Chapter 4

Party

"Live For Today...Plan For Tomorrow...Party Tonight..!"

Unknown

Two wonderful weeks of absolute silence. There was nobody to boss me around, nobody to worry about my eating habits and no annoying brother watching my every move. That's what I got when Yusuke went on a trip with his friends and mom was going on a business trip out of the country. Smiling happily I flipped on the TV with my powers and read the book. After mastering most of the minor spells I had learned this really cool one that really helped when I was alone or scared.

All I would have to do was concentrate on something that was in my room and I would will myself to be there, then I would just be there. The first time I did it I was walking home from a bar about a week and a half ago.

Walking out of the bar I waved to the girls that I had met inside and smiled to myself about my ability to make friends. Walking away I saw this shadow detach itself from a poll out of my peripheral vision across the street. Not really thinking about it I continued on my way to the place that the girls had said there was a rave going down.

Not wanting to be late I lengthened my steps only to roll my ankle in my three inch pumps giving me a moment to pause. Turning slightly I caught the man slow down and continue to watch my every move. Sighing I took the ally and dashed down to the end in my bare feet then continued on my way to where the rave was.

When I heard the pounding rhythm of the bass and the haunting melody of the music I sighed, but didn't slow till I was being crushed by the occupants of the abandoned warehouse. Smiling at my small victory I let the rhythm take over my body.

By four in the morning I was weary and ready to go home. My feet were aching and I was sure I had bruises on my ass from where people had pinched it. Frowning I slipped out the side door when I was sure nobody was looking. That's when I came face to face with the scene that came straight from my nightmares.

Leaning over a young woman was a large man with what looked like horns protruding from his head. From his back draping over his shoulders was the wings of a bat, solid black and shivering from the bass of the music. Swallowing I spun and tried to get back through the door I had just passed through when I came face to face with a man dressed similarly to the one on the floor next to the girl. Backing up I was forced to the wall on the other side of the ally as I listened to the two of them talk.

The grunting sounds that they were making made my skin crawl and when I couldn't take the sound any longer I went to make a run for it down the other end of the alley when I saw the third monster. Just like the man from before the rave it detached itself from the shadows and slowly stalking his way over to where I was rooted to the hard concrete floor.

That's when I remembered the teleporting spell that I had been reading about in the book. I needed a focal point something in my room that was out in the open that was easily obtainable. Focusing I thought of my vanity in my room and the small stool that went with it that my father had made for me. I was thinking of that when I felt the breath of the creature on my face and opening my eyes I saw his face.

It looked like a mask from a horror film only much more real than anything I had ever seen in my life. It had sunken eyes and its lips were pulled back over its teeth revealing its long canines that were dripping saliva. Its eyes gave an onyx glow that echoed deep in black caverns that seemed to never end. Then it was simply gone and I was staring at my reflection in the mirror and listening to my brother snoring in the next room over.

I had checked in the book for any known monster that fit the description of the beast that I had met and was shocked when the book turned into yet another book before my very eyes. As it heated up it ceased to be as soft as velvet and turned into a hash coarse feeling almost alligator like skin. Then looking at it I watched as scarlet letters scrawled across the front reading Creatures of the Third Dimension.

Reading about the creatures I leaned that they were actually gentle creatures that were very misunderstood and served as guards to the souls of the living. Only certain people had them though and it was mostly for those who had the potential to become a fierier to the other dimensions. When a potential fierier died or was killed the guardians would congregate and protect the soul until a different fierier was there to bring the soul to the spirit world where it would then be reborn. If a guardian was ever killed then the soul that it guarded became just another soul.

Looking up form my book I was caught watching the TV when I saw another of those creatures following a camerawoman as she was shown briefly on the screen. Smiling I decided I was going to make a new friend before the day was through.

Smiling I slipped pass all the security and made my way to the break room where I knew the woman I was looking for was. Little did I know was that I was being followed by a dark shadow that was just as interested in my destination as I was. Happily humming a small tune to myself and keeping out of everybody's way, I made my way past the other camera crew to find in the back was a small woman with a teenage girl sitting next to her.

Settling next to the wall I watched as the small woman I had seen on TV got up and headed out the door leaving the teenager to finish her lunch. Shocked I watched as the guardian stayed with the teenager instead of following the other woman out of the room. Watching I waited until everybody else had left before I headed over to the girl at the table.

"Hey," I said as I sat down opposite her. "What's your name?"

"Akizakura, but everybody calls me Aki. And what's your name?" Aki asked as she smiled pleasantly at me.

"My name is Katrina, but like you everybody just calls me Kat. My dad is from America while my mom is from Japan. I have a question for you? Even though you may think I'm crazy I really need to know if you can see the creature standing next to you?" I asked half afraid that she would call the police or security.

"Yes." Aki said with a small laugh. "Whenever I tell someone that they have one they always freak out and say I should be locked up in an asylum or something. It is good to know that I am not alone. Like the other day at the rave I snuck out to go to, there was this girl who had three of them following her. I was worried and latter I saw her dead in the ally beside the warehouse. There was somebody else that they were trying to protect as well, but before I got a good look at the person they just up and vanished."

"I think you saw me. It was my first time seeing one and I was really nervous that I teleported myself back to my bedroom." I said smiling at the young girl. "How old are you?"

"Eighteen. I just turned it not too long ago. So you can teleport. That really is amazing. The only thing I can do is levitate things. I really wish I had somebody to teach me what I need to know in order to control my powers. My mom really is at her wits end trying to help me fit in. I wish I was more like you."

"Why me?" I asked laughing.

"Well for starters you seem really confident and self assured. You seem like you know what you want and you aren't afraid to go out and get it for yourself."

"That's not true at all. I'm just as insecure as the next girl you'll meet. In fact I'm more insecure than most due to me not being able to control my powers." I told her honestly. Smiling I decided to take a leap and invite her to my place. Writing down my address I handed it to her. "Here if you ever want to talk or just need somebody who understands just stop on by. I'm almost always home and if you meet my brother his name is Yusuke, just tell him you're a friend of mine."

"Thanks I will. Now stand still." Reaching under the table she pulled out a small digital camera and pointed it at me. Smiling she took my picture and I finally noticed that she had braces. Laughing we sat there and talked until her mother came back and we had to say our good-byes for the time being.

It was two days later that she showed up at my place with a small bag and several books. Smiling she was introduced to the boys, all of whom I had been avoiding, and my mom. After introduction we were in my room. It was latter that I learned that the boys would be gone for two weeks and so would my mom. It would be the perfect time to introduce Aki to the book.

I just couldn't wait for them to leave, yet I was a little sad that my beloved onii-san would be leaving with his annoying friends. If it weren't for them I probably would have told him all about the book and me practicing with my powers to control them better. I was so close to getting better, yet still so far away and now I had somebody who I could share all this with and who could learn with me.

In the next few days before my brother left I spent as much time with him as possible and so did Aki, taking photos and just having a good time. None of us were prepared for what was to come. None of us knew that our happy times of innocence were going to come crashing down on us.

In a few short days my life would drastically change forever.