A/N: Here's chapter thirty-six! Time to address a good deal of the madness, and maybe make some more. Also a little bonus scene that SigmaFang has no clue about! ;) Hope you like it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Bloodlines, but I do own my OCs. Also, there is some sourness at the end! ;0

"There must be a good luck charm somewhere in my proximity…or, perhaps I saved the life of a mage…" Phaedra sat back and crossed her legs, "I don't know why I still live…"

Cadmus raised a brow, the two of them were sitting in the lobby of the red tower, Cadmus was waiting for his ghoul to return from her job, "You were attacked recently."

"Mmm hmm. Seems every time I leave this tower I'm attacked."

He crossed his legs, "This Sabbat is bolder than the other group…which…I thought was pretty hard to top at first…but…I guess Andrei's childe really wants vengeance…"

"Mmm, for whatever reason. I wonder if that Setite is affiliated with the Sabbat."

"I guess it's possible."

"Hmm, from an objective point of view, the lobby of this tower usually seems a bit livelier than the one held by the previous Prince." Beckett remarked as he strolled into the lobby, "Perhaps that is simply the result of Maximillian taking over Sebastian's place."

Cadmus smiled, "You could say that."

"Beckett!" Phaedra stood up, "I wanted to thank you for handling that Setite for me the other night."

"Think nothing of it." Beckett smiled.

"Wait, you fought that Setite?" Cadmus asked, "How come everyone's met this guy but me?"

"Oh, he was nothing special." Beckett said, "A boorish sort who would sooner belong to nightclub security than a secret society of vampires. Usually Setites are less forward with their antagonism, nonetheless, it was there."

"Yes, indeed it is…" Phaedra mused, before she smirked, "So tell me, have you been able to go out for digs even with our curse? I've never found a night shift without loiterers…"

"I've been known to work alongside kine from time to time, only sticking with them if the goal in question truly is Kindred in origin. I usually let them have the discovery for the mortal world, so long as I am able to gather the information I need within a reasonable amount of time."

"Ah, I see…perhaps, you could show me the ropes?" She asked, then with a smirk she added, "Grab a bite to eat?"

"I'm not sure how to break the news to you, but eating is not exactly an ideal activity for Kindred, unless you enjoy regurgitating what you've eaten."

She chuckled softly and looked away, hoping to ease out of the awkwardness with a slight smile, "Yes, of course. A date of your choosing, then?"
He rolled his eyes, "Yes, why didn't I think so sooner? We'll have a good merry many dates, then we'll get married in a week, and let's not forget the honeymoon…am I…getting everything right?" He asked, "I'm not exactly accustomed to getting tangled up with complete strangers at the drop of a hat, which, seems to be your specialty…you might have better luck with, anyone else, depending on how much you lower your standards."

Cadmus stared on in shock. Of course, he barely understood the archeologist talk they were having before, but once Phaedra got flirty, he tuned in again, "Jeez…a 'no' would have sufficed…"

"I need to get back out to my search, excuse me." Beckett brushed past Phaedra and left.

Phaedra gave a few empty blinks, before she brought a hand to her mouth and chuckled quietly, "I've…made quite the fool of myself, haven't I?"

"Phaedra…" Cadmus said, "You okay?"

She brushed her fingers through her hair, "I'm fine. I didn't mean to offend him so much…" She mused, "I think it's…a wake-up call, if anything."

He crossed his arms, "Look, he was an asshole, but, he was right about one thing."

"He was right about many things." She said, "I'll be off to bed. Goodnight, Cadmus."

"I just don't get it, that's all." He stood up, "Aren't you seeing that girl, Rainy? Why are you still…sending out so many signals…?"

"I don't know." Her voice was drawn back a bit.

"You put a lot of emphasis on physical attraction, that's all." He said, "You've called people who tried to kill you handsome, and when you met my sister, you said she was beautiful as I was handsome." He said, "As if, that's the only thing that matters about a person." He stopped, not wanting to sound as harsh as Beckett, "Look, I'm just worried, because someone played this game before when LaCroix was in power, and they're still feeling the effects of it now. I know how smart you are, and even if you didn't listen to me at all, you'd turn out better than her…so…maybe I should've just kept my mouth shut…"

"I understand, Cadmus." She said firmly, "Thank you."

"I just think that you need to think about who you really love…or else…Rainy would just be…strung along, wouldn't she?"

"Yes, yes, I understand." She turned to face him, "I don't have the brain of a mouse. Let me think over a bath." She said before she went upstairs.

"Wait!" Cadmus held a hand out, but she already was gone, "I'm sorry…" He sighed, mostly to himself.

"You look like you're going to have some sort of heart attack." Iphigenia peered over at Delilah.

"I'm fine." She adjusted her hat for the umpteenth time.

She sat back in the couch, Venus sitting next to her, "Something happen?"

"Just…a Sabbat run-in." She muttered.

"Mmm, I'm assuming it was an unfortunate run-in." Leonardo turned a page.

"Nobody asked you to assume." Delilah clipped him off short.

"Yes, it seems they have an interesting culmination of members, that's for sure." Victor said, as usual, reading an absurd amount of books at once.

"Who was it this time?" Iphigenia asked.

"That same Tremere Antitribu I fought in the castle, with some assailants to join her." He said, "A Toreador and Brujah, if I were to assume."

"Why did she look like me?" Delilah put her book down and looked as if she were about to cry, "Is she my sire?"

Victor looked up from his studies, taking a deep breath and folding his hands, "No…she…she most likely did not sire you…though it is possible. I would chalk it up to coincidence…"

"That's why you don't like me…" She said softly.

He looked hesitant at first, "I was…lethargic, about your joining the Chantry, if that is what you mean. You see, Neo and Ebony were both…very dear friends of mine…but…they both fled and became Antitribu…"

"But…that's not who I am…I would never do that…"

"I know, Delilah. I was…wrong…to think that way."

She wiped a few tears away, then picked her book up again and kept reading.

Venus smirked a bit as she looked back and forth between them, "Glad this was addressed."

"Yes, well, I should, conclude my studies, for the time being." Victor said, closing all of his books, "I have other matters to attend to." He left.

Venus sat back, then looked at Delilah, "I think you've made him upset."

She looked towards the door, "That wasn't what I was intending…" She crossed her arms in a huff, "But if he still views me as that…pathetic excuse for a girl, then maybe it was."

Venus chuckled, "He'll get over it, I'm sure. He was quite close to them. It hurt him a lot to lose them."

"I'm sure." She opened her book again and started flipping through pages a lot faster.

Iphigenia stood up, "I should…get going as well."

"So should I." Leo left as well.

"Guess I should too." Venus stood up and waved at Delilah, "Ta-ta."

"The fuck are you doing?" Damsel sat up a bit, "Why are you going so fast?"

There was a bit of a pause before Nines answered, "No reason."

She squinted through the fogged windshield, "That's Skelter's truck, right? What are you doing?"

"Nothing."

"Nines, honest to god—"

"Just keep calling Kent."

"He's not answering—"

"Well keep trying—"

"He's dead, Nines." A still silence proceeded, "He's dead. Alright? He's not gonna answer his phone." She sat back, "He's got it surgically attached to his forehead. If he's not answering it, then he's dead."

Nines just pushed down harder on the gas, a car blaring its horn at them as they swerved left and right. Damsel's head slammed into the window, "Ow, son of a bitch, what the hell are you doing!? Trying to kill us, too!?"

"Shut up and let me concentrate, Christ." He snapped, "Keep calling him."

"My god." She slumped back in her seat and pushed the digits in a bit harder than before, listening to the blank rings before his stale and outdated voicemail tone played. She glared at Nines, which she knew he could see from the corner of his eye, before she mashed the buttons again. And again.

Meanwhile, Nines was still chasing down the beaten down pickup truck, swerving around cars that were too slow. Finally, when they got close enough, Nines rolled the window down and peeked his head out, doing his best to keep his other eye on the road. Damsel caught on and grabbed the wheel as Nines exchanged a conversation. "Hey." He called, "You got time to talk?"

Skelter looked just as livid as yesterday, his eyes flickering from the road to Nines, "The hell kinda question is that!?"

"Maybe stop driving eighty miles an hour so we can then."

"Like hell. I'm getting away from you people and your crazy bullshit."

"C'mon, Skelter. Five minutes."

"You damn idiot…" Skelter growled as he rolled the window up and pulled over to the side of the road, mashing his foot on the breaks. Nines jerked his head back in the window and did the same, accidentally elbowing Damsel in the chest.

She let out a string of curses as she brushed herself off, "Asshole…" She muttered, "You're talking to him? Now?"

"Guess so." He pulled the shift into 'park' and pat her head, "Keep watch of the place."

"You're kidding." She grumbled as he slammed the door shut and went outside to chat with Skelter.

Skelter leaned against the back of his truck, "We gotta be quick before we attract attention."

"I got Damsel keeping an eye for us. Cops show up and she'll handle it." He put his hands in his pockets and lit a cigarette, handing it to Skelter.

Skelter looked at the offering, then back to Nines's face. "Maybe I did get carried away. But I'm still pissed."

"I get that."

He snatched the cigarette and stuck it in his mouth, "He's dangerous." He said, "He's good for us, sure, if he's loyal, and if he's focused, but he's neither of those. He's still upset about Lark, and 'Stasia, and god-knows what else. As long as he's thinkin' about that shit, he ain't thinkin' about us. He ain't thinkin about our cause, or what he should do or shouldn't do. He's thinkin' about him."

"I get that. But he'll never be focused if we don't help him."

He shook his head, "Sounds like we're complaining about some…stray dog…"

"There are some striking similarities."

Skelter couldn't help but snicker, "Well…I mean…I'll do what I can to tolerate him. But, he says something 'Stasia doesn't like or I don't like, I'm not sure how patient I can be."

"I'm not going to keep separating you two. You have to sort it out. I think you should talk to him. Sometime soon."

He crossed his legs, "I'll think about it."

"Uh huh." Nines looked up at the clouds, "And what about 'Stasia?"

"What about her?"

"What's up with her?"

"She's just as pissed as I am."

"I get that. But, is she willing to let him in?"

"Sounds like something you'll have to ask her about." Skelter said, "But…she's terrified of him. I can't blame her."

Nines sighed, "Well…you talk to her, then. Tell her you're in, but so is Killian. He's gonna try everything in his might to cooperate, and if he doesn't, I'll ask him to leave. Fair?"

"I still think we should have a say more often." Skelter said.

"Right. I understand." Nines said, "I'll see you around the Last Round, then." He pat his shoulder, "Sorry about that."

"Yeah. Me too. See you Nines."

Nines got back in his truck, putting it in 'drive'. Damsel looked up from her phone, "Huh. You're still in one piece."

"You expected me to be dog-chow?" He smirked.

"Maybe."

"Nah." He started driving at a relatively good speed, "We patched things up."

"I don't get it…" She said, "He's so tolerant with you. You could make a new rule that we have to wear bunny slippers everywhere, he'd argue with you, then do it for the rest of his life with enough convincing."

"Gangrel nature."

"That's it?" She asked, "That's…almost sad…"

"Well, that's part of it. It's also just part of who he is. He's a loyal guy."

"You better be careful not to pull too hard." She muttered, "You break that…crazy relationship, we'll lose a valuable asset." She looked up at him, "I almost thought we lost all our Gangrels."

"Sorry."

"Just be careful, okay?"

"I am."

"Mmm hmm." She kicked her feet up on the dashboard, "I'm thirsty."

"Last Round?"

"I was thinking my apartment."

"Alright. We'll take a detour then."

"Thanks." She smiled, "You can have some too."

"I was counting on it."

He shut the drawer once his keys were in, then turned for the living room, the familiar thick scent of paint filling his lungs. He grabbed the remote from the fruit bowl, not questioning why it was in there or who put it there, flicking the TV on. However, after it turned on, it turned off. He tried again, then it turned off. He turned over his shoulder and nearly audible gasped when he saw who was there.

It was Anastasia. She held another remote in her hand and had a smirk on her face.

"…the hell you doing here?" He asked, "And…where'd you get a second remote…?"

She laid it on the counter and sauntered forward, "I heard you came back to the Anarch movement."

"Uh…yeah. I did…you…were there, weren't you?"

"Well, things were a little tense." She reached forward and played with his collar, "I don't like a lot of tension like that, unless I'm the one that's building it up."

He gently took her hand and pushed it away, "What is this?" He tried to meet her eyes, but they were glazing over his body, "You're…you're with—"

She grasped onto his shoulders and met his lips with a ferocious kiss that absolutely knocked him off his feet. Well, not really. That would be embarrassing.

Flames burned in his chest as he quickly held onto her, kissing her back. His hand seemed to fit perfectly around the small of her back, her fingers interlaced around his neck like they were made for that position. The light that had been covered in his mind was uncovered from just the contact of her lips, and the smile on his heart restored when her tongue pushed past his lips and deep into his mouth.

He pulled them back to the couch, done with asking questions. This was happening, and he wasn't going to stop it. This was the happiest he had been since he'd last spent a night with her.

As she tumbled on top of him, she gave a few empty pants and unbuttoned his shirt, "Killian, I…I need to hear it…" She said, her voice was laced with such tempting sounds, Killian couldn't resist undoing the zipper of her dress.

"Hear what?" He asked, trying a gentle kiss on her lips, but she had absolutely none of that, piercing her tongue through again. He stifled a laugh and started peeling her dress away before she stopped him.

"Say it." She said, "Say it or I'll stop."

"Say what?" He asked, before she stood up and re-zipped her dress, crooking her finger towards herself. He reluctantly stood up, leaving his shirt behind on the couch. She took a step closer and ran her fingers along his tattoo, before her hands slowly dipped down and unhooked his pants. But then she stopped and looked up at him with a smirk. "Say what?" He asked again.

She got up on her tippy-toes, (even in her heels), "Say how you feel."

"How I feel?" He asked slowly, "What?"

"How do I feel? To you…?"

He rubbed her upper arms, "Hot…?"

She laughed and playfully shoved his chest, "How do you feel about me? What…what are your feelings…?"

"What do you mean?" He asked, "What is this about?"

She leaned up against him and nipped at his earlobe before she whispered, "What do you think of me, Killian?"

He closed his eyes and embraced her, "I…I love you…"

He could feel her smile against his neck before she unzipped her dress and let it pool to the floor. She then yanked his pants off and fell to her knees, sliding his boxers down his hips.

"Stasia—" He gasped before she slowly slid his shaft into her mouth. He grit his teeth and grabbed the back of her head, withholding everything within his power not to start thrusting into her face. Something about her seemed so raw and delicate, like the slightest movement would knock her to the ground and break her.

She didn't stay very long before she slowly pulled away and stood up again, tracing his tattoo and breathing heavily on his chest. He pulled her up into his arms and whisked her up into the bedroom, afraid for some reason that she'd get injured.

She rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes, "I needed your love, Killian…I still do…" She looked up at him with her big amber eyes, and met her gaze, "I still do. I need it. I need it…" She closed her eyes, "Because it's everything you can give, isn't it…?"

He laid her on the bed, "I don't want your pity-sex." He said firmly.

She curled around like a snake and got up onto her knees, giving him another kiss that redefined romance for him as her arms looped around his neck, "It isn't pity…" She said, "Because what you give me is real…" There was something so irresistibly throaty and raw about her voice that caused him to pounce, tackling her to the bed.

She gasped as he started kissing and biting from her neck down to her chest, swirling his tongue around the peaks of her breasts. Her sighs and moans were absolutely addicting, but what stood out the most was the amount of need that was there.

Well, he wasn't one to torture her. That seemed like more of a game she would play.

He grasped her hips firmly and thrust into her with one fluid motion. She gasped, and the cry that pierced the air was beyond memorable. But even if Killian were deaf, he wouldn't need to hear to understand she was in bliss. Her hair was splayed out on the pillow around her, her arms thrown up over her head, grasping for some sort of grounding. Her brows were furrowed tight as her mouth opened, the slightest curl of a smile on her lips.

He held on tight and kept thrusting, but yet, he didn't feel the desire to lose control as he always did. Sure, she felt amazing, and she looked it too. The look she gave him was absolutely sinful as she reached a hand forward and grabbed the back of his head, pulling him down to whisper, "Come for me, Killian…" She pleaded, a tone of confusion present in her voice, wondering why he hadn't released himself yet.

He grit his teeth and thrust harder, but yet, he still couldn't. It was beginning to get frustrating, what was happening? She clearly reached her climax at that point from penetration alone, gasping and screaming in a voice that enraged him even more.

What was going on?

She panted as she unwound, brushing the sweat-soaked hair off of her face. He pulled out so she could give herself some space, but she sat up a moment later and held his shoulders, "You saving it for something special…?" She asked with a devilish grin.

"Y-Yeah…" He told himself, mostly, "Yeah."

"What?" She looked excited.

"Look…" He held her shoulders, "Why are you here?"

"Why am I still here?" She asked, averting his question, "Because I…I want more too…" She grinned, "I just can't get enough of you…"

"But…" He felt his mouth run dry, before she pushed him back and straddled him.

"Killian, there was something I wanted to show you…" She said, stroking her own stomach. Something about her actions was just a little odd.

"What?" He asked, feeling his arousal slowly disappear. His own anger and confusion was beginning to clear the cloud of joy and love that had once shone through.

"My little pet…" She rubbed her fingers along her serpent tattoo.

He gave a little nod, "I know about your pet."

"Did…you ever find out his name…?" She asked, as the serpent inked into her skin started to crawl around her body.

His eyes widened before he rubbed them with the back of his hand. He scooted away from her as the snake peeled away, black scales and scathing amber eyes, just like hers. "What the fuck is going on!?"

"His name is Skelter…" Her grin was evil, "And he wants to play, too…"

Killian screamed as the serpent lunged in and bit him right in the face.

His eyes snapped open as he felt a cold body on top of his, generous breasts pressed up against his chest, a delicate arm thrown over his shoulder. He held his forehead, then closed his eyes as the familiar red curly hair tickled his neck.

And then, he started to cry.

A/N: Will the Anarch drama blow over, or will it all come crumbling apart? Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed!