Author's notes: Ok, people, you're up for a real cliffhanger this time. But, please don't kill me, you do want to know the end of this story, don't you? But you'll have to wait, 'cause I'm going on a weeks vacation now. So, review after this one, and the next chapter will be up in a week. And thanks so much for the reviews I've gotten this far.


Part VI

Two days later, Kat left the castle and went downtown. She hadn't been there for over a year, and she needed to buy a birthday-present for her father.

As she walked from one shop to another, she thought about the dream she'd had a few nights ago. How come she hadn't dreamed about that night before?

Shame filled Kat as she remembered the tone in Casper's voice when he'd asked if he could keep her. And he'd kissed her cheek. Kat was pretty sure he hadn't ment for her to know that, she'd practically been sleeping, but even so...

Kat was too absorbed in her own thoughts to notice where she walked, and when she turned a corner, she collided with another pedestrian. She nearly fell backwards, but he caught her and pulled her up. In this upright position, Kat got a better look at who she'd almost knocked over, and she drew a deep breath.

"Hello Kat." he said and smiled.

"V...Vic?" Kat stuttered.

He removed his arms around her and took a step backwards. "Alive and well, thank you very much." He didn't stop smiling, and Kat was beginning to feel embarrassed. She corrected her clothes, and when she'd composed herself, she looked at him again.

"Are you ok?" Vic looked a little worried.

Kat smiled. "Of course, why wouldn't I be?" She hugged him. "Hey Vic."

"Now, that's better." Vic laughed. "How are you?"

"I'm fine. You?"

"Back here from college, so I guess I could be better." He laughed again. "Not much's changed here." he said and looked around. "Are you at college?" Kat nodded. "Where?"

She blushed slightly. "Harvard Law."

Vic gave a low whistle. "Wow! You've done good. Still living up at Whipstaff?"

Kat nodded again, and at the same time she felt a drop of rain land on her forehead.

"Hey, Vic, do you want to go for coffee before we both get soaked?"

He nodded, and they walked towards the nearest coffeeshop.


Vic and Kat sat at the coffeeshop for three hours. They talked about old times, about what they'd done since High School, about old classmates. They laughed and joked and time sped away.

When they stood outside the coffeeshop, ready to say goodbye, Kat wondered where time had gone, and what she'd done with it. She hadn't thought about Casper once for three hours, and it almost made her feel guilty.

Kat stretched out her hand towards Vic. "It was nice to meet you again, Vic. We'll have to do this again real soon."

"Yes, you're right. Real soon." Vic took her hand, but he didn't shake it. Instead he pulled her close, put his arms around her and kissed her.

Kat felt his lips meet hers, and she opened her mouth in pure surprise. Vic moaned thankfully and slid his tongue between her lips.

Kat let him kiss her for a while before she gently pulled back. Vis smiled at her, but when he saw the look, or lack of look, in her face, his smile died.

"What's wrong?"

Kat shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know, I...I don't feel anything, Vic. Nothing at all." She smiled apologetically and stroke his cheek. "I'm sorry. I have to go now, but I'll see you around, ok?" She turned around and left a dumbstruck Vic standing alone on the sidewalk.


When Kat sat on the bus, she thought about what'd happened. She wasn't chocked, she'd somehow known it was coming. Had Vic kissed her three years ago, she'd have been overjoyed. Back then it'd been all she wanted. But now...now she didn't feel anything. It'd been like kissing a mannequin. She'd felt dead inside.

She got of the bus at the road up to Whipstaff. It'd stopped raining, and she started walking along the road, trying not to think about the kiss.

There were no lights along this road. All Kat had to walk after was the big silhouette of Whipstaff. She many times felt as if she was being watched, but she told herself she was being silly. Who'd be watching her? The trio, of course, looking for a suitable moment to scare her, but they wouldn't, and couldn't, harm her.

Kat passed through the gates, and when she was about to put her foot on the stairs up to the castle, she felt strong hands grab her arms and pull her into the shadows. Kat was about to scream, but a hand was put over her mouth from behind and she was spun around. When she saw who was holding her, she almost screamed again, but the hand over her mouth stopped her.

She'd last seen this face many years ago at a Halloween-party, when he'd danced with her and then kissed her.

The chock became too much and Kat fainted into Casper's arms.