Rei stopped dead in his tracks, and Kai froze; both youths regarded each other warily, each aware of their rivalry, both flickering their attention to Tyson sleeping peacefully on his pillow.
Finally, Kai blew a mocking kiss to Rei and cloaked himself in a swirl of mist that seeped between the bars of the window and disappeared into the night.
Rei immediately flung himself to Tyson's side, pleading with the boy to wake up.
"He's unconscious," Tala's voice was haunting him again. "There's no point in trying to rouse him; he'll awake in his own time."
"You don't mean…"
"Yes I'm afraid we're too late."
"It can't be over just like that! It just can't!"
"I never said it was over, I said we're too late to stop Kai from claiming him."
"So we can still save him?" Rei bit back his pride despite knowing Tyson had willingly given himself to another.
"We can save his soul yes, but only if we destroy Kai before the change is complete."
"And how do you propose we do that?" Rei's sarcasm was lost on both of them as Tala explained his plan.
Engrossed in their scheming, neither of them noticed that Tyson was not unconscious as they believed. Still with his eyes closed, he searched frantically in his mind for the familiar comforting voice and its source.

Tyson: you left me!
Kai: I had no choice
Tyson: they're going to kill you!
Kai: pfft! let them try!
Tyson: of all the self centred, egotistical, pig headed-
Kai: you know you love me really koi
Tyson: hmph!

"We can't move him yet; he's too weak!" Rei's voice broke through Tyson's thoughts.
"We leave at dawn and no later." Tala replied.
"But…"
"No buts, unless of course you want him to die?"
Rei slumped back into the chair, defeated.
"You'll thank me for this later…" Rei didn't hear the rest; as shattered glass fell into his lap, the dull ache in his forehead subsided into blissful unconsciousness.
Tala stared at the remainder of the smashed bottle in his grip, poking with his thumb at the jagged edges where the neck had smashed. "Probably much later, but you will thank me."

Vladivostok, Russia: 14th July 2004

Rei groaned, grasping at his head as he arched his back while he yawned sleepily.He gazed through the window, his still foggy eyesight struggling to focus on the trees that sped by.
Suddenly, all his senses sharpened as his mind jolted him into consciousness. "Tala! Where the hell am I?" He grabbed the red-head by the collar.
"Calm yourself!" Tala snapped, clamping his hand over Rei's mouth. "If you wake him up all is lost!" He nodded towards Tyson, who was laid across four seats, covered in a woollen blanket.
Rei nodded behind Tala's hand, and when Tala let him go, they both edged closer to the sleeping youth. Rei struggled to bite back tears as he gazed down at him; his face seemed pale and withdrawn, his skin was almost translucent, but the luminescent pink light beneath told Rei that Tyson hadn't left them yet…

Tyson: they know what you're doing
Kai: it's alright, once you get here you'll be too strong for them to fight you
Tyson: I'll have to kill someone won't I?
Kai: hopefully not until you learn to feed on your own
Tyson: and what am I supposed to do now? I'm starving!
Kai: you're on a train, in the middle of nowhere, with a bunch of humans
Tyson: so?
Kai: use your imagination koi…

"What's he doing?" Rei frowned as Tyson's eyelids twitched sporadically.
"They're talking." Tala growled, turning away.
"What d'you mean?" Rei pulled Tala back to face him, flinching at the fierce rage burning within the ice-blue eyes.
"He is leading Nosferatu right to us." Tala let his gaze fall to the floor, his guilt weighing down on his shoulders like iron chains; this was his fault! Rei was counting on him to save them, and he was leading them into a trap all along!
Kenny's panicked shriek pierced into his ears. "But how can that be? He's barely conscious and he hasn't said word!"
"Conversations of the heart are ignorant of conventional speech." Tala replied gruffly.
"What are you talking about? It's not as if Tyson love's that thing! He's obviously under some sort of spell!" Rei was clutching at straws, and he knew it.
Tala, as always refused to allow him refuge in illusion. "That's where you're wrong! Tyson was destined to love him since before he was born."

Moscow, Russia: 15th July 2004

Kai shielded his eyes with a pale hand against the soft red gold light of the riding sun. He stared out defiantly to the east, faces the threat he knew was coming, the threat that brought his reason for living ever closer to his arms. He sniffed at the cold icy air, inhaling the scent of the wild forests appreciatively; when Tyson was his again, they would roam those forests together, just as it should be. Sighing contentedly he paced back into his room, hissing at the brides to leave.
Mariam stepped forward defiantly, while Mariah and Salima cowered behind her.
"You're bringing him here aren't you?" She hissed.
"What I do is not your concern." Kai replied curtly, shooting a warning glance at Mariah to get her sister out of his sight.
The pink haired girl trembled, but hesitantly reached out an arm, clutching at Mariam's elbow and staring her down pleadingly.
"Let me be sister!" Mariam hissed jerking her arm so that Mariah was forced to let go.
Mariah looked back to Kai, horror etched into every worry creased line of her face; while he'd been gone, Mariam - out of misplaced loyalty to Kai - had stubbornly refused to let them attempt to hunt on their own.
"You would do well to heed your sisters." Kai met Mariam's challenging gaze. "If had any sense in that pretty little head of yours, you'd do as your told, and leave with your life."
"And to what would you have us leave?" She spat back. "There is nothing out there for us, we'd be hunted down whenever we have to feed and you know it!"
"Better a peasant man's pitchfork than my displeasure." Kai replied, his face devoid of expression, though his red eyes flared dangerously.
"Although there is something you can do for me…" He muttered thoughtfully, realising they were closer than he had thought.
Before Mariam could object, Salima stepped forward.
"We're all ears Master." She knelt on the floor, acknowledging his dominance over them.
"I want you to kill the humans that are bringing Tyson here." Kai held up a hand as Mariam's eyes flared, baring her battered pride in plain view.
"Before you make the mistake of interrupting me…" He paused, making sure she followed her sisters' example. "You should know that if you agree to this, I will spare your lives and see that you are taken care of."

Volgastok, Russia: 19th July 2004

Tyson jerked sporadically, subconsciously straining against the tightly tucked blankets that held him in his makeshift bed. Although he was only vaguely aware of his surroundings, the ever accelerating burning in his veins told him he was close to Kai. His head lolled from side to side, his pupils dilated, and his forehead was damp with perspiration.
Kai…you're so close I can almost hear your heartbeat

…you're poison running through my veins,
you're poison,
Idon't wanna break these chains…