Hi people... sorry i haven't been updating much but you see i have been discovering the wonderous joys of Microsoft Movie Maker and am now tracked out! Whoopee! No school for about 3 weeks! n.n And... right now i'm on my mother's laptop yet again... (sigh)

OK... uh... sorry if this chapter isn't that good, but i didn't have too much time to write and work on it, so... yeah... I tried to do my best. Plus more (you'll see what i mean when you read this chappy) will be explained later on in the next chapter. I couldn't have everythingsaid and donein this one. n.n
Anyway... uh... have fun reading!

Disclaimer: I do not own Zatch Bell. However, Kalu is my character and mine only. MINE I TELL YOU, MINE!

A/N: I am very happy that Zeon has finally appeared. n.n


A Gift from the Dark

Chapter 27

Entangled Emotion

Kalu's eyes widened in horror after an icy cold hand as white as snow covered her mouth. She looked up only to be met with the intensifying glare of two evil eyes.

"I've got you now..."

The voice was as chilling as the hand. The hybrid squirmed to get free but only caused the grip around her to tighten. An evil chuckle filled the air and sent chills down the girl's spine.

Zophise looked down at the girl and grinned mischievously. "Now, now, my dear child, whatever are you afraid of?" His wicked smile then turned into a frown. "I say, it's rather hard to believe that you're the daughter of those two. You're so... pathetic... then again, so are they." He chuckled again but then let out an ear piercing screech.

He hissed and took a step back, clutching his right hand. Kalu jumped away a few feet and stared up at the mamodo. There was a trickle of blood coming from Zophise's hand and a few marks where Kalu had bit him was seen.

"Insolent little..." Zophise glared and released his hand and set it down to his side. "You really have no manners do you?"

"Who are you?" asked Kalu, taking another step back. Her purple orbs kept a sharp focus on the demon before her. "And why are you after me?"

Another laugh pierced the silent air around them and Zophise shook his head with a grin. "So ignorant, too... Didn't your mommy and daddy tell you about me?" he sneered.

Kalu's hand twitched once more and her pupils contracted. "Don't insult my parents!" she hissed. Realizing what she was doing, Kalu stopped as her eyes widened as she looked at her hands in fear. "What is wrong with me...?" Her voice was panicky, and her question was answered.

"My dear child, it's a permanent spell, you can't remove it," said Zophise as he put his hands behind his back and began walking around the girl. "I inserted another personality inside your mind so that way you could complete my plan for me. It's simple, really, during the last Battle for King many other mamodo were given these personalities to help them become more aggressive and compete in battle. Anyone can have one, and now I have given you one as well."

Zophise stopped walking and turned to face the child who was staring at the ground, her eyes wide. "Another personality...?" she whispered.

The other chortled. "Yes, that's right. The last time we met I gave you one of these personalities... I discovered how to do so and since I do not need a spell book to create one, I could easily come to the human world and force it upon you and erase your memory of the entire event."

Gasping, Kalu looked up to Zophise whom was now laughing. She backed away from him, shaking her head. "No... no that can't be!"

"Oh, but it's true my dear. Your other personality is triggered by emotion, unlike many others which were activated by their spells," said Zophise. He kneeled down to face the girl in the eye when he continued. "Since you are a hybrid and therefore do not need a spell book, it was the simplest thing in the world. You see, I've been watching you for quite a while now as I planned to get revenge on your parents. The two who defeated me in the last battle... those bastards...

"Your wretched mother, and your horrid father, they defeated me! How could they defeat me?" Zophise stood up and began to talk to himself all the while Kalu listened closely, her anger continuing to rise. "Koko didn't do well enough. Even under my control she still couldn't defeat her former friend! I was supposed to be the most powerful-- I was supposed to become King--!"

"YOU SHUT UP!" said Kalu angrily as she suddenly punched Zophise, who staggered a little bit by surprise. The hybrid stood there, her fangs bared, and her fists clutched tightly together. There was a bright fiery in her eyes as she spoke. "My friend Zatch Bell was supposed to be the winner of the Battle for King--not you! And if it wasn't going to be him, it would be my father. So shut your trap! You don't know anything about what was supposed to happen!"

Rolling his eyes, Zophise snorted and slapped the girl on the face who immediately was knocked over and fell down onto the ground shaking. "You stupid little creature you... I believe that you are the one who doesn't know anything. There was more to the battle than just fighting and burning books. That you will learn on your own, my dear, but I will tell you this: I should have one! I would have one, but things did not go as planned. Your parents ruined everything!"

"STOP TALKING ABOUT MY PARENTS!" shrieked Kalu. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked up with angry eyes. "My parents are stronger than you--end of your stupid story! And when they come and find me you'll be--AUGH!"

She was cut off when Zophise kicked the girl in the face. Once again she was knocked to the ground as more tears splashed down her face. The mamodo growled. "Hmm, the only bad thing about your personality is that it's too connected to your original one. It stands up for those you care about. Hell, it even cares about your little friend Emma..."

Kalu's eyes widened with shock when she heard her friend's name. She looked up with her mouth agape.

"What do you know about my friend...?"

-o-o-o-o-o-

A black limo stopped in front of a school building, a door opened revealing Sherry and Brago in the back car seat and a hired driver in the front. The two parents stepped out of the vehicle and stared at the sight.

There were police cars everywhere and a few ambulance cars too stopped in front of the school building. Police officers were standing around in various places talking to another about different things while some were escorting children to their parents.

Two particular people were talking to the teacher, Ms. Wells, who had many cuts and a few bruises everywhere. They were standing by one of the ambulance vehicles. An unconscious boy with a large black eye was being carried to that car and was being examined for injuries.

Sherry and Brago exchanged glances, both wide eyed. "What do you think happened, Brago?" inquired Sherry.

Her husband was silent for a second, but when he glanced across the school grounds he sighed. "Kalu..."

The woman's eyes widened. "Oh, Kami..." She turned back to the limo and picked up the Black Book which was lying on the cushioned seat in the back. She faced her husband, holding the book to her side, and nodded before they both walked over to the scene.

They headed over to where the teacher was talking. Apparently she was describing what had previously happened while one person was jotting down what she said on paper, the other one was nodding to her points and asking various questions.

"She had this strange aura about her, officer; it was pure evil I tell you! She struck a fellow student too and knocked us both out with some strange dark power of hers," said the teacher quickly, trying to recall what happened. "And she was one of my best students, too... And..." Ms. Wells stopped when she noticed Sherry and Brago standing before them.

"Good afternoon, ma'am, officers, but we would like to know what has happened?" said Sherry politely. Brago said nothing but folded his arms, letting his wife do the talking.

Staring, the teacher's mouth twitched as if she were about to say something, but ended up saying silent. The officers beside her noticed this action and looked from her to the dark team beside them.

Finally, the teacher raised one of her fingers before saying, "You... you two are Kalu's parents... correct?"

Sherry paused, curious as to what might happen when she affirmed that question. She glanced to Brago before turning back around. "Yes..."

As soon as the blonde answered, the teacher looked at one of the officers who nodded and turned to face the two parents. "Excuse me, but it has been declared that your daughter has caused this mess here at the school with..." he glanced at the notepad in his hands, "some... some sort of 'magical powers'. There is no reasonable explanation for this, but there's no way a child could create this jumble. We're going to need to ask you some questions..."

Brago's eye twitched as soon as the man said that. "Are you saying that Kalu is no longer here?" he asked, staring at the man hardly.

He stopped, feeling slightly uneasy from the one in front of him, but then he continued. "Sir, we're going to have to ask you some questions. Has your daughter been acting odd lately?"

"Sherry, let's go," said Brago, turning his back to the man. "We need to go find Kalu." He started to walk, but the police officer halted him and Sherry from going anywhere.

"Stop! You are not permitted to go anywhere at the present moment!" said the man, walking up to Brago. The mamodo slightly looked over his shoulder before growling.

"Back off, human..." snarled Brago, pushing the officer's hand away from him. "We have to go find our daughter."

"I said to stop!" yelled the man. Before the demon could yell back at him Sherry interfered.

"Officer, perhaps we can answer these questions at another time?" asked Sherry, stepping beside Brago. "Right now our daughter is missing and I believe that it's important that we find her."

The officer paused as he stared at the woman. "Err... alright," he finally said. "But afterwards you must answer questions. We will be waiting."

Sherry nodded her head in agreement. "Alright."

"Sherry...?" Brago turned to face his wife.

"Don't worry, Brago, I know what I'm doing. Now let's go," Both Brago and Sherry then turned away and headed off into the forest, the mamodo commenting on how he sensed something there. As they left, they left a few bewildered people behind.

"What do you think that was about?" inquired one of the officers to the other. He merely shrugged.

"I don't know... But what's going on is pretty insane," one said.

"Yeah, you're telling me."

"Are you two just going to let them leave?" inquired the teacher. "That child is dangerous... And you're just letting them leave?"

The officer with the notepad shrugged. "Well, if she is dangerous, it's a lot worse if she's missing. We would rather her be found and know where she is located before we do anything else."

"..."Sighing, the teacher looked back to where Brago and Sherry walked off but said nothing more.

-o-o-o-o-o-

The two of them were walking into the forest behind the school that Kalu went to. Brago was positive that the girl had run off there--he could sense her somewhere through the trees. And one other... Could it be...?

"Brago?" Sherry finally spoke after some time of silence. "Do you... do you think Kalu is alright?" she asked. The woman stopped walking and stared at the ground with the Black Book wrapped in her arms.

Stopping as well, Brago sighed and turned his gaze to the blonde. "I am positive she is," he said. "After all, she's our daughter."

A tiny spark of hope rose inside of Sherry, but the doubts were still strong. Kalu had no idea what Zophise could do… Even though she had mamodo blood, she was still just a child. Her child, their child...

"Come one, Sherry," urged the demon as the other's head rose to look up to him. "We need to get moving."

With a nod of her head, Sherry agreed. "Right, let's go." They both headed farther into the forest, stopping every so often to call out their daughter's name, but there was no response.

Finally after a while, the two stopped and froze. Kalu was standing right in front of them, a somewhat saddened look in her eyes. They even almost looked... hollow...

"Kalu!" cried Sherry as she took sight on the hybrid. "Thank goodness you're--" She suddenly stopped as her eyes widened. Zophise walked out from the trees around them and gave her a sadistic smirk.

"Well, well, well... if it isn't the two who defeated me in the quarrel for king..." A series of chuckles followed.

"Zophise! What the hell are you doing here?" snapped Brago, ruby orbs disappearing. He clenched his fists as he watched Zophise walk a little nearer to their daughter. "Get away from her!" he snarled, jumping forward.

With another laugh, Zophise touched Kalu's shoulder and they both disappeared, only to be transported right behind Sherry. Twirling around, the woman gasped and made a reach for her daughter, but the mamodo took a step back, pulling Kalu with him.

"Now, now, now... Let's not be hasty." The mamodo grinned.

"You... what are you... what are you doing!" cried Sherry, turning the book as to be ready to open it when needed.

The dark mamodo cursed under his breath before stepping up beside his wife. He kept his angry gaze fixed upon his rival and daughter. Zophise began to chuckle once more as he traced the lines of Kalu's chin with pleasure, angering the two parents evermore.

"Well... let's say I'm here for revenge, shall we?" inquired the demon. "I couldn't stand the thought that the two that defeated me in the Battle for King were living peacefully together side by side..." He shook his head. "No. But one day I was bored... I snuck into the King's castle to figure out how to teleport into the human world without anybody knowing. As soon as I did I got here as soon as I could. But... what I found wasn't what I expected..."

Brago glared. "Well? What did you find?" he hissed.

"Heh, heh, heh... I discovered that one of the most powerful mamodo alive had offspring... with a human!" At this comment Zophise was sent into a laughing fit. Brago and Sherry glared but glanced at their daughter whom hadn't moved an inch nor spoken one word.

"What's so funny about that, eh?" questioned Sherry angrily. "I don't think that the fact a demon crossing with a human is funny... And why aren't you laughing about yourself, huh? You abused my best friend!"

"But I never intended to become a father... that's just pathetic." Zophise grabbed Kalu's chin suddenly and directed her head to face her parents. "After a while I discovered I could get my revenge on you through her! The one and only thing that was more precious to you than each other was your own daughter. Pitiful, it really is pitiful. So now that I've inserted another personality into her mind and altered it to my own liking even more, I believe I can have some fun now."

"Get away from her, you freak!" hissed Brago angrily as he clenched his fists even tighter than before. "She doesn't deserve to come in contact with the likes of you!"

The other shook his head. "Now Brago, no need to get angry... I don't have time for this. My plan must be put into action." As he said this, Zophise stood up, removed his hand from Kalu's chin and placed it on her shoulder. "If you want to know more and see your daughter again, you will meet in the Mamodo World tomorrow at eight a.m. Be there, or she dies... Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"

"Kalu!" screamed Sherry as she opened the Black Book. "Reis!" she screeched, but it was too late, Zophise had already vanished with their daughter, the laughing still echoing behind. "NO!" the woman shrieked.

"Damn it!" Brago punched a nearby tree as hard as he could, which sent it falling down to the ground with a loud crash. He turned around to see Sherry on the ground crying her eyes out about their now captive daughter.

The mamodo sighed, still listening to his wife's anguished cries. He looked up to the sky, thinking. "Eight o'clock in the Mamodo World it is then."