God, I hate moving! Anyway, here's another chapter! It may be a while before I make another one. We're trying to network the computers in the house. I am thinking of getting a new one myself. (My old one is SO crappy) Note to everyone: Emachines SUCK! I am envious of my aunt's new computer. It's all new and has a lot more RAM. If I don't update for a few days, don't think I abandoned the story! That's not going to happen since my reviewers like it so much.

Order22: True Beauty

Skey's Dorm 7:00 P.M.
Skey slept through the whole day. Not that there was much to do during then. Vampires didn't dare to show themselves in blind daylight. This was the resting time for all the agents. Still, Skey's dreams continued to haunt her. It was the same dream this time. The raging forest of fire with her and her supposed lover in the middle. skey couldn't believe what Talon had told her about it being a dream of the future. And the man who held her, held her with such loving comfort and welcome. Still he remained a mere shadow to her. She didn't think it to be Anderson. The feeling wasn't like him but it fitted Malakai more than anything. Was she actually destined to be with a vampire and turn vampire herself? Again they kissed but she didn't wake up. Skey watched herself in the dream kissing this man and holding herself so close. She could feel the heat of the surrounding fire...and the caress of the man's lips. His touch never dared to hurt her or put true force on her. The fire continued to roar all around them, acting furious about the display of love within its walls. The man's hand, still a shadow like the rest of his body, caressed her cheek so gently. Skey had nuzzled her cheek against the soft hand. If this was truly Armageddon, then this was the two's last chance to show their affection. But who's Armageddon was it? Who's race would be controlled? The humans...or the vampires? Skey was woke by the cool wind washing over her as the covers were yanked clear off her body. The light had been turned on, blinding her. Skey kicked and sweared.

" Damn it! Who the hell- You got a lot of nerve waking a woman out of dead sleep!"

The low chuckle made her open her eyes. There stood Anderson with the covers grasped tightly in his right hand. Skey glared at him coldly for waking her up like that. It wasn't mannerly at all.

" You got a lot of nerve, Anderson. I was having a good dream."

" Ae guid dream? Aye, Ah'd like tae hear it."

" Haha, nice try. What time is it?"

He pointed to her clock which she had totally forgotten about in her sleepy mood. It read a little past seven O' clock. It was time to start getting ready and hunt. Skey looked up and saw his neck was fully healed. She smiled gently.

" I see your wound's healed."

" O' course. Ye keep forgetting Ah'm ae regenerator...Ah mae hae bled some, but thas a'. Dinna worry aboot me...It's ae wee bit scary."

" No...what's scary is when you start worrying about me."

" Aye, true. Weel, get ready. Ah'll wait ootside. Dinna be lang."

He stepped out and closed the door for her. Skey decided to get out of bed and change into clean clothes. Skey pulled her shirt over her head, sighing frmo the relief of its stretchy fabric. She suddenly dropped it to the floor, her concentration disturbed. Something started whispering to her. The voice felt so close, right behind her. It froze her in fear. Anderson stepped out...who else could be in the room with her? But the voice was familiar.

" My dearest Skey...why do you try resisting the inevitable? You'll be with me. I love you so much that you couldn't possibly comprehend. I wish to caress your skin and hold you dear. I would treat you just like a queen. My queen...you will have whatever you could wish for. Anything you want, it will be yours. I can offer you so much, my love. I can be all you need...believe me. Let me have you and you will have everything you wish for."

Skey could have sworn someone touched her shoulder, caressing it with a cold hand. She heard the person exhale gently on her ear, his back pressed against her. His right arm secured around her waist. No matter how wrong Skey knew it was, she couldn't help but feel pleasure. His sweetened words bathed her soul. When Skey turned around, he was actually there. Malakai was in her room! Her voice wanted to call out for Anderson's help but before she could he kissed her. His lips caressed hers with a familiar sense. Her body shook before giving in without fear. Skey lifted her hand, running it through his long, silky black hair. Skey suspected he manipulated her will, but whether he did or not, she had to admit his kiss was enjoyable. He held her tighter, kissing her back with what felt like a sense of sadness and longing. It almost broke Skey's heart that she would have to kill him in the end. After all, he slaughtered her mother...but by God, the darkness found a way to seduce her. Her illuminating body was eveloped in this depth of darkness that kissed her with desiring intentions. Loud rapping sounded against the hardwood door. Ske didn't hear it, but Malakai did and within a blink of an eye, the illusion of himself disappeared, leaving Skey kissing thin air. Her eyes opened to see the vision gone. Was that real or was she hallucinating? Malakai couldn't have been in her room. It was just the drowsiness playing tricks with her mind.

" Just a minute, Father Anderson!"

Empty Street in Rome. 8:15 P.M.

An thin fog loomed over the streets. A vampire had been spotted around this area. Skey had been staking out at the mouth of an alley facing the road. She hid behind a dumpster ahead of the vampire's said route. Anderson sat beside her with his head down. She'd glance at him ever so often, wondering what it was he was thinking about. Over and over he had lectured her to not space out during a hunt and yet here he was doing exactly that! What a hypocrite...The street stayed clear of the vampire's presence still yet. The only presence occupying was the thin fog that had laced itself across the asphalt roads and gray concrete sidewalks. Late at night like this, it was rare to find people walking around. It's why it was so easy to hunt for the Iscariot agents. there still was no sign of the vampire or any of its ghouls. Skey doubted the information they had been given, feeling that maybe the vampire changed paths. After all, they had been waiting for a grand total of ten minutes. For a hunter, it was far too long to wait for its prey.

" Don't you think-"

"Nae. Stay put."

Something was bothering Anderson and Skey couldn't put a finger on it. Ever since his fight this morning with Alucard, he had been so sullen and melancholy. she figured it had to have been because Alucard shot him through the neck like he did. Besides it being a cheap shot, it was also one that made him bleed. Skey remembered many times when Anderson would ger injured and he wouldn't hardly bleed. Something about being shot through the neck made it appear that this was the weak spot. And it was the only reason she could think of for Anderson's present attitude. She turned back to the road and waited for the vampire still. There was no use in talking to him now. If she tried, it'd be like talking to a brick wall. For once, Skey was in the mood for the hunt. She viewed this only as practice for what was to come. Every little bit of training, no matter how short, would provide at least a little contribute to prepare her. Maybe later after their jobs were done, he would take her to the training room for some student vs. teacher faceoff. Granted if they were not too tired to do so. A rolling groan haunted the street's path. It was that of a ghoul and folowing it would be more and then its host. Skey leapt up to run out and do battle, but was jerked back down to her position by a strong arm.

" Yer forgetting the rules, Skey. Ghouls arenae the problem. We hae tae get til the vampire. Ghouls dinna matter richt noo. Kill the vampire, ye kill the ghouls. Wait ae wee bit langer, Skey. He'll come nae doubt."

Skey's eyes slanted into an irritated gaze at her teacher. He was right but she was itching to swing her swords and use the ghouls as an outlet for her rage.

" Fine, but let me do it. I will kill the vampire, I swear."

" Thas guid tae hear. Be careful, thoo. Dinna underestimate yer enemy. It's ae usual mistake ae lot O' fowk mak. Dinna be hotheided."

" Like you."

" (Half-grin) Aye, like me."

Skey stood but stayed hidden behind the wall of the building. Ghouls past by but didn't see her amidst the dark shadows of night. More passed by, groaning and growling. Her eyesight became sharp, trying in vain to seek out the vampire among the flood of ghouls coming. There! She saw a man standing at a usual man's height, wearing a black business seuit with grey pinstripes. Atop his head, he wore a black suede dress hat that was tipped forward to hide his face. White gloves adorned his sinewy hands. One was shoved in his pocket while the other hung limp at his sight. A remarkable smirk was painted on his face as he walked casually among his souless servants of grey ghouls. Make no mistake, that was the vampire. Ghouls didn't have good posture like this one did, and one didn't smirk so evilly like this one did. Skey burst out of the alleyway into the fogged light from the street lamps. She quickly serpentined her way through the herd of ghouls, their reflexes too slow to catch her. The vampire turned and saw her approaching with rapid speed...but not as rapid as his. Just as she reached him, he had disappeared. Skey stopped and looked around, seeing ghouls turning around and coming after her. Fury caught fire in her heart and her sanity broke. She swung her swords dangerously though accurately and planned, killing any ghouls who dared to come within a four feet of her. She saw the vampire standing near a building watching the spectacle. It reminded her of her first test of being sent to kill a vampire without Anderson. She grinned and ripped through the ghouls so many falling to the pavement finally lifeless and at rest. The vampire now charged at her himself, seeing his ghouls were useless against such a girl.
Anderson watched from his position, taking pride in seeing how well she handled herself out there. She wasn't freaking out, she wasn't losing focus. It was the second time he'd seen her in such a frenzy. As the vampire charged in and swiped in at her with a short sword, Skey blocked it, pushed then spun with ferocious speed counter clockwise. The sword's edge clashed with his as he blocked the attack, sparks flying between the metal. Even from the distance they were apart, he could see the warrior within her eyes. Skey's footwork was excellent, and she hadn't forgot his lesson of using your enemy's force against them. Skey dodged the jab of the short sword, and crossed her arms over her chest. In each hand she held a katana. She grinned before springing her arms open, the left handed blade tearing through his stomach and the right handed blade tearing through his neck. Her blades tore through so effortlessly, that it stunned Anderson. Skey had slipped into a sort of berserk mode somewhere during the battle. If it wasn't bad enough she listened too closely to his lessons, she also took on the break of insanity Anderson suffered everytime he entered battle. The ghouls dropped to the ground, their final moans echoing off the buildings before they were finally let down to rest in final peace. Skey was the only that stood in the middle of the street, her head hung down and her body a perfect posture. She held both swords in her hands, both tainted thickly in a coat of blood. A gentle wind blew through the street, stirring the fog and kissing Skey. Her long, brown hair blew with the direction of the wind as did her necklace with the cross. The cross's metallic luster caught the street lamp's light, making it flicker brightly during the night. Anderson only thought it beautiful to see her finally gaining strength and learning to take her problems by the scruff of the neck. He didn't want to disturb her as she reminisced about what she just did.

"(whispers) Guid job, Skey...Ah'm proud O' ye."