hey, sorry its so short. but people were askin for another chapter and i was kinda unsure of how to proceed. So, here it is, and the next chapter will be longer, i promise!

Marchette followed behind Elaina and Rikard at great enough distance to allow her the feeling of solitude but still being close enough to pull her to the ground in the case of an attack. They passed from the boring hallway painted a faded topaz through a great wooden door. The walls were now mahogany inlaid with gold and the carpets were a regal red. This obviously was the personal wing of the Lady de Myra. Elaina's head was swiveling back and forth, and Marchette could tell that she hardly heard a word her brother said.

"Who lives here?" she breathed, cutting Rikard off mid-sentence.

Her brother chuckled and said, "the Pure Bloods of close relation to our mother. As well as esteemed guests." He glanced around, and then pointed to a door to their left. "That leads to our wing; 'us' being Lady de Myra's children. You will find that you have a room there as well," he paused, "Well, that is actually unlikely, as we thought you were dead all these years. But I'm sure you will be placed in comfortable quarters."

"Why haven't the Agents' spies found out about you people," she frowned, "us? Especially when you, we, live so garishly."

"Ah," Rikard said, "I guess you didn't notice the security device in the door frame. Did you Marchette?" he asked, turning to look behind. "No? Good, then its working." He turned his attention back to his sister. "There is a device that reads a being's blood as they pass over the threshold of the door. If the person is human, their genetic code must be entered into the system before they may pass. The device is meant to stop any person who is not a Vampire. All beings how are lower than Half Bloods must have their DNA logged into the computer program, or they too will be unallowed to enter. Pure Bloods may pass through unscathed though."

Elaina frowned, looking alarmed. "What happens to those who are not cleared by the system?"

Rikard opened a door off to their right, which led down a second corridor. "First, a multitude of alarms, both auditory and silent, are triggered. There are security doors that seal the entire corridor so that nothing may enter or leave. Then a motion sensor is activated, which, unfortunately, leaves an area the size of a postage stamp unwatched. Thankfully the grid is mobile. This sensor sweeps from floor to ceiling fifteen times per second, and if anything is in the laser grid, more alarms go off. A knockout gas is then pumped through the corridor, rendering any human unconscious in less than six seconds, and incapacitating any Vampire in half a minute. Guards then enter with heavy artillery, a combination of Vampires and humans, and sweep through the entire corridor and hallways that branch off of it. The last time some one got in here, we knew where they were within seven seconds."

Elaina whistled, impressed. "You guys don't leave much up to chance, do you?"

Marchette leaned forward and said softly, "Madam, any compound that houses a large number of Pure Bloods employs such security measures. We do it for our protection. If the Agents were to learn of us, the consequences would be dire."

Elaina nodded, looking thoughtful, but said nothing more, remaining silent as Rikard led them down another hallway, pausing at the door at the very end. As he raised his hand to knock, a rather nervous looking man jerked the door open. His wild and frightened eyes, flicked between them, and he said in a quick and breathless voice "Wait for a time, if you please. The Lady is not quite ready to see you. Perhaps tomorrow would be a better time?" By the look of his face, he was seriously implying that tomorrow was a good idea.

Before Elaina could suggest that perhaps they should wait, Rikard glared at the man saying coldly, "You insult us, Adam, to suggest that the children of The Lady may not see her. Especially when ordered to come straight to her once her long awaited daughter had returned from her protective exile." He raised an eyebrow, "Perhaps you'd better explain to The Lady why tomorrow was a better time for a reunion with her daughter."

The man blanched, a look of horror crossing his face. "My lord," he stammered, "The Lady had ordered me not to disturb her. I meant no offence! Honest!"

Rikard smirked, "The Lady would be very upset if she learned that you treated her long lost daughter as you would a disturbance. Obviously The Lady meant she didn't want to see little mutant humans, like yourself." He grinned arrogantly, "Us of the upper-echelon are hardly considered disturbances."

The man seemed to have shrunk and he looked ready to cry. He nodded weakly, saying, "Come with me," and he lead them through the door, shutting it wordlessly behind them, flinching away when he met Elaina's eye.

When Marchette noticed Elaina staring at the man's behavior, he leaned forward and whispered so only she'd hear, "The Pure Bloods must remain in control of the others. Many tend to do it with much more tact. Rikard is not one of those people, as you can see. Do not let it disturb you. You are royalty. You are expected to flex the muscles of your authority sometimes."

Elaina gave him a piercing look and hissed back just as quietly, "There's showing authority, and then there's making a person garbage. I refuse to do such a thing."

Marchette smirked slightly and nodded murmuring "Of course, madam."

She glared at him one last time as they were led through a set of massive doors.