Tsukune had been moved to a new room. He was thrashing about in pain. Kurumu was blaming Moka, and Moka was blaming herself. Yukari was trying to figure out what would happen next.

"Do you honestly think you can tell Tsukune's future from a deck of cards?" asked Mizore.

"It works for Jessenia Esmeralda." said Ruby.

"Who?"

"Only the most famous witch in the world. The humans think she's only a fortune teller, but she's so much more than that. Even though her fortune telling is what has made her a very rich woman."

Yukari gasped.

"What is it?"

"The wheel of fortune is in reverse. It means bad luck."

Yukari drew the next card, and she almost screamed.

"…The death card."

"You don't mean…"

"Not necessarily!" said Ruby "Most of the time it doesn't mean someone is going to die. It can mean that you're undergoing major changes! The end of a phase in life that has served its purpose."

"Then… what about this?"

The next card Yukari picked up was the Three of Swords.

"Ruby… You know as well as I do that this card means sorrow and extreme pain."

"Uh… Maybe it will only be… brief…"

"Moka, if Tsukune dies I will never forgive you!" said Kurumu.

"And I'll never forgive myself."

Tsukune continued to thrash around in his bed.

"Why… Why is this happening to me?!"

"You expected anything less mortal?"

It was that same deep and maniacal voice again. His body was becoming a lot clearer to Tsukune.

"You loved Moka Akashiya the moment you laid eyes on her… Even after you found out she was a vampire… Despite the obvious danger you decided to stay at Yokai Academy… You thought you could exist as a mere human in the world of monsters… You were wrong… Since that fateful day Moka's precious blood entered your veins the sands of time have tolled against you… and your time is just about up… Now you must make your decision…"

"What decision?"

But the man was gone.

Night fell, the girls stood outside the door to Tsukune's room. So they didn't see the violet mist creeping in through the window. Tsukune's searing pain stopped for a moment, he felt paralyzed… and he knew that could mean only one thing.

"Don't make a sound…" said Demona smiling "Not that you have a choice in the matter."

Demona's charm had Tsukune frozen to his bed.

"I'm so sorry for the delay Tsukune… but now that I have fed, we can be together… I know you haven't been feeling well… but I know how to perk you up…"

Demona's fingernails silently tore through Tsukune's shirt. Then she bent down and started licking his chest. Tsukune hated to admit it, but he was almost enjoying. He opened his mouth to scream, but no words came out.

"You're sweating… Come to think of it… it is a little hot in here… Maybe I should take this off."

"Don't even think about it!"

Moka and the others came charging in.

"Come to beg his forgiveness, well you don't need it, because he's coming with me."

Demona picked up Tsukune and crashed through the window. Two huge wings burst out of her back and she started to fly off. But Mizore shot an ice shard that struck the joint on one of Demona's wings.

"AAAHHH!!!"

Demona dropped Tsukune before she crashed to the ground a few feet away.

"Tsukune!"

"Mo… Moka…"

"Tsukune, are you alright?!" asked Kurumu.

"He's in pain from… whatever's wrong with his blood, and he just fell about thirty feet. How do you think he feels!" yelled Yukari.

"We don't have time for this! Demona's getting up!"

Demona's wings retracted into her back.

"Why do you hinder me my sisters? I only want what's best for Tsukune."

"You're no sister of mine!" said Kurumu "Tsukune is my destined one! I dibbed him first!"

"I am not asking…" said Demona as her eyes glowed "I'm telling."

Just like that she rushed over and punched Kurumu in the gut, sending her flying back into the building's wall. Mizore used the opportunity to try and hurl some ice daggers at Demona, Yukari joined in by summoning pots and pans and attempted to bash Demona on the head with them, but she swatted them all away like flies.

"Well, let's see you dodge this!"

Ruby spun her wand around, then a huge burst of black energy flew out of it and struck Demona and sent her crashing to the ground.

"Whoa… nice shot."

Suddenly Demona was back on her feet.

"A stun spell… Don't tell me that's all you've got."

"Of course not… Silly rabbit!"

Ruby fired another burst of energy at Demona, this time she turned into a rabbit with purple fur.

"Cute."

But just like that, Demona changed back to normal.

"Oh right, she has the DNA of two witches in her."

"My turn…"

Demona stretched out her hands, instantly a giant ball of ice formed in either hand. Then she hurled them at the others. She quickly made more and threw them as well.

"Tsukune…"

"Moka…"

"Tsukune I'm so sorry… for everything."

"You don't need to apologize Moka…"

"Tsukune?"

"I've already told you once before Moka… you're the best thing that ever happened to me… You're the only reason I choose to stay here… Without you I would have never made it this far… I'll always be grateful to you… My one regret is that I can never repay that debt…"

While he said this, Tsukune removed Moka's rosario, releasing her inner self.

"No… his humanity is deteriorating even furthur… if this goes on much longer…"

"Well… back for more I see…"

"Demona, listen to me! This is no time for us to be fighting! If we don't do something, Tsukune is going to die!"

"I know you do be my biggest threat Moka… You'll say anything to keep me from reaching my goal… Now die!"

Demona started to hurl more balls of ice at them.

"You fool…"

Moka attempted to kick Demona in the face, but Demona caught her by the foot.

"You and your kicks… you're pathetically predictable."

Demona started spinning around and around, then she threw Moka into the nearby pond.

"AAAAAGGGGHHHH!!!"

"MOKA!"

Moka leapt out of the pond, but she was in pain. This always happened when a vampire came into contact with water. Demona took advantage of the situation, rushed over, and pounded Moka in the gut.

"No… If this keeps up… MOKA!!!"

At that instant the Holy Lock around Tsukune's armor exploded. His eyes glowed a horrible scarlet red. He had become a ghoul again, but this time he didn't care about blood.

"Moka!!!"

Tsukune charged at Demona, when suddenly…

"AAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!"

"NO! TSUKUNE!!!"

Demona stood there, horrified at what she had just done, she had mistaken Tsukune for one of the others, now he was impaled by a huge ice spear.

"Oh… my… god!!!"

Demona dissolved into mist and was gone.

"TSUKUNE!!!"

Moka got up and ran over to Tsukune as he fell to the ground.

"Tsukune…"

As a vampire Moka could smell his blood dripping to the cold ground, but she didn't care.

"Mo… Mo… Mo… ka…"

"No… No… Tsukune, you can't die!"

Before everything went dark, Tsukune saw something he had never seen before. Moka's inner self was crying.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

Everything was pitch black, but suddenly Tsukune saw the mysterious person from his dreams. And this time he could see him clearly. Tsukune thought he had gone to hell.

"Time's up Tsukune Aono… You thought you could be a human in a world full of monsters… Well you were wrong… Now you must choose…"

"Choose what?!"

"This is the bargain… if you relinquish your humanity and become my successor… you can stay with Moka… But if you refuse… you will die… What is your answer?!"

(To be continued)

Just so you know, that is not the devil talking to him.