Celia Pierce, Queen of Shadow Clan and their Realm, smiled proudly as her foster son walked forward to accept his new weapon which their Blacksmith had made special for him - signaling him coming of Age and the Parting that they would be celebrating tonight.

"Malik Pierce, do you pledge to always put our people's need before yourself?" An Elder asked the kneeling man before him.

"Yes Elder."

"Do you pledge to protect our world in the upcoming War?" The Elder looked hard at Malik, holding his stare till he answered.

"Yes Elder."

"Lastly, do you pledge to return so that you can take over from Queen Celia and rule with a wise hand?"

"I pledge to all three calls, I pledge on my soul." the elder's hard stare melted to a fond smile as he placed a silver crown on the young man's bowed head.

"Rise Prince Malik, accept these weapon from your Realm. We pray to The Great, they'll guide you wisely and with a steady hand. Accept our strength to help you on your Quest, may it aid you in danger so that you can return safely." Malik rose, standing his six feet and seven inches.

"I thank the whole Clan for their aid on my Quest." He took the offered weapons, two beautifully daggers with a handle of elephant's tusk with carving in their tongue and a small, light sword - no more than a large dagger really, with slightly curved blade. He quickly strapped one dagger on his thigh and one on his back, hidden by his long hair. He turned with the sword still in his hand, to the Clan looking at him; waiting.

"I will miss our Realm while on my Quest, but I know its here when I'm done and Dracula be dammed if someone tries to keep me from returning." Chuckles spread through the room as a familiar 'Ahem' was heard from behind Malik. "Sorry Mother." He turned back to his Clan, already missing them. "Well, farewell until The Great Dracula crosses our paths again, I will forever be thankful to you all for making my eyes see the truth about the world around me." The crowd as one bowed their heads, in accepting of his words. Malik lifted his sword over his head. /Death to all Sun-Walkers who defies us! We are supreme! /

The whole Shadow Clan answered by snarling, hissing and growling and one or two were making battle cry's, and at his last sentence they all as One lifted their heads, eyes turning to the glass roof and a dark sky only lighted by the glowing moon.

The Queen then stood and addressed her peoples, stopping their noises.

"Great Dracula watch over our Prince, guide him with your wisdom as he for fills his Quest!" she added in a whisper, heard only by her two maids behind her. "Keep my Son alive and let him return to me…"

The room again erupted in cheering, meaning; their snarls, hissing and growls there were the foundation in their tongue.

"Mother, I'm not even gone yet and you already at it with brooding over my safety? How did I ever come to have such a mother-hen … I'll never know." Malik plopped down on his big pillow by her feet, glancing at her sideway, a smirk gracing his handsome face.

"Oh hush Son, a mother have the rights to worry. You should rather prepare yourself than biting at me, have you even packed yet?" Malik made a face.

"Mooom! Now…? They just started the feast … besides, my maid are packing most of it." Celia sighed as her son battered his eyelashes at her - like a fleeting asking to feed.

"Fine but I hope that maid of yours remembered those potion and don't you dare forget…" Malik tuned her out for a moment as a servant boy, teen really, came with wine, trembling a little as he felt Malik's electric green eyes follow his every move.

"Does my Prince require something?" Malik waved the teen over who hurried to fall on both knees before his Prince, wrist upwards and arms stretched out to him. Malik took one arm and pulled the boy flush up against him, tongue darting out to lick a trail up the Teen's cheek.

"You will report to my room in thirty minutes, bathed and fed, understood Sweetie?"

The addressed teen trembled again, having heard much of his Prince's taste in teen boys but having no saying, he could only nod.

"May I retreat to my room to prepare?" Malik give one more lick, showing the boy away from him before turning to his smirking Queen.

"What's with you Woman? One minute you're all broody and now your smirking?" Malik glared at his mother. "Your mood swings gives me headaches!"

"Running off for a little goodbye goody? Can't blame you though, he smelled really nice!" Malik sometimes wondered just how her mother became Queen - yeah sure the sons were years younger, so what? But his mother refused to talk about it.

"Am I know for anything less?" Celia laughed; she was going to miss her son's sarcastic marks and wits.

"Just stay safe and come back to me, promise?" Malik stood and kissed his mother's cheek, whispering softly into her ear.

"I'm Malik Pierce; I don't do 'safe' - way too boring." Celia laughed with mixed feelings; sad because her son were parting with her for the first time in five years and humor from his casual way of dismissing things.

"Harry…." That caught his attention and he starred at his mother with unreadable eyes. She couldn't really blame him as she had told him his new name from the moment she saw him and only used that - always. Malik had often wondered if she even knew it. "Just come back to me…" Malik leaned down and placed a soft, warm kiss on her forehead.

"Not even The Great could hold me from coming back to you, Ma. I Will Come Back."