Hmm... I didn't anticipate this chapter being so short... but oh well. I just happened to quit typing one night 'cause i had to stop and i came back to it realizing that it was at a good stopping point.. plus i lost the pep to actually continue working on the chapter plus couldn't think of anything else i could throw in here... So now y'all have this.

Anyway, uh... I might be able to get Konjiki no Gash Bell sometime hopefully soon! n.n I'm very happy indeed! (does a little dance) But i'm not sure yet... I'll find out soon though! (still very happy and continues dance)

Oh yeah, and the chapter's kinda angsty just ta warn ya. At least... towards the end it gets more that way. Uh... sorry for it being so short. n.n' Next chapter will be longer, i promise.

Disclaimer: OK... i don't own Zatch Bell... but Kalu's mine. MINE I TELL YOU! SHE NO BELONG TO NOBODY ELSE!


A Gift from the Dark

Chapter 28

Relapsing

Kalu stared at the ground with blank eyes. She had been taken to the Mamodo World right after she and Zophise left her parents. Tears rolled down her cheeks yet she didn't bother to wipe them away. It was unknown to her how long she had been transfixed like this...

Ever since she had the little... talk with the other demon, she felt different. She even saw things differently. Most importantly... she was different.

"What do you know about my friend...?" Kalu looked up at the mamodo before her with wide eyes. She had not anticipated the fact that Zophise knew about Emma. How did he know about her anyway?

"My dear child, you haven't figured it out yet?" inquired Zophise as he looked down at her with dark eyes. "She didn't get in a mere accident with her father... I'm the one who convinced him with my powers to drive drunk that night. Then I made sure that they got in a wreck no matter what. I knew that when you discovered the truth the next day there would be no doubt that your new personality would be fully unleashed. Heh, heh, heh..."

Kalu's eyes widened. "You... You killed my friend..." Her voice was but a mere whisper. "No... no... NO! THAT CAN'T BE! HOW COULD YOU?"

"Quiet, you," The demon slapped the girl back to the ground right after she jumped up. She fell down with a thud as more tears leaked from her eyes. The girl stared up at Zophise with a hurt look on her face. "Now that you know about that little information, I think it's time we take a look at that new persona of yours..." Zophise stared down at her with an evil smirk.

"What-what are you--?" Kalu's eyes dilated as the other reached his hand out to her. "NO, STOP IT!"

"Hold still..."

"STOOOP!"

What happened next scared Kalu greatly; Zophise had entered her mind and began to painfully alter her thoughts and personality. It was a painful experience for the girl... She hated to think about it, yet that was one of the only things her now blank mind would think of.

Currently she was sitting on a rock, her arms and legs tied with strong ropes that she couldn't break. Yet... she couldn't find the energy to break them. Zophise had taken all the strength that was left in her and disposed of it, leaving her weaker than ever.

Emotionless and weak... Tormented with the sadness that was contained within her... She was once again crying from the heart.

"Only fifteen more hours to go..." said Zophise out loud. He glanced down at the girl who still hadn't moved nor spoken a word. "Fifteen more hours to go, my dear. If your parents fail to be here by 8 then say goodbye to your life." A devilish smirk crossed his lips when he didn't receive a reply. That was expected for him, of course.

Kalu stared at the ground still, tears falling down her cheeks. She didn't even have the strength to talk anymore... She closed her cloudy eyes as she continued to silently cry to herself.

Mamma...

Daddy...

Please... help me...

-o-o-o-o-o-

Sherry was walking back and forth in one of the rooms in the hotel, continuously eyeing the clock. It was a little past five o'clock. She was too anxious to do anything else for that day... She was neither hungry nor tired. All that was wanted was her precious daughter...

Brago's book was lying on one of the tables in the room; Sherry had set it there when they got home, right after she cried her eyes out a little longer. Her eyes were red and slightly puffy from weeping so much that day. Ever since they got back to the mansion she felt restless... she had to do something…

"Sherry, walking back and forth won't do you any good."

The blonde turned around only to be met by her husband's ruby gaze. With another troubled sigh she nodded her head.

"I know, Brago... But what else am I to do? Kalu is up in the Mamodo World with that freak and we can't go there until eight tomorrow morning!" she exclaimed. Once more she began to walk back and forth around the room, Brago watched without interest as she continued to pace back and forth.

She stopped after a minute however when her gaze landed upon a fair sized picture frame with a photo inside. Gently, the woman picked it up and stared at the image before her.

It showed a picture of when Kalu was about four years old sitting on Brago's lap. The younger child had a wide smile on her face and was reaching out to where the camera was. She had been wearing a blue dress that almost matched the azure highlights in her hair... Brago was looking down at Kalu and was holding onto the girl with a smirk spread across his face. The background showed lush green grass and trees with a sandy playground some ways off... they were at the park that day.

Sherry had taken that photo... She remembered it all quite vividly as if it were only yesterday. It was one of those irresistible moments where she couldn't help but take a picture. As a matter of fact, it was one of her most favorite pictures she had ever taken of her daughter.

Tears streamed down the woman's face as she set the picture back down. She made to wipe them away with her hand but she couldn't stop crying. Her head suddenly jerked up when she felt Brago rest his hand on her shoulder.

"Brago..." Looking up at the mamodo with watery eyes, Sherry suddenly latched herself onto Brago as she began to sob even louder than before, tears pouring down her face.

"Sherry, it's alright, we'll get Kalu back..." The mamodo returned the embrace as he stared silently at the ground. "We're going to get her... Zophise will pay for what he's done."

"But Brago... what if... what if she does die? I... I can't stand the thought!" murmured Sherry as she shook her head. "She's our daughter for crying out loud!" Her grip around the mamodo tightened as she let out her frustrations. "Kalu doesn't deserve this!"

"I know, Sherry... I know..." Brago glanced to the picture of him and Kalu before he made his wife stand up strait and look him in the eye. "We're going to get her back alive no matter what it takes. I promise."

Sherry's lip trembled a little before she managed a weak smile. "R-right..." she stammered. "I know that... It's just..." Her eyes averted to the ground before she sighed once more. "I'm worried about her, Brago..."

"I know. I am too." The mamodo sighed and shook his head. "But worrying won't do us any good. As for now, we should train for tomorrow. Who knows what Zophise will throw at us?"

Once again, the blonde nodded her head before receiving a kiss from Brago. She sighed and turned to pick up the Black Book. When she faced her husband one more time, her eyes were serious and she had stopped crying.

"Right. We'll do this together... for Kalu."