When are we leaving? Did she give in to Oni’s tricks? Or is she the one playing him?




~River’s POV~

After my talk with Valkyrie, I didn’t know what to do, but I did know that I would go with them and help them get Trudie back, but it hit me, what if Trudie didn't forgive me. I didn’t really want to think about it. This was the first major fight we had, well I guess some people would call it a break up.

"Okay, Let's go! Go! Go!" Nathan yelled trying to get everybody to move faster. "Okay, we will have to squish. Rivers can sit up front with me."

Everyone piled into the car, including me, I got in the passenger seat and watched everyone pile in the backseat. Ember on the left side, Xian in the middle and Ethan on the right side, with Kynaree sitting on Embers lap with her feet on Xian's and Ethan's lap. Then Nathan zoomed off into the night.

"I hope no one has to use the restroom" Nathan said.

I kept thinking about Trudie the whole ride there, one thought just led to another.

Then my whole car started spinning and then I was at what I assumed to be Oni’s house. It was in the middle of the woods. It looked like a castle. I went inside trying to help Trudie out. I found her easily, but getting her to follow me out of the house was the hard part. Obviously she hadn’t forgiven me. All she did was follow Oni, she didn’t want anything to do with me. Then I swear I saw a ghost. It looked like the one Valkyrie explained to me. The evil one. . . By God, why can’t I remember the name. Who was it? Oh well, that didn’t matter right now, I just have to help Trudie, get her to trust me again, but she wouldn’t she had her mind set, she wasn’t going to come with me. When I saw her walking away from me I had realized, once again that I may never see her again.

I jumped, looked out the window, then looked at the clock and saw that it was the about time for us to be getting there soon.

"Are we almost there?" I asked. "I don't know if I can do this."

[×|{å†ìe×]

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

Ember's lap wasn't the most comfortable seat in the car, but I was sure it was better than being sat on, or having someone's feet or legs rested upon your lap like her, Xian and Ethan. All that was heard throughout the car was the purr of the engine that didn't really make a purr at all. It was much too quiet. I was getting nervous as it was and this really wasn't helping.

"Are we there yet?" I asked, staring at the pasting trees out the window.

"... Don't start" Nathan answered. He didn't sound like he wanted to joke around so I didn't say anything else. Then I started to think, which turned out to be a really bad idea.

So what happened if this whole plan turned out to be a disaster? What if Cecil was right and I should've stayed home? What if all I do is get in the way?... Okay, enough with the 'What if's, think optimistic, don't be like Cecil. Cecil. I pouted, he didn't even say "I love you" before I left. I guess I shouldn't have expected it so soon, but it kind of made me feel icky not to hear it back. ---Woah, I'm Kynaree, I'm not supposed to be a drama queen. I'm allowed to exaggerate and freak out, but only about stupid stuff... I needed to stop talking to myself.

Okay, this is what was going to happen. Ethan and I were gonna find Theo and skip out of the building and behind us will come Trudie, Xian, and Rivers all happy-like. Then Valkyrie's gonna come out with Nathan and Ember telling us about how great it was to kill Oni. Oni was going to die. Was I supposed to be sad about this? No, I wasn't supposed to be sad. Oni was mean. I started thinking more, Oni must've been good at one time. No creature that can love could be pure evil.

"Does Oni have to die?" I asked after the long pause.

"Yes," Nathan was the only one answering my questions.

"But... what if--"

"He's got to die Kynaree."

"Maybe he's not all bad." I pointed out. Xian started to laugh and Ember shook beneath me hiding laughter too. "Even though he's evil... he kind of brought us all together. We wouldn't be friends if it wasn't for him. And if he loves Valkyrie then it proves he still has feelings..."

"Kynaree just don't think about it. It'll be over soon" Nathan pushed it aside.

I folded my arms and really tried not to think anymore, but we kept getting closer and closer and fear started building up. What happened if someone didn't make it back with us? River's snores stopped abruptly, "Are we almost there?" his head whipped around looking for Oni's home, "I don't think I can do this."

That's how I felt but I didn't voice my opinion, if I said something now they wouldn't ever take me on a rescue mission again. "It's for Trudie" I reminded him, which also reminded me that I was here for a reason. To save Theo.

[<^>Krustine<^>]

~River's POV~

I woke up after my dream of Trudie rejecting me, again. I was starting to question that this was all going to work out. The dream felt so real, was it? Are we trying this for a second time? "Are we almost there? I don't think I can do this." I stated.

There was a long pause, then Kynaree started talking "It's for Trudie." And then she was done. That was all she had to say on the matter.

I looked around and realized there was no light on in the vehicle. Not even the clock or radio lights. All off. I looked out the window and saw the sun was starting to rise. The trees were moving by so quickly I though I was about to puke, getting dizzier and dizzier. Then, I looked around the car and saw everybody looked peaceful. Maybe it was all just a joke to them. What if this all isn't really real? What if this is some sort of reality show?

I started shaking my head. No. I'm not thinking about that, and then I was interupted by Nathen, "Just keep resting, we will be there in no time, but we need you to be well rested when we get there." Hey, Nathen you ever try being a politician? They always answer questions without actually answering the question.

This was no time to be mad at people though so I nodded my head and went back to looking out the window and watching the trees going, back and forth, back and forth.

I finally closed my eyes and fell asleep.


(Done, I have to clean, and want Kayla to post before I start in Trudie's POV)

[Kàylà]

~Nathan's POV~
My hands gripped the steering wheel and I tried not to think about her to much. It wouldn't help to focus on her when I needed to focus on keeping everyone else in the car safe. Well Kynaree and Rivers at least, everyone else could take care of themselves, for the most part. I was the least worried about Ember, from what I'd seen of her past from Valkyrie's mind she was a seasoned fighter.

We had never told anyone that I could read her mind. Valkyrie didn't want people to know. In a way I understood why, because if anyone captured me and wanted to get to her they could use me to locate her. Though I would never give in to whatever torture they put me through it was best not to take the chance. I would never risk Valkyrie's life for my own.

Neither of us fully understood why I could read her mind like a human's. We had asked one of the elders about this and they could only come up with something that was even pure legened for our kind. The legend went that when two vampires were destined for each other, their bond could only be broken through death and even then, when one died the other would usually soon follow. Even their minds were shared, causing them to hear each others thoughts as if the other was human.

Nathan turned his attention back to driving and heard Kynaree ask "Are we there yet?"

"...Don't start." My tone told everyone that I was in no mood for joking around and I heard her go silent. It was for the best. I was on edge and would easily snap at someone. It was about half an hour before Kynaree spoke again.

"Does Oni have to die?" She asked thoughtfully.

"Yes". I seemed to be the only one answering her questions but I didnt seem to mind as much as I thought I would. It semi took my mind off of her but not completely.

"But what if-" She tried to start arguing for him.

"He's got to die Kyanree." I cut her off before she could finish.

"Maybe he's not all bad." She tried to point out. Xian burst into laughter and I could hear Ember's almost silent chuckle. I glared at both of them through the rear view mirror. "Even though he's evil... he kind of brought us all together. We wouldn't be friends if it wasn't for him. And if he loves Valkyrie then it proves he still has feelings..." Poor Kynaree she was always trying to see the best in people.

"Kynaree just dont think about it. It'll be over soon." I said finishing the converstation. I gripped the steering wheel tighter if that was even possible without breaking it and accelterated just a bit.

It was about another hour of driving when River's decided to wake up and ask if we were there yet and how he didnt think he could do this. I was thankful when Kynaree answered him for me and I could remain silent. His thoughts started reeling though and I gritted my teeth. Ugh humans and their unorganized thoughts.

"Just keep resting, we will be there in no time, but we need you to be well rested when we get there." I told him to hopefully shut his mind up. I caught the bit about me being a politicion and ignored him, there was no way I was getting into that right now.

I wondered why it seemed like it was taking forever to get there when in reality we had only been on the road for about an hour and a half.

~Oni's POV~
The quiet roar of Valkyrie's Corvette disturbed the silent night around me. I watched as she exited her car, watching her every. graceful. move. I ran a hand through my hair and tried to calm myself. Even though we were enemies about to become allies she was still breath takingly beautiful in my eyes. Even though I suspected this was a ploy of some sort, that didn't stop the joy that she brought me with just her presence.

As she lifted her hand to knock on the door I was already standing there with the door open staring at her flawlessly beautiful face. “My darling I was starting to wonder if you would come!” She watched my face carefully as I exclaimed those words, wondering if it was happiness or suspicion that gleamed in my eyes.

"Hurry incase someone tried to follow me." She pushed past me in what seemed like a panic. Never had I seen my queen so distressed or nervous. I tried to embrace her to calm her but when I saw the anger upon her face I backed off.

"My sweet tell me what has happened?" My own voice surprised me. Was that real concern in my voice? Of course not, or at least it wouldn't be until I knew for sure she had really returned to me and this was not just some trap to destroy me. I listened carefully to her story of how Nathan had betrayed her, careful to look for any of her usual signs that she was lying to me.

If she was lying to me she was doing an excellent job of hiding it. There wasn't any trace of dishonesty in her voice, no signs of a lie in her eyes. Even her face was perfectly smooth of the normal signs that someone was lying.

As she finished her story, tears started to roll down her cheek and I knew then that at least partially what she was telling me was true. My dear Valkyrie could never make herself cry before. I sat down next to her on the couch and wrapped my arms around her. This time she accepted my embrace and my body warmed at her body against mine.

"Lets go my love, I'll lead you to one of the bedrooms. We can discuss this more tomorrow, right now I bet you are exaughsted." I said after holding her for a few moments. I knew she wasn't exactly tired but I wanted to see if she would do something to slip up and prove me correct about this all being a lie.

I led her to the bedrooms and closed the door behind her. As I walked away I listened for any signs that she was leaving her room, but instead I was surprised to hear her breathing calmly, in a deep but troubled sleep. I quietly opened the door to check on my sleeping beauty. I sat on the edge of her bed and gently stroked her hair as she slept.

I sat like that for about 10 minutes as she slept and then decided it was time to decide how to prove that once and for all Valkyrie was mine. I paced around my room for awhile until the idea came to me. I couldn't help but laugh in excitment for what my mind had come up with.

Tomorrow was going to be interesting and I knew the perfect useless faerie that was going to help me put my devious plan into action.

[--Kyle--]

--Ethan's POV--

I didn't laugh when Kynaree asked if Oni had to die. I mean why? I agreed with Kynaree. But then again I don't pay attention most of the time.

OMG!!!! I forgot to check my Myspace!!!! NO!! WHY?!?!?! I need a blackberry!! DAMMIT CECIL WHERE ARE YOU WHEN I NEED YOU?!?!?!

Okay, calm down, I told myself. We are here to save Trudie and Theo, I can't think about my myspace.....or facebook....OH GOD MY TWITTER!....Shut up ETHAN!!!! I stared out the window to calm myself.

--Xian's POV--

I laughed at Kynaree's stupidity. I mean seriously, Oni needed to die. Not just die, burn. Not just burn, BURN IN HELL. But what ever...she had her little Faerie ways of loveing EVERYONE.

I ignored everyone the rest of the ride.

Nathan drove around a bend and turned ontoa side road. I'm guessing that this was where we were supposed to be. The turning leaves on the trees were going from green to bright red on the road to Oni's hide-away.

When we pulled up the top of the hill and my jaw dropped. It was not hide-away, it was a freakin' castle. I was jealous, I want a big castle to draw up all my evil plans...I mean...pretty....

We were still pretty far away from it, but we could see it from atop the hill the road wound down, and we parked in a small area where the trees separated in an area just the right size to hide a car.

Nathan got out and grabbed a few large branches and layed them to cover the cars back end. It looked as if nothing was there.

We walked for about three miles around the large hill and into the woods far enough away from the castle that Oni wouldn't suspect. Kynaree whined the entire way.

We walked into a small area that was cleared from trees, and Nathan paused and said, "Valkyrie told us to wait a couple days before heading in, this will have to do until she gives us the ok."

I sat down on a stump. "Perfect." I said with a sigh, sarcasm thick in my voice.

[Kàylà]

~Valkyrie's POV~

I awoke in the middle of the night when new thoughts filled my head. Valkyrie we are ready when you are. So Nathan and the rest of the gang finally arrived.

Where are you?" I used our insperible bond between us to communicate. It was the one thing Oni would have issues figuring out about us.

There is a hill that overlooks the place near the woods. We are camping out there. We're waiting for you to give the clear to head in. Nathan told me. I nodded to myself. Had he always been this good at everything? Was I now just realizing, with death possibly approaching me just how much I needed him?

I'll let you know. I cut off the bond before he could say anything else. This was already to hard for me as it was. I blocked all thoughts of him from my mind and focused on the task at hand. Oni would most likely be sleeping now. I let my mind open to every other mind that was in the house. Carefully looking for Oni's to see whether his mind was truly sleeping or if he was trying to trick me.

His sleeping mind led me to my next decision. I had to locate Trudie and Theo. Though this would seem easy by reading their minds, I couldn't locate their exact location just by reading their minds. This was one of those moments when I wished that the mind reading wasn't just one way. It would make this so much easier.

Quietly I opened my door and stepped into the hallway. First I would find Trudie. I was more worried about her anyways. Blocking out all other's thoughts I locked onto her mind and went by whether her mind got louder or softer with each step I took. I knew that once I found where she was located I wouldn't be able to talk to her, for if she saw me Oni would know. Even without reading minds he still seemed to know everything that was happening around him.

It took me an hour to locate Trudie's room. I made a mental map and sent it to Nathan, carefully detailing it so that way River's and Xian could easily find it without getting lost. Not yet. This is where Trudie is.

I quickly checked Oni's mind to see if he was still sleeping and was shocked to find him already awaking. I guess it had taken me longer than I thought to find Trudie. Quickly I located the kitchen and made myself busy looking for something to munch on. Strong arms snaked their way around my waist and Oni's familar scent filled my nose.

"My queen what are you doing up already?" He actually seemed concerned. I turned in his arms to where I was facing him and placed my hands on his chest. He smiled that familar smile that used to make my heart melt on sight but today all it did was make me feel numb.

"I couldn't sleep. To many dreams haunted my sleep." I made myself cringe as if the nonexistent dreams still flooded my mind. His arms tightned around me protectively.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" He asked. I shook my head. His expression saddened and I wondered how much of it was real. "Well since you can't sleep there is something I want to show you." He told me. Alarm flooded my mind and I followed him with caution, keeping my guard up every step of the way. There was nothing that would have prepared me for what he was about to ask of me.

[Shinju]

*Ember's POV*
It was at the crack of dawn. Everyone was getting ready to infiltrate Oni's mansion and initiate the rescue mission. There was a certain air of tension among the group. Nathan had just finished having a mental connection with Valkyrie. He explained the location of Trudie to Rivers and Xian. Ethan and Kynaree were going to pin point where Theo was. Nathan was going to come along with me, we were going to probably be doing most of the fighting.
All of the group members got next to their partners and we started making our way up to Oni's mansion. The edges of the early morning sky were just starting to turn a bright shade of gold. We had to work fast so as to be under the cover of darkness. From what I could discern, Oni had about twenty or so guards at the entrance.
The first task was to get through the gate. There were coils of barbed wire around the top of the entrance. I studied the wrought iron the gate was made of. Nathan could use his strength to bend the frame as quietly as he could, and then I would be close enough to dispose of the twenty or so guards.
We all quietly aproached the massive iron gate. Nathan scouted out the easiest breach point in the structure. He took a deep breath and wrapped his fingers around the bars. As silently as he could manage, he bent them. Nathan squeezed himself through the opening first, then I came next, then Kynaree, Rivers, Xian, and last Ethan.
I stepped again of Nathan and motioned for everyone to gather around me. Closing my eyes I concentrated on the air around me. The group has to be within a five foot radius of me or they would be asphyxiated. Slowly the percentage of oxygen in the air fell. As soon as it hit four percent I could hear Oni's guards falling to the ground, scrambling for air. In a few minutes everything went quiet. I in a way felt bad for Oni's guards, but we had to get Trudie, Theo, and Valkyrie out as soon as possible. There was no time to be wasted.
I let the air return back to normal. Nathan then led the way to the immense, extravagantly carved doors. With a smirk on his face he gently knocked on the door. A few moments later a beastly looking butler answered the door. His face looked like it was attacked by a rabid dog and he had festering bald spots on his head. His hair, or I should say, select few hairs danced around his face as he heavily exhaled a hello.
Without missing a beat, Nathan snapped his neck. Kynaree squealed at the back of the group. You could clearly see that her petite little face was turning an odd shade of green. She was going to have to right herself quick, because we all ran inside. She was the last one in and took her place next to Ethan. The inside was breathtaking. The floor was a bright white mable with luminescent gray swirled in. In the middle of the floor was a golden pentagram with silver trimming. Two extravagant and rather theatrical marble staircases met at the pentagram leading up to the second floor. The banisters were made of pure gold.
Each of us looking up to see intricate paintings on the ceiling. I snapped out of it. If we kept oggling at the place we would be spotted.
"Ethan and Kynaree, you two are going to basically have to blindly look for Theo, just do the best that you can, alright?" They nodded and then were off down to the lower floors. Kynaree had a slightly nervous expression on her face, but Ethan tried to keep his composure. Xian and Rivers were now staring at me. They basically knew exactly, well ok maybe not EXACTLY where they were going, but they seemed hesitant.
"We all have cell phones with us guys, if anything goes wrong just call ok?" Nathan clamped the two on the shoulders. They really didn't want to run into any of Oni's minions, or even Oni himself. They both took deep breathes and ran off.
Nathan and I had the job of waiting until the rest of the group had safely secured Trudie and Theo, before we rescued Valkyrie.
Nathan's eyes glazed over for a few moments. He had this way of knowing where Val was even if he wasn't having a mental connection at the time.
"This way." He directed me to a solid oak door and proceeded to open it. A long winding staircase lay ahead of us. Candles flickered and threw their golden glow against the seemingly impenetrable darkness. Nathan boldly descended the stairs into the lower levels. I silently followed keeping my guard up.
I could visibly see that Nathan was tensing up. Suddenly I was feeling that something wasn't right. The vibrate functions on both of our phones went of. Without even blinking I took out my phone and had it up to my ear.
"What's wrong?" The sound of Kynaree's soprano panic burst forth from the speaker of the cell. I could hear Ethan's shaky voice in the background telling her to quiet and calm down. After a few moments of inaudible whispered screeching the phone went over to Ethan.
"W-We found where T-Theo is...." He took a few seconds to pant with terror. "Oni wants Valk to kill Theo..."
Remember the details of the map, Nathan was already pulling me quickly down the stairs. "Please hurry, I'm freaked out!" I could hear the rapid thudding of Kynaree's and Ethan's heart.
"Does he know you're down there?" Nathan and I were running down the staircase trying not to be loud, but it really wasn't working.
"...Not yet...Oh God, I don't wanna die."
"You're not going to die Ethan, remember you are a Dartan!" That didn't seem to help much. The truth was we were in Oni's territory. He knew the mansion like the back of his hands we didn't.
Nathan and I weaved through the unending maze of halls. The flames of the candles dances as we ran by. "We're almost there." At this point he abruptly stopped and I smack into him, in the process almost dropping the phone.
"Ok, we have to be quiet now." The two of us slowly advanced down the hall. We could clearly hear Valkyrie talking to Oni.
"Yes darling, kill the fool, we have no use for him." His silky voice permeated through the corridors.
"Alright." I could hear the strain in Valkyrie's voice, but Oni seemed to be to distracted by his own excitement to notice. We came upon Kynaree and Ethan. This new twist in events put our carefully laid out plan almost up into flames.

[Kàylà]

~Valkyrie's POV~

Oni led me down to the lower levels of the mansion and Theo's thoughts started to pour into my mind. There was no denying it, he was dead scared. We walked down the hallway for about three minutes until we came to a wooden door. Oni stopped in front of it and produced a key from out of his left jean pocket. He unlocked the door and we stepped into a dimly lit corridor. I scanned the room while Oni relocked the door. Theo was huddled in a corner, trying to keep his face calm but his thoughts screamed differently.

I looked at him calmly trying to reassure him with my facial expressions. He didn't seem to beaten up just pale from being terrified of what could happen next. "Why did you bring me down here Oni?" I asked him, greatly confused by his actions.

"I need you to prove your loyalty to me my love." Oni grinned at me. I looked at him suspiciously. What in the world does he have planned now. I thought to myself. "See while I believe you for the most part, you always have been a wonderful liar, so I need to make sure this isn't just some plan to rescue your freaky little necromancer and this pitiful excuse for a Faerie. Even the purple haired one isn't as pathetic as him. Not five minutes after he was captured he was trying to find ways to be useful to me just so I wouldn't kill him." For some reason Oni found this funny and he started to cackle.

"So what does he have to do with this?" I asked Oni calmly pointing my head in Theo's direction.

"I want you to kill him. He really is of no use to us." I looked at Oni, unable to hide the disbelief on my face. He wanted me to kill Theo.

"You...you want me to kill him?" I tried to keep my voice level.

"Yes darling, kill the fool, we have no use for him." His silky voice permeated throughout the room. I didn't have time to think about it. I knew any hesitation on my part would give Oni more doubt about what I had told him.

"Alright." My voice was clearly strained but he was to distracted by his own excitement to notice how this was killing me inside. I'm so sorry Nathan. Please forgive me. I walked over to Theo and instantly he started to plead with me to not do this. "I'm sorry Theo but it's either you, or all of us." I whispered. Tears started to pool in my eyes and as I picked him up. He didn't struggle with me which I was glad for, I didn't want this to be any harder on either of us. I put my hands on either side of his neck and right as I was snapping his neck the door was broken down and Nathan, Ember, Ethan, and Kynaree stood there staring at me in disbelief.

As they took in the scene their expression dramatically changed, Kynaree who truly didn't understand and still had some feelings for Theo, changed to extreme hatred. She started to run at me and Nathan tried to stop her but he reacted to slowly. She started pounding me on the chest with her small Faerie fists sobbing, hitting me over and over until Oni finally grabbed her and threw her across the room. I tried to meet Nathan's gaze but he avoided my eyes.

The tears were flowing freely down my face now. Ember was trying to stay calm but I could see the dangerous anger building in her gaze, whether at me or at Oni I wasn't sure. I wouldn't be surprised if it was at me though. Ethan had tried to run over to Kynaree to help her up but Oni snarled at him and he jumped back. "Valkyrie what are They doing here!?" Oni yelled at me.

I didn't answer him.

"Valkyrie, kill them! All of them!." Oni ordered me, the rage clearly building in his voice. I slumped down on the floor onto my knees. I held out my hands as if the answer was there in my empty open palmed hands. I was at a loss, I didn't know what was going to happen next. I couldn't control my sobbing let alone tell Oni to go to hell. Through my tear filled eyes I saw the realization and resentment flicker across Oni's face. He had figured it out.

"You did it again. You betrayed me again, ripped out my heart and chose him over me again! You cold heartless bitch! You'll pay for this....no wait....I have a better idea. I'll make him suffer like you've made me suffer. I'm sorry Valkyrie. I really did love you, if only you would've loved me the same." He went from yelling at me to speaking softly. I knew what Oni was about to do and I didn't try to stop him, there was no use, no point.

"I love you Nathan." Nathan finally looked me in the eyes as I said this, my gaze had never left him. Until then he wasn't sure what Oni was about to do to me but then he saw it. If only he had seen it a second sooner than maybe he would have gotten to Oni in time and stopped him from snapping the life out of me, maybe I wouldn't have had to die.

~Nathan's POV~
I didn't bother going after Oni. I let Ember and Ethan do that. All I could do was hold my beloved in my arms and hopelessly try to bring her back to me. I knew it was no use though. Kyanree had quietly told me that her spirit, her soul had moved on. That she was at peace.

"Can you summon her here?" I desperately asked her. She shook her head.

"I can only summon the spirits that are still trapped on this elemental plain." Kynaree said through silent tears.

"Can't you try dammit!" I lashed out on her. I didn't mean to, but I couldn't control myself at that moment. My world meant nothing without her. Living meant nothing without her. I would wait until that bastard Oni was dead though. I would see the life leave his eyes and take joy in it before I went off to join her in death.

"I'm sorry Nathan. If I could I would." Finally the tears came and my cries were loud. I didn't care who heard. Let them come. I would kill them before they touched her, I wouldn't leave her. "She had to do it, didn't she. Kill Theo I mean?" Kynaree whispered. I nodded in response.

"It was either him or all of us. I'm sorry Kynaree but Valkyrie had no choice." My voice was cold, bitter, hollow, dead. I was dead inside. It wasn't long until Ember came back. They had captured Oni. I noticed how she hadn't said kill.

"Why did you only capture him. Why didn't you kill him? WHY DIDN'T YOU KILL THE BASTARD THAT KILLED HER!" I screamed at her. Kynaree flinched away from me but Ember stood her ground.

"There is a way to bring Valkyrie back Nathan. It is an old ritual of my people. Greatly forbidden but I'm willing to face the consequences. In order for the ritual to take place Oni needs to be alive....for now." Was it possible? Could my Valkyrie really be brought back to me? I dared to feel hope.

"Do whatever you deem necessary. Just bring her back to life." Even with the chance that Valkyrie could be back I still felt dead inside. I wouldn't let myself hope to much, there was only so much I could take right now. I was hanging by a thread.

~Oni's POV~
She was dead. By my hand nonetheless. I wasn't sure how I felt about this. Yes I loved her like no other but she had also betrayed me countless times. I knew they would come for me but it wouldn't be easy.

(I'll let megan or kyle post about oni's capture muhaha)

[--Kyle--]

--Ethan's POV--

I ran as fast as I could, following Oni outside. I could hear Ember right behind me.

Ember ran in front of me jumped onto Oni knocking him down.

I ran over and held out my hand to his head and tapped into the vision part of his mind and altered the image. I made himself think he was in hell, or atleast seeing it all around him.

Oni lay there calm and breathing evenly. He did not move when Ember let go of him.

"Go, I got it under control here." I told Ember and she ran off back inside.

Oni's eyes seemed to glaze over as he stared up into the sky, that was, to him, a hellish lake of fire.

--Xian's POV--

Rivers and I ran as fast as we could to the corridor that Nathan had said we would find Trudie. But suddenly I was holted by a jolt of energy that brought me to my knees. I have never had a stronger vision than I have had now.

My vision showed me Oni killing Valkyrie as faster than I have ever seen someone kill someone else before. My breath came in spasmic rythms and short wheezing sounds came from my lips. The vision was so vivid, and came so suddenly it knocked the wind out of me.

"Are you alright?" Rivers was standing over me, holding me up from falling on my back.

"I have to go. Trudie's in there. Go, get her quick and meet us out front." He looked confused as I told him quickly. "RUN!"'

Rivers turned to the door that I had pointed too, and I ran as fast as I could to the room that I had seen in my vision. But when I arrived at the door, Valkyrie was in Nathan's arms, dead.

Nathan was freaking out, and I looked over to see Theo's dead body as well.

"Do whatever you deem necessary. Just bring her back to life." Nathan said to Ember.

"What the hell happen?" I asked.

Nathan, Kynaree, and Ember looked over at me at the door. Ember walked over to the door and told everyone to follow her.

Ember led us down the hall, Nathan carrying Valkyrie's limp body close behind. Kynaree and I followed.

"Where's Trudie? and Rivers?" Kynaree asked me, tears still in her eyes.

"There coming behind me." I told her.

Ember came to a large double door and opened it. The room was a large dancing hall with a large belcony on one side. Ember pointed there and told Nathan to go up and wait for her.

"Hurry," Nathan said with a thick strained voice.

He walked up the stairs of the balcony with Kynaree and I following behind him. Ember went out to get Oni.

For Nathan's sake I hope this works.

--Ethan's POV--

Ember ran back to where I was watching over Oni. He had been whispering silently to himself, but I knew that he could not see anything else but what I have made him to.

"Help me carry him to the balcony, quickly." Ember told me and I obeyed and picked him up by his shoulders and she grabbed his legs and we carried him inside into a large room.

"Up here," Ember told me and nodded to the stairs that led to the balcony, where Xian, Kynaree, and Nathan waited with Valkyrie's lifeless body in his arms.

[×|{å†ìe×]

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


You know that moment in movies? Where one of the main characters die and it seems like it takes years for the bullet to hit them. Then there's the long part where you see the lights of their eyes slowly dim and their breathing stops. That's not how real dying is like.

It took less than a second and Theo's body was limp, his light green eyes seen nothing, they just stared blankly. I wouldn't ever get to see his pearly white grin again. The grin that had me head over heels, the grin that could talk me into anything. A cry brought me back to reality, it was my cry, and in a second my vision was filled with angry tears.

Without even realizing it my legs had brought me to Valkyrie, and my fists were pounding at her chest. Did she know what she just did? She knew she'd killed Theo, but did she know what she did to me? My throat felt like in was filled with wadded up tissues, I couldn't get myself to yell, I just let the tears speak for me. Without a moment's notice I was grabbed and tossed away.

I hit something hard and flat, a wall. I let myself lay as a heap on the floor briefly while I blinked the wet out of my eyes. Oni was unhappy, he was yelling and Valkyrie's composure finally collapsed. All those words coming out of Oni's mouth, I didn't hear them, it was like the world was on mute. I just watched as her neck snapped, it wasn't even a minute after Theo's.

Everything around me erupted and my ears were filled with cries, words, noises, sound. Without even trying I could feel Valkyrie's spirit leaving, floating away like a cloud. She was at rest, there was no emotions emitting from her. Nathan, was kneeling next to her shell. Theo's body and Valkyrie's body were just pieces of meat right now, they weren't anything. However, I knew Nathan felt better holding her so I sat next to him. Sick as it is, it brought me happiness to know someone was feeling worse than me right now.

I tried to comfort him for a little while, but along with all the hurt and sad he felt, there was also anger. Ember came and he wasn't happy with her either, even with the good news that there was a chance that Valkyrie could come back. If she came back I could apologize for being so mad at her just moments ago, and thank her for being so welcoming and nice to me. There's a lot of things you realize you want to tell a person after they've gone. Inside I knew there were things I still wanted to tell Theo, to thank him for making me happy even if it was just a while. I knew he had a good side.

I walked out with Ember and Nathan, who was carrying Valkyrie carefully in his arms. My mind shifted, being a faerie had it's advantages at times, my thoughts were distracted easily. "Where's Trudie and Rivers?" I asked Xian.

At least someone had their other right now. Secretly I wished that I would've stayed home and not witnessed the scenes displayed today. I wished that I had listened to Cecil when he told me I would get in the way, when he told me to stay with him. Then when I thought of Theo dead instead of thinking of his limp lifeless body, I could think of a coffin or maybe a cartoon with the 'X's in the eyes. Now the shell of what used to be him was etched in my mind.

[<^>Krustine<^>]

(After the very traumatizing event of losing my AWESOME post, I'm gonna try it again. . . sorry if it sucks, I can't duplicate the awesomeness i just lost)

~Trudie's POV~

I was sitting at my desk by the open window, reading a very sad ending to one of Jodi Picoult's books, when I thought I heard mumbles coming in. I looked out and was surprised to see Nathan, Xian, and Kynaree huddled in a circle. I'm guessing there were more, but I couldn't make out who they were. I couldn't hear what they were talking about and it was bugging me. When I was done talking to myself in my brain, I looked back out the window to see nothing but a few dead guards laying around in various places. Ember. How many people really are here?

I knew that they would come get me, and I was almost done with my book, I only had 100 pages left. I kept reading until I got nervous that something might have happened. Why weren't they in here yet?

I went and laid down on my bed and started at the ceiling. I counted the ceiling tiles. Again. 20x20 square room. . . finally my door cracked and I saw Rivers face, after he saw me, the door opened fully. He didn't say anything for the longest time, and neither did I, but he didn't need to, I could see it in his eyes. Hurt. Anger. Shame. Happiness. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. I loved him, I truly did. I basically ran to him crying and embraced him in a hug. At first he didn't move and I didn't know why, then a tear fell on his shoulder and I felt his comforting hands on my back.

"Where’s the others?" I asked Rivers, after our moment of reconciliation.

"I don't know, that stupid idiot Xian. I don't think he knows I can't read minds or do anything special. I'm just a stupid human. He told me to meet them out front.” He said as he started walking out the door of the bedroom and down the stairs.

I caught up to him and grabbed his hand in mine, for the rest of the walk to meeting the rest of the group. I could only hope if they sent Rivers off by himself, that Oni was already dead.

I let the warmth of his hand flow through me. We walked out the front door and nobody was there. “I knew he would be wron—“ Rivers started again, but I put my fingers over his lips to shut him up, I thought I heard someone.

“Where’s Trudie and Rivers?” Sure enough, it was the twang from Kynaree’s voice that filled my ears.

I pulled Rivers off to the side, to where I knew for sure we were out of their visible sight. “Rivers. We need to talk.”

“Trudie. First, there is something I need to get off my chest.”

“Okay, you go first.”

“I love you.” When he said this, I felt my whole heart blow up in my chest. I couldn’t believe it. This was the first time he ever said this to me. I’ve said it, and I knew that when he did finally say it, he would mean it, and I knew that I meant it too.

“I love you, too.” I said, kissing him. “And this was perfect timing. I need to ask you something. It’s really important.”

“Anything.”

“I can’t stay with Valkyrie anymore.” When he started to object, I continued. “We both know why, it just won’t work. I don’t think I can even live in the same town, and not for the people, just the memories and feeling I get, when I’m there. I need to move somewhere, somewhere I can be normal again, and I was kind of wondering, if you would join me?”

“Trudie, I love you, and I will do anything it takes to be with you forever.” That did it, the tears were attacking my eyes until I finally just gave in, and let them run freely down my cheeks. "But, I don't know if my mom and dad are going to be to happy. I mean, I already took off on a supposedly 'vacation' with you." Rivers embraced me again and continued "But i'll try, technically school is over, I would just have to come back for graduation, and you too, if you are still graduating there." He was trying to figure everything out but Kynaree spotted us.

"We can talk about it later." I mumbled so Kynaree wouldn't hear.

“Trudie,” she said, running over “I missed you,” she said, stealing the embrace away from Rivers. How was I going to leave my friends? I didn’t know, but I know I have too. I have to do it for Rivers. He should know the truth. The truth about my parents. I mean, technically I wasn’t lying to them when I said, my parents died. It was just my foster parents though. I had yet to find my real parents, and I will use that excuse when telling them why I have to leave. I have to reconcile with them. I hope they understand.

Kynaree stepped back “I’m sorry, you probably hate me.” She looked at Rivers and back at me.

“Kynaree, how could I hate you?” I answered her with my own question, not expecting an answer. She looked speechless. Her eyes told me something was wrong, and she needed to tell me. “What is it?”

“Come here.” She started walking in the direction she came.

We walked to the balcony and I stopped in my tracks when I saw Valkyrie laying limp in Nathans arms. The tears streaming down his face. This was no time to notice, but I don’t think I had ever seen Nathan, Mr. Strong Man, cry before.

And that's when I saw a shadow, it was running in the woods. Who was it, it looked familiar, but I couldn't put a name on them. It was a guy, I think, and was that lime green hair? Theo?

[Shinju]

My heart was racing. The flames of anger and pain burned in my veins. Oni killed Valkyrie, the first person ever to even care to befriend me. Now, even though I was surrounded by friends I felt alone. Valkyrie has been the tie that had connected all of them to me, and now it had been severed.
Oni was currently entrapped in an illusion of Hell. I planned to really send him there. I threw open the doors leading to the balcony in almost full on rage. The sky was swirling with an oncoming storm. The air was humid and close. The distant resonance of thunder sounded. The heart of the storm was near.
Oni already had a pentagram painted on the marble floors of the balcony. I pricked my index finger and it started to bleed. With my blood I drew the appropriate symbols for the ceremony each point on the star.
As I did this the sky started to rotate above the balcony. All of the group members took a step back into the dance hall, not knowing what was going on. The clouds darkened and turned a gruesome crimson shade. The wind picked up around the mansion and started to gust unforgivingly.
"Ethan, I need you to cut Oni, this requires a drop of his blood." He seemed hesitant for a moment but obliged. With the tip of a steak knife he found, Ethan stabbed Oni's palm and handed the cutlery over to me. I walked over to the pentagram, and at its center, let a single drop of blood fall. The moment it made contact with the marble, the storm surged angrily. The wind picked up tenfold, and lightning exploded with fury across the sky. Thunder sounded with a loud crack causing the building to shake. Kynaree let out a scream along with Trudie.
Suddenly there was a faint hissing sound that grew in intensity. Without warning a long crack ran right up the middle of the pentagram. Another loud blast of sound came and then the crack ever so slighty started to widen.
I knew what I had to do. I aimed my palms at the pentagram and started to concentrate. The crack opened up into a large hole. From it came loud screeching and screams that sounded like people were dying in fire. I could feel myself almost instantly being drained of energy. Was I going to be able to pull this off? Suddenly the hole started to close up again.
No, No, NO! I couldn't understand why it wasn't working. Everyone behind me watched in horror as the demons tried to grab hold of whatever they could. Waves of pain started to race through my veins, this was putting a lot of stress on my body. I noticed that my nose was starting to trickle blood.
The sounds around me seemed to quiet, and the light faded. I was losing consciousness. Before I hit the cold marble someone gently caught hold of me and moved to me to the edge of the balcony.
"You can't...do this..." I had no idea who I was talking to, for some reason I was convinced it was someone from the group.
"What do I not have the strength to do?" A smooth velvety voice whispered. With that the dark figure back away from me and towards the circle. It took me several moments to realize who it was. My father.
"You see Ember, you were born with so much of your mother's light and love. Even if you gathered all of your hatred it still would not be enough ill will to cast even the most heartless of beings into the depths of the demon realm. In other words my child, you simply love to much." Evander opened his arms wide and started to chant something in a foreign seemingly ancient language.
"profundus , atrum , specus of abyssus patefacio usque orbis terrarum. Laqueus is somes quod mens in vestri infinitas infinitio coniecto pro umquam magis. Suggero haud subterlabor huic damno animus , quod addo haud solor vel levamentum." He kept repeating this until the hole took up almost the entire balcony. My heart began to race. Now that I could see into the abyss I realized that all the scariest horror movies I had ever seen, and that wasn't many, could not compare to this. It make me wanna scream and cry as if I was a child again.
Evander's hand reached out for Oni's unconscious body. It began to levitate over to the gaping hole filled with screaming and screeching creatures. I looked into one of the woman looking monsters. I gasped, it looked like my....my mother.
"M-Mom?!" I started to crawl towards the hole. "Mom is that you?"
"Oh Ember..." She reached for me. My face went blank and I reached for her hand too.
"Mom, I'm sorry...." The creature who I thought was my mother smiled. Our fingers were about to touch when black flames shot at her and she fell back into the never ending darkness.
"MOM!" I screamed going for the hole. Evander grabbed me still chanting the words.
"That thing wasn't your mother Ember." Later I would find out that the specific demon I had been looking at would read your mind and take the shape of someone who was most precious to you, in order to take advantage of you.
In just a matter of seconds, as soon as Oni's form made it to the edge of the abyss, hundreds of demons swarmed for his body. But it was strange how they didn't pull at his body, they were pulling at a white mist around him. The sky swirled with growing violence and thunder sounded angrily.
I was taken aback by the sudden screams of agony coming from Oni. I had never heard something like that before. His voice came a thousand times louder than anyone elses. Suddenly my stomache lurched and I felt like I was going to throw up. The demons weren't trying to take his body, they were tearing out his soul.
"FATHER STOP!" I jumped and grabbed hold of his shoulders trying to stop him. I had never known such a horrible indescribable horror as this. Oni was corrupt and terrible, but as I had seen he had a look of utter regret after killing Valkyrie, that showed he had some ounce of love in him. This, what my father was doing, and what I had tried to do without knowing the consequences was pure revolting malevolence.
A final screech of horror and terror sounded from Oni and then the light left his eyes. But what happened next would leave me with nightmares of the darkest kind and utter self-hatred.
What I saw for that brief moment was what appeared to be a cloud, shaped after the image of a man, in the most beautiful shades of indigo, violet, and scarlet. It seemed to shimmer and give off beautiful luminescence.
Then next thing i knew, the hundreds of demons started to swarm the warm light, and without warning, as if it was a cloth, was torn to shreds. The remains sparked and simmered away.
I looked at the face's of my comrades. One thing and one thing only, sheer horror.
As quickly as my father opened the demonic gate he started to close it. I couldn't control on it. I started to beat on his back in pure uncontrolled rage and self-loathing. Hot tears streamed down my face.
"HOW COULD YOU? HOW COULD YOU HAVE THE HEART TO DESTROY?-" I screamed at the top of my lungs. He turned to me his face completely calm and cold.
"You wish to have this-" he gestured towards Valkyrie's lifeless form in Nathan's arms. "-friend of yours to live once again, do you not?"
"I don't understa-" He cut me off.
"Do you remember the old saying my daughter? A life for a li-" This time I cut him off, my rage taking control.
"BUT NOT A SOUL FOR A SOUL!"
"Yes that is exactly what it means Ember, you need soul energy to bring her back. Consider yourself lucky that she at one point, was human. She can be beckoned back to the living world only because of this. True demons, with which have no love or compassion usually, stay gone once they leave there specific plane of existence."
The group also found out a soul could only be beckoned back by the light shards of a destroyed soul that belonged to a person who at some point in their existence, had been close to the person that was trying to be revived.
With the end of the demonic ceremony, my father gave me a goodbye and a hug that I could not and would not return.
He handed me the small cloudy shards of Oni's spirit. Nathan came over with Valkyrie and set her head gently in his lap. I put the tiny cloud shards on her forehead and held my palm there. I hoped that my father wasn't wrong about bringing her back. I started the incantation, created by the French long ago.
"L'oh cher esprit perdait dans les avions extérieurs, revenus à votre corps abandonné. Revenez à votre vie inachevée et à ceux qui recèlent votre prescence précieux. Revenu à l'avion terrestre et quand le temps est juste, revenez au royaume de lumière." I repeated this several times. The air around us all became warm and filled with soft golden light. Soon yet another soft cloud came into view hovering over Valkyrie's vacant body. It's colors were that of gold and silver, absolutely magnificent. The silver and gold cloud entered through Valkyrie's mouth and all of the light seemed to follow.
Val's eyes fluttered open.

[Kàylà]

~Valkyrie's POV~

Death wasn't the way everyone explained it. There was no white light, no seeing my life pass before my eyes. I wonder if it was because even though I didn't know it something somewhere in the universe knew I wouldn't stay dead. I would be told later that Ember and Evander did a ritual that destroyed Oni's soul so it could be put into me. At first I was afraid when they told me this, because I thought that would mean I would become like him. I didn't though.

My eyes fluttered open and everything was blurry. It took my eyes awhile to adjust and refocus on the world around me. There was something wrong though, nothing looked the same. I heard someone gasp but it seemed really far away. What was wrong with me?

"Valkyrie? Honey can you hear me?" I knew that voice. I couldn't place a name to it though. It sounded masculine. I nodded my head to let the man know that I heard him. My memory was fuzzy. I knew my name and the basics but everything else was a bit of a blur. There were seven people in the room. Their names were on the tip of my tongue but I couldn't capture them and completely remember.

I wasn't exactly sure what had happened. "She's alive!" A shrill voice exclaimed. I was dead? This was news to me.

"Her blood smells different, she smells human." The male who's voice had spoke earlier. Human? I was a vampire though..right? What happened to me.

"Wh..what happened to me?" My voice sounded weird to me.

"You don't remember?" Nathan asked. Yes that's what his name was, but that was all I remembered about him.

"Well if I knew I wouldn't be asking you, now would I?" damn I was cranky.

"Sorry. Valkyrie, Oni killed you. He killed you after you killed Theo and when you refused to kill the rest of us." Nathan tried to explain to me. Brief memories flashed through my mind of a green haired guy, his neck snapping under the pressure of my hands.

"Whose Oni?" I asked confused. Nathan gave me a weird look and I finally realized that my head was laying in his lap. Why is he so close to me? Are we going out or something? I was starting to get a headache from all the confusion that was spinning in my head.

Everyone was staring at me sadly. I frowned I hated not remembering. Nathan noticed me frowning and worry spread across his face. "What is it honey? Where does it hurt?" He asked in a gentle voice. I was surprised at how calmly he was taking this. I mean if our places had been switched and he was the one that was just waking up from being dead for however long I would be freaking out.

"My head hurts." I answered him which was true. I was getting a massive headache. There was something odd though. Something I was just noticing. My mind was silent except for my own thoughts. I made sure my mind barriers weren't up and I searched for someone else's mind. There was nothing. "What the fuck? Why can't I read anyone's mind!" I yelled in frustration making the purple haired girl jump back who had just came back from around the corner where I could only guess she had been throwing up.

"Valkyrie, you're..you're human now." Nathan told me softly.

"How is that possible?" I asked in disbelief.

"I think it has something to do with the ritual Ember and Evander did. I don't know though, I have no idea how all this ritual stuff works." Nathan shook his head. My memories were slowly coming back to me. I now recognized everyone in the room. I looked at Kynaree who wouldn't meet my eyes, she was still looking a little green. I could only assume it was from the ritual.

"Kynaree, I'm so sorry for what I did. It killed me inside to kill Theo. It was either Theo or the rest of us though and a lot of other people if Oni didn't trust me. I wish things could have been done differently but I couldn't see any other way other wise you know I would have avoided that scenario as much as I possibly could. Please forgive me." It hurt my throat to say all of that at once but I didn't care it needed to be said. She lifted her head up a bit but she remained silent and still refused to meet my gaze.

It was still hard to embrace the fact that I was now human. Everything was fuzzier, my head was silent for once, I couldn't hear as well as before, and my movements seemed sluggish. I hated it. My memory was still coming back to me and I knew it would take awhile for it to fully come back and even then I wasn't sure if it would come back completely.

Now the only thing to do was to go home. If I was even welcome there anymore now that I was human. Nathan, Ember, and I took my car. I didn't drive though. I didn't trust myself with a fast car anymore. I don't think they did either, that was fine by me though. My reflex's were slower now that I was human and I didn't wanna crash and die. Otherwise that ritual would have been for nothing. I was worried for what waited for me at home.

[×|{å†ìe×]

~<>~Cecil's POV~<>~


Ring, ring, ring... After each ring sounded, I was more and more sure that Kynaree had forgotten her cell phone. When I finally heard her voice it turned out to be her too cheery voicemail telling me to leave a message. I ended the call and speed-dialed 2, one more time. Nathan had called Rodger just a moment ago, telling him that Oni was finished, no details other than that.

Ring, ring--, A rustling was heard on the other side of the line. "Kynaree?" I called, hoping for an audible reply. There was some muffled voices that I couldn't make out.

"Hello?" That definitely wasn't Kynaree. It was Trudie, which meant not only did they defeat Oni but rescue her.

"Why isn't Kynaree answering her phone?" I asked immediately.

"I dunno, she handed the phone to me," Okay, that means she is alive and breathing, "She's just upset right now..."

"Upset? What happened?"

It sounded like the phone was being passed around again, I heard a distinct, "I don't want it!" From Kynaree, then there was more ruffling and crackling.

"Uhmm, yeah?" It was a male's voice.

"Who's this?"

"Rivers..." he trailed off sounding awkward, "Look, I don't want the phone, but nobody'll take it. Kynaree really isn't in the mood to talk to anyone right now. There's a lot of crazy stuff that happened. I don't even get all of it. You'll just have to wait until we get there and someone can explain it all to you. Just chill."

I hung up, I wasn't going to put up with these idiots any longer. I definitely needed more coffee, but my dad had stopped refilling my cup over an hour ago. Kynaree was upset? As if I hadn't been worrying enough... At least she's alive, I told myself. Until they drive into the ditch and explode--- Sleep. Sleep is what I needed. I tried to think of the last time I rested peacefully. No times came to mind. To hell with sleep.

"Dad!" I yelled, he'd been avoiding me ever sense the others left. Something about me being too antsy.

"What do you want? I'm not giving you any more bloody coffee. You've had enough, you need sleep!" He started saying even before he entered the room, " And another thing, you need to calm the hell down. You were almost killed by a vampire less than a week ago and you can't be putting so much stress on yourself." I swear he could nag for hours.

"When did Nathan say they were getting back?" I tried to ask as calmly as possible.

"I dunno, go to sleep, they'll be here when you wake up," he took off on me before I could get another question in. A long sigh escaped my mouth and I slouched further down into the pillows. Closing my eyes made me realize how exhausted I really was. Setting my Blackberry on the nightstand, next to the still empty coffee mug, was the last thing I remembered before drifting to sleep.


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


I leaned my head against the car window and closed my eyes the whole way back. I didn't sleep though, I was too awake for that. My guts still curdled and even though I could've been easily distracted, I think I would've felt guilty not feeling sad about Theo's death. Crying was the worst, so I held my tears back as best I could. Trudie, Rivers, Ethan and Xian didn't need to hear my whining. It was the first time I enjoyed the silence, I didn't want to talk to any of them right now. I was in fear of cracking at any moment, so I pretended to be asleep.

I think Oni's soul being ripped out was the worst part, I didn't need to open my eyes to hear his horrific screams, or feel the anger and fear. I just felt icky, I wouldn't mind if the car ride lasted forever, but everything had to end. My eyes opened as soon as we hit that familiar gravel of Valkyrie's driveway.

Everything was so dark outside, it looked like a completely different house as I exited the vehicle. The others all seemed to be filled with relief, I should've too. Cecil was here. He was probably upstairs worrying about me, especially after not answering his phone call. I frowned, I wasn't really in the mood for to see him right now.

When all of us walked into the door we were greeted by Rodger, he hugged me first, "Go see Cecil now. Make him shut up." He said with a smile. I felt my lips curve upwards, smiles did make everything better, even if it was just a little.

"Okay," my voice was hoarse. Probably from puking earlier.

I took step by step, noticing that as I got closer to the top my feet started carrying me faster and faster, until I was at a run for his door. I stopped abruptly in front of it and my hand lingered on the handle. Okay, I need to make this quick. If I feel tears coming on I must flee. I creaked the door opened and there was a split second I hoped that his still body was asleep. My hopes were crushed when he noticed my presence.

"Kynaree?" I panicked as my throat started to close up and my eyes started to fill, No crying, no crying. Why was it the whole ride there I could hold them back. However, around the person I didn't want to cry in front of the most, my calm composure finally collapsed.

"Cecil, I don't feel very happy at all," my voice crackled as I closed the space between us with a hug. I didn't pull back and neither did he. I nestled my nose into his neck and curled myself underneath the comforter too. "You were right. Rescue missions are horrible..." I was blubbering and positive he couldn't understand a word I said through the tears.

With only one shoulder working properly he tried his best to hold me, "What happened?-- Wait you don't need to tell me. I mean, not if you don't want to..." he said this all quickly, sounding afraid or maybe just worried, I couldn't tell.

"Stuff..." I trailed off, " I don't wanna talk about it right now." I wiped the wet out of my eyes with my sleeve. The pillow was already starting to get a big damp spot. My sobbing was starting to lessen.

"Okay," he cleared his throat. "We can talk about something else?" he suggested.

"You start."

"Well," he paused in thought. "I was wondering if you wanted to-- after I've healed more-- move back with me to England?... I can understand if you want to stay here and finish school. Or maybe go back to your realm if you've had enough of this place, I know I certainly have."

"Okay," I answered without hesitation. I thought it was fun to open my close my eyes right next to his jaw, it made my eyelashes feel weird. It made me notice that he really needed to shave. "England sounds nice."

"Really?" Making Cecil smile was one of my favorite things.

"Yeah," I sighed feeling extremely tired all of a sudden, "I'm going to sleep now," my voice was now just a mumble.

"Wait, one more thing."

"What?" I grumbled.

"I love you."

[<^>Krustine<^>]

~Trudie's POV~

I realized the figure running through the woods was a ghost. Theo. Theo and Valkyrie dead? Whats going on? Wheres Oni? I found the answers to all these questions when I listened to everybody talk for a little while. "ritual" "Ethans with Oni" I don't know whats going on but I was filled in. Valkyrie killed Theo because Oni wanted her trust. Oni killed Valkyrie when he saw everybody else come through the door and Valkyrie would not kill them. Ember started a ritual to bring Valkyrie back not realizing what it would do to Oni...

I really just wanted to be back to my old life. Where there was just me and my own apartment. Not having the power to see ghosts or at least not knowing it. Where did that life go? I miss it. I didn't sign up for this.

But I had to think about what mattered most.

I was in the other room with Kynaree, holding her hair back for her when I heard Valkyries voice. I heard Nathan talking to her. She was human? That will be weird.

I loved Rivers and soon it would be just him and me. We'll have to talk about where we are going better. France? Rome? I shouldn't be thinking about this now. I followed Kynaree out of the room and over by Rivers who was standing over by Xian and Ethan. I walked over and gave Rivers a hug. Everything would[/] be okay.

~Rivers POV~

After a lot of confusion for me I figured out that when Valkyrie was brought back to life, she was human. I didn't know how everything happened or why but I felt good knowing that in a way I helped. With saving Trudie anyways. I didn't really do anything about Valkyrie or Theo, who initially didn't get saved.

The way home was kind of weird. Nobody wanted to talk and when Cecil called Kynaree somehow the phone got handed to me and he hung up on me. What a jerk. We finally pulled up to Valkyries house and I guess I was staying there tonight, I was in no shape to face my parents right now. I didn't tell them anything, I just left. They probably hate me. Its okay, if they totally abandon me, at least I have a second option. I mean I won't be here long anyway.

Trudie and I cuddled in her room, she gave me a hug and whispered into my ear "Go to sleep. I'll wake you if anything major happens." Then she picked up a book and started at the beginning, looking frustrated. "Tomorrow I need to get My Sisters Keeper by Jodi Picoult. I was almost done and don't know how it ends."

"Why would you start another book if you are gonna read the other one tomorrow?" I asked. My voice sounded a bit raspy.

"I'll be done with this by then. I can't sleep remember."

"Oh yeah. Love you. Night"

"Love you too. Night"

I fell into a deep sleep and saw tall buildings and colorful people standing on the streets. I think I remember this place from somewhere, but where? Was it France? Switzerland? Germany? I didn't know, and will never find out because I was tugged out of my dream when I felt poking in my arm. "Rivers?" It was Trudie. I mumbled something I didn't even understand and heard her talking again. "Rivers its almost noon. How late are you gonna sleep? Wheel Of Fortunes on I thought maybe we could watch it together."