The night was cold when Kimberly and Roberto returned to Blood's Bar after yet another frustrating investigation.
No trace of the vampire they had been pursuing.
Roshi sat behind the counter with an unlit cigarette between his teeth and a pile of overdue bills in front of him.
The air felt heavy.
Then the door opened with a metallic click.
A young woman walked in like she owned the place.
Black hair with pink streaks, stylish clothes — a leather jacket with golden accents, plaid skirt, boots with chains.
Her deep brown eyes scanned everything with suspicion… and a hint of boldness.
"So this is… the Monster Hunters' office?" she asked with a firm, slightly ironic tone.
Roberto's eyes widened, unsure how to respond.
Kim crossed her arms, wary.
"Depends. Who's asking?"
The girl flicked her bangs to the side with a smug smile.
"Name's Mandy. My aunt Valentine disappeared two days ago.
Word is she was last seen near the docks where… weird things happen."
Kim felt a twinge of alertness.
Docks and "weird" almost always meant monsters.
"You suspect something specific?" Kim asked, sharp.
Mandy took a breath and removed a bracelet of crescent moon charms from her wrist.
"My aunt… she's a witch. Not the love potion cliché kind.
The kind who keeps dangerous secrets.
If someone took her… it's because they want her magic."
Kim wasn't impressed easily — but magic was not something to underestimate.
She grabbed her jacket and the gun at her waist.
"Roshi, we're taking this case."
Roberto frowned.
"And me? I just stay here?"
Kim gave him a teasing half-smirk.
"Remote support. And try not to crash any servers this time."
He blushed.
"It was accidental…"
Salt Blake Docks
The sea slapped against old wooden platforms.
The fog was so thick it felt alive — and that was never a good sign.
Mandy led the way, nervous.
"My family always had the right enemies and the wrong allies," she muttered.
"Welcome to real life," Kim replied.
They found a warehouse door marked with hastily painted arcane symbols.
"That's necromancer work," Mandy whispered.
Kim kicked it open before Mandy could explain why she… shouldn't.
Inside, corpses — reanimated by dark magic — rose to their feet.
Jaws cracking.
Empty green-glowing eyes fixed on them.
"Oh great. Low-tier mummies," Kim growled.
"I miss vampires."
She dashed forward — claws extending, crimson eyes gleaming.
She fought brutally — precise strikes using vampiric strength and supernatural agility.
But the magic-soaked bandages latched onto her, tugging and restricting movement.
Her coat tore at the shoulder — then down the side.
"Seriously!? This ALWAYS happens!" she snapped, ripping the dangling sleeve off completely.
"You fight well… but dress terribly for the job!" Mandy yelled.
After a short but intense fight, they found Aunt Valentine trapped inside a magic circle.
Mandy rushed to her, teary-eyed.
"Auntie! Are you okay?"
The older witch smiled weakly.
"Wouldn't have managed without your friend there…"
Kim wiped blood — not hers — from her mouth and looked away, awkward.
Back at the bar
Mandy watched Kim trying to sew her coat back together.
A total disaster.
"You need better clothes," Mandy declared.
"Stuff that doesn't rip with a tiny bite."
"If there's magic in it, even better," Kim grumbled, tugging the thread with her teeth.
Mandy lit up with excitement.
"I can do that. I'm a designer… and a witch. Perfect combo for monster-proof fashion."
Kim's eyes widened.
"Seriously?"
"I see you as an investment. Stylish hunters get more clients."
She winked.
"And it's the least I can do after you saved my aunt."
Kim sighed — a hint of a smile showing.
"Then you're hired."
From the counter, Roberto mumbled:
"Our team keeps getting bigger…"
Roshi smirked proudly behind his newspaper.
Kim looked at Mandy and held out her hand.
"Welcome to the Monster Hunters."
Mandy shook it firmly.
A Witch's Celebration
Later, with everything handled and safe, Valentine insisted they needed a celebration ritual.
"You saved my life — that deserves more than a simple thank-you.
We're going shopping!" she said, clapping cheerfully for someone who'd been kidnapped hours ago.
Kim blinked, confused.
"Shopping? Like… clothes?"
"Darling, a monster hunter shouldn't look like she lives in an alley," Valentine said with graceful sass, taking Kim by the hand and pulling her outside.
Mandy followed, laughing at Kimberly's bewildered expression.
The Night of New Outfits
They spent hours hopping through eccentric stores:
❖ Jackets reinforced with magical fibers
❖ Pants that adapted to movement
❖ Boots inscribed with anti-slip runes
❖ Enchanted accessories faintly glowing under the city lights
Kim pretended not to care —
but her eyes betrayed her excitement.
For once, she was doing something normal.
Something a girl her age should do.
Between jokes, laughter, and absurd durability tests — like Kim punching a mannequin so hard shelves nearly collapsed — the tension melted away.
A friendship was taking shape.
Night deepened. Bags in hand, the trio returned to the main street.
Valentine squeezed their hands, proud.
"You two take care of each other. The world out there grows darker every day…"
Kim nodded, holding the bag with her first tailor-made hunting uniform.
Mandy was already buzzing with plans to upgrade Kimberly's entire wardrobe.
As Valentine walked away, Kim inhaled… and called out:
"Hey, Candy Witch!"
Valentine froze for a second—
then laughed like she'd just received the best nickname of her life.
"I expect you to wear that name with pride, dear!" she replied, blowing a kiss through the air.
Mandy nudged Kim.
"'Candy Witch,' huh?
You're way more fun than you look, Kimberly."
Kim rolled her eyes…
but couldn't hide her smile.
Her new family was growing.
And with it — the courage to face whatever monsters came next.