Tsk tsk… Christmas SUCKS!! Arh well. Guess this is not the story of my life, so I shall take my leave and leave you guys into the safe (?) hands of Daybreakers and the Bloodies (Blood Iris's shortened name.. =D)

         "Jodie's here!" Paula hollered in the living room. Jade got down from her bed where she was flipping through her magazines and went out to see her. Jodie wasted no time, "Jade, you've got to come down with me. Kyle's not being himself!" Jade was confused, "What do you mean, not being himself?" Jodie was speechless for a moment. She tried to find words to explain herself, and then she gave up. "Just come." She said hastily.

         Jade followed the girl and was surprised when she led her outside the Daybreak Center. She stopped as Jodie started into the pub nearby, refusing to budge a step. "What's with you, Jodie? I thought we were looking for Kyle?" Jodie looked slightly irritated by Jade, her red eyes blazing "He is inside." She said with force. Jade was about o ask more, but was being dragged into the pub. Pulsing music throbbed the room and the noise was so loud she almost could not hear herself.

         Then she saw Kyle.

         He was seated at the counter, several girls dancing around him. The dim light made it difficult to see his expression, but he seemed to be enjoying himself. Jodie looked at Jade, as if telling her to see for herself what she had meant. Jade felt anger rising within herself. What exactly was Kyle doing? She pushed through the crowd and dragged Kyle out of his seat, instantly annoying the girls around him, while the guys cheered. Apparently they had been unhappy that Kyle was the center of attention. Jodie followed her as she continued dragging Kyle out of the pub. Finally, she released her hold on his wrist, flinging him to the ground. Her strength, supposedly from her fury, surprised herself, but she pushed that thought aside.

         "What's wrong with you!" She yelled down at Kyle, ignoring the amused smiles from the bouncers nearby. Jodie stood beside her, trying to calm her down, but she was at boiling point,. Kyle looked up, a bemused smile on his lips. That guy is dead drunk, Jade thought angrily. Kyle got up wobbly and was immediately pushed back by Jade. "stay down there! What the hell were you doing inside?" Her chest heaved with anger.

         Kyle frowned and looked up at Jade, fixing his black eyes on her. Jade felt her heart melt – man, he looked good, and it hurt her to see him like this. "Having fun," he said finally.

         Jade felt her face heating up. Having fun? He could have fun with all the girls inside and could not stand being with her? What exactly did he want? "Kyle! You… You've changed! You're not like this before Clio died!" The instant the words were out of her mouth, Jade regretted it. Kyle did not say anything, but glared at her. He looked strangely comfortable sitting on the ground. Jade realized her mistake, "I'm sorry, Kyle."

         " You know what? You're right. You're so right I wasn't like this before." Kyle barked a laugh, and it hurt both Jade's ears and heart. "I just realized that this is the way I should be," Pushing himself up, he dusted dirt off his white shirt and said nonchalantly, "And there's nothing you can do to stop me from joining Blood Iris." Then Kyle disappeared into the night.

* * * * * *

         Jasper woke up to cold water splashed on his face. He coughed and it sent his body rattling in pain. He craned his neck and tried to see in the dark room. Then, a light flared in his face. He squinted his eyes to the sudden brightness and felt his head yanked back suddenly by the hair. His head whacked against the wall behind him hard and he felt his visions blurred for a moment.

         A face came into view. It was the guy who had straggly blond hair- who had captured Halyssa. Halyssa! He thought, his heart quickened with worry. He saw a flash of brown hair in the corner of the room, his view partially blocked by Straggly's big body. Then, his attention snapped back to the center of the room, where Mervyn materialized. "Why, why, lover boy." Mervyn chided. He turned in the direction where Halyssa was. "Kirsten." He called slowly, enjoying every syllabus of the name as if it was the last piece of meat on the table.

         Kirsten? No. She is Halyssa. Jasper's brain reasoned. But he was wrong. Kirsten - no, Halyssa, came into view. She looked different, as though her usual shy self had disappeared and she now had a wild streak in her. She had tears in her eyes, Jasper realized. "Your Halyssa. Our Kirsten." Mervyn said, a sardonic grin on his face. Jasper tried to wrestle free, to go and wipe the smile off that scum's face! How could he?! But metal chains bound his hands and feet. Kirsten looked so apologetic now that Jasper could not bring himself to hate her. She was after all, another pawn in Blood Iris's cruel plans.

         "What do you want?" He asked, giving up wrestling with the stubborn chains. Mervyn gave another of the sardonic smiles and said, "Well, to make the source sorry for not cooperating with us." Nathaniel orbed in beside Mervyn, took a glance at Jasper then spoke, "Good." Just good, a simple word from Nathaniel sent chills down Jasper's spines and yet Mervyn looked extremely pleased. The happy scum then turned to Straggly and said, "Make. It. Hell." Then he turned away and left the room after Nathaniel.

         Then, Jasper did go through hell.

* * * * * *

         "Kyle Caldwin wants to join Blood Iris?" Nathaniel asked coldly, his amber eyes a raging fire instead. Mervyn offered a meek nod before answering, "That's what my informers said."

         They continued the way down the long hallway, past quarters of where members of Blood Iris stayed. Nathaniel stopped and turned to look at Mervyn, "Your informers say so?" He asked, doubt and suspicion in his voice. Mervyn froze. That was how Nathaniel was like; there was no telling when his temper was flaring. Mervyn replied quickly, "He was really determined – he even told Jade Finster about it."

         Nathaniel continued walking, while Mervyn hurried to catch up with him. "He is in your office now." For the second time, Nathaniel stopped in his tracks. "You allowed him into Blood Iris, without asking me first?" Mervyn instantly felt as though chilling winds blew right through his body. Nathaniel was not only angry – he was furious! "I… I didn't allow him in. Apparently he found his own way –"

         "How?!" Nathaniel demanded.

         "Clio could have shown him the way before – "

         "Clio." Nathaniel snarled. "You let the murderer of my only niece in?"

         "No… No… Like I said, he found – "

         "Why should I let him join Blood Iris?" Nathaniel now stood towering over Mervyn. He felt an uncontrollable shiver travel down his spine as the cold gaze of Nathaniel bored down on him.

         "Perhaps… Perhaps…" Mervyn began lamely.

         "Perhaps it is just a trick! And you are a fool! Mervyn Mullen!" Nathaniel yelled down on him. The railings beside them exploded and rained metal bits down at the level below. Piercing screams could be heard as the silver bits found their ways into the bodies of unlucky shapeshifters. Mervyn could hardly stand on those shaky legs of his.

         "Perhaps we could test him." Mervyn said, his voice hardly audible. That seemed to appease the furious vampire, who smiled. No doubt Nathaniel had his own tricks up his sleeves. "Test him." He repeated. He flicked his fiery gaze at the cowardly witch before starting down towards his office.

         Kyle Caldwin was seated in the couch of Nathaniel's office when they came in. If looks could kill, the glare that Nathaniel sent him could have killed him a thousand and one times over. Kyle was dressed in black turtleneck with black pants, and it matched his eyes and hair perfectly. His face held a coldness that Nathaniel had never seen before. Nathaniel pushed himself back into his chair as he asked, "Why are you here? You know I can kill you easily."

         If Kyle had not spoke, others would have thought that he was a statue made of ice. He flicked his gaze straight at Nathaniel, showing neither fear nor feelings at all. "I'm here to serve Blood Iris."

         Nathaniel gave a hollow laugh that sounded like howling wind. "You? The murderer of Clio?" He threw a wooden pencil at Kyle suddenly, and the latter caught it easily with cat-like reflexes. He broke the pencil into two and flung it on the ground. "Yes." He said simply.

         As much as Nathaniel wanted to drive a stake right through the pale vampire's heart, he knew that he was strong. Mervyn, who had been standing beside Nathaniel like a tame dog all these while, cleared his throat and announced, "Then you've got to prove your loyalty."

* * * * * *

         Awwww! Kyle Kyle Kyle, such naughty one. What will happen in the next episode? How will he prove his loyalty to Blood Iris? How will the Daybreakers react to his traitor acts? Stay tuned and find out! Now now, I just need a little help from you guys. Review the story, and tell me if I can improve, or how the story should go! Till the next time!