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SHATTERED

Chapter 18: One Step Closer

Darkness. He was one step closer to the forest. He looked up into the sky above his head and he cried out as he saw something he didn't recognize. He ran faster and faster until he came to the cool shade of the forest. The trees shaded his head and he wept gratefully. He smelled something and he felt weak. He saw someone lying on the ground, bleeding. It was the blood. The blood. It taunted him and he wanted it so badly. His chest burned and he ran forward to the body. He woke up in a cold sweat.

Marron saw Goten wake up and she rushed over to him. He looked around the room then his eyes fell on Marron. "Marron?" he said. She looked at him. "Goten? How do you feel?" she asked smiling. She remembered that these few hours for her were amazing. She saw everything. Colors were enhanced, things that were dead looked alive, the world was a pulsing, living thing. She felt alive, and she hoped he felt the same way.

"I feel...oh my god...what's wrong with me?" he asked. She touched his hand. "You're alive, aren't you happy?" she asked. "Alive or dead?" he asked. She was taken aback. "Well, you have no mortal life..." she said. He closed his eyes. "And for this life...what price do I have to pay?" he asked. "Blood..." she said. He pounded his fist. "Damn it!" he said sitting up. "Goten, it's ok, listen to me-" "Is this what you wanted Marron?" he asked softly. She looked away. "I had nothing." she said. He looked at her and then he realized something that he had never seen, she had no power. She was alone. Bra had no care for it, but Marron, she did. She was always by herself. "I...Marron, why? Why didn't you say something before you did this?" he asked. She sighed. "To who Goten? No one talked to me, I had no one to...connect with, I had Trunks, but it was too late, we were just getting to know each other, when he..." "When you acted ignorant, look he was affected too you know," She looked at him with tears in her eyes. "I know...and I was stupid to do that it's all my fault...it was my fault that you're like this too and and..." "Oh Marron, don't cry..." he said. He hugged her and sighed.

*~*~*~*~*

Trunks took another wobbly step and he plopped back on the chair. He saw his mother smile at him and she came over to him. "That was good Trunks." she said ruffling his hair. He sighed and looked away. "What is it Trunks?" she asked. "I don't know...I just had a really bad feeling a while ago...and I can't shake it." he said. She looked at him and then the door opened. "Vegeta?" Bulma said. He looked at her and then he looked at Trunks. "Did you feel it?" he asked Trunks. "I felt something...what was it?" Trunks asked. "Ki. Dropping." Vegeta said. Trunks gasped. "I'm going to take a look," Vegeta said. Trunks nodded. "Take care of them if anything happens." Vegeta said. *Not again...why does he do this to me? * Trunks thought. Vegeta looked at them then he left. Bulma sighed.

*~*~*~*~*

"Drink Goten." Marron said. Goten shook his head and he felt sick. "You need to drink." Marron said. "I can't." Goten said. Marron looked at him. "Listen Goten, I didn't want to drink either, but if you don't you'll die. I made Byron do this so you'd live ok? So just drink." she said angrily. He reluctantly looked at the man in Marron's arms. He was unconscious. "He won't even feel it." she said. He sighed and looked at her. "Fine, what do I do?"

*~*~*~*~*

Byron dropped the body into the lake. It was dead, lifeless. He felt refreshed and warm. He was filled with blood. He whipped quickly around and he came face to face with someone he hadn't seen in a long time. Piccolo.

"You said you wouldn't be back here again." Piccolo said. Byron looked back at Piccolo, unmoving. "I never said that." he said. "What are you doing here?" Piccolo asked. "I was looking for some one, and you?" he joked. "I'm in no mood for games, what do you want here?" Piccolo asked. "As I had said before, I was looking for someone." he said. "Who?!" Gohan said from behind. Byron smirked. "For Marina," he said. "Marina? Who the hell is that?" Piccolo asked. "Oh, a good friend of yours actually, her name has changed though, do you know anyone with a similar name?" he asked. Their faces contorted with thought. "Marina...Mari...Marron--Marron?!" Pan asked. Byron applauded. "Finally, someone with sense." he said dryly. "What have you done to Goten?!" Gohan asked. Byron chuckled. "You know him? He almost died today and I saved his life." Byron said. "What?" Piccolo said. He didn't like the sound of that. "Yes, well you see, Marron accidentally drained too much blood from him and well, she didn't want him to die. So I...well, you know." "It is true? Marron's a..." "Vampire? Yes, she is, and now he's one too." Byron said chuckling.

"Oh my god..." Gohan said. Pan touched her father's hand and remained looking at Byron. Suddenly he cried out. "What the hell I-" he fell unconscious and was caught in someone's arms. Vegeta appeared out of nowhere and smirked. "Vegeta?" Piccolo and Gohan said in unison. "Yes...hmph...well...don't just stand there! Where do you want him?" Vegeta asked. Piccolo looked at him and he broke into a small smile. "What are you smiling at Namek?" Vegeta snapped. Piccolo chuckled and powered up. "Come on, follow me." he said. They all blasted off except Pan, who stayed behind to look for her uncle.

*~*~*~*~*

Bra stepped out of the shower and the radio automatically snapped on.

Sugar you make my soul complete

Rapture taste so sweet

She sang along to the beats of the song with her towel wrapped around her body. The song ended and another one came on.

Underneath your clothes

There's an endless story

There's the man I chose

There's my territory

And all the things I desired

For being such a good girl honey...

She sat on the bed and sighed. Goten. She wished that he were there. She really liked him despite the age. He was so sweet and funny. She decided to give him a call. She picked up her phone and pressed the memory button.

The phone rang and Chi Chi went over to it. "Moshi Moshi?" she said. "Hi Chi Chi!" Bra said. Chi Chi smiled. She thought of Bra how happy she always was. "Hello hon, do you want to speak to Pan? She's not here." "Oh, no, how are you?" Bra asked. "Oh, I'm fine, and you and your family?" she asked. "Everyone's good auntie, um, can I uh...speak to Goten?" she asked. Chi Chi's smile faded, Bra didn't know. "Um, honey, Goten...can't come right now..." she said painfully. "Huh? Is he out?" Bra asked. "Um..." "What's wrong auntie?" Bra asked. "Goten is...well, we don't know where he is, Gohan felt his ki drop rapidly and well, we think he's a goner, we don't know what happened...I just..." Chi Chi burst into sobs. Bra sat on the bed paralyzed. "Oh my god...um...goodbye auntie I'll--" The phone went dead as Bra pressed the button and slumped unconscious. "Hello? Hello? Bra?" Chi Chi said. She got no answer. "Oh my god...she took it pretty hard..." Chi Chi said. It didn't occur to her what had happened to Bra. She hung up the phone and went back outside and waited for her children.

*~*~*~*~*

Marron watched as Goten hungrily drained the man of his blood. She smiled and looked out the window. "Byron is sure taking long..." she said. Goten wiped his mouth. She looked at him and smiled. "Finished?" she asked. He nodded. She looked back out the window with a worried expression. "What's wrong Marron?" he asked. "Huh? Oh nothing...I was just looking...anyway, did you enjoy it?" she asked. He looked away. "I'm not going to say that I liked taking a life...but it gave in to my burning, it kinda..." "Soothed it?" someone asked. "Huh?" they both said. The person laughed. It was a man. He was about Byron's height, but his features were different. There was something different about him. About his shoulder length, blond, curly hair, and his piercing gray eyes. She looked at him and got into a fight stance. He chuckled. "There is no need to fear me Marina." he said. "Huh?" she said. "You know too?" she asked. "Of course I know, and when I tell you this you'll remember too," he said. "What?" she asked. "Oh come on Marina, you don't know who I am?" he asked stretching his arms, showing off his finely tailored black suit and his cape. She looked at him. "No, I don't." she said. "Oh come on darling...Byron didn't give you the really whole story, he told you what he wanted the story to be, so you'd stay with him, he's what they call, insecure." "What are you talking about and who are you?" she asked. "Oh Marina come on, oh, I'll tell you then, you see, I'm the one who you had an affair with."

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