• It was a beautiful saturday morning. The friends are all outside enjoying the weather. Klaus is practicing his swordmanship on a hastily made dummy tied to a tree. Wayne is on the tree branch anticipating the right moment to throw Klaus off guard. Wayne then slashes the dummy off the branch and falls down to hit Klaus, who dodged at the right moment. He dusts himself off and says, "Hmph. Thanks, Wayne, I could use some live sword practice. " Wayne panics, "Aw crap! Bad timing!" Klaus chases Wayne while trying to choose the right moment to attack. Alex comes over and trips Wayne, making him fall, face first, into the dirt. She stands in front of Klaus, "Klaus, he was just fooling around! Back off." Klaus returns his sword to it's sheath. "Tch. He is lucky you came. Mark my words, I will kill him if he keeps this up." He leaves heading toward the lake. Wayne stands and brushes himself off. "Gee thanks, Alex. But I could've handled myself." Alex glares at him. "Sure if you want to become chopped beef! Please keep the antagonizing for another time." She flips her short black hair and walks away. She passes by the old maple tree, where Kelly sat reading a book. Kelly sits up, "So what was that about?" Alek sighs, "Oh just the jokester playing around again." Suddenly the girls hear shouting and cursing all directed at Wayne. Alex sighs again, "Dammit Wayne!" They walk over to the lake where they see Klaus getting up from the lake he appears to have fallen into. Klaus wrings out his cloak, mumbling curse words in German. Alex asks, "Ok let me guess, he shoved you in the lake and ran away?" Klaus stares at her with green eyes. "Yes. At least my sword didn't take a swim as well." Alex turns on her heel. "Damn him. I'll go find him. And possibly kick him in the face or something," she mumbles.
    ***
    Kelly and Klaus join Catherine and Nate. Nate sits cross-legged on the bench and Catherine sits on the opposite side and is apparently drawing some still life. "Nate sits forward and laughs, "Heh, heh, seems like the jokester got after you again." Klaus glares at him, "Oh shut it!" Catherine ignores them and looks up at Kelly. She sees an expression in Kelly she never has before. "Uh, Kelly, is something the matter?" Kelly's reddish-brown eyes flicker, "Eh? Oh, everything is fine...it's just..." She twirls the purple in her hair. Nate looks at her. "It's just?" Kelly looks down and continues, "It's just I have this feeling that something bad is going to happen. Along with the feeling that we are being watched." Klaus touches her shoulder. "Oh, it's in your head. I doubt anyone would try to infiltrate our area." Kelly looks back up. "I'll catch up with you guys later. I'm going inside." Catherine watches her leave. She thought, I hope everything will be okay, my friend.
    ***
    Alex angrily walks around the house. "Where the hell did he run off to?" Suddenely she feels a rush of air and it sent chills down her spine. "Wayne is that you? Stop fooling around. I mean it or I will drop kick your butt out of the country." She then sees a crumpled figure on the sidewalk. She goes closer and it turns out to be Wayne. "Oh my gosh. Wayne! Are you all right?! Say something!" She carefully moves him. His head sat in a puddle of blood and it stains his sandy blonde hair and covers some of his handsome face. His shirt is slashed and blood stains it. He opens his brown eyes. "Alex? Oh I'll be fine." She helps him sit up. "What on earth happened to you?" He winces, "Ngh, I was going to turn back and join you guys but then I saw someone run around the side. I caught up to him and before I could think I was hit. He slammed my head on the ground and slashed me on the chest. I assume that he's a vampire based on how fast he was." Alex panics, "Somebody help me!"
    ***
    Nate suddenly jumps up. "Did you hear that. Alex needs some help." Catherine and Klaus follow him. They find Wayne on the ground in a puddle of blood next to Alex, whose is in tears. Catherine stares at the mess, "Oh god. Who did this?!" Alex, holding back tears, says "An intruder." Wayne says, "I think Kelly is in danger. The intruder said her name before I fell into unconsciousness. But be careful he is a vampire." Nate gasps, "What?!" Catherine turns around. "Stay here! I'm going after him."
    ***
    Kelly wanders throughout the house. "Sigh, I'm still not used to these endless hallways." She finds a flight of stairs leading down to what appears to be a basement. She looks around in the dim light and suddenly sees a shadowed figure. "Who are you?" She hears a slight laugh and it sounds vaguely familiar to her. "Heh, heh. Well long time no see my dear Kelly. How have you been after all these years?" Kelly takes a step forward. "I have heard your voice before but I don't remember where." The shadowed man appears. He is wearing a black suit, his long silver hair hung to behind his elbows, his eyes were dark red, and he carried a rose in an elegant manner. "Oh forgive me. I am Joseph Rosen. Leader of the Knights of Darkness." He bowed very politely to Kelly. Kelly looks at him, "Rosen? As in the Kingdom?" He stands up, "I'm afraid not. I left that pathetic Kingdom years ago. I am working on creating my own empire. I was hoping you could be one who could help me." He smiles and white fangs glisten from his lips. Kelly takes a step back, "Vampire! What could you want with me?" He laughs, "Why to help us destroy the Kingdom and rebuild it to accept people of out kind, Kelly Rosen."
    ***
    Catherine runs through the halls desperately hoping she isn't too late. She finds an open door leading to the basement. "Oh Kelly please be okay."
    ***
    Kelly gasps, "We are related?! But I'm not a vampire." Joseph stares at her, "Oh soon enough you will be. It's in your blood. But I need you because of your healing abilities. You can heal yourself and others at a rate faster than ourselves. Who knows how potent that ability will be when you awaken though." Kelly steps forward, "I will not join you! If your going to hurt others than leave me out of it!" Joseph laughs again, "You said it but then now I'll have to kill you." He draws a short sword and slashes Kelly's side. "I'd really hate to do this but it has to be done." Catherine appears out of nowhere. "Stop right there!" Her face shows no panic but she is deadly serious. It frightens Kelly a bit. Joseph turns. Well then, why don't you die as well?!" He jumps up and stabs her. Kelly shouts. "No!" Blood stains Catherine's shirt. She gets up. Her eyes red as blood and fangs extend from her lips. "I think this was a big mistake on your part." Joseph grabs his sword, " I have heard of your kind before. Splendid! I will enjoy killing you!" A dark red sword appears in Catherine's hands and she slices off his arm. Joseph screehes in pain and ran toward the open window. "Well then, I guess I'll have to try again another time. Farewell Crusnik, and to you too Kelly."
    ***
    Kelly is silent and she stares at Catherine, now in her normal form. Catherine comes over and helps her up, "Are you okay?" Kelly looks herself over, "I'll be fine, it'll heal quickly. But I've got to say you are quite impressive. I have never expected this power from you. But why didn't you tell any of us?" Catherine sighs, "Because it is a power no one should take lightly. I am lucky to control it at times. But despite all that I would still use Crusnik. I just wanted you not to be afraid." Regret floods Catherine's face. Kelly touched her. "I'm not afraid at all. But rest assured I won't tell anyone if that's what you want. But I appreciate you for saving my life." Catherine looks at her and smiles. "Thank you, my friend."