A/N: Thanks for reading my story! Have fun, and if you start to get confused, message me. I'll tidy some things up in a jiffy. Review and tell me what you think! Quick rundown for those who are unfamiliar with FF9: Steiner is the captain of the Pluto Knights, and throughout the game, multiple people-usually Zidane-ignore him and his orders. Enjoy!

Prologue
Over 120 years ago...

Bodies littered the parlor. Several were sticking halfway out the windows, the virginal white curtains fluttering eerily in the gentle night breeze. Blood was splashed everywhere imaginable: on the walls, the floor, the ceiling, the doors. Some had even escaped outside, ruining the lush green gardens and beautiful flower arrangments. An Irish man of around 26 steadily walked across the room, his boots thudding against the marble. "Aye, Alessa," he muttered, his accent seductive yet his words clipped. "You'll be having a clean-up job to do."

The brunette woman looked up her rocking chair, where she held the body of a newborn infant. Her golden eyes reflecting the light from the fireplace, she smiled, and her white teeth were spotted with blood. "Didn't I tell you I wish to be called Renee? That is no longer my name. And I'm not complaining." Her English was improving, no longer slipping into French as often. "It means I get a little more blood as a reward. Besides, shouldn't you be looking for William and Katherine? They ran off in search of that blond-haired fool who dared to leave us when we needed his help. And what about Darla and Drusilla? They should be around here somewhere, feeding off other young royals." She tossed the infant aside. "Poor creature, he was so delightful, even in death. Did you hear his cooing? Like the sounds of a-"

"We don't need his help," the man gruffily interrupted. "He was a coward, and not worthy of your grace and honor."

"Come now, Angelus. You're making me blush."

"Fine, then. I'll be back before sunrise." He paused outside the door. "Don't eat anyone else, lest we attract more attention to Holtz."

"That blundering idiot on a fat pony? He would never dare catch us." Renee gestured to the adjacent room, where half the wall was blasted open. "I have powers the likes of which he has yet to witness. What we call art, he spits upon. Ludicrous fellow, he is."

"I mean it. It will be a red beacon in the night."

She sighed. "Spoil my fun. Go on, go on." Without another word, Angelus left. Renee turned her attention back to the bodies. "What a mess you humans are," she spoke to a dying lord who lay slumped against the wall. "One small little cut, and blood comes pouring out of you. Messy, messy, messy..."

The young man gasped. "Please...my fair...woman...spare me...please..."

Her smile twisted into a scowl. "Quiet, you mule." She struck the side of his face, and the man moved no more. "It's been a long time since I've spared anyone's life. Why should you have been different?"

--

Katherine leaned over William. "Did you find his scent?" she asked, her bubbly voice carrying into the surrounding trees. Her wide blue eyes gave the impression of a walking doll, and her fair blond hair and complexion were almost translucent in the moonlight. "William? We must hurry, so we can join with Alessa-no, Renee-and Angelus again."

He glanced over his shoulder, his dark eyes piercing hers. "He's nearby. In hiding." He raised his voice. "Carlisle! Come out! Face us like the man you once claimed to be!"

"It's no use." Drusilla drifted over to his side. "The poor kitten is frightened, scared of what we did." She played with her dark hair. "He's terrified of the monster she has become. The monster he created."

Like a shadow, Angelus emerged from the trees. "No. He sired her. I molded her to become a goddess." He glared at Drusilla. "Where is Darla?"

Katherine sneered. "She ran off to her Master. Slave girl, that one is. Skips away at his every beck and call."

"Of course she is, pet. Ever since you and your sister found us, Angelus has been paying less attention to her and more to Renee." William smirked at Drusilla. "I, however, know how to keep my women in check."

"Enough." Renee jumped down from the trees, landing silently on the balls of her feet. "Dawn approaches. We take our leave." She took Angelus' hand. "Come, let's run. I feel my exhilaration coming to an end, and it feels wrong." Laughing, they disappeared into the night.

A Century Ago...

Angelus sprinted through the woods, barely missing the trees and branches as he ran. The sun would be coming soon, and he needed to find shelter or else he would be burned to a crisp. He dodged another tree and kept running. From his right, he saw a buck rushing beside him, hoping to elude the vampire. The deer had no reason to worry, the silly creature.

This particular vampire was in too much pain to even take notice of much around him.

--

Renee huddled under the blanket, careful to keep her eyes on the cobblestone as she got closer to the small house. The sun was beginning to peek over the horizon, and the tops of her feet were already sparkling as if embedded with tiny jewels. She wasn't like the others-she wouldn't burn to death if exposed to the sun. However, she did need to keep a low profile, or risk the Volturi coming after her. Luckily for her, the resident in this house was home temporarily, readying his things to move on to the New World.

A window was down, and his sweet scent filled her senses completely. "Carlisle," she breathed, knowing he would hear her.

The front door opened. A man stood perplexed in the doorway, his light hair almost glowing against the darkness of the house's interior. "Renee?" he asked, venturing forward slightly. "What-?"

She threw herself into his outstretched arms. "It hurts!" she screamed. "It hurts...!"

Two Years Ago...

"Hey there, Tall-Dark-and-Rocking!" Lorned, the green empath demon, greeted Angel as he entered the large staff meeting room. "How goes little miss Slayer?"

Angel shrugged. "Basically told me to get lost. She was working with other...champions," he tacked on grudgingly.

"Are there other champions?" Fred inquired, still pouring over some papers. "I mean, aren't you the only vampire with a soul?"

Wesley gently pat her back. "Of course there are no other champions."

"Yeah," Gunn agreed. "Otherwise, our boss would be out of a job." They all laughed. Angel opened his mouth to tell them, "Well, actually, Spike is also a champion because he has a soul," but decided against it. No need for that news to come out quickly. "Anyway, you remember the chiquorita that escorted me around here? Finally got her digits. (Remember, this is pre-lawyer Gunn.) Said she'll consider going out with me."

Fred nudged him playfully. "Well, you are quite the ladies' man."

Wesley scowled. "Can we please get to work now?"

Lorne smiled. "Work for me is like break for you. I need to contact Mr. Shatner again. Seems he missed the meeting on Monday. Now I've got some cleaning up to do, thanks to one no-show and a fistfight between Schwimmer and Perry. Toodles!" He sashayed out of the room.

"The lab wants to go over a few procedures in case an experiment goes wrong, or worse, it wakes up. See you guys later." With a small wave, Fred followed Lorne through the exit.

Gunn knocked his fist against Wesley's. "Got some more laziness to cover. I'll be swamped all day."

Angel nodded to him as he left. "Wes, do me a favor and bring me one of your templates. I need to do some research."

"I don't know, Angel. Can I trust you with objects such as those?"

"They're books. Besides, shouldn't it be the other way, me not trusting you?"

Wesley gave him a blank look.

"Oh, come on! Remember?" When his friend still sported a expressionless look, he added, "'The father will kill the son?'"

"What?" Wesley asked.

Oh, damn. I forgot. "Nothing, Wes. Just...please get me one of the templates."

"Alright." Throwing Angel a confused glance, he walked out.

"Nice job there, boss." Eve leaned against the doorframe. "Almost spilled the beans about you-know-who." She grinned. "You know, a mistake like that could cost you and your friends this branch the Senior partners worked so hard to give you. They don't remember who Connor is, so...why remind them?"

"Get out of here, Eve," Angel growled.

"Fine. Fine. Just making sure you remember the agreement: you get Wolfram and Hart, and your son lives in peace...away from you." Her grin widened. "Have a good day, boss." With her usual second-smirk, she left the meeting room. Angel watched her walk away before going back into his office.

--

Thousands of miles away from Los Angeles, in Paris, Renee lounged in a similar staff room of her branch of Wolfram and Hart, bored out of her mind. She was summoned to a meeting involving the CEOs of different branches around the world, with one obvious exception. That single exception was one of the main reasons she was now counting the miniscule cracks in the wall (totaling around 7,295). Another reason was the CEO from England, who must have had the most monotonous voice ever heard in the history of the universe. Even Steiner held her attention for a minute or two before she lost interest. No, this guy had to be the most annoying, dull, noncharismatic, stupid, sexist person-

"Miss Monticello? Are you listening?"

She woke from her reverie. "You were just informing us all about the decrease in clients concerning tax fraud and such, which should be applauded by all branches, yet remains to be simply viewed as acceptable."

He blinked. "Er, exactly. As I was saying, this percentage should always be..."

And he lost her again. As his dull voice filled the room once more, she closed her eyes, gently playing with the silver ring on her chain. It's like listening to Ben Stein. Thankfully, her cell phone vibrated with a text message. She flipped it open. "Katherine is dead. A werewolf has appeared to have snapped her neck, which apparently killed her. You remember how she miraculously become human, thanks in part to the old Watchers' Council. Come to the States immediately. -Todd" Her boredom dissipated, replaced with cold fury.

"But what does it all mean, John? Can't you simply deal with them in the friendliest way possible? Grazi, prego, kiss-kiss!"

"The London branch of Wolfram and Hart does not make deals with lowlifes such as them!"

"Signora Ilona, calm down."

"DON'T YOU TELL ME TO BE CALM!"

Renee cleared her throat. "Pardon me, mesdames, messieurs. I have some business to attend to in the States. We shall have to continue this another day. I'm terribly sorry for wasting such valuable time."

Ilona stared up at her. "Does it concern the new CEO, Angelus?"

"Actually, it's just Angel now-"

"Hush, John."

"Uh, no. It has to do with the...Manhattan branch. I'll give you all the details when I return." She motioned to Jean-Claude. "Mon manteau, s'il vous plait." (YES!! MY FRENCH CLASSES COME THRU AT LAST!)

"But, Renee, what does Manhattan want-?"

"Like I said, I'll fill you all in later. Au revoir."

A Few Months Ago...

Vivian Gandillon crouched down on the roof of her house, staring up at the stars in the sky. She could sense the others returning from their evening run. She had already showered and eaten by the time they all left. Funnily enough, she had taken her time because she didn't want to go on a run with Gabriel. Although she had accepted him as her mate, it was still a little awkward to be around him, to be so close to him. Until she was out of high school, they wouldn't become full-time mates. Ever since Aiden had gone and shot her, she'd become separate from the pack, walking to school by herself and eating meals alone in her room. When Gabriel called in the evenings, she let her mom answer the door only to shoo him away. She was glad Esmé had finally gotten herself a man-Tomas-but still, Vivian knew nothing would be the same until she and Gabriel were completely together.

Deciding that Gabriel wouldn't call tonight, she climbed back down to her window. A light wind picked up, and she had the sudden feeling that she wasn't alone. Glancing aorund at the trees, she saw nothing save for a few early morning birds and a squirrel scampering up a trunk. The shadows would hide nothing from that brilliant nose of hers. Yawning, she tied her tawny hair back into a ponytail and slid into her room.

As if to laugh at the irony, the telephone rang. She sighed exasperatedly and stumbled out to the hall to answer it. "Hello?"

"Well, well. She's alive after all." Gabriel's amused voice was like a lazy rumble of thunder. "How have you been doing, Vivian?"

"I'm fine. Nothing you should worry about. What do you want?"

"Easy, easy. Chill, babe. Wanted to make sure you can walk and talk. Haven't heard from you in a few weeks. Did you know I was getting concerned? Not an everyday occurence with me."

If he keeps this up, I'm going to smack him. I don't care if we're mates; no one treats me like that. "Whatever. I'm alive and breathing, so you can go back to whatever you're doing."

"Not so fast, little girl. Word on the street is someone's looking for vengeance against the werewolves. Don't let anyone in unless it's me or your mother. And only us. I can't have you getting hurt, all right?"

"Okay, okay. Yeesh. Let me get some sleep, will ya?"

He chuckled. "Fine. Good night, my queen."

Stupid sexy werewolf..."Good night, Gabriel." She hung up and turned to head back to her room. "Damn him..."

Quietly, away from Vivian's earshot, a small giggle sounded near the road.