Insanity: Chapter 35: Keep Your Friends Close. . .

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"Faith is something I was never given, but I'll hope." Akio watches as the sun rises.

"That is a shame, Akio, but in your heart I know it's there or else why would you have come here instead of finding the girl you're in love with?" Sarah smiles.

Akio flashes her an angry and confused glimmer from the corner of his eye. That little statement has his heart racing. How dare she say such a thing that wasn't true. Or was it? Akio sets down the coffee and grabs up some of Ozzy's clothes.

"Akio, what are you doing? You're clothes won't be dry for another half hour."

"No time for that. They're just clothes. I'll make due." He slides his arms into the leather jacket. "Grandpa, I hope you don't mind."

"Go on ahead, Billy, I've got a beaver costume to wear today. After all it is Groundhog day." Ozzy waves as he watches a Bill Maury movie. Akio doesn't let the Ozzy's messed up conception of time faze him.

"We'll see if your faith is real or not." Is all he says as he walks out the door.

"That lit a fire under him, didn't it?" Sarah giggles.

"You are a clever little minx," Ozzy rubs her shoulders and kisses her cheek.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ziff settles down, but looks as if he's about to cry. It can't be easy being the youngest where you're looked upon as almost useless so being able to prove yourself becomes your goal which is hard when you are still treated like a child.

Vahe pours you another glass of wine which you hadn't realized was gone already. "Promise you'll let me see that tail of yours. I'm really quite fascinated by the whole subject." He wasn't making it sexual, but that is how it sounded. Your hand goes for the filled glass. Where are your saviors when you need them?

~ ~ ~ ~

The dog pauses and growls at Jiro. It's sights are now set on bigger prey. "I need to learn to shut my rebellious mouth." He learns a valuable lesson twenty seconds too late. The dog charges after him. Jiro turns tail and runs for his life. He isn't fast enough anymore. He's exhausted. The dog dips around him and springs against his chest; knocking him to the ground. He holds it by it's neck only inches from his face. Foamy drool is spit all over his face. It smells like shit. He has to think quickly. He knew something about dogs he was told he could do if he was ever pinned by one. As gruesome as it is he has to try. He grabs hold of the dog's legs by the knees and jerks them in opposite directions like a wishbone. The dog's chest cavity snaps and breaks open. The dog lets out an ear piercing yelp as it's bones break through the skin and guts fall out all over Jiro.

He throws it off to the side and stands up, letting the warm, gooey entrails fall from him. "I'm never doing that again." He's truly disgusted. "Eeuuww. . ." He wines. "SHOWER!" He yells to the sky.

After his series of dramatic events an idea strikes him as he looks between the tree tops to the blue sky. "Dude, if I can get up there. . ." He scales to the highest branch he can, but not with the monkey like agility that Nori has. He isn't part animal and his body bares more bulk. He surveys the land and sees the break in the forest, but doesn't see what's on the other side. He cranes his neck as far back as he can to see the neighborhood far off. "Damn. . ." He's a lot further than he would have ever imagined. His arms shake as he climbs back down slowly branch by branch until he reaches the last, skinny limb in his path. He takes a breath. He knows it won't hold. His feet bend the branch, but it does not break. He lets out a sigh and hit’s the ground. Little, colorful stars circle his dome as he sits up. He'd of thought climbing a tree was easier than scaling down the side of a house from a girl's window so her dad doesn't catch you sneaking out, but it mistakenly was not. He had more practice at that than at trees.

Through brush and leaves he trudges for an eternity before seeing signs of home which happen to be wolves smashed in gruesome medieval traps that he himself help set up. He knows that violence really shouldn't be a welcome site but, boy, does it put a grin on his face. The sight of the house makes him light up. He throws his hands in the air and cheers wildly like a football fan at a close-match game and his team has just won. Without thinking twice Jiro rushes up to the back door and lands one foot on the step when someone steps in his way. The very large man folds his arms and glares down upon Jiro.

Jiro stands dumbstruck. He doesn't recognize this behemoth nor does he wish to tango with him after such a god-awful night. "Where you think you is going, little-rooster man?"

"Uh. . .inside?" Jiro isn't sure what's going on or why there's some German guy playing Nazi on is back doorstep.

"I do not think so." The man reaches out and grabs Jiro by the shoulder. "Get naked." He orders.

Jiro's eyes bug out. "This must be the wrong house. Nope, this isn't where I live. We don't keep newly released from prison German felons in our house. I'll be moving on out." Jiro tries to walk away, but the hold is too tight and he's only kicking up dust.

"You get naked. . ." He smiles, "NOW."

~ ~ ~

"Baby Jesus, that is cold! Slow it down, will ya, my body can't take so much punishment after fighting off wolves all night!" Jiro pleads as he holds out his hands to try and block the harsh water blasting his tender flesh.

"Make sure to get all the crevices. Don't want him tracking any dirt or blood into the house." Vahe stands back with a half cocked smile on his face.

"Make sure to cup the balls, rooster." Sagive catches Jiro between the legs. Jiro flinches and almost falls over.

Ziff is at the back door holding his nose. "Why do all these humans let themselves smell so bad? This one is even nastier than the first. How many strays are we going to let in?"

"They don't have our keen sense of smell." Vahe walks up past him. "Stay out there and make sure he doesn't take off. Sagive may have the muscle, but he doesn't have the speed you do."

"Right," Ziff's voice is nasally. "So what do you want us to do with him once he's all clean? Take care of him like Sagive did the last guy who showed up?"

Vahe pauses and with a slight chuckle answers. "This one seems a bit more less informed. Just show him a good time and do the same as the other if he gets out of hand."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The sounds of the world return to your ears. It's dull at first, but then your subconscious releases your mind and you find yourself turning over in your crappy bed/cot. You are tucked in tight and it's kind of warm so you kick them off. A rather loud crowd is cheering. It's so annoying you can't take it anymore. Can't a girl get some sleep around here?

You swing your feet onto the floor and see a gigantic dog with gorgeous silver fur. Since when have you had a dog if that's what this creature is and not some kind of prehistoric beast from the ice age. It glances up at you lazily and yawns, showing his sharp bone crushers. You dare to scoot to the door and it only scratches his ear with his back foot. Sliding open the door there are a bunch of guys cheering along with the crowd on the TV. Sagive, Ziff, and Jiro are on the couch hooting about the staged wrestling match of over muscular, testosterone driven idiots in tights as if they're all best friends. Vahe is nowhere in sight.

"You guys are making too much noise." Eban walks up behind you, slipping on his t-shirt that falls over his jeans. He got dressed fast.

"(You)!" Jiro hops up from the couch and rushes over to you. He grabs you up and twirls around merrily. You slap his back to tell him to stop. He sets you down and sucks air in through his teeth as he sees the bruises on your face. "Damn, that's gotta hurt! Are you okay?" He's gently touching around your injuries.

You nod your head as you pull his hand away. "Fine. What are you doing?!" You're about to freak out on him. Jiro is easy going, but this is ridiculous.

"What do you mean? I'm watching this grudge match with these guys from your old town. They're pretty gnarly. You should've invited over sooner. I don't think you share enough about yourself." He's a moron. How could he believe during a time like this you'd have company over?!

"They're not my friends!" You yell at him. "They're the wolves that are after Nori! They've been holding me hostage since I got home this morning!"

It takes a moment for it to soak in and everyone waits patiently. "Wait, I thought you were just napping. . ." It's all making sense now. "Ah….fuck! What the bloody hell, assheads?! You tell me you're here visiting your friend, but really you're the bad guys who are going to kill us?! We watched wrestling and hugged when Mr. Wonderful was smashed in the face with a fold up chair! I-I feel so dirty. . ."

"And stupid. Don't forget stupid." Ziff adds in as he munches on popcorn.

"That too." Jiro shakes his head, but you're not sure if he's taking this seriously. "That one, a miniature Sanguine, mouth and all. Freaking emos."

"It was not us who harmed you. Abel is the one to blame. He attacked the bunny-girl and your friends. We are here to catch him. Now you going to sit down and finish watching the match or is rooster boy going to keep crying over deception? Eh, c'mon, match is almost over." Sagive throws his arm to. The match is much more important than you two.

"Turn that shit off we're trying to have a conversation here!" Jiro snaps at him. Sagive turns it down, but not off. Before he can get another word in there's an odd sound as if someone was banging on a wall. "Someone at the door?" You guys go over and check, but the only person outside is Vahe sitting on the porch all alone.

"It's coming from the hallway." You state. Non of them move to stop you as you find the source in the hallway closet. Upon opening the door a body shoves out and pins Jiro against the wall. It's Akio. He's bound and gagged and miffed to a point you've never seen him before. You undo his gag which is a sock tied tightly around his reddened face. Jiro gets the ropes.

"What were you doing in there?" Jiro asks a dumb question.

"He was too anxious so we put him away. He would have blown cover." Sagive peeks in. "He is weak. He can not take a friendly hello. He fainted."

"Fainted?! He grabbed me in a headlock until I passed out from suffocation. I was restrained by the damn werewolves when I came here to find (You) and I woke in this closet. Yet no one could hear my attempts to signal the outside world, Jiro. Could you explain this to me?" Akio glares at him.

Jiro smiles sheepishly. "Not my fault. I thought I heard something, but then we just turned up the TV to drown out the noise. I didn't know you were napping in there."

"It's the first amount of sleep I have received in two whole days, but it was not by choice. I was not casually napping in a damn closet!" Akio is about to flip out.

"Hey, keep it down out there. We are trying to watch the extreme wrestling!" Sagive orders as he is annoyed.

"Let's escape, now." Akio whispers.

"Not a good idea." Eban says as he pauses while walking to the kitchen. "It's almost sunset and wherever you go Abel is going to follow. You guys can stay right here. Grab something to eat and relax for a minute." He informs you. He's right in the fact non of you are getting out of here. You'll just have to keep on sleeping with the enemy.

Jiro shrugs and heads back to the living room. You stand with Akio in the hall. He puts his hand to his temple. "This doesn't make any sense. I thought you were in danger and needed my help yet here Jiro is making friends out of the enemy and you're just fine. I rushed back here to spend hours tied up in a closet. For the first time in my I am thoroughly confused beyond reasoning." You wish you had something to say to comfort him, but this is out of your expertise. So you take him to the kitchen to get him something to eat. He deserves it. "Sleeping in a closet will create neck cramps." He grumbles.

~ ~ ~

Akio stands in the living room doorway untrusting of those seated. You're in the armchair a bit bored. Eban is in the living room sipping on tea and reading today's paper. Akio and Eban would actually get along quite well if Akio wasn't stricken with reasonable prejudice. He then turns and opens the front door. You get up and follow. What was he doing going outside where Vahe is? He can't be looking for a fight. Akio stands just outside the door which is three feet from Vahe. The sun is setting and as the light disappears so does any sense of safety.

The sun's rays find Vahe and illuminate his hair with all the bold watercolor tones of the sunset. His skin has become golden and his teal eyes are sparkling gems that take your breath away. His ethereal essence can be enjoyed even more than the sunset itself. It's unfair of him to sit out here and overcast it. It's hard to look away from him. Nori is most dashing in moonlight while Vahe takes the cake with the sun. They look so much alike yet it's easier to see now how they are polar opposites.

"Your name is Vahe, isn't it?" Akio speaks up.

"Yes, and you're Akio." Vahe hums.

"You sent me to save my grandfather at the same time distracting me from this house. I don't know whether to thank you or put a bullet through your brain." Akio is blunt. You've never seen him so bold. "You're smarter than I gave you credit for."

"Contradictions are all part of being a creature that questions the world in which it has created." Vahe finds this funny. "Werewolves are portrayed in an ignorant light in many movies and then some are over flattering. Humans have a great imagination, but they are off most of the time. As for intelligent, yes, I am. I was raised with all the benefit’s a prince is offered. But sending that detective over here to check up on me wasn't so bright. It may hinder us from making any forward moves outside this house, but if they get involved they will all be killed. Their blood will be on your hands." Vahe warns. Standing there beside two minds battling for the right to stand on the mountain top you can't help but wonder if one will eventually fall off.

"Then answer me this: what happened to the neighbors? How come they haven't called the police yet when it was all out war the entire night? People just don't disappear." Akio thinks up a troubling question to which you're not sure you want the answer to.

Vahe just shrugs as casually as if someone had asked if he knows what time it is. "Dead. Eaten most likely." The answer you expected. "Abel did turn a bunch of dogs into were-dogs so I'm guessing to get the taste of human blood in them he had them attack their own masters. In essence it's a bit ironic to bite off the hand which feeds." You and Akio glance at the silent, darkened houses that hold no life. Inside those tombs are horrific scenes only the most vicious of serial killers can top. "You can smell it, can't you? The scent of old and fresh blood mixing in the air. Delightful." It makes him smile that handsomely deceiving smile of his.

"Hey, why they stop the fight? What is this shit?!" Sagive yells in anger as the wrestling match is interrupted by a news report. You glance inside.

"You don't want to miss that." Vahe teases.

You both go back inside to the doorway where there's a serious newscaster sitting with papers in his hand. "This is news channel 8 with a city wide warning. We will return you to your scheduled programming in just a minute." He announces. "The police have initiated an immediate curfew for the entire city and surrounding towns. As of last night three young women, whose names will be kept confidential upon requests of their families, have been found dead in undisclosed areas. Police have yet to find if any of the girls had anything in common, but as of now there are no noticeable characteristics." He adjust his tie. "The victims were however killed in a similar fashion with a progression of violence becoming more and more severe. Each girl was found with their throats cut or bitten open and majority of the blood drained in a vampire like manner and unaccounted for. It is unknown if these are the actions of a cult or group of dangerous persons. No witnesses have surfaced, but anyone with information please call your local police department at the 800 number listed below. All contacts will be kept anonymous." Before the newscaster can continue a prompter holds his hand over his microphone/headset and runs up to whisper something in his ear. The newscaster takes a deep breath. This can be the scoop of his carrier. "This just in a forth victim has been found. Another young women between the ages of 16 and 25. The police have just released a trend in which the public should watch out for. All women were alone. Do no travel alone and if you must carry an emergency whistle or pepper spray. All the women were found in allies or wooded areas so avoid parks or abandoned streets. Again, a serial killer is on the lose and is targeting young women. Please remain calm and stay in public areas during nightfall. We will bring you more up to date information as it comes in. That is all."

"That is wild. What is this world coming to?" Jiro ponders. Sagive cheers as the match returns, but then boos when he's missed how it ended.

"You have (You) to thank for that." Vahe chimes in from behind you. He catches everyone's attention. "That serial killer is the stragoi. The same stragoi that (You) fed her own blood to and now it has awakened. It'll ride out his blood high which can never be fulfilled until it is has completed it's transformation."

"What do you mean? What transformation is Sanguine undergoing?" Akio demands.

Vahe smirks. "It is a vampire trapped within a human form. The more it dines on human life-force the closer it comes to becoming whole. It's ravenous hunger can never be satisfied. It'll continue to feed like this until the human side is completely gone and then it'll be able to hunt as it desires. At that point it is unstoppable."

"That sounds really bad." Jiro points out the obvious. "How can we stop all that before he's like one of you guys?"

"He's nothing like us. We are animals and retain the curse of mortality. That thing does not bide by the laws of nature. It is unexplainable and to change your friend back is uncertain. I had ever heard old legends of this being. It was carried over from Europe, but never encountered here. I was only warned that this is demons truly are. My only suggestion is to eliminate it before it becomes too powerful. If you wish to save a millennia of "innocent" lives that is." He explains and nobody likes the resolution.

"We have to find him tonight. If we can at least capture him then we can stop him from killing anyone else. We can find an answer afterwards. Our objective is to save helpless people and Sanguine from himself." Akio takes some initiative.

"How are we going to catch him? He has a taste for girls not dudes." Jiro points out. They both think as if you're not in the room. You make a fake cough and they glance at you. "NO! No way, Houssay! You are planting your little butt here with them. . . Damn, that won't work either, will it?"

"No." Akio stares at him.

" How do you plan on going there, fish-boy. You needed here as bait for Zareh and Abel. They are just young ladies. There are more. People die all the time!" Sagive makes it sound so pointless to stop him as if he were only popping the heads off dandelions.

"We're going and you R-tards ain't stopping us!" Jiro protests. "You heard that guy. If he keeps drinking people blood then he'll become immortal and that'll mean big trouble for you guys, because he'll be eating your food supply. And what if he gets a taste for werewolf? He'll eat all your women and then there will be no one to have wolf babies and you all will die out like an endangered species!"

"Holy crap, can that happen?!" It scares Ziff, but not Sagive.

"It's not of our concern to stop this thing. It is your problem of your own creation not ours. Needlessly risking our necks for humans is not how we work." Vahe dismisses it.

"Vahe," Eban addresses him, "I say let them go." This comes as a surprise to the guys. "Eventually Zareh and Abel will show up here first to look for them. We'll catch them. Their out-of-control friend is a real hazard to everyone. If they start looking for one mythical creature they'll end up finding more. It couldn't hurt to let them try." Vahe lifts an eyebrow.

"Won't they just run off?" Ziff answers.

"Doubt it. We'll just keep one of them here and let the other two go searching. If they are real friends they will return of the other. Simple as that." Eban is right. He's obviously the negotiator of the group.

Vahe shrugs. "But who will go and who will stay?"

"I'll go!" Jiro volunteers. "Sanguine's my friend."

"I should go. You're too emotionally involved. What if he needs to be stopped?" Akio objects.

"I haven't got to spend any time with (You). I can kick ass a lot better than you can, pussy." Jiro sounds like a child.

"'Kicking ass" is irrelevant if something goes wrong and (You) ends up injured. If her throat is cut or bitten I know how to treat the wound so she will not die. Also, I can withstand an injury better, because I'm not a normal human like you." He's a good debater.

"If muscle is all you're lacking then maybe we can make a trade. Right now the stragoi isn't as much of a threat." Vahe offers, but you know better than to believe he's being generous. "Ziff, you can accompany them into the city."

Ziff eyes light up, but Eban stands from his seat. "Why him? He's still a pup."

Vahe is looking out of the open doors as only a crest of the sun can still be seen around the houses. "Why would you argue with my decision? Would you rather go? I think that Ziff needs the experience. He is always behind us in battle and if we wish to ever depend upon him he needs practice in the field. This should be simple enough. Your first independent assignment was much more dangerous." Vahe is pulling ranks. "Besides whatever goes wrong you can remember that it was your idea. It'll be your consequences to remedy."

It's so obvious now what Vahe has planned. Eban went over his authority by voicing his idea to help you guys out and now he's being put back in line. His face doesn't show it, but the stress of what could happen is stirring behind his eyes. "Vahe," Eban starts to say, but pauses. "Master Vahe, you're right. I should be the one to go."

"NO! I want to go! Quit saying I'm a pup! I'm 13 already and I don't need to be cradled by you! I'll take on that stragoi and tear it apart." Ziff isn't going to be denied. "I'm not going to let these humans get away either. So back off, Eban."

"The blonde one made the best argument. Let him go." Vahe steps out of the doorway and holds a hand out to show the way. "Be back by daybreak."

With three of you going it's anonymous to take your car. It would be far too crowded on Akio's motorcycle. Jiro and Vahe are standing on the porch as you back up. You really hate leaving him, because not only is he an asset to the group but it's not safe for him to stay with these wolves who are playing house. Yet you know Jiro and you're sure he's going to hold his own. He did spend over half the night alone in the woods with no back up against the were-dogs. He's no push over even though he's on the verge of dumb-blonde-naivety right now.

"What am I going to do now?" Jiro sighs.

He's punched in the upper arm. "Watch more wrestling, Rooster!" Sagive welcomes him back.

Jiro thinks about it for only a millisecond. "Hell yeah!"

Eban is walking out as they are walking in. "Fearsome wolves are we." He jokes quietly to himself. He dares to stand next to Vahe who has taken a seat on the steps. "Are you nervous? This journey is almost over. You'll have to account for all these recent events and deaths. Even so you'll be able to go home and take your place as pack leader."

"Yeah. . ." Vahe's smile dies to only a slight grin. "Isn't it a shame?"

Eban leans on the post next to Vahe. "You didn't you could keep this up forever, did you?"

"No," Vahe stands, "but it was worth a try, wasn't it?

"Yeah, it was really worth it." Eban smiles.

~ ~ ~

You drive and Akio keeps his eyes for any signs of a disturbance. You don't have to catch him in the act you only need to find a scene to trace his trail, but either would be work. At least you were permitted to change clothes before you left and your ears are pulled up under a bandana. You almost walked right out without one. It's hard to remember the rules which world you're entering. As you see the people of the city walking around from inside the car it's as if you're encased in this bubble just cruising through watching the unwitting public. They don't know all that you know. They can never acknowledge it all. You have been set apart from most humans. There's a feeling of superiority and loneliness there. You'll never able to walk amongst them without that invisible scarlet letter branded across your body. To think when you moved here you weren't any different from anyone else. Now everything has changed so dramatically that it has become your norm and their world is the world that is strange.

"Hey, what's the name of that arcade over their? It's freaking huge!" Ziff points out the window.

Akio looks. "The Opticon Palace."

"I've got to remember that." He's taking notes of the city. "That place has a bunch of kids my age. Is that some kind of club?"

Akio sighs. "It's called a convention. I'm not sure which one it is, but it's an annual event held yearly at certain hotel and those interested in the theme attend. It normally doesn't last longer than a single weekend or a week, but it's a good way for the hotel to obtain money."

"That sucks. I won't be able to go there in that small amount of time." He settles down, but then pops back up. "That skate park is huge! I have to get Eban to take me there! He's really good at that stuff. You've got to see him motor crossing it. He's the best!" Ziff is excited, but his voice shifts to a lower tone. "He's just as good as any of those guys you see on TV. . .but he's not allowed to compete. We're not allowed to get involved with human activities. If we get too close we'll end up too involved and that can create danger for our clan." He sits back with his arms folded as he watches the building pass. He's just like any other 13 year old boy. He wants to taste the fun in life. "He'd win, too. There's nothing Eban can't do. He could probably take on Va. . ." He stops himself dead in his own tracks.

"Are you sure that you are really a werewolf?" Akio notices that Ziff is a little different from the rest.

"What's the hell do you mean?! OF course I'm a real werewolf! I can transform right now and tear your ugly face off! Keep pushing me I dare you!" Ziff will do it too. He's got something to prove no matter what the consequences.

"What I mean is you act and talk just like a human. You want to participate in typical teenage activities while the others are much more reserved. Plus you keep talking about Eban. Is he your older brother, because he seems to be the only one who cares about you. Vahe sent you out tonight to get back at him for making this suggestion to begin with. If you get hurt Eban will be the one left feeling guilty." Akio explains.

"NO, I was sent, because Vahe knows I can handle this. He probably just didn't want to waste the time of members more skilled than me." Ziff is in denial. He refuses to see Vahe as evil. Things must still be black or white to him. "And Eban isn't my real brother, but in our pack we are all family blood or not. You wouldn't understand."

"You're right. I can't grasp that kind of blind concept." Akio is being cruel. Ziff doesn't look up to admire the city. So many things are stirring in his heart. It can't be easy to want things that are in violation of everything you were taught to resist. You can see him in the rearview. He isn't pouting. He's actually depressed. Then he lifts his head and begins kicking the crap out of the back of Akio's seat. "Stop that now!" He can't halt his head from bouncing up and choking him against the seatbelt.

"You're a total asshole!" He yells as if Akio hasn't heard that one before.

Ziff proves to be a very persistent puppy as he continues to kick the back of Akio's seat for twenty minutes straight. Akio sits taking the blows with an expression of annoyed defeat on his face. He refuses to overreact and attack Ziff who would probably play too rough anyhow. When he's bored he sets his feet down and pops his head over the middle console. "Where are we going? We've been driving around forever."

"I don't know." You admit. "We're looking for Sanguine."

"Why do you want to find that stragoi so bad? It just wants to eat you. Do you like things that want to eat you? It's a very suicidal fetish to have." Ziff questions.

"He's our friend and we have to stop him." You continue trying to explain, but he's not convinced. If only you could make him understand.

"He's a member of our pack." Akio adds in. "If a member goes AWOL his comrades go after him. It's their duty to stop them before that member hurts someone else or himself. It's not just for their pack that they do it, but because they care for that person. We have to find Sanguine to stop him and save him. If not we're going to lose him forever." You're impressed. You never knew Akio felt that way. He's really grown a lot since the first time you met him.

Ziff's eyes light up a little. "Just like how Vahe is putting off finding Zareh in order to catch Abel?"

In return you put a hand on his soft hair and give it a little pet. "Yep." At least it's good to know that even to Vahe his friends come before vengeance. Ziff's cheeks flush a little in a very adorable manner. He throws himself back into the back seat and won't look at you again. He's so adorable you just want him to stay young and innocent like this forever. It's an easy guess to assume he's never even kissed a girl before so you petting his head so lovingly may have made his pure heart race. Short moments like this are a pleasant distraction from the torrid reality that destroys the kindness in everyone.

"(You)," Akio gets your attention as he's pointing to a police barricade on a street you just passed. You pull around and park around the block. At first you all just walk up, but the police aren't letting anyone through. You have to find another way in. heading back around the block there has to be an alleyway somewhere, but you find that the block only has buildings around 2 sides and the rest is all a small park. Ziff leads the way through the underbrush to a sidewalk that isn't being as closely monitored. It isn't far before there's a group of people that were already gathered at the scene and the police couldn't get to leave. There's a few news reporters snapping shots around the heads of the officers who are holding them off. Parasites. Is nothing in this world descent or sacred?

It's hard to see around the edge which is meters away from the body, but you can make it all out all too clearly. It's a young woman. The pale skin of her exposed breasts are glowing in the spotlights behind the white sheets which provide little privacy. She's out in the open for all to see. Even her skirt is hiked up so her red thong is obvious. This wouldn't be how she'd want to be seen. It's going to make her mother die inside. Her pose is of someone who collapsed backwards: knees bend and arms down by her sides. At first your eyes see her mouth is wide open much further than nature would provide, but it's not her mouth that's an open hole into her dark insides. The tunnel of her throat is ripped clear open like and off t the side like a hinged door.

"I can't see a damn thing. Let's get in closer." Ziff decides before taking a vote and starts moving through the crowd. You have no choice, but to follow. He gets you guys in a lot closer than you'd like to be. The smell of blood and cut meat leave a stench lingering in the air. Upon closer inspection you can see all her flaws. She lanky with flat, straight hair. Her glasses are at her side and through the smudges of her lipstick her lips are gray. She has scratches from where her attacker grasped her too tightly and punctured deep in the skin. Her sweater is unzipped and shirt pulled up over her unbuttoned bra not ripped apart as you'd expect. There doesn't appear to be any struggle. It could be she did things of her own free will. Now her wide eyes stare forever into a starry sky. A chance encounter in the park turned from lusty dream to nightmare before she had a chance to scream.

As you stare into her face you see it changing, forming into someone familiar. Someone with your hair, your eyes, your nose, and skin. Every distinct feature that belongs to you is now on her and it makes you tremble. This girl she could have been you.

"I can smell him." Ziff whispers. "He went that way." He points to his left. The three of you morph back into the crowd unnoticed. Your eyes don't leave her until she is shielded by bodies. The fear is binding. Will you end up just like her?

Sneaking back out so the police don't get suspicious is easy enough when they're all so distracted. Ziff leads you through back allies and gets lost here and there. He says it's like the scent goes straight into the air or into a wall and he has to poke around for a few minutes before finding it again. The trail is erratic and long. Just when you wish you had taken your car Ziff stops. You stand before Mrs. Medicci's church. During the day the roman cathedral is beautiful, but at night those gothic points make it appear demon as if you're about to walk into the home of the gates to hell.

"Why did you stop?" Akio inquires.

"He's in there. He's got to be!" Ziff points up at the front doors. The steps are strenuous after all that walking and your feet are still soar from the cuts of the forest floor. It's become almost unbearable, but you push on without a word.

The door are locked. It would have been surprising if they were. There has to be another way in that doesn't involve breaking in. The place turns out to be a fortress. There is no place for anyone to easily slip in.

"Now what?" Akio sighs.

A loud bell like shatter slices the air. Ziff has his jacket tied around his fist as he clings to the wall next to a broken window. "We needed a way in. I made one. Problem solved." He hops on in. Akio shakes his head, but doesn't object. He helps you up through the side window to find it's a backstage area where the choir probably changes. Ziff waves for you to follow. There are many doors through the hallway, but then it opens to the pews and stage. The smell of smoke from the candles lingers in the air. They're the only light besides what comes in through the colorful mosaics. Your pupils have to expand to the full size of your eye in order to see. Ziffs hair stands on end as he prowls in to the middle walkway that leads to the stage. The place is huge. It could easily fit about 300 or more people.

"He's up there." Ziffs looking up at the wrap around balcony.

"BOO!" You all shoot straight through the ceiling. Heart racing you can barely catch your breath as you turn and see it's Sanguine. He scared everyone so badly there should have been puddles around all your feet. He lets out a merry chuckle. At least you know his horrible sense of humor hasn't changed at all. "What's up?"

"What's up? Is that all you have to say?" You snap at him. You're about to explode at the sight of him. His eyebrows lift in surprise. You question him persistently not giving him any time to answer about where he's been, what he's been doing, if even cares about the his friends, and if he has anything to do with these murders.. Then this question pops out. "Why did you leave you to die in the forest?!"

Sanguine just looks at you. The entire time Ziff has been growling at him. "I left you to die? But you're not dead. . .so what's the problem? Except for those nasty bruises you seem fine. You sure haven't lost the energy to bitch me out." He gives a tiny smile. Was that his idea of an apology? "Honestly, I don't remember much about that night or anything about any murders. I just know I woke up here and it hasn't felt safe to leave. I used to hate this place, but now I don't want to leave. That's crazy, isn't it?" He sounds generally confused. He puts a hand to his head and runs his hand through his messy hair on the left side, but you can't see the right side of his face at all. That's where the Abel clawed him. Was he hiding it? "(You), I'm. . .sorry. I don't know what's going on, but I'm glad you're okay. I should have been there for you." He takes a step towards you with his arms open. You've missed his warm embrace. It's been a constant craving since the first time in the backyard under the night's sky. "I'll come home with you if that's what you want. I can't stand the thought of anyone else hurting you."

"Back off!" Ziff yells out his body already partially transformed. As he charges he finishes the change and swings at Sanguine.

Sanguine side steps him and instantly grabs his arm, flipping him over his shoulder onto the floor. Ziff's back hits hard, but before he can stand Sanguine's foot is on his throat. "Bad dog." He holds Ziff's arm in his hands. "That was very rude. You need to be taught a lesson." He twists his arm slowly until Ziff whimpers in pain and with a sudden twitch his bone snaps. Ziff lets out a gut wrenching screech. It's unbelievable what just happened. Sanguine drops Ziff's arm and then you see his smile. It's the smile of a demon the same smile as last night when he first drank your blood. He drops one knee down into Ziff's ribs and slams his fist into his face. He starts punching Ziff over and over, bludgeoning him. Blood spurts up and splashes onto the floor around his head. At first Ziff was kicking, but after four hits he's lifeless. Sanguine's fist and face are splashed with blood.

The boy, innocent and helpless, you can't take it! His fist stops mid-punch as your body blocks his target. You brace yourself over Ziff's head and glare up at Sanguine over your shoulder. "Stop, please stop!" You beg.

Sanguine's shoulders relax and his fist goes down. "I'm starting to feel like you're the only person in this world I can listen to." He eyes his crimson colored glove then you. He holds his hand up and his fingernails glint like mini-scalpels. "I did say I won't let anyone else hurt you." His hand is thrust towards you.

Sanguine is sent flying with Akio's body on top of him. Akio sits up over him with one hand grabbing Sanguine's collar and the other in a fist. Sanguine swings and Akio's head whiplashes to the side. He falls over and holds his cheek as the blood seeps out of his hand. Sanguine is up and coming at him with those nails held together as a knife. Akio smacks his hand off to the side and thrusts his palm into Sanguine's pubic bone. Sanguine falls to his knees as Akio stands up. "Real clever." He hisses.

"It's not about strength in self defense. It's knowledge. Know the anatomy and even a giant be taken down." Akio huffs. The cuts to his cheek are deep, but not life threatening. It's then you notice that Akio has changed a little as well. His hair is longer, eyes completely eclipsed, and his skin is splotched with hard scales. Sanguine is helpless to his inner monster as well. His nails have grown to points, his fangs protrude almost too big for his mouth, his eyes glow red, and his skin has paled. You can hardly recognize either of them.

Sanguine laughs at him. "You-you're a real freak." Akio glares at him. Sanguine gets to his feet and walks in towards Akio who is standing stoic and ready.

"You're one to talk. Have you seen yourself lately? You're a monster." Akio retorts. He isn't finding this as funny as Sanguine is. Sanguine takes one step and is on him. Akio tries to kick him, but Sanguine catches his leg against his side. Sanguine goes for the throat, but Akio catches his right in in time inches from his neck. They manage to push off one another and stand evenly matched or so it seems.

Sanguine's image becomes blurred. He's in Akio's face like a bullet. He hand goes up and covers his open mouth with his hand. Akio's shaking. He can still breath and move, but his sharp teeth have punctured the smooth skin of Sanguine's palm and the blood is running down the back of his throat. "You call me a monster when we were both born to kill and devour those you wish to protect? Can you resist it? The aroma and sweet taste of flesh and blood? Human life force aggravating that hunger to the point all you can think of is biting into that tender throat and drinking them dry. You feel it too, don't you? You can't deny it forever." Sanguine lures him towards his darkest of instincts. "Giving in to your true nature is so exhilarating. It's like being reborn."

Ziff groans and coughs. Clots shoot out from his throat. You lift his head so he doesn't choke and ignore his mangled face. He's already slipping back to his human form. He tries to move his arm, but it's unresponsive. The agony swells his eyes and he begins sobbing. The clear tears leave streaks through the dark red. It all must be so intolerable.

The sounds of the boys cries reach Akio's ears. He sputters and grabs hold of Sanguine's arm, forcing it off his face. Sanguine is pushed back and Akio spits out all he can as he catches his breath. It's harder for him to breath with those gills making slits in the sides of his neck.

"No, I won't. I'll resist it. I won't become like you. I'm not what my father is. I have more to live for. I can't let my family down. If I change there will be no one to take care of my grandfather. If I change then I'll be letting my mother down. If I change then there will be one less person to keep (You) safe." He gasps. "What happened to you? You'd hurt anyone who even did so much as to put her down and now you're trying to murder her. You're not the same narcissistic, sarcastic person I used to know. You're the real freak. You're exactly what your grandmother said you were. You've proven her right."

Sanguine growls at the thought of his grandmother and Akio telling the truth. "All I've done is open my eyes. Remain a worthless tool if you want. I'll make you useless!" He goes in for the kill when there's a light penetrating the drama.

"Hey, is someone in there? Stay there it's the police!" The voice order, but it's not a very effective way to catch an intruder. Akio is left glancing around at his absent opponent. Without a sound Sanguine split.

You try to lift Ziff up a little more. He's paralyzed in anguish. "We have to get out of here. Let's get him home." You tell Akio, but he isn't paying attention. "Akio!" He finally comes back and helps move him to a back room. He hacks up blood, not his own, as he attends to the boy's arm. He takes a wooden candle stand and breaks it over his leg to use as a split. His own jacket becomes a head bandage as holy water blesses his wounds. He stands under the window as you help lower him down, but end up dropping him. In his animalistic state Akio is much stronger so he catches Ziff with ease.

In the car Akio's form has finally returned. You sit in the back seat with Ziff cradled on your lap. He's going to be fine from Akio's analyses, but there's only one way to determine if he has brain hemorrhaging and you don't if you can take him to a hospital. You have to keep him awake, but it's hard not to let him drift off. His every waking moment is spent crying and wrapped in misery.

"Mama. . ." Ziff weeps, "please, don't leave me alone."

You pet his hair gently to keep it from his face and try to think of lullabies to sing to him. Maybe if he can feel safe the pain will taper a bit. But as you drive back there's an uneasy feeling in the car. You know Sanguine isn't done killing. Not tonight or tomorrow or the next day. It's going to take all of you to stop him, but there are still 2 obstacles standing in your way and more building with each kill he makes. Vahe is stubborn and unreasonable. Abel is ten times worse. The police won't sit idly by and the public will start a witch hunt. Everything is getting out of hand and nothing makes any sense anymore.

So the insanity grows. Consuming you all in a wildfire of blood and death.

Chapter 36: While we were out facing a demon Abel returns to the house to encounter Vahe. Harsh words are exchanged and an argument over power may put a shift in the ranks. Eyes watch carefully from a safe distance. So much is returning. So much to rediscover. Nori's memories have been tucked away for so long he'd lost all sense of his self. They resurface to bring him a new truth and resurrect his broken heart.

Random quote of the day: "In one moment your life can change. But in that moment you made it worth living."