Chapter 8

"I will explain the mission in chronological order," Ruby started. "But first I will say that this room is completely sealed. Any telepaths or any human technology will not be able to penetrate the spells Roseclear has placed. Everything said here is completely confidential therefore it should not be passed..."

Guard you thoughts, Krysta warned Andreios and Vasili. Always be cautious when I'm human. The two vampires on either side of her showed no sign that they had heard but she knew they did. She listened to Ruby again. She was now finished ranting on about the confidentiality of the room.

"...the mission name is 'homore' which means 'to be human' in latin." She paused again to look at the paper she retrieved from her folder. "We will be using modern witchcraft that Roseclear has perfected in order to change you," she looked directly at Krysta. "There is a drink that Roseclear has designed in secret which enables a Night Person to loose their memory... temporarily.

"In a more scientific explanation, certain ingridients in the drink will travel to you brain and cover your memory. It will only cover it, not destroy. During that period you will not remember anything from your past. You do not need to drink blood as the oxygen carrying cells in the spell will every now and then release oxygen into your blood stream. It can last for more than two months. You will need to eat human food because when your vampiric memory is blookced you will think human food is what you need to live.

"The way to regain your memory again is when you discover a vampire. Seeing, hearing the word will not affect your memory but seeing a vampire in its vampire form, meaning with lengthened teeth could jolt you memory." Ruby looked at Andreios, then Vasili. "That's where you two come in. You are to take her to an apartment we have prepared for her. The details are in this file." She handed them each a folder which had Krysta's future identity like name, address and birthday.

"You are both to be there when she awakes from her transformation. She will think she has amnesia because she slipped and hit her head on the floor. You are to tell her what is in the file. You both are acting as her childhood friends, neighbors and classmates. It should be easy for you since you are already those things. You will monitor her moves.

"She has applied to work under a powerful and famous vampire hunter called Cellara. She is our suspected killer, responsible for the deaths of your parents. You see she doesn't know that we have identified her. Her work is very well covered. Even a powerful vampire might not detect her true nature.

"Your mission is," she said looking at Vasili and Andreios, "to make sure that Cellara forms a bond with Krysta. Influence Krysta, if you have to, to ask her for any information of attacks or future plans. Then read it off Krysta's mind." Krysta opened her mouth to protest on being read like a book but Ruby went on. "Every four days I expect a mission report from you. I will explain in more detail while Krysta is sleeping.

"When we and you both have collected enough evidence that they are the vampire hunters who killed your parents we will notify you and you may kill her and the other vampire hunters any way you see fit. but you must make sure that you kill Cellara for she is a threat to the Night World.

"If possible I'd suggest that you return to Krysta her mameories after the mission has succeeded." She smiled at Krysta's companions. Her smile was malevolent. "That is so to prevent her from interferring. We will take a recess of twelve hours. I want you back here at ten o'clock tonight." She adressed Krysta, "have your clothes and belongings with you. As for the other two be here too. It is not necessary for you to have your belongings with you. Krysta will be sleeping for two days. That is how long the drink needs to take effect. During these two days you will ready yourself." Ruby stopped her sermon when she noticed Vasili smiling wickedly. "What?"

"I was just thinking," Vasili replied in a mocking voice, "how are are going to fully prepare a cover story for a human?"

"That human is Krysta Vasili," Andreios stated.

Krysta smiled too. "I'm not yet a human and already I am being discriminated." Then to Ruby she asked, "is that all?" Pause. "May I leave now. I need to further ready myself physically and mentally." Pause, then smile. "And possibly even emotionally." She stood and Ruby and roseclear stood too.

"Yes, let's go," Andreios seconded Krysta. He stood up and started moving away from his seat. Vasili was the only one still sitting. He felt passive. As if he wasn't in the room, that he was watching all this from a distance.

"Uh-uh Rei, I'm going to meditate," Krysta spoke softly looking into his eyes. Krysta looked back at the other two females in the room and nodded slightly and tunred to go. Talk to you later Vas, Krysta added.

Uh..yeah.. Vasili started to answer then decided not to pursue his thoughts.

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Krysta quickly went into one of the dark parts of the city and fed on a criminal. She wanted to drink him dry. She wanted to prove to herself that she was still capable of merciless acts. The criminal has done a lot of bad things in his short pitiful life, he even thought of taking advantage of her. But she didn't kill him. She wasn't allowed to feed past twelve midday. She won't be feeding for the next ten hours. Without rumpling her attire she decided to return to her apartment.

Krysta changed into clothes she was more familiar with. Black pants and shirt. What's a better way to spend your final hours of superiority than to train, she thought, and headed to the abandoned building.

She arrived at the training site in record time. She made her legs run at full speed. Her mind was blank during the process. She didn't need to worry about cars when she crossed driveways and roads. She could feel their presence and avoid collision. That run enabled her to release all her anxiety. She felt that when she ran she left her tensions behind.

She started meditating and training in the darkened building. Krysta didn't care if she won't remember how to fight when she becomes human but she could never be too careful. At least, she thought with amusement, I'd be a fit vermin.

As much as she wanted to have Andreios and Vasili with her she knew she had to do this alone. So she did until the clouds began to darken and the air grew colder. Then she departed the building with a temporary 'goodbye' to the baron structure.

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Andreios and Vasili went separate ways after the meeting with Ruby. Andreios felt restless. He hasn't been feeling well since had read the letter. And then discovering what the mission asked of them. Then ultimately forced to accept Krysta's decision to take the human role. He thought more as he strolled along one of his favorite places. The park was the best thing about this city, he thought. Where the rest of the city was grey and dull this park was full of life. During summer many different colored flowers brightened the place. Different kinds of living creatures dwelled there. But what he loved the most about the park was the true greenness of the plants. Many different shades of green blossomed everywhere. Some, like the green of the oak leaves in spring, reminded him of Krysta's eyes.

He had seen Krysta here before too. She loved nature. As much as she tries to deny it, even to herself, she loves life. The lamp posts in the park suddenly turned off. It automatically turns off from nine o'clock at night onwards. A city electricity conservation scheme, besides the government said people should be home anyway for their own safety.

Amidst the darkness Andreios picked up a movement behind one of the trees near him. It was short and silent. Only a shifting of weight from one side of the body to the other. As he moved toward the movement he recognized the presence. He recognized the presence as someone he knew... and loved.