Chapter 7: August 2006


"I'm sorry Angel but it's not your decision to make," commented Eve, the Special Liaison to the Senior Partners at the Los Angeles branch of Wolfram and Hart. "The Senior Partners have decided to bring in a specialist from one of the other offices, who has experience in dealing with these types of situations."

"And who might this specialist be, Eve?" demanded Angel, not liking having his authority in question.

"She'll be here momentarily," commented Eve, completely ignoring Angel's question. "She just had to finish up her current assignment before coming."

"Uh…Angel?"

"Not now Harmony," Angel snapped at the blonde vampire currently standing in his office doorway.

"But Angel…"

"Not. Now. Harmony. Can't you see we're," Angel indicated everyone gathered in the office, "in the middle of something?"

"I can see that Angel, but I thought you'd want to know that someone just popped in," replied Harmony.

"Well, who is it?" demanded Angel. "And what do you mean they just 'popped' in?"

"I don't know who it is Angel, they wouldn't say," replied Harmony in frustration. "And they just 'popped' in like I said. They just appeared out of nowhere right in front of my desk."

"Harmony, it's impossible for someone to just appear out of thin air, especially here," chided Wesley gently. "Maybe you just never saw them approach your desk."

"I know what I'm talking about Wesley," snapped Harmony. "One minute there was no one at my desk and the next…there they were, all black cloak and silent."

"Harmony…"

"Did you say black cloak?" asked Eve, interrupting Wesley.

"Yeah and it looks really expensive too…"

"Show her in," instructed Eve, not letting Harmony finish, causing everyone else in Angel's office to start complaining in outrage at her audacity, at least until the figure in question stepped into the room, her identity completely hidden from view thanks to the floor length hooded black cloak that they were wearing with the hood drawn over their face, masking it from view. "Thank you for coming," Eve said by way of a greeting.

"I came as soon as I could," replied a familiar yet cold and hard voice from within the cloak.

"What did Mr. Scarn tell you about the situation here?" questioned Eve.

"Just that my expertise and experience were required to deal with a situation that no one in this office is capable of handling," replied the cloaked stranger. "Now, if you will just tell me where I might find those I was sent to deal with, I'll be on my way."

"Hang on a minute here people, this is my city and if anybody is going to handle this situation it's going to be me and my crew," argued Angel stepping towards Eve and the stranger.

"Stay out of this Vampire," replied the stranger. "I will not be held responsible for your death or the deaths of any of your 'crew'."

"Are you saying you would actually go so far as to kill one of us?" questioned Fred nervously.

"If you are foolish enough not to heed my warning and you get in my way, you will not survive the encounter," replied the stranger.

While the others had the stranger engaged in conversation, Gunn decided to try and find out the identity of this so-called specialist of Wolfram and Hart. Unfortunately for Gunn, he never made it to within more than a foot of the stranger before she turned around, some unseen force throwing Gunn across the office, causing cries of shock and outrange to ring from the others.

"What the hell is your problem, lady?" snapped Gunn as he stalked towards the still cloaked figure after Lorne helped him to his feet.

"While your attempt at a sneak attack is commendable, it would be wise in the future to ensure that the sneak attack would be the most appropriate action for the given situation," the stranger chided. "You also just proved my point quite effectively as to why your 'crew' are not capable of dealing with the situation and why the Senior Partners felt it necessary to send me here."

"Oh and how's that?" snarled Gunn, practically in the stranger's face.

"Magic," was the stranger's simple reply.

"We got magic, Wesley…" began Gunn.

"Is a Muggle with nothing more than simple parlour tricks," interrupted the stranger.

"Now, hang on a minute…" started Gunn only to be cut off once more.

"I grow tired of this Eve. I was sent here to do a job, not answer questions as to the motivations of the Senior Partners in enlisting my services for this job," commented the stranger in frustration. "Now, if you all will excuse me, I have a job to do," she finished turning towards the office doors.

"We're not finished yet," seethed Angel as he stalked across his office towards the stranger.

"Come if you must Vampire," offered the stranger, turning slightly to address Angel. "But heed my warning. Get in my way and you will pay the consequences." And with that the stranger stalked from the room, Angel, Gunn and Wesley following behind her.

Twenty minutes later found Angel, Gunn, Wesley and the cloaked stranger standing in an alley outside of an abandoned building in downtown Los Angeles. "So Angel, what's the plan? What do you want us to do?" asked Gunn, eager for some action.

"You do nothing," snapped the stranger. "You do nothing and stay out of my way," the stranger ordered before turning and entering the building, leaving the others in the alley.

When Angel, Gunn and Wesley followed a few minutes later they were not quite prepared for the scene that met their eyes as they quickly sought cover in the shadows. There were about twenty odd people milling about the room in front of them, all dressed in a similar fashion to the stranger, all in long black cloaks that hid their identities. A few moments later another figure entered the room from a back door somewhere, wearing much more elaborate and fancy robes. It became apparent that this was the leader of the group as everyone else in the room was soon on their knees, bowing low before him. Well everyone save one that is.

"Why do you not bow, my faithful?" questioned the man in the elaborate robes.

"I bow before no man," came the familiar cold, hard voice of the stranger from Angel's office. "Least of all to a nobody like you, Sorion."

"How dare you!" cried Sorion in outrage. "Who do you think you are?" he demanded.

"I am your superior."

"Would you get a load of her?" asked Gunn in the shadows.

"Shh," admonished Wesley, intrigued by the scene unfolding in front of them.

"You dare to presume yourself the better of the Dark Lord Sorion?" Sorion snarled in fury.

By this point the rest of Sorion's followers had risen from their spots and backed away from the stranger in their midst.

"I presume nothing Sorion. It is you who presumes himself above his station. You claim yourself a Dark Lord…"

"I AM THE DARK LORD! And you will bow before me either by choice or by force!" yelled Sorion as his anger started to get the better of him.

"I did not bow before the Dark Lord Voldemort and I will not bow before a poor excuse for a replacement such as you," replied the stranger, her voice the same volume as when she had started speaking, even though the tone was much colder and much harsher.

The stranger's proclamation caused murmurs to spread through those gathered before five of those gathered stepped forward and fell to their knees in front of the stranger. "Forgive us, my Lady. We thought you were lost to us," pleaded the one in the middle.

"What is the meaning of this?" demanded Sorion as he watched his followers throwing themselves at the feet of another.

"They are Death Eaters, Sorion," replied the stranger as the five figures stood and took up positions behind her. "Death Eaters from Lord Voldemort's Inner Circle and they know where their loyalty lies, and it is not with you."

"And their loyalty belongs with you? A woman?" asked Sorion in disbelief.

"Our loyalty belongs to the Dark Four," replied one of the five defectors behind the stranger.

"The Dark Four no longer exist," argued Sorion angrily.

"That is where you are wrong, Sorion," replied the stranger as she undid her cloak and allowed the man behind her to remove it from her shoulders. "The Dark Princess has returned…"


"Angel please tell me I'm hallucinating," pleaded Wesley as the stranger's identity was revealed to all those gathered. "Please tell me that isn't who I think it is?"

"You're not seeing things Wes, it really is her," replied Angel sadly.

"She's one of them?" asked Gunn in shock. "I know she's made reference to her past being dark, but I just figured she was being a little over dramatic."

"Believe it Gunn, if it hadn't been for her brother the Dark Four would have been ruling England for sometime now," offered Angel.

"That's not very reassuring, Angel," stated Gunn pointedly.

"It wasn't meant to be," replied Angel, turning his attention back to the room in front of him.


The Death Eater removed the stranger's cloak to reveal a young woman dressed in black leather pants, black three inch heeled leather boots and a black tank top with black leather arm bands that ran from her wrists to her elbows, her flame red hair tied back in a tight French braid bisecting a scar that ran across her back from her right shoulder to just under her left shoulder blade. She also had a faint scar on her face along her right cheekbone just below her eye, her eyes that were once the colour of sapphires but were now the colour of coal. "The Dark Princess has returned Sorion, your time as Lord is over."

"Do you really think that you, a mere woman can defeat one of the greatest Dark Lords of this century?" sneered Sorion.

"You are forgetting your history, Sorion," chided Jamie as she slowly started to approach him. "And those that forget their history are doomed to repeat it."

"History has nothing to do with this," argued Sorion, praying his increasing nervousness did not become apparent to the approaching dark witch.

"Oh, but I'm afraid it has everything to do with it Sorion," countered Jamie as she continued to approach the man in front of her, a feral smile gracing her lips. "Because you see Sorion, not only did I brutally torture the man that betrayed my parents, I participated in and ordered the torture and rape of the two sixteen year old boys who saw fit to rape me, but I am also the one that cast the final curse, ending the life of Tom Marvolo Riddle, better known as the Dark Lord Voldemort."

"Harry Potter is responsible for the defeat of Voldemort, not some silly little girl, everyone knows that," argued Sorion, swallowing nervously as Jamie circled around behind him.

"I'll concede the fact that my dear brother Harry did play a role in Tom's defeat," Jamie practically purred into Sorion's ear as she gently wrapped her arms around his waist, lightly running a finger down the front of his robes, magically undoing them as she nibbled on his ear.

"What the hell does she think she's doing?" growled Angel in disgust as he started to get up from his hiding place.

"Angel wait," urged Wesley as he grabbed a hold of Angel's arm. "If we let Jamie do whatever it is she's planning it might give us the opportunity to figure out what's wrong with her."

"Fine," groused Angel unhappily as he returned to his spot next to Wesley.

"But what you seem to be forgetting Sorion," continued Jamie as she allowed one softly glowing hand to enter Sorion's robes," is that I was the one to cast the final curse. Oh and one more thing Sorion," she whispered into his ear as she took a hold of his rapidly stirring cock.

"Yes?" Sorion hissed as he felt Jamie take a gentle yet firm hold of his cock.

Jamie's eyes flicked up to meet those of the Death Eaters, an evil glint in her black eyes and a vicious smirk on her lips. "Crucio."

Everyone in the room winced in sympathy as Sorion's screams echoed around the cavernous room, the five Death Eaters knowing exactly what Jamie was doing having witnessed it before.

As Sorion began to collapse forward, Jamie released her hold on him before kicking him over so he lay on his back in front of her. "Accio sword," Jamie called as she watched the poor excuse for a Dark Lord start begging for mercy on the floor in front of her.

Angel, Wesley and Gunn watched in shocked horror as Jamie called and deftly caught the deadly katana, a gift from Duncan MacLeod, in midair before plunging it into the man currently grovelling on the floor in front of her. They watched as their friend knelt down next to the man she'd just murdered and set his body on fire before rising back to her feet.

"Followers of Sorion!" called Jamie as she stepped around the burning body, her voice echoing through the now eerily silent room, save the flickering flames behind her. "Leave this place. Return to your homes, your lives. You will be allowed to live and remain unharmed provided you remain beneath my notice. Should you feel the need to take up where Sorion failed…don't. I guarantee that you will suffer the same fate as him."

As those assembled began dispersing, Jamie made her way over to where the five Death Eaters were still standing, sword in hand. "You five are with me," instructed Jamie as she retrieved her cloak from the Death Eater who had taken it from her earlier, swinging it over her shoulders and clasping it around her neck as she started for the doors, the Death Eaters falling into step behind her, one more reluctantly than the others. As they neared the exit they came across something blocking their path, or rather three somethings.

"Jamie, what's going on here?" asked Angel in concern as he grabbed a hold of Jamie's upper arm, eyeing the figures behind her wearily.

"Unhand her," snarled one of the Death Eaters, drawing their wand.

"I don't think so," replied Angel, tightening his grip on Jamie's arm. "Not until I get some answers."

"Avada…"

"Silence!" ordered Jamie, interrupting the Death Eater, glaring at them until they dropped their wand back to their side. "I will deal with the vampire," Jamie informed them as she turned her attention back to Angel, taking his wrist in her free hand, which was once more glowing softly. "I wonder Vampire, exactly how much pain you can withstand before you start begging me to end your pathetic existence," Jamie mused curiously. As Jamie spoke, the glow surrounding her hand grew with each word as she put more power behind the curse until Angel finally gave into the all consuming pain of the Cruciatus, letting out a scream of agony before finally releasing his hold on Jamie, at which point she ended the curse. "I warned you once Vampire to stay out of my way, you will not get another," sneered Jamie as she swept past where Angel had collapsed to the floor, surrounded by Wesley and Gunn, as she made her way from the building, the Death Eaters following in her wake.


Eve, Fred and Lorne quickly rose to their feet as the doors to Angel's office swung open admitting the last person Fred and Lorne expected to see, followed by five black cloaked figures.

"How'd it go, Miss Potter?" questioned Eve as she stopped in front of the six new arrivals.

"Sorion is no longer a concern," replied Jamie coldly.

"Meaning what exactly, Sugar Cakes?" asked Lorne, causing Jamie to turn her icy glare towards him.

"Meaning he is no longer of this world, Demon," replied Jamie coldly. "And you would do wise to refrain from addressing me in such a fashion unless you wish to join him," threatened Jamie before turning her attention back to Eve. "Eve, as Los Angeles is your territory, I am reporting the results of my assignment to you before reporting back to Mr. Scarn, as is expected of me. I have done as the Senior Partners have asked and dealt with the situation for which my services were engaged. Sorion is dead, his followers disbanded," reported Jamie in a matter-of-fact tone.

"And these five?" asked Eve, indicating the five Death Eaters behind Jamie.

"Will be returning to England with me," replied Jamie.

"Uhm…Jamie…"

"Miss Potter," snapped Jamie.

"Excuse me?" asked Fred in nervous confusion.

"My name is Miss Potter," stated Jamie coldly as she glared at Fred. "I have not given you leave to use my given name, therefore you will address me as Miss Potter."

"A-alright…Miss Potter. Where's Angel?" questioned Fred worriedly.

"The vampire was foolish enough to get in my way," replied Jamie.

"You killed Angel?" demanded Fred in disbelief. "How could you…Oh my God Angel!" cried Fred as Wesley and Gunn stumbled into Angel's office, Angel supported between them. "What did you do to him?" snarled Fred as she helped Wesley and Gunn get Angel into a chair.

"That is not your concern," replied Jamie dispassionately.

"Not my concern!" cried Fred in disbelief. "He looks like he's been tortured!" When Jamie did no more than raise a patronizing eyebrow at Fred's charge, realization struck Fred hard. "Oh my God you did. You tortured Angel. You tortured one of your closest friends."

"The vampire got considerably less then he deserved for ignoring my warning and as for the vampire being my friend…I have never laid eyes on any of you before this evening and any friends I may have had either died or abandoned me the night Lord Voldemort was taken from us," explained Jamie, her voice harsh, before turning her attention back to Eve once more. "Now that my assignment is complete Eve, I really must return to London."

"Of course, Miss Potter," agreed Eve. "Thank you again for your help."

Jamie nodded to Eve before pulling a rolled up London Times from her cloak and indicting for the Death Eaters to take a hold of it. Once everyone had at least a finger on the newspaper, Jamie tapped it with her wand, activating the portkey, which deposited them just outside Mr. Scarn's office in the London branch of Wolfram and Hart.

"Welcome back Miss Potter," greeted a small brunette who had just emerged from the office in front of the group. "I take it the mission was a success?"

"Was there ever any doubt, Louise? Is Mr. Scarn available?" asked Jamie.

"Of course Miss Potter, Mr. Scarn is expecting you," replied Louise stepping aside to allow Jamie and the others to enter the office.

"Miss Potter," greeted Mr. Scarn from his desk as he watched the witch and her companions enter his office.

"Good morning Mr. Scarn," greeted Jamie as she stopped a few feet in front of his desk. "The Cobraxis demon and the annoyance known as Lord Sorion are both dead."

"Excellent Miss Potter, excellent, and you even found Wolfram and Hart some new employees I see," commented Scarn.

"No sir, I have not," replied Jamie coldly.

"I beg your pardon Miss Potter?" demanded Scarn, his voice cold and hard.

"I would like to introduce you to Nathanial Avery, Walden MacNair, Sebastian Nott, Rodolphus Lestrange and his wife Bellatrix Black Lestrange." As Jamie introduced each Death Eater they lowered their hoods, the look of hate and contempt that Bellatrix was levelling at Jamie did not go unnoticed by Mr. Scarn. "They are five of Lord Voldemort's most trusted members of his inner circle and with the deaths of Lord Voldemort and his prince and the defection of their queen, the role of leading the Death Eaters falls to me. While I choose to work with Wolfram and Hart, they work for me."

"I see," replied Scarn, his fury at Jamie's audacity growing.

"Like hell I work for you," snarled Bellatrix, drawing her wand, completely unaware of the fact that their type of magic was blocked in Mr. Scarn's office as a way to ensure that Jamie could do no harm to him should she feel the desire. "You're nothing but a traitorous, back-stabbing little whore. If it wasn't for you and your do-gooder little brother, my Lord would still be among us."

"You think I wanted to kill Tom?" demanded Jamie as she slowly started stalking towards Bellatrix. "You think I wanted your brother to torture me enough so that my brother could basically mind rape me into killing my best friend's husband?"

"I'll never understand what my Lord saw in that wussy little blond nutcase, nor what my former brother-in-law saw in someone as pathetic as a mudblood like you," sneered Bellatrix who tried unsuccessfully to cast the Cruciatus at Jamie as Jamie launched herself towards Bellatrix.

"You would be wise to remember your place, Bellatrix," Jamie snarled in her ear after slamming the other woman up against the wall. "I would also recommend learning other ways to fight for when you are caught in a situation where you find your magic fails you," suggested Jamie as she stepped back from the other woman, pulling a bloody dagger out of Bellatrix's shoulder.

"Rodolphus, deal with your wife," ordered Jamie as she turned to face the gathered Death Eaters. "Gentlemen, I will summon you when I am in need of your services. Mr. Scarn," Jamie turned to face her employer, "if that is all…"

"I would like a word with you in private, Miss Potter, if you wouldn't mind," Scarn informed her.

"Of course not," agreed Jamie before turning back to dismiss the Death Eaters. When Jamie turned back to face Mr. Scarn she was unprepared to be backhanded across the face. Mr. Scarn had risen and stepped around his desk while Jamie had her back turned, allowing him to catch her off guard and hit her with enough force to knock her to her hands and knees.

"Sir?" Jamie asked in confusion from her spot on the floor.

"While I applaud your handing of Bellatrix, you have forgotten your place, Miss Potter," Scarn told her sadly as he leant back on his desk, picking up what looked like a pen, lightly pressing the button on top activating a tattoo they had placed on Jamie's back.

Jamie shuddered and gritted her teeth as pain started tearing through her body.

"You were openly defiant, Miss Potter and therefore you must be punished accordingly," chided Scarn as he pressed the trigger further. "Given who you are and what you're capable of, the Senior Partners felt this would be the best way to remind you who you belong to now, should the need ever present itself. Remember Miss Potter, you belong to Wolfram and Hart."

The longer Scarn held the trigger down, the greater the pain Jamie felt, causing her to collapse to the floor. Jamie felt as though she was slowly being shredded from the inside out. Jamie held out as long as she could but she eventually gave into the pain and let out an ear-piercing scream. A few minutes after Jamie started to scream, Mr. Scarn released the trigger, ending Jamie's torture. "Are we understood, Miss Potter?"

"Y-yes s-sir," agreed Jamie, swallowing hard around her raw throat.

"Excellent Miss Potter, you are dismissed," commented Scarn as he returned to his chair behind his desk.

"Y-yes s-sir," replied Jamie as she carefully rose to her feet and slowly made her way from Mr. Scarn's office on unsteady feet. Once outside the office, Jamie collapsed back against the wall.

"Are you alright, my Lady?"

"I'm fine," replied Jamie as she pushed off the wall only to collapse a moment later into the waiting arms of Sebastian Nott.

"My Lady, what did he do to you?" asked Nott in concern as he looked into Jamie's pain filled blue-black eyes.

"Take me home," pleaded Jamie, her voice still raw and her eyes filling with tears as she handed Nott the portkey.

Nott carefully picked Jamie up before activating the portkey. Once back in Jamie's apartment, Nott gently laid her on the bed.

"Please don't leave me alone," pleaded Jamie quietly, sitting up and grabbing a hold of Nott's hand.

"My Lady…"

"Sebastian please…stay…I…make love to me?"

"My Lady…"

"Sebastian please, it's been so long and…and I need to forget the pain," pleaded Jamie, fear and uncertainty clouding her now blue eyes.

"Anything for you, my Lady," agreed Nott as he leaned over and gently took Jamie's lips in a kiss, before pushing her back to lie on the bed, carefully climbing on top of her never once breaking the kiss.


"All right ladies and gentlemen, would you mind explaining why I received an urgent summons from Spike, in the middle of the day. And had to leave during a class I was teaching today for a sick teacher, not to mention having to leave my children in the hands of DAWN and Shamira of all people?" Isáwien asked as she appeared in the office of the current CEO of Wolfram and Hart.

"Is she always like this?" Fred whispered to Wesley.

"Unfortunately."

"Oh do shut up dingbat," Isáwien snapped as she walked over to Angel. "What the hell happened to you? You look like you haven't had any blood in months. Last time I saw a vamp look as horrible as you; Spike had learned Lucius had married again. No offence intended towards my dear daughter-in-law of course," she added with a wave of her hand.

"That's exactly the cause of our problem Isáwien," Lorne began with a sigh.

"What?" Isáwien asked looking at him. "I sort of mentioned a few things in that statement… are we talking about Angel, my brother or Jyn? Or is it about Angel here… Gods do you look bad, have you been jumping off roofs again? Oh, wait… that was just a dream of mine while pregnant… ignore that bit there. And note of warning to those of you who have the ability to get pregnant, be prepared for strange dreams."

"Isáwien!" a very ticked voice snapped from behind her.

"About time you showed up William," Isáwien replied with a smile looking at him.

"Oh for the love of Merlin, you bloody annoying woman. You babble too damn much," Spike growled as he walked past her and tossed Angel a bag of blood. "And she's right, you do look like hell."

"Shut up."

"Well he's in a lovely mood, isn't he?" Isáwien asked looking around the group. "Why do you all look like you're best friend died? Buffy is still alive right? Debbie and everyone else alive and kicking aren't they?"

"Don't panic, they're all fine. And sit down," Spike replied pulling a chair over for her.

"Why do I have to sit down?" she asked raising an eyebrow at her cousin.

"Just bloody humour me already."

"All right, what burst your bubble of happiness today?" Isáwien asked as she sat down.

"It's Jamie," Angel began softly.

"You've seen her?" Isáwien began sitting forward. "Is she okay, does she look well? Did she mention when she is going to contact any of her family? What was she doing here? Why didn't you bloody freaking contact me the moment you saw her?"

"Hold the questions there Izzy girl. It's a bit of a long story," Spike cautioned looking over at Angel. "Question, when was your last Expelling?"

"William Malfoy, this is not the time for questions about my magical health," Isáwien hissed.

"Isáwien Sitara Higginbotham-Malfoy-Riddle-Snape," Spike began as he pinned her arms to the chair. "When was the last time you had a god damn fucking Expelling?"

Isáwien remained silent for a moment, staring at him in shock, and then glancing swiftly from person to person. "Next month will be thirteen years. The twins drained so much of my magic that my body is just now getting back to the ten-year point. Now what the HELL is going on?"

"She starts glowing; everyone has to duck behind furniture," Spike instructed as he stood up. "And no interrupting us until we finish," he added to her.

"Just start talking before I sneak into your mind and find the freaking answers William," she snapped.

Thirty minutes later they had finished the story and were watching Isáwien partially in fear, partially in confusion, partially in anticipation.

Five minutes later with no response, the group minus Spike began to worry.

"She has a scar across her back and cheek?" Isáwien began slowly.

"Yes," Angel replied carefully.

"She doesn't recognize any of you."

"No."

"And she's claimed her place as the Dark Princess," she continued as if Lorne had not spoken.

"Quite, which out of curiosity seeing as Angel refused to tell us answers, I'm guessing the Dark Prince would be her husband, a.k.a. your brother. So who is the Dark Queen?"

"You said five Death Eaters joined her?" Isáwien asked looking at Angel, completely ignoring Wesley's question.

"Yes, they did," replied Angel softly.

Isáwien nodded before looking out the windows behind Angel's desk. "Everyone out."

"What?" Angel asked sitting up.

"Everyone get out. Please," she added in a whisper.

Looking at each other in concern, they reluctantly left the room, mostly thanks to Spike's glares and nods at the door. As they shut the door, they heard a piercing scream for about two seconds before becoming eerily quiet.

"Silencing Charm," Spike explained from his position directly in front of the door.

"Shouldn't we go in there?" Harmony asked concerned.

"Nope, she needs time to vent," Spike replied evenly.

"What the hell is going on!?"

"Lucius?" Angel, Lorne, Gunn, Wesley, and Fred chorused as they heard the irate and long familiar by now, voice. Turning they found the Malfoy male behind them, glaring at Spike.

"Take a number Lucy."

"Go to hell William, and stay there," Lucius replied before disappearing.

"Bloody bugger, you all, stay here," Spike instructed before opening the door and disappearing into the room.

"Should we actually listen?" Harmony began

"Yes," Angel replied. "Let us know when he comes back out," he continued before heading off, the others following with a shrug.

"Where will you be?" Harmony yelled after them. "Oh bother," she continued flopping down in her chair when she got no response.

Twenty minutes later, Spike appeared at the door. Seeing Harmony's shrug, he sent her off towards the lounge before turning back to the two inside. "Are you sure about this?"

"Aye," Isáwien replied as she stood.

"You know this could backfire don't you? What if you can't control it?"

"William, Spike, I outrank her. And seeing as she's missing at least a decade's memories, she's not going to forget that fact at least."

"Isáwien is right. We only know she remembers our lives as the Dark Four. So we must use that."

"How could she have lost her memory again?" Angel asked walking into the room.

"The only way is an Obliviate spell set to wipe out those years," Isáwien sighed.

"Meaning?"

"She no doubt did it herself," Lucius replied sadly to Fred.

"Oh."

"So, what will we do?" Wesley asked

"You wait until our signal. Spike will know it. Then you take the paperwork to this Eve woman. She contacts Scarn. He sends Jyn to destroy the new Dark Lord."

"Who?" Harmony asked interrupting Isáwien.

"Well, that's the big secret isn't it?" she replied. "We'll be in contact in eight hours," she continued before the two Malfoys vanished.

"Spike?"

"Not now Captain Forehead. I have to contact Vld and the others and fill out paperwork," he replied before walking from the room.

"Will we ever be in the loop?" Wesley asked after a moment.

"It doesn't seem that way, does it," Angel remarked as he strolled to his desk.


Jamie woke slowly the next morning, the events of the night prior flashing through her still groggy mind.

"Drink this, my Lady," Sebastian suggested softly as he held out a vial. "It will help with the pain."

Jamie tried to lift herself up from the bed only to gasp in pain before collapsing backwards as her muscles protested painfully to the slightest movement.

Sebastian carefully eased Jamie into a slightly upright position before holding the vial to her mouth. Once Jamie had drunk the potion he carefully eased her back onto the bed before lying down next to her. "I know it is not my place to question you, my Lady, but you said something last night that has been bothering me."

"It's alright Sebastian, you may ask what you wish," conceded Jamie quietly, her throat still sore from the previous night's torture.

Sebastian looked deeply into Jamie's still blue eyes and saw the depth of Jamie's sincerity. "When we returned to London, after you introduced us to what was his name?"

"Mr. Scarn," filled in Jamie.

"After you introduced us to Mr. Scarn, you said that the Dark Lord's prince was dead," commented Sebastian.

"I did," agreed Jamie.

"My Lady…" Sebastian hesitated; he was not quite sure how to say what he knew to be the truth, even if Jamie somehow did not believe it. "Your Prince is alive…"

"Lucius is dead," snarled Jamie as she tried to get out of the bed, only to have Sebastian put a restraining hand on her arm.

"My Lady, I'm sorry, I did not mean to upset you," conceded Sebastian. "I was just confused by your statement last night and the fact that I know that your Prince still lives."

"It's alright Sebastian," replied Jamie, her back still to him. "I can't explain it myself. A part of me, a very small part of me still believes he's alive and that he loves me but for my own sanity I've had to lock that part of me away in order to do what I must. If, as you say, Lucius lives then he has chosen to turn his back on me and in order for me to do as I'm instructed that part of my life is over."

"Forgive me, my Lady," soothed Sebastian as he ran his hand gently up and down Jamie's arm. "I did not mean to bring you any more pain." Jamie nodded and allowed Sebastian to ease her back down to the bed before wrapping his arms around her protectively. "I will do all that I can to protect you, my Lady," Sebastian promised as he kissed Jamie's neck. /-/Until your Prince comes for you, my Lady, as I know he will./-/


From: Eve, Special Liaison to the Los Angeles Office of Wolfram & Hart
To: Mr. Scarn, London Office of Wolfram & Hart
Subject: New "Dark Lord"

Mr. Scarn,

I have received reports and proof of a new person claiming to be a Dark Lord in the area of Cleveland, Ohio through one of our associates in the area the past few weeks.

His followers number over two hundred, including two Vengeance Demons, an Anlingen, a half demon, and a Werewolf.

We request your help, as the office in that sector is by no means prepared for such a group, and unfortunately I dare not go to our "esteemed leader".

Included with this letter is the location of the group's next meeting that our associate managed to acquire undercover.

Sincerely,

Eve


"Are you truly sure about this Izzy girl?" Spike asked softly.

"I don't have much of a choice Spike. Something about this whole situation is not right. And I don't mean her distinct lack of memories."

"I know what you mean woman," Spike snapped before shaking his head. "What if you can't control it though? Riddle isn't here anymore to balance you out… or to bring you back."

Hearing the worry in his voice she smiled softly. "William, I'll be all right. Tom may be dead, but I'm still connected to him through the bond we formed on our wedding day. Every now and again I can hear him raising hell in hell. And I already know I'm not going to die tonight. The fates promised I would see Des and Cia graduate."

"You can still see them graduate if you're truly dark," Spike reminded her rather bluntly.

"Spike…" Isáwien began taking one of his hands in her own. "I can control it. I haven't had my entire life as a Higginbotham to not be able to control my dark side when completely let loose. Yes, I haven't done it before now. But desperate times call for desperate measures. And what's the worst that could happen? We bring Tom back to life and the Dark Four take over the world?"

"That's not possible though," Spike reminded her. "You have no way to bring him back. His body was turned to ashes by your stepson."

"Let's not go there," Isáwien snapped.

"Sorry Love," Spike replied softly. "Just, be careful."

"Always, now get your arse back out there and make sure the gang is completely hidden."

"I'm going." He replied with a smirk before nodding at Lucius and leaving the room.

"You didn't correct him about Tom," Lucius began as he adjusted his robes.

"Let him live in his fantasy for now," Isáwien replied after a moment.

"Should I stop you if you do want to go down that path?" he asked after a few minutes of silence.

Isáwien turned to look at him, watching him for a few moments. "You couldn't stop me if I go down that path. All you can do is come along for the ride Lucius."

"Just how much of your dark side did you keep locked up during our reign, Isáwien?"

"Eighty or so percent," she replied before turning and walking to the door. "You should go check on the gathering. I have to remove a few dozen mental and magical blocks," she suggested before walking through the door.

Shaking his head he went through the other door to check on the few hundred people gathered. /-/How long do you think it will take the Ministry to realize half of their imprisoned Death Eaters are no longer imprisoned?/-/

/-/About as long as it takes them to realize the Death Eaters have blocks to prevent the Dementors from driving them insane,/-/ Isáwien replied with a laugh. /-/Which considering they still don't know that…well, I suspect we have plenty of time to return them to their cells and dispose of the replicas./-/

/-/When did you do all this anyway, Isáwien?/-/ Lucius asked after a moment.

/-/You mean the spells and potions used to block the Dementors? Well, I needed something to keep me occupied while Desi was in school. And by the time Harry and the rest of Albus' group got to the gang, they already had the counter agent. As for those in Azkaban already, it wasn't that hard to get in and give them their doses. I just pretended I needed to go ask for information on you, then erased the Ministry worker's memory and ta da, no history of me being there. And the Dementors know better than to cross one of us./-/

/-/So would you mind explaining how the counter agent, as you put it, works?/-/ Lucius continued, quite curious.

/-/The potion blocked their memories from anyone trying to read them. The spell was a homing spell so to speak, I set up a book with lots of good memories in it, and the book was connected to the spells each Death Eater wore. Whenever the Dementors went to have a bite to eat shall we say, the spell would activate the book, and the Dementors would get those memories instead of our follower's real memories./-/

/-/And you're only just telling me this now? Who else knows about this?/-/ demanded Lucius.

/-/Take a chill pill brother. You were 'dead' for seven years. And for your information, only my cousin and late husband know about this./-/

/-/What the hell is that supposed to mean darling sister?/-/

"Do you honestly think just because Tom is dead I don't still feel him? Hear him? The bond still exists. It binds us together even in death. Why do you think I almost didn't marry your father-in-law," an icy voice said in his ear, making him jump three feet before turning to look at his sister. He found her clad in a pitch black, floor length cape, with the hood hiding her features from him, other than her eyes, which glowed at him from the darkness, as if like two flames. "Tom was with me these past nine years. He helped me create the spells and potions needed to protect our brethren. The memories stored in the tome, he helped to create," she continued tilting her head as she watched him. "You should have known that my Prince," she continued before turning and walking away from him.

"Are we about ready back here?" Gilly asked joining them, having been in the room helping Isáwien get ready." Your wife just arrived with her group," Gilly continued to Lucius as she pulled up her own hood. "I'll warn you," she continued in a whisper, "She looks different. She looks even more like Arrianna now," she continued before passing through the curtain that divided the main room from them.

Lucius spared a glance back at his sister, raising his hood and placing the long familiar white mask on his face, before following his step-cousin into the main room to meet his wife. As he stepped into the room everyone bowed before him as he past towards the centre of the room. As much as he tried to convince himself that he was ready for the changes in Jamie, he was dismayed that he barely recognized the young woman in charge of the group that had just entered the room and was currently surrounded by five masked Death Eaters, Angel's crew from Los Angeles, Angel and Spike in full vampire mode and a handful of Fyarl demons, who surprisingly were following Jamie's commands. /-/My Gods Isáwien, I barely recognize her,/-/ commented Lucius as he took in Jamie's appearance. She was once again dressed in black leather pants, black three inch heeled leather boots and a black tank top with black leather arm bands that ran from her wrists to her elbows, her flame red hair tied back in a tight French braid.

/-/Don't let it get to you, My Prince,/-/ came the same icy voice even in his mind. /-/We are here for a reason and one reason alone. We must bring our Princess back to us. After, and only after, shall you worry about her physical state./-/

/-/You don't see what I see, Isáwien,/-/ commented Lucius sadly as he watched Jamie pull her sword from it's sheath on her back before striding into the middle of the room towards him.

"You are no Dark Lord," sneered Jamie as she approached Lucius. "There has only ever been one true Dark Lord, and you are not him," Jamie informed him coldly, her casual stance belying the tenseness of her muscles.

"No, but he is my Dark Prince," Isáwien's now icy voice rang out as the figure walked into the room, every gathered member already bowing, sinking to one knee.

"The Dark Prince no longer exists," replied Jamie, her emotionless voice flat, except for the slightest hint of uncertainty that only those that knew Jamie before taking her place as the Dark Princess would pick up on.

"Oh but he does, my Princess. Just as you exist," Isáwien continued as she walked towards Lucius. "He has even returned to his former glory, just as you have tried to do yourself," she purred, circling him for a moment before stopping to face Jamie. "You have lost yourself, my Princess. A fact our Lord would most certainly be displeased with, but also a fact that can be changed."

"She sounds so different," Angel began looking at Spike uncertain.

"Was this really a good idea?" Wesley whispered looking between Angel and Spike.

"Nothing but lies," sneered Jamie as she looked between the two figures in front of her. "I am not lost," she finished, but who she was trying to convince was the question of the moment.

"Oh but you are my dear," Isáwien purred once more, "And to prove that I speak the truth, ask those of our brethren who you have brought with you. Do they not feel their mark burn?" she asked closing her eyes for a moment, opening them she felt the gathered Death Eaters all reach an unconscious hand to their left forearms. A feeling they had long forgotten no longer as easy to bear as it was long ago.

"My Lady…" whispered the Death Eater closest to Jamie.

"No…no, it's not possible," argued Jamie determined that what she was seeing was not possible.

"But it is, my Princess. Reveal yourself my Dark Prince. Show your Beloved that what she hears and feels is truly what she sees."

Lucius slowly raised his hands and lowered his hood, pulling his mask off at the same time. "Jamie, I…" he trailed off when he found cold steel pressed to his throat.

"You're not real, you're nothing but a trick…a figment of my imagination, nothing more," sneered Jamie as she tried to keep her voice and her hand steady. "My husband is dead. I watched as my godfather," Jamie practically spit the word out, "his werewolf and my former brother killed him. I watched as his lifeless body fell to the ground. You," Jamie gave a slight push on her sword, not enough to break the skin but enough to indicate that it was Lucius she was referring to, "are not my husband."

"My Lady please..." pleaded the Death Eater beside her.

"But he is my Princess. Name what proof you seek that he is who I say. Listen to Nott if you would believe him," Isáwien began before looking towards the right of Jamie. "Bellatrix, where do you think it is you shall go?" she asked stopping the older woman mid-step towards the door she had entered not so long ago.

When Jamie heard Isáwien address the other woman, she turned to see what she was doing, thereby dropping her guard long enough for Lucius to knock her sword away from his throat and wrapping her in his arms. "I'm here, my Love, I'm real and I'm not going anywhere, my Darling. You are mine and I am yours. So as our blood is one, so shall it be," he whispered into Jamie's ear.

"Do not fight it, my Lady," instructed Sebastian Nott as he rose from his spot and stepped in front of Jamie and Lucius. "Your place is here, with the Prince. Please my Lady, do not fight this," Sebastian urged as he watched Jamie's eyes flickering between black and blue as the two sides of her warred against one another.

"Step down Nott!" Bella yelled as she took a step towards him. "As your superior in the Inner Circle I'm ordering you to step down!" she yelled as she looked around the room for a way out.

"And as your superior, I am ordering you to cease your actions," Isáwien replied stepping towards the woman. "Her place is with us Bellatrix. You would know that if you still served our Lord...but you do not serve our Lord this day, I see it in your eyes. You have turned from our Lord and his chosen," she continued as she circled the woman.

"Jamie, Love, please calm down," pleaded Lucius as he tried to hold onto Jamie, who had begun fighting against his hold on her.

"Sebastian, I…I can't…I can't do this…you don't know what it's like, what he'll do to me," sobbed Jamie as she tried to get away from Lucius.

"My Lady, they can protect you," Nott said, trying to soothe Jamie, placing a reassuring hand on her cheek.

"No Sebastian, they can't…no one can. You have no idea what it feels like, you think the Dark Lord's punishments were harsh but those…those don't even come close to what Scarn has done to me and when he learns of my failure…Oh Gods, when he learns of this…"

"What has he done to you?" Isáwien asked stopping and turning towards them. /-/Please, my Princess, tell me,/-/ she continued closing her eyes and focusing on the link that had been blocked for far too long.

"It is not pretty, my Queen," replied Nott instead with a quick bow of his head to Isáwien. "I did not witness it my Queen, but I heard the screams…"

"You shall witness it soon enough," Bellatrix interrupted with a laugh that was pure evil. "When I tell Scarn what has happened. He'll have her writhing on the floor like the snake she is."

"And how do you expect to do that?" Isáwien growled as she turned to the woman. "You think you can just walk out of here, free like the thief you have become? Oh no, my dear girl," she purred as she circled her. "No, you shall not have that honour. For you do not deserve it," she growled in Bella's ear as she came around her side.

"Who are you to talk to me in such a manner!" Bellatrix yelled as she drew her wand, the other Death Eaters gathered, minus Lucius and Nott, immediately training their wands on her... including her own husband.

"There is no need to protect me, though I commend your actions," Isáwien said proudly. "You wish to know who I am. So I shall answer. I am the only child of Abraxas and Arrianna Malfoy. One of the last in a long line of witches born to the name Higginbotham. I bear the powers of two great lines in my veins, and control them with a single thought. I am the only wife of Thomas Marvolo Riddle. One of the four that fulfilled a prophecy conceived before your ancestors were a twinkle in their parents' eyes. Who am I you ask? I am the Dark Queen," she finished as her cape fell away in a trail of sparks.

"You look nothing like that bitch that made my Lord weak," Bella yelled as she took in the woman before her. The woman was clad in a black velvet floor-length dress, with a slit up to her thigh on the left side. Stiletto heels made her as tall as Lucius, and her hair was most certainly not the Malfoy Blonde, instead it hung in a mass of vibrant deep purple curls to her thighs. As for her eyes, they bore a slight resemblance to the violet eyes Lucius' sister had been blessed with, but now they were like twin bright violet flames instead of just normal eyes.

"I would watch how you address your Queen, Bellatrix," Isáwien began as the other woman suddenly flew up and was pinned against the far wall, nothing seeming to hold her there. "Do you need further proof than that which you can feel?" she continued not moving a muscle as Bella started holding her left arm, agony plainly visible on her face.

"Jamie, my Love, please stop fighting me," pleaded Lucius as he tried to hold onto his wife who was fighting against him with everything she had. "We can protect you…"

"Let me go. Please just let me go. You can't help me, he'll…he'll…oh Gods, just please let me go," begged Jamie.

"I think you'll be fine there," Isáwien told Bella before turning back to Jamie and Lucius. Hearing Jamie beg she made her way back to their sides. Looking up she placed a silencing charm around the four of them before focusing on Jamie once more. "Jyn, please. Do not fight us. There is no way he can touch you here, not without my letting him. And I will not let him hurt you unless it is necessary," she began softly.

"You don't know that!" cried Jamie in panic, her eyes continuing to flicker between blue and black. "You don't know what it's like. Oh Gods, Sebastian please, you have to get me out of here. You know what he's capable of, of what he'll do to me. Please Sebastian, you have to get me out of here," pleaded Jamie as she upped her struggle to free herself from Lucius grasp, even resorting to magic to get away, causing Lucius to cry out in pain as he felt the effects of the Cruciatus Curse coursing through his body, resulting in him finally releasing his hold on Jamie. Once Jamie was free of Lucius' hold she pushed past Sebastian Nott and started towards the door as fast as she could.

"It won't work Jamie," Isáwien said, stopping her at the door. "There's no way in or out of this building. Please don't waste your strength trying to find a way."

"You don't understand! None of you do!" snapped Jamie in desperation. "No matter how this turns out I'm the one that has to pay the price. I'm the one that failed and so I'm the one that will be punished for that failure. You have to let me out of here."

"Who did you fail my Princess? Not us. Not our Lord. If anyone in this room has failed, it is us. We failed you. But it does not have to destroy the future we were all promised," Isáwien replied softly as she slowly walked towards the other woman.

"I was sent here to do a job, a job I have failed to complete," whimpered Jamie as she slowly slid down the wall, folding in on herself. "All it took the last time was refusing them the Death Eaters, oh Gods, what's he going to do now that I've actually failed in doing what I was sent here to do."

"Do not fret, my dear. He truly can not reach you here," Isáwien said as she knelt in front of her. "All shall be well, you shall see," she began as she trailed her palm along Jamie's cheek and lifted her chin to look at her. "Wait and see," she continued standing up. "Everyone, leave, there are means to refresh yourselves in the back room," she announced looking around. "Except you, you may stay," she continued to a select few. The majority left, leaving Lucius, Nott, who had refused to leave his Princess' side, and the other members of Angel's association and those they had recruited from the Slayer's members in Cleveland.

Turning back to Jamie she knelt down once more. "Jamie, trust me, trust us, as you once did. Let us help you. I swear on my life and death, I shall not let that man hurt you unless it is your decision."

"You can't protect me from him…from them," replied Jamie quietly, her voice filled with fear but also a weary acceptance of her fate.

"From who Jamie? From this man Scarn? From the Feryl demons here with you? From the other members of Wolfram and Hart? My dear, dear friend...even the most powerful wizard of our time, other than our Lord, could not stop the four of us together. He had to resort to the means he did to stop us. How can mere Muggles and the rest of their sordid group stop us?"

"He can take me out of the equation quite easily," replied Jamie flatly.

"What is she talking about Nott?" demanded Lucius.

"I do not know my Prince," replied Nott sadly. "I merely heard her scream and caught her before she fell when she emerged from his office. I don't know exactly what he did to her or how, especially given her powers."

"Jamie, do you trust me?" Isáwien asked after hearing the conversation behind her.

Jamie nodded in reply.

Standing she offered her hand to the younger woman, keeping her deadly nails pointed away from her palm.

Jamie slowly, reluctantly took Isáwien's hand and allowed the older woman to help her back up to her feet.

After Jamie had stood, Isáwien placed her other hand over Jamie's and closed her eyes. Keeping Jamie in place by the hand between her own, she let her mind reach out to her friend's, looking for any signs on her body or mind that were not visible to the naked eye.

Opening her eyes Isáwien stepped back, letting Jamie decide if she wanted to keep her hand in her own, or not. "They have managed to block the mark your Prince gave you. And given you another not meant to grace your skin," she said softly looking up to Jamie's eyes.

"Yes," replied Jamie quietly, trying to keep her tears from falling as she was terrified out of her mind, but whether that was from the power radiating off her friend and Queen or the thought of what Scarn would most likely do to her, she did not know.

"Do not fear my dear friend. None here would harm you. And this Scarn," Isáwien said as if she wanted to spit the name, "shall learn the consequences of harming one of our own."

"What…what do you need from me?" asked Jamie tentatively.

"Oh my girl," Isáwien began with a sad smile. "We only wish to free you from this man and his group. But you must want to be freed, or else nothing we do this day will matter."

"I…I'm scared. I…I have been for a while. I never wanted to be a killer, it's just I…if I don't do as I'm told the consequences are severe and I…I'm tired of being a murderer…"

"TRAITOR!" cried Bellatrix from her spot on the wall. "Scarn will have your hide for this!"

Jamie started shaking at hearing Bellatrix's cries.

"Shh, my Lady," soothed Nott as he stepped up next to Jamie and put his arm around her waist. "Pay no attention to that harpy. Let your Queen and your Prince help you. You do not deserve what Scarn does to you. Please let them help you."

Jamie nodded in agreement to Nott's quiet pleas. "Help me…please."

"Always my Princess," Isáwien replied with a smile after ensuring Bella would keep her tongue in check. "I must warn you though; it may not be easy to free you from his hold. It can be painful, but I promise the rewards shall be greater than any pain can be," she trailed off waiting to see what her answer would be.

Jamie nodded her understanding as she leaned into Nott for support, much to Lucius annoyance.

/-/Do control your jealous nature my Prince. She has no doubt needed what comfort Nott could afford her. But he knows his place, and her's. He would never cross a line not meant to be crossed,/-/ Isáwien told him as she turned to face him, then walk over to Vld who, along with the others still there, had lowered their hoods. "Are you sure about this my friend?"

"I would do just about anything for Jamie you know that Isá," replied Vld.

"Isáwien," she replied evenly. "Now then, let us get the unpleasantness over with so we can get to the fun to be had this night," she continued holding her left hand out to him.

Taking her hand, he followed her as she walked back to Jamie's side, having exchanged a brief glance at the others after her insistence on her name. As they walked he felt the beginnings of a spell, but had to wonder at the fact he didn't hear a word or see a wand.

As they stopped, Isáwien held her right hand out to Jamie, nodding towards Nott to indicate he should leave. As he let go of Jamie, a bit reluctantly until Lucius stood beside him to take his place, he nodded towards his Queen before walking over to join the others gathered in the room.

As Jamie placed her hand in Isáwien's, pausing to look up at her husband a bit warily for the moment, Isáwien surprised her by pulling her hand towards Vld's, placing them palm to palm, a single finger of Isáwien's hand separating the two.

Isáwien swiftly drew her finger from their hands, before placing both of her own hands on either side of their joined hands. As their blood mixed, Isáwien closed her eyes and silently chanted something. Neither had the time to concentrate on it as Jamie nearly collapsed in pain, Lucius alone keeping her up. As the seconds passed, Vld's face began to show the signs he was in pain, as Jamie seemed to grow weaker. Soon Jamie was resting limply in Lucius' arms, but no longer in the searing pain she had been in seconds before, and Vld was standing on his own, but in his eyes you could still see the residue of the pain he could feel as it faded away.

As Isáwien opened her eyes, she looked between the two as she released their hands, a small red line on their palms the only physical knowledge to show what had transpired. Nodding at Vld, she looked to Lucius. "My Princess, you are free of the mark placed on you by others. But will you let your Prince help you regain the strength and memories so weak within you?"

"Yes…yes, my Queen," replied Jamie weakly.

Isáwien smiled faintly before nodding at Lucius, who carefully picked up his wife and walked through a hidden door on the right side of the room.

After they left the room, she turned to those gathered on the left side. "Ready yourselves, the enemy is coming to our lair. And as for you," she continued towards the demons. "Remember that you follow the orders of the Dark Princess. Whomever she fights for does not change that fact. And I'm sure we both know which side you would rather be fighting on as it is," she continued with a smile and a nod of respect towards them.

Turning towards the woman still on the ceiling, she strolled over to her as the sounds of those behind her made her smile. Yes, this Scarn would learn the results of harming one of their own. Looking up at the woman, she let her still pain-racked and now mute body lower to the ground. Circling the woman who still managed to stand as proudly as she could, Isáwien smirked.

"You know, I have never cared for you Bellatrix. Your eyes wandered too far from your husband's side. You thought yourself an equal of Voldemort. And you sought to take the place beside him as his Queen. Unfortunately for you, that was a title he bestowed upon me alone," she trailed off as she traced a finger along the woman's waist, smiling when she felt the light trickle of blood splash her finger. "You should have learned your place long ago my girl. You should have not thought yourself my superior. A mistake I'll not soon forget, nor shall you I'm afraid." Smiling Isáwien raised her hand and trailed her nails along the side of Bellatrix's temple, before turning and walking from her, the proud smirk that graced her lips caught the attention of her cousins still present.

"What did you do Isáwien?" Gilly asked as they met her halfway towards them.

"Nothing she didn't deserve Gilgamangë." she replied with a smile.

"Didn't look like all that much to me," Spike mused as he looked back at the woman.

"Don't presume to judge my actions William," Isáwien growled as she watched him stand after being thrown across the room. "The traitor is nothing more than an empty shell as we speak. Her mind has been cut off from this place, her memory of the events erased. When it is time, she shall do as we need to bring Scarn to us. After that, she'll return to Azkaban to receive the Dementor's Kiss," she trailed off, obviously not bothered by that fact.

"But the Ministry hasn't sentenced her to that particular punishment," Gilly pointed out softly.

"No, but the Dementor's do not follow the Ministry all the time now do they?" Isáwien replied as she walked to the curtain that separated the back rooms. "If they did, how would the Death Eaters present this night be here," she added before disappearing behind the curtain.

"What have we done?" asked Buffy as she watched Isáwien disappear.

"Something I don't want to bloody see end up like it's starting to," Spike replied as he joined them, rubbing his head. "She can control it my arse," he muttered under his breath as he pulled his hood back up.

"We could always knock her unconscious," Vld suggested as he raised his own hood.

"Oh, by all means. Have at it Vladie. We can see who had the better bowling score after she uses you as a bloody ball. Although, I say I made a strike, so good luck beating that," Spike replied with a smirk.

"Oh, do stop joking about that," Willow snapped as she shook her head. "Besides, what's the worst that could happen really?" she asked looking around the group. Angel, Spike, and Gilly suddenly finding the ceiling quite interesting didn't help the situation any. But before she could ask more, the curtains parted as the masses of Death Eaters strolled back into the room

Moments after, Lucius and Jamie came out of the room, Jamie looking much better for wear than she had before she went in. Isáwien stood in the centre of the room, as everyone arranged themselves back into the configurations they had before.

"I have to return to ready myself once more. But the two of you should be filled in on what shall happen, as should the four of our brethren you brought here this night."

"I filled her in for the most part, my Queen," Lucius replied with a nod.

"Very good, my Prince," Isáwien responded, nodding as well. "Then, as everyone is ready, we shall restart this night at the point our Princess told our Prince that, I believe this is a quote, 'there is only one Dark Lord and you are not him'. Our dear, slightly unconscious, Bellatrix shall provide us the means of bringing Scarn here. And by giving her another story to follow, this night can follow our rules rather than theirs," with a nod and smile towards everyone, Isáwien turned and strode back through the curtain.

As Isáwien left the main room, Jamie bent over and retrieved her sword from where Lucius had knocked it earlier in the evening. "You are no Dark Lord," sneered Jamie as she approached Lucius. "There has only ever been one true Dark Lord, and you are not him," Jamie informed him, her voice cold and emotionless once more while her eyes were filled with every emotion not shown in her voice.

"No, I am not Lord Voldemort. But I am his Dark Prince," Lucius replied removing his mask.

The zombie version of what had once been Bellatrix stepped back as her eyes widened. Turning she rushed to the door and stepped out, everyone watching her while rolling their eyes.

A few minutes later zombie Bella returned with a thin man with grey hair and even greyer eyes. Coming into the room he made his way over to Jamie. "Why haven't you defeated this impostor yet, Miss Potter?" he asked carefully.

"There's a slight problem, Sir," replied Jamie, keeping her eyes on Lucius, "Considering it's my husband."

"You are aware Miss Potter, that your husband died over ten years ago," snapped Scarn. "This is merely a disguise meant to play tricks on your mind, now do the job you were sent here to do and then we will deal with your issues with authority."

"Sir, if this is merely a wizard using a Glamour to try to fool me, it's one hell of a glamour and they would have to have known Lucius extremely well in order to get his mannerisms down," replied Jamie as she slowly started to back away from Lucius letting her sword fall to her side.

"Miss Potter, you will do the job you were sent here to do if you wish to leave here by your own power," threatened Scarn.

"And you will not threaten my Princess," growled Lucius as he stepped between Jamie and Scarn.

"I will do as I please with my employees," replied Scarn as he pulled out what looked to everyone gathered to be a Muggle pen, only Jamie recognizing it for what it truly was.

"I'm sorry Mr. Scarn, please no, anything but that…please," pleaded Jamie, her eyes wide with terror at what she knew would be coming next.

"You know the consequences, Miss Potter. You have once again been openly defiant when it comes to following specific orders; first with the Death Eaters and now with this. You have left me no choice as you have brought this upon yourself," replied Scarn coldly as he pressed the trigger.

/-/Forgive me,/-/ Jamie sent mentally before wrapping her arms around her middle and starting to double over. After a few moments Jamie let out a blood-curdling scream as she collapsed to her knees. Jamie was soon crumpling to the floor, never once stopping her scream.

As Lucius turned to attack Scarn, the room suddenly became eerily silent, though those watching Jamie could still see her screaming.

Then, a very distinct clapping sound rang in the silent room, as every gathered Death Eater, including the Zombie Bella, bowed. Scarn looked up to see a caped figure moving towards him.

"Oh very well done…Mr. Scarn is it?" the icy voice asked as the figure continued towards him. All that was visible were two glowing globes of violet fire from within the hood.

"And just who might you be?" demanded Scarn as he turned towards the newest arrival, letting up on the trigger, leaving Jamie lying on the floor, curled in on herself as she cried quietly in remembered pain.

"Oh no no no. We aren't on me yet, Mr. Scarn. But I do have to ask. Does it make you feel like a man? Using torture to bend a woman to your will. Do you have to resort to it in the bedroom as well?" she asked with an obvious smirk in her voice.

"How I discipline my employees is of no concern to you," replied Scarn evenly.

"Really now? I have the desire to disagree my dear man, well that is if you qualify as a man."

"I have no time for this," snapped Scarn. "Come along Miss Potter," he ordered as he grabbed Jamie by the wrist, hauling her to her feet and away from Lucius who had been sitting behind her since she collapsed to the floor moments earlier.

"I wouldn't touch her if I were you, Mr. Scarn," the woman warned.

"Miss Potter belongs to me and therefore I will do with her as I please," replied Scarn tersely as he continued to drag Jamie towards the door.

"Mr. Scarn, first the door shall not open. And trust me on that," the woman said as she followed him. "Second, SHE does not belong to you."

Mr. Scarn did not answer; he simply kept walking towards the door, dragging Jamie along behind him.

"Fair enough Mr. Scarn. I do hope you've already produced any children you intended to have in this lifetime," the woman continued before Scarn suddenly stopped mid-step. Letting go of Jamie's wrist, he seemed almost reluctant as he moved his hands over the juncture of his legs. Almost as if his hands were moving on their own accord while his mind was telling him not to; a sight that quite a few of the gathered women snickered upon seeing.

"So Mr. Scarn, do you have any plans to use that ridiculous pen and tattoo on her again?"

Scarn refused to answer and so the pain in his groin increased and continued to increase until he finally shook his head in response.

"Now, isn't that a good boy," she remarked as she moved closer. /-/Lucius do snap out of your shock and help your wife back a good distance from our unfortunate guest,/-/ she added mentally.

Lucius shook his head as he snapped to attention at Isáwien's mental urging quickly rising to his feet and helping Jamie stumble back towards the safety of the gathered Death Eaters.

/-/Thank you, my dear Prince,/-/ she replied before finally stopping next to the man still holding on to his groin. "Now, my dear Mr. Scarn, would you be so kind as to explain what made you turn our Princess into your personal weapon of destruction?"

"I did nothing she did not ask for," replied Scarn through the pain.

"Now Scarn, do you honestly expect me to believe that you did not take advantage of our Princess during a highly emotional period in her life? Come now, we don't look that stupid do we?"

"It was her choice. All we did was make the offer; Miss Potter decided upon the terms and conditions. We did only that which she asked of us," replied Scarn tightly.

"That may be true Mr. Scarn. But I still doubt that you didn't pounce on the opportunity when you saw her in a state that she would join you just to escape the problems that had arisen in her life."

"We had been watching the Dark Four ever since you first fulfilled the prophecy. We had hoped to get one of you within the fold and merely awaited the opportune moment to present itself," replied Scarn.

"So, you took the last one of our group who would ever rule? Honestly Scarn, one would think the Senior Partners would be smarter than that." she replied with a sigh.

"We could offer her what she was obviously lacking in her present life," sneered Scarn. "We offered her the opportunity to use her skills, not be looked down upon for them. We offered her the chance to be known for who she is, not who she was or who she was related to."

"That may be Scarn. But you never gave her the option of changing her mind in the future. And you even sent her here to kill her own husband and Prince. Then when she refuses, you try to torture her. Do you not even truly know what you are dealing with in this room?"

"It makes no difference," snapped Scarn in pain and frustration. "Miss Potter belongs to Wolfram & Hart. There is nothing any of you can do to change that."

"Really now? You would challenge the Dark Four so foolishly? And I thought you Muggles prided yourself on being the smartest creatures in the universe."

"The Dark Four no longer exists seeing as their leader, the infamous Dark Lord no longer exists," argued Scarn nastily.

"Now Scarn, you of all people should know a person, a spirit, a soul does not just cease to exist when their body is destroyed. Especially that of the Dark Lord," she growled.

"It does when a soul destroying curse is used…"

"Never assume things that you have NO knowledge of you arrogant, egotistical mortal!" Isáwien growled as her cape disappeared and a strong wind swept through the room blowing her hair, along with the capes of every gathered member, around wildly. "The Dark Lord yet lives. The spell Dumbledore gave that brat Potter did not destroy his soul. A soul cannot be destroyed when it is bound to another soul, especially when that soul yet lives."

Scarn slowly started backing away from the enraged woman in front of him. Jamie unconsciously mimicking his actions in retreating from where the woman, who at one point had been her friend, was currently standing, the dark magic radiating off of her in waves.

"Where do you think you are going Scarn?" Isáwien demanded as the wind died down. Cocking one eyebrow she waited to see if he might surprisingly have an explanation.

Scarn said nothing in reply just looked around for any form of escape from the enraged witch.

Smirking as she watched the man desperately seek a means of escape, she glanced around the room as the wind picked up once more. "There's no place to run Scarn," she commented as the wind picked him up and spun him around. "Everyone leave!" she ordered, not turning to see if they would follow her instructions or not.

The Death Eaters quickly left the room, followed by the demons Jamie had brought with her. Last to leave were Lucius and Jamie themselves, Lucius deciding to simply carry his wife out to make the trip faster. On the other side of the curtain, he had just set her on a chair when the curtains suddenly came flying towards the gathered people. Many minutes later, after the majority of those gathered had fought their way free of the black fabric, it suddenly fell back to the floor.

Looking around at each other for a moment, Lucius finally looked to Jamie to see if she wished to come with him.

Seeing her slight nod, he helped her to her feet and let her lean on him for support as they were joined by Gilly. Together the three parted the curtain and entered the large, practically empty room. Looking around they found their American friends and their few companions, in the far left corner, slowly rising to their feet. All except for Spike, who was waiting for them in the centre of the room.

"You missed the fun darlings," Spike said with a sort of sad smirk. "See the lion skin over there?" he asked with a nod towards the right wall. "Guess what that use to be."

Gilly looked between the skin and Spike a few times before closing her eyes. "She turned him into a lion?"

"Then skinned him alive and did God only knows with his body when she disappeared with it. Although she did tell us to never disregard her orders again, or we'll all help decorate the wall along with the late Mr. Scarn," Spike replied looking at Lucius. "She got a way to bring Voldie back doesn't she," he stated more than asked.

Instead of replying, Lucius picked up his wife. "We'll be in contact," he told his older cousin before the two disappeared.

Lucius and Jamie appeared outside the location of Higginbotham castle and waited for Gilly to arrive, although they were slightly surprised to see Spike with her when she appeared a few moments later.

"He has to come, he's family," Gilly explained as she walked a few feet forward and closed her eyes.

"How are you feeling, Jamie?" Spike asked softly as he looked at her.

"I'm fine," replied Jamie quietly, refusing to make eye contact with anyone.

Spike smiled slightly before looking over at Gilly. "Hope she doesn't make the building appear upside down again." he mused as she cited the spell that would bring the Castle back into this realm.

Lucius sent a look of annoyance towards his cousin before turning his attention back to Gilly and the spells she was casting, while Jamie seemed to keep to the back of the group and to herself as much as possible, only speaking when spoken too.

As the castle appeared right side up, Gilly turned to the others and smiled softly. "Let me tell them," she asked softly.

Nodding they turned and made their way into the castle, before heading up to the private library, the gathering place for everyone while they were at the castle. And inside they found everyone pretty much. Severus was the first to notice them, then got the attention of Remus, Sirius, Abby, Dawn Marie, Desi, Ciara, Sage, the twins, and Albus and a few others all turned to them with smiles of relief when they saw Jamie.

"Gilly, where's Isáwien?" Severus asked softly stopping the cheers of happiness.

"You guys better sit down," Gilly began as she looked around. Everyone took a seat as Lucius led Jamie to a chaise.

"Áwien couldn't control her dark side. I'm afraid the Dark Queen has returned," Gilly explained softly, watching Severus the entire time.

"Where is she now?" Severus asked after a moment.

"We don't know," Spike replied after a moment.

"She's going to bring our father back isn't she?" Sage asked glancing at Desi.

"We don't know for sure what she will do," Gilly replied softly.

"Gil, look," Dawn said pointing to the hallway behind the violet haired woman.

"Fearchar?" Gilly asked as she turned and walked towards the owl that dropped a letter then flew away.

"What did she have?" Severus asked as he stood up and walked over to his wife's cousin.

"It's a letter, addressed to everyone in your care," Gilly replied handing him the envelope.

Taking the envelope he opened it and pulled out the parchment, opening it he closed his eyes as he leaned back against the wall while Gilly took his empty seat. Opening his eyes he began to read:

My Dearest Ones,

How can I explain why I am doing what I am? I don't think there is a way to explain it really…

Nor can I ask you for forgiveness that I know in my heart I truly do not deserve. All I can ask, is that no matter what the future holds now, don't live with regret about what may or may not have been. Don't let my decision ruin your lives. You all deserve the best in life. And I know, with every fibre of my being, that all of you have a wonderful life ahead of each of you. Don't let regrets, or decisions made change that. No matter what.

Desi, Cia, Tessa, my girls… have a ball in school. And don't try to drive all the teachers insane. And Des, don't you dare try to join me. Of all of us, you are the most like your father, and your mother, and even a good deal like me. Merlin help Jyn and the others because of that last fact. But don't give up your life because of a desire to let that other side of you out. You are your father's daughter. But you are also your own person. Live Sweetie. You have Dan, and all of our insane family. Stay and live with them. Follow your dreams. But let this single one die. You'll be so much happier in the long run if you take my words to heart Love.

Gil… take care of the twins. They are the last of our family, last of our kind. They are going to need the training only you can give them now. Both of them. Watch over Arri especially. I don't know why, but something tells me that she is going to become more of a true Higginbotham than even we were. Love them for me. But I know they will be safe, with you and Esmerelda as teachers, how can they not.

Buffy, Vld, Angel, Debbie, everyone in the group…I'm truly sorry for what has happened. Don't let the past we share influence your decisions in the future to come. You cannot let that happen. Because I won't let it influence me. For all of you to protect the world, you must fight with every ounce of your beings, holding nothing back. Good luck my friends…

Hey Jyn girl. Do me a favour kay? Don't blame yourself too much. It's not your fault. Truth is, we pushed you to this. I should have stood back years ago and not pushed you and Lucius back together. It wasn't my place. But I didn't want to accept that as much as you two loved each other, you might not have been meant for each other. And what happened that day in Cleveland… it wasn't your fault either. I've made this decision. For more reasons than just to get you back. Live your life as you want to Sweets. Don't let anyone tell you what to do anymore. Tell them to go jump off the nearest bridge, or whichever term you pick. You don't want to end up like me Sweets. And if you don't change things soon, you just might. And that's the worst thing I can imagine for you. You're a free soul. You always have been. All of us were just too blinded by your inner light to realize we were keeping you in a gilded cage.

Oh, one last thing. Go ahead and have that breakdown you deserve. And so help me, if any of you out there try to keep her from having it. You don't want to face me on the other side because I will make your lives living hells, if I have to come back as a ghost to do it then so be it. Besides, I gave up on heaven long ago, so may as well stick around earth instead.

Lucius, hey big brother. Gods, can you believe that twenty years ago we hated each other? You know, I've been remembering a lot of things lately. Remember when I was younger? Just after Draco was born? I remember all those afternoons I'd sneak into your office and hide under your desk. You know, looking back, I can't believe I forgot those days. Can you imagine how things might have been? If we had been 'normal'. But at the same time, I can't imagine where we would be today if we had been 'normal'. I do know one thing though. Father would still be alive…

Take care of the family. You're the only one of us left now. Especially seeing as you disowned Draco. Which, brother mine, at least try to talk to him again. Life is too short to just give up members of your family, especially over something that happened years ago now. We all make mistakes and both of you made your fair share. But that's life Lucius.

Besides, if people can forgive people for murder. Why can't we forgive almost anything else in the world?

Gods I don't know how to talk to you… to say how sorry I am for this, because I am Beloved. More than you'll ever know. But no matter how much I love you, how much I love our children… I'm so very tired of fighting. We always said that Lucius and Jyn were more in touch with their dark sides… it's true. They truly did accept theirs. And yes I accepted I have one. But I knew after I married Tom, that I could never control it. It's like having a whole other person inside. And she has not liked being locked away all these years.

I can't control her anymore Severus. And I won't risk losing control and going after you or the children or any other members of our family. By doing it this way, by letting go by my choice, I know I can at least give all of you that much protection. But please, don't make it worse by coming after me. You have to live Beloved. Live to protect all of our children. Tommy, Arri, Jyn, Harry, Desi, Tessa, Cia, so many lives are at stake.

I truly do love you all.

Isá

"This is all my fault," commented Jamie quietly into the eerie silence that had descended on the assembled party after Severus finished reading the letter.

"Sweetie. This is no one's fault. You heard Áwien. What you did? What you chose? We drove you to it in the long run. And as for Isáwien's choice... Sweetie, she herself said. She was tired of fighting who she is. She made this choice. It was her's and her's alone. This might have happened even if you had not joined Wolfram and Hart. And she's happier that it happened this way then if it had been different. I know that in my heart and soul. Don't blame yourself for any of this."

"She's right, Jamie. It truly isn't your fault," Severus agreed softly. "But it's late. All of us are tired. Why don't we retire for the night and we'll figure out what to do in the morning," he continued softly.

"How can you say that?" argued Jamie pulling away from Lucius and leaping to her feet. "How can any of you stand there and tell me this isn't my fault? I forced this decision on my oldest and dearest friend. By the Gods! If I for once had just thought about my actions before acting like the typical Gryffindor and jumping into something without knowing what I was getting into, none of this would have happened and Isá would still be with us. And don't give me that look Father, I know all about that stupid bloody prophecy of Trelawney's from our sixth year and I know that I was the griffin in snake's clothing. I am a Gryffindor at heart so quite frankly all those barbs and insults you threw at Harry for years you should have been throwing my way and not his since he's the true Slytherin Potter. I was just trying to stop the pain and yet all I've done is cause everyone I care for pain by taking their mother, sister and wife away from them. How can you stand there and say I had nothing to do with Isá truly becoming the Dark Queen when we all know she did it to get me out of one of the messes that I once again got myself into! No one here is to blame but me, you all know it's true so why not just come out and put the blame where it belongs…with me…"

/-/Jamie take a breath you, silly girl,/-/ a familiar voice spoke in her head stopping her mid-sentence. /-/No, don't forget to breathe now. Isáwien would kill me if you keeled over because I contacted you,/-/ the man continued and Jamie could almost hear the smirk that no doubt graced his lips. Did dead men have lips?

"Tom…" came the whispered exclamation as Jamie's knees gave out causing her to collapse to the floor where she was standing.

/-/Relax Jamie. You aren't losing your mind or anything. I just know my wife would be upset if she knew you were blaming yourself. And since I now have the means to contact you thanks to Isáwien's complete return to darkness, I thought I should take this chance. This is truly not your fault my girl. If anything, you gave Isáwien the means to finally allow herself to be free. You of all people can understand the pain one can face when trying to balance their light and dark side. In yourself and Lucius, you have reached a reasonable balance, a reasonable compromise. But in Isáwien, the battle has raged her entire life. For twenty years she forced her dark side to lie dormant. When she finally allowed it to be released when we married, her dark side was eager for the chance to be free. But for another decade she had fought it back. Kept it in a box tighter than even you or Lucius keep yours. If this chance had not come. This very well may have killed her. If anything my dear girl...you may have saved her life. Do not blame yourself for that. For there is nothing to be blamed for. But please, keep this to yourself for now. My connection to you must be kept secret until the time is right,/-/ he added softly before fading from her mind.

"Jamie? Are you all right?" Harry asked softly as he knelt next to his sister. He was concerned about her; especially now that she had said the name of the man he had destroyed so many years before.

Jamie shook her head as she bit her lip to keep from either crying or telling everyone what just happened, she wasn't quite sure as her eyes glistened with the tears she was trying desperately to keep in.

"Jamie?" Harry asked as he reached out touch her hand.

"I don't…I…I can't…I can't do this…" whispered Jamie with stifled sobs. "I don't…I don't know what to do Harry. Oh Gods, what do I do?"

"Jamie, Sweetie...why don't you get some rest? You must be exhausted," Harry said softly as he held his hands towards her. "Let me take you to your room," he offered with a smile. Behind her, Albus reached over towards Lucius and stopped him from saying anything.

Jamie nodded slowly as she took her brother's hand, allowing him to help her to her feet and out of the room.

Once Jamie was out of the room, Lucius turned to Albus. "What exactly do you think you're doing old man?"

"She's been through a lot Lucius. Give her this one night to deal with things on her own," Severus said as he looked at his son-in-law. "Don't be angry at Albus for seeing what your heart in its joy at her return does not see immediately," he continued softly.

"And what exactly might that be Snape," snarled Lucius, trying to rein in his rapidly rising temper.

"That she needs time to process all she has learned today," Gilly replied softly just as Severus opened his mouth. "She has learned of what she did many months ago now. She is facing the things she has done in those months. And she is facing what she saw in that building. If anyone else in this place had seen what we did, they would need time as well. Even you must admit that what we witnessed today requires time to process," she trailed off softly. "Let it go for tonight. We can deal with all of this tomorrow. We all need rest Lucius," she continued with a half smile.

Lucius merely glared at everyone instead of answering before stalking from the rooms, his Death Eater robes swirling around him in a way reminiscent of the Potions Master himself.


The Senior Partners of Wolfram and Hart were not exactly sure why their secretaries had called them into the office at such an ungodly hour. But, hearing that it had something to do with Zacharias Scarn's private project, as it was called, they came, although they were not expecting the sight that greeted them. The carcass of a Lion, minus its skin lay in the centre of the room in a pool of blood, its eyes staring at them almost in accusation.

Across the room, in the shadows they saw two small violet flames mid-way up the wall. Turning the head of the group of senior partners went to open the door and demand answers when a voice spoke, giving each of the members shivers down their spines as the hair on the back of their necks rose. Looking back towards the twin flames as the icy voice spoke they suddenly found themselves wondering if they would regret coming into work tonight.

"Hello ladies and gentlemen. I suppose you are wondering just what is going on this evening," the woman spoke as the flames moved towards them. Moments later a caped figure appeared out of the shadows, the flames shinning from within the hood. "And I wouldn't try using the door again; it won't provide you any protection tonight."

"Who are you?" one of the members asked as he set his jaw.

"My name is Isáwien Sitara Higginbotham-Malfoy-Riddle-Snape. Though I believe you would know me as the Dark Queen," she replied as she reached up and lowered her hood. "And I believe we have some business to discuss," she continued as a chair appeared behind her and she sat down.

"You're the Dark Queen?" one of the women asked sceptically. "Begging your pardon Madame, but Isáwien Snape takes after the Malfoy family, and she's got blonde hair."

"I did have blonde hair. But my dark side takes after my mother's family. I'm sure you've heard about them. The Higginbothams," she replied with a smirk. "Now, about the actions of your Mr. Scarn," she continued saying his name with obvious disgust.

"What has happened to Mr. Scarn?" another member asked as she smiled. A smile that made the majority of the members take a step back.

"Mr. Scarn is dead, isn't he?" the senior member asked as he walked back from the door to stand in the middle of the room.

"You can see for yourself," she replied looking over at the carcass.

"Oh do hold your dinners." the senior member ordered the others as they realized just what had happened. "Now, you said we had things to discuss. What might those be your majesty?" he continued as he nodded towards Isáwien.

"That we do, starting with your connection to my Princess," Isáwien replied with a smile.