Author's note:

My extreme apologies for the unprecedented break. I was travelling, sick, travelling, sick, travelling, sick and travelling some more. Then there was my brother's engagement party which actually got bigger in size than usual wedding parties, and my cousin's wedding and another and another, you get the idea…. I have no idea why people just absolutely have to have spring weddings! It's beautiful and all, but there are just so many of them that you kind of lose touch and become numb.

On top of all that, I was also suffering from an extreme writer's block. This chapter alone has taken me 4-5 days. But now I think I am on with the flow. It will take me sometime to be back on track Ofc. But I will get there.. I promise.

I have posted first chapter of a short Back story for this story called DAMASCUS. If you haven't come across it yet, please go and check it on my profile. Read… leave comments!:D

I know this story is taking it's sweet time but that's why I love it, and thats why I warned all of you in the very beginning. Your reviews are an absolute boost to my creative juices. Please don't rob me off my Juice… PLEASE REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! Even a small line, letting me know you are reading this out there will be appreciated!

37. If Only – Chapter 36

Decryption.

Anahita's POV

And now, hills are getting to climb,

Running out of time,

My decisions are pending on you,

I would accept the blame,

For burning out the flame,

Hoping the story will twist once again…

I did not know how long I could keep up with the staring contest. For a moment as I sat in front of him in front of the fireplace in a grey silk dressing robe that smelled like him, I thought he was in down-time but his eyes switching to my wrist as I tucked my now almost dry hair behind my ear gave it away that I was being stared at. Somehow it was less un-nerving than I would have thought, had I given enough thought to it. His handsome features were stoic glowing in the orange light of the flames. The strange golden strands mixed in his raven dark hair glinted every now and then in the quivering firelight, seeming like fireworks going on in his head. Oh how I would give anything to read what he was thinking at the moment.

Just like love and admiration, hate and fear need very little to implant themselves in your psyche. A simple action of heroism or goodness can make you admire someone and a simple action of cruelty or evil can make you despise someone. That basic first emotion is sometimes enough to twist and turn everything you perceive regarding that person every which way. A simple act of Eric helping me out of my own grave tenderly first night of my turning has always encouraged a certain level of adoration deep inside me which had nothing to do with him being my maker, The simple act of Godric finding me splayed on top of the human pyre in the Shrine that was the legacy of my ancestors and rescuing me even if there was no danger to me anymore since all the Mongols had been annihilated by vampires made me respect Godric at a certain level and then A simple Act of taking me against my will and using blood magic on me against my will had made me despise Simion from the first night at some certain base level. Even the fact that of all the important people in my life Simion was without a doubt the one I was bound to most sternly and intricately, did not change the fact that he only perturbed me in a negative sense. I often refused to even wonder about it when I had first met him. Now for the past year, since I have found myself unsheltered for the first time in my entire existence, I have grown to think about everything even more neutrally and rationally than before. Rescue of a floating twig for a drowning man sort of neutrality and rationality.

I had fought battles alongside Theo, had seen his sheer power and charisma on the battle field. I had seen him doling out punishment and pain like second nature, yet no bloodshed of Theo's had ever unnerved me the way Simion's did the first night I met him 200 years ago, when he rescued me from and killed most ruthlessly 39 were-wolves single-handedly. Yes, Ringing any bells? It was the same feelings of mine that prevented me from giving Simion credit where it was due. The only reason I had been able to take on the were-wolves that night was because Simion had taught me plunge-stepping. Godric and Eric had simply assumed that it was something taught to me by Theo. I did not correct them.

As I sat frozen in front of him, thinking these things knowing that he might access my wonderings any moment he fancied, I couldn't help but feel a little disgusted with my… lack of neutrality regarding him for past 200 years.

"You made a wise, albeit unexpected choice tonight." He finally said. His perfect lips twitching to one side. Eyes blazing. My defiance reared its head straight away at his somewhat mocking statement. All thoughts of my own unfairness flying out the window.

"And you think that staring at me would solve the mystery behind my choice?" I found myself saying and clipped tone.

"Temper, temper…" he chuckled lightly leaning forward in his arm chair. Looking away from me for the first time towards the fire. Eyes looking like a gypsy's crystal ball, mercurial, swirling, so many secrets in there. I felt a shiver slither down my back as those eyes focused back on me with that annoyingly undecipherable emotion. How ironic was it that I sat in front of the only vampire who would meet his final death in case of my final death and I had never even tried to look for his gives. He was a stranger to me, yet he knew all my tells, better than Theo even.

"I stare at you out of habit more than intention, if you remember I was ordered not to show my face to you, no one ever said or mentioned anything about me not being able to see your face, yet I must admit, seeing you from the sidelines was never more unsatisfying as it would be now, if I was ordered again to never show myself to you. I like watching your reactions to me. Face to face." He smiled again, the long fingers on his left hand reaching for the ring he wore on his right hand's index finger. A simple dull gold ring mounted with a Squared stone which looked like an Onyx because of dense tar black color, it was a rough cut and careless setting but was actually a black diamond, A remembrance of his maker 'Nephthys' for sure. I knew exactly what it was because Theo wore a very similar ring only his was set with a similarly shaped and sized white diamond. According to my knowledge both the rings had some magical properties bestowed upon them by the Great Samri himself. I did not know what the rings did since my information source was not direct.

"So what encouraged you to go against orders after 200 years? Or are these new orders?" I took the opening he had given me. Crossing my legs in front of him. The soft silk slipping away a little showing a little more of my ankle. I saw his eyes linger on the newly exposed piece of skin, an amusing smile played on his lips.

"And the mystery is solved…" He said meeting my eyes again "This is why you made this particular choice tonight, in an investigative mood are we?"

"No, I just crave your company to the point that it undermines every other purpose I might have in this world." I pretended to be indifferent when I made that statement. I had no doubts about all that I was risking being in this particular spot tonight. Fiddling with one of the most dangerous vampires in existence. I had been expecting a light-hearted reply to the jab I just made so when in a speed that even I could not make out he was kneeling in front of me, I visibly gasped out of surprise.

"If only…" he sighed and closed his eyes for a few seconds before leaning in closer again and opening his eyes filled with that emotion again, "you and I both know that when it comes to you, all orders are suspended. You do not follow orders yourself and make it extremely difficult for others to do so as well. what with your charms and allures?" his face was inches from mine one of my hands trapped under his on the arm-rest his expression menacing and almost painful. I was having extreme difficulty in reading his emotions. Well since I was being accused of using my charms and allure I saw no harm in actually making those accusations valid for once and give myself the satisfaction. In a gesture which would be the mother of all stupid gestures I have ever made, I raised my free hand up to cup his cheek in it, losing the strength half way through I ended up only touching the side edge of his lower lip with my thumb.

"You cannot accuse me so, you and I both know it never works on you. I do not even try." I whispered. Taking in his scent for the first time. I knew how intoxicating his scent was most humans or even vampires were too late to figure out that Simion's greatest weapon was his scent.

"Arwa met the sun 2 weeks ago" he whispered. His hand that was covering mine took hold of it. his eyes looking deep into mine as I comprehended his statement.

"Ancient Pythoness is truly dead?" I found my voice raising from the crumbling foundations of my psyche.

"yes, she met the sun willingly with Theo and her handmaidens as the witnesses. I understand that she was a dear friend to you for many decades…"

"Truly dead? Theo witnessed it? why? Why did he not stop her?"

"why? How? I wish I could answer these questions my moon, but Theo does what he does without an explanation." He smiled ruefully.

"But, why is there no talk of it here? Arwa was just as active this side of the ocean as that."

"I do not know the reason, but I was forbidden to discuss it with anyone here."

My mind was overloading.

So this was it. I knew what exactly this meant. The Ancient Pythoness had confided in me the prophecy regarding her death, specifically because it was related to me.

"The Oracle confided the prophecy in you, did she not?"

"Yes." I said hanging my head down.

"And what was it?"

"That her true death will mean the start of the War of Plumeria." I answered numbly.

"And Theo knew of this?" his voice was tender and curious. Almost distractingly.

"Yes, I told him, which is why I am so stumped about this. How could Theo allow it to happen when he knew the exact significance of it? Perhaps he is now prepared enough for the war? " I looked up into the grey eyes that were comforting at the moment in an absolutely bizarre way

"The war has been upon us for past 200 years. I would say, he wants to be over with It." he said quietly

"How is he going to win it if his best comrades are so far from him? From home?" It was true. I was not conceited enough to think of myself as his best warrior, but I knew better than most about how many Battles and in turn wars Theo had won solely on shoulders of Simion. Simion's being here either meant Theo was alone or that this was where the war was supposed to be.

"I am not privy to his plans but knowing Theo, they would be flawless." He stood up from kneeling in front me in a graceful manner.

"This is where you explain to me finally, what this war is all about? I know it's name and perhaps a little of its circumstance which is that I am bound to it, but other than that I know nothing, have never been told anything, always placated." I was beyond irritable now. I had been pushed and pulled and played from start to finish. My faith tested, my endurance applied, my will overruled. All for something that I did not even understand. It is true, that were I human, I would have died of frustration or made some kind of drastic move in order to understand some of it at least if not all of it. As it was, I was a vampire, an ancient one, I had unlimited supply of faith, endurance and will to be tested, applied overruled.

"I often wonder why circumstances are always ill-fated when it comes to you and me. When it calls for the blood-shed in your name and protection, it is by my hand, my introduction to you. My forcing you to take my blood, My binding myself to you for protection, but it coming across to you as an unwanted and forced obligation. And now, it's time to tell you about the Cruelty of fate and foolishness of creatures that surround you, and it is going to be by my mouth. The most cruel and tactless of them all in your opinion. It's ironic, almost, when in general I never care about anyone's opinion regarding me and I somehow find myself valuing yours and how luck is always against me." It was like my dream again. The dream where he had asked me why I had never given him a chance to explain himself. Why I had never even thought for a moment to forgive him. A muffled vibration was what brought me out of my particular stream of thought. I saw him fish fluidly inside the front pocket of his slacks and pull out a cell-phone which was vibrating.

"Yes?" was his flat greeting.

"The interrogation proves our suspicions." Said someone on the other side. I figured it was the Nevada Sheriff Lorenzo.

"I see… and does anyone else comprehend?" his eyes were trained on me again.

"Apparently not…What should I do with the Nevada ones?" asked Lorenzo

"Send them to Vegas, intact and unharmed and make sure they remain that way until I come for them." he answered dismissively.

"You will be interrogating them then?" asked the vampire on the other side.

"You can say." I noticed a flash of annoyance.

"And the king?"

"I will deal with him when I see fit. You need not worry." Before the Sheriff could squeeze in another question, Simion had disconnected the call. Rolling the phone between his long smooth fingers he looked thoughtful.

"It starts with lies of course. Every animosity starts with lies you know." He said sitting next to me, in an angle facing me. I turned towards him slightly. Giving him my full attention. His eyes now settled on the fire crackling behind my back now.

"I said so to Nephthys and then to Theo as well, You can't mislead things to make them right. Lies are a weak foundation, anything you built up on them is as fragile as glass. Prone to crack. But I do understand that they really did not have a lot of choices. The moment Theo decided to cover up the transformation mages and rituals was the moment this war became inevitable, but you and I both know, what kind of damage the mage can do in hands of someone even slightly less responsible than Theo. And I'm afraid Anahita, the worse has happened. Theo's rule and responsibility only postponed the inevitable. Now that Theo had advocated fiercely in favor of the great revelation, the lines are being formed. The animosity towards Great-revelation is only a ruse, the power shuffle is the ultimate goal of it all. Theo's secret is out. Your existence is acknowledged and the worse part of it all is, it is our own blood that has turned against us."

"This is not making any sense to me! What secret? What ruse? And who has turned against us?"

"The secret that a vampire such as you was created, through manipulation of the vampire transformation magic. That supernatural powers from a being's human form can not only be successfully transferred but also enhanced when turned into a vampire. 1 of the 4 copies of the Original Vampire Codex was stolen a year ago."

"That is impossible!" I was shocked at the news. All the copies were under strict security.

"It is very much possible and it was stolen by none other than Appius Livius Ocella."

I was too shocked to react.

Appius Livius Ocella was sired by Evandrus Divicus, who in turn was Theo's Child. Sort of equivalent to Godric. After Evandrus' true death Ocella had not stayed in Theo's court after some misdemeanor, in punishment of which Theo had made him counterfeit his vampire child Nikolai, in service of Theo. By turn of the 20th century he had gone into hiding with rumors of a new child. We knew very little about his location and the new child after that.

"He must have done it through his unstable child Alexei. He is able to glamour vampire very much like yourself, though his victims are absolutely wiped. His power is too unstable for selective glamouring. This tells of the kind of power that Ocella has already gathered. Now you wonder, why the world is not in chaos yet? Since Ocella has the copy of the Codex?" He looked at me expectantly.

"Because the copies are encrypted. Which one did he steal?" I was certain he would not be able to decipher them since I had encrypted them around 150 years ago. I had also encrypted all of them in languages not spoken in this dimension. In my mind it was one of my biggest accomplishments. Either he had to conjure beings from the other dimension to decrypt the codex. Or capture and force me.

"Qanoon Khoon-Asham" Simion looked at me intently. I smiled knowingly at him. knowing that of all the copies he could have stolen, Qanoon Khoon-Asham was the most impossible to decipher. Not to mention Booby trapped. By me of course.

"That would be impossible for him to decrypt. It's in fire language. I know because I encrypted it, The language of Djinns and not just any fire Language, I did it in the language of Kohkaafis and if he ever gets to a Djinn who could decipher it, Qanoon Khoon-Asham is relayed with an extensive hypno-projective Booby trap. Which I take pride in. The Book is moulded, to the eyes of a Djinn, it would look like a Tribal Neolithic ancient language which I don't even know the name of, as I have only seen it in ancient transcripts "

"That was ingenious indeed." He looked thoughtful for a moment before he continued. "As I understand, You dismissed your Ifrits and that is the reason you are currently protector bonded to Godric?"

"Yes, but, I don't see how that is relevant?"

"it may or may not be relevant. All we know is that the war has not started yet."

"right."

"I do not think you are going to like this. But, I think it would be better if you stay with me for a while." I had already known that this was coming.

"I am here am I not? And yes I do not like it, but I know when to co-operate." I kept my stance stern. Remembering suddenly who exactly I was having a conversation with.

"If it will please you, I shall offer Godric to come and stay here as well. I do not wish to part you from your beloved and since he has no obligations in Dallas or Louisiana, I would like you both to accompany me to Vegas in a few days." His eyes again were blazing with that Alien emotion. I was skeptical regarding his kindness and this new persona altogether but in truth, I did not have many chances.

"Eric would not like that." I stated simply. Wanting to look a little less complacent than I actually was being.

"I can always borrow Eric from Louisiana for a few days." I was sure he could do that.

"It's not that, He is just not very trusting of you."I smiled at him. I might have done it for the first time on my own accord, without being forced. He noticed.

"But I think he will follow you anywhere in any territory." he said, eyes fixed on my face.

"I will not be too sure of that." I shrugged my shoulders non-chalantly

"You don't realize do you? the kind of influence you have on people." He paused, inhaling deeply, "No, Godric and Eric both will follow you to the end of the world. Trust me. I just want your consent. Like tonight."

"You shall have it, but on a promise."

"yes?" he looked intrigued.

"That you will explain everything to me in detail, what you have so vaguely touched upon tonight in the name of explanation. You know that I deserve to know this. This war is related to me by all means. It's only fair that I was brought in upon the secret."

"I shall." He nodded.

Info:

Vampire Codex : Vampire Codex is the written law which all vampires follow, It is also a compilation of historical references and General information regarding vampire life style. In different territories certain rules are seen with variations keeping in regard the synchronization of all vampire rules with Human rules. The compilation and enforcement of the Vampire codex is responsible for bringing about harmonious co-existence with humans over the millenniums.

Original Vampire Codex: Is the unedited Vampire Codex which carries all necessary information regarding manipulation of the transformation magic. Only 4 copies in Existence. All are heavily encrypted, by using Anahita's extensive language and interpretation skills.

Qanoon Khoon-Asham : Simply means, Vampire Code.