Chapter 21-25

17 hours later in Chicago, Illinois, her flight reached its destination. Ling knew Choi really isn't her father's nephew. Choi is Chris' nephew. Ever since Jian met his nephew, they became really close. At the O'Hare airport, she found him waiting. Once their eyes met, she saw him smiling with joy.

"Welcome to America, Ling! It's been nearly ages! My, my, you're so grown-up!"
Ling embraced him politely, not feeling as excited as he was. "I'm so happy to see you, too." She says back. Even though it was true, but sadness consumed her emotions. Ling noticed a young lady slightly older than her approaching them with a grin on her face.

"Ling, this is my wife, Lindo."
"Hello, Ling! It's so great to finally meet you!"
This woman is beautiful. She must be around her 20's. Choi is almost twice her age! Gross. But hey, there's no numbers in love.

Choi's house wasn't near big, or luxurious, as hers in China. "I know you live in such royalty, but I hope this home will be great for you," he says as he drove. When Ling saw his house, she just shrugged. The house is a two-story building with a ranch style and feeling in it. Inside, she became flabbergasted. It was bigger than she thought it would be. Why, even the floor was made out of marbles!

"Our daughter is asleep. She'll greet you soon after I wake her up. You've remembered Zhu? She's about your age. She's a senior now. It's time she decides what college she wants to attend, don't you agree, Lindo?"
"Yes," she says and chuckles.
"Come, I'll show your room."
Just then, a small poodle dog appeared, barking. "Bo-Bo! Hush now! Get out of here!" Choi snaps. The dog glanced at the stranger and finally obeyed. "I'm sorry, I'd forgot to tell you about our dog."
"It's all right, really," Ling says with a small smile.

This is indeed very boring, says Jin. He followed the three upstairs to her new guestroom. The floor creaked softly as they ascended. When Ling got settled in, she asked them if she might take a nap.
"Why, of course. You had a long trip. Do rest." Says Lindo.
"Thank you."

Few hours after dropping Ling off at the Hong Kong airport, the two vampire hunters went to her school to get Jon's current home address. Of course, they needed a warrant. Detective Lei Wulong went with them and became involved with the hunting. "Here's his address," he says. All three observes and nodded their heads.

No sooner, they arrived at the apartment. They gotten a spare key from the main office and went up.
His room was all the way on top. The penthouse-like-apartment. The place was empty. Nothing seemed to be used at all. No dishes, no papers, or even clothes were scattered. Each man had a stake between his hands. It's for pre-caution. A sudden odor attacked their noses.

They searched the place and finally realized it was coming from a closet. "What the hell is in there?" Jian cried, covering his nose. "I don't know, but we're going to find out." Steve says. Lei pulled on the doorknob and a body collapsed in front of them! It was that foreign student! "So, this is the real Jon!"
Jian cried.

That night, Steve was in his room, sleeping. He left the patio extra locked. He even had his bowing knife and a stake hidden underneath the pillows just in case a vampire tries to attack him. As he slept, he was dreaming about what happened today.

But this time, he was left all alone. He discovered the real Jon already decomposing. When he was about to call somebody, a young man entered the room. He was wearing a dark hood that covered his eyes.
"Who are you?" Steve demanded, clutching a stake. "I'm am the one you seek," says the stranger.

"Show yourself, boy." The hunter orders. "With pleasure," replies the stranger. He watches as the unknown man lifts the hood up, revealing his face. Yellow-wolf like eyes, with sharp bangs over them, an angry expression that is making the hunter uneasy, and wings lifting up.

"No matter where you send my love, your powers are weak to stop me!" growls Jin. "Jin Kazama, as that is your real name, you will die in my arms! I'll have your head mounted on a wall!"
"Pity. For I am stronger than you, you have no powers to kill me!"

"Then fight me in my level. I've studied boxing for many years! I don't mind testing my skills on you." Smirks Steve, punching his knuckles together. "Is this a challenge?" Jin asked with an evil grin.
"Well duh, stupid!"

Steve noticed he was wearing his boxing gloves and his boxing shorts. "Yeah! That's more like it! Get ready to rumble!!!!!!" As for Steve already prepared to fight, Jin was wearing an ancient unitard ninja outfit, and he too, is ready to rumble.

"Now, no tricks. Supernatural powers are overrated in martial arts, ya' know," says Steve, smirking. Jin made a crooked grin and became serious again. Both of them got into their own traditional stance.

Jin was the first one to charge. He rushed towards Steve and performed an Ax kick. Steve barely escaped that move and did a British Edge Combo 2. Jin got hit by one of them, but managed to perform a low parry on all of them. He then grabbed Steve by his golden hair and lifts him up.

Steve did whatever he can to escape, but was powerless. Jin chuckled and threw him like a rag doll.
His body crashed against the wired fence. "Damn, you're pretty strong. I said no tricks!" he yelled, getting up. "I wasn't using tricks, you imbecile. I am just too powerful!"

"If you're so powerful, then why don't you kill me and the rest of the vampire hunters?" Steve demanded.
"You and your pathetic men are like toys. Taunting you is my hobby. Surely I wouldn't want to end your life on a bad note."

They resumed fighting. Steve performed all his best techniques. Jin was successful dodging and blocking his assault. "You're too slow," he says and kicks Steve in the stomach. Steve moaned from the pain and collapsed to the floor, hugging himself. "Get up, fool!" Jin demanded.

When Steve got used to the agony, he charged after Jin again, feeling his anger rising. Jin was taunting him. "Come on! Attack me!" Jin screamed. Steve threw out punches at him. "Is that all you got?"

Steve could not believe in himself. He is a great boxer! Or was. He doesn't comprehend his current failure. What am I doing wrong? He asked himself. Jin threw out a punch. Steve blocked it, but fell backwards from the strong force. He quickly got, did a side-step, and punched Jin right at his face.

Jin retreated and got back in his stance. Steve performed a low punching technique and knocked Jin down again. He quickly got up and kicked Steve below his kneecaps. He too, collapsed. As soon as Steve faced the ceiling from lying on the dirty floor, Jin sat on top of him and tries to punch but couldn't because Steve had tightened his arms around Jin's. "Ling is mine!" Jin shouted angrily, trying to escape the grasp.
"The hell she is!" Steve yelled back.

Before Steve could get up, he felt himself being lifted up. "No powers!"
"Stupid boy, I'm lifting you up with my hands!"
"Oh.yeah."
"It's time I choose a fate for you. Either serve me or die now!"
"I will never serve you, you demon!" Steve growled. The only thing he could escape was to poke Jin straight in his eyes! When he did, Jin released him, screaming, and cursing in his language.

Steve stirred from the nightmare and sat up. "W-what?"
Mr. Gou was standing by the entrance. "Excuse me, but Mr. Xiaoyu needs to speak with you in the library. Detective Wulong is also here."
"Oh, uh, thanks."

In the library, Steve immediately saw Jian and Detective Lei Wulong sitting down with a round table in front of them. "What's happening?" Steve asked, walking towards them with such curiosity. "We have a problem," says Jian softly.

"We believe Jon followed Ling to America. That's why he was here in the first place. We made a deadly mistake and must go to America to retrieve my daughter before this monster does anything to her."
"When are we going?"

Back in Chicago, Ling woke up by a bark. She was lying face down. She lifted her head from the pillow and looked around the small room. Where am I? She asked herself. Then, she remembered.

She heard muffled voices coming from downstairs. Their dog, Bo-Bo was still barking. The girl noticed there was a clock on the night lamp table. It read 7:36pm. Have I been sleeping all day? She asked herself.

Downstairs, a phone rang.
"I got it!" yells Zhu.
Zhu was two year younger than Ling. She was a little chubby girl with a little chubby face with a short black hair. She grabbed the wireless phone off its holder and said, "hello?"
A moment later, she yells, "Dad, it's for you!"

Damn, does this girl needs to shout like that? Ling asked herself again, sitting up completely with a yawn.
By the time Ling went downstairs, she noticed the family was setting out plates on the diner table. Lindo was the first one to greet her. "Why, hello! How was the nap? Is the bed too soft? Too hard?"
"No, the bed is fine, thanks."

"I'm making stir-fry. I hope you'll like it. Please, have a seat." Says Lindo with a big grin. Bo-Bo was the second one to greet her. He jumped on her, startling her. "Bo-Bo! Get!"
The dog obeyed, its tongue hanging down. "Bo-Bo is really cute," Ling says, patting its head softly and carefully.

"Isn't he? He's such a crazy dog!" says Lindo. Just then, Choi appeared, happy to see her. "Good evening, Ling. I just got off the phone with your father. He says he's coming here to visit us!"
"What?" cried Ling.
"Yeah. Isn't that something? He also says that he didn't have a time to chat with you and that he apologizes for his ruddiness. He sounded he was in a hurry. Hmmm"

After shower, she decided to put on her nightgown so she can go to bed early. "I'm really exhausted," she says to the family. "I do apologize. Lindo, the dinner was excellent. I thank you."

Back in the guestroom, she closed the door. The door that faces her room had a full-length mirror. She looked in it and gasped. Jin was standing behind her! Ling turns around, her heart pumping fast, and sees no one. It's just her. "I must be going crazy!" she screamed at herself.

The next day, Choi was down stairs, working on his blueprints in his office. He checked the time and realized it'' nearly noon. "Ling hasn't waken up, yet. I'd better do so now."

Upstairs, Ling was still in the guestroom. Choi quietly enters, hearing her breathing heavily. What's the matter with her? After pulling the blanket out of her face, he became shocked. She was sweating. "What the-?"

At a local hospital, Choi and his family waited impatiently in the waiting room. "What happened?" Zhu kept on asking. "We don't know yet. The doctor should be coming back."
Choi went back into his thoughts. What caused her sudden sickness? She was feeling quite exhausted when she arrived at their house. Lindo felt guilty. She believed her cooking made Ling nauseous. But, if that was the case, why wasn't the rest of the family sick, too?

"It's all my fault," Lindo whispers. "It's not you fault," says Choi, comforting her. "It isI shouldn't have"
"If that was true, we would all be sick as well, but it's not. It's too early to determine to come to a conclusion."

Just then, a tall and thin male doctor with a brown short hair approached them. "Mr. Chen, Miss Xiaoyu had consumed tiny drops of hemoglobin. We did a sample on its DNA and couldn't discover what kind it is. It's not human, nor an animal. She's still feeling ill. I think it'll be best if she stays in here for couple days."

"What? What's hemoglobin?" Choi demanded, standing up. "Oh, I'm sorry. It's blood. Does Xiaoyu take any medications?"
"Um, not that I know." Answers Choi honestly, feeling a little embarrassed. "How is she related to you?"
"She's my Uncle Chris' best friend's daughter. I'm watching her for them. "
"And do you have any idea why she consumed this unknown blood which, by the way, will interest scientist."
"I have no idea. Her father is arriving here. He'll be able to answer your questions. Ling will be all right, correct?"
The doctor sighs. "With that kind of situation, we don't know. It'll be best for her to stay here indefinitely."
"Can we see her?" Lindo asked.
"I'm sorry, but the nurses are checking up on her. Come back tomorrow, okay? Before you leave, please sign these papers."

At the O'Hare airport, Steve Fox, Jian Xiaoyu, and Lei Wulong got inside a limo. "To Marriott resort, please," says Mr. Xiaoyu.
"Right," replies the driver.
He helped the men put their luggage inside the trunk and off they went.

The hunters were shocked after hearing Choi's tale. "I must see my daughter and take her home!"
"But, they say no visitors," Choi protested. But Jian called back the driver. "No! I will not listen to you! Oh, no! That monster got her!"

Choi's eyes lit up. "What did you say?"
"Uh, nothing" Jian quickly said, knowing Choi is being suspicious. "Let me call my friend. That archaeologist. I mentioned," says Steve, changing the subject. "She can help us."
After making a phone call, Steve says, "she can meet us at the hotel tonight."
"Fine with me," says Lei, not too thrilled having a woman joining their club. "Does she study martial arts?" he asked, rolling his eyes. "Mr. Wulong, she is an excellent fighter. She probably can kick your ass."
"No women can kick my ass," hisses Lei.
Chapter 24:

The doctor somehow allowed the men to see her. And besides, the nurses were done with their check-ups, which might be the reason why they were. In the small squared-white room, Ling was sleeping. "The doctor has said there is an unknown virus invading her organs. It has drawn great attention to scientists all over America." says Steve, staying behind Jian.

The father held his daughter's hand, sitting down quietly, not saying a word. It felt cold as he rubs it against his. Quite cold, indeed. His guilt came back. All those horrible memories of neglecting her came flooding back. "I am a bad father," he whispers to himself. The rest of the men overheard him, but said nothing. "Let's leave him alone for awhile," Steve spoken a moment later to Lei Wulong. "Yai tai."

Jian glances at her face that once held rare beauty. But when he looked, he could not find that beauty anymore. The illness is making her sick. He became speechless. What is his excuse for avoiding her? It's a shame that Ling continues to blame him for her mother's death. Having to raise a child was difficult, especially when the child is a girl. It was so hard for her to be raised without a mother

"Will she be all right?" Lei asked a moment after long silence. Steve glares at him, emotionally disturbed by all of this. "I cannot say she will, but the doctor says she's in stable condition."
"Oh, how are you coping?"
"Can't relax, if that's what you mean," Steve answers and leans against a wall, closing his blue eyes.
"Me neither. Do you suppose we'll catch him?"
"I don't know. He has supernatural powers."
"How did you became a vampire hunter?"

"When I was a child, I became fascinated about monsters like zombies, ghouls, and yes, vampires after seeing a zombie movie for the first time. One day, when I was a grammar school student, my buddies dared me to go into this really bizarre bookstore in our neighborhood. They dared me for twenty dollars to go in and purchase a book. I didn't want too, but I really wanted to fit in my peers, so I went. The store owner was an old lady, all dressed up like a witch.

I thought she was going to kick me out the moment I saw her, but to my surprise, she welcomed me instead. I was terrified, but my mind kept telling me I was on a mission. "Young man, welcome. Is there anything I can help you?" she asked with a cackling voice. I thought she was an actress, but she wasn't. "I uh, I just want to buy a book." He says. "A book that is under twenty dollars."

"You want to purchase a book under twenty, eh? Well, I've got plenty of books that you'll love that are under twenties, my boy! Come, come in. What are you interested in?"
"Do you have any books about zombies?" I asked her.
"Zombies? Zombies are dull, boy. Why not buy something else." She says, cooing.
"Like what?"

"What about vampires? They're the devil's most precious creatures."
I gulped in fright after hearing her say that. My first intention was to run out and never come back, but I wanted to be brave and win respect. "Uh, sure, I guess."
"You're scared, aren't you, boy?" the witch says. "What? No, I'm not!" I protested, lying to her, and lying to myself. "Yes, you are. I have powers. You are nervous, but don't be."

She took me to a different room that had thousands of ancient books. "Here's the best vampire stories in all history! It's way more applicable than that Dracula's novel."
I took the book and read the cover: "A nosforatu's Tale."
"You'll love it, boy. It takes place in Japan around 1800s."
"What's so special about this one?" I asked her, rolling my eyes.
"Why, my boy, this story is based on true story as well as Dracula's! Read it."

I bought it. The cover does look interesting, though. The witch ringed it up, put it in a bag and gave me a strange smile. "And by the way, Steve, please have your friends stay away from my store."
I gasped when she said my name. I gave her a look. "How? How did you"
"I'm a witch. I can read minds. Enjoy the story."

I read the book, all right. It changed my life forever. The story was well written, but very hard to understand. I became more fixated with vampires every year. By the time I reached in high school, I joined the Book Club. There, I would share my short stories about vampires that interested a lot of students. "You are an awesome writer!" one would say. "Have you ever thought about becoming a professional writer?"
"No, I want to be a teacher. I want to teach students about mythologies."

Most of them thought I was just talking, but I was serious. Besides writing about vampires, I would go boxing with my father. He was generous enough to allow me to take boxing classes as well. It's my hobby. If it weren't for vampires, I would probably become a boxer by now."

Lei nodded his head. "Interesting story," he says softly. "You read a book, and it forever changed your life."
"Yes, I know."
"About that old woman, how do you know she was a witch?"
"I just assumed she is. I still wonder how she knew my name."
"Maybe she heard it."
"Maybe."

The men became quiet again. They could hear overlapping conversations from different people, phones ringing, and children giggling. Just then, Lei said, "we should see if that store still exists. Maybe someone weird as her might be a witch, too."
"You think so?"
"It's a worth of try."
"Remember you told me that Jin associated himself with an old witch to get that amulet?"
"I remember."

In order to have Ling, Jin must get rid of people who are close to her, and that is her father. He appeared in the room behind Jian. The father did not acknowledge his existence. He was mumbling to himself, as if praying.
"So, have you said your good byes?" Jin asked.

Jian jumped up from fright and turned around, his eyes wide open with shock and fear. "Youuuuu" he says.
Jin smiled. "How are you? Feeling guilty for not taking care of your daughter properly?"
"What do you want?" the father demanded softly.
"You know whom I'm after, Mr. Xiaoyu. Your daughter."
"You'll"
"Oh, don't play this ridiculous game with me."
"You'll never get my daughter, do you hear me?!"

The father charged after the vampire, releasing his rage and fury that has consumed his emotions over the past week. "You killed my best friend, and now you want my daughter?"
Jin strucked him, hard. Jian hit the wall, collapsing to the floor, breathing hard from excitement.
"You were always a bad father. Neglecting Ling when she needed you. Never attended her recitals, avoided her agonies, and so on. Why is that?"
"What are you talking about? I'd never neglected her! I'm a workaholic!"

"I think it's time you rest now."
"W-what are you planning to do?" Jian demands, his fear raising. "You know exactly what I mean."
"No, you won't."
"No? What is going to stop me from getting rid of you?"
"I..."

Jin begins to approach him slowly, watching Jian digging inside his pocket. "It no use. Surrender and I'll let you die peacefully."
"I-I have the amulet! Come near me and my daughter, and I'll put this around your neck!"
Jin roared with laughter. "Stupid old man. That amulet is worthless. It can't put me to sleep. After I kill you, Mr. Fox will join you."

In a speed of lightening, Jin knocked the amulet out of Jian's hand.
"No! The amulet" the poor man cried, mumbling something underneath his breath. "Please, don't kill me."
"It's too late."

Jin saw his daughter asleep, still sweating. She's continuing her stages, he said to himself. I must hurry before it's too late. Jian started to crawl away from this deranged madness. The pain on his head grew much worse. Headache was making him dizzy

"We'd better go check on Mr. Xiaoyu and his daughter now," says Steve, after waiting patiently. "Yep."
As the two men walked down the long busy white hallway, still hearing phone ringing and overlapping conversations, they suddenly heard new music. It sounded like a high-pitch shriek. "What was that?"
Lei cried. "I don't know."

"What the hell is going on?" Steve cried, now eager to find out. Just then, a male patient with a dark brown hair came out of his room, hissing like a cat. "Jesus Christ! A vampire!"
People who saw this creature began screaming and running around like a stampede. "Calm down, everyone!"
But none listened to the vampire hunters.

"Steve, we don't have our equitments," protested Lei. Right away, Steve knew what happened. Jin has bitten another victim. It's too late. He has Ling in his grasp. An old man was helpless. The vampire jumped on him and began to attack.

The creature lunged after Mr. Fox, acting as if the bullet did no harm. "Shit!"
Lei managed to find a hospital knife and lunged at the vampire, stabbing it straight through its neck.
The vampire groaned and slowly retreated. Steve gasped for air, holding his neck. "Did it bit me? Do you see any blood on me?" he cried.

"Check and see if Mr. Xiaoyu and his daughter is all right! I'll finish killing this freak!"
"Right," says Steve. He pulled himself to his feet and went into the small room and stopped. He saw Jian kneeling beside the bed, his back facing him.
"Mr. Xiaoyu?"
No answer.
Steve noticed Ling was gone.
"Mr. Xiaoyu, are you all right?"
Still no answer.
Behind him, he heard footsteps running. Lei appeared and stopped, too.
"Is he?"
"I-I don't know. Check it out."
"Me? Why?"


				*A Nosfortau's Tale* *Chapter 21-25*



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