Disclaimer- I don't own YJ.

Note 1- The bold italics is Dick's dream. *cough* nightmare *cough*

Note 2- The italics are thoughts.

Note 3- The italics that are said are foreign words. Example: "I love that kind of hana!" (Hana= Japanese for flower)

Chapter 18

Flames licked the hut's walls, leaving nothing but ash in its wake. Smoke rose slowly from the small hut, blocking the moonlight that lit the flowery field. Yet no one came, having no care for the family of three that lived in the burning hut.

"Why did you do this?" Dick shouted, his words aimed at the figure that stood in front of the hut.

"Because I wanted to make sure that you would say yes," the cloaked figure answered, his crazed grin hidden under his dark hood.

"Like I'd ever say yes to something YOU ask me!" Dick yelled at him, charging at him with his fists.

The figure chuckled, dodging Dick's attacks. "Oh, but I think you'll say yes to immortal life."

Dick froze, horror etching his dirty face. "You didn't . . ."

"I did."

"You know that it was clearly written that the Varcolac Pendant would never be used, that it woud take away your humanity!" Dick shouted, his eyes wide with fear.

"So?"

Dick took a step back, his eyes locked on the monster in front of him. He's not human anymore! There's no telling what he'll do! Dick thought as he spotted his mother and sister hiding beside the left side of the hut. I have to distract him . . . If he gets his hands on Mother and Beth, I don't think he'll just let them go.

"What's wrong, Dick? You don't want to become immortal, having all the time in the world to do what you desire?" the figure asked, his tone low.

"No freaking way! I WANT to be human!"

The figure's crazed grin widened. "I was hoping you would say that because now I get to convince you . . . "

Dick snorted, gesturing to his mother and sister to quietly run away. "How, Lucifer? Threatening to kill me won't work."

"Oh, I know. That's why I'm going to use something else to convince you . . . Like your mother."

Moving too fast for human eyes, Lucifer flashed over to Dick's mother and sister and picked up his mother by her throat. Throwing his sister aside, Lucifer squeezed his mother's throat.

"What will it be, Dick? Are you willing to let your mother die so you can remain human?"

Dick shot up, his eyes wildly searching his room for the burning hut but found nothing.

Mother . . .

He hated when he dreamed about her death because it reminded him of what he could have done, what he should have done. And it reminded him of what he lost so long ago. It reminded him of the person who had taken it all away, the person who had robbed him of his humanity.

Lucifer.

His own father.

_Mystery POV_

A figure silently crept through the dark, moldy hallways, heading for the exit. The figure had a goal in mind. She had to tell Dick what Lucifer was planning! If she didn't, he wouldn't have a plan to foil Lucifer's plan.

If she didn't, he would be surprised at what Lucifer would show him.

Ah, here's the exit, she thought as she pushed upward on the stone slab and climbed out of the grave.

I hate that Lucifer's sleeping place is under a graveyard.

A/N- I wonder who this mystery person is? Please review! BTW- I have a poll on my profile about the sequel to "The Deadly Blast From the Past". This was published on 2-18-12 with the length of 785 words.