Chapter Six – False Comforts

The room was dark. The sole occupant, a boy no older than eight or nine, had no fear of this absence of light. Two things were protecting him from any evil, closet-dwelling creatures of the night that might bear him ill will.

The first was enveloping him warmly, a large thick comforter that he snuggled under in his bed. For every young person knows the sanctity and talismanic powers that rest in bed-covers. They have the ability to block even the most determined wicked things when hidden under, especially when printed with a brightly colored Spiderman pattern.

The second was 5'6", slender, and currently leaning against his bedroom doorframe.

"We've got to get him out of here," she whispered, unsure if she was informing the person across the room, or herself. "It's not safe anymore," she continued, never taking her eyes off the young boy sleeping peacefully in his bed. Long blonde lashes rested gently on soft pink cheeks, one hand curled innocently under a chin that appeared small and fragile now, but held the promise of strength; a shadow of the man the boy was to be.

Talan moved to stand behind her, resting one hand gently on her shoulder. "There's nowhere we can go where they won't already be," he said quietly. It was harsh, but it was reality. Even as hard as they fought, the vampire population seemed to be spreading. They were gaining power and influence everywhere. Nowhere was safe. "Nowhere," he repeated to himself in a whisper.

"There's one place," Andi said, just as softly.

He seemed to understand almost immediately. "Andi, you can't be serious!" He exclaimed. "Taking him to Hogwarts would be just as dangerous. Think about it. You'd be saving him from one threat, just to toss him into another one!"

"What choice do I have?" She hissed, turning to face him. "At the moment I'm much more worried about the vampires catching up to him than anything A-KAD can throw at us."

As her eyes flicked across his face, searching for any sign that he disagreed, she sighed and her gaze softened. "Look," she said more gently, resting a hand against his cheek, "A-KAD has been after me for seven years now, and they haven't managed to catch up yet." She flashed him a wry smile, then her face tightened as she continued. "But something… something is happening with the vampires. We've still got the youngest scattered and scared, but what about the Elders and the Covens? Something is changing. I know you can feel it too. They're still wary of us, but it's not fear so much anymore as… hate…" The last word was a mere whisper, a soft echo of her palm sliding from the side of his face. She turned and took a few steps deeper into the living room, arms coming around to hug herself. "They're getting ready to turn against us and make a stand Talan, together… as one. Merlin only knows where they're getting the courage… or the leadership. But I can feel it. I know it's happening. And if I can't stop it, how can I even hope to be strong enough to protect Dade?"

Talan's strong arms slipped around her from behind, his hard chest pressed into he back. She slipped her arms over his and tilted her head back against his shoulder, eyes closed, breathing in his familiar scent, taking in the comfort he offered. "It's going to be alright," he whispered, but the promise sounded empty, even to himself.

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Hundreds of miles away, a man with a long silver beard turned away from a cold, empty fireplace and returned a crystal orb to its place on a wooden shelf.

Turning with a tired sigh, Albus Dumbledore waved his hand and willed a crackling fire to life.

The Order would have to be informed. The meeting next week would have to be soon enough.

With weary steps he made his way across the room to where Fawkes was perched. Raising one hand he stroked the bird's golden feathers.

Things, it seemed, were only going to get worse…