Night's Children: Cetera Desunt

AN: The Epilogue has nothing to do with the main storyline of Cetera Desunt, but rather touches on what the 'bad guys' are doing during this time. Mentions events that happened in De Rerum Natura, but I think you can figure it out without having to read it : D Takes place after the Penance Part Two chapter.

Epilogue: In the Shadows…

December was not pleased. Her lithe arms were crossed over her chest, her legs crossed, causing her black skirt to rise and revealing fishnetted thighs, as her glare pierced through the man she was staring at. The upbeat, high-energy music that filtered through the air did little to quell her rising fury as she practically snarled at the figure sitting across from her. Isaac merely scowled, running a hand through his grimy black hair as he leaned casually back in the chair, his left hand holding a bottle of beer that he continued to nurse.

"This is all your fault," December said finally, her tone icy enough to do justice to her name.

Isaac snorted, "My fault? I'm not the one who lied to Yvonne of all people."

"What was I supposed to say?" She hissed between clenched teeth, "That you lost the Prince of the Night?!"

"I didn't loose him," Isaac responded, ire drenching his words, "Bastard's been taking off all the damn time, I can't be his babysitter!"

"Funny," Commented December caustically as she dug out a cigarette from her bra and lit it with her butane lighter, trying to soothe her frazzled nerves, "I remember that being exactly what Yvonne ordered you to do."

Isaac frowned, "Piss off, December, he's the Prince of the Night, he can do what he wants-"

"No you bloody moron, he can't. Your assignment was to make sure he followed through on his orders from the Atrox, and converted those two stragglers," She muttered, exhaling somewhat calmly, even though the knuckles on the fingers that held the cig were strained white.

Isaac's blue eyes stared at her coldly, "Zahi wouldn't be alive now if a certain someone hadn't helped the little whelp servus," He spat, glaring at her pointedly, "Don't tell me you've gone soft, December. First that botched up Lecta attempt and now this? It's a wonder how you've avoided being outcasted."

Dangerously, she shifted forward, "Look asshole, just because you're on your way out of Yvonne's circle doesn't mean you get to talk to me like that." Her upper lip twitched into a sneer, "I could kill you." Her tone was lethal and entirely serious.

Isaac regarded her for a moment warily, before he burst out laughing, "I'd look forward to seeing you try," He said, just as deadly.

"Would either of you idiots please explain to me why I don't see the Incinti's chosen leader here with you," Came a feminine voice that made both of the Followers abandon their argument.

Abruptly, December shot out of her seat, her hands smoothing imaginary wrinkles on her skirt, "Yvonne-!"

The blonde haired Immortal stared at them crossly, elegant hands resting on perfect hips. Her golden hair was curled into ringlets, but despite the innocent feel it was supposed to achieve, it only seemed to make her more intimidating, "What the hell is going on?" She posed quietly, making sure both of her underlings could feel the darkness swelling around her.

Isaac paled, and set his beer down on the table, "Don't get mad, Yvonne, he said he'd meet us here at The Dungeon-"

"Funny, as he is noticeably absent." Their leader replied, "Your job was to assist Trysten in his training, and you," With this her head snapped and stared down December, "Had the gall to lie to me."

December visibly flinched, holding her hands in the air as a position of surrender, "It's not what it looks like, Yvonne, Isaac said-"

"Don't drag me into this!" He yelled angrily.

"It's your fault we don't know where he is!" She retorted.

"I'm right here." Came a flat voice from the shadowed corner of the club's seating area.

The mere presence of the man, a boy really, was enough to make all three of the Immortal Followers tense and dissolve their bickering immediately. Yvonne's wrathful look was replaced by a phony smile and a cheery disposition.

"Ah, Trysten, there you are, we were worried," She supplied smoothly.

December turned around to face her new ruler, as he began to emerge from the darkness. His eyes seemed to constantly glow yellow, his auburn hair had grown a bit longer, now resting unevenly on his shoulders, and his face was cold, indifferent. Dressed simply in black pants and a black button up shirt that was partially undone, he glared at the three. This made even Isaac seem more withdrawn than usual, as he was unable to meet the new Prince of the Night's gaze.

"Where were you?" Yvonne questioned, seemingly innocent, but there was a flash of phosphorous that darted across her crystal blue eyes.

"I hardly see how that is your concern," He replied frostily, his own eyes flickering between the two colors.

Yvonne seemed shocked for a moment, but let it slide. After all, she had put up with this sort of attitude from the boy's father, the son was nothing special, "You've been neglecting your training with Isaac." She said, her tone still light and airy.

Trysten eyed Isaac up and down in evaluation, "That fool has nothing to teach me." He responded, devoid of emotion, as if speaking to a mere insect beneath his notice.

The Regulator's face contorted with fury, "Listen, brat, I've been working with the Atrox since before you were born-"

Isaac was cut off as Trysten released a flare of his inner power, a telepathic warning that had Isaac stumbling slightly from where he stood. "I'm sorry, you were saying something?" He asked languidly, his long fingers tightening into a fist as the darkness seemed to be choking Isaac now, "Or do you require a demonstration?"

"Trysten that's enough," Yvonne demanded sharply, "He may be an insufferable idiot, but he is above you in seniority and you will not use the Atrox's own powers to kill one of its Regulators."

Trysten glared at her, his mouth set in a firm, angry line, "I'm above both of you in station and strength. You won't tell me what to do."

December only stood there, morbidly fascinated as she saw how much power the teenager held at his disposal. Isaac was beginning to make gagging sounds.

"Trysten!" Yvonne snapped.

Begrudgedly, Trysten finally released the constricting shadows away from Isaac, who then leaned against the table, bracing himself with his hand and coughing. No one went to help him.

"Have you taken care of Zahi and the servant boy?" The blonde woman forcefully requested, all business and now thoroughly annoyed that one of her subordinates had been practically strangled.

"They'll come in time," He said off-handedly, "When I approached Zahi he seemed ready to crack any moment, and Art's always been weak emotionally. He'll cave and come to us willingly when Zahi falls."

"That's not what the Atrox wants, Trysten, and you know it," Yvonne said in disapproval, "You were supposed to have converted them last week-"

"I won't have you ordering me around much longer, Yvonne." Trysten cut her off, murderous intent gleaming in his now azure eyes.

She merely scoffed, even turning her nose up, "Perhaps, but currently you're just a newly initiated Follower and I'm an Immortal with decades of experience. For now, you have to listen to me."

Trysten trembled in barely restrained fury, the shadows bending and twisting in response to his emotions.

"What about Riley?" December ventured quietly, knowing that the empathetic Daughter of the Moon was also on Trysten's 'hit list'.

At hearing her name, Trysten froze as if he had been slapped, and his features became even more enraged. The shadows started to whip and lash out at anything that came too close to them.

Yvonne snorted, "Who?"

"The Lecta," Isaac said bitterly, staring daggers at the Prince of the Night who ignored him.

The blonde Follower quirked an eyebrow and looked at Trysten expectantly. "Yes, what about the Lecta?" She repeated far too sinisterly.

"She'll be the first one I destroy," The Prince stated monotonously, before readily walking away from them, "I need to recharge," He said quickly, turning on his heel and sauntering down towards the dancing area of the club. His eyes were scanning the crowd for potential victims to rob hope from. Not that he needed to search, as immediately all the single girls, and some of the not-so single ones, flocked to his side.

The three remaining Followers watched him leave, Yvonne's normally pristine features drawn together tightly in irritation.

"Arrogant prick," Isaac spat, regarding Trysten with an intense level of loathing.

"He may be a prick, but he's certainly not arrogant," Yvonne corrected coolly, "Do not upset him again, he has no reservations about eradicating any of you."

"As if he could," He disregarded.

Yvonne turned on the Regulator, her tone clipped, "Oh, he could." She spoke harshly, "His power levels are near Stanton's, and he's only been a Follower for a month."

December, who had been rather withdrawn for herself throughout the entire exchange, shuddered slightly, "I'm not sure this whole thing was a good idea."

Yvonne's gaze was trained on the teenager, as he led a quiet, somber looking girl away from the dance floor and towards a secluded corner, his eyes glowing hungrily in the darkness, "No one thinks it's a good idea." She answered, lips pursed, "The whole Cinti is terrified of him. His abilities could quickly grow out of control."

Isaac gaped, "Then why-?"

"Because he's the only one capable of bringing people like Lambert, Tymmie, Jimena, and even Zahi down begging to their knees," She continued, "He will bring triumph for the Atrox, and he will destroy both the Daughters of the Moon and those whelps of Infidi." She smirked and said sardonically, "It's his destiny, after all. The birth of a child with traitors for parents will plunge the world into darkness."

December shot her a confused stare, "Isn't Riley-?"

"Yes, the Lecta is a possible candidate as well." Yvonne sighed, "Which is why she needs to be converted before Tymmie gets his filthy paws on her."

Isaac rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his scrawny chest, "We need to just kill Tymmie, least that bastard deserves, after what he did to Dorian."

December shivered as she recalled the graying, ghastly features of the once handsome, sadistic mind manipulator. His mind had been irreversibly destroyed by Tymmie, so much that even as an Immortal Dorian's body was beyond physical repair. She felt a bitter taste acquire in her mouth when she thought of the power levels held by both Tymmie and Trysten and a tremor of fear filled her involuntarily.

"Things will be getting interesting very shortly, especially since the Day of Atonement is fast approaching," Yvonne turned and faced her two flunkies, "You are both to train, and prepare Trysten during that time." Her voice picked up intensity, "You best be ready, because Hell on Earth is quickly becoming a very real possibility."

December nodded demurely, while Isaac gave a more jerky dip of his head, obviously not fond of having to spend more time with the Prince of the Night.

"Keep an eye on him," Yvonne continued, swiveling on her heel and beginning to walk towards the VIP section of The Dungeon, reserved for the higher-ranking Followers only, "He's dangerous."

With that, the blonde Immortal vanished into the night, leaving December and Isaac to speculate on just what kind of monster Trysten would become.

OoO

Incredibly Short Preview for Book Four: Acteus Reus

Jimena looked up at the clock that hung on the wall opposite her living room, "I think that's been enough Daughter business for today. You girls are good to go," She stood up and stretched again, "I understand that you're all heading over to Imy's for dinner?"

Imy groaned and pressed a hand against her face, "I'm really sorry about all this," She mumbled, "It's just…Aunt Emily and Uncle Sledge always make me incredibly uncomfortable when they're over…" She trailed off and made a face, "And their spawn is just horrible."

"Nothing to be sorry about!" Beamed Tessa as she heaved her rather massive purse over her shoulder, "It's either an awkward dinner at your place, or a TV dinner at mine, since I can't cook and Ezra's working late tonight."

Riley gave her best friend a rather reproachful look, "And their daughter is not a 'spawn'." She said calmly, having been over to the Ormonds' multiple times for dinner and having already met their old friends from high school.

The group of four made their way towards the door, Riley lagging slightly to tell Jimena when she'd be home.

"Bye girls," They heard from Jimena as they reached the hallway of the apartment building, "Have fu-uhn," The way their mentor said the word 'fun' put them all instantly on edge.

Aria stared at Tessa and Imy, "Is there something I should have known before I accepted the invite?" She asked, somewhat paranoid as they walked towards the stairway.

Imy huffed and crossed her arms over her chest, "Emily and Sledge-"

"What kind of name is 'Sledge' anyway?" Tessa mused out loud to no one in particular.

"-are both friends of my dad's from high school," Imy rolled her eyes, "And mom's constantly jumpy when they visit, since Emily and dad used to date or something. It's just painful to watch. She goes so far out of her way to prove to them that we're normal, but she overdoes it. You'll see."

"What's up with the spawn thing then?" Aria questioned, curious.

"Their daughter, Tatum." Riley said simply, catching up to them as she shrugged on her worn, flannel coat.

"What about her?" Tessa inquired suspiciously.

"Emily and Sledge have two children. Tatum is our age-" Riley tried to explain.

"And a real bitch," Imy grumbled.

Riley just gave the tinniest of sighs to express her annoyance, but Imy was well attuned to Riley's expressions, or lack thereof. "What? You don't think she's the devil incarnate?"

The empath shrugged, "She seems…polite."

"To you! She's phony as hell, and she gets me into trouble all of the time!"

Aria smirked as the group exited the building, "No offense, Imy, but you seem to manage that just fine on your own."

"She has a point," Tessa agreed.

Imy's mouth twitched downwards, "Just wait, you'll hate her too."

OoO

Here's the summary for the next story, I'll be posting it next week!

Night's Children: Meliora

Always Better.

Jimena was once the toughest goddess, and the duty of the Magna Mater hasn't dulled her fighting abilities. So when a co-worker turns out to be a demon, let's just say it's not only the Daughters who get all the fun.

OoO

Le end!

Major thank yous to all the readers, and QUADRUPLE (gasp!) thank yous to all the reviewers! You guys are the Mac to my Cheese…or something!

Also, I'll be putting a pronunciation guide on my profile under the NC section for character names if anyone's confused : )

See you all in the next book!

!nym!