Ardemys couldn't believe it. He had finally made contact with someone! He wanted to inform Burgundi but ever since he had fed her, she'd been in a coma-like state. He couldn't wake her no matter what he did. He hoped that Witch he had just spoken to knew if she would be all right. Burgundi didn't bring anything but the clothes on her back so she would be rather light to carry.

All he knew was that he couldn't wait to escape this hellhole as he prepared his things with quick and quiet succession and determination. He hoped that the Ancients were on his side and kept the fiendish Vampire Slayer and her pack away for now. It was dark outside, and their lair was silent down the hall, unbelievably so that he could hear a pin drop to the floor if it happened.

It scared him to no end; with everything being so quiet, anyone could be watching them at this very moment. That theory was what scared him the most because anything could happen. He hoped the Witch was truthful about the portal she said she could make because when the shit hit the fan, and Ardemys knew it would very soon, be wanted Burgundi and himself as far away from it all as possible.

Leaving no trace of them, he conjured up the power to communicate with the Witch through the burning flames of the hearth…

Space

I informed Mom and Dad of what was to happen but they didn't want anything to do with this situation. It was understandable. So they weren't with us. As for Glenn and Jay, they agreed to witness what would happen soon. So we all stood together in Harley's room and watched as she prepared for the making of the portal. Mark had his arm around my shoulders as Glenn held Jay close. They knew of the infamous Ardemys, so I took hold of Jay's hand and prayed to the Ancients that things turned out for the best.

I hoped that I had made the right decision when suddenly there was some interference within the flames of her fireplace. Harley instinctively took a step back as the bright hot flames flared outward slightly.

We all gasped as a face slowly came into view within those flames. We watched as they spoke quickly then she lifted her hands as they slowly began to glow. Electricity crackled in the air as it blew about the room. I cringed into Mark's side as my grip around my sister's hand tightened. Jay cringed closer to Glenn as Harley began to chant loudly over the roaring wind.

I just wanted this to be over. Quite frankly, it scared the shit out of me. Harley's voice sounded like a scream as the fireplace disappeared. Jay and I grew wide eyed as a ring of fire took the place of the fireplace. I was shocked as I looked from the now swirling fiery portal to the changing Harley. Her red hair whipped about her shoulders as her eyes were the color of fire.

A thin line of blood ran from her nose as a trembling effect took hold around us. I gasped as Mark looked around us then back to the portal when sparks began to fly from the fast spinning ring of fire. Then with s huge spark that momentarily blinded all of us, the Sorcerer stepped through and entered the room with an unconscious child in his arms.

His trench coat smoked as Harley suddenly closed her outstretched hands into fists. The power to the portal was then cut off, the swirling ring of fire then vanished and back in its place was a burned out fireplace. The Sorcerer and the Witch looked at one another then with a whimper, she collapsed to the floor.

I gasped and floated to her side as Ardemys looked down at us. He owed this brave and strong Witch his very life for saving him and the small child in his arms. He then looked to the woman kneeling beside her and frowned when his gaze landed upon the smaller crown she wore atop her head. 'Was she a princess? Or a queen even? Then was the Witch of royalty as well?' She had nothing upon her head, though.

"Who is the little girl?" Jay asked after the silence.

Ardemys looked directly at her and spoke.

"Her name is Burgundi. Rose salvaged her from a Vampire raid and thought to give her to me. Her thoughts were ill-intended whereas mine are not for I cannot hurt her."

"Yet she's unconscious." Mark said then.

Ardemys looked at him as I looked up at both men. I could already feel the tension between the two and I could already tell that they wouldn't like each other too much but tough. They had better not begin to fight. I motioned for Glenn's help as I slowly moved my hands slightly above Harley's body. I sensed that she wasn't hurt from the portal-making or from the fall as Glenn lifted her from the floor.

He took her to her bed in the back room and laid her down as I slowly stood.

"She's unconscious because after I fed her, she then fell into a coma. I do not know why."

I stepped before Ardemys and looked at the child closely. Mark grew wide eyed and was beside me in a matter of seconds. Ardemys looked from Mark to the crown atop his head then to me. But it was only when he finally got a good look at me when his eyes grew wide.

"You're Angelica St. John, the woman of the prophecy."

Everyone looked at him then. Glenn walked back to Jay and looked at Ardemys as well. I nodded then trailed my hands gently over the child's face. I knew now why she was unconscious as I looked at her still.

"The blood you gave her must have been the first she'd tasted since she was kidnapped. When a Vampire hasn't fed in a while, especially a child, they enter into a coma-like state when finally fed. I write for a living as I have observed Vampires before."

"I thought so." He said, referring to the child.

I nodded then when Mark spoke.

"Will the fiend know where you are?"

Ardemys shook his head.

"No, the fiend will never know where we've gone to because I left with what I arrived with, nothing. Except my child. Where I was is now desolate."

"Ardemys, let me take her. We've extra rooms here." I said.

He hesitated then looked from Jay to Glenn to Mark and back to me when he reluctantly handed her to me. I held her close as Mark intervened.

"Angie, I don't think you should be carrying her. You know that you cannot exert yourself."

I looked up at him then.

"I know Mark, but when I see little children, I have to be around them. As for her, I have this intense need to help her."

"At least let me carry her, Angie."

"I do not want you touching her."

Mark and I looked at the Sorcerer then. Mark's eyes flared to black with his anger as the Sorcerer narrowed his ice blue eyes.

"Do you have any idea who you're talking to?" Mark hissed.

Ardemys shrugged.

"Should I know, or should I even give a damn?" He replied testily.

Jay gasped aloud as Glenn's and my eyes grew wide. Mark bared his fangs with a feral growl. Ardemys stood his ground but before anything could go down between both men, I intervened.

"Jay, take Burgundi to an extra room. You know the layout of the palace by now, don't you?"

She nodded then rushed forward, taking the child out of my arms.

"Of course, Angel." She said then hurried off with Glenn accompanying her.

I floated in between both towering men and stood before my seething husband.

"Now, now boys. There'll be no fighting in my home. Ardemys, this is my husband King Mark Calloway and I obviously enforce the rules now. I am a Phantom, Mark is a Vampire, Jay- who is my sister- is an Angel, and her husband, Glenn, is a Werewolf. Harley is a Witch, as you already know. We all are dangerous, but Mark is the one of which one does not fuck. He is a time bomb when it comes to situations like this one. When his eyes turn black, it indicates that he is either angry or in a rage. Do not fuck with him."

Ardemys listened while he stared at Mark. When the queen finished, he slowly knelt before her and bowed his head, showing his fealty to them.

"Forgive me, milady. I am truly sorry."

I placed a hand upon his shoulder.

"There's nothing to forgive, Sorcerer."

"The hell there isn't!" Mark yelled.

I whirled around and flared up at him.

"You need to calm down, Mark. No one is here to hurt you."

"No, disobeying sounds more like it."

"Stop this! You're a king but he's known to turn people's minds inside out. Now I don't want that for you. So behave."

"I'll drink him dry before he could." Mark said proudly.

I sighed and shook my head.

"No, you won't. This man can help us so if he says no holding his little girl, then that's it."

Now he looked down at me with furrowed eyebrows.

"This isn't about that, Angie."

"As I recall, after Ardemys said that, you became upset." I pointed out.

Ardemys stood then and looked at me as Mark continued to look down at me. Mark then sighed.

"So the other's don't like him either, I take it? I wonder why." Ardemys said dryly with a raised eyebrow.

Mark casted a scowl at Ardemys when I sighed once again.

"I said no fighting. I'll take Ardemys to see his little girl. When she wakes, it'll help her to recognize at least one face."

Mark scoffed.

"It's a wonder how anyone could like him."

Ardemys smirked.

"That's the best you've got?"

"Oh, I've got more-"

"No, you don't," I said and glared up at Mark. "As I take Ardemys to his little girl, you go check on Harley."

"The Witch's name is Harley?" The Sorcerer asked, looking down at me.

I turned and nodded, trailing my hand over my bulging stomach.

"All right then. I've thank her when she wakes. I owe her my life for saving Burgundi and myself."

I smiled.

"She'll appreciate that."

'Go check on Harley then come to our room. I'll be waiting.' I said telepathically to Mark.

Mark's eyes widened as I grasped Ardemys' hand and flitted from the room. He had an idea of what I meant as he turned and walked to the back of the room.

'She'd better be ready for me.' He thought to himself as he entered Harley's room…

Space

Ardemys grew more and more worried when he saw how pale his little girl had grown. I stood on the left side of the bed and bent, placing my hand over her heart and closed my eyes. I could tell the worst was over by her slow heartbeat. I opened my eyes again and straightened, my hand brushing hers in the process. Her skin was ice cold. I frowned and shivered, pulling my hand away from her quicker than I should have. Ardemys noticed my reaction and frowned then looked from Burgundi, up to me.

"Is she all right?"

I looked at him and nodded.

"Yes, she's fine. I just never felt ice cold skin before."

In a softer tone I said, "Mark is so warm. He is so unique and rare. Though he won't be the only one for long." I rubbed my stomach and sighed softly.

Ardemys say on Burgundi's right side and grasped her hand. He flinched slightly at his cold she was. Throughout his six centuries on Earth and other planes, he'd never felt a Vampire's skin. He listened to the queen when she said her husband's an unique one. He must have been a lot warmer, being a Novel One.

"She will grow up, right? She will not remain a child forever, will she?" He asked worriedly, looking up at me.

I shook my head. "I doubt that she'll remain a child forever. I think you've been around too many Mortals, Sorcerer."

At his confused look, I explained.

"Mortals believe we don't exist. We as in all of the Immortals. You see the movies they make of us? Some are good whereas most are just from imagination. I love to use my imagination but I'm getting off track here. If she was bitten and drained by a Vampire then she'd forever remain a child. But she is a natural born Vampire, so she will grow in body and in age."

"Are you a natural born Phantom?" He asked inquisitively.

I paused then, his question catching me off guard.

"I was a Phangel, Ardemys. No, I wasn't a natural born Phantom."

"Then how did you become a full-fledged Phantom?"

I looked past him as those horrific memories flooded back to me. I hadn't thought of it all since I woke as a Phantom. Now that I thought of it, I really didn't know what to think about it or even how to feel about it.

"If this subject is too personal for you, I am sorry for asking. I didn't mean to pry."

"I did change but I was either being who I am now or death. Being Mark's mate, I know the latter wouldn't have worked out so well." I said quietly and looked down.

Ardemys frowned then nodded.

"Death is painful. People have tried to kill me so many times over the centuries that I think Death itself is tired of seeing my face." He joked then sighed.

Jay opened the door slightly and paused when I looked up at the Sorcerer and spoke.

"There are so many things to be afraid of in this world and there are so many scared people in this world as well. I'm one of those people, Ardemys. I never knew what fear really was until recently and I wish that I never would feel it again but here I am, scared of what the future holds. The prophecy scares the shit out of me. Why was I chosen? Rose is Mark's mother and that fact sickens me. I am the queen of Aeroso, a kingdom of which I hope we can protect. I am scared of being a queen, I am scared of becoming a mother, but my family always gets me through everything. Mark, my parents, and Jay are the fact of me believing that things will be all right."

"Why do you believe that, milady?" Ardemys asked as Jay remained still.

She could understand Angel's fear and knew just how stressed she was.

I looked at Ardemys, a small smile upon my face.

"It is what keeps me sane, dear."

And with that, Jay cleared her throat softly and opened the door more. I turned and looked at her as Ardemys looked at her as well as she walked into the room.

"I got sick recently, but I had to see that things were all right." She said, inclining her head towards the sleeping child.

"It's okay. I hope that you're all right. I just hope that I don't get sick."

Jay nodded sympathetically. Ardemys looked at us both then back down at Burgundi.

"Thank you, Jay. You should go rest now and I think I'll do the same. I am so tired." I said and smothered a yawn.

"But what about the little girl?" Jay asked with a glance at her.

"I'm staying with her, milady." Ardemys said and looked at her.

Jay nodded as I turned back to him.

"If you grow tired, the chaise lounge behind you can be used."

He looked back at the piece of furniture then back to me and nodded.

"Noted." He said and smirked.

"Okay and oh, before I forget. When you grow hungry, Harley can feed you."

I placed a hand upon my stomach as a sick feeling made itself known. Jay stepped beside me and grasped my arm, a worried look upon her face. Ardemys frowned as he continued to look at me.

"Are you all right?" They both asked simultaneously.

I nodded.

"I just can't talk of this subject while I'm pregnant." I shook my head and rubbed my stomach softly.

"Okay, okay. I'll stop talking of this." I said softly to the baby inside of me.

"When Burgundi wakes, she'll be thirsty. I suggest you do what I just mentioned so that you don't become lightheaded. Sound good?"

He nodded then thanked me. I nodded then turned to leave when Jay tugged on my arm gently. I paused and looked back to her when she spoke.

"He does not know the way to the kitchen."

"Oh yes, that's right. How foolish of me."

"I will stay here for when he does become hungry."

I shook my head.

"No, I'll inform Harley. You need to rest, Jay."

Now she shook her head.

"I am just fine, Angel."

I sighed and rubbed my temples.

"Jay, just listen to me this once. Please? Go get your rest."

"I am supposed to be telling you what to do. Older sister, remember?" She said but walked to the door.

"Yeah, yeah but what should be and what is are two different things."

I closed the door behind us as Ardemys continued to watch over and wait for his little girl to awaken…

Space

Mark dutifully sat beside Harley's bed, waiting patiently for her to awaken. It gave him a chance to think about things. Things like the prophecy, the fiendish Rose and his unborn child. Talk about stress. All of everything he thought of just now was stressful, but it was t just him that it all affected. It affected Angie as well. It was all on her shoulders and he didn't know if he could be of a help to her any.

Maybe he shouldn't argue with her. She could crack under all of this pressure and he didn't want that to happen to his wife. To not argue with her was one small solution. What else could he possibly do to ease this for her? As he thought of this, Harley slowly awoke with a moan. Mark looked down at her as her eyes slowly opened.

"Ugh, what happened?" She groaned.

"You passed out after Ardemys crosses through the portal." Mark said as she slowly sat up.

"Oh yes, I remember now. The Sorcerer and his little girl. How are they, by the way?" She asked as she eased her legs over the edge of the bed then looked at him.

"I don't know," he shrugged. "I hope the little one's okay but Ardemys, I just don't know."

"I understand and you particularly don't like him, but he can help us, Sire. He can help us defeat the fiend."

"I know, my wife keeps saying the same thing." Mark agreed reluctantly.

He then went on to grumble about that it was the Sorcerer's fault and not his for the disliking thing. Harley sighed and stood then stretched. Mark stood as well, hoping that I was all right.

'I am fine, big guy. Is Harley awake yet?' I asked him telepathically.

'I'm glad you're okay and yes, she is awake.'

'Oh good. I hope she's all right. Listen, tell her that Burgundi will be awakening soon and that Ardemys May need nourishment. They're in the fourth guest bedroom on the West side of the palace.'

Mark informed Harley of what I had just told him, and she nodded.

"I will get right on it."

Mark nodded.

"Go to your wife, Sire. I'm fine now and thank you for staying with me."

"You're welcome, Harley." He have a small smile then flitted away.

Harley sighed once again then walked to the kitchen, where she started a meal for Ardemys…