While screaming raged on within the walls of his home, Julian Luna sat with his head in his hands. This was not how it was supposed to be. Sydney was supposed to stay until it was safe, then go on and live a full and healthy human life. She wasn't supposed to be relegated to a life of bloodletting and hiding. She wasn't supposed to have to play the games of the Masquerade.

He listened to the muffled echoes of Sydney's screams and wondered if it would have been better to let her die. She had been given a life that she never wanted, one that she was adamantly against. Her rage was so strong that it might have been easier for all to just let her die on the steps of the mansion. To just throw San Francisco into a heightened version of the war that he was already set to proclaim.

But, then again... she was still there. She was free now, whether she wanted it or not, and Julian had to wonder if he would have done the same thing. Could he have watched her die? Could he have held her body and felt the last bit of life drain from her without the instant reaction to refill her? Cash said that he had considered all options before Embracing her, but Julian didn't think that he would have been quite so thoughtful.

Yet, the anger was still there. Mixed with the sorrow of the human life lost, he wanted to tear the place apart with his fury. It shouldn't have been done. Kindred law was to not kill humans unless necessary for it endangered the Masquerade. Julian's law was to not Embrace without permission. As unliked as his ruling may have been, it was necessary to keep the Kindred from taking over, to help reinforce his powerbase. He didn't need any clan filling its ranks to rise up against him. Unpopular as the law may have been, it was the right thing to do.

But what was the right thing with Sydney? Was it fair to give her this life she didn't want? After seeing what it did to Alexandra, he had vowed to never Embrace another without them fully understanding what they were doing, without them wanting it. He wouldn't let it happen in his city. But now it had, and selfishness at being able to have this last relative with him for eternity could easily override the anger that she didn't get to live, that the Luna line would not live on in humanity.

"She's not lost, Julian." Morgana knelt in front of him and put her hands on his knees. "She's Gangrel, and as angry as all of you are right now, you know that Gangrel is on your side. You know she won't be turned against you."

Slowly, Julian lowered his hands. His palms were streaked with the blood tears that trailed from his eyes. "He was supposed to protect her, Morgana. I was supposed to protect her."

"And you both did your best. Cash is your bodyguard, and as much as you may not like to here this, your life comes first. He can't be in two places at once, and for the majority of the night, you needed him. You can't go to meetings with Brujah alone, and as your enforcer, Cash must be there."

"Dave is not Eddie Fiori. I wouldn't have needed him."

"Dave may not be Fiori, but the others are still Brujah. If tonight does nothing else, it shows that this war is close. That the warnings we gave did not encompass everyone, did not threaten enough. We have no idea how many others there may have been within the clans, and we could have all been easily taken down."

"One Gangrel primogen would not have been enough. At least Sydney would have been safe."

"Oh, Julian." Morgana pushed herself to her feet and walked to the window. She pressed her hand to the glass as she stared outside. "Do you really think they would have let her or Cash live had you been killed? Do you think any of us will survive when you go?"

"This should not be!" Julian sprung to his feet. Blood still leaked from his glowing eyes. "He had a choice!"

"That's right!" She turned to him with her own bright eyes. "He had a choice, and he made it! Do not fool yourself, Julian. It is the same choice that you would have made. For all of the love and sanctity you have for her human life, you would not have watched her die! You will not bring us all down with your grief! With this insult!"

"This is an insult to us all!" He stormed across the room and stared down at her. "This is an insult to all who show me allegiance. This undermines my power, Cash's power, and in the end, yours because believe me, dear Morgana, the person behind this revolt will not allow you to stay in power."

"And how do you know that I am not like Lillie in that respect? That I will not concede to the victor? That I will not do whatever is necessary to remain Toreador primogen?"

Julian grabbed her wrists and jerked her close to him. His hands slid roughly down her arms and over her shoulders. He let his stroke fall over her breasts until his hand covered her slowly beating heart. He bent his head and licked her neck before raking his teeth over her skin, just over her jugular. "Because I know your heart," he whispered, "and you would not betray me."

Morgana shivered at his touch. She pushed her hands against his chest, sliding them down. "And I know your heart," she said, hovering over his heart. She turned her face up to kiss him, then pushed him back far enough to stare up into his face. "So do not tell me that you would have let her die, because as much as I know that I lie within this muscle, so does she. Your love would not have allowed you to watch her die."

He turned away and dropped his head. "She didn't want this, Morgana. I didn't want this for her."

Morgana walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. She pressed her head to his back and sighed. "We don't always get what we want. The both of you... all three of you... will have to deal. And in the midst of all of that, you must stay strong, becasue war is upon us, and no matter how far off we would have liked to put it, that can no longer be done." She stood up and turned him to face her. As she ran her fingers through the blood on his face, she told him, "The time to kill has come, Julian, and all I wonder is who will bleed the Gangrel clan first. You, Cash... or Sydney."