Remember why you're doing this. I told myself as I walked through the double doors.

"Ivana!" Ivory squealed as she made her way over to us. Ugh, that retarded name. "Its been much, much too long!" she exclaimed as she embraced me.

"Yeah…" I laughed lightly as I returned the hug. "…I think I'm rusty at this." I admitted.

That really was the truth. I was a mother first, a woman second. My love life is close to non existent at this point. I'm actually surprised I have a date somewhere in my future under the circumstances.

Even if its only a fantasy.

"When Anita told me that she was bringing a guest, I had no idea that guest was you." she said, holding me at arms length. "I tell you what, tonight is my treat." she whispered closely to my ear. "You can pick two if you want." she teased.

I bit my lip before forcing a smile upon my lips, "Honey, I'm extremely rusty. I know for a fact that I cant handle two right now. But thanks for the offer."

"It was worth a shot." she grinned, adding a wink. "You know the routine." she said, showing me the way. "Anita? Can we have a word?"

"Have fun." Anita snickered before joining Ivory.

Fun? This isn't my idea of fun.


As soon as the guards closed the doors behind us, Nick grabbed me by my arms.

"Why did you come back here?" he growled, "You're risking your life just by being here!"

I shrugged him off of me, "I'm here because I have to be." I said. "I need your help."

"What have you gotten yourself into now?" he asked, slowly releasing me as he began rubbing the back of his neck. "And the rules changed over the years that you've been away, just so you know."

I walked over to the bed, sitting on the edge, "I know, Anita told me." I whispered.

Sex with Nick was never a chore. I thought to myself as I surveyed him. So if I'm forced to do it, it should be easy. That's if he lets me…

His hair was short and spiked. His beard was now just a five o'clock shadow. And he seem to have gotten thicker, more masculine.

But still as sexy as ever. I thought as I bit my lip, turning my focus to my crystallized stilettos.

"And yet you came anyway?"

I looked up at him and nodded. "We had sex many times before. This-"

"No." he growled. "Not like this."

"Someone is after me. I don't know who or why exactly but I need your help. Even if it means that we have to…you know." I said, seeking his sympathy. "I have a three year old now and I cant lose her…"

He sighed, "Damn it Bella."

"Hey, for the record, I haven't been seeing anyone since before she was born. That's why this makes no sense. I mean Lily is dead. She has been for years."

"And Zander?"

Zander?

"What about Zander?" I frowned at him, "I haven't seen him in years too." I said. "In fact, I haven't even thought of him until now…"

"And he's not her father?"

I laughed as I shook my head, "God no."

Nick slowly walked over towards the bed, "What kind of trouble you in?"


It took me less than ten minutes to tell him everything, which included Elizabeth's fathers identity. I felt ridiculously guilty when I did so too because I trusted him more than I trusted my very best friend whom I knew almost all my life.

Of course that's because my history with friends went sour once upon a time.

But still, I trusted him with my life because he was Elena's father. And being her father, he shared the same feelings as me.

"Before I give you his information, I want you to promise me something." he said. "I want you to take Elena with you."

I smiled at him, "I was planning to either way."

He nodded, "In the basement of my home, there is a cloaked room. Behind that door is enough money to last several lifetimes. With that money, you will use to care for our daughter."

I frowned, "But-"

He growled at me, "You're the mother of my daughter. Her well being as well as yours is top priority. I may not be able to care for you both like a regular man but this is one thing that I can do. At least then you will never have to worry about money."

He had a point. But it still felt wrong and totally not the reason for my visit.

"How am I suppose to find your secret room if its cloaked though?"

"I had one of the sapphire stones on the bracelet that I gave you charmed. The hidden door is in the furthest corner to the right. All you have to do is wave the bracelet in front of it counterclockwise three times."

Fudge.

"Um…about that…" I hesitated. "…I gave it to Elena. I wanted her to have something from us both." I told him through clenched eyes. "Is there another way to get pass it?" I asked, peaking through slits.

"Not without me there." he said. "We'll get back to that." he said. "Now Carmichael is an old friend but I know that he can be trusted. He's a loyal man."

Don't forget to mention that Sarpedonian ceremony. I reminded myself.

"Yeah, hey. So I heard about this virgin ceremony that your people have, like tradition."

Caught off guard by the sudden change of subject, he cocked his head to the side.

"Where did you hear this from?"

"The grapevine?" I offered. "Anyways, what are the chances of Elena being one of the chosen?"

"Rare." he groaned. "Is that why you're asking?"

I nodded. "I don't want my daughter forced to offer up her virginity to someone she doesn't love, let alone know."

He watched me carefully, "Normally we don't speak to…" he thought about it, "…outsiders about this ceremony in particular. But since our daughter might share that fate…" he paused, "…which is probably one out of a hundred…" he added with a grin, "…I guess you get a free pass into our history."

I rolled my eyes, "Geez, don't sound so enthusiastic about it." I said. "I guess…" I mimicked.

He shook his head as he smiled at me, "You're still the same."

"Why, thank you." I flashed him a smile, "I'll take that as a compliment."

"This ceremony you're referring to, it's a fertility ceremony performed in the caves of Sarpedon." he began. "At the top of the highest mountain, there's a temple where four virgin oracles reside. These oracles are the purest and the most beautiful of all the women in Sarpedon. They are protected by magic to preserve their purity." he said. "Once every hundred years, the elders seek the oracles for the chosen name of the new generation. It is said that the ceremony is performed to continue the blood line of the Sarpedon Warriors." he said, pausing. "But then again, a lot has been said. I'm not sure which myth has any truth to it."

"So the myth about a woman being the chosen…?"

He shrugged, "That isn't a myth. Its rare for a woman to be chosen. But its no myth." he said. "My mother was chosen on her twenty first year and birthed the eldest brother, Variathus."

I frowned at that, "So its also like an arranged marriage too?" I asked.

"Arranged marriage?" he chuckled, "What makes you say that?"

I shrugged, "She didn't marry your father?"

He nodded, "She did marry my father, but that came years afterward." he said. "As for the man who fathered my brother, she never saw his face. She was with him for only one night, the night that she offered him her virginity."

How is it even possible not to see the man- I paused. Oh. Doggy style.

"Well that sucks." I said. "I cant imagine never knowing the father of my child, let alone the identity of my lover." I said, slowly turning to him. "Wait…why is it done in secrecy though?"

"The chosen are chosen for a reason. The child that is conceived during the ceremony serves great purpose in the future."

I nodded, slowly absorbing his words. "And the chosen has to be virgins?"

He smiled, "We are to remain pure until after our twenty first year." he said. "Its tradition. Its how we were raised."

I guess some traditions aren't so bad.

"Okay…but what if Elena is in like love and maybe even married at the time when she is chosen?"

He sighed heavily, "If she is chosen." he corrected. "And if that happens, because of who she is, she must honor it."

I bit my lip, "But what if she isn't pure?"

"What if she is?" he asked, partially annoyed. "I know that its different here but that doesn't make her any less valuable. If she is chosen, pure or not, its for a reason that only the elders and the oracles know of." he groaned. "But that's even if she's chosen. For the past several hundred years, men has been chosen, my brother included." he said.

"The same brother that was conceived during the same ceremony?" I asked.

"No, actually, he wasn't the chosen one. My other brother Gabrielus, he was chosen regardless if his heart belonged to Calypso."

I cringed at the thought.

How sad.

"How did she take it?" I asked, curious.

"She supported him. She knew it was coming. It could've been any one of us." he said. "But thankfully he was the chosen one. It would probably be a strain on their relationship if the roles were reversed."

I nodded, "Right…because he would be forced to be reminded of that night every time he looks at the child."

Okay…I'm liking tradition even less now.

"Is there any other questions you need answered?" he asked. "I don't want you coming here unless its absolutely necessary."

I rolled my eyes, "You mean because of the price that I have to pay?" I asked as I stood up, lifting my dress. "Don't worry, you don't have to burden yourself with the task of having sex with me." I told him as I slipped my lace panties down my thighs.

"Bella, its not-"

I chuckled, "I was joking." I snorted. "Besides, it doesn't feel right anyways. I mean…I think-" I stopped. "Never mind." I said, tossing my undies to the side. "Get over here." I told him as I sat on the edge of the bed, "I think I found a loop hole that I can only hope actually work." I whispered.

Without hesitation, I scooted further onto the bed, laying flat on my back. I prompt my legs up as I slowly slipped my fingers within me.

I heard Nick growl from below, "Damn it Bella."

I smiled up at the ceiling, "Anita said the hounds searches for the scent." I said. "But in my opinion, that's gross. I would hate to have their job." I whispered out a soft moan before pulling out. Then I quickly sat up, "Get closer Nick, I wont bite."

He stepped forward. But before he could say anything, I shoved the hand that held my scent down his golden briefs, gripping his hardened cock.

He threw his head back, releasing a sound that's a toss up between a moan, a groan, and a growl. I couldn't tell whether or not that was the sound of protest or the sound pleasure. Either way, it didn't matter. What did matter was that my scent was on him without actual penetration.

"Great plan." he said, grinning down at me as I continued the same process.

"Shut up." I groaned.

If I was in a different place, sex with Nick would've came easily. But right now, I really don't know where my heart stands. After all these years, I still loved Eric, human Eric, of course. But he's still Eric, vampire and all.

As for trust, well, that's another story.

And seeing Cristiano again, it stirred up some feelings that I didn't even know I had for him. I mean I always felt connected to him, even more so after our first kiss.

Of course I'm not going to tell him that.

But its there. And I hate to admit this, but I missed him more than I realized. Seeing his face, hearing his voice.

How I wish I could rewind that clock and start over.

So being here with Nick, like this. Well this was kind of awkward.


"You think that this is going to work?" he asked me afterwards.

I slipped into my lace undies, "I think so."

It better work.

He nodded, walking over to the doors, "Just make sure that you take care of the girls." he said, gripping the knobs, "And I will keep fighting to stay alive until I'm finally free."

As will I.