"What do you mean, the Lycans did this?" Raze snarled under his breath. Xanatos rested a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder. After awhile, it always seemed to happen; the Lycans and the Vampires always managed to have a major fall-out over something. A young Vampire, having very recently been made part of the Council, was presenting his case. They were sitting on a panel to hear the evidence presented by this wet-behind-the-ears juvenile. Eric was sitting with his arms crossed, slouching slightly in his seat. His grey business suit with its white silk shirt and patterned tie made him seem every inch the businessman, although on any given night, Eric had been known to become very much more than the average nine-to-fiver. He looked the part of an ancient, though he was much younger than he appeared. Due to his grasp on politics, he had done admirably well at holding the rival factions together once his father had retired. Xanatos couldn't help but admire the lad's fair and objective approach to hearing the cases of his people. He handled it all with the most gentlemanly manner possible under the circumstances. Still, there were quite a few who treated him with less respect than he deserved, but whenever Michael returned, any unrest was always quickly set on the backburner. Eric's patience was waning thin, despite outward appearances. He was trying to think of a diplomatic way in which to word things that would temporarily gloss the issue over until his father could be there to help him come up with a more permanent resolution. Most of the unrest stemmed from a younger faction of Vampires, those who thought the new ideal of their elders was a sign of weakness. If Vampires had kept the Lycans as slaves before, they asked, why should the beasts be considered equals with them? In return, the young Lycans found the disregard for their elders a personal insult, one that couldn't be taken sitting down. If the rogue Vampires decided to fight, it could completely upset the delicate balance the Corvin family had tried so hard to maintain. One thing was certain, everyone still respected the Corvinus line's word as law. No one wanted to face the Hybrids in their full fury. Raze was seething, Eric knew. He disliked being insulted and would welcome the opportunity to put these young Vampires in their place. The only issue was, it would only seem to support the theory that the Lycans had taken an interest in attacking Vampires and the peace.

Xanatos knew the Vampire presenting the case, Roberto Gui. He had been turned nearly forty years past. He was younger than Eric, but he managed a cool manner which was inoffensive yet somehow infuriating. He was of Italian descent, and had managed to maintain that accent after several years of travelling from place to place as a vagabond before finally pitching himself for politics. His blue eyes were slightly slanted, and seemed to mock anyone he made direct eye contact with. This only served to make Raze even angrier than before.

"While I do understand your theory has its roots, Roberto, I will request a recess of three days to form a team and handle the investigation of this matter. Your information has been eye opening. Rest assured these claims, as well as all other leads we receive, will not go without being investigated." Eric's smooth dismissal was as neutral as he could make it. Eric, however, severely mistrusted Roberto and the so-called Royal Dark faction, the young Vampires who wished to return to the old ways. He was convinced that the faction could have committed the attack themselves to stir up trouble. Roberto bowed in what appeared to be a humble fashion, but there was something arrogant in the way his shoulders were held proudly erect. As he left, the audience which had assembled to watch the presentation of evidence followed, leaving Eric sitting in his seat. Raze let out a growl of distaste, but said nothing further.

"I know, my friend. We'll figure out who was behind these attacks on my sister."

"Why her?" Xanatos mused aloud.

"Because she's the easiest target. They think because she's been sheltered from court she won't know how to defend herself. But above all, the attackers know our family well. Elise is our little star, the one person every member of my family looks after and protects. They've realised that by attacking Elise, they are making an attack on the heart of our family." Eric sighed. "I just hope she doesn't do anything brash. She threatened to prove herself on the phone, and if I know Elise, she's not going to just threaten. She too much like our mother to sit there and take this lying down." Raze nodded his agreement. "Raze, phone Kaman and have him give me a report on Elise's injuries. Surely the doctor should have seen her by now. Xanatos, find out where my parents are and give me an estimated time of arrival."

Elise carefully surveyed the property before going in for a closer look. After a sweep of the perimeter, she could find no one present. The house looked like a hollowed-out shell, the rear wall completely gone, the top floor collapsed onto the main level. She had never conducted an investigation before, but her intuition told her she should start by looking for some form of triggering mechanism on the front doorstep. Aside from the fire crew, there had been no one else around, as far as she had gathered from overhearing Michael brief her mother. She approached cautiously. There were tire tracks running in odd directions across what had once been the front lawn. She could see the distinctive, heavy ruts of the fire truck tires, and the spot where her father's car had pealed away down the gravel. Another set of tire tracks led away from the scene, one which she could not readily identify, but assumed most likely belonged to the second car that her tail used to follow them. She cocked her gun, not believing herself in any danger but needing the comfort of being prepared. Her heightened senses stretched out, her hearing sharpening to catch any miniscule or unfamiliar sound. Kneeling on the steps, she could see Kaman's blood spread out over the stones in a congealed, black pool. She tapped the stones lightly first, wondering if it was pressure from above that had triggered the bomb. Upon finding nothing, she turned her attention above. In one corner was the security camera usually used to monitor the front of the house while she was in class. In the other corner was a small, black object with a burnt-out LED light. Her eyes followed a thin wire around the corner of the door jamb and out of sight. If this was the trigger, as she suspected, Kaman would have had no chance of checking the premises before hand. As soon as the small trip had sensed motion, the bomb had been triggered.

Using common sense, she wisely decided against entering a possibly unstable structure and returned to thinking. If the back side of the building had been destroyed, she mused, then the bomb must have been set somewhere in the rear of the house. As she got to her feet, a warm breath caressed the back of her neck. "Hello," a masculine voice said amicably. Elise wheeled, cocked gun pressing straight into the young stranger's temple. He had medium-length, platinum-blond hair. In appearance, he was not unlike her brother. That alone made her falter. "If I was going to attack you, don't you think I'd have done it by now? You were so engrossed in what you were doing, I just walked right up to you." Elise, slightly annoyed, lowered her weapon and returned the safety to a locked position. Pushing her hair back from her face, she turned to face him. He smiled crookedly at her, green eyes filled with mirth. He couldn't have been more than twenty. "Who are you?" she finally asked, trying her best to sound authoritative.

"Detective Gabriel Ericson, Miss." He leaned casually against one of the four massive pillars. "I could be asking you the same. What do you know about this?"

"I'm a friend of the homeowner. I just came to check on her…I do hope she's all right," she lied swiftly.

"You seem a little jumpy. Are you all right?"

"Fine, thanks."

"Who owns this house?"

"Miss Lynn Haverly." She said nothing more, sticking the gun in its holster under her jacket for safe-keeping.

"What's your name?" Elise regarded him for a moment. He was definitely human, that much she could tell. He didn't smell of blood, and he was outside as the sun was rising. That small fact made her even more nervous. Her mother had been concerned she might be sensitive to the sun. Still, she felt fine. There was no reason to lie to an officer.

"Let me see your badge, then I'll tell you." He fished in the back pocket of his pants, coming out with a wallet. He flipped it open to reveal his badge.

"Elise. Elise Corvin."

"Want to tell me why you're carrying a gun, Elise Corvin?"

"I'm a young woman walking outside alone at dawn!" she snorted. "I should think that's reason enough."

"Okay, fair enough. I assume by the way you handle that you've had some formal training. I'll operate under the assumption your parents are registered gun owners." Elise only nodded. "What are you doing out here by yourself?"

"There you are, Miss Elise, your brother sent me looking for you!" A third voice interrupted. "When Eric found out Kaman was looking for you…" It was Raze, looking every inch a hired bodyguard. He stopped speaking as soon as he noticed the detective. His deep voice caused Elise to jump, but she played off her nervousness quite well.

"I didn't mean to frighten anyone, Raze. I thought I'd stop by Lynn's for a visit when I found this…" She gestured meaningfully at the house, trying to keep the stinging tone from her voice.

"You'll be late for school," he answered in his best patronizing tone. "Your mother's been worried."

"I couldn't sleep," she said with a shrug. "I'd better go home and get dressed. Good luck, Detective." She realized her cheeks were burning with embarrassment. She'd been proven a child in front of a very good-looking young man. She was extremely angry.

"Wait, I'm not finished asking you…" He reached out to grab her shoulder, but Raze stepped in between them.

"She doesn't know anything. Good luck, Detective." Raze turned and followed her, pointing judiciously at his car.