Chapter: 3

Atemu sighed as he wandered the park. He found his usual spot, sat down, and started working on a poem he had to write for his English class. The thought of Tara had inspired him and he couldn't figure out why.

So far he had:

Your smile
Lights up a room
Brighter than the sun.
Your sweet smell
Makes my head swim.
Your eyes, though sad
Makes me forget the world.
I wish for your happiness
And I think of only you.

"Oooh!" Miu's voice cooed from behind Atemu. "How romantic! Is it about Anzu?"

"No Imoto-san." He hissed. "Her eyes are never sad."

Miu flopped down next to him with a grin. "Foreign exchange girl, huh?" She asked. It was amazing how quickly she could get information. "What does she look like?"

Sighing, Atemu answered, "Long, brown hair, blue eyes, and pale, but she's beautiful." He looked at his sister.

Miu stared at him with wide amethyst eyes. "Nii-san." She muttered. "She would not happen to have a red streak in her hair, does she?"

Atemu nodded slowly. "That would be Tara." He replied.

"But she bit you the night before!" Miu cried. "Why would you like her?!"

Atemu blushed and quickly looked away. "It is not like that."

"Read your poem yourself, smart one. It is clear as day, Nii-san. Deny it all you want."

Atemu shut his notebook and snorted, "Whatever."

There were growls, grunts, and moans that were not human. All were coming from the shadows.

Miu's violet eyes turned to green and her pupils became slits like a cat's. "I smell ghouls." She growled. She shot to her feet, and got into a defensive, fighting stance as she snarled.

Atemu rose to his feet and stared at his sister with his amethyst eyes. He was about to ask what she meant when thoughts and images of mindless, speechless, aggressive zombies flashed into his mind. Not only did he silently thank the gods for having a two-way link between him and Tara, but also he silently apologized to Tara for using her knowledge irresponsibly.

The ghouls stepped out of the shadows. They all looked like people except their teeth were yellow and their eyes were rolled back in their heads. They had blue skin to show that they were dead. They slowly moved towards the ancient Egyptian twins.

Miu morphed into her werecat form.

Fur grew all over her as her hair and her clothes disappeared. She dropped to all fours as her body, arms, and legs became feline. She then grew a tail. Her face changed to a feline face and her ears became feline. Her eyes turned almond shaped like a cat's eyes. She grew fangs that of a cat's fangs. A horn grew on her forehead.

Miu was now a large panther with black fur, violet tipped ears, and yellow streaks on her head. She popped out her claws and roared.

The ghouls backed off slightly. Then they started advancing again. Some even drew out guns.

Miu's main thought was to protect her brother and she could not do that if she was fighting these inhuman freaks. She lowered herself and looked at Atemu as if to say, "Get on. Now."

Atemu seemed to understand this and climbed onto panther werecat Miu. He wrapped his arms around her neck as he pressed his whole body against her as they took off in a full sprint.

Miu leapt over several ghouls, landed lightly on her paws, and continued to sprint. She was fast, strong, and elegant.

Atemu dug his knees into her sides and tightened his grip on her neck to be sure he wouldn't randomly fall off. He could feel her muscles and shoulders move underneath him and it felt odd.

Two women and two men jumped out in front of Miu, making her stop. All four had crimson eyes. Miu knew them as the Surt sisters and Ymir brothers. The taller woman, named Menja Surt, laughed. "Trying to protect your precious older brother?" She mocked.

The shorter woman, named Fenja Surt, giggled with a grin.

The taller man, named Fafner Ymir, sneered.

"Imoto-san," Atemu whispered to his sister, "who are they?"

Menja Surt, Fenja Surt, Fafner Ymir, and Faslot Ymir. She thought. They are vampires and servants of Sekhmet. The very woman who tried to kill you three millennia ago.

Surprisingly, Atemu heard what she was thinking and his eyes grew as wide as saucers. Sekhmet is dead. He thought. Imoto-san, Sekhmet is dead. I saw it. You killed her after she killed Tora.

I am aware of that, Nii-san. Miu replied telepathically. It turns out Sekhmet is the first vampire.

Atemu felt his blood run cold.

The Surt sisters and Ymir brothers were about to attack when Fenja suddenly stopped. All eyes fell on her and watched her head fall from her shoulders before she turned to dust.

Tara stood with her katana sword and saw Atemu. She grew furious and assassinated the other three.

All the ghouls turned to dust and Tara sheathed her katana.

Atemu climbed off Miu and she morphed into her human form (with her clothes on). "Tara." He breathed.

The young teen just acted like she did not recognize him. She turned on her heel and walked off without a word.

"Tara!" Atemu called, but she did not stop or hesitate.

Miu looked at her short, older brother with worry in her eyes. Nii-san. She thought.

Atemu looked down at the ground. He felt hurt, but he also felt Tara's emotions of fury, sadness, and guilt.

"C'mon," muttered Miu, "I will walk you back to the Kame Game Shop."

Atemu nodded a reply. "Kay." He murmured.