Saith

by Leechcraft

Summary: Harry has had dreams since he could remember. Oh not of Voldemort but of Vampires. Two in particular. What happens when he finds out they're not just dreams? Creature/VampireHarry. OC WARNING. Slash. D/s. AU SORRY THIS STORY IS ABANDONED. (It's kinda crap, lol. I might do a rewrite and finish it someday but probably not. It was basically my first fanfic/first book. )

11. Chapter 11

So someone stayed up til 2am reading my story. (Fitful does a little happy dance.) Sorry. I'm just so pleased to find that someone stays up all night reading fanfiction like I do. I makes me feel less weird.

OC Warning. I know. Sorry, sorry, sorry. But if you bear with me they all die. So you don't have to suffer them long.

Just Imagine they're all in France, speaking poor and not so poor English with a French accent.

Fleur de Sang means Bloody Flower

Mer de Soleil means Bloody Sea

The other French words I really couldn't care less about. The novelty of setting the scene in France wore off rather quickly.

---

July 30th.

Morning.

"Ghis!"

Ghislaine Dumas turned at the sound of her brother's voice. He stood at the top of the stairs, smiling excitedly, his eyes brilliant and glowing. She couldn't help the smile curving her mouth. Anselm Dumas was a beautiful child even at eleven. His auburn hair, blue eyes, and fair skin no doubt made him all the rage at the boarding school he attended; but now he was home. School was out for the summer, he had visited his friend Thomas for half of it. Now it was her turn. She would get him for another month before he had to go back. She just hoped they made it through that month.

"Anni," Ghislaine called back, "What, you didn't bring yourself a girl back?"

Anselm jumped over the side of the balcony, bypassing the stairs altogether, and landed neatly on his feet. It was quite a good thing he was a borne vampire or else he would have broken many bones doing such a thing.

"Girls are boring, Ghis, all they do is talk about stupid things." Ghislaine raised her eyebrow as he dove at her and buried his face against her stomach.

"I'll have you know that I'm a girl, Anni." His giggle tickled her belly and she pulled away and frowned at him. "I truly hope you don't believe I'm boring."

He tried to look serious but the light in his eyes betrayed him. "Well . . ."

"Pardonne-moi? You, mon petite frre, are going to get yourself in trouble."

He grinned much to pleased to see her to be concerned by her empty threats. She couldn't help but grin back. "Alright. Aller et laver. I'll see you for dinner, d'accord?"

He frowned in disappointment but agreed. "D'accord." Then his eyes lit up. "Is, Egil here?"

"Oui. Training, as usual." Ghislaine sighed. "You may visit but do not get in the way."

"Really? Thanks, Ghis! See you later!" With that he was off and running, causing a few vampires to hastily to move out of the way.

" So, our Anselm's back, Oui?" Rush Gautier chuckled as he took in the many vampires scowling after the eleven year old.

"Yes, he is most definitely back." Ghis couldn't help her smile. "Shame I'll be at Crescent tonight. I was hoping to spend time with him before. . . well just before."

"I could take your place, Lady, if you would like to take the time."

She shook her head. "I need to petition Lord Kiinn for reinforcements. It should be me who does so."

Rush nodded in agreement. He reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a watch. "We're late, Odil already spoke me and complained." Ghislaine nodded and motioned for him to walk ahead. Rush raised an eyebrow but followed her suggestion and started walking. Ghis followed, walking slowly, keeping her eyes open and moving.

"Anything from Purvis?" Ghislaine took a breath to make sure worry didn't color her voice.

"I am sorry, my lady. She has not mind spoke either Ciel or myself." He sounded calm and looked back at her once. "Do you have to do that, Ghislaine?"

Ghislaine sighed but conceded to walk beside him."I once met a wizard with one eye. I asked him how he had managed to hang on to it so long. 'Constant Vigilance!' he shouted and mumbled in Latin before shooting something out of a stick at me. I, of course, heeded his helpful advice and dove out of the way. It was a good thing I had as one of my enemies who stood behind me was cut in half."

Rush chuckled. "What happened after that?"

Ghislaine smiled. "I said thank you." Rush rolled his eyes. "As it was he didn't understand French and was convinced I had been cursing at him."

Rush let out a bark of laughter. "Only you, Ghis."

He stopped at the door of the current council chamber. "After you, Lady Dumas." He gave an smart bow. Ghislaine gave him a look but went first.

---

"Ahh, Ghis! Feenally!" A girl who barley looked older than Anselm she was so short greeted them. "Ou are terreebly late!"

Ghislaine raised an eyebrow at her. "I am never late, Fawne, everyone else is merely early." Fawne looked at her and rolled her eyes. Ghis found that a common reaction to her but she really didn't care. She was the Lady of Fleur de Sang after all. Her rather bloody, pardon the pun, reputation meant she was taken seriously when it counted.

The council room wasn't really a proper one. It was one of the larger rooms in the manor and had been cleared of all furniture except nine chairs. They stood in a circle with only one draped in velvet as a nod to ceremony. They currently were all filled except for hers and Rush's. The room was filled with quiet conversation that while it could have been merely any other day the underlining feeling of tension made everyone highly aware that everything was not right.

After Ghislaine took her seat Rush let off a small tone of magic before seating himself. Everyone grew quiet.

"Bedelia, report." Ghis looked to the pale, blond vampire that sat to her immediate right.

"Lord Endore hasn't respond to any communications since last month. We've been forced to assume he's compromised." She glanced to her left at Ciel. "Enchantress warded the border between Mer de Soleil and Fleur de Sang. I'm uncertain if it will hold as Ciel is rather stretched at the moment with Fleur de Sang and her surrounding territory."

Ghis frowned. "Any chance of someone being available of going-?"

"Negative, my lady. We're lacking enough people as it is. Between the attacks and the borders and every day patrol around the manor there just aren't enough."

"Is the bridge set to take me to Crescent?" Ghis looked to Ciel. The Enchantress turned her head towards her, blue eyes drifting absently as Ciel was blind.

"I've set up the shadow bridge in the atrium, my lady." Ciel said softly. "I hope six in the evening is good for you? I am wary about leaving the wards open, even to the shadows, for more than a few minutes."

"C'est bien. Anything else to report?"

Bedelia looked hesitant but after a moment shrugged. "It may not be that important but Rassia's been turned."

Ghislaine blinked and looked across the room. Rassia was grinning. She smiled softly. "Felicitations, Rassia."

There were similar good wishes from around the room.

"So you are a Vampire now, oui?" Fawne squealed; her English a bit mutilated by her rather strong accent.

Rassia laughed. "Well I've insomnia, sensitivity to any strong smells, and I've been biting people. It think I've pretty much been confirmed as a vampire."

"That or you have rabies," muttered Odil.

Fawne groaned but Ghislaine had to stifle her laughter.

"So who's your Sire, Ras?" Odil was glancing slyly at Bedelia who was ignoring him.

Rassia shook her head and smirked at him. "No one here, Odil"

"Odil," Ghislaine spoke up to get his attention. "How is our mortal populace?"

Odil straightened. "We have enough to keep everyone fed, Lady, but they are . . . concerned over the troubles we are having. Many are requesting to be turned" He cast a quick glance at the newly turned Rassia.

"Why are you leeches so shy about naming it?" A dark werewolf suddenly spoke up. "Call it what is is. War"

Ghis looked Dejah sadly. "Oui, Finné." She straightened and looked once around the circle. Gravely she proclaimed, "We are at war."

There was a moment's silence before, predictably, Bedelia broke it.

"But how did we get here so fast?" Ghislaine's third in command sniffed in disgust. "We aren't even sure who is behind the attacks."

"They aren't just attacks anymore, Bedelia." Destry leaned forward looking grim. "They are executions. Massacres.

"Is zere anyvay of finding out?" Fawne was frowning. "Ve've been 'ere trying to fend off zee attacks but zee only vay to stop zem is to get to zee one be'ind eet all."

Ceil cleared her throat hesitantly.

Ghis smiled knowing the Enchantress could hear it in her voice. "Yes, Ciel?"

"I have heard . . . whispers." Ciel sounded far away. "Javier de Rais."

"When did you hear this?" Rush let out a low hiss. "Stupide fille! How come you haven't said anything!"

Ciel cringed at the rebuke and turned her head away. Ghis cast a warning glance at Rush. Ciel was really the only true submissive in the group and she didn't have a mate nor a life-bonded yet. It was easy to for her to underestimate her place on Fleur de Sang's council and hard for her to speak up.

"Who's Javier de Rais?" Rassia asked curiously.

"An evil bastard, that's who. Sadistic as they come, with a taste for killing. What's worse, he doesn't follow the Ancient Ways." Odil looked defeated already.

"He also craves power." Ghis looked at Rush in concern. He sounded quite grim which was at odds with his normal overly composed countenance. "He'd do anything to get it."

"Some say he even uses daemons." Destry grunted in disgust. "That would explain the massacres that have been happening."

Ghislaine's blood ran cold. Not daemons. Anything but those. They were impossible to kill. Evil incarnate. They literally came from hell. Daemons were nothing but bits of shadow and teeth and pain.

"Isn't - aren't those what killed your par-" Rassia started to ask her but Rush stopped her with a look. Ghis was grateful for him doing that. A council session was not a good place to be reminded.

"Destry, how are our weapons stash? Our warrior count?"

The dark werewolf, twin to Dejah who sat beside her, shook her head. "Bad. We don't have much in the way of weapons, never thought we'd be here long enough to need them. And you know the state of our warriors already. There just aren't enough of anyone, let alone trained warriors. Even of the ones we have most are green."

Ghislaine frowned. She could petition Kiinn to let them abandon Fleur de Sang. The manor wasn't a permanent base anyway. She was merely sent here to establish a rapport with Lord Endore. That had been going well, with his great grandson Egil finding a home here and Lord Soleil and herself getting along marvelously. Now he was compromised and they were hemmed in on all borders by unforgiving enemies.

But if there were daemons they would have to be routed out. She couldn't leave a Necromancer to run amok. Even if France wasn't part of the Bloodlands in entirety it soon would be. It would only be harder later on if she just left daemons to ruin it.

Beside daemons haunted her dreams. It was them that kept her awake at night and caused her to get up early to avoid them. She was the only vampire she knew that hated shadow walking. She couldn't do it properly as the shadows there reminded her far to much of the one that could manifest themselves into evil creatures from hell. Another vampire had to do it for her and she still refused to do so unless she had to.

---

Suddenly Rush stiffened, and turned slightly away from the group. That was a universal sign that he was mind-speaking someone. She held her breathe, hoping it was Purvis. The vampire who was her life-bonded had been missing for the past month after a mission in Paris following a lead one of the rats had sold her. Since she hadn't returned on time Ghislaine had known something was wrong.

Purvis was a gentle vampire. Submissive and sweet. More intelligent than anyone would give her credit for to look at her with her pale hair and doll like face. She had originally been part veela when she had been mortal but even now those roots held true and she was able to use veela magic to some extent. All of those traits made her the perfect spy. Not to mention she could kick ass better than any sub Ghislaine had ever seen.

The Lady of Fleur de Sang relied on her right hand to mind speak as it was one vampire gift she hadn't received. It was common for turned vampires to miss out on some gifts but rare for a borne one. As her parents had been vampires, and their parents vampires, and their parents before them, she had had to work hard to make up for lacking certain traits. One thing she lacked was height. She wasn't as short as Fawne but she was just barley 5'2 and that lack had been hard for a Dominant, borne vampire whose goal was to gain the title of Lady one day.

She had been born in France but her parents had moved to England not a month after to join Lord Kiinn at Crescent. She had nearly lived in London's streets during her youth. She spent quite a bit of it learning how to be a warrior. She didn't take lip from anyone and would pick a fight with all odds stacked against her. Eventually she had started winning those fights and gained a reputation as being a rather crazy blood-thirsty vampire.

All that hard work paid off when Lord Kiinn recognized her potential and ordered her to mentor to a Lord. That lord had been in France which wasn't so bad as she had roots there and such but the language was a bitch to learn and she was rubbish at French. The first month made her furious that her parents spoke nothing but Nin and English since moving to Crescent.

She had been shipped off to Avignon at barely 21. For a borne vampire that was quite young. But Lord Gautier had turned out to be the best thing for her. He became her second sire, her confidant, and her friend. She had half thought she was in love with him. That is until she met Rush and Purvis. Rush and Purvis Gautier were both the children of Sennett Gautier. Unfortunate he had twelve. He had never found his life-bonded but did take mates. He had a fondness for mortals and many of his children were of rather odd lineage.

Rush was a borne vampire with all the traits and most definite French. His mother had been a countess or something like it and his rather aristocratic looks showed. He was gorgeous, with rich red hair and ice blue eyes and Ghislaine had fallen instantly in love with him. Until she met his sister. Purvis had a mortal mother, who had been a witch of some sort. She had been born mortal and was still quite mortal when Ghis met her. She was gorgeous too and as a young vampire Ghis had been very confused but tried to stay away from her new Master's mortal daughter.

The years passed and Rush had seduced her once when he was drunk. That had turned out rather badly as Rush was Dominant and so was Ghis. After much shouting they had given up on making that one work and simply settled for a very close friendship. She had actually gotten involved with Lord Sennett for a few years. Him being her second sire, and mentor, he was automatically in the role of Dominant. Those few years had taught her much, and not just how to be a good Lady but how to be a good Dominant. How to lead and better how to do it well. She had also learned the value of submission and the Ancient Ways had taken on more meaning.

She and Purvis hadn't talked much. Purvis had similar lessons and when she wasn't busy with her father she was training with tutors. For years things had been very awkward between them. It wasn't until much later that Ghis had discovered why.

Ghislaine had always prided herself on being observant. She had become the best warrior she could be just by that habit alone. But she had never picked up on Purvis being her life-bonded until Purvis had been turned. She might have forgiven herself for it. After all she never bit the girl or even smelled her blood. In fact she had actively avoided her for nearly seven years. But Purvis, mortal and all that, had known. She had been in love with oblivious Ghislaine Dumas for seven years and never said a word. Not when Ghis was falling down drooling over Rush and not when Ghis was obviously having relations with her father.

As a lifebonded Dominant Ghislaine still grimaced when she thought about how hurt her Submissive must have been, never mind that Purvis had been happily human during that time.

Currently Ghislaine was torn between being the Lady of Fleur de Sang and the lifebonded mate of Purvis Gautier Dumas. In the middle of what was now obviously a war she couldn't get away. The one time she had left, eager to kill anyone who kept her from her Submissive she had returned to find twenty of her vampires in pieces all over her bedroom. She had been sleeping in Rush's quarters since that day.

Now Rush was stiff and actually smelled agitated with shock and pain growing in his scent. Ghislaine grew more and more alarmed. Suddenly she hoped he was not mind speaking his sister.

"Vat e's eet?" Whispered Fawne but no one answered her.

Then the room grew cold. The sun that came in through the floor to ceiling windows was suddenly gone and the world outside abruptly faded to deep gray. Ghislaine purposefully ignored Rush and rose, walking slowing to the window. Bedelia and Destry rose quickly and followed her.

The lands surrounding Fleur de Sang were rolling with shadows. What seemed like clouds of black billowed thickly around everything. The manor wasn't merely cut off from the world. It was being invaded.

"We are under attack." Rush's voice was overly controlled. He sounded blank "The guards on patrol are gone. Sentries gone. Egil has Anselm but I just lost contact."

Ghislaine felt herself grow cold. Anselm. "Ciel." The blind vampire cocked her head. " Shadow walk. Find Anselm. I know it is dangerous but I need you to keep him safe."

"Oui, Lady." Ciel bowed at the waist, one hand held just under her breasts and the other behind her. A final salute. Ghislaine hoped it wasn't her presciencebeing invoked in that bow.

"If you can, take him to Crescent." She nodded a dismissal at the Enchantress.

"Destry find the remaining warriors, Dejah take the new potion and change. I want you meeting anyone who comes through the front doors. " Both werewolves grinned eager for the fight.

"Rassia and Odil find our mortal companions and turn them." Odil nodded but Rassia bit her lip nervously before nodding as well."

"Fawne mind speak anyone who can hear and call for help. Then find Egil and fight with him." Fawne smartly saluted like an American soldier.

"Bedelia and Rush with me." Ghislaine didn't wait to see if they followed. Flexing her Will she called up her sword and reaching down she released one of her knives.

She felt the pull of the shadows as many chose to brave shadow walking in order to get to their posts quicker. She was more than please when Ciel left.

---

Rush and Bedelia also took the time to arm themselves. Rush was fond of a bow and arrow; arrows made of magic light were easy to make and often deadly. Bedelia favored a broad sword nearly too heavy for Ghislaine to use. It had been handed down in theMori ve family for generations. They were ready to fight when the shadows exploded.

The shadow to her left solidified into a large bear-like thing, if a bear were the size of a boat and had spikes that glistened with poison and limbs that drifted like smoke. Ghislaine was moving before he had fully formed, sprinting away from it to dance around at a safe distance. Fawne sprinted towards the thing, under, then around and was through the hall like a slingshot without looking back. Rush had already scored a hit when Ghis moved in and Bedelia moved in concert with her to block a paw the size of a tire. Ghislaine slipped in her vacated spot as Bedelia moved out of the way, her sword driving itself, ironically, into the demon's heart.

The thing screamed, a hissing thing that nearly defended the vampire's with their sensitive hearing. The daemon dissolved into mist and then shadows. Abruptly they were surrounded by nothing. The shadows fled.

Breathing out a quick breath Ghislaine smelled for blood but found nothing.

"Damned daemons never bleed," Rush commented. "Got Geneva that way. She never even smelled them."

Geneva. One of his sisters. That brought her mind back to Purvis . Roughly she pushed the thought away.

"It's not dead, Lady." Bedelia looked around sharply. "Daemon's don't die. We should go."

The light that normally came in through the floor to ceiling windows was muted by the dark cloud that hovered outside. The hallway was lit only by the mage lights dangling from above and the walls to either side were cast into shadows. Bedelia stared into the shadows, searching for unnatural movement.

Ghislaine blew out a breath. Daemons might not die but they could be sent back to hell if they used up the magic that held them here. De Rais must have been storing magic for months in anticipation of this day. So many daemons were here and already they had been attacked. They must have orders to find the Lady of Fleur de Sang.

Ghislaine made up her mind. "They'll be looking for me," She headed for the stairs, eyes moving constantly, even as Rush and Bedelia scrambled to keep up. "The Entrance Hall or the Great Hall is where de Rais will be."

"Ghis, we should be getting you out of here, not heading towards the Sadist wielding daemons." Rush put out a hand to touch her shoulder as she paused on the first step. The first floor was cast into darkness that even vampire sight could barely cut through. To head down, might force them to fight blind. The thought of Anselm had her shaking off Rush's hand and starting down the stairs regardless.

"No. I want to find de Rais. The sooner I do the sooner the daemons get gone."

Rush growled again in frustration but followed her down the stairs with Bedelia right behind them. It smelled cold. Shadows billowed in the corners, along the walls, climbing the walls. They boiled at the ceiling; they hissed, and snapped, and snarled. They curled around the stair's rails and laughed at the vampires that passed them.

But the didn't attack. Minions then. Spies. Good.

She suddenly felt a pull in the shadows, a large one. Someone had activated a Shadow Gate. Ghislaine broke into a run. Bedelia and Rush were close behind. It was at the bottom of the stairs when they were attacked again. The shadows broke into dog like shapes that slithered and sped around them darting forward to snap at their heels with sharp teeth and yellow eyes. They ran on spiked paws and Bedelia hissed when she was too slow to avoid one.

Ghislaine's sword bit into shadow after shadow. It did little damage but did cause them to loose their shape and those precious minutes where the daemons had to form them again was what saved them from getting killed. Abruptly they were surrounded by nothing but shadows again; then even those fled. Rush was breathing hard at the end of it and Ghislaine had escaped any wounds by Lilith's Luck alone. Bedelia's leg bled and didn't heal. The daemon's poison must be potent.

"Seems odd that they keep disappearing like that." Bedelia grunted as she inspected her wound. " They aren't dying so where do they go?"

Ghis felt her upper lip curl in disgust. "De Rais is toying with us."

Rush growled lowly beneath his breath. "He would find it amusing to do so."

Bedelia hissed in agreement as she bound her leg with a twist of her Will. "It'll hold, Lady." She grunted as she took a step. "We should go."

Ghislaine shook her head and bit her wrist, offering it to the blond vampire who hesitated before taking it and politely drinking. She didn't take much though and quickly gave it a final lick before nodding her thanks.

"Try not to stop and feed any hurt vampire you see, Lady." Bedelia sniffed at Ghis and started down the hall. "I doubt even you have enough blood to do that."Ghis rolled her eyes but followed her with Rush falling in behind her.

Howls announced the presence of werewolves. Rush shook his head once to let her know that it was Dejah and Destry and not de Rais' allies. The dark-skinned twins ran on four feet as wolves, snapping at the heels of half a dozen warriors who nodded respectfully in her direction. They passed her and Ghislaine nodded back watching as they headed towards the Entrance Hall.

"Where are the rest?" Ghis asked Rush who looked to be in mind speech with one of them.

Rush looked at her with tired eyes. "Dead."

Ghislaine took a moment to breath before she pushed the grief away. She turned to find Bedelia leaning against the spiral that began the climb with the stairs.

"Alright Bedelia?" The blond vampire was pale but nodded.

---

The made their way to the Great Hall. Ghislaine assume de Rais would overtake it first as it held the throne each keep kept for the lord of Crescent. Necromancer's loved theatrics and symbolic demoralizing gestures were their favorite weapon next to daemons and death. Ghislaine's goal was to get to de Rais and kill him. It was the only way to end this.

Some flying owl type of daemon attacked them next. It distracted Ghislaine just enough for the de Rais's vampires to attack without warning. Vampire's sprang from the shadows and were on them before they could react. Their blades were covered in blood and their teeth dripped it as they hissed at the defending trio. Ghislaine showed her fangs in return and used her Will to split her sword into two. With one half in either hand she attacked snarling in rage. The vampires laughed at her before two met her swords with their necks and died. Then they took her seriously.

She caught Rush out of the corner of her eye, attacking with calm calculation beside her, but Bedelia was soon ahead of her, eager to spill blood and cursing at the invaders with startling passion. Ghis shook her head in amusement even as she brought her sword up through a daemon that promptly dissipated into shadows when the blade met flesh. A vampire moved in to take its place, his left fang broken in half and the hem of his battle robes drenched in blood.

Ghis sneered in disgust. Battle robes. How cliche.

Suddenly he attacked without warning but she was prepared. Their swords met but he was stronger and she had to duck beneath his arm and dance away. She quickly attacked again, one sword heading for his head, the other hidden by her body and aimed for his gut. He avoided the first sword but the second caught him by surprise and bit into his stomach. Before he could recover she brought the other sword and cut off his head.

It wasn't easy to kill a vampire but it wasn't as hard as they made it in the stories. Despite the hype vampire were not the undead, weren't put off my crosses and garlic, and wouldn't necessary die if someone ran a stake through their heart.

It actually all depended on when they last ate.

If a vampire had recently fed their healing ability was at its peak. Depending on the blood, freshness, quality, etc. They processed the blood differently. It also made quite the difference if the blood was willingly given or taken by force. Either held great potency but the taste and over all effect was quite different.

Of those of the Crescent clan, who followed the Ancient Ways few took their meals by force and those who were warriors. Most did not and preferred to drink willing blood, thus the rather large population of humans and other sentient creatures that were regarded as companions in the Crescent clan. Some went so far as to refuse to drink animal blood as the animals couldn't give their permission. Others were fine with supplementing their diet with a deer or two every now and then.

It was common for warriors to fed well before a battle and then gorge themselves on the blood of their victims as the battle progressed. Not all preferred it, some hated it, but if you were wounded the easiest way to heal would be fresh blood. The sword to the gut might have killed the vampire but it was better to be safe than sorry. Ghislaine had taken his head and that was one sure way to make sure the vampire that had been killed was quite dead.

Ghis, Rush, and Bedelia attacked the vampires and the shadows that sometimes formed daemons but they lost ground fast. There were too many and more than once Bedelia faltered and suffered another wound. Rush was soon fighting one handed.

Finally Ghislaine motioned for them to retreat. "Fall back. Rush can you reach Destry?"

"She says their on their way. They weren't even able to reach the Entrance Hall as it's got daemons spilling out of it like mad hornets."

A shadow swept in then and took shape and their attention was caught.

Ghis only realized time had passed when a dark gray werewolf suddenly ripped into the daemon's neck causing it to scream and burst into shadows that fled. The addition of the werewolves and the warriors was welcome. Ghis took a moment to catch her breath and grabbed Bedelia's arm forcing her to do the same. The enemy vampires attacked the werewolves with vigor, as the daemons focused on the Ghislaine, Rush, Bedelia and the new reinforcements. It wasn't long before they were again losing.

Two vampires surrounded one of the wolves while the others were having trouble defending themselves from the other. One tackled the wolf with his entire body, fangs biting into her neck and holding on tight. A mage bolt from Rush caused the vampire to jump back with a snarl even as the werewolf retaliated with a lunge to his throat. The vampire didn't even see it coming before he died. But the other vampire was enraged at his comrade's death. He let a burst of magic loose that stunned the werewolf just enough. A kick to her head stunned her further.

Ghislaine noticed the werewolf was losing but she was much to occupied with a spider like daemon that was three times her size. She struggled to score on the spider but the thing merely reformed any leg that she removed. Suddenly the werewolf yelped and a vampire brought his sword down, biting into the wolf's heart.

"Destry." Rush breathed. Ghis spared a glance for the wolf who lay broken on the floor. The vampire who slayed her pulled his sword free and grinned, a maniacal light in his eyes.

A howl split the air. The rage of the other werewolf was hot in her nostrils and Ghis motioned the others back. A grieving werewolf was one to stay away from. The daemons seemed to sense that as well for they disappeared at the howl and left the three remaining vampires to the werewolf who cried out with rage and grief and attacked with abandon.

Bedelia motioned to the remaining warriors to help the werewolf out with a few bolts of magic. Bits of green shot themselves through the air. Most missed but some hit their mark. Soon they were dead and nothing could be heard but panting of vampires trying to catch their breath.

Dejah, her snout dripping with blood, made her way to her twin's fallen body. A mournful howl sounded and Ghis didn't have the heart to stop her. It wasn't as if their location was a secret anyway.

Ghislaine dared to approach her. Dejah snarled, lips stretched around her mouth to show teeth, but backed down at the short cuff to her ear. "Enough, Dejah." She whispered in the wolf's ear. " I need you. You may mourn later."

Dejah growled but shook herself. She turned to the remaining three warriors and yipped once. They immediately fell in line before her, ever alert for another attack.

"Dejah, the companions. See to them now." Dejah huffed and turned away back leading the warriors, one last glance at her sister before she was gone around the corner.

---

Bedelia took a deep breath. "We must kill the Necromancer."

Rush hesitated as he looked around at the bloodied hall but nodded. Ghis shook her head and motioned for them to walk ahead of her. Bedelia complied but Rush pursed his lips in disapproval. They made their way on wards.

Suddenly he stopped and listened to something she couldn't hear. "Wait." Again his scent grew heavy. Ghis stared into the shadowed corners daring daemons to attack.

"Odil and Rassia are dead." Bedelia sucked in a breath and Ghis could smell her horror and abrupt pain and rage. "Most of the companions are as well." Rush looked at her gravely. "We must get you out of here, Ghis. We're being slaughtered!"

Ghis bared her teeth. "I am aware. And their deaths will mean nothing should I run. And where would I?"

"The shadow bridge . . ."

"I will not leave Anselm and I will not leave you." Ghis ran a hand threw her hair. It was full of blood and muck. She realized she was bleeding beneath it. "I will not abandon Fleur de Sang."

Rush scowled and stalked forward stopping when he was directly in front of her. He straightened his six foot three frame and bared his teeth. Ghis drew up her chin and stared him down, stormy blue eyes meeting cerulean blue.

It was hard to challenge Rush. He was older than her, had been her friend for so long. She had always subconsciously placed him as more dominant than her but now it was obvious he was not. His composure was frayed. His control slipping. Perhaps if he had been in top form, with rest and a feeding in him he would have won that challenge but as it was he eventually dropped his eyes submissively.

"As you will, Lady Dumas." He stood stiffly.

Ghislaine nodded sharply and this time led the way.

---

Sounds of screams greeted them when they entered the Great Hall.

Shadows attacked vampires everywhere and blood stained the Italian marble that had been imported from Greece some decades back. In the throne reserved for the Lord of Crescent a single vampire sat. He wore robes that were as red as the blood staining the floor and his hair was tainted green. Magic swirled around him and daemons crouched at his feet like bizarre pets. They resembled the daemons that had attacked them on the way there but they were ten times bigger and they stank with darkness and poison and pain and death.

Ghislaine threw up a shield, pushing all her Will into it, and felt Rush's Will join hers. They had been working together for so many years it was like slipping on an old hat. His irritation could be felt though the shield though and Ghis was forced to ignore it. Bedelia had immediately jumped into the fray and was attacking anything that moved in her direction.

The sight was a ghastly one. Daemons feasted on humans. Many resembled humans, with spikes, and scales, and red eyes the only visible difference. They were laughing madly and enjoying the screams as they pulled apart the mortals before them. Vampires fought against them but were being slaughtered easily. The daemons wouldn't die, and the ones that looked human were so powerful few were sent back to the hell they came from. A human, one of the companions, screamed as a daemon that more resembled a badger then human tore into his stomach.

Ghislaine was forced to walk by without stopping.. There was nothing she could do. The fallen bodies of vampire and human were trampled as she and Rush made their way towards de Rais. The Necromancer simply laughed at their approach and motioned for more of his shadows to solidify and attack them.

Bear-like daemons attacked, hissing, and spitting poison. Rush let off bolts of magic that seemed to startle them but they continued. Ghislaine threw a knife which hit her target. The daemon lost its shape and was forced to stop and reform. Ghis threw a second, and then a third. They were making headway. It would only be a matter of time.

Rush sucked in a breath; even through the screams Ghis heard it. "Egil is dead, as well as his trainees. Ciel has Anselm but the shadow bridge is broken and there is no way out. The Necromancer has sealed the shadows away from us."

"Tell her to hide him. Keep him safe. Once de Rais is dead she's to go."Ghis looked around at the carnage grimly. "I must get to him."

Rush nodded at the crush of daemons protecting de Rais. "If we break through we might have a chance."

Ghis nodded. She looked at Bedelia out of the corner of her eye. The blond vampire was breathing heavily and sweating but her lips were pulled back in a snarl and she gripped her broad sword in her hand as if it were her lifeline.

"We attack. I want you both behind me. I'll fight my way in and attack from the other side." Rush and Bedelia nodded though Rush did so stiffly.

Ghislaine moved like wind and was attacking the daemons before they could register it. They were quick to notice though and were very different from their animal resembling counterparts. Each one had a weapon for instance, and were quick to wield it. Others sported teeth, claws, and magic that spilled from their fingers like liquid death. Rush was immediately wounded, his left arm catching the claws of a short daemon causing his bow to fall to the floor lost among the feet of daemons and vampires in battle.

Bedelia showed no signs she was hurt once she began attacking. She hissed cursed at daemons as her broadsword bit into them like butter. Each one she hit melted in to shadows and didn't return. Ghislaine mused at the irony of that. Bedelia had always claimed it had been blessed by a Priest. Bedelia made good use of that blade, blessed as it was or not. She was beside Ghislaine the entire way.

Ghis grinned at her and they both attacked a daemon that moved like water and seemed to breath a poisoned ice. Bedelia finally had it by the throat when suddenly a shadow behind her shifted into a human like shape. Rush cried out and Bedelia turned, only to find the Daemon had her by the throat, ice creeping into her flesh and seeming to burn. Ghis dropped the shield and swung her sword and the Daemon's head came off. It fell to the floor and melted into a thousand bits of a spider-like things.

But it was too late. Bedelia fell to the floor where a dozen other shadows engulfed her. Rush spat out a word Ghis couldn't translate but understood the gist. But both Rush and Ghis were by far to occupied by the fray to go to her.

It didn't matter. They both already knew she was dead.

Rush had somehow coaxed his Will to bring him Bedelia's broadsword. He swung it with renew passion and daemons fell before him. Ghislaine also took out her rage on the daemons. One after another was forced to break into shadows and then form themselves into a solid shape again. Once she knew how to do it, it became easy, and they began to fall.

Suddenly a familiar voice cried out in pain and both Ghis and Rush froze. The voice was an oh so familiar one Ghis hadn't heard in a month's time.

"Purvis." Rush had found her before Ghislaine and she tracked his gaze to the throne. De Rais sat laughing as a daemon beside him held onto the small vampire who sagged in his grip obviously in pain. The daemon was dark red and seemed to radiate heat, the smell of burning flesh suddenly found its way to Ghislaine's nose. Her mate. Her lifebonded. De Rais had her the entire time. Ghislaine bared her teeth and growled low in her throat, the Dominant in her aroused to sudden rage.

"Ghislaine Dumas." Javier de Rais suddenly announced, his voice raised to be heard over the sound of the battle. "How pleased I am to see you've come to my celebration."

The daemons that blocked the path to the throne sudden melted into shadows and Ghislaine was free to approach the throne. Rush was so close to her side he was nearly in her pocket. She stopped before the throne, unable to hide her sneer.

"De Rais." She didn't spit the name as she was keeping strict control of her emotions.

The Necromancer laughed. "That is Lord de Rais, Ghislaine. You must use the proper title." He chided her with a wagging finger.

Rush growled low in his throat. "Release my sister, de Rais."

"How delightful to see you again, Gautier, kill anyone recently?" De Rais smirked and Rush's grip on Bedelia's broadsword grew tighter. The Necromancer straightened from his slouch in the throne. "I am going to kill her, Gautier, but not too soon. I owe you after all."

"Is that what this is about?" Rush was gritting his teeth in an effort to be calm.

"Oh, your ego is overwhelming, Gautier."De Rais laughed delightedly. "This has nothing to do with you."

"No. This is about Crescent." Ghislaine said evenly unable to take her eyes off her mate. The fair vampire was barely conscious and was only standing up because of the daemon that held her prisoner. "He wants to get to Kiinn."

"Actually, yes. And no. This is about death. I am well versed in death. Causing it, observing it, admiring it." De Rais shrugged. "I am actually here to kill you. All of you." His smile reached his eyes. "You are all going to die."

Ghislaine hissed at him. "Not if I kill you first."

De Rais merely grinned. "Look around you. Most of your people are dead. I have your mate. And now I have your brother."

Ghislaine's blood went cold.

She called on her Will, gathering it into her hand but it was too late. There was a pull in the shadows and then he was gone. A moment later so was Purvis.

---

A part of her broke inside.

She ignored it but Rush wasn't able to. He was faster than her and had attacked the red human-like daemon before she could stop him.

Rush was thrown back with a wave of the daemon's magic. He spat in rage and attacked again but was immediately tossed aside. "Stupid mortal child" The daemon hissed at him. "You will die. The Nigromancer will kill you if I cannot. It is best to simply surrender."

"Never!" Rush spat back.

"Very well." The daemon crowed. "Enjoy hell."

The daemon attacked him, claws out stretched. Rush jumped back and barely missed getting impaled. Ghislaine was also attacked, as the daemons behind her suddenly decided it might be a good idea. She was quick to defend herself and had to spit her attention between the daemons attacking her and the one attacking Rush.

He was so out of control. She could understand as she was a Dominant and loved Purvis too. But Rush was unmated; he had no lifebonded and had to maintain strict control because of it. When he lost that control Purvis was always there to help him gain it back. Now she was gone. And Ghislaine could smell Rush's panic and fear.

The daemon used teeth and claws and magic as weapons. The teeth were sharp and he was able to dodge them but the claws weren't so easy. He lost the broadsword when the daemon spat something yellow in his eyes. It seemed to burn and he lost his footing.

Ghislaine watched as he fell and tried to get through the daemons attacking but she wasn't able to reach him in time. The daemon was on him, teeth heading for his throat. A burst of Will from his hand sent the daemon skittering back, blinded by light.

And then she was free. Ghislaine's swords sent the last daemon bursting into shadows like sand and she was through.

But the daemon's yellow eyes stopped her in her tracks.

They seemed to slip into her mind, fingers and madness reaching into her thoughts and twisting them.

"Kill him." The voice in side her head was strangely familiar.

"Kill the vampire child called Rush."

Ghislaine struggled to shake the invading thoughts out of her head but her hand was gripping the swords and she was stepping closer to Rush who stood strangely still. The yellow eyes wouldn't release her and suddenly Rush moved, quick, as only a vampire could be. He had Bedelia's broadsword at her throat before she could blink.

And still she couldn't move.

"Kill the vampire. Kill him."

Her swords were poised to impale him. She tried to shake herself free but couldn't and the broadsword bit into her neck enough to spill blood. That seemed to shake Rush up enough for him to recognize what he was doing but he still couldn't break free. His blue eyes were pained. He smelled of pain and desperation and grief. And acceptance. He smelled resigned.

"Kill Him!"

No. No she couldn't. He couldn't make her. He was her best friend. Practically her brother. But her logical mind thought it through even as she struggled against the daemon's magic. She was the Lady of Crescent and therefore the one that had to live. She was in control where he had lost his. She was the better fighter. If anyone could defeat the daemon and then de Rais it would be her. She was also the lifebonded mate of Purvis Dumas where he was only her brother. Of the two he was an acceptable loss. But she just couldn't. Not even under the spell of a daemon.

"Enough dithering about, mortal child. Kill him!"

And she did. Her sword sank into his stomach then up through his heart.. He gasped and the broadsword dropped from its place at her throat. He was free the moment she stabbed him and he choked as he came back to himself. But she held the sword there and he couldn't heal himself. His blue eyes held hers, peaceful, forgiving, and finally calm before the light in them faded. And then she was free.

The daemon cackled madly but she couldn't move.

She had killed her best friend.

A mage bolt, bright and glorious, sailed over her head and hit the daemon who still laughed madly. He choked and then dissipated into nothing with a cut off scream.

Ghislaine was on her feet, the sword she had used to kill Rush in her left hand and the broadsword in her right, though she didn't know when she had gotten hold of it. She turned to face the new threat but stopped short when there were only two familiar faces present.

Fawne was there, her eyes unable to leave the body of Rush, and beside her stood a vampire. His hair was snow white, his eyes violet, and the battle robes he wore were black but blazed with the gold of the mage fire that climbed them in twisting vines.

"Osset're." Ghislaine didn't even recognize her voice. Closing her eyes she forced the pain, grief, and guilt down. "You came just a few moments too late."

Osset're raised an snowy eyebrow. "For some, perhaps, but not for you." His English was even more mangled than Fawne's but Ghislaine was more than happy to hear it. The Consort was here. That meant so was Kiinn.

Fawne spoke up. "Beh-dee-lia?"

Ghislaine just looked at her. The small vampire seemed to wilt then and looked around at the carnage with haunted eyes before settling again on Rush. Ghislaine could feel the guilt rising but forced it back and shook herself at if to get rid of it. She knew it wasn't her fault. Her heart simply didn't.

"De Rais has Anselm." Ghis started for them but stopped in shock as she took in the scene. There was nothing alive in the Great Hall but Fawne, the Consort, and herself. Not even the shadows remained.

The Consort blatantly ignored the dead clan that littered the floor. "Daemons." He said and shrugged. "They flee the moment they see mage fire."

Ghislaine blinked at him. They never did for her mage fire.

"Well, are we off to rescue Anni or not?" Osset're said it impatiently, hands waving about, obviously for greater emphasis.

Ghislaine tried to smile but couldn't.

He seemed to understand and simply motioned for her to come closer.

"Come, come, Ghislaine. I'll shadow walk us to Anselm."

Ghislaine took one last look at the broken body of Rush Gautier before turning away. She made her way to Fawne. Putting a hand on her shoulder she woke the girl from her shock. Fawne looked at her blankly for a moment before shaking herself and actually dredging up a smile.

"Teeme to kick ass, ehh, Ghis?" She whispered half heartedly and Ghislaine smiled painfully. The girl was calm, and rising above her grief. Ghislaine really ought to follow her example.

---

Osset're had never shadow walked Ghislaine before but to her surprise it wasn't as alarming as usual. The powerful vampire mage led the way through the darkness fearlessly and it was the quickest she had ever traveled through the shadows before.

Even as smooth as it was she was more than pleased to be quit of the darkness once she, Fawne, and the Consort arrived in a small room just off the Entrance Hall.

"Hate bloody shadow walking." The elven vampire muttered under his breath, brushing off his battle robes in disgust, as if the darkness had somehow left lint on them.

Ghislaine huffed in amusement but didn't go so far as to laugh. The Consort watched her with knowing eyes but she look away from the violet orbs as guilt threatened to claw its way out her throat.

A warm scent, almost indiscernible, rose off Osset're s he moved closer to her.

"Hate the daemon, not yourself." His whispered softly before leading them to the door to the Entrance Hall.

She wasn't prepared for the other devastation that was displayed in the Entrance Hall. To define it as carnage would be a gross understatement.

Daemons ran amok. The vampires present were outnumbered by hundreds. Whenever she looked death met another vampire whose face was achingly familiar, who was clan.

And the battle was vicious. The daemons didn't merely kill, they slaughtered. The screams of the dying were tortured screams. Even as bloodied a warrior as she was Ghislaine blanched at the sight before her.

The Consort did not. Osset're was a terrible force to meet as many dead enemies could attest and all who battled with him knew. His power was unmatched in the entire clan, in all of the Bloodlands, as few clans outside of Crescent could boast someone half as powerful. He lived up to his reputation with little error and announced his presence with a blinding display of mage light. Daemons scattered before that light to shadows quicker than her eyes could catch. Those that reformed were human-like one with teeth and horns and claws that they flashed as they cackled.

But Osset're's displayed scared away only the less powerful daemons and of the more powerful there seemed to be many. With fierce anticipation he jumped into the battle, magic spilling like water from his hands.

Ghislaine was right behind him, her sword and Bedelia's broadsword nearly as effective as the Consort's magic. Fawne joined in, letting out a loud battle cry that made Ghis wince. In her head she could just imagine her weapon's master snarling at her for breathing too hard, lest the enemy hear, and her position given away.

But she was forced to let it go as Fawne was soon in the thick of the battle and Ghislaine was fast matching skills with sword wielding daemons.

It was when she reached the middle of the Entrance Hall that she lost her composure.

Anselm, her little brother, the last connection she had to her parents, lay strapped to a wooden alter with a daemon perched on his chest.

The daemon was small and gray, with lines that ran throughout his skin like glowing blue tattoos. His teeth resembled a shark's and his eyes were red in color. Ghislaine broke through the barrier of daemons quite abruptly and just in time to see the daemon plunge his claws into Anselm's chest and. with a twist, pull out his heart.

Bringing the heart to his mouth the daemon swallowed the heart whole, stretching his mouth wide to encompass it all without biting into it. As it slunk down his throat he whined and then shattered into pieces of shadows that promptly disappeared.

Ghislaine lost control. Rage overtook her, her thoughts blurred into inconsistent rambles, and her Will refused to respond to her. But she was overcome by grief and didn't care. The world fell away into pain and killing and death. Daemons fell before her and reformed just to fall again. She didn't register wounds, even when the claw of a daemons when threw her stomach.

Even when Fawne was hit by one of her blades she couldn't stop. The small vampire was thrown back by her attack and quickly skittered away. She didn't see the shadow behind her that became the head of a giant snake with fangs that dripped with a glistening yellow liquid. And when it swallowed her whole it took her by such a surprise she never screamed.

It was her lord that shook her out of it. Suddenly Kiinn was there and he didn't hesitate hit her hard enough to knock her down.

"Ghislaine Dumas, you are out of control." He hissed at her sternly, towering over her like a giant demigod.

He was so close she could smell his disapproval as well as the blood that spilled from several wounds. Her thoughts, however, refused stand still. She had lost her clan, her mate, her best friend, and her brother. She couldn't gain control of herself anymore. The part that was Dominant was so lost. Half of her was already dead and deep down the rest wanted to die too. She simply stared at him, forgetting her place. He was quick to remind her with another blow, his fangs bared.

They were interrupted by daemons and Kiinn's sword found its way into them with little effort. Ghislaine didn't react until Kiinn reached down and dragged her up by her hair. Then she hissed at him in outrage. How dare he! She was no submissive. But he did dare. He had pulled her out of harm's way and back towards where Osset're defended Dejah, who lay unmoving, her side bloody and visibly clawed. She lost her sword in the process and Bedelia's had grown heavy and she was forced to let it drag on the ground behind her.

Then Kiinn had her on her knees before him. She wasn't sure how, and he physically forced her head down. Every part of her screamed defiance but inside she could feel his Dominance. He was her lord, her leader, and she would submit to him whether she wanted to or not. That she hadn't, showed how out of control she really was.

This was the choice she had made when she chose to walk the path he did. This was the entire point of the Ancient Ways. She wasn't powerful in magic. Her Will was average at best. It was her strength in body and mind, heart and soul that really helped her. It was what made her Dominant. But a good Dominant showed respect. They showed respect to those more powerful then themselves whether it be a more powerful Dominant or a more powerful submissive.

She bowed her head, relaxed her shoulders, and tilted her head. Her unbound hair fell to one side, baring her neck. But it wasn't enough. She had grossly overstepped, fallen so far, and lost control. It was unacceptable for a Dominant more especially a Lady. Her lord had the right to punish her severely. She gave up control, willingly and wholeheartedly. And finally her thoughts calmed into coherency.

"I'm sorry, my lord." She whispered, ashamed. "I don't know how to apolo-"

The snap of teeth cut her short. "Be silent."

The hissed order nearly made her wince but she controlled her reaction and pushed down her emotions.

"Who am I?"

She held herself very still. "Lord Kiinn, my lord."

Long fingers gripped her chin and pulled it up. Duel eyes of silver and black boring into her softly. "You are strong enough to continue." She wanted to look away but couldn't.

Abruptly she was released and a Bedelia's broadsword pushed into her hands. "Up, Lady Dumas" She didn't have a choice as she was pulled up by a gentle hand and pushed her at Dejah. "You will want to say goodbye." He glanced at the werewolf. "Silver," he explained.

Dejah died before she could reach her. The daemon's poison proved to be too much. She ran bloodied fingers through the soft fur. Her emotions ran beneath her thoughts, accessible, but not prevalent.

---

Gripping the sword she stood and turned back to the battle. Osset're was fighting three daemons that spilled a dark cold magic from their hands. Hylaarr had somehow lost his sword and was dodging curses that a green haired witch spat from a wooden stick. Daemons inside shadows seemed to cover the floor in a carpet of rolling darkness. Every so often claws would swipe out and trip a member of Crescent clan.

Ghislaine jumped back into the fray with a single goal in mind. Revenge. She dove into the thick of the battle with mindless ferocity; nearly tripping over Ciel who crouched, hidden beneath half a dozen bodies, and muttered enchantments beneath her breath.

"Lady Dumas?" She whispered, eyes staring blankly, sounding unsure. Ghislaine grimaced. When a vampire was unsure of your scent it meant you really needed a bath.

"Yes, Ciel. Its me."

Ciel gasped, dropped her eyes submissively, and bared her neck with one hand before offering up both wrists in supplication.

"My Lady, your brother is dead." She whispered and didn't moved to defend herself as a daemon struck near her head. Ghislaine defended her but she still didn't move. "I am at fault, precious Lady. I have no excuse."

Another daemon tossed deadly magic a bit too close for comfort and again she was forced to defend the powerful Enchantress. "Ciel." She said with irritation.

Ciel cringed at her tone. "My life is yours to take, Lady Dumas."

"Ciel get up this instant." Ghislaine hissed. "You are not at fault for his death but if I die defending you while you sit on your arse doing nothing you will be at fault for mine."

Ciel hesitated momentarily but finally stood just as de Rais appeared, blue and green daemons that resembled rats of unusual size. Grinning directly at Ghislaine he motioned to the shadows in front of him and with a pull, shadow walked out and was gone.

The shadows gathered in intensity and pulled themselves together to manifest into a tall solid shape. A blue man with maroon eyes and yellow spikes stood staring at Ciel.

She sniffed, then gasped, and stepped back once before stopping. "Shabiri." She breathed. Her blue eyes were wide with fear and they stared unseeingly in the daemon's direction.

The daemon grinned, and his eyes were wide with madness. He breathed yellow smoke, which twisted in the air strangely. It sank and rose and made it's way to the Enchantress who couldn't move. Just before it reached her Ghislaine regained the sense of mind to knock the submissive out of the way. Ciel fell to the floor, her fair skin getting even more stained by the blood that pooled there.

Ghislaine attacked the daemon but her sword cut through him as if he weren't solid at all. Hissing she turned to Ciel only to mutter a french curse under her breath. The Enchantress lay on the floor, back arched in pain as the yellow smoke fed itself into her mouth and nose. Her lungs worked fiercely, trying to breath, but only succeeded in helping the daemon's magic sink into her lungs faster. When the smoke was gone she chocked once before rolling over and gaging.

Ghislaine started for the Enchantress but the tortured sound of her lord caught her attention. She turned to see Lord Kiinn on his back, the witch holding her stick pointed at him, and an unnatural red light stretching from her stick to him in an unbroken light.

Kiinn writhed and twisted, his body arching with spasms so bad that the sound of bones snapping could be heard from across the room. His screams were the worst, though. Never had she heard the Lord of Crescent scream so.

A mage bolt abruptly knocked the stick from the witch's hand and her lord was released but still didn't move. She heard beautiful elven words spat in ugly panic from Osset're but noticed he was being hemmed in by shadows and daemons so much he was forced to hold a shield around him as he found. A glance back at Ciel showed that she was white with pain and unable to move but another cry from her Lord made her decision. She was across the room slower than she preferred but reached the witch fast enough to surprise her.

"Sorci re." Ghis spat like curses at the girl even as she broke her stick. The witch merely cackled madly, her eyes senseless with shadows dancing in them.

Possessed then.

The witch danced back agilely and nearly retreated to a safe distance but Kiinn attacked before she could. He had the witch in his teeth and shook her like a dog. Her neck snapped and he dropped her, breathing hard. With a glance at Ghis he nodded and started back across the room to Osset're.

A whisper of foreboding was her only indication. The witch cackled with a voice not her own and pointed a stick a the back of her lord.

"Die, Hylaarr Kiinn, enemy of my Master de Rais."

The words were spoken so low Ghislaine was surprised she had heard it all. A green light began it's way out of the stick and she made her choice. She stepped into the green light, and felt it hit, shocking the breath and soul out of her.

She thought she heard the familiar sound of Purvis calling her before everything was black and then gone.

---

July 30th.

Sunset.

Kiinn was ready.

Blood coursed down his hands in creeping rivulets spilling down his fingers to drip onto the floor. The scent was fresh., the blood, a mingling of his own and his mate's. He stood with his head pressed against the cool marble wall, one hand supporting him so he wouldn't fall. His injuries were enough to make him weak with blood loss despite the small amount he had drained from the silly witch.

Javier de Rais was a necromancer. Necromancers were not normally a friend to any kind of people but generally let alone to live their life as they returned the favor. Now one had declared war against the Bloodlands. He had killed those who named themselves a part of Kiinn's clan. Kiinn was his clan. His clan was him. When it was being attacked he felt compelled to defend it not by the oaths he took upon declaring himself lord, not even by the very code he followed, the Ancient Ways, but by a part of him in his soul. The part that was Dominant and needed to protect his family, friends, children, and clan as he needed to protect himself.

What Javier de Rais had done by attacking Fleur de Sang, Kiinn likened to throwing down a gauntlet. Oh he was quite aware of the challenge that had been made. The massacre had been no more than a childish prod at the Lord of Crescent goading him int a fight. Goading him so he would be blinded by fury and would fall into a neatly laid trap.

But many young fools had tried their blade against Kiinn's and lost. Kiinn was ready. Javier de Rais wasn't the first vampire nor the first necromancer to think himself more skilled then Hylaarr Somus Moonrun Silvereyes Kiinn. The others were dead now and so would de Rais be. Soon. Just as Ghislaine Dumas was.

"Hylaarr."

His mate stood behind him, a warm hand brushing his left shoulder. Osset're was the only one who could get so close without Hylaarr noticing. Especially when he was like this.

"Wallowing in guilt won't bring them back, Hylaarr Kiinn." Osset're sounded slightly exasperated. He blew out an irritated breath before murmuring,"Beloved," in a much more concerned way.

Hylaarr sighed. He had said beloved in elven. His mate knew he loved that word spoken in elven. Osset're had done it on purpose in an effort to calm him.

"I am aware." Kiinn shrugged in an effort to shake off the guilt. "But I am at fault nevertheless."

Abruptly he turned to face his mate. Osset're stood pale, skin flushed with lingering battle fever and splashed with blood. His violet eyes watched Hylaarr and his magic, tired after its exertions, simply swirled around his battle robes.

"I should have anticipated an attack."

"Sennett's been an ally for years, Hylaarr." Osset're tilted his head. "You should have anticipated an attack, which you did when you sent Ghislaine, but not one of such magnitude. Hylaarr."

Osset're took a deep breath and stepped forward. "It wasn't your fault." His mate whispered it into his ear. Kiinn could hear the carefully concealed waver in his voice. His submissive was exhausted, more so than Kiinn do doubt as he had been wielding mage magic. It was time to put away the grief and guilt and tend to his mate. He brought a gentle hand around Osset're's waist pulling him closer. His mate sighed and he felt even more guilt. His mate had needed him for comfort and he had been here, wallowing, when he should have been taking care of it.

"I hate daemons." Osset're muttered into his chest.

Kiinn chucked then grimaced and his humor. His emotions were running away from his control. He must be very tired to let such a thing happen. They both were very tired. Time to feed and sleep. Later he could call Kian if she was needed.

Kiinn closed his eyes, and looked beyond the darkness there, searching for another kind of darkness. He sought the shadows. Different vampires claimed to find it in different places but Kiinn had always found it just to his right as if it sat beside his ear. With little effort he touched his mate with his Will, a rather unnecessary labor as his Will always anticipated when he wanted his mate with him and would simply bring Osset're along regardless, and slowly stepped into the darkness.

Each time it was different. Sometime it was as if he were running down a tunnel that had no end, sometimes as if he were climbing a tree blindfolded, sometimes he was simply falling endlessly. The trick was to declare where he wanted to be before he took that first step and then to not leave the path the darkness created. Those who had left that path at best were lost forever. He was too heart-sick to think about what was the worst that could happen. The battle had made him sick to death of daemons.

The darkness wasn't natural. In natural darkness any vampire could still see. The barest bit of light would be caught by their eyes and allow them to see to a lesser or greater degree, such as with cats or other nocturnal creatures. In this darkness there was no such thing as sight. It was as if light never existed and, even if you had only shadow walked to the next room, you would feel as if you had forgotten what sight was when you were in the shadows.

It took years for a young vampire to learn how to do it and even more years for one to become used to it. Some never did. His own mate Osset're had done it once and refused to do so again. After a decade Kiinn had managed to teach him but it had never been his favorite activity. Even almost 70 years later the elven vampire preferred Kiinn to shadow walk them and used his mage talents to get around on his own. The inhabitants of Crescent allowed it as Osset're was their Lord's Consort and they loved him but Hylaarr made sure to emphasize that his mate was more than capable of sending them all to the moon with a wink of his violet eye if they so much as teased him for it. Kiinn allowed no one to tease his mate, except himself of course. The elven vampire was far too sensitive and took a lot said literally.

Stepping out of the shadows in to The Golden Suite was more than pleasant. The setting sun lit up the room in a blaze of warm light and was a welcome relief to drive off the memory of the darkness of the shadows. Yawning Osset're pulled away and stretched wincing as a few closing wounds pulled away from scabs and started bleeding. Kiinn was both reminded of his anger at his mate's wounds and reminded of his hunger. His eyes tracked his mate's path to their bed and his stomach protested at the thought of a moment's more of waiting.

"Oh, bless Seren, there's food." Osset're was reaching for the chilled bottle of blood before he'd finished his sentence. "Soo hungry." His violet eyes met Kiinn's over the top of the glass. They grew heavy as he tipped the glass back and drank. Another hunger made itself known but Kiinn knew better than to indulge in that one with so many wounds open and so much blood loss. More the pity. He would have to satisfy himself with his mate's blood for now.

He shed his bloody clothes as he made his way to the bed and Osset're had finished off the bottle by then as well. His mate, ever the accommodating Submissive, tilted his head to the side baring his neck. Hylaarr wasted no time in sinking his fangs into the welcoming flesh.

Osset're's blood was hot and tasted of cinnamon and chilies and maple syrup. It washed the taste of the witch he had killed away and filled him with the love and magic of his life bonded. Nothing Hylaarr had ever tasted had ever compared to his mate's blood. Out of devotion he drank nothing but it for sustenance, a practice more often than not taken up by Submissive's, but one Kiinn had embraced as a way of showing his mate every day that he loved him.

His mate made little muttering sounds, something he was saying in elven but Kiinn couldn't muster up the brain power to translate, and arched his neck more. So pleasing his mate was to him. So submissive. So, utterly, Kiinn's.

But the battle fever wasn't long passed and when the feeling of someone entering their chamber with a loud crack kit him Hylaarr had pulled smoothly out of his mate's neck and faced the potential threat with a half sword in hand before he had even registered it. His eyes immediately lit on the new occupant and he almost felt his heart stop.

The boy. The boy, Harry, was back.

"Oh." Osset're was across the room in seconds but Kiinn was there first. The child was asleep on the bench beside his work table, curled up so tight it was a wonder he could breathe. Kiinn held his mate back a moment and reached out with his Will, looking for anything out of order. His Will inspected the boy, but the child was unconscious, and not even a thought could be heard coming from his mind.

"Oh, Ninlil," His mate suddenly breathed and Kiinn abruptly could smell rage coming off his mate. He looked and what had caught Osset're's attention suddenly caught his.

A scar.

There at his throat, a thin red line that swept from one side of his throat to the other, was visible. With a trembling hand Kiinn reached out and pushed the boy's chin back a bit. He was truly unconscious, as his head simply fell back to rest against the cold marble bench. Kiinn's fingers traced the red line and he struggled to keep himself under control.

Someone had cut the boy's throat. Slit it.

He would kill them.

Osset're was the first to react. He gently pulled the boy off the bench and cradled his small frame in his arms. Kiinn was alert for any odd happenings as he followed his mate. Osset're gently set the boy down on the bed and started scanning him with his magic, green and gold spilling from his fingers to seep into the boy. The magic took too long in Kiinn's opinion to read the boy but after a few minutes rose out of him and swirled into elven script.

The boy was in much better health than last time. He had been eating regularly and sleeping as well. There appeared to be quite a lot of blood loss though, and the scar made one assume that the boy had been hurt recently and healed. There was no residual healing magic, however, and Kiinn could feel his sharp canines against his lower lip as he bared his teeth. Again he struggled to reign in his emotions.

Osset're stroked the boy's dark hair. It had grown a bit since they last saw him. "Should we call Kian?" His mate asked him softly, apparently in effort to get a reaction out of him.

Kiinn shook himself mentally and reached out for the boy's wrist. He counted heartbeats. The boy's heart beat was slower than he would have liked. Perhaps a blood replenishing potion.

"Kian has enough to do. I have potions." Kiinn flexed his Will and called for the potion bottles he needed. Carefully he sat on the bed beside the boy and put a hand on his chest. Looking at his mate, who was biting his lip and staring at the new scar on the boy, he motioned for his attention. "Wake him, he'll need to take the potions and then sleep."

Osset're hesitated a moment then nodded. A breath of magic swirled around him and into the boy who took a sudden breath and opened his eyes before choking on it and coughing.

"Easy, child, shh." Osset're murmured in the boy's ear. Kiinn's hand on his chest kept him from moving too much. "Your safe Harry."

Kiinn gently moved his fingers in a circular motion on the boy's chest and his breathing eased. Green eyes watched him carefully.

"You are back." Kiinn stated the obvious but it seemed the thing to do as the boy relaxed great and sighed deeply upon his words. Kiinn motioned to his throat. "What happened?"

The boy flinched before his expression smoothed into a calm one. Kiinn frowned. The child was going to start lying. He had already begun with his face. Not even vampire children were excepted to control their emotions the way the boy did. He had done this before and successfully spun lies and truth together so Kiinn couldn't tell them apart. That would not happen again.

"You will tell me." Kiinn commanded in his best Dominant tone.

The boy looked away before sighing. After a moment his eyes found Kiinn's tentatively and he sighed again. He opened his mouth and said something but nothing came out. The boy blinked in surprise and slowly touched his throat. His eyes widened at the scar he felt beneath his fingers.

Kiinn could feel the shock and sudden horror that he suddenly smelt and knew the boy had just remembered what had happened. Kiinn leaned forward expectantly. The boy noticed and quickly tried again. Again nothing came out.

Osset're was, again, the first to react. He spilled magic from himself into the boy so quickly it was a wonder Kiinn saw it. Kiinn frowned. The boy couldn't speak more than likely because of his wound. Perhaps he had healed wrong, perhaps a curse, or perhaps he simply was pretending. Emotional shock could be the answer as well; anything was possible. It was even more likely that someone had done to him on purpose. Made him unable to speak in order to keep him for speaking to them. Perhaps whoever had taken him away. If someone had. It was incredibly frustrating that he knew nothing of what was going on.

The magic rose to hover into a mist above the boy who simply stared at it in dismay. It said nothing it hadn't before. There apparently was nothing wrong with the boy. At least not physically. Damn. There must be some way.

Osset're had anticipated his desires though and his magic fed it self into his hands in order to create a pad of paper and a pen. He held out to the boy just before scooting himself behind the boy and pulling him to lean back into his stomach. The boy grew tense at the contact before relaxing and accepting the pad of paper.

Carefully The boy wrote on paper, eyes flickering up once to glance at Kiinn. He made sure to look stern. He wanted answers and this time truthful ones. After a minute or two the boy was finished and handed Kiinn the pad of paper. He accepted it with a nod, which cause the boy to relax, and began to read.

"Hylaarr," The note began and Kiinn couldn't help the warmth that he felt at the boy's address. "I am very sorry I am here again. I don't know it happened. I was separated from my aunt and uncle when we were in London. Some boys grabbed me and tried to steal my shoes and coat. One had a knife. I think I got hurt. My magic," The ink was heavy where the boy hesitated over writing the word. "must have brought me here. I'm sorry."

Kiinn handed the paper to Osset're who had been twitching all the while Kiinn took his time but hadn't wanted to leave to boy to read the note over his shoulder. He watched as his mate frowned while he read it. The boy really was a very good liar. And the paper and pen wasn't a very good idea as it game him too much time to think over his answers.

"Harry." His mate had trouble controlling exasperation in his voice. "You never mentioned an aunt or uncle."

The boy blinked once, slowly. Then he grinned widely and motioned for the paper. He wrote for a minute before passing it to Kiinn. Osset're frowned at having to wait and Kiinn smirked at him before reading.

"I got them right after I left here. I woke up in a hospital and the nice lady said that they'd found them for me. Then they came and took me home with them! I got a room and I have a cousin and I got to go to a nice school. My uncle is really big but he's nice and my Aunt tells me stories about when she and my mum were kids. I'm really happy!"

The writing was messier this time and had a lot of exclamation points. Kiinn blew out an amused breath and passed the paper to his mate. Osset're openly chuckled at the note and the boy relaxed.

"I'm glad your happy, little one, but why didn't you use magic to get away from those boys?" Osset're sounded very shocked and bewildered.

The boy took the paper right out of his hands and wrote a bit before handing it, again, to Kiinn first. Kiinn wanted to laugh. The boy might pretend he was normal but the submissive behavior gave it all away. He deferred to Kiinn, the Dominant. He was talking, if you could call it that, to Osset're but he was sure to include Kiinn in everything he said. That pleased him. It meant there was hope for the boy yet.

"I- I don't know how to do that much. And my aunt, and uncle, and cousin, their not magic. They don't have any. I don't want to make them unhappy." The last word had been gone over as if the boy had begun writing something else. Kiinn handed it to his mate.

Osset're raised an eyebrow over it but merely smiled at the boy and hugged him tighter against him. The boy motioned for the paper and wrote very quickly. Kiinn accepted the note.

"Why are you bleeding everywhere?" Kiinn looked at him a moment but the boy was staring at his bare chest in dismay. He found the wording a bit strange. The boy didn't ask, 'How did you get hurt?' as a child normally would. Kiinn filed it away.

"We were fighting off an attack at one of our holdings, child,"Osset're said very carefully after reading the note. "The Necromancer who attacked us was very strong."

The boy yawned and nodded before scooting closer to Osset're. His mate smiled at that and leaned back against the pillow a bit. After a moment Kiinn remembered the potions. He picked them up and crawled across his mate's legs to sit beside him and the boy. Osset're touched the boy's face lightly, to wake him up, but the boy merely shook his head.

"Potions, Harry." Osset're whispered in his ear. "Hylaarr will throw a fit if you don't take them" The boy smiled and opened his eyes slightly. Those green orbs watched him as he pulled out the cork and gently fed the potions to him. He made a face at the taste but did nothing to stop him.

Kiinn relaxed. He'd worried that so long away would make the boy hate them, or forget everything. Most submissives needed reinforced assurance that it was okay to be submissive and that they were loved for doing so. Of course Harry wasn't a normal submissive chide and was in actuality human. Most humans found it very hard to follow the Ancient Ways because of the Dominant and Submissive factor. They didn't understand the reason for categorizing themselves in such a way because they had no need to do so.

Kiinn relaxed into the pillows and snuggled closer to his mate and the boy. The boy yawned again. He slowly moved his hand and touched the boy's neck tracing the scar. The boy froze, swallowed hard, and relaxed. Osset're caught his hand and pulled it away holding his fingers tightly. Their entwined hands rested on the boy's chest.

"We are very pleased to see you, Harry." Osset're whispered it slowly. The boy reached up a hand and caressed their hands once.

Osset're sighed. "We thought we might not see you again, Harry."

The boy didn't respond but his eyes were open.

"We missed you, Harry." Kiinn reinforced that fact with a light kiss to the boy's head. He sighed again, a shaky thing, and leaned his head into the kiss.

Osset're smelled of sorrow and cleared his voice before speaking again. "Years ago Hylaarr and I conceived a child. A magical child. I knew the moment he was created. He felt like a ball of love and light inside me. Hylaarr called Kian when I told him. He was convinced something was wrong with me. He badgered Kian to find something and she finally told him. 'He's expecting, Lord Kiinn, and you better get used to it.' Poor Hylaarr. He was so excited. We had him for a day. And then he was gone. There was an attack on Crescent and I was knocked unconscious. When I woke the next day he was gone. I couldn't feel him. I just felt empty." Osset're's scent matched how Kiinn felt. "I loved him so much."

Again Kiinn struggled to control his emotions. Why did Osset're have to bring this up now. He was so tired. He had no control.

"We felt, we feel, that way about you, Harry. We love you." Osset're took a deep breath. "And when you left I felt so empty."

'And so did I.' Kiinn couldn't breathe through the pain. That child had been the center of his world for a day. When he lost him a part of him died. That part was only brought to life again nine months ago when he met Harry. He'd had Harry for a the same amount of time. And he had felt just as empty. The child had no idea of the effect he had on them.

Suddenly the boy pulled away. Kiinn let him and he twisted around to stare at them. Finally he mouthed 'I'm sorry.' There was a faint pull and then the boy was gone.

Osset're sucked in a breath and let it hiss out.

---

Ok Darlin's. How was that? I think that went rather well. Err, not the speaking terrible French part but the story part. Ignore the French. It's been a while since I studied it.

I was tempted to split it as this chapter is the longest yet but I really couldn't give you all two chapters in a row without Harry. That would have been too evil.

Next chapter Harry's 8th birthday and his new pet.

French Kisses for everyone.

Fitful.