Diclaimer; Own Faylinn Lorien, and no one else. All other places and characters belong to Rachel Caine.

This chapter continues where the last left off.

"Don't move." Francois whispered, suddenly by my side. "Ysandre braught them here for a reason." I nodded just slightly, still watching the Collins. To what he was reffering, I knew immediately and watched Ysandre from my periphial vision. She stood infront of the steps that led up to Bishop, eyeing me carefully, not breaking her gaze for even a second.

"Bishop, I ask your permission to speak?" I turned my full attention on him, hoping to get my way. I could full as the room's attention shifted from myself to him, back and forth. Bishop studied me for a moment, before he nodded and smiled.

"Permission granted, my child." I could feel the slightest of surprises from the four prisoners that had just entered the room. They were surprised to see Bishop had a soft side, I could tell. I curtsied and bowed my head in gratefulness.

"Ysandre?" I asked, looking to her. She seemed a little surprised I addressed her; we didn't like each other-of that, it was no secret. "Tell me, what exactly did you catch these four doing," I broke off to gesture and glance at them. They were taking Amelie's advice seriously, as they were in cautious stances, looking ready to dash at a moment's notice. "-as to have really felt a need to bring them in?" I saw a flicker of movement coming from my right. It was Alyssa's brother-Shane-he was starting to back away, towards the door and towards his other friends. 'Lyssa grabbed his hand and urged him not to with her eyes, shaking her head. That's a good girl; make them stay, I urged with my will.

"Why, they were snooping around town, of course." Answered my enemy. Ysandre shrugged as if this explained everything. Whispered conversations began to take place around the room.

"How?" I asked. The whispers subsided, replacing it with silence.

"Excuse me?" She asked in shock, motionless.

"How?" I asked, again. She began to shrug and stutter excuses, her voice getting smaller. I sighed and dropped my shaking head. From here, I looked to the four prisoners, again, as well as 'Lyssa. She, unlike the others, was smiling at me, her eyes kind-she knew she could trust me. The others, though (even the prisoner I didn't know) stood glaring at me with a vicious distaste in their eyes; even as I was risking my life to save their's-and it was obvious that's what I was doing. I felt an anger well up inside of me. After I got through with this, per-se that I would, I'd have to go find and have a little 'talk' with Amelie. It was her fault I was hated, afterall. I looked to Bishop whom was having an intense staring contest with a still-stuttering Ysandre. "Bishop, if it is alright, I was wondering if we can keep our 'prisoners' on probation, but let them go, nonetheless. It seems we did not actually catch them doing anything wrong or rebellious against us, just enjoying a day of finally coming home." Bishop broke his silent conversation with his Second in Command, not breaking his harsh stare as his eyes met mine. I nearly gulped; his patience was used up for today. Had I been anyone else and asked for what I just had, I'd already be dead. Bishop nodded sharply and dismissed everyone with a fast flicker of his hand. I nearly ran to the door, Francois still at my side.

When we entered the hallway and the double-doors were slammed shut, most everyone continued to run down the hall, taking their places. Francois and I stopped, leaning against the wall right outside the doors.

"You..." Francois started to say, moving towards me. "IDIOT!" He threw his sword toward the ground with such ferocity, I jumped back a step or two. "Bishop was this close to killing you-even you; his favorite." He measured about an inch between his pointer finger and thumb. "Why would you ask such a fatal request of Bishop?"

"Yes, why?" A voice spoke before I could answer. I looked up to see Michael Glass, angry and demanding, holding a sword, himself-looking like the most beautiful of Arch Angels. Behind him, walking up, was Shane Collins, followed by Alyssa and Goth. I just stood there, unanswering, emotionless. "You know," Michael chuckled and glanced down at his sword, bring it up and observing it. "-as strange at it may be, you remind me of a younger, darker version of Amelie." He said, looking up. I let the blank look drop from my face as I responded to his unexpected comment.

"You think so?" I asked, hopeful. A hardness appeared in his eyes, and he opened his mouth in anger.

"Don't get sarcastic with me-" he started to say.

"I'm not." I answered honestly. "Do I really...?" He only continued to stare at me with that hardness. I let the conversation go and resumed my emotionless face, freezing completely. To my unshown surprise, it was Shane whom got frustrated now.

"What? So that's it? We don't tell you what you want to hear, so you freeze up again, 'cause 'oh well, we lost our chance'?" He nearly yelled, throwing his arms up in disbelief. I was scared of his reaction, but I hid it, stepping forward in my best Amelie impersonation.

"Shane Collins. Though I know you are not aware, I knew you back when I was human. Even if you were to suddenly to remember me, by some miracle, I assure you that I am not how I was back then. You do not know me; stop assuming. You want answers-that's obvious. Ask your questions, I'll answer what I can." The Goth Girl was the one to step forward, now, suspicion clear on her face.

"Why were we told that you would harm us first chance you got, yet we've seen you twice now and both times you've left us alone-helped us, even?" All their gazes now rested on mine. I shrugged.

"You were misinformed." I stated, simply. Goth snorted.

"Yeah! Okay! Like I'm really going to believe that bull." She grabbed something on her thigh, hidden by her huge, tattered skirt; a stake. I jumped backward just as Francois threw himself infront of me. The stake flew toward his chest, where his heart used to lay. I grabbed at him, dragging him back toward me and falling in the process, bringing him with me. Michael stopped her arm and the stake before they connected with him. He still lay in a shocked, cold-sweat, propped up on my legs.

"Sam, Samuel Glass-answer me. Are you alright?" I rushed through the words in a panic, not thinking about them at all. As I realized what I had said, I slowly looked up into Michael's shocked eyes. He was staring at 'Francois', still in my arms.

"Impossible." Michael whispered.

"Possible." I said back. His eyes, as well as the other's-all but 'Lyssa's-became curious, but wary.

"How?" Asked Shane this time. I stared at him with a harsh edge to my gaze.

"Ask Claire Danvers." His eyes got large, and he started to back up, shaking his head.

"I-"

"There they are! Get them out; Bishop's orders." Gaurds started to rush toward Michael, Goth and Shane. With one last look at me and the unconcious vampire in my arms, they ran past us and down the hall. Most of the gaurds ran after them, making sure they left, but some stayed behind to help us.

"Miss Lorien? Are you and Francois alright?" One of them asked. I nodded.

"We're fine. Just been a long day."