Chapter Three
Tracking down the vampire was easier that Kid thought it would have been. He hadn't been smart enough to get out of town, even with a Shinigami after him.
"I don't think you should go alone."
Kid turned to look at the source of the voice as Mayu transformed back to sit beside him on the bench. It was Marie. She stood there, her arms folded across her chest, her blonde hair held up in a loose bun.
Kid glanced at Mayu before turning back to the older girl, "How many times are all of you going to tell me that?"
"Until it sticks in that thick head of yours," She came and sat on the other side of them. He and Mayu had been watching the sunset, but he'd only ended up holding her in weapon form and thinking; that tended to happen a lot these days.
"Look," Marie sat her hand on his shoulder and locked eyes with him, "I get it. I had a meister before Stein. I get what it's like to lose someone you care about, but you can't be reckless."
"I'm not being reckless."
"Yes, you are," she snapped, "Just let Stein and I go with you. Please, Kid, we only want to help."
"Marie," Mayu glanced at the older girl, "Kid and I can handle it. Trust me."
"It isn't that I don't trust you," Marie looked down before looking out at the sunset, "It's that I'm scared for you."
Kid turned to look at her, but she wouldn't meet his eyes. She stood before turning back to look at Kid, "Just, please, be careful, okay?"
He smiled at her and nodded, "We will, we promise."
"Mayu," Kid, threaded his fingers through hers, "Don't transform until he's dead, okay?"
She nodded and squeezed his hand gently, "I won't, I promise."
She transformed in a flash of dim, golden light. She rested as a singular, sleek black pistol in his left hand. He closed his eyes and exhaled slowly.
"Kid?" she asked, her voice echoing within the confines of his mind, "How many souls do you sense inside?"
Kid paused and closed his eyes, tapping into his soul perception in order to give the area a clear read, "Just the vampire.
"We can do this," she spoke in his mind softly; "We'll be okay."
He nodded slowly before kicking the door in; the sound echoed thought the building. Kid held Mayu up at the ready, but it still felt off. It felt so unbalanced after working with the twins for almost two years; one weapon just felt empty.
Kid let out another breath as the vampire turned. His eyes glowed a dark red; his teeth sparkling in the dim light.
"A reaper," his voice came through the air like a howl in the night, "I know that smell. It's the smell of those that wiped out most of my nest."
Kid cocked the gun and kept it pointed at the vampire, "You killed my partner."
"You killed my family," the vampire took a step closer, "I feel as though my actions were justified."
Kid set his hand on the trigger, "I'll shoot you."
"No you won't," the vampire sat his hand on the Mayu's barrel before tossing it across the floor. Kid tensed as the vampire pressed him to the wall, "And I'm not done taking my revenge."
"Kid!"
Then the fangs sank into his throat. Kid felt as though every ounce of him was being drained. Darkness ringed around his vision. He felt as though he may collapse.
That was when a hammer rammed into the wall and the vampire dashed out of the building.
Kid collapsed to the floor.
"Kid!"
Mayu ran to her partner.
"Don't do this! Don't do this to me!"
"We'll have to get him back to the academy," that was Stein's voice, "That's the only place close enough with the equipment to heal him."
"We better hurry," Marie was talking now, "Do you think you can carry him?"
"We'll have to if we want to save him," Stein spoke again, "But I'm not sure if-"
Then Kid blacked out.