Chapter 1

Carey looked out the window in the back seat as they drove towards New Jersey again.

“Mom,” she said.

“Yeah Care what is it?”

“Don’t you ever get sick of going to New Jersey?”

“No,” said her mother. “I thought that you liked New Jersey,” said her mother. “I remember two years ago you even had a boyfriend.”

“Well yeah,” said Carey. “But the key word is had. We haven’t talked in ages. It never really worked out. He liked Agnes.”

“Oh,” said her mother. “I thought Agnes was a nice girl.”

“Me too,” said Carey. “But I just didn’t like what she did to us.”

“Well,” said her mother. “I’m surprised you haven’t gotten over it yet.”

“Well,” said her older sister Josie sitting next to her. “Maybe we’ll see Nitty huh Care?”

“Who’s Nitty?” her mother asked. Carey gave Josie a why-do-you-have-to-act-so-stupid look. She was really mad now. She had to come up with something now.

“She’s a stray cat we had two years ago,” said Carey. “But then she ran away and everything.”

“Well it’s a pitty we never found out who the Devil in New Jersey was,” said her mother. “I still remember that scream as well as I remember two plus two.”

“I doubt I’ll ever forget it,” said Josie and Carey definitely agreed.

“I think I forgot,” said her father. “But that’s just me. Don’t say I’m evil because of it.”

“Well,” said Carey. “I don’t call my father evil.”

“Nor do I pa,” said Josie and they laughed. Carey loved her family and she knew that they’d mended it up together with Nitara’s help. Carey missed Nitara more then anyone else. She sometimes found herself talking to Jake about it and that was probably the biggest shock. She had recently found out that he’d had a crush on Nitara and she just thought that that was plain weird and so did everyone else and they hadn’t even met Nitara and Carey was glad that she had a secret.

“Are we there yet?” her little sister Ivy asked.

“No not yet Ive,” said her mother. Ivy growled at her mother like a dog trying to catch a cat. She hated being called Ive and Carey really couldn’t blame her.

“Why do you call me Ive?” Ivy asked.

“It sounds cute,” said their mother and Ivy growled again. She hated being called cute. She was about eight and she hated her name almost as much as she hated Carey and that was a lot. Carey was sixteen a Josie was now eighteen and she had strictly said that this was her last trip to New Jersey. Carey wished that it was her that was having the last trip to New Jersey but it wasn’t.

“We’re here,” said her father and everyone looked out the window at their summerhouse. Carey loved it. It was white with only one floor and a basement. Behind it was a little wood.

“I don’t know if I really want to go into the wood,” said Josie. They hadn’t gone in the year before for it brought back to many bad memories and Carey hated it.

“I’m going to go later,” said Carey.

“Do you have Nitty’s grave there or something?” her mother asked. “I mean why else would you not want to go. I mean there aren’t any ghosts are there?”

“Course not mommy don’t be silly,” said Ivy with a giggle. “I didn’t know you believed in that mommy.”

“I don’t,” said their mother. “But the girls might.”

“Not really mom,” said Carey shaking her head and then they went off into the wood together leaving Ivy to help their mom with the luggage.

Kareem didn’t really enjoy living in New Jersey all that much. He was sixteen now. He had finally rubbed off on going to Maine. His parents had decided to stay home and enjoy the New Jersey summer instead of the Maine summer. Kareem really didn’t mind having to stay home. It was heaven to him. He loved it. He had heard from his friend Lewis that there had been a devil in New Jersey but he hadn’t believed it. Now he did though. Ever since Zytka he had believed in just about everything from ghosts to dragons. He knew it was stupid but Zytka hadn’t been stupid. He had had an obsession and it had been Zytka and it still was Zytka but he knew that he would never see her again mainly because she was in Maine and he was stuck in New Jersey and they were forbidden to see one another anyway because of Nala and Zaci (her parents). Kareem couldn’t stand them. It was because of them he lost so much. He hadn’t even managed to get Jade to like him again and he felt really stupid and his sisters Liily and Brandea made sure that he remembered. He honestly had no way of forgetting. It was literally impossible. The picture of the two of them still hung on his wall and he just couldn’t bring himself to tare it off. He hated himself for being so stupid. He just hated it. It made him feel really stupid not that that really said much. He wished that he’d had a picture of Zytka but she had left before he’d had the chance. Now he felt stupid. He carried his camera in his pocket wherever he went and Lily found out and told the whole family at dinner one night and he was surprised he hadn’t killed the perfect little Lily Burt. Lily Burt wasn’t really all that perfect anymore and boy was Kareem grateful for that. His relationships with his family were worse then they’d been with him before Zytka. Kareem just didn’t like his family and he had no way of sewing it back up together.

“There’s a wood over near the Tanner place over there,” said his mother as they ate dinner that night. “I think you might like it. Why don’t you check it out tomorrow.”

“I think I might,” said Kareem. He shuddered. He hoped that all woods did not contain vampires or he’d be scared stiff.

Zytka grew scared of her mother and father.

“You rotten good-for-nothing daughter,” said her father. “You betrayed us. And do not lie. You promised you would never see him or try to see him again.”

“Well,” said her mother. “That promise is now broken. And if she chooses I will gladly disown her. I don’t want a disobedient daughter. It would be such a shame.” Zytka glared at her mother and father.

“I love Kareem,” she said. “And I am going to go and find him.”

“And you are going to be disowned too,” said her mother. “Get out and go find your savage lover. He probably found a new girl by now. I mean really.” Zytka spread her wings and flew away. She flew around the Burt summerhouse and found no Burts in it and she wanted to cry. But she remembered that they were from New Jersey. But where in New Jersey were they from? That was going to take her ages to find out. She looked around and then she saw that there was a sign on their door. “Burt family is staying Trenton New Jersey if you wish to contact them this summer let me know.” There was a name and number. Zytka wanted to contact them and she definitely sounded human but just didn’t look it. But what would she say her name was and what would she say for her whereabouts. She decided this was a bad idea so she decided that she would have to somehow find her way to New Jersey without being spot by anybody. She started her journey to Trenton New Jersey.

Chapter 2

Nitara stared out from her hollow. She’d managed to return to her natural home after her mother had passed away. Nitara found herself overjoyed without her mother. She felt no homesickness. She just missed Carey, Jake, and Josie. They were her family and she was homesick for them and so far that summer she hadn’t seen a single one of them. She looked out from her hollow to see someone coming near her hollow.

“Who’s there?” she called and whoever it was stopped dead. “It’s all right,” she called. “I won’t hurt you. I just want to know who you are.” The person came forward and then she realized it wasn’t a person but instead it was a younger female vampire that looked only a few years younger then she was.

“Wh-who are you?” the girl asked.

“I am a vampire too,” said Nitara. “My name is Nitara. And you are?”

“Zytka,” said Zytka. “I met a human last summer and we err fell in love and we were forbidden to see each other and then my parents disowned me because I kept searching for him. They called him a savage because he was human.”

“Well,” said Nitara. “I have humans of my own and I haven’t seen them in a couple years.”

“Really?” Zytka asked. Nitara nodded. “You can stay with me if you want.”

“I’d love too,” said Zytka and she came over and Nitara welcomed the girl into her home.

Kareem walked ever more slowly towards the wood in fear of what he might see in it. He was nervous to find something terrifying. People would call him a chicken.

“Hey where you headed?” a boy called after him.

“Oh nowhere really,” Kareem said. “Just over near the Tanner wood.”

“Oh,” said the boy. “There’s evil stuff in there. I heard there was a vampire. Well actually I was friends with it.”

“Really?” Kareem asked. “I was friends with one too last year. Her name was Zytka.”

“That’s a pretty name,” said the boy. “Ours was Nitara.”

“Interesting name,” said Kareem. “What’s yours?”

“Jake,” said Jake.

“Oh cool,” said Kareem. “I’m Kareem.”

“Nice to meet yah,” said Jake walking over to him. “Hang on,” he said. “My friend Lewis told me about you. He never said you knew a vampire though.”

“Cause I never told him about it,” said Kareem.

“Well that was smart,” said Jake.

“Sometimes I’m smart and sometimes I’m stupid,” said Kareem.

“Hey look,” said Jake. “The Tanners have just arrived. Sweet. I haven’t seen Carey in ages.”

“You know the Tanners,” said Kareem.

“Course I do,” said Jake. “I went out with one and I broke up with her too.”

“Ouch,” said Kareem.

“Nah,” said Jake with a laugh. “Hey Josie! Carey!” They were walking into the woods and then they suddenly turned around when they heard Jake calling them.

“Jake!” one of them called. She was a beautiful girl with long broan hair and blue eyes that were almost as addicting to stare into as Zytka’s were.

“Hey there Care,” said Jake and Kareem knew that it was Carey and that she was just about his age.

“Who’s this?” Carey asked.

“He’s a friend,” said Jake. “Kareem this is Carey. Carey this is Kareem.”

“Hi Kareem,” said Carey smiling at him.

“Shall we go in and see if she’s there,” said Jake. Carey looked at Kareem nervously.

“What about him?” Josie asked.

“Well,” said Jake. “He claims he knows one too so we can trust him I guess.”

“Well lets hope we can,” said Josie. “She might not even be there. I seriously hope she is. This is my last summer here and I want it to be a good worthwhile summer and Nitara would make as worthwhile as ever.” Carey and Jake nodded their agreement and Kareem followed them into the wood. After walking a little ways they heard talking.

“Shh,” said Jake. “You hear that?” Everyone nodded. “It sounds like two girls though. It’s no one we know.”

“It’s—“ Kareem’s mouth had gone dry. It couldn’t be her. She was in Maine. He was terrified and happy at the same time. “It’s Zytka! She’s here!” They stared at him. “I would know her voice from a mile away.” They still stared at him.

“How does she know Nitara?” Carey asked.

“We won’t find out unless we talk to them,” said Jake. “Let’s go.” They ran to the place they were supposed to go to and Kareem realized that it was a plain little burrow. It seemed like something a rabbit would live in. Not a vampire.

“Nitara!” Jake called. The talking stopped instantly.

“Nitara!” Carey called. “It’s us! Carey, Jake, and Josie!” A vampire poked her head out.

“Carey!” she shrieked and she pulled Carey into a tight hug. “Oh I missed you guys so much. Jake oh,” she hugged Jake tightly. “Oh Jo how are you?”

“Great now that we have you back,” said Josie. “How’d you get back here?”

“Mother passed away,” said Nitara.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Jake.

“Ugh,” said Nitara. “You better be lying.”

“Oh,” said Jake. “I guess I am then.”

“I hate my mother and I still do. Who’s that?” she pointed at Kareem just as another head poked out of the hollow.

“K-K-Kareem!” Zytka flew out of the hollow and hugged Kareem so tightly he was surprised he didn’t suffocate. “Oh Kareem,” she cried. “I was afraid I would never see you again.”

“Well,” said Jake. “It looks like Kareem was right. How did you two know each other Nitara?”

“Well,” said Nitara. “Ask her. Why don’t you guys come in the hollow. It’s pretty wide we’ll all fit. Me and Zytka widened it a bit.” They all crawled in. It was lit by a candle in the corner.

“Where’d you get that?” Jake asked.

“Oh,” said Nitara. “Found it in a nearby store. I stole it. I used a big overcoat that my mother use to use as a blanket.”

“Oh,” said Jake. “You sure have it all in the bag then.”

“Well yeah,” said Nitara. “I guess we do.”

“I still want to hear the little romance story with Zytka and Kareem,” said Carey sitting back getting ready for story time.

“I may as well tell the tale,” said Zytka and she smiled at Kareem and began telling her story. When finished Kareem wanted to kill Nala and Zaci for disowning their own daughter.

“That’s evil,” said Jake. “They disowned you. Ouch.”

“Now I know why I insulted them so much,” said Kareem. “They deserved it.”

“Well,” said Zytka. “Maybe if you hadn’t then we might’ve had a nicer relationship thing a ma jig.”

“Well,” said Kareem. “WE don’t because of your parents Zy.”

“Well,” said Zytka. “Who’s fault is that?”

“You sound like my parents when you talk like that,” said Kareem.

“Well,” said Carey. “Maybe you’ll learn a few things from her like I learned from Nitara. She really helped us out a few years ago.”

“I’ll never forget those times,” said Nitara.

“Do we get to hear that story now that we’ve told ours?” Zytka asked.

“I guess so,” said Nitara. And she began talking about their times together while Carey, Josie, and Jake helped her out a little bit. Kareem just couldn’t get all of the things that he was seeing. He had Zytka back. And it was all thanks to meeting Jake. Jake was probably going to become his best friend and he knew that they would probably have the greatest friendship of all time.

Chapter 3

Carey realized that her parents had soon realized that Josie and Carey were going in the woods more and more as the summer went on. But Carey didn’t bother making up excuses. She had no time. She was to obsessed with the life she was leaving. She loved it more then anything else. She just felt overjoyed to be back in the arms of Kareem. She was just so overjoyed and she couldn’t help her happiness. She was so happy that she wasn’t with her mother and father anymore. It was as though Nitara had adopted her or something. She was definitely a much better mother that was for sure. It was probably because she was raised by the human beings. Zytka liked having someone who had the same hatred towards their family that she had. She enjoyed being able to talk to them about it. It made it really convenient. She loved being able to take her anger out without hurting anyone. Nitara was like her mother slash counselor. She liked it. Carey and Josie became two really close friends for her and Jake was just Kareem’s new best friend. It all turned out everyone wanted. But it all would end only too soon but of course Zytka didn’t know that.

On one lovely morning in the middle of July Zytka went out of the hollow and walked around for awhile while Nitara continued to rest.

“You’re up early Zy,” said a voice from the trees. It was Jake and Zytka’s head fell. “What?” he said. “You were expecting Kareem? Well his parents are major idiots I’ll tell you that. Mr. Burt started a new business don’t know what the heck it is but anyway they’re leaving tomorrow afternoon.” Zytka stared at Jake.

“They-They—“

“Yeah,” said Jake. “They’re saying good-bye to everybody tomorrow. I think they’re going to Maine first.”

“Yech,” said Zytka. “Never want to go there ever again.”

“Well,” said Jake. “With parents like yours I don’t blame you.” Zytka gave a hollow laugh.

“I will never go back there even though Kareem is going to be there. Never.”

“I can see that,” said Jake smiling. “Well I have my loss too. Agnes decided I was no good and she left me for good.”

“Ouch,” said Zytka. “I remember when Kareem lost his other girl Jade. Boy was she depressed. He wasn’t really. He liked me to much. But all the same he should’ve went with her.”

“Well,” said Jake. “I’m just like Kareem and you then. Alone with no one to love or to be loved by.”

“Me and Kareem will always love each other no matter where we are,” said Zytka. “But you it is different I guess. You didn’t have true love. You had it once but you threw it out the window for some Agnes girl.”

“The “chances of getting Carey back are really low though,” said Jake.
“Yes but it doesn’t hurt to try does it?”

“I guess it kind of does,” said Jake. “’Cause you don’t know what she’ll say. You don’t know what will happen after you ask.”

“So,” said Zytka. “You just have to be brave. And if you can’t do that you’re pathetic.” Jake glared at her but he walked away towards the Tanner home. “Good luck,” she said and she waved after him and he waved back. She was ready to see Kareem one last time. She still remembered the time when they last seen each other. They hadn’t really even said good-bye. Well they had but it still didn’t seem that way. She remembered how he had said be right back and then how her mother had come beside her and had made her leave the place. That was probably the worst part. She had never really guessed what he had went to get but then she spied on him when he came back and remembered the thing he had in his hand but didn’t really know what it was. Her mother had said it was some savage tool but she guessed it was something different. After he saw that she was not there he had begun to cry and Zytka had silently cried along with him. But now she might never see him again and she was frightened, frightened of the future that lay ahead of her without Kareem.

Chapter 4

Carey was overjoyed to have Jake back and she had called up Agnes and said thank you at least a thousand times. Agnes had just it was nothing but it was a lot to Carey. Carey was so proud to have Jake back and nothing would take him away from her again and she knew it. She watched Kareem as she and Jake and Josie and Kareem were walking to the hollow so that they could all have a farewell for Kareem together.

“Well,” said Carey. “It was really nice knowing you this summer.”

“It’s not even over,” said Kareem. “I didn’t even have a full summer. I only had half.”

“Well this half was good was it not?” Jake asked his friend.

“You could say that I guess,” said Kareem. “But I wish I had a whole instead of a half. I mean really. It would’ve made this summer a lot better.”

“Well,” said Jake. “Maybe you’ll get back with Jade in Maine.”

“What good’ll that do for Zytka?”

“I already told her and she’s probably told Nitara too as Nitara is like her adopted mother.”

“When did you tell her?”

“This morning,” said Jake smiling his secret smile. “I took a little walk this morning and I saw her

and decided to tell her so it wouldn’t be so hard.”

“Kareem!” Zytka ran up to Kareem and hugged him tightly. Carey was glad she didn’t have that kind of a romance where there was a mandatory good-bye. She would’ve died and she could see Zytka’s eyes that Zytka just might. “Oh Kareem,” she said. “I’m going to miss you so much. We didn’t even have the whole summer and I swore to myself that I will never go back to Maine. You understand why don’t you?”

“Yeah,” said Kareem. He looked on the verge of tears and Carey didn’t blame him. It was the last time he would ever see her again. Carey felt so sorry for the two of them. They looked as thogh they were never going to let go. After a few minutes they finally reluctantly let go of each other. Zytka was crying her eyes out now. Kareem took out a camera from his pocket.

“We need something to remember each other by,” he said to her. “This is a camera. I was going to get it last time but I guess something happened and it prevented it from happening.”

“What’s a camera?” Zytka and Nitara asked in unison.

“Well,” said Kareem holding it out to them. “This is a special camera. I can print the pictures right out straight after they’re taken.”

“How do you take pictures with it?” Nitara asked. Kareem told Zytka to get in a picture with Jake, Josie, and Carey and he showed Nitara how to do it and it was a perfect picture.

“How will we get all of us?” Nitara asked.

“I guess we won’t have all of the people in it,” said Kareem.

“Well,” said Jake. “Why don’t we have a few pictures of Nitara and Zytka together then Nitara, Josie, Carey, and me. And then we could have all the humans together so one of them can try using the camera and then we can have a picture of Kareem and Zytka.”

“Didn’t get much of that but it sounds good,” said Carey and they laughed and they started clicking with the camera. Carey noticed that Zytka and Kareem were probably the best picture that had ever been taken. They were wonderful together. They each had solo pictures that were passed around and then they were done. Carey went home with quite a few and so did Josie. When they got home they ran up to their rooms to put them into a private photo album.

Chapter 5

Kareem stared at the pictures all the way to Maine. He wished he had more of her but a picture was definitely better then nothing.

“Can I see the pictures?” Lily asked.

“No,” said Kareem putting them into his backpack.

“Why not?” Lily asked.

“’Cause you’re too perfect to look at unperfect people’s things,” said Kareem and she scowled at him.

“If he wants to keep them private then he can Lily,” said his mother and Kareem knew that they just might get on better terms now. He didn’t feel like a total loser now. His tongue wasn’t as witty as it had been before he’d met Zytka but he knew that Carey was right in a way. Zytka had taught him something just like Nitara had taught Jake, Josie, and Carey. She taught them how to love and care for their families and how to take up responsibilities nad how to do so much more. Nitara and Zytka were true friends. They were like teachers that no one wanted to be taught by for fear that they would lose their lives. Kareem was no longer scared of vampires. Well he was stil scared of two that were in his backyard when he got in Wells and he wasn’t looking forward to seeing Nala’s and Zaci’s faces when they found out that he was back and they’d already disowned their daughter. Well he knew that he was never ever going into the forest again. He didn’t care what his parents said he just wasn’t going to go. He was too scared to do it.

Zytka made up her mind. It was the last week of the summer and she knew that Kareem was probably frightened of his own property. He wouldn’t even take a foot near the forest and she wasn’t dumb not to know it. She was scared too. They had taught each other a lot but they hadn’t taught each other how to be brave.

“I’ll come with you,” said Nitara. “But we have to wait for Carey, Jake, and Josie’s next visit so we can say good-bye just in case we don’t see them again till next summer. And we’re not seeing Josie next summer. She already told us that.”

“Well,” said Zytka. “Maybe she’ll change her mind now that we’re back for good.”

“Well we don’t know that yet,” said Nitara. “We might get murdered by Zaci and Nala.”

“I won’t let them touch you Nitara,” said Zytka. They waited until Carey, Josie, and Jake came back the next day.

“We’re going to Maine where Kareem is living,” said Nitara. “We’re going to talk to Nala and Zaci.”

“You’ve got a lot of guts to talk to them Nitara,” said Jake. “Well at any rate you’re kind of an adult and Zaci and Nala are adults and they might listen to you instead of Zytka,”

“Thanks,” Zytka mumbled.

“It’s nothing against you Zy,” said Jake quickly and Zytka smiled a final smile at all of them to show that she had not been offended.

“Well,” said Zytka. “It was nice meeting you Josie. I guess since we won’t see each other again then this is good-bye.”

“Well,” said Josie quickly. “I might come back. You never know. I can always come visit during the summer since I won’t be in college then.”

“Well,” said Nitara with a laugh. “I knew you were going to change your mind. Well your parents are going to think it’s a bit odd.”

“Well,” said Josie. “I won’t mention it till a bit later on in the year. I’ll say it’s a maturity thing or something. Don’t worry I’ll think of something. I’m very intelligent.” Carey did a coughing fit.

“Josie Aretha Tanner,” said Carey stare at her in bewilderment. “When you’re intelligent I’ll be married to Kareem Burt.”

“That’ll be never,” said Josie with a laugh.

“That’s the whole point dumb dumb. I told you that you weren’t smart and you didn’t believe me I guess.”

“Well,” said Josie. “I don’t pay attention to things like that. I’m intelligent in other ways and I have a very good imagination.” Carey made a coughing fit again and Jake had to elbow her in the ribs so she would stop. “Truth hurts,” she said and she stopped coughing and kept quiet.

“Well,” said Nitara. “Guess it’s good-bye then. See you next summer.”

“See you next summer Nitty,” said Josie with a smile.

“See yah next summer,” said Jake and Carey together. Zytka just nodded.

“Bye,” said Zytka as they began to fly through the air and then they left New Jersey far behind.

Carey wished that they hadn’t left a week before she was about to leave for Boston. It was bad enough that she had two to miss now. Well she had three. She looked at the picture of herself and Kareem and wondered if she would ever see him again. She had his e-mail but that wasn’t like actually talking. She wanted to see him again. It wasn’t as though she liked him or anything she just wanted to see him. She knew her heart lay with Jake. She smiled at herself as she stared at the pictures of her with her friends. They were like her family. Jake was like her brother that she didn’t have and Josie was already her sister. And Nitara was like their mother teaching them what was right and Zytka was just a like a cousin. She was just a teeny bit minor but she still meant quite allot in the family. As Carey began packing though she knew that she was never going to forget her family. Not the Tanner family of course but she would never forget and would always love the Vampire family.

Epilogue

Kareem grasped his courage on the last day of the summer to go into the forest. He didn’t know why he wanted to go. He was just desperate. He just believed that somehow he was going to see Zytka again and possibly Nitara not that he really wanted to see her. It wasn’t as though he didn’t like Nitara. He just wanted to be alone with Zytka for one last time. Their last moment together had been around all their friends and that had been quite a lot of fun. When he walked into the center of the forest he felt as though it was happening all over again. Nala ran towards him and he backed away but he backed into something solid that was not nature. Someone went in front of him.

“You won’t touch him Nala.

“How do you know my name?” Nala snapped at Nitara. Kareem was shocked that they were even there. He turned around to see Zytka smiling at him and then looking back at her mother and then at her father who was behind.

“I know your name,” said Nitara. “Because I know your daughter.”

“How do you know my daughter?” Zaci asked. “Hang on. I know you don’t I?”

“Course you know me,” said Nitara. “You gave birth to me.” Kareem and Zytka stared at Nitara and so did Nala. Zaci was stalk still. “I didn’t realize it at first but now I recognize you and your name and you’re definitely the one who gave birth to me. Name’s Zaci? Am I right?”

“Yup,” said Zaci. “You sure are. Your mother’s name was err…”

“Xandra,” said Nitara. “Yes Xandra was her name Zaci. But of course in your opinion she was worthless because she didn’t give birth to a son and you didn’t like the flow of Xandra and Zaci so I guess you decided that Nala and Zaci had a better fit and I guess you’re right and it wouldn’t matter now that Xandra’s dead now would it? No I guess not. Well anyway I’m still shocked you haven’t left Nala. She gave birth to Zytka who fell in love with a savage. Just to let you know Zaci I was raised by savages because Xandra was trying to find a new mate after you left her and then she left me on the Tanner’s doorstep. So it looks like you’re in deep with this whole affair Mr. Zaci.”

“Well,” said Zaci. “Were you named by your mother?”

“Yes,” said Nitara. “I was named Beyanka. But then again the humans didn’t know that so now I’m Nitara.”

“Savage name,” breathed Zaci.

“Well,” said Nitara. “You probably wouldn’t have said that if I hadn’t told you that the savages named me that now would you?”

“I’ll give them minor credit,” said Zaci in a low mumble.

“You should,” said Nitara. She turned around to look at Kareem and her sister and then she turned back to Nala and Zaci. “Under no circumstances,” she said. “Are you to lay a hand on Kareem Burt. Is that clear?”

“Well,” said Zaci. “As you’re older now and as you’re my daughter I guess I’ll have to listen. You didn’t really betray us. That was your mother’s doing. Zytka did and I won’t forgive her for that but on the other hand I’ll grant your wish as you are not disowned. I will leave you in the care of Zytka if you don’t mind being her mother instead of her older sister.”

“I’ll be both,” said Nitara and she motioned for Zytka and they flew away. Kareem left the forest. He thought thtat that was the weirdest way possible to say good-bye. He watched as Zytka and Nitara flew away. The sisterly vampires had good traits. He went inside and e-mailed Carey and Josie and Jake to tell them what he;d learned about Nitara and Zytka. He knew that he would probably never see Zytka and Nitara again but he hoped more then ever that he just might one day see Carey, Josie, and Jake again. Carey had spoken to him once and had said that they were like a family. Their group was more a family than anything else. It really felt that way to Kareem. They were friends and family at the same time and nothing, even Zaci and Nala, was going to change that one thing that their family had learned.