Disclaimer: All the characters belongs to Julie Kagawa not me, sadly.

The Call

"Honestly, sister, get up. You're better than this." Jackal smirked and wiped his sword on his shirt, grinning down at me savagely.

"Shut up, Jackal." I gritted my teeth, and winced as I got up. I mean, I knew Jackal was strong but I didn't know he would be this strong once he picked up fighting again. Ever since we left New Covington, we had been following Sarren's trail for almost two weeks now. I am determined to kill him and make to pay for what he did to Zeke.

Zeke. A fresh wave of grief gripped my heart and I sucked in a breath, forcing the emotions down. We are vampires, we do not feel, we are merely monsters. I repeated to myself again, standing up, feeling the hilt of my katana biting in my wet palms.

"Enough." A calm voice interrupted us both, our sire, Kanin strolled into the midst of the field, an amused smile on his marble face. "James, go and rest. Allison, come with me, we need to talk."

I gulped, ok, this was weird. I mean I feel fine with Kanin and our, but being alone with him is just a bit too overwhelming.

Jackal snorted and then turned away, "whatever you say, old man."

I gave a soft sigh and sheathed my katana then lifted my head and stared into a wall of black material and started.

"Jesus, Kanin. Don't do that!" I scowled and took a few steps back, but Kanin advanced forward, feeling trapped. I stopped and stared into his eyes, always so composed and smooth.

"Your confidence is slipping away; I can feel it, Allison. We are very close to Sarren and we cannot afford this kind of behaviour."

I turned my head away, knowing what he said was true. I felt two cold fingers under my chin firmly turning my face to meet his. He slowly bent down, trapping my in his cold gaze and I stood as so many times before, immobilized in his power.

"Allison." He breathed in, a soft sound with a faint smile on his lips, "When you will ever remember I'm not your teacher anymore. You can fight me off, and you know you have the ability to."

I growled and shoved him off, crossing my arms over my chest. Even after all this times, Kanin can still get my tongue-tied and comfortable.

"Allison." His tone make my head snapped up, it was softer tone, the softest I have ever heard him use. "You need to pull yourself together; I do not know what is happening to you as you have never been one to dwell on the past. But it would danger us all, if you are like this when we meet Sarren." He suddenly turned his gaze away, gazing into the dark night.

"I am afraid Sarren will be waiting for us, our chances are very slim to think that we have outrun him. In fact, we should be prepared for an ambush anytime now."

He turned and started to walk back to the small tent we had set up, but he suddenly stopped mid-way and laid a hand on my shoulder.

"Believe in yourself, Allison. You have fought for it so long, do not give up now." I could hear the smile in his voice, astounded I turned around but like a true vampire, he had already vanished into sight.

I let out a small breath, thanking god I was alone now when another smug voice interrupted me.

"Well, that was quite the speech." Jackal suddenly dropped in front of me, and I took a step back in alarm.

"What do you want, Jackal?" I sighed, tired and just wanting to get a rest.

"You are probably his favourite spawn, you know." He didn't come any closer, shocking!

I scoffed and kicked at the grass, "what made you think that and that's ridiculous." Even though I have suspected the same thing myself, Kanin seems to treat me in a way that was almost respectful, like one of his equal or something.

"Well, even a bloodbag would've seem it and you aren't completely that stupid, sis." He chuckled lowly, "though if you really wanna kill psycho out there. You'd better pull yourself together."

I whirled around, surprised. "What is it with you two!" I threw my hands up, annoyed and frustrated. "Did you two just agreed on something?"

"It appears we did, and will you both kindly lower your voices?" A half-amused seeped through the tent, and I scowled but turned back to Jackal.

"I messed up one night and you're both going on about it like it's the world ending!"

Jackal suddenly turned blindingly fast, his hands gripped my shoulder tightly. Yellow eyes glowing inhumanly under the moonlight, a shiver suddenly ran through me.

"You think we would be ready for Sarren when you can't even defeat me." He growled, increasing the grip on my shoulder to the point where I will have a huge purple bruise, but I didn't push him off, instead I met his glare with one of my own.

"I know, Jackal. It won't happen again." I spit the words out gritted teeth.

"It better not get your shit together, sis." He growled and released me, then laced his hands behind his back.

"What do you think he's gonna do in Eden?" I asked, since it has been bothering me for ages and each time I asked Kanin, he returned my question with a cold glare.

"I don't know, sis." He shrugged then suddenly tensed, he eased the sword slowly out of its sheath and on instinct, I unsheathed my katana. Listening to my surroundings, there was nothing but silence.

"What is it?" I hissed in a low voice, glancing at Jackal, his yellow eyes alert and cautious.

He shook his head slowly, and then motioned us forward with his head. Unsure, I advanced slowly, wondering why on earth I'm following him. But there was someone nearby; I could feel it even though there were no signs or sounds to indicate it.

"Duck!" He hissed and dropped down; pulling at my shirt down at the same time just as an arrow alighted with fire flew overhead. I cringed and buried my head in the dirt, cursing whoever fired that arrow. But in the instant, a hand grabbed my shirt and yanked me away. I felt Jackal let out a surprised yelp as he was being dragged backwards. Alarmed and somewhat frightened, I barely a moment to think before the arrow exploded in a deadly arc of ambers and ash.

I didn't think, I just acted, crawling on my feet and hands, I quickly scrambled to the shelter no far ahead. When I've finally reached a patch of cool path, I settled down and started to calm myself down. Glancing beside me to see Jackal was doing to see but with an extremely annoyed scowl on his face.

"You two would better see this, especially you, Allison." I looked up, knowing in that instant it was Kanin who had dragged us back from being exploded into a billion pieces. There a vivid red mark on his right cheek, and specks of amber still clung onto his long dark coat. He nudged the arrow and something beside it until it was right in front of our feet.

At first, I couldn't make out what it was but Jackal stiffened beside me and said in a perfectly serious tone.

"You are in deep shit, sis."

Even more alarmed, I narrowed my eyes at the small blackened thing then with a wave of horror and repulsion it finally dawned on me what it was.

It was a small bird, its skin peel back, the feather burnt and black. A little bird, just like how Sarren referred to me as. This bird is me, or will be.

I shuddered and took a deep breath, opening my eyes again to summon my courage up. Sarren was here, probably hidden somewhere watching us with a manic smile on his scarred face.

"That is not all, there was a note." Kanin's smooth voice sounded oddly loud against the silent night, "is addressed to you, Allison."

He dropped a piece of singed paper, though the crawly writing was clear as the moon and the words on it turned my blood to ice.

Hello again, little birdie:

You and I shall make a great symphony, a symphony for the ages. I look forward to hear you sing, my little bird, I await your glorious song.

-S

A.N: Well, what did you guys think? Review, please?