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I knew it had to be so. It had to be…but still, I almost fainted and had to lean against the pillar in question to keep my balance.

Mortanius laughed—a raspy sound, like leaves skittering across cobblestones. "Oh, yes. In fact, on this very date you were born, years ago."

"But it's not possible," I blurted out.

"It is entirely possible and it's the truth. While it is true that Guardians are forbidden to marry, some have relationships, and Anarcrothe was young and reckless then. Or rather, more reckless than he is now. Always the lone wolf, he wandered into Vasserbunde and met your mother. The two loved each other at first sight, or so it seemed. They met each other secretly under the shroud of nightfall, beneath the stars. When Anarcrothe discovered your mother was with child, he knew he couldn't provide for her, and fled. Some might say he was protecting his lover's life and that of his unborn child, but some might say—"

"He wanted no part of the responsibility," I finished. "I see."

"I imagine you do see now," Mortanius replied. "Your mother named you for the sea because that is where she met your father. Coincidentally, that was Anarcrothe's governing Element. Anarcrothe's pillar, The Pillar of States, and my own pillar, are both attuned to the Element of water."

"You have told me all I care to know about my past. Tell me, how did I get sent to the future?"

"Impatient, are we?" Mortanius advanced on me. Then, amazingly, he smiled. "That's good. Remember your fire. As long as you keep it burning, you will survive. But, yes. I believe you wished to know about Lucius? Very well."

I sighed. I felt restless again. My past, present, and future were up in the air. I was discovering things that I had preferred not to know about myself. Fear began to wrap around me like an icy gray cloak. A cloak I had to unfasten and throw away if I wished to survive the tumult ahead. The moon appeared brighter now. Even though the moon was beautiful to perceive, it could easily deceive. Should I believe Mortanius' words?

"Lucius was a member of the Sarafan Brotherhood, you know," Mortanius continued.

That information was certainly intriguing, but I digested it in silence. It was better if I didn't voice my opinions. I didn't want to give Mortanius any leads on how to manipulate me. If he wasn't already that is.

"Lucius, unfortunately, wandered away from his fellow soldiers. He encountered a vampire and became one himself. We believe it was Vorador, or that's what Moebius believes anyway."

"Was Lucius close to Moebius?" I asked, dreading the answer.

"Indeed. Lucius was like a son to Moebius, one of his most trusted pupils. Lucius knew he would be hunted down if he attempted to return to the Sarafan Stronghold or meet with Moebius, but strangely, the Time-Streamer already knew everything. Lucius was never seen again, but we always suspected he used one of Moebius' Time-Streaming Chambers to escape. Which is exactly what happened as it turned out."

Suddenly, I was struck with a profound inspiration. It hit me like lightening. "Lucius must have used the Time-Streaming Chamber to bring back the others—including myself."

Mortanius nodded slowly. "Yes. So many women, so many eras."

I was on a roll. Yes, it was all fitting together now. "Then, Lucius would turn them, and they wouldn't remember anything. And Lucius would always return to his mansion in his chosen time period."

"So you understand."

"More than I ever thought possible."

Mortanius stared off into the sky for a moment. Eventually, he returned my gaze with those two ghostly orbs of his. "You have a choice, Marina. You can stay here and live out the rest of your life as you see fit, the life that was stolen from you, as a vampire of course. Or, return to the future."

For a moment, I was silent. Suddenly, another thought floated in my foggy mind. "Couldn't I see my father? Just once?"

"I am sorry, Marina, but he wouldn't understand. He lives in Dark Eden far to the north with Bane and DeJoule, Guardians of Nature and Energy. They are closely allied with Moebius. Moebius would kill you one way or another and would never let you leave."

I tried not to let my disappointment show. But, surprisingly, Mortanius gave something of a smile at me. "You may not be able to see him in person, but I still can show you."

Then, an image flashed in front of my eyes. Mortanius was gone, and in his place was a man in a crushed purple velvet cloak with gold trim. His hood covered his face, but I could see small details. He had a light-colored beard and his cheeks were…scarred. I foolishly couldn't help noticing that we had the same nose.

I could see him measuring out unnameable substances and setting them on a set of gold scales that had been positioned on a rough wooden table. An alchemist at work. There was an iron cauldron bubbling and steaming beside him. And then the vision vanished as quickly as it had come and I was left staring at Mortanius' gaunt face.

"You must choose, Marina. Will you stay or return to whence you came?"

I didn't answer at first. I closed my eyes and saw…Kain. No. I couldn't risk it. Even though this world was more beautiful than Nosgoth's corrupt but inevitable future, I had to move on. My presence here would ultimately be known, and I might even distort future events. I would go.

"I shall leave," I replied smoothly.

"That is a wise decision," Mortanius said quietly. "I'll help transport you there."

"And why do you want to help me?" I asked for the first time.

Mortanius sighed before speaking in a halting tone. "There are many things that will come to pass that are…unpleasant. I know of Nosgoth's struggling present and eventual decline in its latter years. I want to help set affairs right. You are very special, Marina. The daughter of a Guardian turned vampire. If you have a greater purpose in this universe…so be it. You could become, or are, a key element."

Mortanius reached into the folds of his robes and produced a tiny device that could fit in the palm of your hand. It was constructed of black metal and had arcane runes in orange scribbled across its surface.

"This is a Time-Streaming Device. I stole it from Moebius. That bastard at least owes us something. All you need to do is clasp it in your hand and it will engage."

Hesitantly, I took it from him. I was still vastly puzzled about all this. Perhaps I could ask more questions—if Mortanius was willing to answer them, that is.

"Mortanius," I began.

I never got to finish my sentence. Mortanius' calm composure suddenly took a turn for the worst. He gasped and threw his body upright, as if trying to keep his footing.

"Go, Marina. Go now—before…"

Mortanius' body shuddered and a different light shone in his eyes for a flicker of a second. A sickly luminance that was—evil. Pure evil and full of hatred. And it was glaring right at me. Something was taking over Mortanius' body. Possessing him. A demon, perhaps. I didn't need to ponder over my situation this time; I just acted on instinct. I clasped the small Time-Streaming Device in my hand and I was off.

* * *

Instead of waking up in total darkness, everything was insanely bright. It was streaked across my eyelids. The thought occurred to me to plain not open my eyes. Every time I did, I was confronted with a new line of terrors. No matter. I would have to open them eventually. So I did, and once more was I shocked at my surroundings, even more so than the other places I had ended up in.

I found myself curled up on a circular floor that bore Moebius' infinity symbol. In fact, like the Time-Streaming Chamber, the entire room was circular and constructed entirely of jade marble shot through with shimmering gold. Violet jewels were set into every corner of the spectacular chamber.  Two steep flights of steps cut through three tall tiers. One side of the room was completely brass machinery, one on each level.

The machinery consisted of three metal dials with five different symbols worked into the stone beneath. Pointers shaped like swords acted as some kind of operating mechanisms.

In here, silence had a sound. It echoed off every elaborate surface. A hollow, eerie sound. The sound of…expectation. Like a predator before his fatal lunge.

I looked up and saw a brass pendulum with three prongs hanging over my head. Loops and wires coiled around it, with planets and other shiny orbs strung on them. And the globular ceiling above was a piece of the night sky itself.

This place is supposed to be a secret.

            And it was a secret. A secret I wouldn't be telling anybody about. Little did I know, this was the infamous Chronoplast; hidden behind the Oracle's Cave that had been occupied by Moebius himself when he took on the guise of a wise oracle.

            After a full minute of admiring the craftsmanship and infernal beauty of this mysterious place, I walked up a flight of steps and swung open the double doors that also bore Moebius' insignia.

            The hallways that loomed before me now were black streaked with icy white. Gold moldings ran along the space where the walls met the ceiling. Crystal lamps had been hung were perfectly spaced and diamond bright. It was like following a trail of gleaming seashells to the water's edge.

            The hallways were long, irregular, and uneven, I soon found out. They curved and coiled like a snake. Would I ever reach the end?

            I moved cautiously forward, my eyes darting this way and that. Searching for any demons, ghosts, or "old friends". I saw no one, but some thing caught my eye.

            I shuffled over to some kind of portal. It was black and impossibly large and deep. Deep enough to fall in. Inside, there were hundreds or even thousands of pin-pricks of light. Stars, maybe. I accepted that on a mystical note. Logic didn't seem plausible anymore.

As I stared into the void, a sense of serenity stole over me. I felt my eyes gradually go out of focus. My mind cleared as I swayed gently on my feet. It was then I realized the portal was pulsing. Moving.

            Slowly, an image began to form. As I watched, it began spread out to the edges. An image of the future. An image that couldn't be true.