Kuri entered the Shan House. It was Picture perfect: two stories, dormers, trellises. Kuri looked around. Ah, Suburban bliss.

So different from her shrine, this place truly felt like a happy home.

Darren's room was moody for the daytime. Only the light from the half-closed blinds streaking the floor where:

Kuri sat down on the floor with Darren and Steve. They huddled over several clippings and pictures that Steve has spread out. They all dealt with vampires in some form or another. Steve pulled another stack from his backpack, spread them out as well.

"I don't get it." Darren said.

Kuri swallowed thickly. She got it.

"Vampires." Steve breathed. "I've been studying them."

Kuri sucked in a breath. Vampires. If only he knew.

"Right." Darren laughed. "You're failing half your classes at school, but you're studying vampires."

"They been around 1000's of years. Two tribes. They even fight wars."

Kuri held back a gasp. He knew! He knew so much! But, thank goodness, he didn't know about vampyres, the powerful women of the vampire world.

"What? When?" Darren asked, intrigued.

"Okay, sometimes, when humans fight?" Steve grinned wickedly. "They fight at the same time. And no one knows it. Like at the Battle of Stalingrad they fought at the same time the Russians and Germans were fighting."

Darren just looked at him, wondering if he's serious. Kuri carefully angled her face away, not trusting her expression.

"Some people know about it." Steve continued. "There have even been books written."

He pulled a frayed old yellow hardcover from his bag. Kuri easily recognized it. The same book sat on the bookshelf in the shrine.

'That's your proof? It smells." Darren laughed.

Steve frowned, really trying to convince him now.

Kuri wisely kept her mouth shut.

"It's everywhere if you look. On the internet, in blogs, newspapers, weird places. But you can find it." Steve pressed. "I chatted online with one of them."

"Come on." Darren said.

"Serious." Steve said.

Kuri closed the book. "M-maybe we shouldn't talk about this."

Steve glared up at her. "You scared?"

"You should be." She said firmly. "Vampires, Steve? If they find out how much you know—"

"They'll attack me?" Steve shot back. "Good! I want them to! I'd love to meet one!"

Darren was thrown.

Mad now, Steve opened the book, flipped pages, and found an old 19th Century painting. He slapped down the science lab internet print-out of Larten Crepsley. It was the same guy!

"See?"

"All I see is a powerful, ancient vampire that you shouldn't mess with." Kuri said crossly.

"So don't come with us then."

"Oh cmon…" Darren groaned. "You have to come, Kuri!"

Kuri sucked in a deep breath. "Of course I'm coming." Turning away, she muttered. "Someone has to keep you two out of trouble."