Temporal Illusion

by phoenix catcher

Harry/OMC. Non-human:Harry. Harry finally has enough of being forced into war and tries to have a normal life only to discover his greatest secret and an entire world hidden under the normal one. But with the new comes both the good and the bad.

3. Vampire Fangs

Temporal Illusion

Chapter 3; Vampire Fangs

Colden Common Hotel

Cameron sat in his hotel room near the balcony window. He had a view away from the motorway of course, his father would never have settled for a room looking out across the M3. He'd moved a chair up to the window and now his forehead rested against the glass while his eyes staring out at the town and the trees in the distance. Part of his mind refused to stop wondering where Harry was.

He was officially a wimp. One that could run from his Soulmate just because he was human and Night World law said that if he loved a human they'd both be killed. And that if he told Harry about the Night World they'd both be killed. Those were the two laws but the more he thought about it the more he wanted to simply not care about them and run and find Harry, tell the guy everything that was supposed to be kept a secret and hope that Harry didn't reject him for what he was. Second son of the First House of the Shapeshifters.

His family had enough problems already. With the witches on the verge of seceding from the Night World Council both sides of the boiling civil war were looking to his father to make his decision. Cameron really hadn't cared which side his father chose but now he wasn't so sure. He had friends in Circle Daybreak and his father knew it but his father was still part of the Night World Council and that meant that if he found out his son was in love with a human he'd have no choice but to kill him and Cameron hadn't Chosen yet so he couldn't protect Harry from whatever was thrown at him.

He needed advice and he knew only two people he could trust with something like this. His older brother, Galen, was one but Galen would be breaking the law by not telling their father and he didn't want to cause his brother trouble. The other was Tamarack, a member of Circle Daybreak. She'd be able to protect him. She'd come without a question. Maybe she could talk some sense into him and make him realise it was all in his head.

Now he just had to find a way to tell his father he was staying in England.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

A'Zia crouched lightly on the top of a ridge. His bare feet lightly placed on the weathered side of the sandstone and his left hand placed between them. His dark blue wings, his prideful span, sat loosely folded on his back, the wind gently blowing through the feathers making a dull humming sound and sending little tremors through his muscles.

Almost an arrow shot to his side sat his battle-mate, Cal'va, his white wings arched over his head rather than folded. They were watching the ensuing battle within the valley. Thousands of humans and hundreds of Witches fought together against the three Amaru. His own race had never needed to name them, nor had they ever named themselves but the humans preferred to name those their revered and those that built the temples to these creatures called them the Amaru.

All across the world the young Witches had rising up to remove the Shapechangers and their rulers from power but Witches and even their human allies were weak and the Amaru didn't fear them.

But they feared A'Zia's race. A'Zia's village had been destroyed by the Shapechangers and his people scattered across the world just like the rest of his race but they'd retaliated, split up to roam the world and kill the rulers of the Shapechangers and the Witches had taken the chance and risen up with their magic. In that way A'Zia's race had led the world into rebellion.

A'Zia and his battle-mate Cal'va had seen nothing of their kind for five years now, not since the Great Fires. This battle would be the last, A'Zia knew, where his race and the Amaru would finally end their ongoing war. But if the Witches failed then all would be lost.

He arched his wings and Cal'va tipped off the edge of the ridge. A'Zia followed and the two glided down to the battle hoping that with their last breaths the two of them could turn the tide.

Harry shot up with a gasp and his wings stretched out of his back before he could stop them, sliding magically through his skin without pain, only the relieving sense of freedom. His wings arched behind him ready to either open or wrap around him. His chest was heaving and his body dripped with sweat that had nothing to do with the summer air. His arms wrapped around his stomach as his eyes unfocused. His head throbbed and he had trouble separating A'Zia's reality from his own.

When he finally managed to sort out his thoughts he haphazardly made his way through a shower and then out to make himself a late breakfast. He had a late shift today but still he was surprised when he looked at the clock after tidying his apartment to find he was already running late.

As he drove to work he couldn't believe how long ago yesterday seemed to him. He could remember showing around the Drache family as if it was from a lifetime ago, he's almost forgotten about Cameron and the fact his budding friendship or more had vanished as the other young man left for America. It seemed so long ago because his head was filled with the life of A'Zia. Not even just the things he dreamt about last night but everything to do with his life. And it felt like his mind was filled with the collation of thousands of years of life hidden only by a thin fog.

He couldn't shake the sense that he was as much A'Zia as he was Harry Potter.

He pulled up to the staff entrance and was about to get out and open the gate himself when Shay emerged from the ticket office. "Sorry about that, Harry."

"It's okay, Shay." Harry nodded closing his door again. "I was just about to get it myself. How the day going?"

"It's a carnival day." Shay smirked. "You've got your work cut out for you today."

Harry groaned and settled his head on his steering wheel. He'd forgotten about that. It was a day when the place was filled with entertainers, exhibits and general mayhem. It was a day that tended to attract youth groups by the hundreds. As if his day wasn't bad enough already. "Thanks for the warning." Harry told the security guard.

"You alright, Harry?" Shay frowned. "You don't look good."

"Just having a bad day is all." Harry shrugged. "Weird dreams and a headache."

"Well, take it easy." Shay tapped the door before turning and lifting the barrier for Harry to drive under. Harry waved out the window lazily as he drove off, moving slowly to let people move out of his way. He took the long way around to avoid the busier parts of the Zoo and finally found himself at the Hall almost half an hour after his shift was supposed to have started. He grabbed his night bag, locked his car and more or less ran for the offices.

He came face to face with David as soon as he got into the corridor and winced at the stern look. "Harry, it's a late shift. Don't even try to blame sleeping in."

"Sorry, Doctor Mitchell. I lost track of time." He decided to be honest.

"You look a little off." The stern look turned into one of concern. "You alright?"

"I'll be fine." Harry told him. "My head feels a little full is all."

"George is in the back room. Get him to give you an injection for it." David told him with a worried look. "You sure you'll be okay. If you need to go home..."

"No!" Harry shook his head. He really didn't want to be home, alone, without anything to distract him from his thoughts. Already, whenever he closed his eyes, he saw flashes of ancient battle fields. "Sorry. I'd rather be here to be honest."

"I like it." David laughed. "And cut the Doctor crap even if you're trying to be meek."

"Sorry." Harry winced.

"Go on then. I want you over in the reptile house in thirty minutes. You've met Zachery before, he wants your help with a few talks." David told him.

"What? Stand and hold them up?" Harry asked.

"It'll be a good chance to get to know them. Reptiles aren't really my specialty and George and Katie aren't exactly snake friendly. Zachery's really good and you can ask him anything you want." David told him.

"And he suggested this?" Harry prompted.

"The rumour mill is working." David laughed. "He wants to know if your gift spreads to his hobby."

"Great." Harry rolled his eyes.

"I'm on my way upstairs. I'll take your bag up to the on-call room if you want." Harry handed the bag over with a grateful smile. He slipped through into the labs and found George setting up the table. A carrier sat on the table with one of the Sand Cats in it along with Jennifer, one of their handlers.

"Nice of you to join us, Harry." George grinned.

"I've already had it from David, George." Harry groaned.

"Hey, I wasn't going to say it." George laughed. "Did he tell you that Zachery wants you?"

"Yeah. Could you give me something to get rid of this headache?" Harry asked him. "David said you could."

"How bad is it?" George asked. "You don't look brilliant."

"I feel worse." Harry told him before turning to face him, leaning his back against the table. The carrier jiggled as the Sand Cat tried to get out and Jennifer laughed and swatted the cage. The Sand Cats always chased Harry around the edge of the cages whenever they saw him. George moved in front of him getting Harry to roll his eyes around, rather painfully, and then he felt around the back of his ears and across his throat. Checking the normal symptoms of his headache to find out the degree.

He nodded and moved to the refrigerator, took a box to the counter and returned thirty seconds later with a needle. Harry rolled up his arm and let George wipe at his arm before giving him the shot. Within seconds Harry felt the pressure in his head dull slightly and the heated skin of his forehead cool almost as if cooled water had been poured across it. He sighed in relief.

"Thanks, George." Harry told him.

"Stay out of the sun, Harry." George suggested. "I'm not in tomorrow but Katie's got the early. I'm sure she'll swap nights with you if you need her to."

"I'll talk to her in case I do." Harry promised before rubbing his hands together. "Let's go play with the snakes."

George chuckled and Harry slipped out of the room, deciding to walk across the park and get some fresh air and see the chaos. There were crowds everywhere and he passed almost a dozen groups of children, from scouts and guides to county sponsored events.

"And there he is!" Zachery was a tall man of about thirty-five who was obsessed with anything to do with Reptiles. He grinned at Harry as soon as Harry let himself through the code-locked door and into the back of the Reptile house. It was one of the few places where the visitor section was smaller than the staff section.

"Here I am." Harry shook his head.

"Ever held a snake before?" Zachery asked.

Harry couldn't help but think about the snake he's set on Dudley by accident and then the Basilisk. "Only dead ones in class." Harry told him instead. In truth he'd rather be in the visitors section where the thick glass of the pens shielded his ears from the snakes' words. Back here he could hear an almost constant hiss of sound, most of which were non-intelligible mumblings.

"Well, let's find one you can say hello to." Harry had to cover his shock at the statement. He'd have to be careful not to speak while looking at one. He hadn't tried to use that particular gift in years. Zach led him towards one of the open pens. Most of the ones here were set up so you could access the back of the pens that the visitors could see into but there was also a dozen private pens where the snakes could be put in for special occasions. Before taking them out for display for example, or for treatment or rearing.

When they came to the pen and looked down Harry didn't have to be told what it was. He knew he shouldn't know but for some reason the knowledge was there in his head, suddenly revealed from behind the lingering veil of fog. "Antaresia Maculosa." Harry spoke as he looked up at Zachery who paused while lifting the five foot snake from the tank. "Spotted Python."

"Exactly." Zachery grinned. "Impressive, kid. What can you tell me about it?"

Harry was about to say he didn't know anything about it when he realised he did. Even as he stopped his head mid shake he spoke. "They come from Australia, non-venomous, they prefer small bats in the wild but the large ones should eat small mice."

"This one happens to like mice." Zachery nodded. "I didn't expect you to know so much though."

"Nor did I." Harry muttered.

"What?" Zachery asked even as he held the python out to Harry.

"Nothing." Harry took the python and it instantly started sliding around Harry. It's head went over his left shoulder and then across his back and down his right arm until the tip of its tail wrapped around his left arm and it's head doubled back and found the opening in Harry's short sleeved t-shirt. "If this thing starts tickling me, I reserve the right to laugh."

"So do I." Zachery chuckled. "It seems the rumour's true though. He's taken a liking to you."

"Wonderful. As long as he can't escape like Choto." Harry groaned. Zachery laughed.

"Let's introduce you to the other five we're showing off so you know enough to answer questions." Zachery nodded and led him away. For the next three hours Harry juggled six different snakes that all took a liking to wrapping themselves around him while he showed them off to visiting groups. He could hear the snakes purring their contentment to the pampering but he never had trouble with an attempt at escape like one of the other keepers did since the snakes seemed to prefer him to freedom. What really creeped him out was that the snakes seemed to take a liking to pushing their heads down the back of his shirt to lick and rub across the skin where his wings were hidden as if they knew where they were.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

He had trouble doing his work for the rest of the day, even with the snakes he was distracted even amongst a hundred playful children. It only got worse when he was left to wander on his own devices. David was in meetings for the rest of his middle shift, Katie went home at the end of hers and George was busy running labs leaving Harry to be on 'patrol' around the Zoo, waiting to be needed. After wandering around trying to keep his mind off things and only ending up walking into the fence he ended up sitting in the Aviary section lost in his thoughts with the radio chatter as his only company.

He was occasionally distracted from his musings by a group of people but most of the small groups just took him for somebody on lunch and they were all more interested in the eagles and falcons in this section than anything else. His mind was filled with flashes of things he thought he should understand. He thought his knowledge of snakes came from a slave who worked for a Vampire by caring for his extensive snake collection. Surprisingly it took him a while to realise he should be shocked about Vampires.

He could vaguely remember ordering Roman soldiers into battle, standing under a sky filled with flashing lights and the sound of airplanes, firing an arrow down off a castle wall at attacking men, playing the violin in front of an audience of what looked to be Napoleonic men, women and children.

It all seemed to be instances within a longer time frame and even though they came with sound and even smells he didn't feel attached to them all. Not like he had with A'Zia in his dreams.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Nicolas was panicking. There was no other way to describe it and the three slaves that he saw that morning knew it too. His hair was a mess, his green eyes were dull, his harsh cotton trousers and vest were in disarray and his face was pale and rather sickly looking. All because he'd lost his Master's prized snake. Or at least the nastiest of the look. So what if the snakes liked him. Seten, the snake, didn't seemed to care that he'd run off and left Nicolas to take the blame for him. His Master was going to kill him and that wasn't an exaggeration in any sense of the word.

He'd come into the Manor early that morning to begin milking the snakes when he'd turned to Seten's wicker cage and found the side broken. He'd spent hours running around trying to find him without luck. Even some of the other Slaves, knowing what would happen to him, tried to help but Seten had simply vanished.

He was trying to rush across the main hall without being noticed by the other Vampires and Shapeshifters of the household when a strong hand grabbed him around the throat and he felt hot breath on the side of his neck. He couldn't keep in the shocked whimper as his neck bruised under the tight grip but he knew better than to struggle.

"Were you trying to hide the fact you'd lost Seten?" His Master hissed into his ear, loud enough so that everybody there could hear him. Sixteen Vampires, eight Shapeshifters, three Witches and even a Werewolf. A part of his mind realised that his Master had planned a hunt, and the rest of his mind focused on the fact he'd be the prey if his Master decided on it.

He tried to voice a plea but the hand simply tightened on his throat cutting off his air supply. His blurry eyes just focused on a smirking Jastor, a slave that hated everything about Nicolas just because Nicolas' sister wouldn't love Jastor back. Right then he knew what had happened, Jastor had taken Seten to get Nicolas in trouble.

He was being carried by the throat out of the front doors and into the sunlight and then he was being thrown down the steps. He felt his arm snap like a twig and he cried out in pain. There was laughing from the Night World people around the court and the slaves shrunk away, all except for Jastor and Aileen, his sister, who stared at the scene in horror. Jastor leered at him and his hand settled on Aileen's shoulder possessively. He saw her try to struggle away and Nicolas knew that as soon as he was gone Aileen wouldn't be able to keep Jastor at bay. The bastard would force her to be with him and he couldn't do that to her.

He scrambled to his feet and took several steps away from Hunter Redfern, his Master, who just sneered at him. "You'd better start running, it's more fun that way." His Master sneered and everybody laughed again.

Nicolas looked around desperately. He wasn't looking for a way out now, just a way to save his sister, being held in place not ten feet away, blocked only by a Shapeshifter with a sword. The sword. Nicolas' eye settled on it and Hunter saw it.

"Give it to him. He might as well try to defend himself." He was laughing again and so were the others. Nicolas grabbed the sword as soon as it was thrown at his feet. It couldn't hurt the Vampires but Nicolas didn't even think to use it for that. He lunged to the left before anybody could realise it and the sword passed his sister's side and plunged into Jastor's chest, right up to the hilt.

Jastor gave a shocked cry as he looked at Nicolas and then down at the fatal blow before he crumpled to the ground. "Nic!" Aileen cried and tried to reach for him but at that instant he was yanked around and he only just saw the flash of Hunter's fangs before they sunk into his tender neck. Nicolas couldn't help but scream as his blood drained out of him painfully but with his last breath he mouthed the words 'I love you' to his sister and reached out his hand.

Harry fell straight out of the on-call bed with a horrified yelp and instantly scrambled backwards into the wall. His wings exploded from his back and wrapped around him, struggling to do so with his seated position. He wrapped his arms around his knees and sobbed loudly. This wasn't like before with A'Zia, he wasn't a graceful being but just a simple human slave laughed at and killed by a Vampire just because a twisted slave had wanted his sister's obedience. He remembered everything about Nicolas. He was Nicolas just as he was Harry and A'Zia. He was a slave in a Night World conclave off the east coast of America in the early fourteen-hundreds and he'd died a horrible death to spare his sister from being raped.

He shivered violently in the corner, scraping at his neck trying to get rid of the feeling of Hunter's teeth in his neck. Again he couldn't find himself surprised that there was a civilisation of Vampires and Shapeshifters and even that there was an entirely hidden world of Witches and Werewolves that together with the others made up the Night World. The knowledge of its existence was there in his mind and he couldn't shake it. He'd been killed by a Vampire Lord in a past life. It was the past life that freaked him out and the fact he could remember dying. Having the last drop of his blood sucked from his neck because another slave had framed him for losing a snake.

He felt warmth at his neck and pulled his hand away to realise he'd drawn blood from where he'd scratched at his neck. The sight of the blood on his fingers drew him out of his terrors and he pulled himself to his feet and his wings disappeared into his back. It was early, only four but the sky was lightening and he knew it would only be a few hours before Shay arrived. In the end he took a shower in the Hall and went into the canteen to make a light breakfast before he decided that he wanted comfort. He collected the keys for the Primate House and made his way there.

He passed a security guard on the way as well as one of the contractors who cleared the park up. Choto was more than happy to see him and take a trip out of his pen and he wrapped himself around Harry's back in a piggy back after prodding at the red scratches on his neck and deciding not to touch them again when Harry yelped. Harry had cleaned them and they'd stopped bleeding but the side of his neck was swollen and red and the four wide scratches were rather obvious. He left a signed note in the office of the Primate House to tell them he had Choto before he left to walk towards the front security gate.

Shay was there by the time he arrived and he went from laughing at Choto around his neck to worried about the scratches on Harry's neck. "What the hell happened to you?" He gasped as Harry walked into the office and sat on the table. Choto swung onto his lap and onto the floor, picking through the bin and neatly stacking the stuff on the floor.

"No idea about my neck." Harry lied. "I think I must have been bitten by something in my sleep and scratched at it without waking up."

Shay looked dubious but accepted it. "Still looks painful."

"I've treated it but it's sore." Harry shrugged. "I'd rather air it than cover it with a plaster."

"Well, you're the expert." Shay shrugged and snatched a half eaten sandwich from Choto before he could eat it.

"You know the rules, Choto." Harry admonished before reaching out to stroke the back of his neck.

"Did he escape?" Shay asked.

"Nah, I let him out." Harry shrugged.

"You need the company?" Shay asked.

"A bit." Harry admitted. In truth he was terrified of being alone with his thoughts right at that moment. Choto seemed to detect Harry's mood and jumped into his lap and demanded a kiss and a hug. Shay laughed and mused Harry's hair as he gave in to the demands, pretending to be irritated just so Choto didn't get the idea that he could constantly demand it.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Harry spent the rest of the day trying to concentrate on his work but his mind constantly went from A'Zia and Nicolas' life to Cameron and occasionally he managed to pull it back to his work or to what Katie or David were telling him. When David had arrived he'd demanded that Harry let him check the scratches to his neck but didn't do more than clean it again and tell Harry to stop beating himself up in his sleep. Harry almost protested that it wasn't his fault a Vampire had been killing him but he wisely kept his mouth shut.

When he finally got home he simply collapsed on his chair with a strong dose of Paracetamol and before he knew it his struggles between his identity and that of A'Zia's and Nicolas' slipped into sleep.

A'Zia was badly wounded, his wings were in tatters and his skin was drenched in his own blood and that of the battle that had now ended around him. Cal'va's crumpled form lay before his kneeled form and A'Zia smoothed his friend out and gently folded his limp blood stained wings around him. He caressed his battle-mate's wings sadly knowing that the powerful appendages would never disturb the air again. His own wings, he knew, would never again carry him into the sky but one day, whether it be in a decade or an age, they would carry him into the air once again.

The battle was ended, the Humans and Witches were the victors and A'Zia saw in them a future to the world. He stood slowly and turned to look at the multitudes that were staring at him. He knew that to them he was a being of frightening power, never seen before by any of them but A'Zia had no way to escape them now, he had no kin to return to. He was the last and all his deeds were his own to bear from his childhood thirty years ago, to the day he had foolishly let his curiosity take him to the seat of power of an Amaru and passed that to this very day when he and his battle-mate had given their lives to aid these Witches and Humans in saving the world from the Amaru.

They approached him and his broken wings tried to raise but only twitched. An older Witch came forwards escorted by another Witch and a Human. A'Zia knew nothing of their language and they knew nothing of his own. The Witche stopped before him and reached out slowly towards his wing.

A'Zia shook his head to show there was nothing to be done. He touched her on the forehead gently and knelt down gently at his battle-mate's side. His own body was failing yet the pain meant nothing to him now. He knew that these people would hide the sleeping Amaru where none could find them and he knew they would clean and bury his body alongside Cal'va's. It was an honourable way to end his lifetime.

Until his grandmother's declaration came true. Until his soul returned to the world in another body. He would be the only one of his kin to live forever.

Harry didn't wake up violently this time. A'Zia's eyes had closed and Harry's had opened with a shudder than ran down his entire body. Tears spread down his cheeks at the memory of his battle-mate's death. Harry had an answer now as if so many people were telling him it. He was an Old Soul. When he died his Soul moved into a new life, sometimes after only a few months and sometimes after thousands of years. He had first been A'Zia and now he was Harry Potter and somewhere five hundred years ago he'd been Nicolas.

And he knew that every time he dreamt he'd learn more about what he'd been and half of him was petrified about that and another part of him was fascinated. He wasn't just a used weapon but something beyond all of that. He could honestly say that he'd experienced the worst parts of life and the best. But the part of him that was still Harry felt cheated, though relieved, that now he had experience, but it hadn't come to him when he needed it but when his life was finally turning out to be a good one.

If he'd known about A'Zia and Nicolas and who knew who else before could he have seen through Voldemort's trap or saved Sirius. A'Zia had been able to live in the moments, all of his kin had been able to, but Harry hadn't know what it was when he used it the first time to try to get to Sirius. He'd frozen time with the intention to touch Sirius one last time and such a desire had failed him because he hadn't known how to control it properly. He'd slipped out of the moment before he could try to rescue him. Their hands had touched only for Sirius to slip backwards out of his reach.

He needed somebody to talk to. Somebody who would believe him and comfort him and keep him from his horrors. He knew he'd lived hundreds of times but he knew he'd have died just as many times and a part of his mind pointed out that some of those times would be like Nicolas' heroic, yet painful, death at the hands of Hunter Redfern. He'd end up losing his mind if he had to go through that alone.

"Harry?" It was Jez' voice and Harry was almost surprised that he'd sat up, reached for his mobile and dialled his best friend at midnight.

"Jez?" Harry knew he almost sounded like he was whimpering. "I need you."

"Harry!?" Jez was moving already though Harry didn't know what he was doing. "Are you okay? Are you in trouble?"

"I'm safe." Harry promised him. "But my life's getting too much. I need to talk to you. You're not going to believe me, you're going to think I'm going insane but I know you'll hear me out."

"Harry!" Harry shut up. "Calm down. I'll leave as soon as I can and be there by the time you wake up. Try to get some sleep. I've got the spare key you gave me so get some rest. I promise I'll be there before you know it."

"Jez..." Harry sighed. "Thanks."

"You don't have to thank me, Harry." Jez assured him. "Just hang tight."

 Jez hung up and Harry collapsed on the sofa again, he didn't have the energy to get to his bed. He'd have to tell Jez everything. About Wizards, about his wings and his powers, about the memories and other lives. He needed somebody that knew what was happening to him even if they thought he was insane.

Before he knew it he was asleep again.

Ryn crouched defensively with his arms around the twins, Keb and Darn, two boys who hadn't been able to get out before Maya and her faction had started killing people. Maya was staring him down with a disgusted look. Ryn was just a Human but he'd grown up in a tribe where more than half of them were Witches and now most of the rest were what Maya had turned herself into. Ryn had grown up with Maya and her sister, Hellewise, as his own sisters. His mother had been killed in a wolf attack when he was barely talking and Hecate had taken him in.

It had been several years before they realised that Ryn was special. He had the memories of another within him, an ancient warrior that they had only heard of from tales of the old wars between the Dragons and the Witches.

Maya had twisted herself and slowly turned some of both the Witches and Humans of the tribe into what she called Vampires. This morning Hecate had called a halt to Maya's perversions but Maya had refused to listen and the Witches and Humans were forced to fend Maya and her new warriors away. Now Ryn found himself squared off against Maya and he had two five year olds to protect. His spear lay at his feet but he'd seen Maya's speed, he'd be lucky to get it off the ground, let alone be able to use it.

"You were always pitiful, Ryn." Maya told him.

"You remind me of another race, Maya." Ryn narrowed his eyes.

"You're a mere mortal this time, Ryn. You don't have a chance against me." She slowly moved her hand through her hair, pushing it over her shoulder as if all of this bored her. "None of you do."

"Maybe not but not all of those you changed agree with you. Thierry didn't." Ryn smirked as she lost her cool. Thierry had been another their age, the first that Maya had bitten to pass on her curse but instead of being grateful he had run, leaving the tribe before he could make a mistake and hurt another. "You can kill me, you can even kill Keb and Darn," he tightened his arms on them reassuringly. "But you'll never beat me."

"You'll be dead." Maya snorted and regained her cool.

"Maybe, but you'll know you lost because Thierry rejected you." Ryn had barely finished when Maya was leaping through the air. Ryn didn't try for the spear, instead he twisted his body to put himself directly between Maya and the twins. He felt her hands grab him but then orange light flared and she was being thrown backwards away from him.

"This has to stop, sister!" It was Hellewise's voice and it had a hard edge to it that Ryn had never heard before. He turned and stood, pushing Keb and Darn behind him as he picked up his spear. Hellewise was standing firm a dozen feet from them and Maya was glaring at her angrily, glaring at the ball of orange energy held between her palms. "Call off the others and we'll settle this between just us two. If I win you and your kind leave this place, leave the tribe and our kin forever."

"You can't stand against me any longer, Hellewise." Maya sneered.

"But if you fight her now, you'll have to fight me too." Ryn spoke up.

Maya looked at him in disgust again before snarling at her own sister and turning on her heels, in a blink of the eye she was half way to the trees and then she was gone. The rest behind her. Hellewise sighed out and her fierce energy vanished. Ryn held her closely as she cried that afternoon and that night Hellewise left the camp and beat Maya even though it cost Hellewise her life.

Ryn cried at her side as her last moments drained away and he buried her with the rest of the dead from that day.

Harry shuddered awake again and felt hands around his shoulders shaking him. It was Jez and he looked scared as he stared at Harry's face. Harry reached up and pulled Jez to him in a tight hug. Jez shifted them so he was sitting on the sofa and Harry was in his lap. Jez had always been amazed by how light Harry was but it came in useful sometimes.

Harry came back to reality a few minutes later but at least this time he wasn't scared, only sad for the death of what amounted to his sister and part of his tribe. "Harry, what's happening to you?" Jez asked and squeezed him tightly. "This isn't one of your normal nightmares."

Harry pulled away from him and pulled his knees to his chest. "I need to tell you something, Jez. About my past."

"Harry, you know you don't need to if you don't want to." Jez told him. "Me and Nicky know you were..."

He trailed off as he saw Harry shut his eyes. "It isn't just that, Jez." Harry leaned back on the chair and put his head on the back as he looked at the ceiling. He was having trouble separating himself from the entity that was Ryn, who'd stand between a Vampire he'd grown up with and let himself die because it was the right thing to do. "Do you believe in magic, Jez?"

"Not really." Jez told him with a small shrug.

"What if I did something magical right now?" Harry asked. "If I promised I wasn't tricking you would you believe it was magic and not some illusion with mirrors or something."

"Harry, I know you." Jez told him. "If you told me that magic was real I'd believe you thought that."

"But you'd have to see something to believe it for yourself." Harry pointed out.

"In which case, if you told me it was real I'd trust you." Jez frowned. "Why are we talking about this, Harry?"

Harry sighed and looked around him, trying to think of something within his restricted arsenal that he could do. Really the only thing he could do with any rate of success was telekinesis. He reached out a hand and after a second a mug on the draining board scraped along the counter before jumping off the edge and into Harry's hand. Harry turned back to a staring Jez and handed him the mug. Jez took it without thinking and looked between Harry and the mug in shock.

"So I'm telling you there's such a thing as magic." Harry shrugged. "That's really all I can do now but I used to be really good."

"Used to be?" Jez frowned.

"There's a World hidden from our own, they have their own towns and schools. They call themselves the Wizarding World. They use Wands to cast spells. My parents were Wizards but an evil Wizard murdered them when I was fifteen months old. I was put with my Aunt and Uncle and didn't know I was different." Harry paused. "They thought I was a freak and... well..."

"I know, Harry." Jez sighed. "You don't have to go into that bit."

"Okay," Harry nodded. "When I was eleven I found out what I was and went to a boarding school in Scotland where they taught magic. I was the only one that could defeat the Wizard that killed my parents so they wanted to turn me into a weapon. I lost the two adults that really cared about me. One when I was fifteen and the other when I was seventeen. There was a war and I had to fight. I killed the murderer but I didn't want to fight anymore."

"I can imagine." There was no dubiousness in Jez's voice. He listened to everything and took everything in as gospel. Trusting Harry implicitly, no matter how surreal it all sounded.

"Even the two that were supposed to be my best friends wanted me to continue fighting for them. When I refused they started to talk about forcing me. And it wasn't just them but the government too. I was just a weapon to them." Harry sighed. "So I left my wand with a friend and left that World forever. I can do a bit of magic without my wand but only really when my emotions spike."

"That's... awesome." Jez whistled. "But why are you telling me this now?"

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you before, Jez. But I wanted to just leave that life behind and never look back." Harry sighed. "But everything is coming apart."

"About that old life?" Jez asked.

"No." Harry shook his head. "But I needed you to know that. There's another World that lives within the normal one and has done for thousands of years. They call themselves the Night World and it's made up of Witches of a different kind, Vampires, Shapeshifters and Werewolves. They hide from us and the penalty for any human that finds out about them is death."

"How do you know about them?" Jez frowned. "Are you one of them?"

"No." Harry shook his head. "I don't use my magic so I'm a human. Without a wand I really don't have any powers."

"But you said you were a Wizard." He frowned.

"Wizards use Wands to cast their magic but they're the same as Humans really. Take away their Wands and they really can't do anything." Harry shrugged.

"So how did you find out about this Night World?" Jez pressed. "Did you meet a Vampire or something?"

"I keep having dreams." Harry folded forwards and curled himself up on the sofa. Jez's hand settled on his back and made small circles there to comfort him. "I think I'm what the Night World calls an Old Soul. Every time I die my Soul is reincarnated into a new life and sometimes I remember what I am and other times I don't."

"Sometimes you do?" Jez blinked and Harry wondered how it was possible that Jez was taking all this in without freaking. "Like this time?"

"I keep having dreams about past lives. I remember living a life as a Slave to a Vampire in the fifteen hundreds. I remember being a member of a tribe twenty thousand years ago." Harry sighed.

"And of course you're reliving your deaths?" Jez guessed.

"God." Harry choked. "I remember having my blood drained by a Vampire."

"Oh, Harry." Jez hugged him tightly.

"You believe me." It was a statement not a question.

"Harry, you're my best friend and my brother and you've got no reason to lie to me." Jez pointed out. "You've proven magic is real so the rest is possible."

"Jez." Harry looked up at him. "You're amazing you know that, right?"

"I know." Jez grinned.

"Jez, there's more." Harry sighed and stood up and pulled off his shirt.

"You're not about to tell me your in love with me right?" Jez smirked. Harry rolled his eyes and opened his wings watching Jez's eyes widen and his mouth fall open as he stared at the dark wings in the already darkened room. "Okay, you're not in love with me. Harry? What are those?"

"I'm guessing they're wings." Harry winced and opened them as much as he could in his small apartment. "I got them when I was thirteen. A sleeping driver ran me off a bridge in the middle of the night. Having wings was a welcome surprise."

"Oh god, Harry." Jez stood up and reached out with shaking hands and stroked his wings. "It all sounds unbelievable."

There was acceptance on his friend's face, there was no sign of rejection or disbelief. Harry realised he'd slipped into the moment again and he figured he might as well use the opportunity. He folded his wings and slipped around his friend and once behind him Harry moved out of the moment. Jez tensed and looked around wildly looking for him before he turned in a circle and saw him.

"I can freeze time." Harry shrugged. "It comes with the wings."

"Uh..." Jez raised his eyebrows at him. "That's kinda cool."

"Jez, are you okay with all this?" Harry asked nervously.

"Oh, Harry." Jez laughed. "You were always strange, I just didn't realise how strange."

Before Harry could realise what was happening Jez stepped forwards and wrapped his arms around him, slipping his arms under Harry's wings. Harry's response was instinctual, his wings spread before wrapping around them both like a cocoon. Jez chuckled and squeezed him tighter.

It was still early and Harry wasn't on till the late shift so Jez pulled him to his bed and forced him to try to get some sleep. Harry had trouble falling to sleep but with Jez at his side he managed it after almost an hour.

Ryn hid behind the tree as Thierry ran passed him. He'd followed Thierry to this place and watched as the Three Rivers tribe had captured him and then the girl, Hana, had helped him to escape only to have the others of her tribe recapture them. Thierry had lost control and Ryn had been forced to watch from a safe distance as he lost his sense of right and wrong and tore through the warriors of the tribe as if they were nothing more than children's toys. The girl, Hana's, death had been the moment when Thierry snapped out of his lust for blood and he had run straight passed Ryn in his haste to escape.

Ryn followed him for an entire day, merely trying to keep up with him and ran into a clearing in the dead of a full moon lit night. Thierry was sobbing in the middle of the clearing. His wounds had fully healed but his sobs sounded like that of a dying animal. Ryn slowly approached with his deadly spear levelled and ready before him.

Thierry didn't look up until Ryn was merely a few feet from him and he scrambled to his knees. "Ryn! Kill me!"

"Not if I can help it." Ryn told him. "I saw what happened."

"Then you have to kill me!" Thierry sobbed. "I loved her. I love her."

Ryn frowned. "Come Thierry, return to the tribe with me. Come home."

"I can't go back now." Thierry cried curling forwards and rocking.

"Hellewise gave her life to banish Maya forever, Thierry." Thierry shuddered and looked up at him. "Hecate sent me to find you and ask you to come home. Please Thierry."

Thierry looked up with desperation in his eyes and Ryn felt only sorrow for him. He knelt in front of Thierry. "Come brother. Come home with me."

Thierry shuddered but nodded again.

Harry's memory seemed to blur and he thought he'd almost woken up but Jez's soothing warmth sent him back into his dreams again.

Ryn hefted his spear in a cross block as soon as he saw the shadows move. He'd been on his way back to the tribe after a day's hunting when he'd seen her. Maya stepped out of the shadows and sneered at him. "You're not welcome here anymore, Maya." Ryn told her emotionlessly.

"You can't stop me." Maya told him with disgust. "You're a mere Human and I'm more than you can ever imagine."

"Are you trying to scare me?" Ryn asked. "I fear what you are, Maya. But I don't fear you."

"You're a fool!" Maya hissed and her eyes glinted at him in anger. "I could kill you before you know I've moved."

"So why haven't you?" Ryn glared. "Stop wasting my time."

"I want to know where you hid Thierry." Maya sneered.

"You can want all you like, Maya." Ryn shook his head. "I'll never betray Thierry like you betrayed us."

"Tell me!" Maya yelled, too loud. They were close to the tribe and it was daytime. People heard her. She turned one way and then the other. "You'll die right now if you don't tell me!"

"Then at least I'll die knowing I did something with my life. All you've done is throw away those that loved you." Ryn barely manage to shift his grip on his spear before Maya was right in front of him. Her hand closed around the spear and snapped the hard wood like kindling before her other hand pushed his head to the side. Before Ryn could realise what was happening teeth sunk painfully into his neck. It wasn't a gentle intrusion but a massacre of his neck. She tore at skin and flesh with her teeth and Ryn felt himself cry out in pain as she drained him of his blood.

Harry screamed as he shot up in bed, inadvertently pulling Jez with him. He was once more covered in sweat and shaking and his wings itched to escape from his back, to shield him from Maya, who just like Hunter Redfern had killed him.

Jez was in front of him, shaking him almost violently and the movement brought Harry out of his terrors. His wings finally opened and wrapped around them both in a high arch that left them in complete darkness. "Tell me about it, Harry." Jez ordered him. "Tell me who you were and what happened. If these are past lives you need to accept them as a part of you. If you fight them they'll tear you apart from the inside."

Harry sobbed but started talking, telling him about the three dreams about A'Zia, the two about Ryn and finally about Nicolas. He told him about the flickers of images he got.

"I'm coming to work with you." Jez announced after ten minutes of silence.

"What?" Harry asked.

"I'm coming to work with you." Jez said slightly louder and slower. "I don't know where all of this is going but I'm sticking with you until it's over. Now, how about letting me out? I have no idea what time it is."

Harry laughed but finally opened his wings. They both had to squint as the light from the window reached them. It had to be almost midday and he only had a few hours before his shift started. His wings completely blocked out the light.

They both took showers and by the time Jez was out Harry had a cooked lunch ready for them to eat. It wasn't until they were in the car on the way into work when Harry brought up the last thing on his mind. "There's a principle that exists in the Night World." Harry told him. "They call it the Soulmate Principle. The idea that everybody has a single person that is perfect for them in every way."

"Why are you bringing this up?" Jez asked. "Loads of people believe in Soulmates."

"It's not just a belief in the perfect partner." Harry shook his head but didn't take his eyes from the road. "This is part of a power beyond anything else. I've seen it before, it joins people at the Soul level, their minds are linked and the death of one always drives the other mad."

"Okay..." Jez frowned. "So you've seen this before?"

"I..." Harry frowned. "I think so. I mean I'm not sure. Something tells me it's never happened to me before."

"So you bring it up now because?"

"I met this guy that kept visiting the Park. His dad is one of the more important Board Members." Harry glanced briefly at him before pulling off the road into the Park. "Every time we touched it sent shivers through me and when I'm with him I'm happy. And my wings want to open around him. And he knows something is up because the last time I saw him we touched and he ran."

"That doesn't sound like you're perfect for each other." Jez pointed out.

"It's hard to describe but I've heard about the symptoms before." Harry paused at Jez's incredulous look. "Okay, I think I've heard of them before. Give me a break."

Jez laughed as Harry pulled up to the gate and Shay leaned on his open window. "Hey, Harry. Who's this?"

Knowing Shay hadn't been in the last time Harry smiled at him. "This is my best friend Jez. I don't particularly trust him around my house and he surprised me. Can you get him a Visitor's Pass?"

"Sure Harry." Shay nodded. "Name?"

"Jeremy Pascal." Harry told him ignoring Jez's complaints at the use of his real name that he didn't like being called. Shay disappeared into the office and returned a minute later with a printed visitor's badge. "Put that on, Jez. Thanks, Shay."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The next day

No matter how much Harry wanted Jez to stay with him for the night it wasn't allowed. Jez and Nicky were both on his insurance so Jez drove his car home for the night and promised to come the next day to see him. Harry dreamt again that night but rather than the single dream he was visited with snapshots from a couple of people. A Samurai in the early thirteenth century Japan called Imazato who'd died protecting the Emperor and an African scout in the thirteenth millennium BC who'd died in a rock fall while trying to stay ahead of an enemy army.

He took Jez's advice and took a shower and then sat out in the rising sun by the Lion enclosures as he let himself study his new memories, or at least the memories he'd always had that he was only now remembering. It was getting harder to see himself as just Harry Potter. He was Harry but he was now also A'Zia, Ryn, Nicolas, Imazato and Tona and he knew he was barely touching the surface of all his lives but now it didn't scare him so much. Dying didn't scare him anymore. He'd already done that so many times.

He was sitting on the grass with an open Mammalian Physiology book on his lap studying when a shadow fell over him. He looked up expecting a visitor with a question since he was still wearing his uniform but instead he found himself looking at a sunlit Cameron. He knew his eyes had widened and he let himself lean backwards onto his arms so he could look up without straining his neck.

"Hey, Harry." Cameron smiled that rather unsure smile of his.

"I thought you were going back to the States?" Harry frowned. He knew he wasn't completely successful in keeping the regret out of his voice.

"I decided I like England better." Cameron tried for humour.

"Really?" Harry asked. "Because last time I saw you, you couldn't get away from me fast enough."

Cameron looked shocked at his forwardness but Harry found it hard to be coy about it when he had so many memories in his head and when he knew now that Cameron was his Soulmate. "I..."

"Sit down, Cameron." Harry snorted. "Don't you think we should talk?"

Cameron frowned but sat down opposite Harry. "You're not being gentle about this." Cameron laughed but then looked directly at Harry and their eyes met. Cameron gasped before he could stop himself. "There's something..."

"Why are you here, Cameron?" Harry asked when Cameron didn't continue. "Why did you stay?"

"I..." Cameron stumbled. He was trying to find something to say but he couldn't get away from Harry's eyes. It was as if all the toying of before was gone and now everything was serious but Cameron wasn't the one that had changed, it was Harry. Cameron could see the change in Harry's eyes. There was a depth there that he'd never seen in another being.

"I've see a lot in my life, Cameron." Harry told him. "But nothing compares to what I've been through since I met you for the first time. Do you have any idea what I'm talking about?"

"What do you mean, Harry?" Cameron asked wincing even as he spoke.

"Okay, how about another question?" Harry caught his eyes again and reached out with a hand. "Do you know what's happening between us?"

Cameron pulled his hand into his chest, further from Harry's hand. Harry sighed and pulled back his hand. "Why don't you just leave then, Cameron?" Harry snapped. "If you don't want me just go back home!"

Harry stood in one smooth movement, not caring that it was with the grace of Imazato that he moved, and turned with his book held to his chest. He was ten steps away before Cameron thought to stand.

"Harry!" Cameron yelled, uncaring about all the others watching. Harry stopped at the gate and turned to look at him and Cameron ran to catch him up.

"Why are you scared?" Harry asked him.

"Because they'll..." Cameron wrenched himself to a stop, clearly horrified about saying that without thinking.

"Because they'll kill me?" Harry asked.

"How...?" Cameron recoiled so fast Harry thought he'd tip straight over.

"So I'm right?" Harry asked. "You're Night World?"

"How do you know about it?" Cameron almost hissed but Harry could see the fear in his eyes, the concern for Harry. He was utterly petrified.

"I think we shouldn't have this conversation in the open." Harry muttered and turned and started walking. It took Cameron a moment to catch up but when he did he walked almost three feet to his side, keeping enough distance from Harry that they couldn't possibly touch. Harry led him up through the park to the Giraffe enclosure and down the lane that separated the Takhi Horse enclosure from the outer park fence. He led Cameron over a locked gate before following the inside of the enclosure fence.

"Is it safe in here?" Cameron asked.

"They're just horses, Cameron." Harry assured him. "This is the only place where you can see anyone coming from any direction."

Harry stopped suddenly and sat on the grass against the fence. He stretched his legs out in front of him but then pulled one up and rested his head on it. Cameron remained standing, looking every bit like he wanted to run. "Cameron?" Harry asked eventually. "Can I be blunt?"

"I think you were rather blunt before." Cameron whispered. "You could be killed."

"Are you going to tell somebody?" Harry challenged.

"Don't you get how dangerous your situation is!?" Cameron almost yelled. "They kill Humans that find out about the Night World."

Harry looked directly up at him. "I know that Cameron."

"How!?" Cameron gasped. "I don't know how!"

"I'm an Old Soul, Cameron." Harry decided to just come out and say it. "It's all in there, thousands of years of lives all filling up my head. They plague my dreams like screams in a small room."

"An..." Cameron stuttered looking at Harry's face, at his eyes. With an explosive grunt he collapsed down to sit beside Harry. "I know."

"You know what?" Harry asked.

"That you're an Old Soul." Cameron sighed. "At least I think I knew, when I saw you earlier. You look so much older."

"I feel so much older." Harry sighed. "I had the first dream the night after I first met you. I think you triggered it."

"What's in there?" Cameron asked.

Harry shook his head. "I don't... I can't yet, Cameron."

"It's okay." Cameron sighed.

"Am I right, Cameron?" Harry asked. "I think I've seen Soulmates before but it's never happened to me. When we touched before... I felt like the whole world was opening up to me."

"I've never met somebody who found their Soulmates but I heard it was happening more frequently." Cameron nodded.

"What are you, Cameron?" Harry asked suddenly.

"I'm a Shapeshifter." Cameron told him with only a small pause.

"Drache." Harry shuddered and he turned with shock to look at him. "I'm an idiot. I didn't have the memories until after I met your father. He's..."

"The King of the Shapeshifters?" Cameron asked and then nodded. "I'm part of the First House."

Harry's eyes unfocused as he thought but then his eyes snapped back onto Cameron. "That's why all the animals were freaking out when I showed your family around. And the Lions were agitated when you were around. I bumped into you in front of their arena when I was trying to work it out."

Cameron nodded. "Harry..."

"I don't care, Cameron." Harry shook his head. "If you think I'll freak about it then you're wrong."

"How are you taking this so calmly?" Cameron asked. "I spent two days trying to figure out a way to tell you and not have you freak out."

"Have you any idea what's in my head, Cameron?" Harry asked. "I've only got five complete lives open in my head so far not including this one and I get killed twice by Vampires, once by a sword and once by a rock fall. You want me to freak out because I find out you're a Shapeshifter?"

Cameron laughed but covered it up hastily. "Sorry, I shouldn't laugh, but I've never met an Old Soul before."

"Cameron, can you accept me?" Harry asked after a moment's pause.

"I want to Harry." Cameron nodded and surprised Harry by reaching out his hand. Harry swallowed and nodded before reaching out his hand and touching their hands together. A sharp tingle spread up their arms and flowed over them both. Harry could feel his wings trying to escape but kept them at bay. Cameron was leaning towards him and Harry couldn't stop himself from sinking forwards until their lips met.

Light exploded in Harry's mind and he could feel a connection between himself and Cameron, thrumming in happiness as it pulled their minds together. He wanted to slide across and find Cameron's mind but the silvery thread was pulling Cameron's mind into his own even as their kiss continued and their arms wrapped around each other.

"Oh god, Harry." Cameron gasped and Harry felt the words in his mind.

"You're in my mind." Harry knew his thoughts were being shared. He could sense Cameron within his mind, closer to him than any other person had ever been. But he could see the landscape of his mind too. They were surrounded by a complex system of sharp edges and smooth ones but around that was an ebbing fog of dark swirling shapes. People. "I think they're the past lives I haven't remembered yet."

"What about the ones you have?" Cameron asked.

"They're me." Harry said it and it made sense to him and he couldn't help feeling worried that Cameron would reject him because of it all.

"There's nothing in here that could make me not want you, Harry." Cameron soothed him. "I love you."

Harry couldn't even imagine accusing him of lying. He could feel all of that love coming across the silvery connection. "I love you too. Even if they kill me for it."

"I won't let them. I don't have a form yet but I'll Choose one that can protect you." Cameron declared and Harry felt the emotions of protectiveness fill his mind from Cameron's. "Circle Daybreak is running again, stronger than ever. They'll protect you. They won't care that we love each other."

"I don't want you to be hurt protecting me." Harry told him sharply and before he could stop it a memory was unfolding in front of them. Remus being poisoned in the battle with Voldemort. Harry watched himself lose it, blasting Voldemort with his spells.

"What was that, Harry?" Cameron gasped. Harry could feel his shock.

"This life." Harry's sorrow filled their minds and flashes of more images filled his mind, most of all was the face of Aileen as Nicolas was killed. "I was a Wizard."

"I've never heard of them."

"They're Humans that can use magic with wands, but they are still just Humans." Harry told him. "They wanted me for a weapon and I told them no."

"They tried to force you." Cameron stated and Harry knew he was seeing memories of his last hours in the Wizarding World. Absorbing it all. "That's why you're here. You wanted a life without wars."

"And now I've got a mind full of them." Harry laughed derisively. "I don't want to fight any more."

"I'll try to make sure you never do. You can help Circle Daybreak if you want or you can tell them to go to hell." Cameron assured him and Harry felt another wave of love.

"Thank you, Cameron." Harry thought.

"You said you remembered five other lives but you only told me four deaths." Harry could feel Cameron's curiosity and knew he wanted to know what he needed to protect Harry from.

Before Harry could try to explain a whole section of his memories were surrounding them, uncurling to display for Cameron. Cameron watched A'Zia and his brilliant wingspan, he watched glimpses of a burning world and the greatest and last battle between Witches, Humans and the Amaru.

"You were alive then?" Harry could feel Cameron's deep shock and his overwhelming awe at A'Zia. "You were there!"

"Yeah. I think something massive is coming, Cameron." Harry told him honestly and from another section of his mind came the image of Harry falling from the bridge and of his wings opening to send him into a rather uncontrolled glide.

"You've got wings!" Cameron was getting far more shocked by the moment.

"Please Cameron." Harry knew he both sounded and felt worried.

"No, Harry." Cameron told him with resolve. "Nothing can make me turn away from you. This is just cool."

"You're the strangest person." Harry told him and he was thinking privately how it seemed people were never really shocked by his wings. Even as he thought it though another more recent memory unfolded. It was of him and Jez talking about his wings.

"You told him?" Cameron asked.

"I had to." Harry sent another memory, feeling rather practiced at it now. It was of him curled up in the corner of the on-call room scraping at his neck in panic. "I was going mad. He helped me. I trust him."

"Then so do I." Cameron declared. "Which Vampires killed you Harry?"

Harry was surprised but he couldn't help unfurling Nicolas' memory of Hunter bearing down on him. Harry shuddered and his mind filled with sharp spikes and horror even as Cameron countered the sensation with waves of love and over protectiveness. "He was called..."

"Hunter Redfern." Cameron finished. "I've met him a couple of time when he visited my family officially."

"He's still alive?" Harry panicked and his mind began closing up, protecting himself. Cameron tried to worm his way in but even as Harry was beginning to open up again he heard something on the outside. His radio.

"Harry!?" It was George's voice. "Are you there?"

Harry found himself opening his eyes. His head was lying on Cameron's shoulder and their sides were touching though they weren't kissing any longer. The field was still empty. He scrambled up as if they were on display and grabbed his radio. "I'm here George."

"I've been calling for two minutes, Harry." George told him. "There's a code eight at the Rhino pen. Get there now."

"I'm on my way but I'm a few minutes away at best." Harry told him. "I'm sorry, Cameron. I have to go."

"Harry." Cameron grabbed his hand. Warm tingles worked their way up his arm. "I'm here for you every step of the way."

"A code eight is a child in the pen." Harry told him. "I really have to go."

Cameron's eyes widened slightly and together they ran back into the park. Harry took shortcuts as they came up and arrived panting heavily at the rear of the pen. There was a group on his side of the pen and another group on the other and the crowds were gathering. Harry turned to Cameron. "You stay here and I mean it, Cameron."

"Okay, Harry." Cameron sighed. "Just be careful."

It took them a long time to discuss strategy but it was eventually decided to avoid tranquilising the bull since it took precious moments for it to fall into a sleep and they tended to go a bit wild in that time. The small boy, maybe seven years old, had realised his error but every time he tried to retrace his steps the bull turned at him and scared him back into the corner of the roughly square pen. The boy was very small and had clearly managed to squirm his way through the bars further around the pen and now couldn't get back to them.

Harry was the first to volunteer to get the boy but he'd need a distraction and the other group could provide that. Harry slipped in unnoticed by the bull and stayed low to the ground as a dozen keepers and George entered rather dramatically from the other side of the pen. They instantly had the bull's attention and even the two females who weren't likely to do more than slink away into another corner. As soon as the bull turned to look at the other group Harry slipped quickly along the inside edge of the pen heading for the small boy.

The boy made to run for him but Harry made hasty gestures for him to stay put. The boy complied though he was crying. Harry made it there without the bull noticing but as the boy grabbed a hold of him the bull snorted and realised somebody had snuck passed him. He pawed at the ground before charging with very little warning. The boy leapt to the right, trying to drag Harry with him but that would take them further into the corner.

Harry didn't have to put much thought behind it and the world shifted into that single moment of indecision. The boy stopped pulling, the bull froze mid leap and the horrified cries from the gathering crowds went silent. Harry studied everything. He could easily simply walk away from the scene but the boy couldn't be moved within the moment. He wasn't built to live in the moment like Harry. Harry could shift balances, make decision and move himself but he couldn't move other people or objects with previous momentum.

He knew Rhinos, they didn't have brilliant eyesight and their decisions while charging where rather slow. The fence behind him curved back to the right and Harry knew that if he dived to the left the Rhino would miss them and turn away. That would give them the vital few seconds to run to the gate before the Rhino could slow enough to turn around fully and find them.

But Harry would need all his balance and strength to pull the boy in the right direction, he needed to almost throw him within a couple of seconds. Even as he finished planning it he started pulling. His whole weight went against the boy's headway and as he slipped out of the moment everything went flying. The boy was yanked straight off his feet and Harry rolled to his left without any grace, throwing the boy clear of the Rhino's charge which crashed over where Harry and the boy had been standing moments before. Harry only just got clear and he rolled backwards to stand and grabbed the boy off of the ground. He turned and ran for it without checking the Rhino. He could feel the shaking of the ground slow as the Rhino turned and just as they reached the gate he could feel it picking up speed again.

In seconds they were through the gate which was protected by hefty metal bars and before Harry knew it a woman was sweeping the boy up from the ground and smothering him in a hug. Harry was surprised when newly familiar arms wrapped him up in a tight hug and Harry could feel Cameron's arms and chest. He could smell the slight scent on Cameron's neck from the day's sweat and he could feel Cameron's brown hair against his cheek.

"You scared me, Harry." The words were in his head but they screamed Cameron at him. He hadn't even realised that Cameron was telepathic.

"I was never in any danger." Harry told him and knew by Cameron's own emotions that he could hear him. "I'll show you why later."

Cameron backed away and they realised that their moment had been noticed by at least fifty people. Luckily the other keepers were prevented from answering when the woman who was presumably the boy's mother grabbed him in a tearful hug. "Thank you so much young man!" She almost shrieked.

"Harry?" It was Simon Carter. Harry hadn't even realised the Director had been at the edge of the pen. "Why don't you take Mrs. Samuels and her family up to the conference room? I think they may be in need of a hot drink. I'll have something sent up." Harry nodded and glanced at Cameron with a shrug. "Feel free to take your friend with you, Harry."

Harry nodded again gratefully and turned to Mrs. Samuels, her husband, two daughters and the boy who was being carried by his father. He was almost asleep. Harry got them to follow him and Cameron up to the Manor amidst a large crowd of spectators.

It was a long hour and a half for Harry as Mr. and Mrs. Samuels constantly thanked him and the other staff, through Simon Carter, for their aid in rescuing their son. Cameron sat at his side in silence the entire time and it was well passed the end of Harry's shift before he was set free. It wasn't that Harry was unmoved by saving the boy, only that he didn't like the attention it was getting him.

When he finally escaped with Cameron they walked into the public room of the Veterinary Surgery to find, amongst a few visitors, Jez sitting looking rather bored. He jumped to his feet as soon as he saw Harry. He was wearing a visitor's pass again so obviously Shay had let him in. "I heard what happened, Harry." Jez hugged him. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Jez." Harry told him. "Come on." He tugged Jez through the locked door and Jez turned as they walked when he realised they were being followed.

"Who are you?" Jez asked rather protectively.

Harry grabbed his chin and dragged him into the lab. Cameron followed silently. "Jez, this is Cameron. Cameron this is Jeremy."

"Jez!" Jez yelled and then blinked and glared at Harry.

Harry smirked at him before turning to Cameron. "We still need to talk about stuff."

"I know." Cameron nodded. "Do you want me to come back tomorrow?"

"Could you come to my place tonight?" Harry asked. Cameron grinned.

"I don't know if I like that idea." Jez spoke up protectively. Cameron eyed him for a moment and shrugged.

"I couldn't hurt him if I wanted to." Cameron told him. "I'm hard wired to him."

"He's right, Jez." Harry told him. "I was right, we're Soulmates and we really can't hurt each other."

"But still..." Jez frowned.

"Jez." Harry touched him on the arm. "Cameron and I need to talk things through and it's risky to do it anywhere but at my place."

"Risky?"

"We love each other, Jez." Harry told him. "We can't escape it but the Night World would kill us both for it."

"So you're Night World?" Jez sized Cameron up.

"Jez." Harry slugged him gently on the arm. "Give it a rest. I'm the one that freaked Cameron out with it all."

"Yeah, I can imagine." Jez laughed. "Alright. But I'll kill him if he hurts you. I don't care what kind of Vampire he is."

"Shapeshifter." Cameron corrected automatically. "Well..."

"Not now, Cam." Harry laughed, shortening Cameron's name without even realising it. "We'll explain it later."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Later that night

Harry lay out in his bed. Cameron was beside him and Jez was on the sofa in the other room. It seemed normal for him to be lying next to Cameron and apart from a smirk from Jez nobody mentioned it. Harry was well aware that Jez pulled Cameron to the side when Harry left the room to shower before bed.

"Cam?" Harry asked and rolled onto his side. They were both wearing just their boxers with the sheet up to their ribs and Harry had trouble pulling his eyes up to Cameron's face from his chest. Cameron turned to look at him. "What did Jez say to you just then?"

"He warned me that sometimes you refuse to wake up from your nightmares but just to make sure I'm here when you do." Cameron told him softly.

Harry smiled at him. And moved slightly closer. "Cam? You said that Hunter Redfern was still alive?"

"Yeah, he's one of the big wigs on the Night World Council with my father." Cameron told him. "I never really liked him and lately he's been getting a rather bad reputation but most of the Vampires still worship him."

"My name was Nicolas." Harry said quietly and Cameron turned to look at him and grabbed his hand tightly sending soothing tingles through his body. "I was a slave on an island off the coast of America though I was born on the island and I never left. That was where the other slaves said it was. I had a little sister a few years younger than me and there was this other slave, Jastor, that wanted her."

"Wanted her?" Cameron swallowed thickly.

"Yeah. She said no of course. He was a bad person to put it nicely. He knew I'd kill him without a second thought if he tried to force her." Harry paused. "I was in charge of Hunter's snakes and he got in during the night and let one out and got rid of it. Hunter was furious."

"They hunted you?" Cameron gasped and grabbed at him desperately.

"They wanted to." Harry managed a smirk though it didn't fool Cameron. "I knew I was dead, it's not like you can escape a band of Shapeshifters, Werewolves and Vampires while on an island."

"So they killed you?" Cameron asked trying to get the story over with as quickly as possible.

"I grabbed a sword from one of the guards and Hunter just laughed at me." Harry shrugged. "It never crossed my mind to try it on him but Aileen was being held by Jastor and he was smirking at me."

"You killed him." It wasn't a question.

"I had to protect my sister." Harry told him softly. "I killed Jastor and Hunter jumped at me and the last thing I remember was his teeth in my throat and the pain. I woke up tearing at my own throat trying to get rid of the sensation."

Cameron reached out and his fingers touched the side of his neck, right where the scratches were slowly fading. "This?" Harry nodded. Cameron leaned forwards, closing the gap. Harry could feel Cameron's warm skin against his own and it sent warm thrills through him. Cameron kissed the side of his neck. Harry rolled onto his back and Cameron lay at his side, still touching him to remind him he was there and simply because he never wanted to let Harry go.

"I dread asking if you know the other Vampire." Harry edged, staring up at the ceiling. "I know you'll know her name but I really hope she's dead by now."

"Who?" Cameron seemed to dread it too.

"My name was Ryn. I think it was the first time I'd awakened since the Dragons were put to sleep but maybe not my first time being reincarnated. My parents were killed by wolves and the leader of the tribe took me in and raised me. Among those my age were two girls, Witches." Harry paused. "I've heard the story of Hellewise and Maya before but I've never heard my name before."

"You mean...?" Cameron gulped.

"Hecate raised me." Harry told Cameron. "When Maya was banished I was sent out after one of the rest of the tribe who she'd turned but had rejected her and fled. I found him broken and alone and helped him home but he wanted to go to sleep so Hecate put him into an enchanted sleep and I was given the task of hiding him so that Maya, who still wanted him, could never find him."

"She tried to get it from you?" Cameron guessed.

"I took the location to my grave but having my throat ripped out wasn't pleasant either." Harry shivered slightly.

"Maya's dead." Cameron told him reassuringly. "The Vampire Lord Thierry, who I'm guessing is the one from your story, killed her. Nobody really knows the truth there but the Night World Council saw the body."

Harry breathed out in relief. "What about Thierry?"

"He's around." Cameron told him. "I don't think we should go find him though. He's part of the Night World Council."

"I don't think he'd kill me, Cam." Harry told him. "I grew up with him, hunting wild pig and deer."

"It's been a long time and he's a Night World Lord. One of the most powerful." Cameron looked dubious.

"We'll see." Harry sighed. "Thanks, Cam."

"For what?" Cameron frowned down at him.

"For accepting me so quickly." Harry told him.

"It's not even an effort." Cameron laughed and settled his head down on Harry's chest, knowing that Harry was exhausted. "I'll see you when you wake up."

Liam crouched on the river bank in London. He was just off from one of the bridges and he could hear the army soldiers patrolling the bridge's ends. It was the sewer tunnel beneath the bridge that Liam was interested in though. He'd been tracking this particular bear for three days now and he'd barely slept or rested in that time. His target was too important, a rogue Shapeshifter that had made use of the chaos in London to prey on the humans..

Liam was a Vampire Hunter by trade but he knew better than to think that all Night People were inherently bad so he just targeted the murderers among them. Jacobson was a rather political figure in London but luckily nobody blamed locals for missing people when every other night the skies filled with the drone of aircraft and the screeching of falling bombs. World War Two London wasn't a pleasant place to live but even as it worked for Liam it aided rogue Night People in hunting and killing.

He looked up at the sky and the crisscross of search lamps as they caught on the aircrafts. He could see tracer rounds flying up from the ground, reaching into the air like deadly fingers. It was a large raid today which was good since it would cover the sounds of any fight he got into. He slipped through the wire fence that stopped access under the bridge and drew his Katana as he moved through the shadows. That was an advantage to being an Old Soul, as soon as he'd awoken with his memories on the night his parents and older brother had been killed by a Vampire and two Shapeshifters he'd been able to fight like a professional Samurai. The twelve year old boy had killed the Vampire with a broken table leg before they could realise they were facing something more skilled than your average twelve year old.

He'd killed the two Shapeshifters six months later and then the war had broken out and now it was 1943 and the seventeen year old had more kills of rogues then he could remember. It was a service that had to be done since the Night World Lords didn't care about a war-torn London enough to do it themselves. They should be thanking him.

The sewer was bleak and dirty. It stunk but at least his target had already made his way through the netting that preventing just this thing from happening. He walked out into an interchange and stayed crouched low to the ground, taking in the scene with practiced ease. He hadn't been noticed yet in the darkness thanks to his black outfit. Imazato wouldn't be impressed but he hadn't lived in an age where stealth kept you alive. He wore a black Ninja's outfit which covered every inch of him but his eyes. His silver Katana was carefully painted black so the blade didn't reflect any light.

His target was crouched over that evening prey. She was long since dead and had been since Liam had traced him to the place where he'd kidnapped her on her way to the shelter. He was half human and half bear and his face was almost inside her chest. Shapeshifters needed one thing to survive, flesh, and Jacobson didn't seem to care about subtlety in taking it.

Liam moved forwards so silently he doubted even a Vampire could have heard him, especially over the noise Jacobson was making. His broader than human back was to Liam and his form was human except for his hands and face which were clearly that of a bear. A thick matt of brown hair covered his entire body without any sign of his original clothing. Liam readied his sword, shifting the point up and holding the hilt near to his chest with one hand around the handle and the other across the base. This was a move that Imazato definitely wouldn't have liked. He was a Samurai, a being of honour, but he'd known nothing of Shapeshifters and Vampires.

Liam took the final two steps at a run and put his entire weight into his strike. His Katana became an extension of his body and the sharp silver point slid straight through Jacobson's back as if it was tissue paper, it cut straight through his heart and out between two of his ribs. There'd be no damage to the Katana but Jacobson's body collapsed to the floor. None of his Night World abilities could help him now.

Liam retrieved his sword and was about to wipe it on Jacobson's fur when what he had taken as a group of rats made their move. He'd been foolish, he'd overlooked the important and even as he turned he knew it would be a fatal mistake. Mice hunted in groups and Liam was just one human against eight humanoid Shapeshifters who only saw him as dinner.

The fight was quick yet bloody. Liam killed two with the arts learned as a Samurai but the others managed to swarm him. Imazato would have said that they fought without honour but that didn't help Liam out of his dilemma. He didn't even cry out as his own chest was pierced by his own Katana but he would die with honour. His hand withdrew from his jacket pocket and the grenade fell from his hand even as he went limp. He could hear the metal object roll across the brick floor and the desperate, and fruitless, scramble around him and then it was just a white burning.

Harry shot up with a startled cry, colliding his shoulder into Cameron's chest on his way. Cameron was sitting in the dark and had clearly been trying to wake him. "Cam." Harry sighed before focusing passed him and to the other side of the bed near his feet. "Jez."

"You sounded like you were fighting." Cameron frowned worriedly.

"Looks like Liam's a Vampire Hunter." Harry told him, he knew his hands were shaking but compared to the other deaths he'd witnessed that one had been easier to handle. "I think I'm getting used to it."

"Used to what?" Jez asked and put his hand on Harry's leg through the blanket.

"Getting killed." Harry shrugged before launching into the story and as he spoke, almost on autopilot, he realised that he knew all the old backstreets of London, he knew his way around the sewers, he knew how to best track and tail Vampires, Werewolves and Shapeshifters without being noticed and even the surest way of killing them before they could try to defend themselves.

"Why is that all your lives seem to involve fighting?" Cameron asked.

Harry chuckled nervously. "I hope they're not all like that. I don't want to fight another war in this lifetime."

Jez kissed Harry on the cheek before traipsing from the room and Harry pulled Cameron so he was sitting between his legs with his back to Harry's chest before Harry opened his wings and cocooned them both so he could try to get back to sleep, knowing only that every time he closed his eyes he'd relive something else. Part of him just wanted to get it all over and done with but another part of him was frightened of what horrors he'd discover.

"It won't be so bad it breaks you, Harry." Cameron's voice echoed softly in his head and Harry flinched realising that his Soulmate must have heard his thinking. He knew that Cameron was telepathic as a member of the First House but he hadn't realised that his own thoughts were so open. "I think we need to be physically close for me to hear you clearly." Again Cameron could hear him.

"Why do you say it can't be bad enough to turn me mad?" Harry decided to just keep the conversation like this. Every time he heard Cameron's voice in his head he felt like warmth was soothing all of the crevices of his mind, softening the nasty edges of his previous lives.

"Liam was only just sixty years ago, he died in 1943 and you were born 1980, that's only thirty-seven years." Cameron told him. "You probably don't have another life between him and you said he was an awakened Old Soul and he wasn't twisted and insane."

"Yeah, maybe you're right." Harry nodded.

"And even if you think you're going insane I'll be here to help you through it." Cameron told him. "And Circle Daybreak have loads of Old Souls working with them. If you need to talk to somebody about it then I'm sure one of them would jump at the chance."

"Cam. You're connected to me." Harry pointed out. "Nobody else can come close to understanding me like you can."

Even as he said the words the silver connection they were using to talk thickened and Harry fell towards Cameron but instead of Cameron coming to him, their minds flowed together and melded around each other. Cameron's spread throughout Harry's foggy nexus, covering everything that was bad and helping Harry to accept it. They stayed like that for hours, drifting together in their combined minds watching memories of both of their lives. Harry learnt about Cameron's family. His mother was an Owl, and his father a Lion. He had his two little sisters that wanted to be birds and his older brother, the heir, didn't know what he wanted. Harry could feel all the feelings that Cameron had towards his brother, Galen. The adoration for his gentle nature but also the concern that when it came to be his time to rule he'd be overwhelmed in a word where the stronger survived.

Cameron wanted Galen to stay like that and he was willing to be strong to offset his brother's gentleness. He was willing to be a Tiger so he could sit at Galen's side and protect him while he ruled. Harry made sure he knew that Harry was willing to be there at Cameron's side to protect their family because as his Soulmate, Galen felt like his brother-in-law already. He also knew that Cameron was bursting at the seams to tell his brother all about Harry. He could feel the pride that Cameron held towards Harry and he knew that Cameron wanted to know that his older brother approved of Harry. He wanted Galen and Harry to love each other for him. Harry made sure he knew that Harry would love anybody for Cameron's sake. Even his father.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The next day

Harry had the Saturday off and he couldn't wait to spend it in freedom. So much had happened the last week that Harry could hardly imagine it all. First there was the tour on the Monday and then all of the nightmares. July was drawing to a close and soon Harry would be nineteen and Jez made sure he didn't forget the upcoming day for even a moment. Cameron got a call in the morning from a friend and left for his hotel just on the outskirts of the small town while Harry and Jez went into town. Cameron gave Harry a room key for the hotel and told him and Jez to meet him up there after lunch.

As it turned out Harry and Jez were done for lunch by one and arrived at the hotel earlier than expected. They took the elevator up to the top floor and along the hall until Cameron's door arrive. Harry unlocked it without knocking and pushed it open and walked inside. For a moment he didn't realise that the shadow at the window was two people. It wasn't until the woman looked up from Cameron's wrist that he realised that Cameron had company.

Harry never for even a moment thought that Cameron was cheating on him but he was moving on autopilot and picked a pencil up from the bedside cabinet and was halfway between Jez and the woman in a moment. She was unbelievably beautiful with shoulder length brown hair that almost glowed with life. Her eyes were a bright crystal blue and were sharpened into that or a pure predator. Her skin had a pale gleam to it that only enhanced her features but it was the teeth that really made her fiercely beautiful.

She was a Vampire and she'd been feeding from Cameron's veins. Her eyes met Harry's and flickered to the pencil in his hand. Harry saw no foolishness in her eyes, she could see that Harry's wasn't a push over even with such a small weapon. She was underestimating him like a Vampire normally would. A pencil could easily reach the heart and a pencil was made of wood and wood killed Vampires. Harry was more dangerous with a used pencil than with a gun.

"Stop!" It was Cameron but Harry didn't look the foot to the left to see him. Not with a Vampire in the room.

"Move away from him." Harry hissed but it wasn't just his voice that spoke. It was A'Zia, Ryn, Liam and Imazato speaking confidently and Nicolas speaking desperately. "Now."

She took a delicate step to the side but the way she moved held a perfected grace that meant she could defend herself or change direction in an instant. Harry crossed the room to stand next to Cameron. Cameron reached for his hand but Harry moved it away so Cameron couldn't take the pencil. He expected Cameron to tell him to stop again but instead Cameron turned to the Vampire.

"Tamarack, change back." Cameron told her sharply. "Please. He really isn't a threat."

'Tamarack' slowly turned to take in Cameron without putting herself at a disadvantage but nodded after a moment. The deadly sheen vanished back to a more normal beauty and her fangs shrunk to normal size and she closed her mouth.

"Harry, give that here." Harry let him take it this time. "Harry, this is my friend. She won't hurt you."

"I don't know about that." Tamarack teased effortlessly.

"Tammy, no." Cameron shook his head fiercely at her. "Don't even kid about it. Harry's an Old Soul, he's been killed twice by having his blood taken by Vampires. Don't joke about it."

Tamarack stared at Harry in wonder and not a little bit of pity. "I'm sorry, Harry." Her voice was soft and didn't have the joking edge. "And I'm sorry you saw us like that but I was hungry and Cameron offered so that I could stay here and meet you."

"I didn't expect you so soon." Cameron told him and turned Harry to look at him properly.

"It's okay." Harry assured him before turning to the Vampire. "I'm sorry, it just took me by surprise."

She nodded at him. "And who's this cutie?"

Harry and Cameron turned to look at Jez who was still standing in the half open door, staring at Tamarack as if she was an angel. They waited for Jez to introduce himself but he didn't seem able to speak. "This is Jez." Cameron told her. "Harry's best friend."

"Should I blank his memory?" Tamarack looked less sure of herself. In fact she looked rather flustered.

"He knows everything." Cameron told her.

"Cameron." She frowned at him. "That's two Humans in less than a week. If anybody finds out..."

"They won't find out." Cameron snapped.

"And I told Jez before Cameron and I realised we were Soulmates." Harry told her.

"So you're really an Old Soul?" She asked looked him over. "You don't look like much."

"Tamarack!" Cameron intervened desperately.

"What did you expect?" Harry asked.

"Well you've got the eyes, just like Hugh from Circle Daybreak." She bit her lip. "But you know, you look kind of delicate. Not at all what Cameron said you were when he called me all panicky about falling for a Human."

"And he said I was an Old Soul when he called you?" Harry asked dubiously.

"Well no." She shrugged. "But he told me this morning."

"So you were expecting somebody more?" Harry asked with a raised eyebrow. "Like a Samurai warrior, or a Vampire Hunter or something like that?"

"Something like that, yeah." Tamarack laughed.

"Remind me to introduce you to Imazato and Liam at some point then." Harry muttered dryly.

"Who?" Tamarack frowned looking at Cameron for help. She'd clearly been teasing him before now but she was clearly confused now.

"Harry's names when he was a Samurai warrior in Japan in the thirteenth century and his name as a Vampire Hunter in London during the Second World War." Cameron rolled his eyes.

"Seriously?" There was a glint in her eyes. "That is so cool."

"Was there something in your blood before she drank it?" Harry asked Cameron carefully earning a snort of amusement before Cameron took his hand and pulled him into his side. Tamarack was clearly watching how Harry melted into Cameron's side and the way that Cameron had taken the protective role in the relationship even though Harry was clearly more skilled and more experienced.

"She's always like that." Cameron shrugged. "Really irritates my father but she's sworn an oath to protect me so he can't really get rid of her."

"That's good." Harry, Cameron and Tamarack all turned to look at Jez as he spoke and he went bright red as he realised what he'd said. Harry laughed but Cameron nudged him in the side. Harry glanced at him before following his gaze to Tamarack. She was slightly red too and seemed to be honestly flustered under Jez's blatant admiration. Harry and Cameron couldn't hold it in and both burst out laughing. They ended up sitting amongst the pillows on the double bed, laughing at their friends. Jez tried to leave but Harry grabbed his hand and pulled him down next to him while Tamarack recovered and sat proudly on a chair next to the windows. Noticeably as far from Jez as she could get.

"You've got a good fighting stance, Harry." Tamarack spoke up after a few minutes for everyone to calm down, namely Harry and Cameron.

"I suppose it comes with practice." Harry became serious.

"Ever thought of joining Circle Daybreak. We could definitely use more fighters." She realised she'd said something wrong when Cameron tightened his arm around Harry who became more defensive.

"Harry doesn't want to fight." Cameron told her.

"Why not?" She asked.

"I've fought a war already in this lifetime." Harry told her, snuggling closer to his Soulmate.

"Already fought a war..." Tamarack muttered to herself. "Wait! How old are you?"

"Eighteen." Harry frowned. "Well, nineteen on Friday."

"No, I mean in all." Tamarack demanded. "Do you remember anything from when the Shapeshifters were in charge?"

"Tammy. Leave him alone." Cameron came to his rescue. "It's his private life."

"Harry?" Tamarack was standing now and looked as if she was trying to stop herself from pacing. "This is important. Are you old enough to remember when the Shapeshifters ruled."

"The Shapeshifters never really ruled." Harry told her in way of conceding. "It was those called the Amaru. The Dragons."

"So you remember that far back?" Tamarack asked. Harry nodded. "Oh god. There's been nobody that goes that far back. The furthest back we have is when the Vampires were created."

"So?" Cameron seemed to want to stand and confront his friend for her words but his desire to hold onto Harry seemed to win out since he didn't move. "Tamarack! What does it matter if Harry is the oldest?"

"Because the Night World Council is looking for him." Tamarack told them.

"The Council doesn't know about me." Harry told her. "They can't. I only awakened less than a week ago. I didn't even know what I was until a few days ago."

"There's a prophecy. A really old one that's come up. It's really hard to translate into English but it says that the oldest of beings would rise and they would either help the darkness rise at the millennium or help to save the world." Tamarack told him. "Everybody is looking for an Old Soul because of another phrase about the person being throughout the ages. Older than any other. Don't you see it has to be Harry?"

"Why?"

"Because he's a warrior who will not fight." Tamarack told him.

"Is that in the prophecy?" Jez asked, speaking up for the first time since he'd embarrassed himself.

"No.." Tamarack sighed. "The Maiden of all the Witches, Aradia, saw it in a vision. A boy fighting in a battle and then swearing never to fight again. She said that without his aid the darkness would win but if he fights a war again then darkness will win."

"Well that makes no sense." Jez told her.

Harry was already in a world of his own. He'd heard of a prophecy like this before. "Harry?" It was Cameron with his hand on the back of Harry's neck. He'd shifted to sit facing Harry. "Is she right?"

"I...don't know." Harry frowned. "Their translation sounds too vague but the original is clearer."

"You know the original?" Tamarack asked. "But Hecate cast that premonition."

"She never wrote it down because she was frightened that it would lead to disaster. That much evidence would lead the darkness to find the person and gain his aid." Harry said. "Only eight people heard it and they passed it down and eventually it must have been put down in writing. That was twenty-thousand years ago."

"You heard it?" Cameron asked. Harry nodded. "Could it be you?"

"Hecate knew it was about me." Harry told him. "We knew that I was the first to be reincarnated. It has to be me but I won't fight."

"I know." Cameron told him. "I don't think you should. Nobody can make you."

"If you won't fight at least let Circle Daybreak protect you." Tamarack told him. "If the Council gets a hold of you they'll force you to fight."

"I can protect him." Cameron told her. "I'm staying here with him."

"Cameron, you're not a fighter until you Choose." She pointed out.

"Then I'll chose." Cameron snapped. Harry grabbed his hands and he instantly calmed down.

"Let them send somebody, Cam." Harry told him softly. "If this Aradia has already seen me they'll find me eventually whether you get Tamarack to stay silent or not and they'll be able to protect me better without sneaking around."

"Harry." Cameron shut his eyes for a moment. "I don't want the rest of the Night World anywhere near you. They kill humans who know about us."

"I know that, Cam." Harry nodded. "So if the Night World find out and send somebody to kill me, even if they don't know the prophecy is about me, it would be better to have more eyes to look out for them."

Cameron sighed out explosively before turning to Tamarack. "Fine, call them if you want to."

"Cameron, you're my best friend." Tamarack knelt at the side of the bed. "You know I'd never do anything to hurt you and I'd never do anything to hurt your Soulmate."

"This should be interesting." Jez muttered just loud enough for them all to hear. Harry snorted and leaned his shoulder into his friend's side. He found himself being hugged between both Cameron and Jez and he knew then that he wasn't in any danger.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

End Chapter