Third chapter already. I don't have much to say here, seeing as I said WAY too much last chapter. I have noticed that my chapters are kind of short, but then again, I haven't gotten to the good part yet. Hee hee hee.

Songfire woke on an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar room, which she assumed was in Risika's house. She woke with a bad headache, which was only to be expected after losing so much blood. The headache increased her bad mood, which was caused by the nightmares she had had, nightmares of the past. She needed to get out of this stinkin' room and get something to drink.

While she was fumbling around in the darkness of the kitchen she thought back to last night, or whatever time of day it had been. She remembered seeing her mother's face and nothing else until she saw Risika's face. Risika had been able to calm her, bring her out of her panic. Even if it only made her suicidal, it was still something the healing witches could not do. And now she was able to think clearly.

She no longer saw a need to hunt her mother's killers- that could wait for another time. What she needed to do was to decide what she would do, where she would live. She could not go back to the place that had been her home all her life. The pain was too recent, too fresh. And strangely, this little town of Mayhem felt more at home than her house ever had. She would examine this town, and if she felt it suitable, she would make it her home.

Putting down her glass, Songfire turned and stalked out into the night. She was grateful for her denim jacket, for the cool breeze and starless sky showed signs of a coming storm. Rather like a cat, she disliked water, and so any rain would seriously hinder her activities.

She prowled only the corners of the streets and alleyways, preferring not to draw enough attention to herself that she became some hungry vampire's next meal. It would have been okay last night, but she was feeling better now and liked her life.

Turning into a dark street to avoid a large group of vampires, three of which had "dates" that were apparently unaware of their fate, Songfire stopped suddenly. Leaning casually against a wall was Risika, a very triumphant Risika. She was standing over the body of a man who had apparently resisted becoming her prey. The man's neck was broken and he was lying in a pool of blood. Risika was licking some blood off her teeth, apparently unaware of Songfire's presence.

The sight was too familiar and too close to her mother's death for Songfire's fragile sanity to stand it. "No," she said, backing away. "No, no, NO!" She screamed, not caring whose attention she caught now. Turning, she started to run, sprinting for the other end of the street.

She had taken about two steps before she ran into someone who had been part of the gang she had taken this street to avoid. Looking up, she gasped. There were familiar black eyes, sparkling in a very familiar pale face. Why was he here?

"Bryan?" she gasped. "What are you doing here?"

"Actually, here my name is Eryk. As to what I'm doing here," the tall boy shrugged, "I live here."

"But that would mean you're.a vampire." Songfire was startled. She always knew that her boyfriend Bryan had preferred the darkness to the light, but that didn't mean anything really. He did have an unearthly beauty and strength, but so many girls thought that about human boys. There was a larger problem with him being a vampire, though.

"Did you have any part in my mother's death? Was that why you went out with me? So that you could learn more about my mother and it wouldn't look so suspicious for you to be wandering around my house? Huh? Answer me!" She was screaming now, backing towards Risika, who was watching this fight with concerned eyes. Gods, it hurt so much to accuse Bryan of these things. She loved him with her whole heart. But he was a blood-sucking leech, a member of the party who had killed her mother. She couldn't let him get away with this.

"Songfire, please." He was obviously sorry, and was advancing towards her with his arms spread out, begging with her. "I didn't know that your mother had died. Originally I was part of the group who was going to kill your mother. It hurts me to admit this, but that is why I started going out with you. Then I met you and your mother in person. I truly began to love you, and your mother always showed kindness to me. I quit the group, knowing I could never hurt two people so close to me. I didn't know that they continued with their plans. Please, forgive me for anything I did or did not do."

"That's enough, Eryk," Risika said, coming between them. "Songfire is under considerable emotional strain as it is. Just last night she was terribly suicidal, which is why she's here in the first place. Right now she doesn't need or particularly want your intervention. Give her time, and perhaps your romance will resume. Or maybe you've hurt her too much for things to ever be as they were. Either way you cannot force things."

Songfire shot an obviously grateful glance at Risika, probably the only vampire right now who would side with her with no questions asked. Then she looked back at Eryk. He was standing still, obviously heart broken. "Eryk, I forgive you. Just give me time. I will seek you out when I am strong enough." Turning, she followed Risika back to the house.

Okay, that was the third chapter. How'd you like it? Please review it, I'll accept any comments, positive or negative. I can't improve my writing without criticism. Now, for all you doubters, you know that it's not Risika/ OC. Risika is, I repeat, just a mentor, possibly to become a mother figure. Songfire's just a depressed teenager.