A dream less sleep is a peaceful one. No nightmares to wake me at odd hours. No haunting memories. I opened my eyes and saw the faint glow of candles lighting the room still. Removing the soft sheets of the bed from my body, I stretched and a few bones in my body popped in release of tension. My eyes looked around the room. the only change was that David lay across his sofa asleep. Rubbing my eyes, I stood from the bed and made my way past David's sleeping form and to the waterfall for a quick wash. When I was mostly dry, I had a towel tightly wrapped around me, and sat on my knees on the ground beside David and began gently poking his cheek. All the while saying BOOP. After poking him five times he stirred and groaned deeply, rolling to his side before popping open his eyes and staring at my smiling face. His vampire blue eyes looking at me in confusion for a moment before looking at his watch on his wrist,

"It's 5am Viktoria, why are you up? Why are you waking me up?"

I simply smiled down at him and brushed some hair off of his forehead,

"We still need to discuss ANTIGEN and what I know of the other lycans and vampire covens."

David sighed and sat up,

"I'm guessing that this discussion will be long. I'll go grab some food for you and a refreshment for myself. Give me 15 minutes."

Nodding, I walked around his room now dawning my robe and looked at some of the papers he had lying around. My robe felt heavy and was making my body temperature rise, so I decided to borrow a pair of shirts from David's closet. I tied one around my waist to cover me like a skirt and used the second shirt as it was. While still waiting I hummed to myself a Gothic song I heard some time before. Getting lost in the song in my memory, I spun myself around the room and stood on the balls of my feet, moving to the memory of the violas. David returned as I was lost in the memory and watched for a few seconds before fullfully coming into his room and closing the door. Setting the tray of food on his table, he watched me dance and listened to my humming. I stopped suddenly and turned to David,

"I miss that most you know. Since the purge, going to concerts and clubs has been a risk. I miss seeing dancing and seeing symphonies. They even censor music now. Anyway, let's get down to business, to defeat-"

David cut me off,

"And you're a Disney child, of course."

"I told you that before this new war, I didn't take part in violence. Besides, I was going to say evil Lycans, not THE HUNS."

David nodded but in his eyes he was laughing at me. I stuck my tongue out at him and shrugged my shoulders. I approached him and sat on the couch before grabbing a few pieces of bacon and shoving them in mouth. A groan of delight went through me and I devoured my meal as David sipped his cup of blood. He looked amused at the sight of my happiness at eating meat.

"I take it you hadn't eaten in a while?"

Shaking my head, I giggled then gained composure,

"I just haven't had bacon in a long time...I love bacon..."

David rolled his eyes but said nothing else. We finished our respective meals and sat facing each other to discuss.

"ANTIGEN was taken over by lycans a few years after the purge began. When the head of the company was changed most followed suit. They still had few humans working for them and in doing so were able to not get found out by the government. But they didn't stop there. They became a part of the war against vampires. Saving as many lycans from being exterminated, making the humans think they were eradicated, and experimenting to make a different kind of lycan. A stronger lycan. One like William. They were able to make him exactly like William, but they were almost successful in making him resistant to silver. Had they known my true identify and origin, if I had given them what they needed to make a fully immune lycan..."

David placed a hand on my arm,

"This war...it all could have been avoided had Viktor not had Sonya killed. The humans would not have found out about us and peace could have been in this time between our species. I understand that now and it hasn't dissuaded my intent to survive."

I stayed silent and thought about the technologies both of our species modified just to kill one another. We slayed each other needlessly and believed it to be right because our loved ones and lives were taken by the other.

"How are we any better than the humans Daivd? They slaughtered each other before our species even came about. All the lives affected and taken...for revenge, for hatred, for greed."

"It's not so different now. But I know you'll survive this too Tori. I have yet to see you fight though I have a feeling that you are a formidable force."

David looked me in the eye and I turned awayaway with an unsure expression,

"There was something I didn't show you though...our two species weren't the only supernaturals when we were first created. I still feel guilty about it to this day, even though I had no control in their fate. There were witches. Among other creatures."

David wore his confusion openly,

"There is no record."

"There was no record of how the war really started either. Your records are falsified to suit the needs of the highest of the council. Mine is uncensored, unmonitored, and blatant. I ate the other creatures, not knowingly. The jerky they fed me as a babe was the meat of witches and the last of the other mythical creatures. Viktor condoned this so that I would absorb their powers and become a weapon as well as a breeder."

David stared into the candle light. His thoughts were swimming. All the information hidden from his kind. All the information the lycans already knew about them. All the things Viktor had done and got away with.

"If it's any constellation, it didn't quite work like he expected. I can't control any of my kind or any other. But, I can move objects from one place to another. Including places I've never been, things I cannot see in person. Like say, an entire storage of blood bags and meat, guns and ammo, materials and clothes. My senses of other animals near. I can sense when something bad is coming. Small things with great benefits."

His eyes snapped to my face in question but also intrigue. I glanced away for a moment but did not return my gaze to his eyes. Taking a deep breath, I stared into the candle flame in front of me,

"I want to help end this war. There are really no more sides for me, only survival."

In the candle flame I heard the screams of my fallen brothers and my body tensed as memories tried to consume my thoughts. Daivd noticed and didn't hesitate to place a hand on my shoulder. Shock out of my gaze, our eyes met and I smiled lightly. I was in shock that he wasn't hesitant or disgusted to touch me.

"I'll be alright. But back to ANTIGEN... Other packs had deals with the company. Very big packs. Dangerous. Driven by instinct. Barely consealing their identity. They all were waiting for their cure for silver. Once word spreads out enough, they'll come together and make some sort of concoction of their own. I have to help you all survive. Even though your kind has had the upper hand for centuries, I want the fighting to end. I have never seen a time of peace in my lifetime. It would be nice to live long enough to see no violence between our species. Even if it's for just a moment..."

David smiled at me gently,

"I'd like that too. I had just become a teenager when the purge began. All I knew was the inside of our hideouts. But as I grew I learned to fight and became efficient in just about every weapon we held. As the purge concluded, I was finally able to leave the safety of the hideout. When I was thinking overwhelmed or in shock by everything around me, father let me leave to search the area for threats on my own. This life is all I've known, along with the stories passed down. Now that I know that those stories may jot have held complete truths-"

"The truth was held to keep you safe. To keep the momentum of the belief that the first war was for a good cause. I can promise to you Daivd, I will not ever willingly lie to you."

David's hand now lay on mine,

"Willingly?"

"Yes, unless it is necessary to save your life. I am brutally honest, but lie only when absolutely necessary."

David pulled his hand from over mine and looked back at his papers on the table,

"If it isn't too much to ask, I'd like to train with you. You learned to fight for centuries. I've been at it for barely two decades."

Clapping happily, I nodded eagerly,

"That would be wonderful...maybe I could teach you how to dance as well."

Amusement and caution showed on David's face,

"I don't believe that I'll be too great at dancing Tori."

My heart skipped a beat at him calling me my nickname instead of my full one. I was certain that he noticed it as he stated directly at me then,

"Dancing isn't bad and you can't really do it wrong as long as you move to express yourself. Sure there are actual dances that have steps and methods to them, but to dance without restriction or a care is freedom. You'll see one day."

I trailed off with a smile on my face as I turned away from his gaze,

"Who taught you to dance?"

There was no longer a smile on my face,

"My brothers. Lucian knew the ballroom style of dance surprisingly. Raze knew the folk style. As I gained more brothers, I learned many dances. One brother even taught me a fighting style as a dance. Another as sword fighting as a dance. There are many dances...and they come with memories for me. Would you like to see more of my memories?"

I began to pull my hair over to one shoulder and expose my neck, but David shook his head, cleared his throat and turned away from me then,

"No. I do not wish to pry through your mind. Your memories are yours, but I thank you for offering to share."

"All you need do is ask. I am not shushy about my past, it's the emotions that come with it. I can tell you my past with ease, but memories are impressions that shape you. I want to show you how they have shaped me."

Electric blue eyes were locked in my face and listening to my racing heart,

"You aren't wrong. With Selene, Micheal, the girl, and you here with us, maybe we can stop focusing on the past and make a truly better future."

Standing from the couch, I laughed lightly as I walked over to David's bed, turning to look at him and I sat on the edge,

"You are smart David. More logical and accepting. More brave and honesty. You'd make a very fine leader one day. I'll help you get there myself if I live long enough."

"Please, refrain from speaking like that. I know the dangers of this war between us, the humans, and other lycans. But you have lived this long Tori. Don't undermine your survival skills now."

I lay on my side, never turning from his face or gaze,

"I feel like I am changing. With change comes new possibilities. I felt it first last night in the safe house. I feel different. I'm feeling differently about something and I don't know just what yet. Whatever change, I wish it be in your favor. My senses have been feeling something I dread."

My eyes grew to my lycan appearance as he stared intently at me for several moments. My heart rate going steadily higher than normal. My body temperature raised slightly under his gaze as well. David's blue eyes suddenly went wide and I didn't move a muscle,

"Other Lycans?"

"Death."

"For once, I hope you are wrong. Your...heat as you say...I think you are approaching it finally. Your homornes surged for a few beats of your heart as you lay there. I guess your change is coming soon too."

I rolled to my back and stretched. Arching my back and rolling my abdomen,

"Reflexes and urges are all that should change for me. I went through my physical growth already. I'm only reaching sexual maturity. Maybe Eve is going through her physical surge now. Having her father here will help. The presence of kin makes it easier."

Without caution or hesitation David was by his bed looking down at me,

"You have no more kin Tori..."

The concern on his voice made my teeth ache to come out. My reply to him came out weaker than I intended,

"I can handle a little bit of hormones. All I have the urge to do is eat and fight. Please tell your father all that I have told you while I rest for a while. A slight fever will set in shortly and make company is not wise for a few hours."

Inclining his head to one side my message clicked on his mind and he vanished from my sight and with his speedy disappearance, the candles went out in the room as well.

When I next awakened, the candles were lit in the room again, but my eyes immediately found feel brown eyes.