Yet another chapter! Guess what! I may be getting a new computer just after Christmas, or talk my aunt into letting me buy it within the week! I saying maybe after Christmas, cause that's when like EVERYTHING imaginable is on sale. But I want to get the new computer soon so when I get the computers networked, I'll have a brand spankin' new computer to play on! We'll see though. Until then, enjoy the new chapter! Remember, please review for me!

Order 23: Under the Moonlight

Vatican Garden. Friday. 3:00 A.M.

Skey was up for many more hunts that night and Anderson let her take on a majority of the assignments. She took the job of exterminating vampires as an outlet of releasing all the pent up anger, rage and sorrow within her heart. And not once did she freeze up or even get injured. Every move in battle was made for a reason, every attack planned and thought out in her limited time before the vampire would attack her. Tonight, Anderson witnessed a side of Skey that he never knew existed. For this night, she lived for the bloodlust. She lived to see the blood of vampires spilt. The sweet, sarcastic girl he knew had changed into a hellbent, furious woman. Neither knew what triggered this uprising in her mind, but it happened regardless. After the fifteen assignments they had completed, Anderson thought it time to take a break and rest in the garden. Maybe the scenery of green grass and flowers would calm Skey's madness. Anderson sat down on a stone bench, watching her as she knelt by a bed of roses of the purest white color. Her white gloved hand, dotted with very tiny spots of red blood, petted the white rose. Her eyes softened from the hardened and demonic look it held. Now she was the Skey that Anderson knew.

"Ye ok?"

" Yeah..."

Anderson looked up to the moon. It was funny. He hardly ever cared about the night sky but this night, he found it so interesting, so possessing. It was a full moon and rather large. Around it, many stars dotted the sky like glitter. Anderson had never really thought about what the word beauty meant. To him it was a simple word. Of course he knew what its definition was...but he didn't really know himself what it meant to one's heart and point of view. Until now. To him, this night was beautiful.

Skey continued to lay on the ground and watch as Anderson stared at the sky. She did too, looking up to the overlooking moon. It was a nice night out. Not a cloud marred the moon's beauty. She got up and stopped by Anderson, poking him in the shoulder. His gaze broke so he could see what she wanted. A smile came to her face.

" Train me a bit, please? I want to test myself against you now."

" (nodded) Aye. Remember thoo, Ah'm getting up in age. Tak it easy on me, okay? Nae need tae kill yer teacher."

She giggled and ran into a clearing of the garden. He got up and followed to the area where she was waiting. She had unsheathed her katanas which glinted a mesmerizing blue in the moonlight. Not so long ago they had glinted crimson red in the same moonlight. It was haunting to know now Skey could kill so effortlessly. It was unnatural to her usual attitide and personality. He took out two sword sized bayonets and readied himself for Skey. She wouldn't have a problem rushing in for a frontal attack. And as he predicted, she did. She rushed in, swinging both swords down simultaneously. Anderson crossed the bayonets in front of him and blocked the swing but it pressed down further than he imagined. She'd grown far stronger from the last time he trained with her like this. He forced her blades away and threw one at her. She sidestepped within the blink of his eye and brought her sword down upon the thrown bayonet, shattering it to pieces. Anderson drew another one and he could see again the narrowed eyes, the assassin within her. Anderson spun, swung the bayonet in his right arm low then at a high arch comign around. The blade clashed with the downward force of her sword. He stabbed at her with his left bayonet but she easily stepped aside and the bayonet stabbed only thin air. Her second sword swung down hard and shattered the baynoet that had blocked the first sword. Then she spun so quickly, lowering her body and the sword came whiplashing around at him. Anderson rolled, ducking the blade's bite. For nearly an hour these two danced the Dance of Swords under the watchful eye of the full moon. No other dance in the world could suit the two who killed vampires for a living. As both kept grins on their faces, trained eyes on one another, the music of singing swords carried on. Overhead, far out in space, two stars fell. Their streaming light passed over the moon then disappeared. Skey nor Anderson could predict the pending war that was beginning to pulsate through the gathering vampires.

Cemetary in Rome. 3:30 A.M.

Malakai sat on a large tombstone looking up to the moon with her brilliant red eyes. Many vampires had gathered here. Most from him or from his own fledglings. Some from neighboring covens or friends. There was well over a thousand vampires gathered here and most were talking amongst themselves until Malakai decided to speak. He though, wasn't up to speaking just yet. Indeed he had visited Skey's room in the Vatican and he felt her kiss him back. Of course, he had to use his charm and romantic looks to swoon her. It meant he still had a good chance of winning her over. And if so, he would have everything he could ever want in this sad world. Some of Talon's friends had shown up as well and were mourning his death and cursing the name of the Catholic organization that took him down. Malakai held a wine glass filled with blood. The moon's light shone through the glass, emitting a red shadow on the newly disturbed ground of the tombstone he sat on. Malakai guessed the man had been buried today. He grinned and finished the blood. He stood, smashed the wine glass on top of the cold concrete tombstone then turned to face the gathering of so many vampires.

" Friends! Fledgings and Neighbors! I am deeply grateful you have decided to aid me in my conquest. It fills me with relief that we vampires, can still call on another for help. That we're not all out of reach from one another. My dear friends, I have gathered you here today to announce my plans! We, the vampires, who've been hidden in the shadows for centuries, will finally rise up and claim the world as ours! We will take humanity and rule it under OUR laws and OUR regulations! No longer will we have to fear them and their little organizations of vampire hunters. We will raise them like cattle to feed us and to serve us! And it won't be long until this plan goes into motion. I shall rule this vampiric empire! And you, all my vampire friends, my vampire COMRADES, will all have the highest benefits, the most royal prestige! If you swear to help me now, to help me rescue our Queen, and to destroy any opposing threats to our rise, you all will have whatever you have wished for! To be known and to be able to walk the streets without some vampire hunter trying to kill you. We will be able to drink freely, roam freely and LIVE freely! My dearest friends! What do you say!"

A roaring cheer went through the crowd as many raised their glasses of blood in acceptence. Malakai scanned his audience with an approving smile. All of them was eager to take pride in what they were and to finally rise against the human's oppression and seize what was rightfully theirs. the right to exist and live.

" Right then! My comrades, our first mission is to rescue a girl, your future queen. Her name is Skey Seryc. And, we must rescue her from the evil clutches of those damned, vile, hypocritical Catholics in the Vatican! We will STORM their hallways and tear through ANY who dare to throw themselves in our way! We will not fall to their silly crucifixes, their inferior Iscariot Organization! We will be victorious! We will conquer them! And once we're through with our slaughter of the Pope and all those snobby Cardinals, we'll tear down the walls of St. Peter's Basilica! We'll burn the Vatican gardens! We'll blow up the cars in Coutyard of Belvedere! We'll tear apart the Sistine Chapel! Nothing of that vile ground must be spared! And you had better watch for Iscariot's agents...There is a certain giant of a priest in that organization. If you ever run into him, call for me. He is mine to take care of. The day of our rise is SOON AT HAND!"

Vatican Garden. 4:15 A.M.

Skey and Anderson were panting from exhaustion. Both had put in all their might in their training. Anderson was truly proud to see how much Skey had grown. She had kept him on edge, keeping him on his toes. Both sat on the grass, their weapons sheathed. She laughed. It rolled through the garden but it was a laugh of simpleness. Not insanity, not madness or sorrow. Just a laugh with no entitled emotion for why. Just because she could. She fell back and laid on the grass, her eyes closed and her laughter calmed down to giggling. Anderson simply stared at her and wanted to ask why she was laughing. Whit could possibly be so funny tha' she cannae contain hersel'? Her head turned so she could see him and when she did, her hand reached out and tugged at the end of his coat.

" Come on and enjoy the moment of silence. You know as well as I do that trouble is brewing if Malakai's in Rome...so before something terrible happens, like a full-fledged Armageddon, let's just enjoy this moment while it lasts."

She was so innocent. She was a killer who spilt blood every night to ensure humanity, but was still so innocent natured. Was it really possible for someone to have total opposites contained in themselves and there be the presence of a balance? He rested his elbows on his knees and nodded to her, keeping silent and gazing up to the mystical, vast sky of night. Crickets hidden in the flower beds chirped their symphonies. The trees' leaves rustled with the ever so gentle blowing wind. Skey was laying there and keeping him company but it still felt so...lonely.

"Damn..."

"What's wrong?"

" Nothing. Ah jus forgot something...Ah'll tak care O' it later."

Of course it was nothing when you asked him such questions. Skey saw the dreary look in his now dull green eyes. The brilliance and liveliness of those eyes had been drained out. He hung his head low so she couldn't see his face.The reflection of the moon's light resided in the round framed glasses. She hoped he wasn't mad she pushed him too far in training. she crawled over to him and proded his shoulder playfully. He didn't stir. He surely hadn't fallen asleep so fast! She crawled behind him and sat up on her knees. With a devious glee she took his hair and started braiding it. that got him. He turned and knocked her hand away from his head, looking back with bewilderment.

" Whit are ye daun til me?"

" Braiding your hair. You know, maybe if you grew it out longer..."

" Ye will dae nae such thing til me! Knock it aff!"

She cocked her head to the side a bit and gave a frown. What was he so upset about all of a sudden? His moods swung faster than hers during her menstrual cycle. He settled down and looked at the green ground blankly, before turning around silently and facing away from her. Skey sat back on her heels and tried her best to figure out what he was so worked up about.

" You always said I could talk to you when I was having problems, right?"

"...Aye, Ah did."

" Then why don't you talk to me when you're having problems? If it's something personal, I won't tell anyone. I told you before...sometimes it's better to talk about things."

She heard him sigh and stand up. Skey had to crane her head back further than usual to look up to him from where she sat. Without one word to her he started walking back to the dorms. This time, she got up and ran to him, grabbing his wrist and stopping him. she was determined to get him to trust her with his secrets as she trusted him with her own. He stopped and turned to her with a scowl.

" Let me go, Skey. Ah want tae get some rest."

" Will you just sit down and have a simple talk with me about yourself for once? I've told you everything about me and even my deepest secrets. You know me better than anyone in the Vatican does and you can't even trust me enough to open up about yourself?"

" Skey, there's things aboot me tha' are nae meant tae be known. Things ye cannae e'en comprehend. Dinna think Ah hadnae had ma share O' hell. Ah, unlike ye, jus dinna want tae talk aboot it until Ah feel Ah want tae. Ye came tae me tae tell me aboot yer past, and thas when ye felt ready tae. Ah dinna feel the same way. Maybe when Ah dae, ye'll be the first tae know. Noo, please, let me go so Ah can get some rest."

Skey was looking down but still had a grasp on his wrist. Anderson sensed there was something else she wanted to say, wanted to admit, but she couldn't find the words.

" Noo whit?"

" I...ahh...it's nothing. Well, I know you're tired but can't you just sit down and enjoy the night here with me? Who knows...this can be the last night we ever have with peace and quiet. You don't know when Malakai will strike...and I have no doubt he may come after me and even try destroying the Vatican. If so, we must live every moment like it's our last until we know we're safe..."

Anderson gave her a swift slap upside the head before glaring down at her. Skey let him go and held the back of her head.

" Ow, ow, ow! what was that for?"

" Dinna talk tha' way. Thon Malakai mae be ae strong yin, but he isnae SATAN. He isnae capable of ae Armageddon. Dinna fear him and his prowess abilities. Ah know we'll be able tae ta him doon. Ah swear it til ye. Come on...Ah'll stay oot here ae wee bit more jus for ye. Nae langer than half ae hour thoo."

Skey smiled and dragged him to the grass. She plopped down and he sat calmly beside her, ruffling her hair and taking pride in how well he taught her. And in turn, he felt she had taught him a few things as well. Isnae tha' funny...