• Chapter 6:
    “Luke? Where are we going?”
    Kim yawned. This was Kim’s third day with them. Having slept late, Kim was upset about being dragged out of the house to go somewhere she wasn’t told about. Walking in her usual shadow of confusion, Kim was led on and on through the streets and alleys of San Francisco.
    “You’ll see when we get there!” Luke turned and smiled at her.
    That is what he said the last five times I asked. Why is this such a secret?
    Who knows? At least Elliot is here. As odd as he is, he makes me feel better.
    Kim sighed and, though she was distressed and aggravated, she continued on behind Luke. The sun had set behind the buildings. Elliot was relaxed a bit more than they had when they set out, when the sun was still out. Abruptly, both Luke and Elliot stopped. In front of them, a large wall loomed, covered with graffiti and gum.
    “Up we go!!” Luke pointed to the top of the wall. “Kim, do you think you can…”
    Before Luke could finish his sentence, Kim jumped and landed on the top of the wall.
    “Ok, that works too. Well Ell. Up!” Luke’s smile had turned to a mocking one.
    Looking lovingly at his freshly-painted nails, Elliot hesitantly jumped and, in two swift movements, joined Kim. Before following, Luke checked the area around them. He flicked his wrist and appeared beside the others.
    Wow. I suppose there are many things about these people I do not yet know.
    Pointing behind them, Luke said, “Well, there it is. Our group’s rendezvous point.”
    It was near the water. The moon was rising behind them, casting a slight silver light on the slowly rising tide. Sparse plants and trees were scattered by the water. There were some people in the water, dancing peacefully. The water seemed to rise and fall with their every movement. A breeze blew through, sending the tree leaves fluttering. Far away from the sounds of cars, the bustle of people in the streets, this small place by the bay was silent.
    Luke jumped down; Elliot and Kim followed suit. With a closer look, Kim recognized many faces. Annie was sitting with two others, all three were glowing various colors; Lee sat with a girl leaning against his shoulder. The girl introduced as Kara, leader of the animal demon division, walked up to them.
    “Hey. Is everything ready to go?”
    Luke nodded. “Where are the other two? Tera and Jake?”
    Kara pointed up into a tree. Squinting, Kim made out the shapes of two people. As soon as she saw them, they jumped out. One was dressed in a black suit, the other all in green, with a black and gold cloak.
    Now that I think about it, everyone is wearing one of those cloaks. Am I supposed to have one?
    “Kim? There’s some more about our group you need to know.” Luke sat down, patting motioning for her to do the same.
    “What is it?”
    “The objective of this organization is to find traces of another organization that is,” Luke paused for a moment, “supernatural, I guess, like ours. This group poses a serious threat to us and to other people, magical and not.”
    “Oh. So, is that what we are doing now?”
    “Yep!!” Amidst the serious air of the situation, Luke resumed smiling. “It’s our nightly activity.”
    “Yes. Woo-hoo. It is exceedingly fun. I wish it would never end. Every night, I curl up in bed, wishing I could be out here searching for a group that has been extinct for 1000 years,” Nana, scowling, approached. “The best part: it is EVERY night for everyone. That is, except us vampires. I’m sad that we are the ones who are forced to miss a night of this gloriously fruitless adventure that will lead us to every corner of the earth, to leave us feeling satisfied that we have wasted so many nights of our eternal lives.”
    “Nana!!! You’re such a downer!!! Why don’t you just accept that they MIGHT still be around??” Elliot whined.
    “I suppose you’re right Ell. Maybe I should start believing in an organization that my own family, along with myself, killed off all those years ago. We are not thorough at all. Of course we attacked their home base on the one night every member is united, only to---’’
    Nana stopped midsentence. Wondering why, Kim looked at everyone. Luke was glaring at her.
    “Whatever.” Turning her back, Nana walked away, muttering in Japanese.
    “If we wait any longer, we won’t be able to do this,” Luke turned to the two who had come out of the tree. “Kim, this is Tera and Jake. Tera is a fairy and Jake is a bi—sorry, WITCH.”
    “So, we goin’?” Jake asked Tera.
    “Think so.”
    “Everyone in their group?” Scanning the beach, Luke seemed satisfied. “All right. Let’s go.”