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Epilogue

"Watch it, Amber, I still have those stitches," Marik warned as she hugged him around the waist. She pulled back with a sheepish grin.

"Sorry." Daemon hugged her tight with one arm, the other in a cast.

"I guess that means we get to keep her longer," he commented. Jason's face lit up as Marik frowned a little, but they all laughed at the joke.

"What's so funny?" Blaise asked as she joined them.

"Oh nothing," Jason replied. They all started giggling again. Blaise rolled her eyes and walked away.

"Too weird." Kat and Austin were snuggling on the couch, completely oblivious to everything around them. Angel and Julian stepped into the room and waited for everyone to be silent. No one paid them any attention.

"Julian?" Angel asked politely. He smiled and snapped his fingers. Instantly the room was transformed. Stone walls replaced the sheetrock and wallpaper. The couches and chairs became elegant oak-and-upholstered furniture. Persian rugs decorated the gray floor with vibrant colors.

"I love the redecorating," Ruby gushed, admiring her new outfit. The gown was of a vibrant emerald cloth, while the surcoat was a shade darker. Matching slippers covered her graceful feet. Peter was in doeskin pants and a brown, long-sleeved shirt with green fibers woven into it. The black boots that went to his knees were of soft leather.

"Cool duds," he noted with satisfaction. The other boys were admiring their outfits as well. Derrick was in a jade-green, short-sleeved shirt that tied together in the front. They were all in deerskin pants and black leather boots. Marik wore a gray rabbit-skin vest which artfully hid the stitches. The pants were a little loose to accommodate the tight stitches that ran from the middle of his chest to his lower thighs. He was grateful his body would fully heal.

"Oh wow, real furniture," he quipped, laying down carefully on the forest- green couch. Amber sat down next to him as he laid his head in her lap. She wore a white midriff top with short sleeves and a matching skirt that fell to her knees. An ice-blue cape which hit her at the waist and knee-high boots of the same color completed the outfit. Her hair hung in soft waves around her face.

"This rabbit fur is so soft," she murmured, settling back into the cushions. Daemon perched on the arm of the couch, his tan hand on her pale one. His shirt was a coal-black which matched his eyes. Jason sat by Amber's feet, his head resting on her knee. The short-sleeved shirt he wore was deep emerald with black threads scattered throughout the cloth.

"You're not that old, Marik," he remarked, referring to the vampire's comment about the furniture. Sage smiled from his place on the floor. He had on a brown, hooded robe that looked like original Druidic clothing. No shoes were on his feet.

"But I am, Jason." Derrick raised an eyebrow as he mentally dated Sage's outfit. He knew the Old-Soul had already been old when the Druids and their practices sprang up.

"Well, aren't you special," Kat teased, finally breaking gently away from Austin's embrace. She wore a mahogany-brown midriff top with no sleeves. The navy-blue skirt came to her knees, where boots matching the shirt took over. An amethyst hung on a gold chain between her breasts.

"Pretty," Austin sighed as he leaned over her. His long-sleeve shirt was the color of straw, just a little but lighter than his hair. But as lovely and dangerous as they all looked, the trio of Angel, Julian, and Blaise put them all to shame. The dark witch wore a short, black-velvet dress which hit her at mid-thigh. High-heeled black-leather boots covered her shins, showing off her sleek, pale legs. A wine-red cape hung off one shoulder and fell to her waist. She sat down on the arm of a chair, a devilish smile on her lips.

"It's nice to be noticed," she purred, knowing that everyone in the room was looking at her.

"Yeah baby!" Derrick cheered, never taking his eyes off her.

"Perhaps you have too much heat, my fire," Julian suggested as he sat in the chair she was perched on. Black leather completely encased his legs, from the tight pants to the knee-high boots. A long-sleeved, white-silk shirt brought out the moonlight quality of his hair. A ruby pendant hung on a silver chain and spilled out of the collar. His black cape swept the floor. Ruby and Amber watched him closely.

"Would you like to take some of my heat, Jules?" Blaise put one long leg into his lap, thoroughly enjoying herself. Julian didn't seem to be minding the view either.

"Mine," Angel succinctly said as she lightly slapped Blaise's leg. The witch pouted but moved the elegant limb back to the floor. The vampire princess smiled sweetly and faced the group, one hand resting on Julian's shoulder. She wore a purple dress that fell a little past her knees and an amethyst pendant hung from her neck. Delicate black slippers covered her feet. A diamond tiara gleamed from atop a pile of curls. More of her perm tumbled back down to her hips. She looked every bit the goddess she was.

"Don't hate me because I'm beautiful," Peter joked. Ruby elbowed him softly in the ribs.

"No, envy me," Angel shot back. Blaise rolled her stormcloud eyes.

"Can we get on with it?" Julian patted her arm and frowned slightly.

"I asked you all here for two reasons. One is so that we could make sure everyone was still alive," Angel explained.

"Gee, and all that time I thought you didn't like me," Peter quipped. Sage and Ruby both sent him mental orders to keep quiet.

"The second reason you're all here is so we can celebrate our victory," Julian continued.

"With a hunt?" Jason asked hopefully. Marik leaned over and tapped his friend's side. Layers of bandages covered the deep wound.

"Yeah, like you're really up to it," he noted sarcastically.

"A few of us are not fully healed," Sage stated.

"Exactly. That's why we're staying here to party," Angel added.

"Where's the food?" Austin wanted to know.

"The human food is on the tables," she patiently told him, pointing a slender finger at two tables covered end to end with food. Blaise turned on a stereo, even though it clashed with the décor.

"But before we begin, I propose a toast," Julian interjected. He, Angel, and Blaise passed out glasses filled with dark-red liquid.

"Wine?" Derrick asked. Amber smiled knowingly at her brother.

"Something better." Angel raised her glass.

"To Circle Starlight. May our teeth always be sharp, our claws always lethal, and may our spells never falter."

"To us!" everyone chorused, raising their glasses and drinking. The party had begun.