Sorry I haven't had time to update. Midterms and other homework-related interferences.



Talia shuddered as she walked, looking scared and frightened and not much like a witch. Jessica followed her out of Las Noches and out of New Mayhem through the woods in a zigzagging path that made her lose track of where she was. She had not quite mastered the art of walking silently over dried leaves, and she made a noise every so often, but Talia went on oblivious. Jessica thought that she was carrying something, but in the near moonless night she could not tell. She squinted as hard as she could to try and see. She stopped paying attention to her feet and a very large branch snapped with a sound like someone dropping a textbook in a high school hallway.

Talia whirled around to face her. Her eyes became wide and scared. "Go back. He'll kill you! Go back!"

"I'm a vampire. Why do you care if he kills me?" Jessica asked.

"Because he'll kill me for allowing myself to get followed." Her eyes darted back and forth and back and forth through the shadows of the tall pine trees.

"Who's he?"

"No one!" She yelled in a panic. She had to get rid of her! She turned around to run, but Jessica was much faster. She whipped her around and caught her by the wrists.

"Who?"

"Damien."

"What is Damien?"

"A vampire," Talia winced in pain as Jessica squeezed her wrists nearly to the point of breaking. "But he's not just a vampire! He's a-"

Something whistled past Jessica's ear and Talia went limp against her, an small silver knife embedded in her head. Jessica immediately dropped her spun around to meet whoever was there. It was too dark out and she couldn't see him until he had her by her own wrists.

"What were you doing trying to interrupt my servant in her duties?" an almost amused voice asked her. His breath smelt like spearmint gum. "I think you need a lesson in manners." He was extremely strong and easily forced her down to the ground by her arms.

And then something grabbed her roughly from behind, and she was moving very fast. Damien didn't try to follow. He was sure he would run into her again. She would probably still be in need of a lesson too.

Risika dropped Jessica onto the hard ground like a sack of potatoes. She was heavier than she looked.

"That was very stupid."

Jessica rubbed her wrists. "Like I need you to tell me." She put her head in one hand. "And I was so close too!"

Risika snorted and stalked off.