Lately, I might update slower because I have to get myself going to study. Otherwise I'll be in deep trouble when my retests takes place when term starts.

Bonkus I love CASILLAS!!

Spawn: Thank you thank you!!

Madnun: Go on! Read it!

Char: Haha… I thought you will be uninterested! Thanks so much!

Here we go…

         Kyle was not expecting to see Clio so drunk. She stank of liquor and cigarette smoke when she stumbled into him on the streets. Leaning on his heavily, she laughed as she raised her eyes lazily to look at Kyle.

         Kyle, however, did not think that it was funny. He held her up and asked, "Clio! You have been drinking?" Clio pushed herself away from Kyle and walked backwards slowly, a secret smile on her lips as if tempting Kyle to follow her.

         Kyle did follow her, not because he was tempted, but rather he was worried about Clio. She was in no state to take care of herself. Following her to an alleyway, he stopped as Clio suddenly stopped in her steps.

         No longer smiling, Clio walked wobbly over to Kyle. Her mascara was smudged as her tears rolled down her cheeks. Kyle was at a loss, he did not want Clio to still feel upset over him. Letting her corner him to the wall, he wanted badly to hold her and ease her pain, but resisted the urge. Unsure of where to put his hands, he left them hanging by his sides.

         "You left me… Kyle." Clio said, her words slurred. Kyle did not know how to answer her, dropping his gaze to the ground. Clio gave a snort and said, "what's so good bout the vermin?" She spat. Without warning, she began to hug Kyle. He pushed her back and said, "Clio, you're drunk!"

         "Drunk? No, I'm very sober." Clio said, staring at Kyle with her big brown eyes. Kyle could feel her trying to get into his mind, but he put up his mental shields. He turned his face away from Clio and pushed past her.

         "Walk away! Walk away now and regret it, Kyle Caldwin!" Clio screamed behind him. But Kyle knew there was no turning back.

* * * * * *

"They are going to have an annual Christmas Party." Ralph said. Nathaniel nodded. He knew what the shapeshifter meant: the party could be when they have the chance to get back the source.

         "But I don't understand," Elspeth said. Mervyn shook his head mockingly. Women, do they only get blinded by jewelries? Since the death of Glynn, he had sealed his heart, never to fall in love again. He had rejected Elspeth many times when she tried to, in her words, heal him with her love. He knew that woman only liked him for his powers.

         He would make things clear to her one day.

         Just as he was about to answer her question, Clio said, "The damned daybreakers will slacken their security that day. The old fool Dermot will be too busy partying. We will send in a few protected men to check out the situation. Then, we strike."

         Mervyn observed that ever since Kyle broke up with Clio, she dedicated more time to Blood Iris. Not that it was no good; they could do with more helpers. But Mervyn was worried that the young vampire might be blinded by her own selfish motives.

         Nathaniel cleared his throats. His fiery eyes swept across the room before resting on Clio, no doubt sizing her up. Mervyn knew that Nathaniel did not doubt Clio's loyalty, but he was apparently surprised by Clio's newfound dedication towards Blood Iris. Nathaniel could only guess that it was due to her hatred for Jade.

         "That sounds easy. We'll have the source, and then the Night World will be ours." Ralph said, greed in his eyes. Of course, things would not be as simple as the way the shapeshifter put it.

* * * * * *

         Jade was actually amazed by the Daybreak Center. It could have easily doubled up as a mega shopping mall, with all the shops selling different varieties of clothing, accessories, and things you can find in a shopping mall. Christmas appears to be a major festive season for the daybreakers, for the shops were decorated with Christmas ornaments and lots of daybreakers were doing their Christmas shopping. Jodie had offered to go shopping with her for the Christmas party.

         "How are things between you and Kyle?" Jodie asked as she was trying out a pair of black-strapped heels. Jade shrugged. Other than the night they had spent together enjoying the night view, they had not met up. Partly it was due to some mission that the Council had sent him and Russell to attend to.

         "We haven't even spoke much. You know, he just seems so unwilling… to accept our fates together." Jade sighed. "I'm so envious of you and Russell, so loving and all. How did you two got together?"

         Replacing the shoes back to their original places, Jodie said, "Well, it was almost a little magical." She gave a little giggle. "I had just discovered my identity as a shapeshifter, the council sent him to fetch me to the Daybreak Center. I could still remember how radiant he had looked in the doorway. The way the morning sunlight fell on his blond hair… Sometimes I wondered if Daybreak Council had deliberately sent him to me."

         Jade felt happy for Jodie. The couple is so close that they seemed to have no trouble. "Have you ever quarreled?" Again, Jodie smiled, this time with a tingle of sadness. "Yeah. We do. In fact, we had a pretty big fight last week. It just surfaced out of nothing." She shook her head, "It would hurt us both so much. Usually Russ will appear at my door with large bouquet of flowers the next day. It's not the flowers that I cared about, it's him."

         They took the escalator down to the food court. "I wonder if there would ever… ever be a day when he does not do that. Would that be the end?" She lowered her head, and for the first time, Jade actually felt her insecurity. "But I guess all couples do fight." Jodie gave a brave smile to Jade.

         The girls continued their shopping trip after a short break in the food court. By late evening, Jade and Jodie had both bought a beautiful gown each for the Christmas party. Matching accessories were bought too. Pleased with their fruitful trip, they headed back to their apartments.

         Jasper was asking a brunette vampire out when Jade reached the doors of the apartment. The vampire stayed on the same floor as they did and Jade had seen her around before. She gave her brother a secretive smile before leaving them alone in the corridor.

         "Oh Jade, you're home." Paula greeted her warmly as she took the laundry to the kitchen. Jade put down her shopping bags and followed he mother into the kitchen. She told her excitedly about her new gown.

         "I was still thinking of asking you to go shopping with me." Paula said, before adding shyly, "Dermot asked me to go with him to the Christmas party."

         Jade was pleasantly surprised. Who'd have thought that Dermot would actually ask her mother out? She squealed, "That'd be so great! It's okay, how about we go and look for a nice gown with you tomorrow?" It was excellent that her mother would not be lonely having moved to the Daybreak Center. Her mother's happy laughter mirrored her own excitement.

         "Alright girls, what's up in here? I could practically hear you guys cackling with laughter even from the corridor!" Jasper stuck his head into the kitchen, mock disapproval on his face. The two ladies shared a playful secretive look, determined to give Jasper a surprise.

         "Gee, and who was that pretty neighbour you were talking to?" Jade asked her brother, changing the subject purposely. She watched as Jasper's face turned a shade redder, and then the two ladies laughed again.

The Christmas party is going to be interesting, indeed.

* * * * * *

Do look out for the next chapter, mind-boggling guaranteed!