Learning to Breathe

A/N: I am extremely happy that so many of you took the time to review or message me your thoughts about the last chapter. I can't express how happy you all make me. I must also recommend that you all read L1701E's oneshot outtake to this story.

Enough about the reviews. On with the tale!

Chapter Forty-four: Vampira's Venture

Virus, it turned out, received kitchen clean up for a week as punishment for invading someone's privacy. On one particular day, the majority of the Dreadnoks left, with him and Atlantis in tote, for a meeting with Cobra Commander. Zandar was placed in charge, but didn't do much except play Mario Party 2 with the boys. Regan sequestered herself in her room for a phone call to her mother, which left Kristen with nothing to do.

That's how the whole thing started.

She went into Andi's room to find a book, and wound up cleaning for nearly half an hour. Giving up on the task, she left to find a quiet space to read and wound up in Zartan's office. Midway through a paragraph, her ADD kicked in and she began to look around.

Man, this guy's got a lot of stuff. She thought. There are pictures of the group... Hey! That's us! Wow, I should have come here for a book. The whole room's full of them and... What's this? She gazed at a small cabinet under the desk. Is it locked? She reached for the handle and found it slid open with ease. And that it was a liquor cabinet.

How many kinds of booze does one man need? She thought, pulling out some of the bottles. "Patron, Jack Daniels, scotch. I bet he's not the only one who drinks it though. The other adults need to loosen up sometimes too."

Deciding to leave well enough alone, she returned the bottles to their proper place—until she noticed something.

"Bloody Mary mix, huh?" She raised a brow, pulling out the bottle and a small glass. "Too bad it's not made with real blood. Wonder how it tastes?" She poured herself a glass and took a swig. "Pretty good. Whoa." Her eyes began to spin in their sockets.

"Why can't you drive forward, Dude?" Bryan asked Neal, who was trying unsuccessfully to play one of the battle games.

"The controls are messed up." The Bangladesh native mumbled.

"Na, just inverted." Mitch said.

"Hey! I want a rematch!" Zandar exclaimed as Mitch crossed the finish line.

"Too bad." The Las Vegas born mutant said. "They don't give 'em."

"IF they did, I'd be buying for a retake of the picture imperfect." Bryan grumbled.

"Could you keep it down in there?" Regan asked telepathically. "I'm on the phone here!"

"Sorry Reg." Bryan apologized. "So, what next?"

"Hahahaha!!!" Kristen's voice rang through the house.

"Uhm, what's she doing up there?" Mitch asked the others. They looked at each other.

"I don't know." Neal said. "But it does not sound good. Someone should go check it out."

"You're the adult, man." Bryan looked to Zandar, who sighed.

"Fine, I'm going. But don't move my player until I get back!"

He stood up and trudged upstairs. Vampira almost ran him over.

"What the hell?" He exclaimed, ducking to avoid the flying dhampire. "Get back here!"

"Nya!" Kris stuck her tongue out at him. Zandar balled his fists. "You have ten seconds to get your batty butt back on the ground before I come over there!"

"You can't catch me!" She grinned wildly, zipping around him with a combination of super speed and flight. "I'm a tornado."

"No, you are not, now stop this instant!" He demanded.

"You're no fun." She grumbled, zooming downstairs. "Hey boys, let's party!"

"What in tarnation?" Bryan shouted, diving out of the petite girl's way. [1

"What's gotten into you?" Neal exclaimed.

"We're back guys... Vampira! What are you doing?" Zartan shouted upon entering the house.

"Play with me." She said.

"What?" Zartan blinked as the others trickled into the room.

"Great, the bloody bat's gone on a rampage." Virus grumbled. "Sorry rip-off can't even control her mind."

"And you're so much better." Zarana accused.

"Uhm, I think I know what she's been into." Regan gulped from atop the staircase, the near-empty bottle of alcohol in her hand.

"MINE!!!" Kris shouted, lunging at the older girl.

"Kris! Get off of her now!" Andi demanded.

"Give me, give me!" Kristen shrieked, trying to wrench the bottle from Regan's grasp.

"I think you've had quite enough!" Zandar shouted, jumping into the fray. He was instantly tossed aside.

"It's mine!" The vampirette exclaimed.

"No, actually, it's mine." Zartan corrected her. "Come down here this instant!"

"No thanks." Kris said, flying to the roof. "I like to fly."

"Great, now how do we stop her?" Mitch asked.

"Besides stabbing her." Andi added, ignoring Virus' disappointed look. "Last time someone had to fly up there and drag her down, which is a lot harder than it sounds. Kim—her sister—was the one who knocked her out."

"Hey Ry!" Regan shouted. "Fly up there and get her. She can't hurt you!"

"I'll try." He nodded, floating up to the girl. "Hey, Kris. Wanna play tag?"

"Sure!" She grinned. "You're it!" She jabbed him and flew out the front door.

"Oh shit, the neighbors are not going to like this!" Zarana groaned, following the pair of flyers.

"Why is he doing this?" Mitch asked.

"The only way to get her to calm down is to have her tire herself out." Andi explained. "Let him wear her out. She'll be easier to handle that way."

Wham!

"Or we could just run her into a tree." Neal shrugged. "That works too."

"Zandar, go get her and lock her in her room." Zartan ordered. "Chaos! Get over here!"

"Oh, and Virus." Andi started.

"Vincent." Virus corrected. "My name is Vincent."

"Okay, Vince." Andi said. "Kris is no knock-off. She is a half-breed, just like her sister. Their mom is vamp, so are they. We don't know who her dad is, but we know he was a telepath, which explains her phenomenal mental blocks."

"Whatever." Vincent muttered.

"She is also my best friend." Andi continued. "If I hear you trash her again, your head will be sitting on a plaque attached to my bedroom door."

"Then I can gaze down at your angelic form any time I wish." Vincent gazed up at her. [2

"Will you both knock it off?" Zartan shouted. Both teens shut up instantly. "That's better. Now, all of you will go back inside and keep guard of Vampira until she sobers up. Zarana will be in charge until I get back."

"Where are you going?" Zarana demanded of her brother. He turned back to her.

"To buy a new liquor safe." He replied.

1. Kristen stands at about 5'1"

2. Andi is about 5'8" and has yet to stop growing.

Coming up, Shadowatch goes on their first mission with Virus! Can they pull it together? You'll have to wait 'cuz I have no clue!