No, i don't own Nightwalker, or any of the beautiful creatures thereof. Gomen that this chapter is so short; u'll understand why when u reach the end. That is, if u're actually reading it . . . do u even exist? Am i speaking to an empty, barren nothingness? the walls - they're closing in! No! Stop them! Help!

REViiieeeeeeeeeewwwwwwww! scream fades away into a desperate silence

It occurred to me to wonder what was going on. I was still surrounded by darkness. And the presence from before had returned. So it hadn't been Izawa; it was . . .

Cain!

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He appeared before me, the intense darkness drawing in around him. I tried to stand, to run, anything! But found I could not.

His dark, velvety voice made me shudder. "You haven't the energy for it. You starve yourself here. Why? – when you could rightfully take anything you ever wanted."

My mind returned to a previous time – an encounter between Shido and Cain in a similarly dark room. It had been the last time I'd seen him, over 130 years before.

It all came flooding back now – Cain's brutality, his view of humans as inferior livestock, his cruel and violent part in my turning, and the one thing I'd never forgive him for: his treatment of Shido. Sometimes my dreams would merge with Shido's or his with mine. Many times I'd awakened from a foreign world to find Shido sweating and trembling like a child in my arms. Always, it was after a nightmare of Cain and the hellish years Shido had spent as his companion, before turning toward the light. What did this bastard want now?

The elderly priest's voice echoed in my head, "Mikao was on his way to warn us."

My eyes widened in realization, my voice only a whisper. "You did it! You killed Mikao!" I knew I should feel fear; what did this monster want with me? Did he know where Shido was? – But I couldn't feel anything but anger.

"I did. He was in my way." His honeyed voice lingered in the space between us, almost tangible. "You didn't answer my question. Why stay here, a pathetic lapdog to creatures you could easily rule?"

"I – ," I didn't have an answer. I knew that I cared about many of them and that I couldn't bear to see them hurt, much less do them harm myself. I also stayed because this was where Shido was, and I loved him. But how could I explain any of that to this demon. "I don't have to explain myself to you!"

"You might consider differently, if you knew why I have come."

"I don't care why you're here! Shido will be here any minute. Then –"

He laughed – a deep, resonating laugh which contained no mirth. "Don't bluff with me. I know better than you where Shido-kun is."

My jaw dropped. No. This wasn't happening. If he'd found Shido, then . . .

I knew Shido could never win in a fight against Cain. Cain was far older and more experienced. What was more, Shido wouldn't kill him – not the one who had made him. Somewhere, deep inside, my lover had a hope that Cain might gain the light one day. Once Shido might have destroyed him, when he thought Cain had killed me. But both Cain and I had cheated death that night. I could feel what little blood I had left leave my cheeks.

"What have you done with him? Where's Shido?!"

"I have not done a thing . . . yet. Whether that remains so will rest on you."

"What?" What was he playing at? How could I do anything about it? A prickling sensation finally started rising within me.

"I miss him," he cooed. "I wish him to rejoin me in Transylvania. Shido has been so reluctant, though, that to achieve this I may have to resort to force." I gasped. He wouldn't!

"But! There is an alternative. You must choose: if you wish me to leave Shido alone –"

"I'll do anything!" I was gasping for breath now, and I felt so weak . . . but if I could do something to help Shido, I would!

Cain's eyes shone with anticipated victory. "Take his place. Come with me yourself, and learn what it truly is to be of the night."

No. Leave Shido? How could I? I couldn't think, couldn't breathe. Shido was my world.

Moments of our life flashed before me: a quiet night alone together, a kitten he'd brought me, Shido quietly smiling at one of Guni's pranks, Shido gazing at me when he thought I wasn't looking . . . If I refused . . . couldn't . . . breathe . . .

I whispered my answer. "Alright. I'll go."

I'm even trying to leave cliff hangers here ppl. How come no one cares? sigh Oh, well. I'll just wade back into the pointless swamps of Elliot & Milton now.