Chapter 21: Painful Good Byes and New Sire's

A week later, everyone was healed and back to normal. Adam was able to turn back into his demon form after he took a shower and washed off the powder that had covered his body in the explosion of the vile. Shi healed perfectly fine, including her arm, which now were just scares from the past. Madende and Jeric had gotten closer over the week, and it was sad to say that Jeric, Sandra and Bryn had to be off again.

Madende and Jeric sat at the waterfalls, looking out over the peaceful lake together. Jeric sighed and looked down, gaining Madende's attention.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Jeric was silent for a moment then looked up and out over that waterfalls again.

"I…We have to leave." he said quietly, dropping his gaze.

"What? Why?" Madende asked, looking at him sadly.

"Sandra has a lead on the Tomoko Clan. Bryn wants to chase it." Jeric said.

"Oh…" Madende said, looking out.

He had tried to hide the sadness in his voice, but apparently Jeric picked it out easily and looked up at him. He couldn't see his face though, for his hair covered the left side of his face.

"Madende, I wouldn't leave if I didn't have too." he said, almost sounding like he was pleading.

"I know." Madende said, smiling at him.

It was a weak smile, but it was an honest smile. It wasn't a fake one that most give just to make the other feel better. Jeric smiled weakly back, and laid his head on Madende's shoulder, and sighed. Madende lifted his hand that Jeric was leaning against, and gently rubbed the side of his face. Jeric lifted his head and stifled a sad sigh, and looked out at the water.

"I...shouldn't have started seeing you...I knew this would happen...honestly I didn't expect us to get so close..." Jeric said sadness and anger in his voice as he glared at the ground.

"Don't say that. I didn't expect us to get this close either, but we all do what we have too in order to keep alive. I know the feeling." Madende said quietly.

Jeric sighed sadly and looked at Madende. He met his gaze, and sighed as Jeric laid his forehead against his.

"I don't know when I'll be back. Or if I'll make it back." Jeric said quietly, placing and hand on the back of his neck.

"I'll be here if you do, and I'll miss you forever if you don't." Madende replied, his voice slightly shaky.

"Madende, don't cry, please…" Jeric begged, closing his eyes.

"Can't promise anything once your gone." Madende said, sighing.

Jeric shook his head, even though the two were still together. Madende closed his eyes as Jeric gently rubbed the back of his neck. Sighing sadly, Jeric leaned back and looked at Madende, who dropped his gaze instantly. Jeric gently hooked his finger under Madende's chin, and lifted his head. Madende's eyes were closed, but he slowly opened them, as a tear escaped his eye and rolled down his cheek.

"Don't do that. I'm not worth crying over…" Jeric whispered, gently wiping away the tear with his thumb, and laying his forehead against Madende's.

"Bullshit…" Madende choked, managing a small smile.

"Glad somebody thinks so." Jeric said, smiling.

"Do me a favor, ok?" Madende asked, leaning back.

"What's that?" Jeric asked.

Madende grabbed the choker chain he always wore, and never took off, and pulled it off over his head. Jeric shook his head.

"I couldn't take that…you never take it off." he said.

"I am now, and remember, it's a favor for me." Madende said, slipping the choker over Jeric's head. "I want you to have it for the memories." he said.

"But…" Jeric started.

"No. Take it." Madende said, then gently kissed him.

Jeric returned the kiss, a tiny tear rolling down his cheek. Wrapping his arms around Madende's neck, he hugged him tightly, closing his eyes.

"I'll try to make it back to you." he said quietly.

"I'll always be here, and there's always a room open for all three of you. Never hesitate to come back." Madende replied, hugging Jeric back.

Nodding, Jeric leaned back, and Madende wiped his tear away, as he had done for him.

"We better head back, before Bryn gets pissed." he said quietly.

Jeric nodded again and stood when Madende did, walking side by side back towards the house. As they walked, Jeric's hand slipped into Madende's, their fingers intertwining tightly.

An hour later, they were gone, and Madende sat alone in his room, staring out the window sadly, wishing they would come back already. The radio played softly, a familiar song, that even in the happiest of times, Madende loved. And now it played for him, like a message that he refused to listen to.

"I can take the rain on the roof of this empty house, that don't bother me. I can take a few tears now and then and just let em out. I'm not afraid to cry, every once in a while. Even though, going on with you gone, still up sets me. There are days every now and again I pretend I'm ok, but that's not what gets me…"

Madende closed his eyes as tears formed in them again, and leaned his head against the window. The song continued on, making the pain worse.

"What hurts the most, is being so close. And having so much to say, and watching you walk away. And never knowing, what could have been, and not seeing that loving you…is what I was trying to do." it played softly.

Shi gently opened the door and walked in, but he didn't care. She slowly walked over to him and gently laid a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her, then leaned against her, hugging her tightly.

"I miss him already…" he said.

"I know. But, we have something that will take your mind off things." Shi said softly, laying her head against his.

"Oh?" Madende asked, leaning back and looking at her.

"Yea…Since Drac is dead, the Children of the Night don't have a leader anymore. We need to go down there and help sort things out since we were closer to Sire and Drac than anyone else." Shi replied.

Madende nodded and sighed, laying his head back against her chest. Shi hugged him tightly and laid her head back against his, sighing and looking out the window. Madende slowly sat back, wiping off his face.

"I'll get ready and be down here in a sec." he said quietly.

"Ok." Shi said, and left.

XxXxXxXxXxX

They met Kevin at the entrance to the lair, with a few of the Night HunterZ that had been with him. Madende had hardly said a word, and smiled weakly at him, as they passed. Kevin looked at Shi nervously, then looked around at the others, and realized who was missing. Jeric.

Shi shook her head when he started to ask a question, and followed Madende down into the lair. Abi hugged Kevin, and walked down with him and Jake beside her, while Adam trudged behind them with Shadow and Shade. Eclipse walked with Shi and Madende, and felt awful for him. The group made their way into the main hall, where all the Vampire's had gathered, waiting to greet their new leader. The applauded as the group made their way up to the front of the room, where a small podium stood. Shi stepped up to the podium and cleared her throat nervously, looking out at all the Vampire's staring back.

"Good evening, Children." she said loudly.

"Good evening." they all replied at once.

Shi smiled weakly, and looked back at the others, before continuing.

"Due to recent events, you have been left without a Sire to guide you. I am here tonight to inform you of your new leader, as Drac will not be able to do so." Shi said, looking out at all the Vamps.

A Vampire from the front row approached her, holding a piece of paper. Shi took the paper and read the name written across it, and smiled back at Shadow.

"The Children have decided amongst themselves, who they wish to lead them." she said, looking out at them. "Shadow Fox."

Shadow's eyes widened in shock, and Madende smiled at her. Shi turned and smiled at her sister, as Adam and Madende pushed her up to talk. She slowly and reluctantly walked forward, the whole room irrupting in applause. Shadow traded places with her sister, who sat where she had been. Shadow smiled out at them, and sighed.

"Wow…I'm flattered that you want me to lead you now…but…honestly, I'm not the one that you should take." she said, and all the Vamps looked at her sadly. "You deserve someone who can be here all the time, and lead you better than I ever could. Someone who needs your protection better than me or my family."

"Who could need more protection than you?" someone asked, and Shadow smiled.

"Someone who has been there for us Fox's since we can remember. And seeing as you chose me to be leader, I now choose someone new who will not do you wrong in any way, and will be the best leader by far!" she said, turning back to the others.

Everyone stared back at her, stunned, then she smiled.

"Kevin Xavier Wolfbane." she said.

Kevin's jaw dropped. Shadow laughed lightly at him, and the room irrupted again. Shadow walked forward and grabbed his hands as Shade pushed him up to his feet. Leading him back to the podium, Shadow smiled at the others.

"Now…I don't want any remarks made to him about past events! You are to treat him like your Sire, because he is!" she said.

Everyone in the room nodded, and she turned back to Kevin.

"What do you say about becoming a Vampire?" she asked, smirking.

"I say…bring it on." Kevin replied, smiling back.

A/n: THE END!! THE FUCKING END!! thats it, all over, all done! i will leave you imagination up to what happens after this, and MAYBE i will come up with either a spin off or a sequal. havent decided yet, but REVIEW FOR ME!! LATERZ!!

DISCLAIMER!!
SONG IS WHAT HURTS THE MOST BY RASCAL FLATTS!

SHOUTOUTS!!
to ABI!! 3 YA! THANKS FOR STAYING WITH ME!!
(Bryn, Jeric, Sandra, the Tomoko Clan, Abi, and Jake belong to her!!)