Luthien587:

Chapter 10- Thanks for noticing and appreciating my efforts to interject some reality into the developing relationship. Honestly, some of it is about not only what frustrates me in a lot of other romance stories, but also the sort of love story I want to read, which is one I could believably interject myself into. It's hard for me to imagine myself in a romance in real life where everything is wonderful and falls magically into place. A love never tested holds no strength, no validity. I wanted to write a love story that required no suspension of disbelief beyond that some require when reading about vampires and werewolves. Personally, I prefer to believe in vampires and werewolves, so for me no suspension of disbelief is required.

I'm planning to explore Sabas's training and Sabine's feelings towards Lycans further in the coming chapters, though some of the mystery of Sabine's motivations will remain for awhile.

Chapter 11- I love that you see Aleeria so much the way I envision her on this end. It means I'm doing my job right. As long as she's a human, I wanted her to have all the benefits of that and all the downsides. I love the book series Dune and it has this quote that makes me think a little of how I'm building Aleeria's character:

Thus spoke St. Alia-of-the-Knife: "The Reverend Mother must combine the seductive wiles of a courtesan with the untouchable majesty of a virgin goddess, holding these attributes in tension so long as the powers of her youth endure. For when youth and beauty have gone, she will find that the place-between, once occupied by tension, has become a wellspring of cunning and resourcefulness."

Basically, I want her to have to use her brain and her spirit while that's all she has so if she becomes more, she has more at her disposal than just powers. I get really tired of characters that have super powers as a crutch for lacking any other sort of abilities or talents. Your commentary on their dynamic in their world is dead-on for how I see it. Isn't that what makes a relationship amazing: defining the line between surviving and thriving?

I love that you jumped when Sabas reminds Aleeria that he is not just a tame puppy. It's so much fun for one thing to play on the differences between a Lycan and a human and their interaction with the world around them, but also, it's fun playing with the whole Lycan thing in general and expanding on it. I'm thrilled that you're appreciating my "furless tail" references. It just came to me and I couldn't stop chuckling with naughtiness, so I had to include it. Like I said it's fun to play with the whole Lycan theme.

I hope you do get around to reading the POTC fic. I'd like to work on it again soon, but for now, my head is back in this story and I think it's going to stay there in terms of fanfic for awhile anyway. I'm also trying to decide if the POTC fic needs a revamping/ overhaul or just more chapters. Again, I think (hope) the lesser response has more to do with the pairing and the sheer volume of POTC fanfic (more to compete with), but I'm biased.

Taylorxtorniquet: haha. I know. I was cheering when I wrote that part too. It took me so much longer to get to it than I thought. Now the real fun begins. You'll see hints in this chapter, but then I've been leaving bread crumbs all along. That's all I'm saying for now . . . Happy reading.

Soaring hawk: You're most welcome. Next chapter will get more into the training Sabas will be undergoing.

Blueangelsvntn: Ah, Sabas is so good at planning and strategizing in his own way . . .

Stephm: Welcome to the party. I'm glad you're enjoying, here's the next piece.

Maggie 56: Sorry I've been remiss about reading your latest chapters. It's been a rough couple of months, but I plan to indulge soon and let you know how I enjoyed it.

Ardimus: Thanks for continuing to kick my ass to work on revising this in the real world. It's been a really lovely escape to get back to. As always, you push me to "keep moving forward" in my writing and beyond.

A/N: Things are going to get much more complicated. You'll see what I mean. Also, "Lycan Unbound" was a reference to "Prometheus Unbound" by Percy Bysche Shelley (husband of Mary Shelley who wrote Frankenstein). Percy was an amazing poet and philosopher and wrote Prometheus Unbound about Prometheus, a Greek god who was punished by Zeus for giving fire to mortals. Prometheus was chained to a mountain where he had to endure his liver being eaten every day by an eagle and then painfully regenerating each night. Mainly it was a play on words, though Sabas is a mortal who in a roundabout way is chained up because he saved the life of a mortal though it's not really a punishment in this case.

Chapter 12: Return to the Night

[On My Own, Vivian Wounded/ The Kiss- Elektra/ Saving Josh by Trevor Morris/Beautiful Disaster/Eternity and a Day, Vold Eyes/ Across the Stars] [How Can I not Love You]

The knock on the door came too soon. They pulled away and risked a final private smile before Aleeria ran her hands appraisingly over herself, making certain her dress and hair were perfectly arranged. When she was satisfied, she set about making final adjustments to Sabas's uniform, waiting anxiously for Sabine to enter.

Lucian opened the door a few minutes after his knock, leaving Aleeria in no doubt that he had intended his first knock as a sort of warning. She was very grateful for it and made a note to spend part of the next few weeks finding a way to show Lucian how much she appreciated all his efforts on her behalf. Perhaps she could weave him a blanket to soften his sleeping pallet. At the very least, weaving a thick blanket would be a project to help keep her busy. Sabas would no longer be working in the yard for her to watch and Lucian would be participating in Sabas's training, so she would not be able to watch Sabas's training either unless Sabine decided to observe. Aleeria would need things to keep her mind busy and occupied so she didn't worry herself into a nervous breakdown.

Sabine stepped into the room, carrying with her a regal air of magnanimity. Two of the House Guard and the Death Dealer Khan stepped inside the room alongside her.

Aleeria curtsied. "Good evening Mistress, I present to you the Lycan, Sabas, cleaned as per your orders, My Lady." She indicated Sabas with a wave of her hands as if she were showing off a prize stallion.

Sabine's face was all smiles and delight, "Why Aleeria, I wouldn't have recognize him if you hadn't told me. You did an excellent job, Aleeria."

"Yes, I cleaned him most vigorously." Aleeria assured her.

Sabas used every ounce of willpower not already engaged in keeping him from gathering Aleeria into his arms and making a break for the front gates and stifled a conspiratorial chuckle. Yes, her attentions had been vigorous indeed, though it was vital Sabine never know the full extent of it.

To the great irritation of Sabine, Khan, and Sabas, the other Vampires seemed to have considered the unintended double entendre in Aleeria's words and their snickering caused Aleeria to blush deeply. Sabas's eyes lit with fury at the audacity of these Bloods daring to think of Aleeria in such a manner. He, at least, had cause to think such thoughts. Sabas was consoled only because he noticed Sabine and Kahn seemed to share a similar thought process.

"Tristan, Vakko, go stand guard at the end of the hallway and see that we are not disturbed," Khan barked. The two Vampires exchanged a resigned and chagrinned look and left the room. "I am sorry, My Lady. They know better than to speak in such a manner in your presence."

Sabine nodded in a regal, approving manner at Kahn. "Thank you Khan. See to it that you make them understand that they are not to speak that way in Aleeria's presence either, whether I am there or not. You may use whatever method you like to drive this point home for them."

"Yes, My Lady. It shall be done," Khan vowed.

Sabas saw the grateful way Aleeria's eyes turned to her Mistress and he understood that there was a bond between the two of them that he should not underestimate. Certainly, its presence was understandable. Sabine's protectiveness toward Aleeria was obvious and openly known and Aleeria clearly appreciated the full magnitude of what that meant and how unusual it was. Sabas also understood all too well from the steely look in Sabine's eyes that the guards she'd sent away would not so much as consider another inappropriate thought in Aleeria's presence after they'd been punished enough to satisfy Sabine. He almost felt sorry for them. Almost.

One particular aspect of this exchange, however, relieved Sabas's concerns about Aleeria's safety while he trained with Lucian. If this was how vigilantly and thoroughly Sabine guarded Aleeria's well-being, he had nothing to be concerned about. Clearly, if anyone gave Aleeria a look Sabine felt was inappropriate, she might just rip their eyes out. Since the offending party would likely be immortal their eyes would regenerate, but the initial loss and period of regeneration would be painful enough to ensure the offense was not repeated. Sabas had to admit, he approved of Sabine's style.

Sabine's voice cut through Sabas's thoughts. "Excellent. Moving on. Aleeria, I'd like to speak with you a moment in the hallway." She gestured to the doorway.

Aleeria nodded, "Of course Mistress." She wondered if Sabine knew that Sabas was likely to hear every word anyway and more than that, Aleeria wondered if she should mention it. She didn't want to lie, but Aleeria knew Sabas was likely to see it as a betrayal if she offered that information freely. In the end, she decided not to unless Sabine asked about it directly. She followed Sabine into the hallway.

Sabine nodded to Lucian who stood by the door. "Lucian, would you be so kind as to go back inside and wait a moment with Kahn and Sabas? Thank you."

Lucian nodded curtly and did as she asked. It was a true testament to the amount of trust Sabine felt for Sabas and Lucian that she would allow them to remain in a room with Khan when they outnumbered him, even if Khan was armed while they were not.

Sabine turned to Aleeria, warmth radiating from her even while she pointedly turned her back to the guards at the end of the hallway who had been foolish enough to displease her. "Aleeria, I commend you once more on a job well done. Sabas looks almost handsome after all your hard work."

"Yes Mistress. Thank you Mistress." Aleeria bowed her head, returning all too quickly into the obedient shell she lived in.

"Has he continued to behave himself since you unchained him?"

"Oh yes, Mistress he has comported himself very well even when Lucian had to leave us to fetch for food."

"That is good to hear. I expect no less you understand, but it is still good to hear." Sabine continued, her tone leaving no doubt as to the fate of those who disappointed her.

"Of course Mistress; he takes direction quite well. I am certain his behavior will continue to meet with your approval." Aleeria reassured her.

"As long as his performance continues to please you as well, we shall keep him on this path and see how he fares."

Now it was Aleeria's turn to stifle giggles regarding Sabine's wording. Aleeria's mind desperately wanted the drift into envisioning all possible interpretations of Sabas's performance and how it might please her well, but she needed to stay focused, Sabine was speaking again.

"Do you feel more comfortable around males after this experience?" Sabine asked, curious.

Aleeria recalled that this was one of Sabine's reasons for wanting Aleeria to bathe Sabas in the first place. "Yes Mistress. Well, I feel more comfortable around Sabas in any case."

Sabine smiled in a moment of female empathy. "Yes, it is different with each one, but I'm sure your comfort level will increase as this process of grooming a privileged class of Lycans continues. On that note, do you think Sabas is ready to begin his training tomorrow evening?"

"Absolutely Mistress; I have one request on that matter though."

"Yes?" Sabine replied, her interest keen.

Aleeria took a deep breath and kept her tone calm and reverent. "Could Lucian train with Sabas? Lucian told me that he is to be trained as a daylight hunter for the Death Dealers. Could that training coincide with Sabas's training?"

"I intended for Lucian to protect you while Sabas is being trained," Sabine replied, her tone guarded.

"I know that Mistress, but Lucian could still guard me when he is not training and then Sabas would have another Lycan to spare with so Kahn could instruct them on form and so forth." Aleeria tried to keep her concerns from her voice as she spoke, keeping her points logical and reasonable.

Sabine considered, recognized as any female would, the desire to protect someone you cared for and Sabine had long known that Aleeria cared for Sabas. The request was in itself was rather remarkable though. Sabine could never recall Aleeria asking for much of anything for herself, she merely accepted gratefully what was offered. Sabine could hardly refuse her under such circumstances. "Of course, that seems a fine point Aleeria. I will make the arrangements. You will need to stick quite close to me while they are both training though."

Aleeria bowed her head, hiding the triumph that leapt into her eyes. "Of course Mistress; I will do whatever you ask."

Sabine opened the door and called Lucian and Khan out into the hallways to wait with Aleeria. "I'm going to have a word with Sabas a moment. I'll let you know when you may come back in."

Aleeria nodded and moved away from the door prepared to make every appearance of waiting patiently. In reality, she felt herself go to ice. After Sabine's little chat with her, it seemed unlikely that she'd do anything to Sabas, but if she decided there was more to the story of how their afternoon had gone she was much more likely to extract it from Sabas than her. Beyond that, Sabine could handle one Lycan that was unable to shift without the aid of weapons.

Sabine closed the door to the interrogation room behind her and the clicking sound of the door being securely shut seemed ominous to Aleeria's nervous heart.

Once inside, Sabine's smile faded, her eyes turning predatory, assessing. "You seem to have made quite an impression on my hand maiden once again, Lycan. She assures me that you have in no way attempted to beguile her and while I believe her, because she cannot lie to me, the tension between you two is such that I could cut it with a sword. I won't ask for your assurances of your own behavior. As I said, I trust Aleeria's word though many feel it is foolish of me to do so, to trust the word of a human. They forget that to those of us who can hear the beating heart, there can be no lies." Sabine paced in front of Sabas slowly, watching his every movement whilst she spoke. "I will tell you that if you choose to pursue a path of earning the right to be chosen as her life mate, I demand that you treat her with the utmost respect and comport yourself honorably with her. I was fond of her mother and am fonder still of her. As guard to our House, one of your duties during the daylight hours will be to protect her, even from yourself."

Sabas met Sabine's eyes. "I promise to continue to do so."

"Good." Sabine noted his emphasis on the word 'continue' and smiled smugly. She had chosen well. This Lycan was very protective of Aleeria, and would doubtless do anything to ensure her well-being. Beyond that, it gave substantial weight to Sabine's theory about the ability to control and inspire this new privileged class of Lycans. "Keep in mind that you are far stronger than she is. I demand you recall that fact at all times in her presence and are highly conscientious not to harm her even unintentionally. Your eligibility to be chosen will depend on the quality of your service as well as Aleeria's interest in you. Do not be foolish enough to think you will be the only one vying for her interest, however."

Before Sabas could ask what Sabine meant by her last comment, she moved to the door, inviting Aleeria, Khan, and Lucian back into the room.

Her icy tones she'd used when speaking to Sabas melted into something warm and honeyed. "Aleeria, you may come back in. Sabas has met with my approval." Lucian, Aleeria, and Saabs released a collective breath in the room before Sabine continued. "I am going to return to my chambers now. Khan, I expect you to see to the disciplining of those guards tonight."

"Yes, My Lady." Khan replied dutifully.

"Aleeria, if you feel comfortable being left solely in the company of Sabas and Lucian, I will leave you here to gather your things and then return to our House. Lucian, you and Sabas should come with her to protect her and so she can lead you to Khan who will assume responsibility for your training. Aleeria, you have had an exceptionally long day, once you reach our House I want you escorted into my presence. Then before they leave with Khan, Lucian and Sabas shall check your rooms and seal you into your tower so you may get some sleep. Is that understood?"

"Yes, My Lady." The males chorused with Aleeria.

Sabine gave them a rare smile of regal satisfaction. "Aleeria, are you comfortable with these arrangements?"

"Yes, My Lady, perfectly at ease." Aleeria replied.

"Good, then I leave you to it. Aleeria don't be long in finishing things up here. I want you to rest soon before you fall asleep on your feet."

"Of course Mistress; thank you Mistress." Aleeria curtsied obediently.

Once Sabine and her retinue left the room, Aleeria allowed herself her grin of triumph. She turned to Sabas. "Did you notice that she used your name to address you this time?"

Sabas smiled back at her. "I did actually. It was rather surprising."

"It is a mark of her new-found esteem for you that she does so now," Aleeria clarified. "Don't waste it."

"I won't," he promised. On impulse, he took her hand and kissed it. "I will serve well Fair Captor. Now, what can we do to help get you back to your quarters swiftly and safely?"

Aleeria felt her senses to a pleasant but thought drowning swirl before she managed to focus and glance around the room. "The bath needs to be drained, but you should remove your tunic first. I can gather the other items swiftly enough myself, but the tub would be far too heavy for me to manage expediently."

Sabas and Lucian nodded and went to work, all three of them moving quickly, highly aware that Sabine would be mindful of how many minutes their efforts took. When the room was tidied to Aleeria's satisfaction, she nodded at them and they moved towards the doorway.

Before they could open it to leave, however, Aleeria held up her hand. "Sabas, there is something I more must say. I must act a certain way to survive in that world out there, just as you will, just as Lucian does. Please try not to hold anything I say in the presence of those we do not call friend against me. Please know I do and say what I must to ensure my survival and now yours."

Sabas gathered her in her arms as he'd longed to during so many of their other similar conversations. He stroked her long, silky hair and murmured reassurances to her. "I will remember Aleeria. Please do the same for me."

Aleeria nodded against his chest. "I will." She held onto him a minute longer, savoring before reluctantly moving out of his embrace. "We must go now. Sabine will suspect if we tarry much longer."

They headed out the door Lucian in front and Sabas walking just behind Aleeria, both of them on alert. Aleeria noticed as she observed her honor guard that Lucian walked upright and confident, while Sabas, used to the life of a lowly slave for so many decades, walked hunched over, head bowed even as he searched the shadows all around them for dangers. Aleeria turned back to him a moment. "Sabas," She whispered. "Walk with your head held high, shoulders straight, gait sure. When you wear that uniform, you are a guard of the House of Marcus and you should walk proudly."

Sabas smiled at her, amused. "Yes, Fair Captor." He paused a moment considering. "What should I call you while in this uniform?"

Aleeria considered. "Lucian calls me Aleeria when it is just the two of us, but in front of others Sabine has Lucian call me Lady Aleeria. The Vampires of our House call me Sabine's Lady as in her Lady in Waiting or simply Aleeria."

"That's because she considers you more valuable than me." Lucian cut in. "If she had her way though, I think all the Vampires of the House would address you the same, as Lady Aleeria. She prefers your company to theirs to be sure."

"I was surprised she became so furious with the Bloods," Sabas cut in.

"Vampires," Lucian corrected harshly. "You cannot use that sort of language when you move in their world and don't forget it for a second. Mistakes are very costly."

Sabas nodded in respect at Lucian's correction. "Speaking of costly, those Vampires . . ."

"Are going to get some vile work detail for awhile if they are very lucky," Aleeria cut in. "My Mistress does not tolerate males speaking crudely before females of any station. She believes it breeds the violence that occurs all too commonly towards my kind both mortal in particular and female in general."

"I'll mark that as well then," Sabas promised, noting the way Lucian and Aleeria both anticipated his questions before he could finish them. He wasn't entirely sure if it was irritating being interrupted or entertaining watching how well Aleeria and Lucian worked together now that they were out in the world of the vampires. A small part of him started to become a little jealously suspicious, but he quashed it. Sabas knew well where Lucian's heart lay and Aleeria clearly knew it lay with someone even if she did not know with whom.

They moved quietly through the hallways, all of them thoroughly exhausted now that their ordeal was over. They didn't speak further. Sabas and Lucian needed all their attention focused on keeping Aleeria safe. When they arrived and Sabine gave her nod of approval, Aleeria put her cleaning supplies away in the main supply closet for their part of the castle, and then let Lucian lead them to her tower.

Sabine arranged for Aleeria to have this particular tower not only because it could only be accessed from within the House of Marcus, but also because to enter, you had to go behind a tapestry, down a hallway flanked by windows, up stairs, to a doorway the led along a fully exposed walkway to the door at the base of the tower. No one without Sabine's trust would get so far into the House and no one with sensitivity to sunlight would get farther than the first hallway by daylight. Lucian guarded at the base of the stairs within the tower itself when he was on watch.

In short, Aleeria's tower was the safest place in the entire castle for a mortal. As was custom, Lucian went through the tower thoroughly, Sabas observing his process closely, to make sure he was familiar with the procedure for securing Aleeria's sleeping chambers.

Aleeria felt a little self-conscious about Sabas seeing her bed chambers, but reminded herself that this would soon be his responsibility alone to ensure her safety not to mention that he would see a good deal more of it if he became her life mate. As she watched them, a thought occurred to her, "Sabas, where will you put your things while you train?"

Sabas looked at her confused, "My things?"

"Your possessions," Aleeria elaborated. "You won't be sleeping with the other Lycans ever again unless you get into serious trouble, so what will become of your possessions while you train?"

Sabas laughed softly at her kind thought. "Lady Aleeria, you have cleaned everything I own in the world. All I have are the clothes on my body."

Aleeria stared at him, startled. "Truly?"

Sabas smiled at her warmly. "Yes, but do not trouble yourself. I've never needed much."

Aleeria nodded, making a note to make both her protectors blankets as soon as she found the time as long as her Mistress would allow her access to a sufficient quantity of wool. She might not be able to show her regard for Sabas openly, but she could find other ways to let him know she cared for him.

"Come," Lucian interrupted. "The tower is secure. It is time for you to get to sleep little human."

Aleeria nodded, fatigue starting to get the better of her. She walked them down to the door, wishing futilely that she and Sabas could say goodbye properly once more. She saw Lucian hesitate by the door, but felt the timing was unwise. She shook her head at Lucian. "You've done enough for one day my friend. We shouldn't tempt the fates further." She turned to face Sabas. "I will eagerly await the completion of your training."

"As will I," Sabas replied, a roguish gleam in his eyes.

"We will honor you trust in us Lady Aleeria," Lucian replied formally, kissing her hand.

"You have placed great faith in us. We will not disappoint you, Fair Captor." Sabas replied, kissing her hand in turn. He lingered over her hand a little longer than was proper, giving her hand the attention he could not bestow on her lips at the moment his tongue sliding out discreetly to trace the crease between her clasped fingers.

Aleeria nodded mutely, her heart fluttering at the electric contact of his lips on her hand.

"Close that door now little human and secure the lock," Lucian commanded, "Just as you always do."

Aleeria nodded and reluctantly closed the door sliding the cross bar into place. She wished she could watch them depart from her window at the top of the tower, but part of Lucian's duties was to listen for the sound of her securing her door.

Alone in her tower, Aleeria leaned against her door in a private war with herself. Oh, how she wanted to throw it open and run after them, but to do so would not only anger Sabine greatly, it would hardly be attractive for her to throw herself at Sabas. Sabine had told her to remember that she was the one being sought after and that she should let him prove himself to her. Aleeria walked up the steps to her sleeping pallet the quarter moon, glowing before her, reflecting that Sabas would watch that same moon as he fell asleep.

The idea of being parted from him entirely for who knew how many weeks was almost unbearable. She would not even be able to watch him from her tower since by night, she would have to be always by Sabine's side and by day, Sabas would no longer be toiling in the yard with the other Lycans. That part was something Aleeria wanted, for him, very much. She wanted it even more so because when he was fully trained, he would guard her as Lucian had, nevertheless, the wait during the lengthy training period stretched out endlessly before her.

'But,' Aleeria reminded herself, 'If we both want it enough and try enough, I can have him in the end. That's a possibility I didn't have yesterday and that's a huge step forward. After all, yesterday Sabas was a fantasy and today, he's kissed me and touched me and there is the promise for more.'

Aleeria settled herself on her windowsill and sang into the night before retiring. Tonight, her song was full of a different sort of longing. She sang of lovers who longed for each other for many years but upon finally meeting, were parted by fate for a time before being reunited. She sang of that in-between time and the yearning that filled the space there. She sang of falling asleep, each lover pretending the other was there beside them, holding them in the darkness until the distance between them closed and imaginings became realities.

Meanwhile, Sabas and Lucian made their way to quarters in the lowers levels of Marcus's wing of the castle. Generally, Lucian slept in quarters by his blacksmith's shop, but Sabine insisted he stay in her House's quarters while Sabas trained, at least at first. Viktor was away seeing to affairs at another fortress in the control of the coven, which made Sabine's preference possible.

When the Sabas and Lucian were well out of earshot of the last vampire patrol, Lucian turned to his old friend. "So you and Aleeria? How did that happen?"

"Animal magnetism," Sabas replied, deadpan.

As non-answers when it was one of his better ones and Sabas and Lucian enjoyed a good laugh over it.

Lucian and Sabas settled into their new quarters on the ground level where they could see the moonlight through their narrow window. Sabas lay back going over the day's events and thinking about Aleeria. Sabas heard the Angel of the Night singing her sweet song and imagined it was Aleeria singing him to sleep, telling him a love story that paralleled their own tale. Not for the first time, he marveled at how well the mysterious voice's song mirrored the one in his heart.

His mind wondered back to all the days before that he had watched Aleeria for hours from the yard while he shifted rock, built walls, or whatever else the Bloods demanded he do. Had she been watching him for all those years since the day he saved her? He'd hoped so before, but now he wasn't sure he wanted to know for certain what the truth of the matter was. Now that there seemed to be something real between then, he'd rather hold onto his illusion that she had been watching him as it served to make the day's events feel more significant. He needed to believe that she'd been watching him just as he'd been watching her more than he needed to know the truth. Still, she'd remembered him and that was a surprise all on its own, so there was hope that she had indeed watched him and that was enough for now. He hoped she would miss his company while they were apart. He had never gone a day without watching her even if it was, until today, always from afar. Sabas knew he would yearn for her more now. He also knew that if nothing else, she would desire him while they were apart. If Aleeria didn't miss his company, she would at least burn for him so he had a place to start.

A/N: Yeah, things are about to get really complicated. If you've been noticing my breadcrumbs, you should spot what's coming easily enough. You'll see what I mean.