REM0TE

The airport was bustling with people rushing to catch their flights. Taylor, Kai, and Professor Lee were standing at the check-in counter, surrounded by their luggage. Taylor was busy printing out their boarding passes when she suddenly looked up, shocked.

"Wait a minute, who's this?" Taylor asked, her eyes fixed on Valentin, who was standing behind Kai and Professor Lee.

Kai turned around, a sheepish grin on his face. "This is Valentin. He's... uh... a friend."

Taylor's expression turned skeptical. "A friend? I only bought three tickets, Kai. We can't just bring someone else along."

Valentin stepped forward, a charming smile on his face. "I can hide in your shadows, if you want, not like I can travel in sunlight either " he said, his eyes glinting with amusement. "No one will even notice I'm here."

Taylor's eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean, you can hide in our shadows?" she asked, her voice laced with incredulity.

Professor Lee, who had been quietly observing the exchange, stepped forward to explain. "Valentin is a vampire, Taylor," he said, his voice calm and matter-of-fact. "And as a vampire, he has certain... abilities. One of which is the ability to manipulate shadows and darkness."

Taylor's eyes were wide with surprise. "A vampire?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "You mean, like, a real vampire?"

Professor Lee nodded. "Yes, a real vampire. And Valentin's ability to hide in shadows is just one of the many unique abilities that he possesses."

Taylor looked at Valentin, who was still standing in front of her, a hint of a smile on his face. She seemed to be trying to process the information, her mind racing with questions and doubts.

As they stood there, Valentin suddenly vanished from sight. Taylor and Professor Lee didn't seem to notice, but Kai felt a presence still with him. He looked down and saw that Valentin had taken form in his shadow, his dark figure blending seamlessly into the silhouette of Kai's body.

"Kai, can you hear me?" Valentin's voice whispered in Kai's ear, though it seemed to be coming from within his own mind.

Kai nodded, feeling a shiver run down his spine. Only he could hear Valentin's voice, it seemed.

"Yes, I can hear you," Kai replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

Valentin's shadowy form seemed to shift and move, as if he was walking alongside Kai. "I've been thinking about my dimension," Valentin said, his voice low and mysterious. "The world of Tenebrous, where the sun never rises and the stars shine bright in the sky."

Kai's curiosity was piqued. "What's it like, living in a world like that?" he asked, his eyes scanning the crowded airport as if searching for something.

Valentin's voice was like a gentle breeze in Kai's ear. "It's a world of shadows and whispers, where the living are not always welcome. But it's home, nonetheless. And I miss it, dearly."

As they walked, Kai felt like he was having a conversation with his own shadow, Valentin's presence both eerie and fascinating. He couldn't help but feel drawn to the mysterious vampire, and the secrets he seemed to hold.

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of the airport intercom, announcing their flight. Taylor and Professor Lee started to move towards the gate, unaware of the silent conversation that had just taken place.

Kai followed them, his mind still reeling from the secrets that Valentin had shared with him. He couldn't help but wonder what other mysteries lay hidden in the shadows, waiting to be uncovered.

Air flight reached the destination.

As they stepped out of the airport, the warm California sun hit them like a wave. Kai, Taylor, and Professor Lee stretched their arms and took a deep breath, feeling the cool breeze fill their lungs. Valentin, still hidden in Kai's shadow, remained silent, his presence a constant reminder of the mysterious world they were about to enter.

Professor Lee looked around, getting his bearings. "Well, we're not quite there yet," he said, squinting at the distance. "The cave is still about 10-15 kilometers from here. We'll need to find a way to get there."

Taylor pulled out her phone and started typing away. "I'll book a cab," she said. "It'll be easier than trying to navigate public transportation with all our gear."

Kai nodded, looking around at the crowded airport. "Yeah, that's a good idea. I don't think we want to draw attention to ourselves right now."

Professor Lee nodded in agreement. "Let's keep a low profile, at least until we reach the cave. We don't know what kind of... entities might be watching us."

Taylor looked up from her phone, a hint of concern in her eyes. "Entities? What kind of entities?"

Professor Lee's expression turned serious. "Let's just say that we're not the only ones interested in the Emi Stone. There are... others out there, who might be willing to do whatever it takes to get their hands on it."

Kai felt a shiver run down his spine as he glanced around the airport, wondering if they were being watched. Valentin's presence seemed to grow more pronounced, as if he was sensing Kai's unease.

Taylor's phone beeped, and she looked down at the screen. "Okay, the cab is on its way. It'll be here in about 10 minutes."

Professor Lee nodded, his eyes scanning the surrounding area. "Good. Let's get moving. We don't have much time to waste."

As they waited for the cab, Kai couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and trepidation. What lay ahead, in the depths of the cave? And what kind of entities might be waiting for them, in the shadows?

To be continued