Stanton was extremely displeased with himself. He was seeking another victim. One would think that with his new rank he wouldn't need to recruit anyone else but the instinct was still there and out of sheer habit, he went to the club in Silver Lake. It was where his last victim was, it can be where his new one will be.

He was about to melt into the shadows when a girl caught his eye. She sat on a bench just a few yards from him. She was about fifteen, wearing a cheerful smile on her face and caressing a book. Her eyes had that glazed over quality. She was daydreaming. He used to love lively ones. They were so fun to watch when they break down. Maybe he'll take this one right here.

He edged closer to her stealthily until he was right behind her. Her back stiffened and she whipped her head around. Her jovial features were rippled with shock. He sensed she was more than what she seemed. He probed into her mind. Her name was Aylah, her father was a lawyer, and she had some sort of a big secret with her friends he couldn't see. She had fairly strong defenses for a typical girl. He had scanned her neck – no crescent moon.

"What are you doing?" she asked, jolting back. Her glossy curls tumbled down her face like a waterfall and her innocent hazel eyes stared at him pleasantly. She didn't seem roused, merely curious.

"Nothing," he replied smoothly. "What's your name?" Even though he already knew.

"I'm Aylah. You?"

Stanton smiled. "It's doesn't matter. Why aren't you inside? There's killer music there, you know." He figured it'd be more difficult to spot him if there was a lot of commotion around him.

Aylah shrugged. "I just like the view."

Stanton sat down next to her. he tried to look into her eyes but she kept turning away. He had wanted to be subtle but his patience was wearing thin. He wanted to taste fear. He lifted a finger to trace her jaw line. He tilted her head, forcing her eyes to look into his.

She tried to escape but he already caught her. "What would you do," he said softly, "if I told you I was a member of the greatest evil unit that ever existed?"

Aylah shook her head frantically. He could feel her fear. It was in the air. He hadn't exactly expect her to answer of course. None of them ever do.

"I'd say you were crazy," Aylah replied with a smile. He saw her mind clearing as she broke free of his grasp.

Confused and angry, he brought her face close to his with his large palms and pushed power into his eyes, trying to recapture her. "Are you sure?" he asked, trying to regain control. Was he weakening?

Aylah squirmed. "What are you doing? Some kind of voodoo? I feel light-headed." She giggled.

Stanton fumed. How dare she find it all funny? Then he looked into her eyes and realized all that was ever there was pure good. Blissful happiness fluttered around her face like flower petals on a windy summer's day. She slipped away from his hands. "Can I go now?"

He nodded. She got up and started to leave. He was trying to process what was happening. What was in her that defied him? "Wait!"

She turned back. Stanton stood up too. This time, with all the strength he could muster, he pushed at her mind to weaken her. "What is it?" she asked, bewildered.

"Tell me your secret. What are you hiding?"

Aylah cocked her head. "I'm not hiding anything," she said, suddenly very serious. "Everything about me is out in the open. You just can't see it. I'm magical."

Stanton tried to laugh. What came out was a sputter. Aylah smiled, but she was sincere. Then, she walked off. What did this mean? Stanton knew. He knew that no matter what happens, the power of humor and good cheer always prevailed against his kind because he fed off pain and anguish, negative feelings, when others did not.

"Now you see," said a voice. Stanton glanced up but Aylah was nowhere in sight. Nor was anyone else. Stanton didn't know how it hit him, but he knew what he was going to do.

He was going to see Serena.