A/N: Happy New Year! :)) I know its been much too long. But I'm sure everyone else were just as busy as I with the holidays && such. Anyhoo...here's another chapter for you fans!

I do not claim the rights to any of the characters from the Southern Vampire Mysteries or True Blood. Read, review, && enjoy! ^_^*

After Gabrielus revealed to me nearly every secret that he kept to himself until now, I couldn't help but find it in my heart to forgive him. He has done everything that he could to protect me. Hell, he even sacrificed his love for Calypso to save both me and our unborn daughter.

How can I not choose him?

I knew one things for certain. I needed a little more time and I had to talk to my dad about it all. He always knew what to do.

"Hi dad." I said as soon as he answered the phone.

"Bella, its so good to hear your voice."

I smiled, "Yours too."

"How are you and the girls?"

"That's what I called about." I told him. "I need your advice."

I took that moment to tell him everything. I started from the beginning and ended with what Gabrielus told me a little over an hour ago. And it felt ridiculously good to finally let another person into my world.

As twisted as it can get.

"I'm not going to tell you who you should or shouldn't be with. That is entirely up to you Bella." he said. "It sounds to me like the men in your life have their own way of protecting you even if they might do things illegal in the process."

I rolled my eyes. "I doubt any of them did anything illegal dad."

"I will call it like I see it." He groaned softly. "Bella, let me tell you this. And I will be sure to tell your girls this as well, in case you ever forget it." he began. "Choose the guy that takes you home to meet his parents, not the guy that takes you to his bedroom."

I wanted to gag.

Eew. Is my dad giving me advice on sex?

"Geez, thanks. That makes my decision so much easier." I said sarcastically.

About half an hour later, Gabrielus returned with some groceries and kitchenware.

"Where have you been? You were gone for almost two hours." I said, sliding onto the counter.

He watched me with raised brows. "Missed me?"

I sighed softly as I rolled my eyes, "Just curious."

He smiled then as he began prepping dinner. "Right."

After ten minutes of watching him, I reached for a handful of baby carrots.

"Need help?" I asked, popping a carrot into my mouth.

"Now you ask me?" he laughed. "After I've done most of the work?" He glanced at me and shook his head. "Don't worry. I got this." he said with a sly grin.

I chewed slowly as I contemplated on what I was going to say next.

"Are your parents still alive?"

Okay, I know that this is so backwards. Here I am, already pregnant with this man's baby and yet, I know next to nothing about him.

Well, technically, I know mostly nothing about all my baby daddy's.

The only man that I knew more about…well, he is totally out of the picture.

Aka Cristiano.

And I definitely don't want to get into that again.

That's for sure.

Gabrielus stopped chopping as he placed the knife down on the cutting board. Then he turned to me slowly.

"Why?" he asked after a brief pause.

I shrugged, "Just curious."

"You are quite the curious one tonight huh?" He narrowed his eyes. "To answer your question, yes. Both my parents are still alive. However, my father is pretty old."

I nodded. "Oh."

"What's this about?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned against the counter.

I looked down at the carrots in my hand. "I spoke with my dad just before you came back."

"And?"

I bit my lip, swallowing hard. "Nothing."

For a moment we stood there in silence.

Then he released a sigh. "You met my mother already." he said.

Holy shit.

My head shot up, eyes finding his. "I did? When?" I asked, surprised.

He smiled at me, "She was the one who prepared you for me that night." he chuckled then. "She thought you were strange at first. But then again, women of earth are different." he said. "I guess you grew on her."

I gulped slowly. "Why didn't you tell me that she was your mom?"

Now I kind of felt embarrassed that his mother saw me in my birthday suit. And even more so since she also had her hands all over my body, including certain private areas that's reserved only for lovers.

"It doesn't matter." he said.

I placed the carrots on the counter beside me and slid off. "Yes it does. She saw me naked." I whispered. "How can I look at her the same?"

He unfolded himself as he walked over, standing before me. "Earth girls are different than those of Sarpedon. Its all in your head." he said. "It was an honor for her to prepare you. Don't you see that?"

"Its tradition?"

He nodded. "We aren't as modest in Sarpedon. Being seen naked by others is normal, especially nights like that." he explained.

So I met his mother before actually having sex with him.

Surely that's a good thing right? I don't recall ever meeting anyone else's parents. Well, aside from Ryan. But that was long after we had sex.

It must be a good sign.

"I want her to deliver the baby." I said suddenly, remembering my vision. "I want to have our daughter in the water. I want the scent of gardenias to be the first thing she smells…"

I could tell that he wanted to wrap his arms around me at that moment. If we were under different circumstances, I would've let him. But unsure of how I might react, he simply smiled as he placed his hands on my baby bump.

"She would love to hear that." he said softly. "She has yearned for grandchildren for decades."

I looked down at his hands on my stomach. "I would never keep them from your parents." I said. "Maybe Nick should take Elena to meet them. They are her grandparents too."

He quickly dropped his hands as he took a step back. "I should continue cooking." he said, immediately returning to what he was doing.

Was it something I said?

An hour later, dinner was done. We sat there in the living room, eating in utter silence. It was really awkward.

Finally when we were both finished, he decided to take a walk. I didn't complain, I prefer the apartment to myself anyways. It beats avoiding each others gazes.

So I quickly cleaned up the kitchen and phoned Eric, leaving him a brief message.

I want to be anywhere but here.

He arrived half hour after the sun had set with an evening gown. It was simple, midnight blue silk layered with a black rose pattern lace in a halter style, floor length dress with a low back and a slit that ran up my left leg stopping mid thigh. He also brought me matching black pumps.

A man with good taste.

I applied some makeup, keeping it simple with eyeliner and mascara and a little bit of lip gloss. I left my hair down in long waves.

I wasn't trying to impress anyone anyways.

Now I was ready to make my debut. I emerged from the room to find Gabrielus pacing the living room with Eric sitting patiently in one of the arm chairs. Neither one speaking to the other.

A notch above awkward…great.

Both heads turned in my direction. Gabrielus stopped as he watched me with an unreadable expression. Eric, however, stood up a little too proudly with a grin painted across his face.

Oh brother.

"You look lovely." Eric said to me when he reached me. "Shall we?"

I smiled to him as I walked around. "Sure. Why not? Lets get this night over with so that I can finally go home." I stopped in front of Gabrielus. "Are you sure you don't want to come? I'm sure its not going to be a problem."

He clenched his jaw as he narrowed his eyes. "I don't ever want to meet that woman Bella." he said.

I nodded, understanding his feelings. I heard that story before, maybe not in full detail but enough to understand his feelings. And to be honest, I didn't want to meet her either. But I didn't want to be stuck in this apartment for another couple of hours either waiting on Eric.

I quickly reached up, embracing him as I rested my head against his chest. "Don't worry. We'll be fine." I said, reassuring him.

I'm sure he wanted me to stay home since the last time the woman he loved went to a party by the Queen, she didn't return alive.

"Call me if things get out of hand." he whispered softly as he wrapped his arms around me. "This time, I wont hesitate."

I'm sure he wouldn't.

When we got in Eric's car, I pulled out the bracelet I found in the coffee can.

"I believe this belongs to your Queen." I said, placing it in his hands.

For a moment, he sat there in disbelief. "Where did you find it?"

"It was well hidden." I said. "Plus, a dead birdie told me all about it."

He cocked his head to the side, "Sophie Anne has been searching high and low for it. And all this time it was here in the comfort of Hadley's home?" he shook his head. "But we cant take it in just like this. The guards might arrest us for it."

"What? Are you kidding?" I groaned.

"The King and his circle will recognize it immediately. To be on the safe side, you need to hide it."

And just where the hell am I going to hide it?

"Did you see what I'm wearing?" I asked him as I glanced down at myself. "You're kidding right?"

"Place it between your legs. I'm sure your thighs will be able to keep it in place." he said with a sly grin.

I could only imagine what he was remembering as he spoke those words.

"You want me to do what now?" I scoffed. "This is crazy."

He sighed. "No, being put to death for being accused of stealing is crazy." he growled. "The King will have her head as well, I'm sure of it."

I bit my lip, "Fine." I groaned, snatching the bracelet from his grasp.

I bent forward, lifting the hem of my dress as I pulled it up to my thighs. I parted my legs and quickly fumbled with the bracelet as I placed it on the inside of the crotch of my lace panties.

I cant believe I'm even doing this.

"Need help?" Eric asked as he watched me with fangs extended and his pupils dilated.

Oh I'm sure you would.

I slapped his thigh quickly, "Get your head out of the gutter you perv." I groaned as I quickly pulled my dress down. "Lets go." I said. "This plan of yours better work."

Otherwise I will kill him myself.

Getting past security was easier than I thought since I didn't carry a purse. I just had to remember to keep my poker face on and thighs shut.

And pretend as if I didn't have an effin bracelet hidden between my legs.

As we made our way down the corridor toward a very large room that I'm assuming held the reception to the Queen's event, I moved in closer towards Eric.

"Exactly how do you expect that we make this exchange without anyone noticing?" I asked him as softly as I could, hoping that he heard me clearly. "Do you realize where it is right?"

His head turned slightly in my direction as he grinned wickedly, no doubt with something else on his mind.

Oh sugar.

"I have an idea." he said.

Before I could think of a response, I felt Eric grip me by my waist gently, causing me to stop. Then he expertly swung me around, pinning me against the nearest wall. His hips pressed firmly against mines.

I gulped, "What are you doing?" I breathed as I pulled away.

His eyes wondered to my lips, "Improvising." he said softly just before pressing his lips to mine.

This better be apart of his good idea. I thought as I slowly fell into my role.

After a brief moment, he released my mouth, giving me a moment to breathe as his hands began to wonder down the sides of my body.

There were a few people who passed us by. By the looks of things, we simply appeared to be a very hormonal couple that cant keep their hands off of each other.

Eric paused, gazing down at me before pulling me in for a juicy kiss as his hand slowly made its way pass the slit of my dress. He gripped my thigh as he brought it up, pressing his hips up and into me. I could feel him slowly growing against my stomach.

Uh oh.

He pulled away, making a trail of kisses down my neck to my shoulder. With his wondering hand, he managed to retrieve the bracelet. I can only guess he somehow managed to tuck it in his pocket in a swift but smooth motion without missing a beat. After a few seconds, he was back, this time, fingers inching their way pass my folds.

That's enough. I told myself.

I grabbed his hand, stopping him from entering me as I cleared my throat.

"Not here." I whispered.

Not ever.

He chuckled against my skin as he straightened up, slowly releasing me. "I'm not sorry." he said, taking a step back. "It was worth a try."

I blew out a breath as I ran a hand down to smooth out my dress. "Lets show face and then lets go. I want to go home to my girls."

He smoothly ran a hand through his hair before lending me his arm. "Shall we?"

I hooked my arm around his, "We shall…"

The great room was walled with stone and large pillars supporting the roof, three on the left and three on the right. The middle of the room was cleared for dancing with a wooden floor. There was a raised platform for musicians close to the refreshments table and another at the opposite side of the room for the royalty.

Clearly the queen is seemingly more modest than Eric since he had a stage. I thought as I took in my surroundings. And a thrown…

Along the sides of the room were tables with soft ivory linen table cloths seated for a table of three. In fact, the entire room was decorated in white and blue. Eric said that these were the colors of Louisiana.

There were also murals on a few of the walls, but nothing interesting enough to peak my interest.

"We should greet the King and Queen." Eric said to me as he lead me toward the royal's dais.

"Sure…"

The moment I laid my eyes on the vampire queen, I immediately recognized her from my dream.

But somehow I don't think it was just a dream…

She was just as small in person as she was in my vision. She was gorgeous too in that forest green long sleeve, floor length gown. It really brought out the red in her rich brown hair.

Eric placed me before the queen who stood next to her husband like the dutiful wife.

"Queen Sophie-Anne, this is Isabelle. One of the women who survived the attack the other night."

She smiled at me, "I heard you asked about Jake." she said. "He's around here somewhere, I do believe."

Unsure whether or not I should shake her hand or bow, I decided to just smile at her. "This is a beautiful place you have here."

"Thank you." she said. Then something caught her eyes. Faster than I anticipated, she reached forward, plucking something from my left shoulder. "Hmm…" she hummed as a smile fell upon her face. Within her fingers, she held a black feather. "I wonder where you picked this up from."

"A crows feather." I whispered, holding back the fear that was suddenly rising.

I should've stayed back.

I quickly took that as a cue to move on to her husband who wore a tux. Behind him was a small Asian woman wearing a strapless dress and a sword attached to her back.

I gulped audibly as I smiled up at the king. I didn't know his name so I decided to try to strike up a conversation with him.

I'm guessing he isn't as friendly as his wife.

He had cold, gray eyes, a sharp nose, thin lips, and high cheekbones. He seemed stiff and uncomfortable. But none the less, he was still an attractive man.

"Hi, I'm Isabelle. I'm quite new to the scene." I said as I noted the Asian woman behind him inched closer. "You're not from around here?" I asked, curious.

He watched me for a moment before stepping closer. "Arkansas."

"Really?" My eyes widened, "I would never have guessed you were Southern. I would've taken you as a city guy since you not only have expensive but good taste, you also wear that suit well."

For a brief moment, his eyes warmed as his thin lips curved upward slightly. "I take it you're not from the South either." he said.

I shook my head, "I'm originally from California but a few years ago, I made a move to the south." I said. "I love it there."

Eric wrapped an arm around my waist, "Your majesty." he greeted the king with a nod. "Thank you for having us but-."

"Wait, surely you're not leaving just yet." the queen said. "You both just arrived."

I nodded to her, "I have a long ride ahead of me and my friend is waiting back at the apartment." I said apologetically. "It was nice to meet both of you."

Thank you Eric and this blood bond.

The king stepped forward, taking one of the queen's hands in his. "At least stay for one dance." he said as he guided the queen to the middle of the dance floor.

I turned to Eric, "Just one dance. Then can we go?"

He turned to me, "If that is what you want."

Not really but I don't want to be rude.

I flashed him a smile, "Yes. It is."

A few minutes into the royal dance, the tension surrounding us seem to thicken. It was so thick in fact, I could actually imagine a thick fog rolling in.

Something big is about to happen, I just know it.

But that wasn't what made the hairs on my arm stand up. It was only after I felt Eric tense up beside me, did I realize at that moment it was bad and about to get worse. I turned to look up at him and saw that unreadable expression on his face, the same one from my vision.

Oh no.

I couldn't help but feel as if I was the woman wrapped in the sheet in his arms.

Fudge.

"Eric?" I whispered. "Can we-"

Before I could finish that sentence, Eric released me and leaped forward into the quiet commotion before me that I hadn't realized erupted until that very second.

Oh shit, this is really bad. I thought as I stepped backward, creating a distance between myself and the brawl that had just erupted on the dance floor. This will only end very badly.

"You'll need this." whispered a man behind me as I felt him shove something in my hand.

I brought my hand up to my face to get a clear view of what I was given before glancing back at him.

"Vlad?" I said, shocked and uncertain. I didn't know whether or not I should be relieved or cautious. The last time we had an encounter, him and his family were considerably the enemies. "What are you doing here?"

He cleaned up pretty nicely as I mentally took note that he was dressed like a waiter, obviously infiltrating the vampires.

"Saving your ass." he said softly. "I don't know when he will be coming or where but he's here and he's after you."

"Wait! Who are you talking about?!" I exclaimed, feeling somewhat panicked as I gripped the piece of wood with a silver tip. "Why are you helping me?!"

He glanced around quickly, "Because you helped us-"

Our from nowhere, a pair of hands grabbed a hold of him from behind and pulled him out of sight and into the commotion. I took that as a cue to get the fuck out of there. I gripped the hem of my dress with my free hand and ran towards the wall, managing to dodge flying objects and bodies along the way.

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

The doors that we came out from were now chained shut from the outside, I mentally concluded when I tried to open them and heard the rattling.

Double fudge brownies!

I pressed my back against the door as I took a good look around at the mess before me. Blood now painted the white table cloths red, splattering the beautiful columns in the process. Bodies littered the hardwood floors. Large puddles of goop of what use to be vampires covered what was left of the floor.

Oh no…Eric.

I felt a wave of panic when I had to come to terms that any one of those could easily be Eric.

Fudge. I think I really am alone. I thought as my shoulders grew heavier by the second. Why the hell did I agree to come here?!

I knew I had to fight until my last breath. If not for me or my girls, at least for my unborn child.

I fought my way this far. I'm not about to go down without a fight now.

I gripped the piece of wood in my hands and searched the room for another exit.

Surely not every door was sealed off…right?

At just the right timing, I spotted the queen and a man larger than her duck out of an opened door some feet from me. Although she posed just as much danger, I realized I would much rather be out there with them than in here with this chaos. As quickly as my feet allowed, I nearly ran straight to that same door.

"It's a shame Eric isn't here to protect you again." said the man from my vision as he stepped into my path, halting me immediately.

I knew it was him. I couldn't get his malicious sneer out of my mind no matter how hard I tried. And neither could I escape the fact that in my vision, he held a stake over Eric's heart.

I swallowed hard as I took a cautious step back. "Do I…know you?"

He cracked a half smile as he laughed lightly. "I don't think that we have been officially introduced, no." he said smoothly. "Victor." he stated.

This is who Eric was talking about? Lily's maker? I thought to myself as the anger within began to rise. Why the fuck cant she just stay dead?!

"Well, I have a feeling you already know my name so we can just skip introductions and cut to the chase about what you're really doing here instead of out there protecting the queen." I said with a splash of bitch as I stealthy tucked the wooden stake behind my back.

He smirked at me, "She's not my queen." he said, hissing through his fangs. "That's why I have no guilt towards using her lover as bait to get to you."

Me?

I bit the insides of my cheek, "You killed Hadley?"

Shit. I mentally kicked myself. But not so much as a surprise.

He smiled at me, but it wasn't a genuine one. The corners of his mouth didn't meet his eyes.

Wonder what else he's been up to…

"Small price to pay to get what I want." He said, shrugging it off as if she was merely a fly. "I didn't know that when I was foretold about the small detail that it would take me this long." he said. "But as a vampire, I have nothing but time." he told me. "However, you weren't suppose to survive the newborn attack." he growled. "So tell me, how did you do it?" he hissed, peering forward with curious, scary eyes.

He turned Jake too? Why?

"I'm a lot stronger than I look." I told him. And unfortunately using my powers this out in the open is a mistake that I'm not willing to risk. I mentally told him. Think of something…and fast. "But why me? I don't even know you."

"Why not you?" he snickered. "I know how much you mean to Eric."

I rolled my eyes at him, "Oh boy, you really got your info twisted buddy." I groaned. "Its not like that with us…"

His lips curved upward as he bent his head low, staring me deep in the eyes. "I'm not a fool." he partially whispered. "But don't worry, I will make this-"

Before he could finish that sentence, he was knocked down by a blurred figure.

"Bella, run!" Vlad screamed.

Thank god!

Although I couldn't see him, I took his advice and ran out of the nearest opened door like my life depended on it.

Well, lets face it, my life really does depend on it.

As I searched the wide empty halls for a way out, I walked into a conjoined room where a confrontation between the royal couple was about to take place.

Fuck this. I groaned mentally.

Deciding I didn't want to witness what was about to happen, I immediately ducked out. I didn't have to be apart of their vampire world to know that their unity was by no means that of love, but rather of a hunger for power. Either which way the blade falls, one will gain the wealth and power of the other.

And its obvious the Queen thirsts for it more than her King.

"Going somewhere?" Victor growled at me as we both nearly collided when I stepped back into the corridor.

Oh no…Vlad.

Victor was wounded but healing quite fast. His head gushed as a flap of his hair pulsed on the top of his head.

I stumbled back into the room slowly, creating distance between us. I knew now was a better time than any to use my powers. I mean, why not? Everyone else was in the great room brawling while the royal couple and her obvious sidekick was in the next room hatching some kind of scheme to kill one another. The only witness left was Victor.

And he wasn't about to leave this room alive after I'm through with him.

I knew the vision that I had received held some sort of significance. I also knew that at some point, I would be stuck in Eric's vampire world making a choice how I want Eric to die. Saving him, yet again, was a choice that I had to make. I knew somewhere in the near future, Victor will try to take Eric's life. And as much as I hope to deny it, I cant let him die because lets face it, I care for the guy.

Not to mention the fact that I owe him too for not only saving both mine and my unborn child's life but Sookie's as well..

"Eric and I have nothing going on. I'm sick and tired of people accusing me of something entirely phantom. If I wanted Eric, as a few has claimed, then I would be with him." I almost screamed out with irritation. "Hell, I would've married his ass."

He cocked his head to the side as amusement set upon his face. "Do you really think I care how you feel towards him?" he laughed deeply. "This is a debt that we must settle." he said with a raised brow. "Sorry to disappoint you, but you are simply a casualty of war. It really isn't nothing personal…not towards you anyway."

Awesome. It warms me up inside knowing that Eric's demons could mean the end of me. I thought to myself.

"So you're willing to not only sacrifice my life but the life of an innocent child growing inside of me over some stupid grudge that you have against Eric?" I hissed. "For vampires who have nothing but time, you sure like to dwell on the past…"

And like hell will I let this fucker use me as leverage. First Bill? Now him? I thought angrily as I felt the fire within slowly building. Fuck that.

I used my mind to slam the conjoining door between the rooms, creating privacy for Victor and I. His head whipped around to the door.

"My King's lover didn't mention this part." he said softly as his glare returned to me. "So this is why Eric keeps you around…"

Huh? King's lover?

I slowly stepped backwards. "Do you know that vampires very existence is just another form of magic?" I asked him. Of course, I'm sure he knew already and probably knew what I was getting at. "As a witch, myself, I have the power to tap into that magic." I said. "Do you honestly think that after having nearly died a few times, my heart broken one too many times, and my own child stolen right from under me, that I would stand here and just let you kill me?" I asked him with a smirk so wicked, I saw him slowly falter.

Maybe he literally saw the fire in my eyes or maybe he heard the ice in my tone. Either way, I knew I was getting to him. I'm sure at this point that he realized the one mistake he shouldn't have made.

Underestimating me.

"You dare, challenge me?"

I smiled at him, just then. I knew I had him exactly where I wanted him.

On my playing field.

With the flick of my wrist, I threw a fire ball onto the floor, swiftly creating a circle of fire surrounding the both of us.

"It is you who challenged me by threatening my life and the life of my unborn child." I growled as I let the anger within slowly consume me. "You came here with intent on murdering me during this chaos." I said. "So now is your chance…Victor."

He quickly glanced around as he backed up as far away from me as he could. Trying his best not to show his fear, he curled both hands as he pounded them into the ground before him. He kept his head low as he arched his back. Then after a brief moment, he threw his head back and released a mournful cry so deep and so loud, for a second, its as if the chaos all around had stopped to listen.

"I've lived for hundreds of years, never have I ever crossed paths with someone like you." he said lowly as he watched me through his eyelashes. "I've been all around the world and I've seen many faces. I had to fight to survive in this world, and yes, even with my own kind." he said. "But never have I ever came across a challenge that I wasn't so sure about surviving." he said after a moment. "Until you."

I wasn't sure what kind of game that he was playing at and I wasn't about to wait to find out either.

"Using magic would make this far too easy for me." I said in a cocky tone. "Now can we get this shit over with so that I can go home to my girls?"

He stood up, smiling at me before bowing before me. "This will be an honor to fight against a creature such as yourself."

Then without hesitation and with vampire speed, he leaped for me. Of course, I was expecting this from him and followed his voided brain and mentally knocked him back, clear across the room with my mind. He jumped back up, onto his feet. Crouching over, he observed me. I slowly paced back and forth, listening to him, watching him. The moment I saw his fangs extract was the moment I knew he was planning on draining me dry as soon as he could latch on.

Fuck that.

Before I could finish that thought, within seconds, he had his hands wrapped around the wrist that held the stake. I immediately combusted into flames, turning everything that I had on into ash and scorching him in the process. Victor yelped as he jumped backward.

"I don't think so…" I said rather boldly.

I think I'm starting to like this power of mine. I thought as I smiled at him, wondering to myself that what I was about to do was at all even possible. I've rarely used this power.

I glanced down at the stake in my hand knowing that it was now or never.

Now! My conscious screamed.

My head shot up as I focused mentally on Victor and the target within his chest.

His eyes followed mine, bring his hands to his own chest. "What…are…you…doing…?" he gasped, trying unnaturally hard to breathe.

With my free hand, I reached forward, slowly and mentally removing layer after layer until I found what I wanted. With the twitch of my fingers, I called his silent heart to me. His blood splattered onto my naked body, sizzling immediately.

"I'm tired of playing games." I said, now gripping his heart within my hands, I drove the stake through his heart and watched as his body exploded into a pile of goop.

At that point, I released the hold I had on the flames surrounding us and let it consume the room. I stepped around the Victor goop and walked out of the room.

Making my way down the halls, still engulfed in flames, I found the room in which the security had searched us.

Finally.

Humans were running, screaming as they made their way out. The royal's loyal vampire circle had made their way out here and were faced off with one another, making sure either one wasn't leaving this palace alive.

Great.

But amidst of all that madness was a bright figure, in the middle of a large group of vampires, fighting its way in.

Almost as bright like the sun.

At first, I thought it was fighting to get out but then I noticed it slowly making its way in. Bodies were being tossed, blood sprayed the others as goopy vampires began littering the floor.

What is that?

The bright figure slowly dimmed as he moved from the group of vampires to the royal vampire circles surrounding him. Not taking either side, one by one, by his hands, they began to fall.

Beau- no, Gabrielus. I mentally cheered as I watched him.

It was like a dance to him. His sword cutting through bodies with swift, fierce strokes as his feet cut across the floor. His hair soaked with blood as it painted the walls with every turn.

I hate to admit this but the sight of him, in his most raw and purest form, well…it turned me on.

Gabrielus dropped down to one knee, dodging the last vampire's grasp, as he outstretched the arm that held his sword and embedded the blade right through her chest in a slanted position as he lowered his head.

"Fuck me." she groaned just before exploding all over Gabrielus.

His head shot up as he took me in. Slowly, he brought the sword down to the floor before standing up straight. His eyes never leaving mine.

I swallowed hard as I called the fire back within, taking small steps closer to the warrior before me.

"Lets start again." I said softly as I gazed up at him. "I'm Bella."

His lips curved upward. "Gabrielus."