Chapter Three - The Rain

The helicopter touched down gently on a designated platform somewhere on the edge of Las Vegas. Five sets of feet jumped out onto the cement - one after another - and lead by Keller, marched towards the mansion stretched out before them.

The sensation of grass beneath her feet was a welcome change Lexa crossed the glittering green, smelling of fresh spring rain. She spent too much time in the city; the wolf inside her longed to run wild across the countryside and through the trees, beneath the shining moon and stars. However, amongst people and cars, it wasn't safe and Lexa was required to burry her natural urges along with her bones like any domestic dog. But here, things were different and tonight she hoped to dig everything all up and release herself from human thought, worry, and fear and just run, like there was nothing else.

Beryl, meanwhile, hadn't closed her mouth since she'd been told of the existence of the Nightworld. Thankfully, she'd taken it well and seemed to understand and except Lexa's reasons for not telling her sooner. However, now she wanted to know everything and anything at all related to the Nightworld or Circle Daybreak and had Winnie to explain it to her. The two had been engaged in deep conversation until stepping back on solid ground and Beryl had taken one look at the magnificent building before them with its luscious surroundings - a sea of colour, dancing in the wind - and her mouth had frozen in a perfect circle. With wide eyes, she fought to take in all she could of the outside as they quickly approached the door, which would no doubt lead to something even more spectacular.

Beryl had never seen anything so rich. She'd never had much money and had lived all her life in the same place, amongst the working class people of Boston. She'd had a regular, uneventful life which had suddenly been turned upside down and she felt almost like she was stumbling around inside a dream. Excitement bubbled inside her and she beamed brightly as Keller's hand turned the door handle.

The heavy, wooden doors opened and all five stepped inside to be greeted by a young shapeshifter with shoulder length, brown-grey hair and twinkling amber coloured eyes. She was smiling, with her hands clasped behind her back; she looked professional, but childishly so, like a trained toddler standing before them.

"Hi," she said in a sweet, young voice. "I'm Lupe. Welcome to the Daybreak Mansion."

Beryl exchanged a quick glance with Lexa, who could see the joy and wonder in her face. She smiled and replied, "Thanks, I'm Lexa and this is Beryl. It's nice to meet you."

"Great place!" Beryl exclaimed, causing Lupe to giggle.

"Thierry would love to hear you say that," Lupe replied, brushing back a strand of hair which had fallen before her eyes. "He worked very hard on it."

Thierry Descouedres, the first made vampire and Lord of Circle Daybreak. Lexa had imagined what it would be like to meet him; what an honour it would be. Lexa supported everything Circle Daybreak fought for: peace and harmony between both humans and Nightworlders. Looking at Beryl, she knew how possible it was.

As Lexa floated in her own thoughts, she didn't notice two figures walking towards them until an odd silence fell over her and she looked up. A young man with white blonde hair and a wise, tired expression stood beside a beautiful woman with long, fair hair, cool grey eyes and a birthmark on left cheekbone. Around her, everyone seemed to look up to them with a deep appreciation and admiration while Lexa gazed up in curiosity and confusion.

Beryl had figured it out before she had and Lexa bit back her embarrassment when she finally reached the correct conclusion.

Thierry welcomed them all with a polite nod of this head while Hannah Snow, his soulmate, smiled. "Keller, Winnie, Nissa…you are excused," he said, softly. "Oh, and well done. That was some good work today." The three girls smiled and waved Lexa and Beryl goodbye before walking off.

"Sir, this is Lexa and Beryl," Lupe explained, once they had disappeared.

Thierry nodded, looking down at them. "Would you please join me?" He finally asked, staring hypnotically into Lexa's eyes.

Lupe gave Lexa a little nudge on the arm. "Come on…" She said and began walking, as did Thierry, Hannah and Beryl. They moved slowly and silently through the wide, white corridors, admiring the beautiful, yet professional decoration until they came to a white painted door on the right hand side. Thierry turned the handle and gestured for the two young women to enter. With a final reassuring smile from Lupe, Lexa followed Beryl inside.

Now they were in a large office with a desk at the far end and book shelves lining the walls. It looked peaceful and quiet, like a study, and Lexa imagined Thierry spending hours in this room, reading or thinking. She gazed around, taking it all in as he took his seat behind the desk.

"Please, sit…" Both obeyed and sat down opposite him. Hannah was with them, clutching Thierry's hand and Lexa could feel the love between them like a pulsing wave, flooding out from their simultaneous beating hearts. It was painful to witness and never before had Lexa felt so alone, but it didn't show.

He took a deep breath and Lexa felt her heart speed up. The expression on his face didn't fill her with much confidence and she could see Beryl felt the same; they both waited, silent and still. Lexa's mind suddenly filled with questions: what did he want to speak to them for? Did he know what was going on? How bad was it going to be?

"Alright," Thierry began, "let me explain…you are here because my team picked you up. They picked you up because you were under attack for reasons unknown to us by someone we've been trying to catch for a very long time. Now, this individual doesn't go after people for no reason. Someone wants you and I don't know why…do you have any idea why that man was chasing you?"

Beryl and Lexa both searched their minds for a possible explanation while both Thierry and Hannah watched their expressions closely. After a moment, Beryl shook her head.

"I can't think of anything I could have done," she said. "The only thing is, Lexa…she's a Nightworlder and the rules say that she's not allowed to tell a human about the Nightworld. Well, what if they, like, thought she did and wanted to kill us to protect their secret?"

Thierry nodded but he didn't look convinced. He turned to the other young woman seated across from him. "Lexa?"

The wolf looked up. Once more, she searched her memories and found nothing strong enough which would give someone a reason to hunt her down. "Maybe it was random?" She suggested eventually.

Thierry shook his head. "No…I know this individual, the vampire who attacked you…he never strikes without reason." They all felt themselves sink; with no clues or strong possibilities, they had very little to go on. "Oh well…" He said eventually, a weak smile appearing on his face. "Try not to worry and in the meantime, we'll keep you here until we know it's safe. Is that alright?"

Both nodded, Beryl with enthusiasm but Lexa had another question on her mind. "What about our apartment?" She asked.

Hannah answered this one and it was the first time any of them had heard her speak. "We already have people down there and your things will be here shortly." She smiled and her clear, grey eyes shone brightly.

Both Lexa and Beryl thanked them before Lupe was called to show them to their rooms, two beautiful spaces next to each other with a door connecting them. Beryl headed straight for the double bed and Lexa watched in amusement as she leapt up and down while ordering up a plate of strawberries and running her first bath in two years.

Returning to her own room, Lexa headed out onto the balcony where she raised her face to the moon and let the drips of rain splatter and run down her cheeks. The air was cool, fresh and clean, smelling sweet like the flowers born again after winter. And that night, she ran wild through the trees and across the grassy fields, allowing herself only to be, never before feeling so free or so alive. Falling onto her bed, Lexa slept more soundly than she had in a very, very long time.