Chapter Seven

            Nicholas and Christopher just stared at each for a moment as Kasandra sat in front of them.

            "Is that a threat Kassandra?" Christopher asked quietly.

            Kassandra smirked for a moment.

            "It's more then just a threat boys. It's another plan. I have insurance if you don't join me. So I suggest you do."

            "What are you talking about?" Nicholas asked, getting nervous.

            "Well... those two young ladies in the hall... I'd have to be blind not to notice how much you care for both of them."

            "You leave them alone!"  Christopher shouted at Kassandra, who was still sitting in her chair.

            Kassandra just shook her head again, and started to laugh.

            "You two are so damned funny! You think you can stop me? Do you really?" Kassandra stood now, and snapped her fingers.

            Instantly two heavily muscled men came in, one holding Nissa, and the other holding Sarah. Both were struggling, but were silenced as they saw Nicholas and Christopher, their eyes pleading for help.

            It was all to clear that Nissa and Sarah had been caught on their was out, in case Nicholas and Christopher refused to team up with Kassandra. They had been set up.  

            Christopher turned helplessly to look at Nicholas. Nicholas clenched his fists, and looked at the ground.

            "What do you want us to do first Kassandra?"

                                                            **************
            Kassandra left the home of Kristopher and Nikolas, two of the most feared vampires in the world of the damned, completely in control of them, and headed for a place that was also stunned the vampiric community back into their homes. Midnight.

                                                            ***************

            Christopher stormed out of the study, and did something rash, hoping to gods that had long been banished from his mind, that he would not regret it later.

            "Risika... I need you, where are you?"

            The ancient vampiress responded clearly in his mind, her power shocking him.

            "Kristopher? What can I do for you?"

            "Please... warn Jessica and Aubrey of what has occured. I've been told that you're helping them."            

            "Yes, thought unwillingly as my assistance is, I don't believe that any of us are really ready for Kassandra's plan. It will be too foreign to our world. Sheer chaos will rule supreme."

            "Really?" Christopher couldn't help but humor her for the moment. "I have heard the rumors that you have acquired a mate."

            Christopher could feel the blow of shock that he had inflicted upon Risika.

            "What is his name?" Christopher pushed further.

            "I do not have time for this! Good day Kristopher!" Risika snapped, and retreated from his mind.  

            "So Kassandra was right..." Christopher murmered... "Dear old Risika has found one to love..."

                                                **************

            Aubrey paced the room, as Jessica sat on the bed, and listened to the ramblings of the vampire that Aubrey had called to assist them.

            "Aubrey... the first thing she will do is gather her elite members. She will have some of those gather her more fighters. Some will begin to impose threats by killing lesser vampires. And some will bring her humans to devour by the hour! We must destroy her now! Before she gets stronger!" One of the vampires named Erik persuaded.

            Erik from what Jessica had gathered, knew Aubrey from when they were both mortal. From the sounds of it they had both been changed at around the same time, but had lost touch over the years- er decades? It was clear that they had been good friends though once.

            "But is our side strong enough to take on Kassandra yet?" Aubrey roared, pounding on the abused table that had sat before them now, for the entire night and now the day.

            The third vampire in the room, sat in his chair, clutching his head, obviously suffering from a headache.

            "What we must do is gather as many allies before the day is over! Then tomorrow we must strike while Kassandra is weak!" the vampire named Daniel added.

            Jessica could tell that Daniel was not nearly as old as Erik or Aubrey. From what she could tell he was barely twenty years old in vampire years, not a great deal old, but what from Kassandra had done in eighteen...

            "That won't work! Haven't you herad the rumors?! Kassandra killed Siete! If she killed him, we may as well just join her and stab her in the back while no one is looking!" Erik yelled.

            "No," Aubrey protested. "Kassandra did not kill Siete. She believes she did, because she doesn't know who he really is."

            "How can she not know, that he may just be the Father of our kind?" Daniel demanded.

            "Siete raised her. Whatever he did not wish for her to learn, she did not learn. Siete wishes for her to think him dead at the moment, and dead she thinks he is. But he most certainly is not destroyed, out entire kind would have felt the moment of his destruction." Aubrey answered.

            Jessica just sat on the bed, mulling this all over in her mind, feeling guilty.

            Suddenly all the debates were interrupted as the door was thrown open. Everyone in the room froze.

            "Kassandra has Nikolas and Kristopher."

            "Bloody hell."

                                                *****************

            Night fell quickly upon Kassandra as she made her journey to Midnight. She needed to get into it silently without that oaf who now ran it realizing that she was there. From there, Kassandra would journey to the basement of Midnight, where the person she was searching for was being kept captive.

            It was almost too simple.

            Within the hour Kassandra was standing in front of the simple cell, that was made to hold the strongest of vampire.

            "Jeshickah..." Kassandra's voice slid out, cool and quiet.

            Jeshickah's head snapped up immediately.

            "Kassandra! It's so great to see you again!"

            "You don't look so wonderful in the circumstances... I've head you got into a spot of trouble." Kassandra answered, smirking a little.

            "Those bastards," Jeshickah spat. "I nurtured them, and then the next thing you know this blasted hunter is trying to stick his knife in my heart. I tore him to bits. But then Jaguar and his bitch hunter girlfriend trapped me down here on death row!"

            Kassandra nodded, listening.

            "I will free, if you do me one thing..."

            Kassandra quickly explained her entire plan to Jeshickah.

            "You are a genius." Jeshickah responded, smiling. "Of course. I would be honored to help in such a great journey."

            "Good." Kassandra answered. "The first thing we need to do is take over Midnight."      

Author's Note: Things are really starting to roll now... Email or review at vegetaztwin@hotmail.com. You can also join my mailing list at that email address.