Been on a writing kick all day. Here is another chapter, thank you to those who have reviewed!

It was a long morning and was turning into an even longer night. Cloud Strife wanted nothing more then retire to his quarters and rest, but His Majesty would have none of that. Sephiroth wanted to bestow gifts to his three most prized Knights. Thanking them for stomping out Shinra's up rise and bringing him in for his execution.

It pained Cloud some, as Shinra had once been a Knight of Black Coven. That was until, Sephiroth mind had been poisoned Jenova and he took her for his bride instead of Shinra's sister, Jillian. Scorned by Sephiroth, and unable to handle it, Jillian watched the sunrise.

Cloud did not think highly of Jenova even when she was first brought to them, he thought much less of her after Jillian's death. She was a gypsy human that had survived the Change. She was nothing more than trash to him, but he had to serve her as his Queen. Cloud hated ever second of it.

Much like the other Knights, Cloud was bound by his word to serve Sephiroth. He had done many a horrible deed in the name of his king, even against his will. The power of giving one's loyalty in the Black Coven was great. When given an order or decree none of the Knights could break or go against it.

After bathing, he dressed in his ceremonial tunic and pants. Sephiroth love customs and even though it were modern times, he still had them dress in Knight Attire for gatherings and parties. Cloud sported his Black and silver colors and emblem of a wolf on his Tabor. Fixing his clothes as he looked into the mirror, his blonde spiky hair was still damp.

As the door to his quarters opened he knew it to be his friend and fellow Knight, Zack Fair, who never knocked. "My, My, You look strapping." Zack was the same height as Cloud and Black hair that was just as unruly as his own.

Cloud turned and saw that like him Zack was also in his dress clothes. His colors were blue and silver, and his crest was that of an Eagle. "Don't flatter me. I am tired and do not feel like playing Their Majesties games tonight."

"Neither do I but unfortunately we have too. Look on the bright side, we get presents." Zack rubbed his hands together with a grin. That was Zack. Mr. Brightside, Silver lining and Funny man.

Cloud moved to his friend at the door. "You can have mine. I'd rather have sleep." Moving past Zack, out into the hall, they began to make their way to the Throne Room. On their way there, they passed the look out over the arena that was nothing more than a blood bath as the scum of the coven, tore through the humans like wolves through helpless sheep.

They were the low underlings, the Bitten Vampires, that came for one reason or another, be it protection or to mooched. Black Coven worked much like a city. A class ranking and social status was the basis of the Black Coven. Pure bloods are the highest in the ranking. They were the ones that were born vampires, in other words the nobility. Pure Bloods were the ones that were born with their own special strength or ability. For instants Cloud's was his ability over ice, Zack's was the ability to control air, and Vincent's ability to control fire, are the traits that they were all born with. With Pure Bloods they can take on the ability of another Pure Blood by draining their last drop of blood.

The next ranking is that of Turned Bloods. They are the vampires that were once humans and survived the Change. The change was when a vamp exchanged blood with a human. Turning them into a full vampire and forging both a mental and a soul bond between the two.

Human Servants are simply there to serve and have hopes of becoming Turned. Bitten Vampires are the lower then Human Servants in the class ranking. The Bitten Vampires are ones that were only bitten and no blood exchange happens, most of them to give into a blood lust and become nothing more than blood thirsty fiends. They hold no special abilities, nor do they have a prolonged life.

As Cloud stopped and watched, so did Zack. "Makes you wonder sometimes…what separates us from them?" Zack's voice was low and almost sorrowful, as he asked.

"They let their hunger rule them. They throw away dignity for blood lust." Cloud said with much distaste. "Come on, we will be late." Cloud turned away from the scene and headed to the Throne Room. Zack and He were almost to the side entrance to the room as Vincent joined them. He was a tall raven haired man with blood red eyes. He was the Dragon of Black Coven. Vincent never spoke much, and the oldest of the Knights. Neither Cloud nor Zack knew his real age. They had both trained with him as squires.

"You're late." Vincent's deep voice called as the boys came closer.

"Like they would start without us, we're the guests of honor." Zack said with a chuckle. Vincent rolled his eyes at Zack and went through the arch way. Upon entering Sephiroth sat with his Queen at his feet, perched happily like a prized poodle. The Knights took a knee in front of Sephiroth, heads bowed until they were told to arise.

"Stand." Sepiroth said his voice cold and detached. He motioned them to stand to the right of his throne. "Bring them in." His voice filled the room and the doors opened to reveal their gifts. Could was dumbstruck as they came towards them.

"Do I still get your present, too?" Zack grinned as he whispered to Cloud, who was still captured by the burgundy eyes that held an untamed fire, which burned straight through Cloud.

"No." Cloud's word was final.

Tifa felt naked as they were pulled towards the throne. She was uncomfortable, but she would not let them know. Her head was held high and her back was straight. Never did she look around her, just kept her eyes forward. That was til she spied the vampire with icy blue eyes, whose color's she wore. It did not take a rocket scientist to realize who they were for. He watched her much like the way a wolf would prey. Tifa never backed down and held his gaze.

The girls were abruptly pulled to a stop. Looking up she watched the vamp on the throne. She still did not like the feeling he gave her. Especially when a grin came to his face, it seemed neither did the vampiress at his feet. She stared daggers into Tifa, who gave her a dulled stare.

"I am told that one of you struck my servants, blackened one whole side of her face. Who was it?" The vamp asked as he got to his feet and descended the few steps to the ground floor.

To Tifa she thought he must have thought she would expect Aerith to take the fall for her again. Stepping forward she held her stern expression. "I did. She is lucky I did not break her neck."

His smile only grew as he moved closer to her. "I can see in your eyes that you would have done it too." In a flash he had a hold of Tifa's collar they had also placed on the girls. He pulled her just a breath away from his face. He stared into her eyes and Tifa felt her thoughts become fuzzy for a moment and something telling her to submit. To obey, but Tifa fought it and remained determined and in control.

The vamp smiled again, baring his fangs to her. "Strong willed…very nice." He looked back at the Knights. "Strife, come forward and accept your prize." The one who had been staring at her stepped forward. Tifa found herself propelled forward and suddenly caught, in the one called Strife's arms.

Tifa attempted to push away from him but his hold on her was much too great. He set her on his feet beside him and held on to her chains. "Thank you my Lord. You are most generous."

Tifa did not fear or have her skin crawling as he spoke. It didn't change anything, just made him more tolerable then the silver haired vamp. Tifa watched as he moved on to Aerith.

Aerith did not look at Sephiroth in the eyes she simply focused on the wall. She too had notice that she was in the colors of the one of the vampires. The one she matched did not look so withdrawn as the one in red, or as stone faced as the one in black. His eyes spoke to her, there was kindness there. She could feel it coming off of him. Sephiroth drew her attention then.

"You took the punishment for her, without reason." Sephiroth looked at the bruise that had bloomed on her side. "I will have that guard pay for his actions." He brushed her hair over her ear. "Fair, this one is yours."

Aerith watched as the one clad in blue came to her. She was not shoved towards him. He just stopped a step sky of her and held out his hand. He offered a smile with his hand. Neither said anything as she took his hand and he lead her back in line with Cloud and Vincent.

Sephiroth studied the mute girl a moment. "They say that you are unable to speak?" The girl did not move or look at him. She just stood there. "Maybe I should just send you back to the arena, and select another for Valentine?" The girl's eyes widened with a fear of being sent back to the arena. Sephiroth smiled and leaned down and whispered into her ear. "You know the horrors that happen there. I can throw you right back there. Is that what you want?"

"I will take her, my Lord." The one in red spoke then even being bold and not waiting to be called forward. He moved to the girl's side and took her chain. "If that is alright with you, of course." The vamp bowed his head slightly. Sephiroth looked annoyed as if robbed of his fun.

"Yes, take her away." As his Knights stood in a row with their prizes he smiled again. "They are my gifts to you, for you loyalty and service to me. They are yours to do as you wish with them. They are untouched and pure. You are dismissed to enjoy the celebration or retire to your chambers."

Tifa watched the vamp go to the vampiress that sat at his feet. He kissed her deeply and then bit her neck viciously. Her eyes widened in horror as it finally sank in that,that would be her fate as well. She looked to Strife who watched her. Nodding to the door he turned and let her go. To follow if she wished. It was her choice, not much of one but it was her choice. Tifa did not take long to decide, as she followed the vamp. It would take time to explain her escape, for not just her but also the other girls.

Aerith looked to Fair, waiting for his que to leave. He took her hand lightly and lead her out of the room. She didn't know why but she felt comfortable with him.

Vincent saw the reaction of his prize and shielded her from it. "We do not have to stay." He lifted her up into his arms as he carried her out of the room. Knowing the girl would not move on her own.

The party lasted long into the night and another would take place tomorrow with the exaction of Shinra.