Disclaimer: I gain no profits from this piece and only own the story and my own added two characters. The rest belongs to Christine Feehan, she is soooo lucky.

AN: This story will reach a point, hopefully soon, when the Carpathians themselves will be introduced. It may take a few chapters though so I wanted everyone to be forewarned. Also I wanted everyone to know that this story wouldn't have made here without my friends encouragement and help getting it posted, so I would like to offer a special thanks to Lotus_Kiss. Enjoy!

Chapter 1

The long days seemed to only pass at a snail's pace. Long and dreary were not words that eased her troubled mind at all, but she felt they were the only ones that truly described the passing of them. His death had of course devastated her. It only made sense though, he completed her. Nothing about her had pushed him away. Even when she had told her darkest most hidden secrets he had promised to stand beside her. Now though, the only thing she felt was empty. She kept her promise though and that was all that mattered to her. He had made her promise she would live without him, that she would get past his death and do all the things he believed she was not only capable, but responsible, to do. She remembered how they would sit for hours watching the stars and he would murmur reassurances to her. Always looking ahead, he had obviously been born with a natural optimistic personality and it was one of the many things she had loved about him. He was her anchor to this world and that's why he made her promise, sadly though she knew she was disappointing him by existing they way she was.

A subtle noise brought her out of her musings and caused her to reevaluate her surroundings. She was in her apartment, if it could be called that, and she sensed no disturbances in the immediate area though she knew something had caught her attention and she knew she wouldn't even begin to feel safe until she had found the cause of the disturbance. Slowly she stretched her limbs and stood keeping all her senses alert. She had to grin at this thought, the use of the word all had a different meaning to her than the average human. She had been cursed, or gifted as some people might say, with an amplitude of psychic abilities, if they could all even be called that. Still though she didn't sense anything near her, but the presence was still there, at least she thought it was.

That was it! The only way she could sense something or someone without them being in the vicinity was through a telepathic connection, but that left though question of whom. He had been the last person she had connected to in that fashion and she was, without a doubt, sure he had gone on to the next life. She was also sure though that she had connected to someone, a person. To be more exact a child, years younger than she and he was troubled, in need of comfort. She instantly knew she would find him and save him from whatever caused his discomfort. She had found a short sense of meaning in this world and as she had been asked she would carry out whatever needed to be done and with that she left her apartment, simply walked out the door, with no intention of returning.

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She felt as if she had been traveling for forever. She had no perception of time or at least no more than she had had before, but she knew she must press on. Each minute she came but a little closer to her target, to her goal. She also learned more about the boy as she proceeded. She learned of his name, Kayden, and that he was only the mere age of four. That had been a true surprise, shocking really, that he was alone at such an age and she did not like it one bit, so she traveled with all haste to his location. She found herself enjoying talking to him, he was very perceptive and bright for his age and he always had so many things he wanted to share with. He often told her of his mother and father, but she noticed his hesitance in doing so, so she did not pry and let him tell his story at his own pace and in return she told him as much as she could about herself. It wasn't much in all actuality, but he seemed to understand her hesitance as well.

Finally after what seemed an eternity of traveling she knew had reached the city he was in and she did not like the looks of it one bit. She knew of his desire to return to his village, he had called it, and his people and she had every intention of making sure he reached his destination. Though it upset her to think of that time in the future, after she had escorted him home, but she hid such thoughts and feelings from him and did not let it detour her from the mission, of sorts, at hand.

It was then that she felt the presence of a creature so dark and hideous that felt her 'fight or flight' instincts kick in leaning toward the latter of the two. It was then that a new instinct washed over her and she knew on this night she would reach Kayden and take him away from this place, away from the evil in this city. She never wanted evil to touch her as it had her, so she would do anything in her power to protect him.

With this new state of mind she began her search keeping to the shadows as she had so many times before. She kept this up for hours on end trying to pinpoint his location with what little he could tell her after she made him promise that he would not move. She knew he thought her new found fears of the place he been for days as she had traveled to him and before then the weeks before her was unfounded. He thought her simply afraid of the new surroundings and she let him think that way as a way to protect him, but she knew better, so she searched. It wasn't 'til the following night that she finally reached his place of hiding. She found herself staring at the alley for several minutes before she finally stepped in and approached his resting place, his temporary home as he called it. Even though it was night she could see perfectly, one of her many as for mentioned curses, though this one she begrudgingly accepted better than most others. It was then that she saw him as he sat there patiently waiting for her, he let her make the first move for in time he had learned of her unsurities that she could help him and that this was a big step for her, a beginning and an end.

As she looked down at him with his slightly curled chocolate brown hair and large blue eyes her resolution became complete and he knew.

"Everything will be okay now that you're here." Kayden expressed reassuringly holding out his hand. "I believe in you Amanda."