A/N: I'm really really sorry I haven't updated in so long, and for the shortness of this chapter, but I've had major Writer's Block and I've just been getting sick right and left lately. I'll keep working on it, though.

Revelation

"Daddy!"

That's right: Daddy. The man who was supposed to have died in the 9/11 tragedy, and here he was sitting right in front of me. I stared at him for a moment longer, and he at me, until I made a squeaky sort of sound and rushed to him, laughing and crying at the same time. I couldn't believe it; my father was alive! How? How was it possible?

"How?" I croaked. "How is this possible?" Gerard – my father – held me closer still.

"Oh Ebony, is that really you?" he whispered. "It's wonderful to see you again, my little beauty."

"Daddy…" I croaked, then stopped, unable to say anything more.

"It's all right now," said Dad gently. "I'm here again. I'll never leave you ever again, I swear. As for how this is possible, well, I'm not sure exactly. Everything's a bit fuzzy. I remember being badly burned and having several broken bones. I crawled from the burning wreckage of the Towers, delirious, unable to remember who I was, where I was coming from, where I was going. Then I remember waking up in a hospital with no idea how I had gotten there or why I was there. When I saw the bandages and casts on my body, I screamed. I had to be restrained for a while, until I calmed down. I didn't remember anything; I had suffered severe head trauma during the attack. I guess I've been in the hospital this whole time; then Vlad came and found me a few days ago. Next thing I know, I'm waking up here, I remember everything, and I don't have a reflection anymore. I'm still not sure how it happened, but I don't care anymore. Sweetheart, I missed you so much." I hugged him again, still hardly able to believe it all. Everything I thought I had lost had returned to me.

"Oh Dad," I said softly. Then I rose slowly and looked back at Vladimir, who smiled at me. I smiled back as I approached him. I looked into his eyes for a moment before gently laying my hand against his cheek and pulling him close to me. My lips brushed his in a light, friendly kiss. "Thank you," I whispered. I turned back to my father with a broad smile. "There's someone I want you to meet, if I can find him."

"Ah, Damien?" Dad asked. I nodded. "Vlad's told me about him. I'd like to meet this young man who makes you so happy."

"I'm going to see if I can find him," I said, though I was loath to leave my father after so long thinking he was dead. Seeming to understand this, Dad smiled.

"I'll be right here waiting for you when you do," he said. I smiled at him and left, squeezing Vladimir's hand on my way out. Honestly I didn't even know where to start looking for Damien, but he had to meet my dad. I knew they'd get along well.

I searched for a good long time around the castle until I finally found the armory, and with it Damien. He was skulking in a corner, brooding, moody. I looked at him curiously. The 'Dark Blood', as it's called in Anne Rice's novels, hadn't changed him much. Then again, his appearance could have been termed 'vampiric' beforehand. I guess mine could've too. But I didn't really care about that at the moment. I smiled as I approached him. He looked up and jumped to his feet when he saw me.

"Ebony," he said in relief. "Oh thank god, I was afraid I was too late."

"Too late for what?" I asked, confused. "I wasn't in trouble."

"That's what he wants you to think," replied Damien, "but I don't think that's true. I don't trust him, Eb. Dracula wants you for something, and I'm just an accessory. He doesn't need me, and I think he'll try to get rid of me at the soonest chance."

"Damien, what are you talking about?" I asked with a small laugh. "Vladimir hasn't done anything to us. Damien, my father's alive because Vladimir saved him!"

"That just proves my point!" insisted Damien. "He's trying to gain your trust, though for what reason I don't know."

"Damien, you're not making any sense," I said with a frown. What was wrong with him? Couldn't he see we'd been given a great gift? Did he have something against Vladimir? Or was it…I gave a little laugh as I realized what it must be. "Oh Damien, do you think that Vladimir's going to come between us? I promise, that would never happen. We're still…friends, OK? Don't get so defensive."

"THAT'S NOT IT AT ALL!" howled Damien. I was startled, and I let him see it. Damien caught his breath and composed himself before saying, "That's not it. Ebony, I'm afraid of what he wants you for. You didn't hear what he said to me when he took me."

"Yes I did," I said gently. "I saw it all in a dream. He said I was his daughter because I was given life through his blood. He said he sensed a darkness in me that rivaled his own. I'm not afraid, Damien. You don't have to be either. He won't hurt us. Now, I really want you to meet my father. Come with me." I turned to leave.

"I love you."

I froze. Slowly I looked back at him over my shoulder. "What was that?" I asked softly, hardly able to hear my own voice.

"I love you," repeated Damien, coming towards me with his hands out in an almost desperate gesture. "I love you, and I don't want to see you get hurt. Please, Ebony, just think on it. I don't trust him."

I turned to face him fully now. "I love you too. But I truly don't think that Vladimir wants to harm either of us, or use us for some dark purpose. But I trust you, Damien. I'll be careful; I promise. All right?" Damien smiled and took me into his arms, stroking my hair lovingly.

"There's something more," he said softly. "When I was 'dead', if you will, and beginning to change, I saw something strange. I saw Dracula standing on the rooftop of a tall building and all around him was destruction and chaos, people running in fear, vampires ruling the streets. I saw a world ruled by Dracula and his undead hordes. And at his side was a wicked and beautiful sorceress-princess. She was evil and bloodthirsty, dangerously beautiful, manipulative and heartless. And she was you, Ebony. The destroyer of the world was you."