Here is the next chapter. Finally I can begin the main plot now. Lol.

The shadow creature slithered slowly on the ground towards Hikari and Skye. Even though Hikari was facing this shadow creature head on she wasn't sure what to do next. She didn't know what kind of magical powers to use to scare it away plus she didn't have cool swords skills like Kathy or the ability to transform like Owen could. The only thing she had was the power to see memories. A lot of good that would do in a battle!

"I almost killed her…"

Hikari looked back at Skye in confusion. This was not the time to be talking about his wife. The vampire was clutching his head, his eyes wide in fear and shock. She turned her attention back to the shadow creature. It was just sitting there but Hikari had a feeling it was focusing in on Skye. Was it making him relieve the horrible memories?

"I'm sorry…Claire…I'm so sorry…"

Hikari glared at the shadow creature. How despicable. Something horrible had happened to Skye and this shadow creature was making him relive it! She felt power welling up inside her and what seemed to be out of pure instinct, she held out her hand and a bright light poured out of it and hit the shadow creature head on. It flinched back but it didn't seem to do anything else.

Was the attack a dud then?

"How dare you!"

Hikari felt the hairs on the back of her neck prickle. She turned her head slightly and shivered. Skye's eyes were glowing eerily in the moonlight and she could clearly see his long fingernails and fangs. If she had just met him like this she knew she would have thought he was some kind of monster or something.

He opened his mouth, his fangs now clearly visible and with inhuman speed he had darted forward and sliced the shadow creature in two with those fingernails.

Like all the times before, Hikari clamped her hands over her ears as the screams of the dying shadow creature echoed through her brain along with images of a young girl playing with a ball and then holding tightly to a huge gray dog.

The images stopped as quickly as they came. She opened her eyes to see Skye kneeling before her. His blue eyes were gentle now, not the hard cold steely ones from a minute ago. "I'm fine," she said quickly, standing up. "That's normal. It always happens when a shadow creature dies."

"A shadow creature? So that's what it was?" Skye looked over at where the creature had stood. Everything was gone now. It was like it hadn't existed before. He turned back to Hikari. "I sensed them around for a couple days now, you know what they want?"

Hikari shook her head. "No." Her thoughts went to that witch girl. She seemed to know more than she was letting on. "But I think I know someone who does."

"I think it would be best to figure out what they want then," replied Skye. He stared down at the spot where the shadow creature was again. "I didn't think I would have to see that again."

"I'm sorry, it must have been painful," Hikari reached out to place her hand on Skye's shoulder to comfort him but the vampire slid away from her touch.

"Sorry," he said. "But I don't want to take the chance of you seeing the memory either."

"I understand," said Hikari. She figured it must be painful. He had sounded so distraught before.

"Thanks," replied Skye. "Anyway," he ran a hand through his silver hair. "I'm going to head back to the inn. The sun is going to be coming up soon. You should head home too."

Hikari nodded. "Okay. Ummm Skye?" The vampire turned back to her. She gulped. "If you need blood, you can come to me. I mean, I know that you are going to need blood and so you don't have to drink from the other villagers…"

"Thanks Hikari," Skye smiled, his fangs clearly visable before he disappeared into the night.

Linelinelineline

Kathy was not amused by this at all. She had been woken up by her dad telling her there had been an explosion at the Wizard's place. She had to jump out of bed and pretty much sprint over with her katana to check if it was magical or not.

When she had gotten there the whole place was a mess and covered in green goop. It was definitely magical in origin but this…how could she explain something like this? In fact, based on the glass pieces everywhere it was probably done by Vivi.

She made a note to go yell at the witch later. Didn't she remember that there were people on the island who didn't know about the magical going-ons? She probably didn't knowing her. The witch was the kind of person to get excited over pretty much nothing.

"What happened here?"

Kathy jumped and whirled around. "Selena. You surprised me."

"Sorry," said the dancer. She walked into the Wizard's home. "What happened in here?" She pointed to the sword in Kathy's hands. "What's that?"

"Oh this?" Kathy laughed. "It's just a fake weapon you know? I thought the person who made the explosion might still be here so I came prepared for anything." She laughed again. Oh boy. She coughed and turned back to the mess. "I wonder where the guy that lives here is?"

Selena shrugged and backed away from the gooey mess. "Well whatever, I'm going back to the inn now."

"Bye," said Kathy as Selena walked away. She then turned to the mess in front of her. Oh boy. Looks like she had a lot of work to do.