It took David a few days before he finally called me. "I've got the perfect place!" he told me, ecstatically.

"Well, you certainly seem excited about it. . ." I replied, gleaming at him. I had to admit, it was nice seeing him again. Remembering back, I thought Seth had said he was to start school at Almahna Academy. But that hadn't happened yet. "Say, David. Why haven't you been at school yet?"

He finally calmed down as he gazed at me. "Oh, that's still working its way through the system. . . Should be a day or so. But I have some friends keeping an eye on you for me. Including this one guy, he's a total charmer. I told them all to stay out of your way, but I doubt if he'll stick to that."

"Alright. . ." I rolled my eyes. He really didn't need to go that far just to protect me, but I appreciated the thought. Since the attack by Evilon, or Vierre, whatever he was calling himself now, I had felt a little on edge. So, to be honest, it felt nice that David was looking out for me. "So, where is this place?"

"It's a place in the Housing District. It's so far out of the way that the Maji Guard will never even think to look there," he replied. I could see where he was going with this. "So should things get bad and your sister needs to lie low, that would be the perfect place."

"What kind of place is this?"

"It's an old tower. I think the Maji Guard once used it as a watchtower before the walls were built."

Thinking it over, I didn't really see myself puzzling over a crime in an old tower in the middle of nowhere. Then again, perhaps I just needed to see the place first before making up my mind.

There was one thing for certain, though. Based on the research I had been doing, it would be far away from the Necro Spirit that infested our home.

In the days since, I'd been back to the library, doing a little more reading on them in that book I had found before. Based on what I read, it seemed these demonic spirits would attach themselves to a home or a person. Based on what had been happening, I felt relatively certain that it was attached to the house. That would mean it would stay there and hopefully not follow us to this other place. 

I gazed around the empty apartment. Seth was at the school, doing administrative stuff, and Zoe was out with Fleur. This meant I had the run of the place on my own. This also meant that I was terrified. The demon could attack me again at any moment.

Appearing to pick up on my discomfort, David gave me a worried look. "Are you alright?"

I shook my head as I explained what had me on edge. "The atmosphere in here has been feeling heavier and darker lately. It's like the sun isn't really lighting up things  as it should, like it’s always dark," I explained as I looked around.

Just then, my eyes fell upon a peculiar sight—it couldn't be. I stepped toward the kitchen, gazing up at the Mystia lamp which hung in the middle of the room. Around it, I could see tiny black bugs flying and buzzing. They looked like Stirge Flies! That didn't make sense to me. As far as I knew, these small swarming Mystimon would haunt dead bodies or rotting food. But we kept the place meticulously—or at least, I did. I was kind of a freak that way. I couldn't understand what I was seeing. How could this be?

They were tiny insect Mystimon, so they weren't dangerous or anything like that. But still, it was weird seeing them here of all places. I would expect to see them in the Housing District, and did the times I was down there. They were all over the place there. But here, they weren't really a common sight.

"David, correct me if I'm wrong," I said, as I stared at the bugs making random patterns in mid-air. "But Stirge Flies are only common in graveyards, areas where someone has died recently, or garbage cans, things of that sort. . . Right?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure. Why?"

"Why do you think, then, that there would be a Stirge Fly swarm buzzing around our Mystia lamp in the kitchen right now?"

He looked at me oddly. "Are you serious? Don't you clean that place compulsively?"

I nodded. "I do, which is why I'm confused myself as to why I'd be staring at a swarm right now in our home."

"Did Zoe leave something out again?"

I shook my head. "She hasn't been doing that since the last time I got on her about that," I said, remembering the argument like it was yesterday—it was over a month ago.

"That's weird. She's not one to actually listen to you!"

I rolled my eyes as I chuckled. That was true. Though lately, she seemed to be doing a better job of that. It appeared we were actually communicating. Before we merely tolerated one another. Things were good between us now.

Resolving to ask Seth to get a pest control person in here to take care of that, I sighed. Left to their own devices, a Stirge Fly infestation could quickly spread to the rest of the home. The last thing I wanted was Stirge Flies in my room. Zoe could have them all.

"So," I groaned, staring back at David. "Tell me how to get to this place so I can have a look, myself."

"Better yet, I'll take you. About to head your way anyway," he replied, smirking. "Kind of want to see the Stirge Fly Zoo myself." 

Rolling my eyes, I shook my head. "It's really not much, just a small swarm around a light," I sighed. "You don't happen to have a way of getting rid of them, do you?"

He shook his head. Didn't think so. So plan A, Seth would have to bring someone in to take care of them. Quickly, before they overrun the place and move into my room. The very thought grossed me out.

"Suppose I'll stand here watching the zoo myself until you get here," I replied, bored. Suddenly, I wished I had checked out that book on Necro Spirits from the library. At least then I would have something productive to do while I waited to not be alone anymore. I wasn't sure why I didn't think to check it out—Oh, right, I didn't want to deal with Pax.

He glowed as he said, "Aww, missing me already?"

"No, just bored. . ." I replied, though secretly, I actually had missed him and couldn't wait to see him. Just admitting that felt strange.

"I'll be by faster than a Cheetorex!" he said as he clicked off the comm stone, leaving me in total silence. I almost wished he were actually as fast as a Cheetorex. At least then I wouldn't have long to wait.

Remembering I hadn't asked where he was staying, I wondered where he was coming from. Though I suppose he was probably staying at a tavern in the Market District. Zoe, Seth, and I lived where most of the staff, counselors, and their families all lived. Our neighbour, in fact, was the Vikarahn representative from Highwind and his family. I'd spoken with them frequently and even babysat their two children.

Gazing around the rest of the apartment, I felt a wave of uneasiness wash over me. At any moment, I felt as though the demon might lash out at me. Immediately I turned for the door and fled outside. "I'll wait for you outside, David. . ." I said to no one in particular as the scorching sun shone directly into my eyes. Hoping that I wouldn't have long to wait, I stepped down to the small patch of shade to the east of the building, breathing in the cool, fresh air. Or at least what passes for it in a desert. The air was dry, like old stale bread. I missed the humidity of the Quatrica Islands. The green hue of the grass. The sway of the palm trees.

The garden next to the apartment would have to do.

Lying back against the tree as I waited, I felt as though David would never arrive. Zoe's Dragron wasn't here today. I thought she must have taken her with her. I hoped Fleur would finally help her dismiss the poor lizard.

Remembering back to the last time I read up on Dragrons, and other Mystimon in general, I knew that there were some that simply didn't like the Flow. Those Mystimon; their tamers would keep them out with them all the time, as they became an integral part of their lives. I wondered if Zoe's Dragron was similar. Was it really as simple as Zoe not knowing how to properly dismiss it? Both possibilities were equally valid, though my money was on the latter, knowing my sister.

She had long struggled with Mystia Casting. Remembering back to the first professor who tried training her, they quit in frustration after a week! The second lasted about a month, though Zoe did successfully cast a spell during that time. I remembered how excited she was. But her challenges were only beginning. I wondered if there was any professor with enough patience to train my sister and help her get over this slump.

But that wasn't to say my time learning how to control my powers was any easier for me. To be honest, I felt for her. The difference was that I didn't have anyone to train me at all. Since there were hardly any psions left, I was kind of a rarity. I had to learn entirely from scratch. It was a process still, especially as new powers emerged over time. Such as the empathic ability, which was the latest.

Understanding Zoe's struggle, I felt much the same. I couldn't blame her for any of it. She may have even had a learning disability that made it difficult for her. Difficult, but not impossible.

I wondered if Fleur was the one person patient enough to stick with her and help her get through this. Since she really needed that in her life, I hoped she would be. I also felt as though the improvements in my relationship with my sister lately were in large part thanks to her. She was a good influence on her.

Gazing up at the sky, I closed my eyes, letting the wind play gently with my hair. Pushing my mind outward, I felt like a bird as I rose higher and higher above the clouds. Looking out around the city, I searched for any sign of David, wherever he was.

"Daydreaming again?" said David's voice, suddenly startling me. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

I shook my head. "I was waiting for you. . . Waiting in that place was something I really didn't want to do. The air is so dark in there. It's really kind of depressing. That's the only word I can think of to describe it."

Though now that I thought about it, it actually felt lighter whenever David was present. It was as though he brought a much-needed light into the home. A memory was stirred deep in my mind by the thought.

The shadows of the past will return to haunt you once more, but you will find light in true love. The words of the old woman from the item shop in the Market District echoed over and over in my mind. I wondered if she meant David was the key to surviving whatever this was? Could that really be possible?

Was David the true love the old woman was referring to?

"That makes sense, given that Necro Spirit problem. . ." said David thoughtfully. "Have you made any headway yet on how to deal with that?"

I shook my head. "Though I've been researching it over the last few days, I can't find anything on how to get rid of them."

"Maybe I can take a crack at it and see what I can find," he replied. "I've got connections, friends, including one airhead who's been looking over you. Wonder if you've spotted the jackass?"

I had sensed eyes on me, but I hadn't really thought much of it. Could it have been his friends? I couldn't really be sure, certainly not with everything that's been going on lately. "Not really. Maybe here or there, but to be honest, I'm not exactly tuned into my powers at all times. I try to live my life as though I wasn't a psion."

"Huh, well that makes sense. You've always called your powers a curse."

I sighed. "You try going through life with everyone's thoughts swirling around in your head. . . and yours better get cleaned up, that's all I'm saying!" I smirked.

As much as I tried to block it, sometimes the thoughts of others would slip through, particularly whenever I was feeling scared or anxious. Let us just say David's had some rather revealing thoughts about me and leave it at that.

"Damn it, I always forget you're a telepath. . ." he laughed. "Anyway, let's go have a look at those Stirge Flies."

I nodded as he helped me to my feet. But just then, I felt a nervous sensation. My thoughts ran around my head in a circle. It felt as though something bad was going to happen.

In a single motion, I shoved David aside as I dodged just as something zoomed right past my ear. "What the Undergrave?!" he shouted, searching around for wherever the shot may have come from. "Stay down, Kairine!"

"David, no!" I screamed back at him, my pulse racing. Adrenaline coursed through me like my psionic energy. I clenched my jaw tightly, every nerve in my body telling me to take him and run away.

But he wasn't listening as he shot up and ran in that direction. I knew that whoever it was, they were still there. And they could fire at him again at any time. "They're to the left!"

A million thoughts raced through my mind. Who would be firing at us? Why would they be firing at us? Was I getting too close to something?

David charged a flame spell in his left hand as he searched around the building across the way from our apartment complex. There, on the west side of the building, was a sandstone wall, and just on the other side of that was a garden of flower bushes. Could they have been hiding there? "David, be careful!" I called out to him, but I wondered if he was even listening.

Just then, there came another tingling sensation. I knew they were on the move. "David, he's to the east around the building!" I shrieked as I rose to my feet, charging after him. Chills ran down my spine, but I kept running. My only thought was his safety. I knew I would need to protect David from himself. He wasn't known for listening when I told him to be careful, so he would need my powers.

Reaching out with my mind, I tried to penetrate the suspect's thoughts, but it was no use. They had apparently built up a mental barrier, which was odd. There weren't many people who knew how to do that. Who else would know how to do this? I was drawing a blank. I couldn't think of anyone else who would have that knowledge.

"They're blocking me!" I said to David, catching up to him.

He stared at me, bewildered. "What? They're blocking you? How is that possible?"

I shook my head. "It's not. That's what has me nervous. I don't know anyone who would know how to block me, other than other psions. . ."

"Other psions?!" he exclaimed. "You have got to be kidding me! Don't tell me we're chasing another psion!"

I shook my head again. "They seem to have escaped, though I truly don't know how. . ." I replied, thinking it over in my head. "We should call Seth, and then Tarda, and regroup. Obviously, I'm getting close to something that someone out there doesn't want me to find."

"Makes sense. . . Though I hate to admit it. Really wanted to scorch the bastard," he groaned, gazing at me. "Are you okay? Did he hit you at all?"

"No," I replied. "Thanks for your concern, and thank you for being here."

I really didn't know what would have happened if he hadn't been here, and that wasn't something I was comfortable contemplating right now. At the moment, it was time to regroup and figure out a plan.