As promised, the new chapter for the Bite. Sorry it's short and if it's a little off - i kinda came up with this spur of the moment. Hope you like.

Also: The Enemy's Heart readers - chapter update last night

I also have my very first Gargoyles one shot up titled "From Here" so if you are a Gargoyles or Goliath/Elisa shipper please give it a read!

The Tutor was also updated a few weeks ago as well.

The Coven:

Bound By Blood

There was a dull yet bothersome ache that thrummed throughout her head, causing an almost inaudible groan to come from her…almost inaudible. A faint ringing in her ears lulled on before finally fading with each moment consciousness made itself present. What-? Brown lids pulled in hesitation, fluttering against the hazed golden irises of the majestic vampress. Voices echoed low all about the female as the image of the lit room grew clearer from its current fogginess. There was a movement. "She's awakening, my lord." The familiarity of the voice made an involuntary growl build in her chest: it was followed almost instantaneously by the sound of drawn blades and grounded arms.

"Mmmm," Max purred with pleasure as her gold eyes lowered to the ground – still not quite adjusting to the light yet – "I smell…" her lips curled up in an oddly ginning grimace over her fangs, "…fear."

A second voice spoke then, housing authority in its seemingly ancient-like dialect. "You, my dear, have caused us much trouble – even the lives of my greatest guardians." There was a trailing resonance…like a weighted cape dragging on the floor or something as someone paced lightly. Max assumed she could only hear the movement because of the fabric rubbing against the ground. "While I normally would exalt such magnificent skills, with your – well, for the lack of a better word – temper, surely you can understand the precautions that must be made…on our account." As if on cue she now noticed the tightening restriction of her body as Max attempted to move only to find that she could not. Forced down on her knees, massive chains like those used on the ship docks dangled her arms up and out as a thick metal collar was strapped about her neck like a vice while its shortened chain fastened the girl onto the floor, forcing her body to only take up the kneeling position rather uncomfortably. "Welcome to the Coven my child."

Max lifted her head and looked around in what appeared to be the lower level of old Gotham's train station. It was made of concrete and stone and cobblestone even in some places as black metal lanterns were placed decoratively about the walls offering illumination with the flames they held. There was an assortment of silk and various other fabrics draping the sidings and walls and ceiling (which housed a rather lovely chandelier – it looked in splendid condition and Max wondered if they'd stolen it from its previous owners). What should have been worn and decayed with age and abandonment was perfectly manicured into a completely different world – a world fit for these old era creatures that watched her in wonderment, confusion, and yes even fear. Max bared fang in disgust at the gathering crowd: she was on display for these sheltered vampires like some freak show splicer at a traveling carnival: and needless to say Max was not very appreciative of it. Where was the frigging courtesy? Didn't they ever learn how to treat a woman?! DOGS! The girl's gaze focused ahead at the throne and felt an eye roll coming. From the chairs to the pale silver-blonde haired being draped in a previous century garb and donned in a flowing, elegant crimson robe that would've put Queen Elizabeth to shame, Max could tell this guy was positively full of himself.

Sure he was handsome (in a sixty year old Olympic swimmer that needed to consider retiring instead of lathering up in Bengay or Aspercreme like senior citizen do, kind of way), and leader of his own clan, and she was on his turf and should be cautious, and was an Elder which meant by some unspoken vampire law she owed him some level of respect…but Max only gave respect where it was deserved. Do onto others as you would have them do onto you, right? But judging from the hell he was more than likely responsible for putting her through -. "So," Gibson stated as she glared directly into his silver eyes without the slightest apprehension, "you must be the guy I've heard soooo much about: the bastard Chezarey."

A hard blows knocks upside Gibson's head as a chorus of disapproval filled the chamber. Max cracked her neck with an annoyed grunt before her chin lifts against the sharp and cool edge of a blade pressing against her throat. The corners of her eyes spy none other than Paolo with a tight frown as the sword applied further pressure. "How dare you, Riqur? I should have your head for that."

But Max scoffed. "Why don't you make a more realistic, threat Roman?" He stiffens in insult and swings his fist forward, striking her again and spits blood towards Chezarey's feet – who raises a hand to stop any further violence toward the prized vampire and the loyal guard sheaths his blade. Max grumbles a little before giving Paolo a dirty stare. "You made the list."

Caught off guard by her random declaration Paolo raises a single brow. "What list, Egyptian?"

"My 'Religiously Fuck That Ass Up' list." Paolo's expression contorted at her vulgar talk. "But in the meantime handsome, do that again," she warns referring to him hitting her, "and I swear I'll kill you."

Was that a threat? Paolo grips the handle of his sword, but Chezarey interrupts the feudal verbal argument quickly. "Max," he begins, stepping off his throne and crossing the floor where his powerful prisoner remained bound in what he was positive to be securely. "I understand your reservations, your hostility – but know everything I've done is to protect-."

"Where's Kavin?" Max cuts him off fiercely not giving a damn as to what his pathetic excuse for this stupidity was.

What a curious question. Though it did however offer an "incentive" and gave the elder pause as he froze and stared off at something only he himself could see. A vision. Brief moments pass in the faint misty world of the future before finally returning to the now Chezarey hesitates, looking to the Riqur beauty with a smile – a seemingly all knowing smile that made Gibson openly wince; only playing deeper into the coven Emperor's mysterious resolve. Whatever he'd seen pleased him: and surely that meant cheer for him – wrath for the female should she find out. For now, he'd keep it to silent. "What's this?" he asks himself, continuing the approach for her despite the vocal disapproval of his guards he'd ignored. Kneeling before Gibson with amused eyes that forced themselves into her angered ones Chezarey taunted, "What's THIS? You CARE for him." It wasn't a question – which pissed off the fresh vampress even more. How Chezarey loved watching this specimen's emotional discomfort! "Bring him!" he called out. "Bring my brother!"

Immediately doors to the right rear of the throne chamber opened with a loud and aged creak as Max became awash with momentary relief. Dragged out in wrist bonds on a chained leash by a massive Bane-sized male covered in black with the thick containment cuffs so heavy he practically was pulled forward was none other than Kavin. The prison keeper gripped the leash tighter in mind to maintain control and guided him forth like a dog into the throne room. Physically he looked to be in complete repair save a dried gash on his cheek. But Max's joy at his appearance quickly faded. He was so…tired. Where his body was healed obviously his soul was battered beyond compare. And solemnly she knew why. Everything he had, everything Kavin spent his entire life collecting that defined who he had been, who he could be, and who he always would be, had been taken brutally from him – stripped and burned away into obscurity by his own brother! Kavin's empty face looked from his restraints and spotted her. "Max…" he whispered in weary jubilance and relief as the youngest sibling seemed to lighten at her presence yet again. For countless hours they'd been parted, and the young man's mind raced in fear at the possibilities of what unknown things his people were doing to her. Refusing to feed during his imprisonment, prolonging the healing and accepting unnecessary suffering willfully was all he could do to drive the leader's hand into uniting them again. They'd called it insanity – and perhaps it was…but for her…

"Kavin!" came the emotional whine as Max made an attempt to go to him…but quickly remembered why she could not. With this Kavin's smile transformed to an instant frown. They had her chained like some animal…HIS Egyptian goddess! Kavin dashed forward, nearly yanking off the keeper's arm in result before struggling against his bonds and keeper's strength with a growl.

Chezarey clapped his hands, ignoring the sudden tension and concern in the room as he cried out boisterously as if everything were perfectly fine, "Kavin, loved brother of my soul and blood. Here is your goddess! And you'll be pleased to know she has missed you so." Jexi came trotting into the throne room with the blonde half-blood spitfire Chelsea at her side once news of this recent excitement reached their ears…as well as the circumstances that led to the coupled vampires' capture. Guilt caused the living dead Queen to shutter at the sight of Kavin and brewing rage inside of him; rage his foolish older brother blinded himself to – pretended was nonexistent. How Jexi loathed what fear had turned her lifelong mate into!

The immortal King grew concerned at Kavin's struggle against his bonds. However mad Chezarey was in this moment, he still knew what releasing the sibling would be a costly mistake. The elder frowned. "Are you troubled brother? I have reunited you with your beloved, I would've thought you happy by this gesture?"

Kavin bared his fangs in disdain at the playing "concerned" lie that Chezarey would dare try to seduce him with. They were brothers! Flesh and blood and mind. Kavin knew his tricks better than any other – and resented the glimmer of an attempt to make him fooled like everyone beneath the Coven ruler's stand. "Burn in sunlight!" Kavin cursed, causing more murmurs of discomfort to grow from the steadily gathering crowd. Elder against Elder? Not even the term "taboo" was a significant enough word to describe how this registered amongst their minds. "I claim no kinship to YOU!"

And just like that he'd become overwhelmed in anger at his brother's harsh language. Suddenly Chezarey's open façade of reception and cheer melts and is replaced with a tyrannical glower. It was almost as if even the fires dimmed in fear and the atmosphere shifted. "Enough!" came an icy command that made even the rambunctious Maxine Gibson shiver. Chezarey flung the tail of his robe dramatically, glaring at his hot headed youth of a brother. "I will no longer put up with your trivial mewling."

"You sent the guard after me, Chezarey?" countered Kavin in frustrated disbelief. "Everything I loved burn-!"

"I DID WHAT HAD TO BE DONE!" Chezarey roared, practically flying across the room to where Kavin flinched back as snapping jaws stopped inches from the younger's throat before positioning their faces for a little eye to eye conversation. The movement was so speedy that Max felt a rush of panic for Kavin as she pulled against her chains in reflex…no one noticed the falling powder coming from the ceiling where her links were fastened. Jexi was immediately at her mate's side grabbing his hand to calm him: it worked…minimally. "You are a whimsical child!" hissed out the elder at patience's end. "An enemy threatens to kill your only flesh and blood yet your care resides solely on books?! On preserving the slit you forcefully changed? What do you know of war?"

"I've fought your wars!" Kavin spat. "Every single one of them and asked nothing in return of you brother! But now you wish to take my happiness-!"

"A LUXURY!" counters Chezarey. "How lucky it must be to fight for something and never stay to uphold it! When have you, my brother, given part of yourself to preserve many? Have you been so spent you've fallen into the deep sleep? When did you stand and watch lives fade into ash throughout your existence from terrors outside and within? You are a wanderer – an abandoner – one who chose not clan nor coven nor the way of the vampire thrust upon you by fate. No brother. You chose a life alone without responsibility or consequences – without attachments and faith and honor and trust and the pain of it being snatched out from under you. You chose the sunlight," Chezarey emphasized in disgust and offense. "It did not choose you as it had with Jexi or countless others. You live amongst ANIMALS! I have not that luxury. You are a spoiled infant bred of recklessness and false pretenses in contentment. That girl holds the key to save us all, and you hide her amongst tombs while we dig ours."

Kavin shook in a mixture of fear at his sibling's odd demeanor change as well as rage of the words that he'd spewed. "If you'd just killed Alec instead of basking in your self-righteous sense of power those years ago-ack!" His words were cut off by a fist straight into his gut. Kavin coughs and falls to the ground with a winded cough.

"KAVIN!" Max cries out, straining her muscles against the bonds with a low groan.

"I will not be questioned. I will have OBEDIENCE!"

Fighting would solve nothing, especially not so one sided as this was. Jexi pushes her mate back and turns his attention for her instead of his sibling. She knew things could escalate out of hand – and for all of her mate's secretive and dark planning she doubted he'd have the comprehension of handling whatever backlash could come from further quarrelling on this matter now. "Chezarey my love…"

A flutter of movement catches their attention as eyes focused on the half-blood female crouched in front of Max, caressing her cheek. Everything from there seemed to fly by without a moment's breath. "Chelsea?" Gibson stated in disbelief. What the flying fuck was she doing here?!

"Away from her girl," Chezarey had ordered. But Chelsea said nothing in acknowledgement to the clan leader and with Chezarey 's pride being tested and disrespected he stormed over despite his mate's voicings not to. The Coven ruler hovered behind the female. "I will not say it again, half-blood." There was no doubt in his words.

Chelsea turned for the elder and scowled. "Max and I are blood bonded. She is MINE."

Hers? HERS?! This little mouse dared make a claim on what he'd stolen? On what was HIS?! Was this another vampire who wished to keep Chezarey's saving grace outside of his manipulative walls of the Coven? No. He would not lose his weapon to Kavin, nor Alec, and especially not to some half-blooded whore! "You wretch!" In the blink of an eye his arm had made contact and slapped her aside, somewhat pleased in the sight of her falling back onto the ground with a cry. "I will have obedie-."

There is a sound of something straining, snapping, clanging loudly and the ground beneath his feet suddenly shifts with the surprised screams of his followers as the elder loses sense of control for a moment. But when he rebalances and focuses Chezarey's eyes widen in disbelief at the brown hand and its manicured claws that had came just inches from his robe covered heart…the hand dripping in blood. Paolo quivered silently amidst his grunts of pain. Max was on her feet, the collar and uprooted chain dangled from her neck as the woman's freed left hand was extended and torn right through the Roman's right chest disappointedly. If Paolo hadn't shoved Chezarey back and thrown himself in the way she would have had the elder's heart in grasp. But maybe still…Her eyes glowed and the earth about them trembled. "You strike my lovemate," Max growled while the gathered vampire civilians backed away and the guards surrounded her as Kavin screamed her name and managed to break free from his bonds and rush for her, "you keep me tied up like some diseased trinket for viewing pleasure, and you hurt Kavin…Congratulations Chezarey - ," Max smiled darkly and yanked her hand from the Roman's chest, who topples to the ground in agony. Max's tongue travels the length of her dripping wrist and palm, reveling in the taste of fresh blood…particularly from someone who'd pissed her off. She'd told Paolo she'd fuck him up. But now it was Chezarey's turn. "-you made the list."