We lived underground. They fed us lies in spoonfuls. Said their was a virus and it killed everyone but the ones they saved. Everyone but the children. Some actually bought it. Not Cash though. And not me. We couldn't afford to believe it. Our family was out there somewhere, alive and well. Dad had a Demon weapon so he'd be fine and protect and train Seilee. Cash and I were put in the same "house" if you could call it that. It was a 2 story living space with a kitchen, table and benches on the first floor, and the second floor was an empty space for sleeping. I was often alone, as Cash went to give her blood at a separate time. But that only lasted two years. My loneliness, that is. When I was 10, something came to me. A voice in the shadows. A power. He called himself Agemnon(Agg-em-non). He controlled the shadows. He cared about me. He would play games with me. Give me puppet shows. He could even make the shadows solid and would play chess with me. Cash had something like him too. She called her Aline(Uh-line). Aline could control the light. Bend it to her will. Summon it, create it. Sometimes she needed to create it, in all the darkness underground. Agemnon had plenty to use. They would take care of us. When it got cold, Aline brought us heat. When it got warm, Agemnon brought us cold. They would mess with the mean kids and even the vampire guards sometimes. When I turned 12 that all fell apart. After an illusion. A dream.

Suddenly, I was back in my kitchen, and there, in the corner, like in all my dreams were Cash and Seilee. I didn't want to turn my head. The memory haunts me. Always remaining the same as the day it was in real life. Nothing I could do to stop it. I looked. Looked to my mother. But instead of her blood being sucked out, the vampire and her stood side-by-side. The vamp smiled, taunting me.

"Kill me," he said plainly, a stupid, smug grin plastered on his face. I sneered at him. I felt the gun in my hand and shot him. Shot him like so many times before. Cocked the gun with such familiar, smooth motion that it had almost become habit in these lucid dreams. The tigger was pulled again. The bang ringing in my ears. I watched vampire crumple. My mother did too. I continued the motions removing the vamp's head and chucking it out the window to the sound of the splash that replayed as my only comfort in these nightmares. But then, my mother spoke.

"ChyoChi, why?" My mother criedw I knelt down beside her, "Why didn't you save me? Why didn't you care?"

"N-no," I tried to say, but she wasn't listening.

"Chi-chan, why didn't you love mom?" Sobbed Seilee.

"She's always loved dad more," Cash accused between tears, turning to speak to me now, "I just never thought you'd go this far." An illusion, I realized, not a dream, but something to fool my eyes. Deceive me. Control me. Cash. Doesn't. Cry. My mother caressed my cheek in a loving, motherly way.

"Allow me to control you,"'she said in almost a whisper, "We can destroy them all. We could kill everyone that hurt us. I'd be with you-"

"No," I replied quietly. My mother looked at you irritated and upset, "My mother's dead no illusion or illusionist can bring her back." The world around you shattered into darkness.

"Then work by my side. Let me help you escape. I've cared about you. Watched over you. Trust me. You passed my test," a familiar voice said.

"Agemnon?" I asked through the darkness.

"Yes."

"What are you?"

"Took you long enough to ask. What was it? Two years?"

"Yeah, yeah. Please just answer the question."

"I'm a demon. I can be your weapon." I considered him.

"Would you protect Cash and I."

"Until you die. I will teach you to control the shadows and harness to their power. Make the darkness bend to your will. Shield you and protect you. I'll teach you to-"

"Deal," I cut him off, "if I can protect Cash, then deal."

Suddenly, I was sitting on the sleeping level of the hut. A knock sounded at the door and Cash went to get it. The door creaked open followed by a scream. I practically jumped down the staircase to see Cash being held by a vampire. She was kicking and yelling as they dragged her away. Not again, my brain hissed, not a chance in hell. I followed them out of the hut, raced down the streets after them. No matter how fast they went or how many sharp turns they took, they didn't loose me until another set of vampires came and gripped me by my wrists and ankles. I screamed, kicked, and even tried to bite them. "AGEMNON!" I screamed. I saw the shadows quake. Wait, his voice said calmingly in my head. Anger bubbled in me. He claimed he would protect me.

"Shut up, livestock," growled one of the vampires. They took me and presented me in front of Krul Tepes and a  boy I vaguely recognized was there. Mikaela Hyakuya was his name. He looked at you. He opened his mouth to say something and that's when I saw his fangs. I sneered at them and Krul sneered right back.

"Go on Mika, take a bite," Krul pressed. Mika looked at me in a bit of pity and sympathy. He just shook his head. Krul waved dismissively at me and I was hauled away. "Mika, show them the way." He did as told and lead us deep into the underground. I was put into a one room bunker. The same as my old hut, except one floor, an actual bed, and no Cash. I turned to the door and watched Mika shut it. Anger and hatred hit me like a tornado.

"We must start training you," a hushed voice said. Agemnon.

"You told me you'd protect me," I growled, "You told me you'd protect Cash!"

"Cash doesn't need me. She has my sister!" Agemnon responded, "Aline will train Cash. You will both escape alive." I paused.

"Then where do we start?" I ask bitterly.