Hiya.

World weary traveler: Are you really weary of the world? Never mind, silly question. The first few chapters were long, but I think I've developed the knack of shortening the chapters as things move along. I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing. And about that whole dying thing…er, yeah, well…enjoy the story! ;-)

Person with no name: I guess you mean nice of the chapter, which it was considering they were ready to tear each other's head off just minutes before. Funny you said superb, because just the other day we were reading aloud in French and my friend read "superbe" like "super bee. What's a super bee?" Took her forever to figure it out…but you probably don't care and just want to read. Never mind and enjoy this little excuse of a story! Happy trails.

Neona-deniker: Yes, sad times, sad times…but to quote the Hey Arnold Movie…What can you do? Actually, I do have the power over that situation but I choose not to exercise it. And girl, what did I tell you about not solving mysteries until I've solved them myself?! I know habits are hard to break (hee,hee, and so are hobbits. Sturdy species…I digress) but stop it. Right now. This is a work in progress for me too, ya know, and I can't have it progressing without me. And yeah, Rita was pretty firm about seeing that witch at the party, considering all the wrong assumptions she's made before. And, ah Kyros, the half hearted hero…dunno quite what to say about him, except I love him too. Despite his many, many, many faults.

More than u know: Hmm, I'll take a wild stab at it…an hour? Hour and a half? Kewl, I don't think I've ever gotten "hella good" status before, and I'm very much honored. Ah yes, that killing off situation…c'mon, don't make me feel any worse than I already do. Honestly, when I first wrote this, I had no idea people would get so attached to the guy. He was just another nice guy in the story. But, you know why, that is , if you read the chapter after. Rita had to leave. Jared could have kept her in Anomina with just one adorable puppy dog look. Everybody loved him, you're not alone in that, and I'm guessing you were trying to express your…sorrow? Confusion? Frustration? Murderous Rage to the Authoress?

It is a handy way to learn about each other, and to kill the time. The comments do make sense, never fear, and I hope you'll read and review again. Oh lordy, please don't hate me for this one.

Martha: Yup, I don't think Maria could be sweet as regular girl, let alone a new mother. She does try her best though, poor thing. I guess what Adrian said was sweet, but it seems to me boy do sweet things by accident, Adrian especially. ;)

Candika: Gee, you're a sweet heart for sayin that. I blush. Thanks so much for the encouragement, and I hope that smiley face will reappear after you read this chapter.

Alocin: Wow, I didn't know Rita and Adrian were entertaining. To me, they're like little children who can't quite fighting. I suppose it's strange to be calling Rita childish, but oh well. I hope you have another positive review for this, because it's a bit…yeah…crosses fingers and toes!

Soraia: Oh damn, you have no idea how much I love those movies! Much to the dismay of my sanctimonious parents, but who cares? And guess what? Answering reviews and eating chocolate at the same time…life is good. Never thought of that complication with the quotes, sorry about that! I know I'm not as efficient as you with updates, but hopefully this hasn't been too long.

Oli: Heya, wow I have a cousin by the same name…not that you care or anything… ;) Pulling a Houdini would be great and you know what? I've never thought about it before, but you're right. Even though they speak every day, they're not really face to face. Thanks for the idea, which was incorporated in the following. Kyros is bound to be a bit too distracted…well you'll see. Thank you so much for reviewing!

Vague Verity

Chapter 16

"The mind has a thousand eyes,

And the heart but one;

~*~*~*~

Winnie was driving to the air port when her cell phone rang. She picked it up, was distracted by the fact it matched her car, and frowned by the name of the caller.

"What do you want?"

"How about going on a mission with me?" Kyros requested politely, quick to the point.

Winnie snorted. "Not likely. I'm on my way to Maria's."

"No room at the Eldsons," he replied. "And, besides, you're not allowed to drive around Manhattan while talking on the cell. It's the law."

"Thank you deputy. I'll be sure to buckle my seat belt and break for animals, except Arctic foxes that happen to come my way. Bye now."

"Wait!" Winnie sighed, and complied. Kyros took a deep breath and pleaded seriously, "Look, it's about Verity."

"What about her?"

Kyros winced, wishing he could avoid the next part. "Um…Nilsson told me that the corpse found a few weeks ago was Bryan Smith. And their bungalow was reserved for two, so…"

Winnie caught on quickly. "How long have you known this?" she asked in a steely voice, and pulled over to a rest stop.

"Um—for a while now—"

"And you didn't say anything?" She never paused for an answer. "Oh my Goddess, Kyros, how the hell could you let your personal feelings get in the way of this?" The frustrated witch hit the steering wheel and the horn, startling the cars speeding by her.

"That's why I'm asking you to go on a mission with me. I've been doing some investigating of my own—"

"With, or without Thierry's permission?"

"Without," he answered curtly. "Look, it's a request from a death bed. You can't refuse a request from a death bed. And Maria said to look for a partner who'd keep me away from a foreign slut."

"But, I was on my way to see her."

"She doesn't want any blubbering," he warned. He heard Winnie sigh again.

"Then I guess I'm not wanted. What did you dig up?" He took that as an unspoken means of consent, and smiled to himself. Kyros envisioned weeks of bickering ahead.

"Well, I looked into Moorea, and there's not a trace of Rita any where. I'm thinkin' she was kidnapped."

"Brilliant deduction," she commented as she made a U-turn on the high way. "Did you come up with that yourself, or did that handy magic eight ball help you again?"

"Shut up," he ordered pleasantly. "Any way, I went back to Anomina…"

"You didn't burn down the 'Come Back Soon' sign, again, did you? It's wrong to hold a grudge against a whole town."

"Course not." He thought it wise not to mention the charred condition of the "Welcome to Anomina" bill board. "And I found out that what kept Amaro under that bastard's thumb for so long. A deed."

"But we knew that all ready."

"Yeah, but we didn't know where. I tracked Orin, and asked—"

"Asked, or tortured?"

"I think I was reasonable during the interrogation," he answered evasively. But one's patient had a right to run thin after hours of interviewing. "But would you shut the hell up and let me talk? Any way, apparently Amaro owned some land on the Damned Clan Island."

"Who the hell would want land on that ice block?" That was the wonderful, or awful, thing about the Island. No matter what month, no matter what season, at least ten feet of snow separated the visitors from the actual ground. And, the last time Daybreakers arrived, it was as hard as rock.

"That's what I thought. And seeing that Morta Vitez has been razed to the ground, the best bet is going back to where hell froze over. Still with me?" He would understand perfectly if she didn't want to return. A part of him screamed and begged for him to stay in the States. Nissa had died there, it said. Many of their friends had died there. But most of him remembered that it was a request from a death bed, and nobody could refuse a request from a death bed.

"So…I gotta buy some snow shoes?"

He smiled, relieved. If he had to relive all the post battle nightmares, at least he wouldn't have to do it alone. "Not if the snow is as hard as I remember it…"

~*~*~*~

New York

They thought she didn't hear. They thought she slept through all the conversations beside her bed, or outside her door. But it didn't matter. She barely had enough strength to tell them to shut their traps any way. And any little sound produced by her would draw some questions on her comfort. Desperately, Maria wished she could just slap them all away.

If they only knew. That it didn't hurt, not so much now. That any discomfort she did have could be tolerated. That, no matter how much they tried, she could see through their jibes and smiles. It would be better if they knew that.

Or if Rashel knew that Maria was going to leave her play station and Nintendo box to that personification of evil, also known as Timmy, they might be on friendlier terms. Maybe she and Quinn would call more from the mountains.

Or if Mary Lynnette knew that the remaining funds for Maria's college funds would be transferred to hers…she might come into the room more.

Or if Keller knew that all the toys bought for Valdis Junior was being willed away to the second personification of evil, also known as Apollo, they might not have bickered so much.

But she wanted it that way. Well, not exactly that way. A little less arguments would have been nice. But it was better than everybody being all weird, and blubbering over her. God, she hated blubbering. She made a note that Valdis was to make sure that nobody blubbered at her funeral. Not even Gillian, or Iliana, the adorable pieces of fluff. Only the children were allowed to, and then only if necessary.

The last of her letters were finished and placed under her pillow. Fifteen or twenty by the last count. The world was still in motion outside her windows, despite the stillness within the apartment. And it would go on with or without a Maria Tybal.

There was no Maria duty any more, she was obstinate about that. She needed some privacy. The radio alarm clock said it was a little past one. Not even Valdis would be awake. Her babies maybe, but neither said a sound.

Maria felt very, very alone. She sighed, and summoned all her strength. A pain shot through her entire body as she leaned over and unplugged the heart monitor. In the long, or short, run of it, she wouldn't need it any more. She was ready to remove the tube from the IV bag when she thought better of it. A heavy ache settled and spread over her body. Better not risk it.

She had heard it today, just down the hall way when they thought she was napping. Nonsense about specialists, and transplants, and the percentages. Lots of people needed heart transplants, and it was selfish and downright immoral to steal one. No amount of praying would get her one, or move her to the top of the list. Maria smiled in the darkness at the irony of it; on her driver's license, she wasn't a donor. She guessed it served her right. Her karma ran over her dogma.

And here they all thought, or fooled themselves into believing, that everything was fine. That their friend would live. Like this was some sort of fairy tale, where people got near death, but managed to avoid it. That was one of the reasons she didn't want them sitting by her constantly.

As she lay silently, waiting for it to come, as she knew it would, Maria reviewed. Verity had often suggested it, saying it helped her with her own problems. But, trouble was, there wasn't much in her life to review. Some noticeable things, like killing people…a lot of people, but that would be a bit too depressing to bring up now. Well, in the time after the discreet murders, she hoped she made up for it.

The only pity about demanding privacy was the fact that nobody could hear her last words. Maria shrugged. It was fine by her, since she didn't have anything too clever to say any way.

Valdis didn't like have the large empty bed to himself, so he allowed Ash and Mary Lynnette occupy it. For some reason known only to him, he preferred the hardwood floor, just beside Gwen's cradle. Ash had been apprehensive with the thought of sharing a room with two infants, seriously endangering his beauty sleep. Valdis smiled. His children, taking after him and not their mother, were polite with guests. The seldom times they cried, it was during the day and when everybody was up and about.

He reached up and slid his hand through the wooden bars. To his surprise, a smaller, soft hand wrapped around his index finger. Gwen was strong for a week old child. Very strong.

Through the shadows, he looked over to Valdis Junior. He had stopped breathing yesterday. Only the swift and efficient actions of Javier had saved him. Now the tiny chest was jerked off and on his bed by a respirator. Javier assured him it was safe, specially designed, and wouldn't hurt the baby. But the sight of it still hurt Valdis.

The grip on his finger squeezed tighter, demanding his attention again. Valdis rested his elbow in a crook of the crib, so he could remain clasped in his daughter's hand. There was something incredibly reassuring about it. It was absurd to believe that an infant who knew nothing of the world was trying to convey that everything would be okay. Absurd…but nice to think of.

He fell asleep in that position, arm vertical for the sake of his daughter. And, while he slept, he had the most peculiar dream.

Valdis found himself at Descouedres' mansion, and it was packed. He assumed it was another Labor Day party. The others were dancing, and some times staring, as he cut through the crowd. Searching for something…somebody.

Maria appeared before him, holding a boy five years of age. He was sleeping, his black haired head on her shoulder. Valdis scolded, later he couldn't remember with what words, his wife for bringing their son to the celebration. Maria became defiant and told him to look down.

When he did, he saw he held the hand of a pretty five year old girl, whose bright amber eyes frowned up at him. Her hair fell straight past the shoulders, an indecisive reddish blonde. Valdis felt sheepish and looked back up at Maria.

The little boy was awake. His childish, round eyes smiled at his mother and then his father. Valdis was startled at the identical shade of bluish green. Maria turned away, towards the exit, when Valdis reached for her. Asking her to stay.

Maria shook her head, and playfully ordered him to stay if he wanted to. For some reason, there was the urgent need for her to remain with him, although it wasn't the best place for a child. She shook her head forcefully, murmuring something he couldn't hear over the music.

He saw a debate would result in nothing, so he tried to give her Gwen, to take upstairs. Again she shook her head, and even moved away from them when Gwen stepped forward. No, she mouthed. No.

Gwen looked from one adult to the other, confused. Seeing her, Maria smiled and stepped forward to kiss the top of her head. Then she took another step back, despite Valdis' pleas to either stay, or take Gwen with her.

The music abruptly stopped, but the dancers continued in their trance. The silence was deafening. Then he heard Maria say, gently, but firmly, "It's all right. This way you get one, and I get one. It's like the Parent Trap."

He was about to retort that he had never seen the movie when Gwen, the real Gwen, cried loudly. She had never cried like that before, he thought as he wriggled out of the sleeping bag. Shrill, urgent screams pierced the night and Valdis scrambled up to her, which was difficult because his arm had fallen asleep.

"Christ," Ash said grumpily, "I thought you said they didn't cry."

"We weren't sleeping any way," Mary Lynnette replied mischievously. If not for the infant clamor, Valdis would have found that fairly disturbing.

But Valdis wasn't listening. As he stood, trying to rock Gwen back into silence, he remembered the dream.

Oh god. The dream.

"Turn on the lights," he ordered, panicked. He rushed to the far corner of the room, where his son lay.

"What for—"

"Just do it," Valdis demanded, frantically working at the plastic handles to open the container that held Valdis Junior. He had only one hand to do it, as Gwen wailed steadily in his other arm. "For god's sake," he murmured, desperate. Mary Lynnette kneeled beside him and pushed his hand away, opening it herself. Ash switched on the lights.

Valdis Junior's chest wasn't rising up and down. His body wasn't being racked by the respirator. He wasn't moving at all. His son wasn't supposed to have enough strength to roll on his side. That was why the tube wasn't taped down to his bare skin.

"Holy shi—" Ash began, eyes wide, at the sight of the still tiny body, when Valdis leapt over the bed and knocked him against the door.

"Everybody up," he hollered urgently as he slid down the hall. "Everybody get up!" The door to Maria's room had been closed. God, who the hell closed it?

When he broke through, he noticed there was only one sound: Gwen. No beeps, not even a flat line. No heart beats, not one breath. "Javier," he thundered. "Javier, get in here! Now!"

It was no use. He didn't bother to turn on the lights, and almost tripped over Ceberus. Maria looked like she was sleeping. There was a folded piece of paper in her hands, and she smiled as if dreaming.

Oh god. Oh god.

She wasn't sleeping.

"Maria," he called loudly, causing Gwen to cry more. "Maria…damn it…" Hurriedly, his eyes scanned the mess of wires and cords surrounding her, trying to figure where the hell everything went after she had pulled them out.

Javier appeared, disheveled, at the door way and out of breath. Valdis saw him and started towards him. "Hurry up, what the fuck are you standing there for? Do CPR, something—"

"I can't," he yelled back.

"Why the hell not?" Gwen's shrieking filled the tense pause.

"Because she's dead," Javier stated severely. "I'm sorry. It looks like it's been a while—"

"No," Valdis cut in, just as resolved. "No, she's not. I just spoke to her five minutes ago—"

"It must have been a dream," the midwife said reasonably, stepping towards them. "Valdis…Gwen's crying."

Valdis clenched his jaw, and looked at his wife. Pretty, peaceful, smiling Maria. Secretive, selfish, smiling Maria. That smile…she knew what was going to happen. And she hadn't called for him. She had always been stupidly independent.

His reaction was natural, and not surprising. But before another fury driven hole could have been punched into the wall, Gwen shrieked again, presumably terrified by the noise of her father's anger. Valdis stared at the baby in his arm and his clenched fist, unsure of his next actions. Nothing besides Maria halted his ire before. He didn't know what to do without his soul mate. He was lost.

As he stood there, hopelessly silent, Ash braved the stillness to point out Maria's note.

The folded piece of paper in her hand had his name on it. Ignoring the pleading midwife, he took quick strides to Maria, and snatched the note away. And after only a few seconds of reading, he laughed as embarrassing tears began to flow down his face, and onto his daughter.

"Valdis?" Ash asked, uncertainly as he stepped inside the room. The others hovered near the door way, afraid to enter. Not many men took the death of their soul mate too well. Valdis' back was turned to all of them, facing only the windows and Maria.

At the sound of his name, the taller vampire turned around, eyes bright with tears. He cleared his throat at the sight of his guests. With a wry smile, he held up the note.

"She told me to take care of the children. Very first line too." Valdis accepted the tissue Ash offered, and wiped his face, embarrassed. "Here it is, Ash. 'Valdis. For god's fucking sake, stop blubbering and take care of the baby.' Sounds like Maria, doesn't it?"

Ash nodded, immensely relieved to see he wasn't suicidal. As Valdis made his way out of the room, Ash called, "You're not going to hold it all in and then blow up later on, are you? It's not healthy. Mare said so."

"No," the father said tiredly. "I just need to feed Gwen right now. Later, I'll let it all out. But not in front of all my guests." Valdis returned with a bottle and faced the stunned crowd. Sabrina was biting her lip hard enough to draw blood, and Valdis frowned at her. "Sabrina. Maria wrote that no blubbering was allowed."

Sabrina let out a choked sob. Mary Lynnette's blue eyes began to water, and just as Ash hugged her, a whimper escaped her throat. Others began, unsuccessfully, to control the weeping. For god's sake, Valdis thought, they were laughing a few hours ago. Finding it unbearable, Valdis broke away, to phone the Drache's, Martha, and the Snows. And then Thierry. To report Circle Daybreak's first loss since the Final Battle.

And, at daybreak, as he promised, he let it all out.

"What am I supposed to do?" he asked in a desperate whisper. Half of him wished she would answer. Never mind the fact that it was impossible, not to mention disturbing if she did. If the only words dropped from those chilly lips were hateful, Valdis would have died to listen to them. To hear that voice, to see those fiery eyes. "What am I supposed to do?" he asked again, this time to himself. He knew he'd have help. All guests volunteered to stay and help out. But they, in hundreds or thousands, would not equal one Maria Yolken Tybal Eldson.

Beside Maria's cold, smiling body, he let the tears fall freely. Valdis resolved they'd meet again some day. Become a whole family. And if there was a Supreme Being out there who decided otherwise, he would just have to be dealt with violently. Nobody would keep them separated forever.

They had placed Valdis Junior in the crook of her arm. Valdis was content to simply stare at the most beautiful woman and boy he had ever seen, while the world went on without them, never knowing its loss.

~*~*~*~

He had left for a few hours, finding that his answer transformed her speaking abilities into purely monosyllabic. In his own cell, Adrian slept lightly, just in case she might call for him. And, during what felt like the next day, he heard his name being called softly.

He was by the hole in a second. "Yes?" he asked, hoping he didn't sound to eager. After all, they had both declared they didn't like each other.

"I've been thinking," she began in her normal, rational way, "about what you said."

"That I didn't like you? Well, that might have been—"

"No," she interrupted, still sounding very sensible. Not at all flustered by the resurfacing of that uncomfortable subject. "About these bricks."

Adrian leaned away, disappointed. They developed a blood boiling argument, he accidentally charmed her, and the girl just had to go and think of bricks. He would never understand her.

"You said," Rita continued, deaf to his irked rambling, "that they were enchanted. That you couldn't break free."

"Yup." Where was she going with this?

"Can magic rot?"

"Er…I've never been asked that question—"

"Can magic go away?" she persisted. "Fade away after a while, if not maintained?"

"Maybe," he shrugged. "But I don't think we can wait while all the bricks expire. Well, I can. You can't."

"What about the bricks now?"

"You know, I never claimed to be omniscient or anything—"

"Stop joking around. What about the bricks now?"

"I don't think they'll start to go bad any time soon, if that's what you're thinking. I'm not sure if they've even started."

He heard Verity sigh irritably. "Of course they have."

"Right, like a ver—human would know more about it than me."

"Adrian," she began, with exaggerated patience, "the bricks are going bad. How else would this, and other, holes in the wall would be possible?"

He sat, speechless. The hole in the corner floor of his room, the one in the corner below it… "Damn it," he grumbled.

"Try not to swear, it shows bad upbringing. I'll just leave you that bit of information, and you think of a plan. I'm taking a nap now, so—"

"Can I come in and we'll plan together?"

"No," she refused sternly. "Now go back to your cell and think about what you should do."

"Yes, mother," he mocked as he rose from the floor. He appreciated her clever observations, but damn. Did she have to be so smug about it?

~*~*~*~

Boston

Winnie and Kyros stood at the large garage entrance of the hangar, not exactly certain of their next actions. The guards and crew man had already been dispensed. The duo hadn't killed them, of course, but through out the hangar, pleasantly slumbering bodies were scattered. Their luggage and weaponry waited at their feet. Before them sat three very, very, unguarded planes.

"So…" Winnie began, unsure, "we're just going to take them?"

Kyros shrugged and lit a cigarette. "Um…well, we can't tell Thierry. He'll kill us. Besides, we're only taking one."

Besides, there was always the chance they wouldn't have to fulfill this rescue. If Maria just survived the next few hours; Javier had said the prognosis was optimistic.

"But to steal from the boss, from him of all people—"

"Lordy," he exclaimed, a word he had picked up from Maria. "You know Thierry doesn't want anybody going back to that island. He hates it. And he don't want us to remember or anything. So, we can't tell him."

"Ever?"

"I'm startin' to think blonde is your natural color," he observed dryly. "Of course we'll tell him. After we complete the mission, we'll phone him, or something. Use the radio and what not." Kyros shrugged nervously and with one hand grabbed all four cases. "No use sittin' around. Let's go."

"I am a natural blonde," she said hotly, running after him as he loaded one of the planes. Just as they settled into the cockpit, Kyros' cell began to beep.

"Oh my Goddess, what's that? What did you press?" she asked, panicked. Kyros raised an eyebrow and held up the Nokia. She obviously didn't believe him when he told her Nilsson had taught him to fly. Winnie waited impatiently, making sure the seat belts were secure, as he listened to the caller. But the call went on, and on, and on…

She was in the middle of the C's during her Let's-name-all-spells-in-alphabetical-order game when Kyros sighed heavily and ended the conversation. His hand shot up and flicked his cigarette out an open window. He didn't look towards her when she glanced questioningly. Instead, he turned sharply to the left, still facing his window.

"What is it?"

There were a few beats of silence until he cleared his throat. With a distracted frown, he faced forward and began to start the plane. "Maria died," he told her quietly.

Winnie, who had been very tense, leaned slowly back into her chair. "When?"

"This morning," he answered shortly, still fiddling with buttons and then started steering. "She knew she was gonna, and wrote everybody little notes. Didn't tell anybody though, which pisses Thierry off. He thinks he coulda done something, if he had known. I think her not telling anybody pissed off a lot of people."

"How can you be so calm about it?" she snapped, swallowing the lump in her throat. The dark look he sent in response hushed her for a while. And as they slowly moved down the run way, audible sniffles came from his right passenger.

He stopped the plane. The Arctic Fox turned to her, with a serious expression she had never witnessed before. "I know you're sad. I am too. But if you're going to bawl from here to the island, and even after we land, I can't work with you."

Winnie stared, shocked. Finally, she collected her wits and unbuckled her seat belt to lean forward. The witch was beyond furious. "You heartless bastard—"

"Shut up," he told her brusquely. "You remember how it was, Winnie, after the Battle. Nobody had time for tears. We just had to get back out there and try to save the ones still living. And if you heard about your dead girlfriend, you didn't have time to cry, because there others who were still breathing that needed our help. And I'm sorry if you think I'm being heartless, and maybe I am, but I can't work with somebody who doesn't have her mind on the job. Got it?"

"For Goddess' sake," she breathed, her eyes flashing, "Maria's dead. You still want to go on the mission even when the one girl who saved everybody just died."

"I made her a promise," he stated coldly. The witch had no idea how it ached, how it burned to stay on the plane. She had no idea—yes, Maria died. And that was the strongest reason to go. If Maria survived, Kyros would have sent somebody else to face the wrath of Verity. Any sort other sort of promise, he would have put off. "It was a death bed promise. Now, are you going to stop crying and focus, or are you going to weep and get off this plane? I can do it by myself."

Winnie leaned back into her seat, arms crossed, to study him. Then she turned the chair, and rebuckled the seat belt. "The hell you can."

~*~*~*~

He hated wakes. Valdis thought, although it was his first one, wakes were the worst thing in the world. The only thing that kept it from being worse than hell was little Gwen, who laughed at the sight of every new stranger.

He stood near the entrance, greeting the Daybreakers, college class mates, and that one, suspicious aunt. All fawned over Gwen, declaring she was the most adorable baby ever…as long as he didn't repeat that to Keller, they warned.

Then the Draches arrived. Apollo had already been babbling when the door opened, but at the sight of Gwen, the little boy began to stomp and jump at Valdis' feet. Through the unintelligible words, Valdis guessed he wanted to hold his daughter, and, quite rightly, refused.

Most of them were late, because the funeral home was hard to find and parking was hell in New York City. After he greeted the last guests, he personally directed some selected few to a certain table, where their notes lay. Most, he observed, were brought to tears by the contents, whatever they were.

As he wove through the crowd, on his way to the front to start the ceremony, Valdis knew they wondered about him. Even a toddler lamia would have heard the thoughts Maria's friends exuded. Puzzlement, suspicion, and anger as to why he hadn't dissolved into a puddle of tears. Sympathy and pity from the gentler, nicer guests. Worry from those who heard him say, quite confidently, that they would be reunited again. Of course, Valdis hadn't meant any time soon.

Fact was he felt sort of strange. As if recovering from a permanent injury. The body was the same, his mind was still the same, but almost irreparably broken. Valdis knew instinctively this was how it felt to be alone after being complete for so long. It felt vaguely of the old days before Maria, except…sadder.

But, if he behaved, and Gwen behaved, there was a chance to reunite. Not in heaven, because Valdis didn't believe in that Purgatory, heavenly bodies crap, but some place nice would do.

But most, whatever their feelings, understood that he would deal with it in a nonviolent way, after they all left. When and if he wept, it was done out of sight and hearing. Valdis waited impatiently, and mostly not listening, as Maria's priest droned on. In her letter, Maria ordered him to be nice to Father O'Baley, despite what Valdis thought of religion. So not once did he, or Gwen, interrupt the sermon, though both were dying to.

Then left the clergy, and friends remained. All eyes turned on Valdis as he walked up to the podium, and refused to relinquish the baby. Of course, he wasn't cheerful about the situation, but, as cheesy as it was, at peace. Maria was fine, he was sure of that.

Valdis realized he had been staring at the blank top of the podium and met the faces in the crowd. Thierry and Hannah. Delos and Maggie. Hugh and…Kestrel? Ash, of course, and Mary Lynnette. Quinn and Rashel even returned from the mountain cabin, bringing Timmy with them. Others, all waiting.

Not at all hurried, he pulled his letter from his pocket and unfolded it, while Gwen stared around curiously. Clearing his throat, he began:

"All right, I'm just gonna read what Maria wanted to tell you…where is it…here: 'Well, guys, if you haven't figured it out, I'm dead now. Just hope I get into heaven. And don't start saying crap about of course I will and blah, blah, blah…Let's face it. The only thing I had going for me was virginity before marriage and we all know how that turned out'."

He paused, surprised, when the mourners laughed. He finished the contents and was about to call it a day when Ash discreetly informed him that it was customary to let the others speak.

"Why?"

Ash shrugged. Their old home, the Night World, hadn't been much for mourning, or crying in public for that matter. "I guess to let the others get if off their chests." Valdis reluctantly consented, and allowed Ash to tell the others.

When the others weren't paying attention, and that Georgian aunt finally left him alone, Valdis apologized to Gwendolyn, profusely. He had promised to take her to Central Park, and show her where her mother fed the ducks. Gwendolyn Hannah took it rather well.

Valdis sat in the last row, while his daughter slept, as the others gave their eulogies. Stories consisting of her less than friendly attitude were abundant. Stories from Daybreakers, of course, had to be edited so her college peers wouldn't have been suspicious. As well as he knew her, he had no idea there was so much to tell. Even Delos Redfern, of all people, became choked up as during his very brief reminiscing. Valdis smiled to himself, knowing Maria would have paid millions to see the infamous Redfern cry.

After the pallbearers had done their duty for both Maria and Valdis Junior, and the caravan had made it to the graveyard, Valdis found himself standing near the head stone while the black clad guests lined up to give condolences. On Maria and Valdis' caskets lay a mountain of flowers. Some Daybreakers, with sad eyes and sad smiles, told him it would be all right. He guessed they were the ones who already lost their other half. Ash said nothing but shook his hand, while Mary Lynnette told them they'd be leaving that afternoon.

Valdis appreciated that because Ash, and the other former Night World citizens, understood that Eldson men were durable, the last living one especially. Quinn simply nodded, understanding. Delos gave his shoulder a small squeeze, with a smirk he usually directed towards Maria. But when the usually glib Sabrina approached, Valdis didn't know what she was saying exactly.

It was difficult to comprehend the choked gurgles and gasps, but he was sure it was nice any way. He understood why she sobbed so hard, of course, but he didn't understand why she stood in front of him for twenty long minutes, simply babbling and, in a word, blubbering. Listening to Apollo would have been easier. Maria, he knew for a fact, would have rolled her eyes and pushed the witch away.

Morgead Blackthorn and Jez were after her, Morgead looking a little amused by Sabrina's melodrama. Nothing was exchanged besides sympathetic smiles. Poppy, as expected, cried a river, but did so beautifully as James shook both Valdis' and Gwen's hands. The three Redfern sisters, or as Ash called them, the she-Hulks, politely gave their sympathies, and Hugh cheerfully said that he understood what Valdis was going through, and to call him if he ever wanted to talk. Not likely, Valdis thought.

The college peers were quicker than the Daybreakers in saying their good byes, because Valdis had met none of them, and most had heard of his beating of Maria's mythology professor.

Then, when he thought all were done and he could finally go home and feed Gwen, Thierry returned, a surprisingly foreboding look in his eyes. Beyond him, Valdis saw Hannah waiting in the car, which was the last out of the lot.

"I just got a phone call," Thierry informed him icily.

"Good indication the batteries are working," Valdis told him politely, but still confused, as he jiggled Gwen in his arms.

"Why, again, did Kyros and Winnie miss the funeral?" he prompted. Valdis was mildly alarmed, and struggled to remember what alibi Maria had cooked up for those two.

"Um…something about…emergency…" Even Gwen laughed at her father's panicked expression. If only Gwendolyn knew that it was impossible to remain calm when the Daybreak leader get that look on his face.

"It's been reported that one of my planes has been stolen from my hangar in Boston."

"You should invest in locks then."

"My men had been knocked out with sleeping serums, and then bound and gagged."

"Those robbers are anything if thorough."

"By a witch and shifter."

"What a coincidence."

"Valdis!" Thierry's voice never raised, but there was a noticeable increase in anger. He hated to grill a man so newly vulnerable, but this was important. "Where are Winnie and Kyros?"

Finally, with both the steely gaze of the Elder, and the expectant gaze of Gwendolyn, Valdis sighed in defeat. "Damned Clan Island," he murmured. Thierry swore savagely and rushed back to his car.

"What's the matter? What's happened?" Hannah asked, concerned.

"I'm going back to the Island. We'll go to the hangar as planned, but you'll wait for Nilsson to pick you up, while I fly out, okay?"

Of course it wasn't just okay, to be dropped off and abandoned like a sack of potatoes. But Hannah sensed that Thierry had proper reason for this calm fury and agreed softly.

~*~*~*~

There wasn't a speck of color any where. She had never noticed it before, maybe because she had always been in the thick of things, but the Damned Clan Island was eerily silent, and utterly blank. Nothing but the glittering hills of snow filled her vision. The sun was lost in the dull, white overcast. Even their tent and equipment were white.

"It would really suck if she wasn't there, wouldn't it?" she asked idly while he set them up.

"Yeah."

"But—"

"Be quiet. Do something besides bother me right now." There was nothing to see…until Kyros pointed out their target. He learned it was a convenient way to shut her up.

Winnie set down the binoculars but, as if she couldn't resist it, picked them up and looked through. She sat, freezing of course, at the entrance of the tent while Kyros built a fire in front of her.

"And why couldn't we sleep there after the Battle? That's the best castle I've ever seen!"

"Put all interior plans aside, Martha Stewart," Kyros answered. "Pre-Battle, it was on the Night World's side of the island. Post Battle…Thierry doesn't like it."

"And why not? Look at that architecture, the towers…the stained glass windows…"

"That's where some of the tortured went." Winnie looked at him blankly, waiting for him to continue. Kyros sighed and said, "You know, the traitors to the young Night World went here, right? Well, some was forced to barracks out in the cold, and some inside that castle."

"Well, who lived there?"

Kyros had obviously done his homework. "The ones in charge of them. Aradia said that it was better to be in the icy barracks than inside. If you were sent to the snow shanties, at least you got certain and probably quick death. But, if sent inside the castle…the only definite thing was long torture. Sometimes for years."

"And Thierry didn't let us stay there for that? Hell, I could have withstood a few ghosts."

"Thierry didn't want us to waste perfectly good, new tents. And he didn't like the history of that place. Plus, it was probably unstable years ago."

"Looks fine to me," Winnie contradicted, and looked through her binoculars again. "If I ever buy a house, I want one exactly like that. A white castle."

"You do realize that's a restaurant chain, don't you?" Winnie picked up a twig and flicked it to Kyros' forehead. "Any way, it was locked."

"How do you know? We were all training the second we arrived till the Battle." Kyros shook his head and laid down, the cold not affecting him. They both watched as his tobacco smoke hung, and seemingly froze in the air before disappearing.

"Thierry sent me to investigate it…I came earlier than expected," he explained. "Me and Nissa came a few days early. So me and her was supposed to see if any weapons could be collected, but it was locked. We couldn't even break in the door."

"You and Nissa went to the Night World side of the island? She never told me that." He shrugged. The name was only said twice, but it was the first time he purposely mentioned his girlfriend to any one else, in a steady conversation.

"Let's go to sleep," he suggested tersely after dinner. "We're going to try and break in tomorrow morning."

"But, if you and Nissa couldn't, what makes you think we can?" she called to him after she entered the tent. Kyros remained outside, extinguishing, and burying the fire.

"Because, you know magic… I'm gonna go check around, okay?" Without waiting for her consent, Kyros walked away and decided he was going to enjoy the snow the best way he knew how. A few feet from the camp site, he shifted. A large snow white fox began bounding towards nowhere, so fast there was no time to leave tracks in the snow.

Then he stopped, and sniffed the ground. Numb, but not from the cold, he shifted back to his two legged form. Here was where Nissa died. Here was where they had found her body, but left it to save the others. She was gone, long gone, and properly buried…but he could still see her, strangely enough. The beautiful vampire was still with him, and he could still see her hard expression while fighting, eyes flamed…just as Maria's had been. Maria had been just as fiery, just as tough.

He missed them. The sun finally sunk below the horizon, abandoning them to darkness. He missed them.

They would have not wanted another fiery gaze to die. Kyros' mind was now torn between the women who should have been alive, and the one just a few miles off who still was.

~*~*~*~

Yet the light of a whole life dies,

When the love is done."

Francis William Bourdillon

That was mean of me. I didn't even warn you, like I did with Jared. I'm sorry. If you'd like an explanation, just ask in your review. Please be kind. I think I've run out of chocolates and money.