The shimmering light of morning shined through Michelle's bedroom and illuminated the blankets she was tangled in. Beside her laid the man she loved, and in that moment of adoration, she stretched her hand to caress his face. When she moved her arm, she noticed the hair twisted around it was as white as it once was and glowed. She retracted her hand and pulled a lock of hair from the back of her neck in front of her face to see if the rest of it had changed color as well. However, once her focus faded from Hagi, her hair lost its glow and settled back to black. She quickly sat up in bed, realizing that there was no sun shining through her room, but rain streaking down her windows and a gray sky. She looked back to where Hagi laid, but he wasn't there. Only the broken buttons of a missed opportunity.

I guess I was still dreaming...

She stretched and unhappily got out of bed. When she made it to her wardrobe, she brushed the knots out of her hair and threw on a simple bej chiffon dress. Loose fit and short, but comfortable, even though her hair hung a foot longer than it. She hummed to herself as she walked through her living room and onto the balcony. The rain felt good on her skin and she breathed slowly.

He's probably off with Saya... I know it, I know he is. I know I have to share him, but damn it. I love him.

She looked over the edge of her balcony and wondered how hard her body would hit the pavement below. She assumed it'd probably scare a lot of people when she got back up. Then she realized that she'd most likely catch herself before landing with a splat. It was in her instincts.

I can't even die on my own. Is there anything left to my own choice?

She sighed and brushed her bangs out of her eyes. It was then that she remembered what Nathan had shown her last night. His arm transformed before her eyes, it was incredible. He knew things about chiropterans that Saya's side haven't even realized, and he could give her her life back. She could sing again, and feel alive, not just a living dead inhuman creature. Suddenly, she felt a deep emptiness in herself beyond emotions. It felt as though someone had pulled the plug and life had begun to fade from her body. She was... thirsty.

And there's so many yummy things around you. Look.

Diva's voice echoed in her mind, and her influence forced Michelle to look down on the street so far below her. Innocent, Japanese pedestrians going about their daily lives. As a human, she would have thought nothing of them, but as a chiropteran she began to imagine all of the ways she could steal one, just one, and steal their life for her own.

"No," she breathed. "I'm not a monster like you, Diva. I'd rather die."

No, I don't think I will let you, she replied. You are part of me, and you are the only body available to me. If you allow yourself ot become weak, I will take over.

As a threat, it sounded hollow, but Michelle knew it wasn't. She knew that she was becoming weaker and weaker as the time went by and if she became weak enough, Diva would take over.

"I..." she looked back down at the street. "I need to see Nathan."**

**Michelle showed up to Nathan's apartment as quickly as she could, but with every step she felt more tired. It wasn't until he had opened the door that she realized she was completely soaked.

"Oh, my," Nathan said as he looked at her. "Come in, come in. I'll grab a towel."

"Thanks," Michelle replied as she walked in. She reached down to unzip her boots when she realized that she wasn't wearing shoes. The trip over to Nathan's was a blur of running and limping, she hadn't even realized she was barefoot. Still, she stood in one place to avoid making the rest of the floor wet.

Nathan quickly returned with a large, fluffy towel and he wrapped it around her shoulders. "You do realize you aren't wearing shoes, right?" he said.

"I... just noticed that," she replied as her strength gave out and she collapsed.

"Oh no you don't," Nathan said as he caught her and in one swift move, picked her up in his arms. In the moment he carried her to the couch, Michelle's vision began to fade in and out, colors swirled in her head. He carefully set her down and looked into her eyes. "You've been depriving yourself of blood, haven't you?"

"Yes, she has, Nathan," said Diva through Michelle's mouth. She was helpless to stop her.

"Oh dear," Nathan shook his head. "How are you handling it in there, Diva?"

"Well, the weaker she becomes, the stronger I become," she laughed. "We should keep her like. She's easier to handle."

"Now, Diva, you be nice. She's a friend of mine, and after all, you are dead."

"Saya should've died too. It wasn't fair..." after a moment of silence, she asked. "How are my babies?"

"They've grown up to be beautiful young girls, and they're currently in their state of hibernation. They look just like you."

"I want to see them..."

"In due time, my dear Diva, but right now Michelle is going to die if you keep stealing her strength like this. She needs blood."

"Well then," Diva took control of Michelle's body and forced her to sit up and very quickly grabbed hold of Nathan's shoulders. "Blood, she shall get."

Michelle wanted to close her eyes as Diva forced her, yet again, to plunge her teeth deeply into the neck of a chevalier, but she couldn't. Diva was in complete control, and she was terrified. The only hope she had was to drink Nathan's blood and become stronger. It's all she could do.