*If you're one of the ten people that actually read the old chapter 3 before it was taken down, you should read it again since I went and retconned some big parts. Talked with Sari and it really needed it.

-:-:-:-

The ritual at the beginning of the war council proceeded as usual. The red shimmer spread from the drop of Father's blood out towards the edges of the pool as always. The water turned black and nothing happened. There was a long silence in the war chamber as we waited and waited. None of us had seen this happen before. Sometimes Ava and Bram had to be engaged in combat during rendezvous, but never complete darkness.

"P-perhaps he is resting?" One cultist stammered.

"At the rendezvous time?"

Count Sakisabe's hands trembled, making him fumble the small crystal vial. He caught it and clutched it close to his chest, knuckles white. It was the first time I had ever seen him remotely frightened.

Just then the black water shifted and and image slowly appeared, as if the viewer were just waking. All that could be seen was a long hall, lined with pillars and torches. A figure came into view. A human man with an angular face and long black hair styled out of his face. He wore a white cloak that was designated only to the high ranking officers of the Order. The organization of vampire hunters that protected the country of Seireitei.

"What's a hunter doing there!? Where are they?!" The count bellowed with fury.

"Who are you?" Father's voice sounded through the long chamber.

The man said nothing as his blade glinted and slashed. There was a grunt and the view became violent and shaky before refocusing.

"Interesting," The stranger said. "Is this your vampire blood magic?"

There was no reply.

"It would appear that you can use it to harden your skin and muscle to the point that my blade cannot penetrate your flesh. No matter, we know your secret. You are a bit too far from your beloved and her blood I'm afraid." He gestured to the far end of the hall. It was hard to see at first, but as Bram focused his vision they could all see Ava, stripped of her armor and chained to a pillar. Father must have been in a similar position.

"I imagine the longer you go without her blood the softer your neck will become, we know your secret. I'll be back later." He turned to leave.

"Where...are we?" Bram asked. Though now his focus was not on the man, but instead on Ava with her pale hair tinged with blood and hanging tangled around her face.

"Oh you do not recognize it? This is the Order safehouse, about a days walk from the capitol. Your forces razed it but just a few days ago. Killing over one hundred of our hunters. My name is Ginrei Kuchiki, captain of the Sixth Division and I am here to see that you pay for your crimes."

"Poww and Parduoc…" Bram growled. "We were suspicious we had bad intel from Barragan infiltrators. The Order was never meant to be caught up in this war."

"It doesn't matter what your intentions were, or if you were fooled by Barragan. The Order of Seireitei and Hueco Mundo have several treaties and ordinances in place that keep the tenuous peace. We have no jurisdiction in these borders unless there is a direct attack on our people. One hundred probably means nothing to you monsters, but to us not a single life can be ignored, let alone hundreds." Ginrei turned to leave again. "I will return when you have weakened."

Chaos erupted in the war room, I was basically stunned and Cirucci pulled me from the throng of red cloaked figures shouting and arguing over what to do next. The count did not leave the pool for a full week, constantly checking on my parents who were mostly blacked out, unable to feed and weakening every night. The count was convinced that one of the several vamps they had recruited along the warpath would surely fix this and had the cultists stay put. There was nothing we could do but wait and watch. I spent several days in a row just staring at the ceiling of the library, completely lost on what was happening or what was to come. Everything had been going fine, how could they fall to such a misstep? How had humans captured such legendary fighters? Until one night Gin smacked me right in the face with his book and giggled when I shouted and grabbed my face. I rubbed my cheek and sighed, poking his nose. "You're right, Gin. Moping won't help anyone right now."

I switched my focus and dug around for more information on the Order. I was aware of them, but had no particular interest in Seireitei or it's politics. It seemed to be a country with a monarchy and nobility who handled most governing. But vampire attacks were so frequent their vampire hunter organization became a major influence and might as well have been the second government as many noble houses held high positions in their ranks. I even found a small mention of the Kuchiki house and had to restrain myself from burning the book. I looked up more information on hunters and it seemed there were two types. The Order's hunters who mostly fought with Gifts and only killed vampires that violated the laws protecting humans. Then there was the Quincy. A smaller group who fought with mostly common weaponry and wanted to eradicate all of us.

There was little development from the war room, but the hunter came to check frequently on their status and posted guards when he wasn't present. Until one day the count shouted for everyone down the caverns and we came running. Just as I arrived I saw them hunter and his sword.

I felt the pit of dread open in my gut. The enormous realization that I would never speak with my mother or father ever again came down on me like a waterfall. Nothing was going to happen to change that.

Ginrei raised his blade and from the surface of the water father muttered his last words.

"I am sorry Ava. I am sorry Sousuke."

The pool went black.

I did not look up, but I could feel a dozen pair of eyes upon me. In my dazed state I grasped that I would have time to weep later. I looked up and stared at the count straight in the eye.

"Show me my mother's vision," I commanded.

The count opened his mouth to say something, but instead appraised me for a moment then turned to the chest of vials. The surface rippled with blood and my mother's point of view appeared.

Ginrei was already approaching, bloody blade raised. I felt dizzy and clung to the edge of the pool to keep my composure.

"Oh goodness Captain Kuchiki you're alright!" A soft voice suddenly said. A woman with long braided ebony hair and another white cloak of a captain appeared. He turned to look at her, lowering his sword.

"Captain Unohana, what are you doing all the way out here?"

"Apologies for the intrusion, we did not get any response back confirming suppression of the dhampir threat. I made it here as fast as I could, fearing the worst."

"The messenger ravens were intercepted? That is unusual, thank you for making haste, but everything is under control."

"If I may, I would like to examine them before they perish. Dhampir exceedingly rare and I know you cannot bring them back alive for study."

"You will have to make do with the one that remains. Take your time, it is not as if they are about to run off." Ginrei said, leaving the chamber. As soon as he left the new woman ran up and placed a hand on Mother's cheek.

"Ava, can you speak? Can you move?" She asked with terror in her eyes.

"Dear little Retsu is that you?" My mother's voice was now a shadow of the beautiful laughing timber she always had before.

The captain's eyes glistened with tears as she smiled.

"I didn't think you would recognize me after fifteen years. I'm so sorry I didn't make it sooner. We can talk later, we have to move quickly." She said, disappearing from view, supposedly to break the restraints.

The count scoffed, drawing my attention from the scene. "It's that slave! But how? What is going on?!"

I looked up at him confused, but back at the pool as my mother spoke.

"Listen carefully Retsu, do you remember where the manor is?"

"Roughly, why?" Unohana asked followed by the sound of chains carefully being eased to the stone floor.

"Our little boy is still there waiting for this war to end. Well, I'm afraid that time is about now. Promise me you'll take him away somewhere safe from Barragan and teach him everything we could not?"

"Ava I...yes I mean I could, but you're coming with me. Don't talk like this is over."

"Even if you bring me some of Bram's blood right now I might regain some strength but…" The vision blurred with tears as she blinked, trying to focus on the corpse in the distance. "I'm never going to be whole again. Our followers, our son, I can't be their beacon. Not any more."

"You have to try, Ava! He wouldn't want you to throw your existence away! Forgive me but we need to leave now!" the captain yelled, pulling off the last of the chains.

The image on the water became turbulent as she fell and we heard Ginrei's voice again.

"What in the-?! You clumsy commoner how did she get out?!" The man reappeared in Ava's field of vision, blade drawn.

The scene that followed was such indiscernible chaos we didn't even hear if Mother had any final words before the pool went black. Then we all fell silent.

We waited.

And waited.

The water remained black. My eyes felt hot. I went to rub them and felt wet tears start to fall. In her very last moments Mother had thought of me and sent this strange woman to come save me from this place. And nearly a moment later I had no idea if this woman would survive to find me. I was in an absolute daze. Then I noticed everyone staring at me.

I suddenly felt furious. If they had acted when we had the chance, maybe none of this would have happened. Deep down in my core I wanted to kill them all. I cursed my own weakness then remembered the one ace in my sleeve.

This was definitely not when I expected to pull this stunt, but an opportunity as choice as this one would probably never come again. Honestly if I hadn't been practicing my Curse illusions for months already, I don't think it would have worked under such duress, I had to put away my grieving for later.

I steeled myself a moment, focusing only on the sensation of my heartbeat. I needed a clear focus to alter more than one sense at a time. They saw ripples began to form across the water and a breeze began to blow about my hair and clothes. I stumbled back from the pool and threw my head back, the fake wind now sending my hair upwards as my eyes filled with violet light. At the last second I went ahead with the wings of black flame and made it appear I was using them to rise into the air. Keeping the sound of roaring flames going at the same time as my altered voice would be difficult, but I had to go all in on this gamble. The audible gasp that responded through the room was music to my ears.

"I was hoping to see great things for those two, what a pity." My altered voice resounded with the divine voice I had perfected. The cultists rose with a start.

"What startles you all so?" I said with a sneer. "After all you have done I had expected a warmer welcome from my children." I waited for a response, staring directly at Count Sakisabe. If I could not fool him then this could only end badly. He approached slowly from his place at the table, moving cautiously, face unreadable. I had given him absolutely no reason to believe I had developed a Curse, or so I hoped.

"M-my lord," He swept back his red cloak and kneeled into a deep bow. I grinned. This probably would not have worked under other circumstances, but after losing his two shining stars the count was desperate for hope that all his work was for naught.

"Rise Choujiro." I commanded, lifting a hand. He stood and straightened himself out.

"My lord Juhabach. Is the boy a suitable vessel? Were Ava and Bram not to your liking?"

"They were mere curiosities, I waited and watched and determined I would take them as my servants if they could manage to slay that waste of flesh you call a king. Yet, if they fell to a mere human, what use could they have been to me? Besides, the boy is a pure being, conceived of love rather than chains and torment. Did you think I would be deaf to the cries of my children? Did you think I would be pleased with a body crafted from torment and tears?"

Count Sakisabe was already quite a pale vampire, but somehow managed to become even whiter. I had to decide quickly on how I would proceed. When I had planned this out, it was simply so they would treat me better, I could demand anything now that his spirits were dashed. I decided they would bleed and suffer for what they had done to bring dhampir into this world.

"However, it will all be for naught if the boy cannot feed. He is not grown enough to fully accept my presence. Offer your blood to him in the stead of the mother and father, all of you. If this body survives to maturity it should be suitable. Then I will consider your sins forgiven and you may serve under me in my glorious reign."

"Of course my lord. Anything you ask of us it will be done." The count bowed again, with a noticeable tremble in his hands.

"So be it. Rest assured, I will know if you fail." I let my head drop and made the light fade from my eyes. I made it appear as if I was slowly drifting to the ground as the wind and wings faded until I was a heap on the cavern floor.

"Sousuke!" They began to shout and gather. Someone started to pick me up. I panicked thinking they might try to bring me back to my room where Gin would be waiting. Sleepily I groaned and opened my eyes. I had to decide quickly if I was going to pretend not to remember anything. I decided it was better to pretend I had no memories of the "emperor" and recall them later if necessary.

"Mother…..Father…" I murmured, very real tears gathered in my eyes.

"Sousuke..." For the first time ever the count kneeled to my level and wiped away my tears with his handkerchief. "I am sorry you had to see that. We will take care of you until we have a better idea of what is happening at the front lines. We will protect you from those hunters, whatever the cost."

"Th-thank you." I stammered. Embracing him, as much as it sickened me, to ensure he still only saw me as a weak child who had to depend on him. I could not give any hint that I wanted nothing more than for osmeone ot come nad slay them all.

-:-:-:-

Cirucci came to check on me once it sounded like the chaos in the halls had subsided.

"Hey Sousuke, just let me know if you need anything okay?"

"Who was that woman? Why did she know mother?" I muttered from my prone position on the bed.

"I guess that was Retsu. She was one of our free range slaves, followed at your mother's heels whenever she wasn't on a mission. She left with them for the war, but I guess she escaped? We're all as confused as you are. I'm sorry you had to see all of that."

"It was my choice to stay. I just need space right now, alright?"

She left and I continued to stare at the ceiling, my head was a non-stop whirlwind of everything that had transpired and questions that only opened more questions. Was my mother actually dead? Was this Retsu woman safe? Was our location compromised to these hunters? Worst of all my heart couldn't even fathom that they were just….gone. I had clung to the hope that we would all be a happy family someday and it was just...over.

Gin crawled up from under the bed, dragging his fox toy with him, completely unaware of what was happening. He made a little yawn and clung to my side. Well, I guess I did have something of a family, I thought to myself. It was only then that I realized how absolutely exhausted I was and let sleep take me.

-:-:-:-

After I fell asleep I dreamed I was sitting one of many great pillars of ice, stranded in a dark, frozen wasteland. The sky was swirls of moonlit indigo and violet clouds and whatever ground might lay beneath the pillars was swallowed in dark mist. I certainly had dreams before that felt realistic, but nothing like this. The ground beneath me was freezing, the wind tore into my skin. In the distance, another pillar formed and on it stood a figure cloaked in shadow. I turned, ready to call out to it, but all around me the sound of laughter echoed across the wintery sky.

"You are more entertaining than I anticipated, that was quite a ruse boy."

I stood up, trying to get a better look at him, not quite believing what I was seeing.

"You're-you're the bloodless emperor?"

"Indeed boy."

"Then...then the count was correct all along?"

"Not necessarily."

"How are we speaking like this?"

"A part of me exists in all...vampires." He hesitated over that word for some reason. "Only a few possess enough vitae to reach me. However, I see you have great potential and may be able to aid me in my time of need. I do not wish to possess a new vessel, I fear only my true body can bear the weight of my power. It is sealed away, but I could not even tell you where."

"Who sealed you away? And why?"

"It is a terribly long story, child. You need not worry about such things. The human is coming for you, I can see that much, it does not appear she means you harm. You must go with her and find if the humans hunters know of where I am."

So Unohana was alive?

"What if she comes to kill me?"

"Fear not. I cannot use my full power, but even in this weakened form I can give you plenty to end her without fail. You are clever, I am sure you will manage to survive in the hunter's fold," the shadow said.

"And what do I have to gain from this?" I replied.

"A world without suffering." The emperor's voice echoed as everything went dark around me.

-:-:-:-

The nights wore on as I waited to see if this hunter would show and I fed very well. As expected the cultists offered me their blood personally as ordered by their "emperor." It was certainly exhilarating watching those who had ignored me previously now kneel before me and offer their necks. I had never truly fed and bitten from flesh and my instincts sang to finally experience what it was like to take my meals directly. My fangs itched and as soon as they pierced flesh I was overwhelmed with how much more right it felt than drinking from cold little bottles. Nonetheless, the blood was as watery as I feared it would be. As expected I needed a lot before I felt truly satisfied, even then I drank on, hoping to sap them of any strength they would have to fight off this hunter.

Finally the night came where they sent Cirucci, the only one I cared to protect.

"Sousuke, I know you must be hungry, but can you promise me you'll take it easy?" She huffed after closing the door. I was sitting in a large chair in front of the hearth with Gin in my lap, trying to read him something besides his name sake. "Everyone has been feeling really weak since you started feeding, but the count doesn't seem to care."

"Cirucci, you're the only being down here who has ever shown me any sort of kindness, so I want you to listen well. If and when Unohana comes, I want her to kill all of them except you. I will go with her quietly. If Mother trusted her then so do I. The emperor has spoken to me, he will protect me if the other hunters come for me, but he won't lift a finger for the cult."

"Sousuke….that's insane, why are you telling me this?"

"Because, once the count is dead, you'll be free." There was no denying that. Vampires who fed on the blood of those elder or stronger were usually bound to their will. It was even harder to resist the one who turned and Sired you. The only thing that could sever that bond was true death. "Besides. I didn't ever get the impression you cared about the rest of them."

Cirucci paused, then she sighed and laughed a little. "Wow, you're not wrong I guess. Fine, I'll hide somewhere deep in the cave, just promise me Gin will be okay too."

I stared at the top of Gin's silver head as he tried to clumsily turn a page with his tiny hands. If I was really going to be taken away to some strange new land full of humans I certainly didn't want to go alone. He was all I had left that I could consider family. There was never a question in my mind that he was coming with me. If Unohana had a problem with that I would kill her and find another place for us.

"I could take him with me," She added. "I don't know where we would go exactly though, I've never known a home in Hueco Mundo besides this awful place."

"Maybe I'm being selfish, but no. He stays with me. I took responsibility for him and I'm not backing off now."

"So be it. I forget sometimes you're just as much an adult as the rest of us." She came over and offered her hand. "So you won't drain me then?"

I smiled and shook my head.

"No I'll take just enough so if I ever learn hemomancy I can find you and thank you properly. I trust you can play along?"

"I'll just act like everyone else, It's a deal." She winced as I bit her wrist and take a small sip. I had gorged on everyone else, I would be satisfied for quite a while but the others didn't need to know that.

With Cirucci potentially safe all I had left to do was prepare and wait.