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.

7. A Hunter's Love

Temporal Illusion

Chapter 7; A Hunter's Love

Las Vegas – Thierry's Mansion

"It'll be a shame to see you leave, Ryn." Thierry told him gently as Harry finished playing along to Thierry on the piano. Harry glanced around and smiled at Hannah, Jez, Nicky, Tamarack, Quinn, Rashel and of course Cameron though only Hannah and Cameron were actually sitting next to the piano. Harry leaned the Cello on its stand and leaned his elbows on his knees.

"You and I both know that with things happening as they are I'm going to be around quite often." Harry pointed out. "You should be happy. Liam is begging for a fight. He wants to find out how well the Night World defends against me with magic."

"Liam is your name when you awoke in London during World War Two?" Hannah asked.

"He's my most recent life, not including this one." Harry smiled and nodded.

"Rashel and Quinn have offered to act as your personal bodyguards." Thierry looked up at the two who quickly moved over.

"As long as they realise that it may come to pass that they have to just get themselves out of trouble." Harry narrowed his eyes at Thierry who nodded, not wanting to go into that any more when the two didn't know the truth about Harry.

"If you need to come to the Mansion for any reason then you call them first and they'll escort you." Thierry narrowed his eyes at Harry.

"Thierry..." Harry laughed. "Running off without me to help you was your problem not mine. Hecate scalded you how many times when we were kids?"

"Well hopefully we've both matured since then." Thierry laughed.

"Seriously, Harry." Rashel spoke up. "Day or night, if you need to go anywhere you call us."

"What about Tamarack?" Harry looked to Cameron. They'd already talked about this with Tamarack and Jez but he didn't know what the other two had decided.

"We'll be visiting as often as we can." Cameron reassured him. "But a Vampire and a Prince of the Shapeshifters hanging around your flat will look too suspicious. We'll sneak in and out on occasion and obviously if you need us you only have to call. Other than that Tamarack and Jez agreed that she should come with me."

"To look after you." Harry nodded. Cameron snorted but didn't get offended.

"Yes, Harry. To look after me." Cameron rolled his eyes and dodged the swat to his head a second later from Harry wielding his Cello's bow.

Just as Harry was about to say more one of Thierry's guards quickly entered and moved towards Thierry and whispered rapidly in his ear. Thierry stood up when the man left. "Aradia and Grandma Harmen are just coming up the drive." Thierry told them. "I don't think we should have a large gathering. Ryn?"

"I'm coming." Harry stood up.

"Which means me too." Cameron announced. Harry and Thierry both smiled at him.

"If you two are going to be following me around for the foreseeable future then you might as well come too." Harry sighed and let Cameron pull him to his feet and kept a hold of his hand.

Hannah accepted Thierry's arm with a small giggle and a flash of a smile at Harry who reminded himself that she was much more the teenager in comparison to Harry, Rashel or Cameron who were all essentially mortal. The six left the room after briefly bidding the others goodbye and headed down to the ground floor and to a small sitting room with no windows that Harry had quickly realised Thierry did most of his dealings.

Aradia and Grandma Harmen were escorted in a few minutes later and looked around their audience. "Ah good!" Grandma Harmen smiled. "I had hoped you would have the foresight to bring down dear Hannah and Harry."

"Note how she says that as if we're not two of the three eldest in the room." Harry commented as he smiled at Hannah and then turned to Crone and Maiden of the Witches.

"I'm afraid, Thierry, that the proverbial has hit the fan." Grandma Harmen sighed and eased herself down onto one of the sofas. Harry took Aradia by the hand and led her to sit beside himself with Cameron on his own other side. Thierry and Hannah sat with the elderly woman whilst Quinn and Rashel stood behind Harry's sofa. "Are you happy for everyone in here to be involved?"

"Quinn and Rashel are to take on the task of protecting Harry." Thierry forced himself to use his current name though it sounded strange to Harry to hear Thierry use it. He was trying to keep himself detached. "They should be involved."

"I had a vision during a Circle Twilight meeting. I'm afraid it is too late to keep it to ourselves." Aradia sighed before beginning to recite it. Harry grabbed up a piece of paper and a pen and started copying it down for later though it wasn't his current mind that did it. He recognised Liam there but also others. "One from the land of kings long forgotten; One from the hearth that still holds the spark; One from the Day world where two eyes are watching; One from the Twilight to be one with the dark."

Cameron glanced at Harry's writing with a frown. "English might have helped, Harry." Cameron pointed out.

Harry frowned down at his own shorthand scribbling with a frown. "What language is that?" Thierry asked as Harry put the pad down on the table.

"Not a clue." Harry sighed. "I don't recognise it."

The group all blinked at him in surprise. "So it's from the last life that hasn't come forward yet?" Cameron checked.

"Don't we have more important things to discuss?" Harry asked the group as a whole.

"Indeed." Aradia pointed out.

"Are we to believe this is linked to the Wild Powers?" Thierry asked.

"Four to stand between the light and the shadow. Four of blue fire, power in their blood. Born in the year of the blind Maiden's vision; Four less one and darkness triumphs." Harry recited in English for them.

"You know that prophecy?" Grandma Harmen asked.

"Yes." Harry nodded.

"Nobody knows who gave it. Hecate wrote it in one of her books."

"I know she did." Harry grinned at her and glanced at Thierry who looked just as confused. "I'm the one that gave it to her."

"It's your vision?" Hannah asked.

"No, it was my grandmother's." Harry frowned not realising he wasn't making any sense.

"Harry, be more specific." Cameron squeezed his hand. Harry looked up sharply and blushed.

"Sorry, I meant A'Zia's grandmother. A'Vena." Harry smiled gently. "She was awesome. She was also the one that told me not to go see what the Amaru looked like. Should have really listened to her."

Cameron sniggered knowing what he was talking about but the others were clueless. "Sorry."

Harry looked at Cameron with a grin which faded as he turned back. "She made the prophecy just as the world was starting to fall to flames. Like in your own prophecies. It describes the last of the fights for world supremacy."

"We get most of it." Thierry spoke up. "Four of them which fits with Aradia's prophecy this morning. Blood power in the form of blue fire. If we lose one of them then darkness wins."

"And I believe it is these four that I had a vision about you protecting. If you don't help us protect them we will lose one." Aradia sighed. "I feel that in my gut when I saw you fighting your wars."

"Looks like I'm firmly involved then." Harry leaned into Cameron.

"What we're not sure of is age." Grandma Harmen spoke up. "There's a lot of thought over the matter. The Blind Maiden is obviously Aradia since there has never been another Maiden who has lost her eyesight."

"What's difficult about it?" Harry frowned in confusion. "They were born in the year of her vision."

"But which vision?" Hannah pressed and Harry frowned at her before realising where she was going. He snorted in amusement before laughing for a few seconds but then bit his lip to calm down. The others gave him a moment and he breathed out to calm himself down.

"Sorry." He apologised but they all knew he didn't really mean it. "A loss of translation I suppose. I forget how stupid the English language is at times. Let me restate it." Harry ran off the prophecy in A'zia's native language and although they couldn't hope to understand it they could pick up the different sentences. He repeated the part about the blind maiden's vision.

"The word used there for vision translates to vision." Harry explained. "The vision of eyes. What you actually see physically. My tribe had a completely different word for the type your thinking about."

"So the prophecy actually means when I wasn't blind?" Aradia smiled. "My first year."

"Looks like you have an advantage over your opponents after all." Harry smiled and leaned further into Cameron. "You know their age."

"Thank you." Grandma Harmen gave him a rough smile.

"If that's all?" Harry prompted as he rubbed at his head.

"Ryn?" Thierry asked with a frown seeing suddenly how strained Harry was.

"I think doing that..." Harry waved at his shorthand scribbling on the desk. "Strained me a little."

"There's nothing more." Grandma Harmen assured him. "If Rashel and Quinn are to remain with you then they will be able to contact you should we need to ask you anything."

Harry rose up and Cameron steadied him as he wavered slightly. Harry squeezed Aradia's shoulder gently. "Something tells me that much of this task will be out of our hands. We must only pick up what pieces we can."

"That's definitely not, Ryn." Thierry chuckled.

Harry flashed him a smile. "Something similar to what A'Vena would say."

Cameron looped an arm around his waist and they barely made it out into the hall before Harry slumped suddenly and his vision blurred. He felt strong arms lift him up and recognised Quinn peering at him.

"Is he alright?" Rashel asked.

Harry's eyesight faded and he heard Rashel calling back inside for the others in concern. "Harry?" Cameron called into his mind but was met with an alien mind that he didn't recognise and Harry was struggling against. "Love?"

"I'm still here." Harry managed to meet Cameron's mind even as his body failed and went limp. "It's merging."

"Get him to a bed." Thierry's sharp voice ordered and Harry felt himself going weightless as somebody ran up the stairs with him. Darkness finally closed in around him.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Oliver ducked under a low beam, his hand gripping around his sword. Or should he say, Imazato's sword. They weren't expecting too much trouble under the French town but with them being firmly in the French held lands he wasn't going to be foolish. His basic armour was more like light armour rather than the heavy armour of the Knights but it meant he could move.

He entered the fourth chamber and through the second blocked up wall that had been cleared in the last few hours and into a space that nobody had breathed into for hundreds of years. Possibly even as far back as before Christ. Then again the current year system didn't really bother him since he remembered events that predated it by such a large amount that trying to reference it just made matters confusing. What did his men care about events almost thirty thousand years before Christ?

He walked into the final chamber and had to snatch out a hand to catch one of his men that almost stepped out onto the false floor. There was a large hole in the ground where the first team in here had made that mistake. This was why he was down here and not up the top keeping an eye out for the local Count's troops. He scratched at his chin with a sigh as he studied the ground and the seemingly plain wall on the other side. Why did these things have to be so complicated. Why couldn't it just come down to come, collect and bury? Preferably, for A'Zia's sake, somewhere in an active volcano. He snorted much to the shock of his men at the thought since volcanoes hadn't really done much to them the first time.

He spied the pattern to the floor though, written there in the language of the Mayans. Thirty thousand year old traps under a few thousand year old city. He shook his head and stepped out and to his right following the patterns on the floor. He made it half way across the floor when one of his men tried to follow and fell straight through the floor, having missed where he'd stood by only a few inches.

"Just stay there, you idiots!" Oliver snapped as he reached the other end of the room and finding the impression he'd spotted from the other side of the room he pulled out the caked mud, having to use a sharp knife for most of it. He shifted the lever and all at once the ground behind him dropped away as everything but the safe path fell away.

"Where next then?" One of his men called to him.

Oliver didn't answer because he could already see it glimmering beneath him along with the bodies of those foolish enough to have fallen already. It was only a hundred foot drop so they were probably still alive but they weren't making any noise. "Throw down a torch!" Oliver ordered and watched as one of his three remaining men tossed down the burning torch until it hit the stone floor and there it was amongst the five bodies of his team. One single man lying under millennia of fallen dust yet his body still visible. His naked skin reflecting the light from the torch.

"There's nothing there!" His men opposite him called. Oliver stepped out onto the walkway and tied on his rope before rappelling down. It took them only an hour to retrieve the body using the rope and get it up into the corridor and the men were muttering the entire time about who it was and how they could be down there. The body radiated a kind of dull heat but was cold to the touch at the same time. The others seemed to fear awakening it but Oliver knew it wouldn't wake. Not unless specific magic freed it.

"What about the rest?" One of his three men asked. "Just leave them down there?"

Oliver knew he had to do it. He didn't like it but it was necessary. If any of the Night World learned about what they'd unearthed here then it would be the end of the world. This lifetime he'd been given a chance to do some good and perhaps the good wouldn't come now but somewhere in the future but he had to cling to that in his soul. He twisted and his Samurai Sword flashed in the torch light, a lethal extension of himself and backed by almost every form of warfare that had ever existed.

His men didn't have a chance.

Harry choked as he woke up and the hands on him only made him tremble in fear even as his eyes tried to focus beyond the death of Oliver. He swallowed but failed to prevent it from happening as he threw himself to the side and threw up on the floor. Cameron cradled him as he sobbed and cried for everything that Oliver had done in his thirty years before dying to protect his secret.

But it wasn't just that. As Harry threw up his lives throbbed within him as Oliver trembled in the centre of his core as he was faced with the faces of all of those that he had killed. Innocent people that had died on the end of his sword to protect the secret of Oliver's life. Even an English Crown Prince and a dozen of his best men. Harry scrambled away from Cameron not wanting to feel the care that Cameron wanted to give to him. He fell out onto the balcony that linked his room to Jez, Tamarack and Nicky's and almost hurled himself over the railing to the grass on the other side.

"Harry!" Cameron yelled but Harry didn't listen and leapt over and hit the ground a second later, jarring his knees. He fell down onto his hands and knees and cried. Those three loyal men that he'd joked with the day before attacking Grenoble and then killed and let their bodies fall into the darkness and left them there with their comrades. Just so nobody would know that he'd left there with a prize.

He started walking across the grass, half the time stumbling and catching himself on his hands. Cameron had said that because his soul was good that all of his lives would be the same but Oliver... Oliver hadn't been like the others. What he'd done had been necessary but there was a reason why he'd vowed to never remember the life again until it was necessary and somehow that vow had taken on a power and kept his later lives over the last thousand years from knowing the darkness that tainted his soul.

He saw a flash of himself, in this life time, obliterating Voldemort with spells that would later scare the Wizards after Voldemort had killed Remus. He found himself lying on his back after the flash and made to keep walking only to have Cameron catch his arm. "Harry, talk to me!"

"My name's not Harry!" The part of him that was Oliver snapped at Cameron. "Harry... the others, they don't deserve this..."

"This what?" Cameron tried. He tried to offer Harry a dressing gown to go over his boxers but Harry flinched back out of reach.

"This torment!" He cried and stumbled back away from his Soulmate. A shape flickered through the shadows on his right and there was a low growl behind him even as another shape appeared behind Cameron. Tamarack.

"Cameron?" Tamarack asked. "Is he...?"

"He's fine!" Cameron yelled.

Harry gave out a short cry of amusement. "I could kill you, Cam!" Harry snapped but he was still more Oliver than anyone else and the other parts of him were struggling to make Oliver a part of themselves. He wanted to open his wings, to fly into the night but there were too many people there and Oliver was too fixated on keeping his secrets. "I killed them, Cam."

"Killed who?" A voice asked from his right and Harry twisted and reached for a sword that wasn't even there. It was too dark and Harry began backing away, unable to see his stalkers. A growl from behind him made him shake and look around for a weapon. "Leave us!" Thierry ordered as he stepped into the moonlight. The growl rumbled but faded away. "Harry?"

"I'm not Harry!" He shook his head and collapsed to his knees. "I..."

"Did you witness your last life?" Thierry asked.

"Love?" Cameron reached out to him and his words vibrated through his mind. Cameron winced as their minds connected but it was so crazed but parts of Harry's mind reached for Cameron to help while a part drew away and tried to hide. Cameron reached for it just as Harry collapsed backwards like his strings had been cut. Thierry caught him but quickly handed him to Cameron when he began begging for him. Tears flowing.

"Get him back into his bed, Cameron." Thierry sighed. Cameron nodded and gently lifted Harry into his arms. Harry shook and his words of pleading made Cameron's own tears fall. Whatever this new life had done it was hurting his Soulmate.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The next evening

Harry had finally fallen asleep in the early hours of the morning and Cameron had drifted off with him and it was a surprise when Harry woke up first to find tears on Cameron's face. Harry wiped them off gently and then kissed Cameron's cheeks before snuggling into his side. He knew he'd flipped out on them all last night but when Oliver's life had hurtled into him it had carried him away. Oliver had had no family and no friends. He'd made himself into a cold person so that he couldn't be hurt by losing people ever again and if it wasn't for the permanency of Cameron in his life then he'd be trying to convince himself to leave to spare the pain of losing Cameron too.

Then there was the part of him that no longer wanted to tell even Cameron his secrets because he was Night World and even if he wasn't it would only endanger his life to know of them. When Cameron woke up Harry didn't even realise until he focused away from his thoughts and saw Cameron staying up at him.

"Love?" Cameron tried.

"I'm so sorry, Cam." Harry dropped his head down before opening up his mind and meeting Cameron's as they merged. He still told the story out loud but shared little moments of Oliver's life with his Soulmate.

"Tell me about him, Harry."

"His name was Oliver Tanner." Harry sighed. "It was early on in the English occupation of Northern France. Before Calamy faced Maya to help Hannah. His father was a Knight in the King's army but Oliver grew up in what is now Hampshire in England."

Cameron witnessed a few images as they rose to the surface of Oliver playing with one of the servant boys and then when it had all started. When Oliver was only twelve and he and Gerald had fallen through the ground in a nearby wood and Gerald had been wounded. "As I tried to find a way out with one broken leg I found a massive chamber." Cameron witnessed his discovery but then everything went blank as the memories fell away from Cameron and Harry drew back. "Cam, you trust me right?"

"Of course?" Cameron nodded.

"Oliver is telling me not to involve you but I think you will get involved anyway but please, love." Harry begged. "Don't mention the details to anyone else. Nobody."

"Nobody." Cameron agreed. "Not a soul. Why?"

"Because they'll kill you for it too." Harry cried and dropped his head back down and reconnected with him. Displaying the rest of that memory for Cameron. An image of Oliver walking into the dark space lit only by a small crack in the roof far above them. In the middle on a stone floor and half buried was a sarcophagus. Oliver shifted off part of the cracked lid to find a perfectly preserved human body. Dark skin tone and open red eyes staring up.

"Amaru." Harry whispered so quietly that if A'Zia and Oliver hadn't been saying it in his mind then Cameron would never have heard it. Cameron flinched but tucked his hands around Harry again.

"Oliver ran for it and that night he started awakening. A'Zia first as always and the next day I knew I had to tell Gerald not to tell anyone what we'd seen down there but it was already too late." Harry sighed. "Gerald had told the kitchen staff and it got around in town. The Night World controlled a lot of England back then and they were quick to recognise something so strange. Three Vampires arrived and wiped out the entire town. They killed everyone and I went down to the... tomb."

The memory showed itself to Cameron. As a twelve year old surprised all three of the Vampires and killed them, merely because they'd underestimated him and he'd gotten lucky. "I knew I had to keep the body a secret and I carried it out and left with it. I hid it so that nobody would find it and Oliver dedicated his life to finding and hiding all of the Amaru he could find knowing that as the world changed the humans would find them and then the Night World would too."

Cameron didn't interrupt because he knew there was more and even before Harry could continue memories were flashing through his mind. Harry cried as Cameron watched Oliver murdering his own men to ensure that the secret was never found. Finally the last image as Oliver was cornered by Night Worlders on the hunt for rumours of discoveries. They found out about him.

Oliver had taken his own sword and stabbed himself in the chest so he didn't have to feel them tearing out his throat again. He'd known that he'd had no way out.

"He made a promise to himself that unless a future life was faced with something to do with the Amaru that they wouldn't have to suffer through what he'd done." Harry cried freely onto Cameron's chest. "So none of them ever remembered. Not until now because the prophecies are coming forward. Oliver knew about them all. It was his shorthand I used yesterday. His secret writing so nobody could follow his trail."

Cameron lay in silence just feeling the chaos of Harry's mind and catching snap shots of his lives as they brushed passed him.

"Please, Cameron..." Harry begged.

"What, Harry?" Cameron asked gently.

"Please..." Harry cried so hard he couldn't even finish. Cameron frowned and rolled them both so he was lying on Harry so he could pin his face and focus on him.

"This changes nothing between us." Cameron told him sternly. "I love you, Harry. And I love A'Zia, Ryn, Calamy, Lucus, all of the others. Oliver too. I think what you did as Oliver was really noble. You knew you were fighting something bigger than just you and had to do it alone and you knew the cost of that kind of war. If those men you killed had lived they would have spread the rumours of what you had found and then they, and a lot more, would have died. Not to mention a Vampire like Maya getting a hold of a sleeping Dragon." Cameron actually shuddered at that idea.

"Please say that again." Harry begged but his tone was slightly different. Cameron could never keep up with the different ways that Harry spoke depending on who he was most relating too then but he figured it would be Oliver right now.

"I love you, Oliver." Cameron kissed him on the lips knowing exactly what his Soulmate needed right now. It wasn't just 'Harry' that was his Soulmate but all of his lives right back to A'Zia and Oliver had never let himself love or be loved by anyone.

"I love you too." Harry trembled and Cameron hugged him, letting Harry hide underneath him.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Four days later

It was generally accepted that if Harry wanted to tell anyone any of the details about his latest life then he would. He had apologised to Thierry for what had happened and Cameron had thanked his best friend, Tamarack, for trying to help but neither of them had told anyone much about Oliver. His name and when he'd lived had come forward but nothing about his self imposed quest nor his sacrifice and that was the way that Harry preferred it. It wasn't like he wasn't used to keeping secrets but this time he really wasn't since Cameron witnessed any of his memories at a whim when they were lying together in bed.

On their second to last night together at the manner Harry and Cameron finally accepted that there'd be no sudden new change between them and their normal holding and kissing had turned into something much more intimate and for a change Harry let himself guide Cameron who had no clue about matters like this. Their relationship became a lot more physical after that and Tamarack learned quickly not to try to tease Harry about it when she'd smelt Cameron on him and vice versa at a much deeper level. He'd swapped her shampoo for dye and while rather obvious she'd missed it and Jez hadn't spotted it in time to warn her and her hair had been bright pink for a day before Nicky helped her out, while trying not to laugh at her.

Although they all had to admit it was a little risky to all be seen outside of the mansion together they made all of the precautions and since Thierry was doing his most to not let anyone see the three humans leaving the mansion to their new apartment they didn't see much harm in Tamarack and Cameron going with them, along with Quinn and Rashel, to help them move in. The apartment was miles away from the strip, in the less tourist areas of the city nearer to the Prima Institute and the buildings were visible just along the road from their apartment building.

To anyone it just looked like three friends moving in with the help of four of their friends, even though three of them seemed more interested in checking all the doors and window and eyeing up the other apartment tenants than anything else. Between Thierry and his fellows in Circle Daybreak they'd quietly sent for some of Jez, Nicky and Harry's things so it wasn't a surprise to see boxes of their stuff in the middle of their new apartment to go with the clothing and items that they'd gotten in the month and a half at Thierry's house.

During the day Quinn had pointed to an apartment just down the hall from their own place and a quick mention inside the safety of their flat informed them that Quinn and Rashel would be moving in there the next day but would be around that night anyway and since Tamarack and Cameron were staying too it didn't look strange for the Vampire and Hunter to end up crashing on their sofa although Nicky had offered to give up her own bed.

The apartment was simple with a living room with a secluded kitchenette and then a single hallway with two doors on either side, one of which was a bathroom and the other three were bedrooms, all with double beds. They got themselves moved in and then just relaxed as Harry moved around the kitchen working out what food to send out for. Thierry didn't want them going to the same place shopping all the time because of the crowds and the protection nightmare so it was easier for them to internet shop. The precautions had made Nicky and Jez laugh but Harry didn't mind. He'd never liked shopping in supermarkets anyway and the ones in Las Vegas were even bigger than the ones he remembered from Britain.

Cameron was fast to fall asleep that night and even though Harry got up quite quickly it was still around two in the morning because not only had they made use of the bed like two young adults would but they'd talked in their minds for the rest of the night. Harry walked bare foot out into the living room wearing jeans but forgoing the t-shirt in favour of feeling the fresh air against his skin. He found Quinn asleep on the sofa and Rashel studying the distant lights of the Strip through the window.

"Did you want something to drink, Rashel?" Harry asked gently from the kitchenette making her slide around to face him just like the cat she had acclaimed to be in her Hunting days. She took a moment to relax her body and gained a few inches as she rose out of her fighting stance but Harry didn't react to it at all.

"Do we have much?" She asked with a glance to Quinn who shifted in his sleep but stayed firmly in the dream world.

"Nicky might be an early riser but neither she nor Jez are good in the morning until they've had a cup of coffee. Cameron's not much better but with my mind as it is he wakes up pretty quickly as soon as he meets it every morning." Harry smiled slightly. "I'm going to miss having him to wake up to."

"And to fall asleep to." She quirked an eyebrow. "No coffee please."

"I was going to make hot chocolate for myself." Harry shrugged. "I don't drink coffee and I figured that if we were packing coffee we could pack chocolate."

"Chocolate sounds great." She smiled and crossed the room so they could lower their voices.

"I thought we were being quiet." Harry frowned looking up at Rashel as he boiled the kettle and placed down two mugs. "I'm really sorry if you had to listen to us."

"You were quiet." She laughed and Harry blushed regardless. "I couldn't hear you. Quinn's a vampire though."

"Oh." He winced. "Sorry."

"You weren't the only ones." Rashel grinned as she waved to the hallway, meaning Tamarack and Jez had been making the most of their last night together too. Harry winced again. "We don't blame you. Quinn and I have been apart for a little while here and there since we met and it's difficult to part ways. We're both used to the solitary life though and Circle Daybreak are good to us. Always keeping us together if they can."

"Do you want this assignment?" He asked. "I mean following me around day and night?"

"It'll be a nice change." She smiled. "Nobody is trying to find you right now. You're a nobody really in the Night World. We're here to ensure you don't have an accident I suppose and also in case word gets out about your relationship with Cameron. Tamarack will get him to safety pretty quickly and with Quinn and I here we can do the same for you."

"I know you have your duty, Rashel." Harry smiled. "But I also know what the two of you mean to each other so I'll be honest with you. If we get into a sticky situation and I tell you to leave and forget about me then I want you to do it."

"Harry, that's not going to happen." Rashel sighed. "Our job is to keep you alive and well."

"And I have my own ways of getting out of sticky situations." Harry assured her. "I admit I'm just a human but I've fought wars, Rashel. Both longer and more dangerous than this current situation. Even when compared to Quinn."

"Even so..." She started.

"Do you think you can take me on, Rashel?" Harry asked suddenly. "Do you think Quinn could, or even Tamarack?"

"Quinn and Tamarack are vampires, Harry." She sighed.

"You used to kill Vampires." Harry pointed out. "Vampires might be faster and stronger but they still obey certain laws. If you understand them and use methods that work then you can fight them. You know this as much as I do. I've killed Vampires before, Rashel."

Before Rashel could move Harry lashed out at her, far slower than he could do and he let his body warn her. She caught his wrist before he could hit her on the side of the head and in return he grabbed her own wrist, clamped onto a pressure point and forced her to release his hand. He lashed out again, faster and she moved back out of the way. Harry backed off and rolled a table knife around his hand and put it back down on the surface knowing that she was trying to work out why she'd missed him picking it up. He sighed and leaned forwards on his elbows and she came back to him.

"I know I've come across as weak and Cameron is the one always holding me and caring for me but that's because I want to let him take care of me. I don't want to always have to look after myself and when I'm around him I like him caring for me." Harry sighed and glanced in the direction of Quinn only to find the Vampire watching them. Probably having heard their little fight. "I can, however, look after myself. Some of the time not well enough because I haven't fully integrated all of my lives. Like Alexis. I have no doubt that had I awakened earlier when I was him he would have killed Quinn. It's just at the moment I'm dealing with the bad parts in my life and I'll admit it's a little trying for me."

"Well, Thierry wants you protected so that's what we'll do." Quinn announced and slid up from the sofa, not bothering to pull on his jeans or shirt. He did grab the blanket though and when he was behind his Soulmate he wrapped it around them both and kissed the side of her neck. She leant back into him. Harry smiled at them having never seen any form of contact between them beyond the odd loving look.

"He just knows that I got my throat ripped out to protect him once. He doesn't want it to happen again." Harry rolled his eyes.

"Cameron would slap you for saying that like that." Rashel smirked at him.

"Well Cameron's the only one that's seen all of the ways I've died before." Harry shrugged before finally giving Rashel her hot chocolate. "And no, I'm not giving you anything to drink." He told Quinn.

"I fed before we came to help you." Quinn smiled but had learnt a long time ago not to bare his teeth at Harry like he normally did when he found something amusing. It caused bad reactions with Alexis. "On that note." Quinn spoke up obviously seeing a small shift in Harry's demeanour. "There's another reason I want to protect you."

"I know what you're going to say and I'd really rather not think about it." Harry said bluntly but Quinn spoke regardless.

"Even so. I owe you. I took something from you that I can never give back. Yet you're the only victim of mine where I might have the chance to repay them someday." Quinn spoke softly. "And now you're not the only one that remembers that day as if it occurred only a month ago. I remember it all the time and Rashel has seen it too."

"That doesn't change anything." Harry told him before hiding his shaking hands by holding his warm mug tightly.

"No." Quinn shook his head. "But it's one of the reasons that protecting you and keeping you safe is more than just necessary to me. I understand what living a life with Cameron means to you, especially you for I understand that this life is a one off for you. I took away your life once before. Let me be there to ensure you have one this time."

Harry eyed him before slowly nodding. "What will you do, Rashel?"

She frowned but Quinn knew what he was asking and a conversation seemed to pass between them. She smiled at him and nodded. "I'm nineteen but I won't come back like Hannah will if she chooses not to change. For that reason I'll take the change in the next year but I won't do it for this war. I'll do it afterwards to be with Quinn."

Harry nodded since he could appreciate that. "And if it comes to making a choice between saving me and saving Rashel?" Harry asked Quinn who froze up in shock. They knew what his answer should be and Quinn knew what he was going to say but just didn't want to cause problems by saying it. "Always your heart first, Quinn. It's always you heart before your duty. I'm old enough to know that. If it comes to it you save Rashel before me just as I would save Cameron before Rashel."

"Hopefully, since you and Rashel can both kick my arse if you want to it won't come to that." Quinn smiled slightly but Harry knew he'd touched a nerve.

"I have an advantage over the two of you, I suppose." Harry shrugged. "You're both wondering what you'll do in that last moment of life. Will you try to save yourself or the other? You both want to say the other but you're never really sure. I've already made that decision several times. I know how I'll react."

"However morbid that sounds." Rashel snorted.

"You should be asleep." Quinn made a disgruntled face. "You haven't gotten any yet."

"Maybe I'll go wake up Cameron and burn off some more energy." Harry grinned.

"Please don't." Quinn frowned.

Harry put his mug in the sink and nodded to the two and headed down the hallway and slipped back into bed with the love of his life. And possibly lives since no love had ever compared with his love for Cameron.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Three days later

Harry tucked his hands into the lab coat's pockets as he walked between Jez and Nicky and behind the two other students that were going to work with the expedition. The group was on the grand tour given by the student who actually went to Prima. His name was Gordon and so far he seemed like an arse to Harry. Spouting off constantly about his Institute which was always the Institute as if it was the only one worth considering. What he didn't seem to get was that none of the four of them were from rival Research Centres like this. The three of them were college students and Michael, from the French Breeding Programme, was a full time apprentice with Doctor Ammen. Gordon did seem to know what he was talking about but his little extra titbits to the 'poor little foreigners' usually fell on deaf ears because they knew them all already. Michael was sticking next to Gordon out of politeness because the three of them were sticking together but he looked about ready to drop back and hide behind them at any moment.

"And this is the reptile centre." Gordon announced holding the door open for Nicky like he did at every opportunity. Harry graciously let Nicky walk in ahead of them and then Gordon cut in front of them all. Harry and Jez glanced at each other and then sniggered.

"You are not worried at his attention towards your lady friend?" Michael asked in broken English.

"She'll kick his arse if he tries anything." Jez snorted and when Michael looked confused Harry filled in the blanks a little more pleasantly in French for him. Michael smiled at him happily at finding somebody amongst them that spoke his home language and quickly Michael took to walking closer to Harry, glad when Harry could translate the odd word for him that he wasn't used to.

"It is of course up to you to decide whether it is safe to handle the snakes." Gordon told them. "Of course all snakes can be handled if you do so with the proper caution."

"Fuck that." Jez grunted and stepped behind Harry and away from where Gordon was pulling on gloves just above a Viper tank with a rather peeved off snake inside. That was until it spotted Harry and stretched itself up to look at him. Gordon took the opportunity to reach out and firmly grip in around the neck and then tail and hold it up as if showing them how to do it properly.

"Who taught you that?" Harry snapped as the snaked hissed in pain and fury. "You're just pissing it off."

Gordon snorted. "Look kid, it's a snake. You handle them this way..."

"I worked in a zoo all summer. I'm not an idiot." Harry snorted and reached out and before Gordon could react he was stroking the Viper on the top of the head. Or rather just holding his hands above it and letting it rub its scales against him. "Give him here before you hurt the poor thing. Stupid bulldozer."

He took the Viper from Gordon without another word. "Suit yourself but if it bites you drive yourself to the hospital."

"It's been milked already this morning." Harry pointed out offhandedly pointing with one hand at the crib sheet that somebody had signed for that day. A viper like this would need several days to muster up a dangerous dose to a human. "Besides he's not interested in biting me, are you?" Harry asked the snake as he lifted the head to look at him and then let him coil around his arm and rest his head on his shoulder. "See, now he's hurt because you're an idiot." Harry told Gordon.

"You know I hid behind you hoping you wouldn't pick up the snake and bring it closer." Jez grumbled as he moved to let Nicky shield him which only made him nervous since there were more tanks in the room.

"Suck it up, Jez." Nicky laughed.

"You know what, just show yourselves around." Gordon huffed and slammed the door on his way out.

"It's already, babe." Harry grinned at the snake as he stroked it on the back of the head. "Your wild cousins will get him back in the African Tundra."

Jez and Nicky snorted in amusement although Michael looked confused so Harry told him the same thing in French which made the other boy laugh.

"You seem well versed in handling snakes, young man." A woman appeared from a side door and soft shoes whispered across the ground.

"I have a bit of a knack." Harry shrugged. "Besides, snakes are easy really. They don't bite humans to eat. They just get scared and defend themselves."

"You called him a he." She raised an eyebrow. "Care to explain why?"

"Because he's male." Harry frowned in confusion. "The patterning is that of a male."

"Impressive." She nodded to show he was right though. "Can you tell if he's hurt?"

"Nothing physical." Harry assured her still stroking the hissing snake who was about to fall asleep on his shoulder. "Just emotionally. He didn't like being grabbed like that."

"You'd be Mr. Potter then?" She asked in amusement. Harry nodded even as Jez and Nicky laughed at his slight blush. "I'd hoped to see if Doctor Mitchell was right about you. Pass him here so I can check him to make sure. I really should ban that cretin. He's always showing the snakes off to his girlfriends."

Harry passed the snake to her who didn't look entirely happy to lose his Harry-bed but seemed to accept the woman instead and then let himself be settled down into his tank. She dug in her pocket and passed Harry a very small piece of chocolate. He raised an eyebrow at her but could already hear the Viper's excitement over the treat so placed it on his arm and lowered his hand down into the tank. Letting the snake slide up his arm to retrieve the treat and then sink back down to eat it. "Chocolate?"

"Keeps them happy." She smiled. "Doesn't do them any harm and doesn't muck up their diets when you're careful about how much you give them."

"It was a pleasure to meet you...."

"Doctor Havant." She smiled. "I'll be coming out with you on the expedition and you've got quite a few classes with me in the meantime on reptiles and I'm also the expedition's medical specialist too so you'll see me for that."

"Well, uh... Doctor Havant." Harry smiled. "We seem to have made an enemy of our guide and we're supposed to finish our tour. Could you possibly point us towards the closest other entre and we'll hop between them ourselves?"

"A wise idea. You'll probably actually learn something useful that way." She nodded and gave them directions to the primate centre where Harry knew that they'd meet up with Doctor Mitchell and could explain why they were alone. "And just a word of warning. Mr Collins, your previous guide, is the centre Director's nephew. He's on the expedition because he has the grades necessary that people didn't argue when the Director said he was going. However most of us aren't happy that he has the instincts necessary to really be of help. As you could probably tell, he has a reasonable level of theoretically knowledge, enough to get by, but not enough to make any real progress in this line of work. He's going to cause problems during the expedition when he makes mistake. But also he can make problems for you if he wants to with his Uncle."

"We appreciate the warning." Michael told her with a small smile. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Doctor Havant."

"Oh I'm sorry." She smiled having realised that beyond Harry she hadn't been introduced. "You must be Michael Ferrow. And you must be Nicola Longinton which makes you Jeremy Currond."

"Nicky."

"Jez." Both of them spoke up making Harry laugh at them but they all offered their hands to make the introduction formal.

"Thank you, Doctor Havant." Harry nodded. "We'll leave you in peace now but I'm sure we're all looking forward to your classes." She nodded and the group of four retreated from the reptile centre and followed her directions to go get into trouble with Harry's boss.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Three hours later

"Michael's coming over for dinner with us." Harry announced. "I hope that's okay?"

"Picking up strays again, Harry?" Nicky asked with a smirk.

"He picked us two up didn't he?" Jez asked.

"He's living on his own two buildings from us." Harry rolled his eyes. "I didn't see the harm in it but if you're going to be children about it I'll tell him really nasty stuff about you in French so you don't know what I'm saying."

"I did take French at A-level, Harry." Nicky rolled her eyes.

"Well I didn't!" Jez sulked before grabbing Harry and hugging his waist as he fell to his knees and pretended to beg. "Please don't tell him about me! I'll do anything!"

"Well there's an offer to remember." Nicky smirked and swatted Jez on the back of the head as he stood back up. He looked at her as if wondering whether to hug her around the waist too and she neatly stepped up behind Harry. Jez pouted.

Harry laughed. "I've missed this you know?"

"What now that you two don't have Tamarack and Cameron around?" Nicky snorted before slinging her arm around Harry. "Yup, got my boys back."

"Aw... Nicky!" Jez grinned and hugged them both in a rather hyperactive way that almost had the three of them falling backwards onto the ground. "We'll always be your boys!"

Nicky shoved Jez away. "Now that Tamarack's gone we're going to have to find another new way for you to burn off your energy."

"Well Harry is missing Cameron...." Jez smirked.

Harry shoved him as he lost the fight against the blush. "Jerk."

All three of them cracked up into laughter just as Michael spotted them and headed over. "Hello." He greeted them.

"Hi, Michael." Jez grinned. "This way!" He put an arm across their new friend's shoulders and tugged him away down the road.

Harry laughed and took Nicky's hand in his own. "You know, Nicky." He nudged her with his shoulder. "We'll always have time for you."

"I know that, Harry." Nicky squeezed his hand. "I was happy this summer letting you have your own time. I understand what Cameron and Tamarack mean to the two of you and..."

"And...?" Harry prompted.

"Well even ignoring this whole..." She flickered her fingers at Harry which made Harry snort in amusement but he knew she meant his Old Soul status. "Even ignoring that you and Jez both need a bit more happiness in your lives. You've both had it rough, rougher than me, and you deserve something good."

"Yeah well if the three of us hadn't met then who knows where I'd be right now?" Harry shrugged. "I found you and Jez just when I needed to. Hell, you know I went through three roommates before Jez got there. I suppose if we weren't as we all are we'd never have understood each other enough to help each other."

"You two aren't having a serious conversation are you?" Jez yelled back.

"We're within ten feet of you!" Harry called back. "Of course we're not!"

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Oliver tied the crate down to the back of his cart and checked the reigns of the horse as the Captain of the cross channel ship muttered to himself. "Thank you for the safe voyage, Captain." Oliver thanked the man.

"I'm just glad to see that.... thing off of my ship." The Captain grunted. Oliver nodded and swung up onto the front of his cart and pushed in into motion, heading away from the small ship sitting in the bay. As he got far enough away he watched the ship. Early on in the voyage one of the crew had opened his crate to find out what he was hauling and since it was about the length of a coffin they'd gotten suspicious. It had caused uproar and Oliver had ended up paying the Captain a massive price to get him to continue the voyage after they realised that the body wasn't a normal corpse.

He'd checked and none of the crew got shore leave until they'd finished sorting out the ship which would in several hours but he hadn't given them that long. If they hadn't looked they'd be able to go about their lives but if somebody in particular heard the sailors talking about the body they'd brought into England it could cause him major troubles.

He didn't have to wait long as just as he watched the Captain walk up onto the quarter deck of the small ship the ship's magazine exploded, shattering the ship and sending a shock wave through the small port of Dover. People began shouting and rushing around but there was nothing left alive but torn up bodies. No history that Oliver had ever been on the ship. No trace. Just like there never could be.

Harry cried out as he shot awake and started searching for Cameron's calm presence but his mind couldn't find him and neither could his hands. He pulled the blankets around himself knowing that he couldn't use his wings and just trembled in his bed as he tried to calm down. His door slammed open and a half naked Jez dashed into the room as a dressing gown wearing Nicky stood in her door opposite Harry's. Jez left the door open but caught Harry in his arms and pulled the blanket around them both, holding Harry's shaking body to himself as Harry turned into him and just cried, like he'd used to about his old nightmares. Now though he had so many more horrors in his mind.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The next day

A tired Harry scooped up his notes and pushed them into his satchel bag. He ran his right hand through his hair and let Jez tug him along. They'd just had a three hour session with one of the primate specialists and it had been intense. They'd covered the material at such a fast rate that Harry knew in a matter of months they would overtake where their college peers would be in a year's time.

Nicky was talking to Michael and Gordon but Jez had clearly decided just to take Harry home and to get him tucked up in bed and Harry wasn't really planning on stopping him. Although he might make Jez stay with him. Jez made a good pillow and he was good at keeping away errant nightmares.

They got back to the apartment to find three people in their living room. Harry's hand flew to a hidden silver knife hidden behind the books on the shelf next to the door but didn't pick it up when he recognised them all. He had pulled Jez behind him though.

"Sorry." Thierry apologised.

"It's alright, Thierry." Harry sighed as he shut the door behind them. "The knife wouldn't have hurt you or Quinn. Sorry, Rashel." She laughed. "So did you miss us?"

"Hannah is missing the company." Thierry moved forwards and frowned at how tired Harry was looking. "You haven't been sleeping well?"

"Screams every night." Jez added in helpfully only to get whacked on the shoulder by Harry.

"Just taking time to accept some of the memories." Harry shrugged but then accepted Thierry's invitation for a hug and let the stronger man hold him up. "Seems strange this."

"You're a nineteen year old kid." Thierry laughed. "Granted with a mind that's seen almost as many years as me over a half again the time I have lived."

"Makes me feel like I'm about to explode." Harry sighed as he pulled back. "What brings you down here?"

"Events are... progressing." Thierry sighed. "We intercepted a message from a Vampire gang in San Francisco. It hasn't taken long for someone to believe they have found one of the Wild Powers."

"You don't think it's a hoax?" Jez asked, just a little out of his depth. Harry sat down and when Jez sat beside him he leaned into his side.

"Not unless he wants to die." Thierry shook his head. "He's offered up the identity to the Night World Council."

"So?" Jez asked with a frown.

"You don't do that unless you have something real to offer. They're a bunch of tossers and they'll take off his head if he pisses them off." Harry explained.

"Hey." Thierry raised an eyebrow. "You realise I'm a member of the Council right?"

"Yeah?" Harry teased.

Thierry rolled his eyes. "Ryn, you never change."

"I try not to, brother." Harry grinned. "What do you plan to do?"

"Circle Daybreak is on it already." Thierry told him. "The gang's ex-leader now works with us. She discovered that she was a hybrid a year or so ago and ran away from the gang. She's half Lamia and half human. Doesn't need blood to live unless she uses too many of her advanced powers."

"Right." Harry nodded. "She's going to try to rejoin the gang and slip the Wild Power away from them?" Thierry nodded. "Does she understand the danger?" He asked.

"She understands." Thierry nodded. "Hugh went to speak to her. They are friends."

"Hugh's a good guy. A little young in comparison to Hannah and I but he's got a good head on his shoulders." Harry nodded. He'd met the other Old Soul a few weeks ago when Circle Daybreak had officially made Harry one of their own and all of the Old Souls had wanted to meet him. None knew of his original tribe but they all knew he dated back before Hecate's tribe. "If you want me to go there then just tell me, okay?"

"We'll see what happens." Thierry nodded. "If we get a Wild Power then you'll have to meet them."

"Does this girl know what could happen if she loses the Wild Power?" Harry asked.

"She's heard the prophecies." Thierry nodded. Harry sighed and leaned further back into Jez. "You need to sleep."

"I'm not going to break, Thierry." Harry told him sharply.

"I promised Prince Cameron that I'd look after you." Thierry told him simply.

"Oh so that's the only reason?" Harry teased. Thierry was in front of him in a second cupping his chin.

"You know it's not, brother." Thierry sighed. "Take care of yourself."

"You too." Harry retorted before reaching out and ruffling the Vampire Lord's hair with a grin on his face.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The next evening

Harry sat cross-legged on his bed with his cell phone next to his ear and a grin on his face as he talked to Cameron. His Soulmate and the love of his life had been busy over the last few days and unable to do more than send the odd text now and then to make sure Harry didn't think he was being ignored. In return Harry kept sending him photos of stuff he was doing at work including a picture of Jez with a snake over his shoulders and looking rather pale but with a shaky smile on his face as Harry wrapped his arms around him from behind to help him work on his fear. He'd sent that one to Tamarack's phone as well knowing that she'd like it.

"Did your father ask much about what you were doing?" Harry asked.

"My father is currently unavailable." Harry could almost hear his boyfriend's eyes roll. "He's in meetings with the Night World Council. Mom is alright though and she and my sisters were happy to have me back. Mom thinks that I met someone in England and decided to have a bit of a fling but I'm sure I've convinced her that if that was true it's over with now and was just for fun."

"Well I don't really mind being fun." Harry grinned and then laughed. "Have you been up to much?"

"Just catching up with my sisters really. Galen too." Cameron told him. "Went to see a play last night because Liz has an obsession with going to see every single one she can find. It was good though. I've missed them."

"I know you have, Cam." Harry sighed.

"I miss you now though." Cameron dutifully told him and there was a long pause.

"Love you, Cam." Harry bit his lip.

"Oh, Harry." Cameron sounded so sad. "I love you too. Have you been sleeping?"

"Not really." Harry shrugged even though Cameron couldn't see it. "Jez is helping out though. He's just coming to bed with me now."

"I hoped he would." Cameron sighed in relief. "Tell him thanks for me?"

"Of course." Harry smiled. He hadn't been worried that Cameron would be envious because he knew the state that Harry woke up in at times and he slept better when he fell asleep with someone he cared about.

"What are they about?" Cameron asked. They almost always talked about what his nightmares involved.

"Just what..." Harry went to say but his breath caught and he shivered. "About..." He shut his eyes to steel himself.

"Oliver." Cameron said at the same instant that Harry managed to say it too. "I'm sorry, love."

"It's alright." Harry sighed just as his phone bleeped at him to tell him he had an incoming call. "Hang on, Cam." He glanced at the screen to find Hugh waiting for him. "I need to take a call. I'll call you back."

"Ok, love you." Cameron told him quickly.

"Love you too." Harry said before hanging up and accepting Hugh's call before he got bored of waiting. "Hugh?"

"Harry." The man sounded strained and that wasn't really surprising. He'd been awakened for several years but right now he was trying to organise all the Circle Daybreak stuff in San Francisco.

"You sound tired, Hugh." Harry told him.

"You too." Hugh sighed. "Not sleeping?"

"My last life came to me a few days after you left." Harry told him the truth. "It's not... it's not so nice."

"I'm sorry." Hugh told him. "I know Cameron is back at home now. Were you just talking to him."

"Yeah. I'll call him back in a while." Harry told him. "What's up?"

"I just talked to Lord Thierry and he said to give you an update. Jez Redfern, my friend..." Hugh paused trying to work out how to describe her.

"I know all about her history." Harry nodded. "Go on."

"Yeah, right." Hugh made a hum like noise and Harry pictured him biting his lower lip as he thought. It was a habit of his. "Well she got back into the gang. Fought her way back in as the leader."

"The leader let her?" Harry frowned.

"She thinks she won fair and square but she's not as strong now as she was when she left the gang and Morgead Blackthorn was no push over back then and he's gotten stronger." Hugh sighed.

"So you think he let her win?" Harry asked sceptically.

"The way she talks about him..." Hugh frowned. "We've both seen it before. They hate each other's guts but that's only on the surface. They more or less raised each other. There's a bond there that..."

"Hugh?" Harry asked before sighing. "That you can't break."

Hugh didn't say anything for a long moment and Harry waited him out. "Some things are out of our hands." Hugh decided on in the end.

"What's the problem, Hugh?" Harry distracted him.

"Morgead thought he had the Wild Power, a little girl that was on a tape but they tested her and she's not it." Hugh sighed. "Jez thought she was an Old Soul too and we went to talk to her. She's definitely one and she's awakening after seeing the gang."

"A little girl?" He asked. "How old?"

"Ten." Hugh told him. "Why?"

"Because she couldn't have been the Wild Power." Harry told him.

"What?" Hugh sounded shocked. "How come?"

"The year of the Blind Maiden's vision." Harry told him. He knew Hugh hadn't known that part, not many did because they didn't want their opponents to have that vital clue. Harry didn't mind Hugh knowing though. "They have to all be eighteen."

"I don't understand." Hugh frowned.

"I was there for the original telling of that particular prophecy, Hugh." Harry sighed. "A hell of a long time ago. The text was translated so many times but it's stayed the same for the most part except that the original language was more descriptive. Vision means eyesight, not some power to see the future or whatever."

"Why didn't anyone tell me this?" Hugh sounded irritated.

"Because we didn't want..."

"I'm not likely to tell the Council am I!" Hugh cut in.

"Hugh. I'm sorry alright?" Harry sighed. "I only related it to the situation when Aradia had her new prophecy and it's not like things are open access in my head right now."

"You could have called me, Harry." Hugh sighed in defeat. "We're supposed to be on the same side."

"And if people start to realise I was alive that far back they'll start coming for me instead of the Wild Powers." Harry sighed. "And Hugh... I don't want people to start treating me like I'm the answer to all of their problems. That exact thing already lost me everyone I could possible call family."

"Yeah, sorry Harry." Hugh apologised. "I shouldn't lose my temper with you of all people."

"If I'd realised that they already had a girl in line to test I would have called you and told you about the age." Harry sighed.

"Can I tell Jez?" Hugh asked.

"That's fine, Hugh." Harry nodded to himself. "What happens now though? Do they have any more ideas?"

"They're panicking." Hugh told him. "The Council expects answers and they'll rip their gang apart if they don't produce results."

"And if Jez swoops away with the Wild Power what will happen to the gang?" Harry asked.

Hugh was quiet for a moment. "I haven't exactly brought that up with her." Hugh told him.

"That's something for Jez to decide. If she cares about them and she can make them stay out of this fight then I'm sure Circle Daybreak will put them somewhere safe." Harry pointed out.

"And if they can't find results?" Hugh accused. "Will Circle Daybreak leap to their rescue then?"

"You're more Circle leadership than I am, Hugh, so don't try to back me into a corner." Harry told him sharply.

"You're my boss, Harry." Hugh pointed out. "Everyone in Circle Daybreak will take orders from you. Hell everyone saw Lord Thierry bow to your wishes."

"He just feels guilty because I grew up with him in his original life and then died a half dozen times trying to save him and Hannah." Harry pointed out.

"Really?" Hugh sounded shock.

"Don't change the subject." Harry rolled his eyes even though he knew Hugh wouldn't have done it on purpose. "I can't get away from here until tomorrow evening or I'll attract attention but I'll get Thierry to put me on a flight to San Francisco."

"What?" Hugh was clearly shocked. "You're coming here?"

"I have a feeling we're looking in the right place." Harry told him. "Tell Jez to keep at it."

"I will." Hugh sighed. "The Circle leaders are going to flip out if they find out you're coming here."

"Yes well I imagine that the Night World Council won't be just sitting on their hands." Harry shrugged. "Besides what can the other leaders do to me? I'm older than the lot of them. Damn children."

Hugh burst out into laughter and Harry had to admit to himself that part of the reason for going there was because Hugh sounded so miserable. "I'm glad you're coming, Harry."

"I'll see you tomorrow." Harry told him. "I'll call you once my escort and I arrive." He put on a false air of arrogance at that.

"Oh, who?" Hugh asked.

"Quinn and Rashel." Harry laughed. "They're becoming permanent fixtures to my back."

Hugh laughed again before saying his farewells. Harry wished him the same back before hanging up and laying back on the bed. He held the phone over his face and hit the number to speed dial Thierry and convince him to book Harry, Quinn and Rashel on a flight to San Francisco.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The next night

Rashel and Quinn flanked him as they walked off of the plane and whilst Rashel had her specialist sword in an art tube on her back Harry wasn't armed though he knew so many different ways to kill a person without a weapon it was ridiculous. The airport was busy even though it was close to midnight and their eyes flickered around, taking in faces amongst the crowd. They all spotted a Vampire on the other side of the airport but he didn't seem to notice him though Quinn split off to walk a few metres away so that it wasn't so obvious that he was walking around with two humans.

Harry had spent the afternoon convincing Cameron, Jez and Nicky that he'd be alright for the weekend and he knew that his two human friends were going to be watched for the weekend while he was gone just in case. He'd called Hugh from the plane just before landing and been given a hotel address and they got a taxi together just outside the airport.

"I really need to get my sword." Harry huffed, eyeing Rashel's hidden sword. "Although I suppose it's metal so I wouldn't be able to get it onto a plane."

"You could get a witch to cloak the metal so it isn't picked up by x-ray or metal detectors." Quinn told him. "I could just glamour them though sometimes there's too many witnesses for that."

"Where is your sword?" Rashel asked quietly so that the driver couldn't hear them.

"No idea." Harry shrugged. "Haven't seen it since World War Two."

"Liam?" Rashel asked. She was fascinated with that time of Harry's past because Liam was like Rashel in being a Hunter. There were others that were like Rashel but none as recent as that."

"It took me five months to track that sword down when I was Liam." Harry crossed his arms over his chest.

"Who's was it before Liam got it?" Quinn asked.

"Mine." Harry laughed. "And mine before that too. It's a rather old and valuable sword. I normally find it in some museum or private collection somewhere."

"Who's was it originally?" Quinn corrected himself.

"Imazato's." Harry said simply. "It was made for him by the Emperor of Japan to protect him. Calamy tracked it down when he was hunting for Hannah and found it in Japan on display in the Imperial Palace. Oliver then used it not too long after Calamy and found it in a French Count's library and then Liam tracked it down after it ended up in the British Museum and was put into safe storage during the war."

"Where do you think it would be now?" Rashel asked as they drove through the city.

"Well the last time I saw it I was in a sewer and I'd just stabbed a bear shapeshifter through the heart with it." Harry shrugged and then winced at the reminder of Liam's death making Quinn and Rashel frown. He'd forgotten that apart from Cameron most people didn't know many of the ways he'd died. Rashel and Quinn now knew he'd been killed in the sewers in London. "Assuming it was found it would have either been put in a private collection or ended up in a Museum or something. It's not exactly subtle and any scholar would realise it was made on order by the Emperor of Japan for a Samurai."

"It must be fifteen hundred years old." Quinn pointed out. "I'm surprised you could still use it in English occupied France let alone now, almost eight hundred years later. Not to mention a metal sword is only good for killing Witches, humans and Shapeshifters."

"Oh? Only those three then, Quinn?" Rashel teased and Quinn narrowed his eyes before laughing.

"It's living metal, Quinn." Harry informed him. "Some of the Samurai swords were enchanted during construction, mixed with wood and magic so that the metal is almost alive. About as alive as Rashel's sword. If I stab a Vampire through the heart with it then the Vampire dies. Trust me, I've done it before."

"You should have someone run a search of Museums for it." Rashel suggested. "After over fifty years it's probably in storage in a Museum in England somewhere. Or possibly back in Japan if they requested it."

"Yeah. Remind me to ask Thierry about that when the shit stops piling up." Harry told her.

"Crude." Quinn pointed out only to get a grin from Harry. The taxi pulled up at the hotel and Quinn paid the taxi driver before they all climbed out and headed inside. They checked in but headed straight for the room that Hugh was staying in. It wasn't anything too fancy, just a place a little closer to what was happening rather than one of the two safe houses just outside of the city.

Hugh opened the door shortly after they knocked and they all slipped inside. Hugh had a suite with a sitting room and wasn't alone. A male witch stood up to greet them. Circle Daybreak wouldn't have Hugh out here on his own even if he wasn't as old as the others and had very little in the way of fighting experience. He'd fallen for a Witch about seventy years ago and they'd been a part of Circle Daybreak back then, a smaller organisation compared to what it was now, but it made him a figure to remember among the current members.

"How are things going?" Harry asked as he hugged Hugh.

"The Council have sent people here to..." Hugh paused. "Speed up the efforts as it were. But we have Morgead's assistance. He and Jez are Soulmates."

Harry leaned over so that Quinn couldn't hear him. "I'm sorry, Hugh. I know she meant a lot to you."

"I can't compete with a Soulmate even if she'd let herself like me. I'm an Old Soul. She always kept her distance because of that." Hugh sighed and sat back. Harry squeezed his shoulder before sitting back as well. "She and her gang are working on it. She's due to report in tomorrow with any news."

Harry nodded. "We've got a suite across the hall. If you need anything its room 317. We'll meet you in here in the morning unless you hear something." Hugh nodded and stood up to see them out.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Oliver tightened his well practiced grip on his sword as the four Vampires circled him. One laughed at the metal weapon believing that it wouldn't do anything to them but sting a little. Oliver focused out away from the Vampires and could here banging on the front door to the manor he'd hidden himself away in so that the Vampires didn't even know where he lived.

"I'm a little thirsty." The Vampire that had laughed at him shifted his stand to close in on him. "I claim his blood."

One of the other Vampires shook his head. "Answers out of him first, Oaker. His horde is more valuable than his life. There's plenty of humans out there you can feed off of."

Oaker glanced at the other Vampire and Oliver made his strike. His sword flashed out to his right as he twisted his body and the sword sliced deep through flesh and bone. The Vampire 'leader's' head rolled across the floor even as it dried up. Oaker growled at him and launched himself across the room and Oliver shifted his weight and impaled Oaker through the chest with the sword. It went straight through his heart and his body fell backwards onto the wooden floorboards even as Oliver twisted towards his last two opponents.

A scream made the two Vampires look towards the window. More screams joined in. Human screams and wicked laughter. The Vampires looked smug and began to circle him. "Can't run little human. We'll get what we want from you."

The Vampire blurred as he streaked right at Oliver who couldn't move fast enough. He'd made a mistake. The now headless Vampire hadn't been the oldest, this one was. Unmatchable force slammed into his chest and he flew backwards and hit the wall. He caught himself in a crouch as he tried to breath but he was completely winded. He tightened his grip on his sword as he looked up at the approaching Vampires.

And at that moment he realised that he would dodge fate no more. His crimes would now catch up to him. His atrocities would end now with his own life. He twisted the blade and before the Vampires could realise what he was going to do he plunged the sword straight between two of his ribs and through his heart. He barely had a chance to hope he wouldn't find himself waking up again before he collapsed onto his side, holding the blade's handle.

Harry screamed as he threw himself up and only just managed to stop his wings from bursting out. He found himself looking up in the dark at Quinn standing at the end of his bed but that only made him tumble out of bed and reach for the wooden pencil that was on a notepad by his room telephone. He pressed his back to the wall as he panicked only being able to picture what Oliver had just done in his dream. Backed up to a wall by Vampires with his only way out being his own blade.

Quinn obviously saw that he wasn't helping and walked slowly backwards out of the room and a few moment later Rashel rushed in and saw Harry up against the wall. She headed closer and slowly Harry let his arm dropped down to his side and he let go of the pencil. He slid down the wall to sit on the ground and a few seconds later the bed's comforter was being draped over him as he shivered. Rashel sat next to him for a while but Harry's didn't know her well enough to let down his guard and she seemed to realise that.

Somebody entered the room and Harry looked up with teary eyes to see Hugh pulling a jumper over his head. Rashel stood up gracefully and slipped out of the room, shutting the door in the process. Hugh sat next to Harry but didn't seem to know what to say. But Hugh at least knew what it felt like to have nightmares like that and actually know that they'd been real even if you'd died in them.

Harry leaned sideways and put his head on Hugh's shoulder. Hugh put his arm around him. "Come on, Harry. Let's get you back on the bed." Hugh told him and stood up, pulling Harry up with him and leading him back to the bed. He sat with his back to the headboard and Hugh sat next to him, copying their previous positions except he handed Harry his cell phone. "Call Cameron, Harry. He's the only one that can help you right now."

Harry barely registered hitting the speed dial for Cameron's cell phone until he heard Cameron grumbling into the phone as he answered it and then clearly spotted the ID. "Harry?" He sounded more awake suddenly. "Harry? What's the matter."

Hugh wrapped an arm around Harry's shoulders and Harry settled down against him. Hugh and he had never really had much in the way of heart to hearts but Hugh did understand the situation better than most. "Cam..." Harry muttered out painfully.

"Are you alright, Harry?" Cameron sounded desperate all of a sudden.

"I'm in my hotel room. Safe." Harry told him quickly to reassure him.

"You had a nightmare didn't you." Cameron stated more than asked. "A really bad one."

"Yeah." Harry hung his head. "Hugh's here with me. I woke Quinn up by screaming but then I just freaked out because it's him."

"Did you dream about Alexis?" Cameron asked.

"Not Alexis." Harry shook his head. "I was Oliver, trapped by Vampires. Cam, I can still feel my own sword in my chest!" Harry let himself cry even as he felt Hugh's shock at his announcement. "I just killed myself, Cam. It's horrible."

"It's just a nightmare, Harry. You already remembered that part of your life." Cameron told him.

"I know." Harry shuddered. "I miss you, Cam. I need you."

"I know. I'll ask Thierry to make up some reason to request me in Las Vegas as soon as I can." Cameron promised. "I'll be there with you as soon as I can get away from here without it looking suspicious."

"I love you, Cam." Harry told him.

"I love you too, Harry." Harry barely heard the reply as he drifted back to sleep only vaguely aware when Cameron called to him and Hugh took the phone out of his hand.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The next morning

Harry was nibbling on bread as he tried not to listen to the conversation that Hugh was having on his phone. Rashel sat next to him and Harry was trying to ignore the fact that Quinn was feeding from her wrist rather than go out to hunt. It made him feel ill and he pondered whether Jez fed Tamarack at times and why he hadn't thought to talk to his friend about it. He did feel very bad about himself when he thought of Nicky and Jez, they'd been dragged into this and he'd tried to spend as much time with them as possible but sometimes it was difficult. Them being as good as they were meant that they didn't really blame him for his inattention but that didn't make him feel much better.

Hugh grabbed a piece of buttered toast as he hung up. "Jez believes that her cousin could be the Wild Power. The evidence fits."

"She's the same age as Jez?" Harry asked but didn't give away that he had his own ideas of who the Wild Power could be. His mind let him think about things in rather different ways to others.

"A month older." Hugh nodded. "She was sitting with Jez when they watched the apartment building fire and according to Jez she drew her own blood just as the fire went out. Assuming twenty miles isn't going to stop the Power's effectiveness then it's a good bet."

"Where are you meeting her?"

"Claire's trying to follow her now so she'll take her to the BART station. We can meet them there." Hugh informed them. "We should go now or they'll have to wait around."

"We'll take the train out to the safe house." Harry decided. "Call them and have them pick us up at the station."

Harry rose and glanced at Quinn and Rashel who stood with him. "We're here to protect you, Harry." Quinn pointed out. "We'll fight if we have to but if it looks like you're in danger than you come first."

"Just keep an eye on them all." Harry decided.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Twenty minutes later

Harry eyed the running crowds as Quinn and Rashel flanked him. Hugh shook his head and started limping his way up through the crowds towards the platform. Harry followed quickly behind and in a few seconds Quinn was shoving a gap in the crowds and up onto the platform. Harry took in the scene even as it froze at the barest of thoughts. Two werewolves, half shifted, crouched low to the ground, one recovering from being thrown but the main threat was the Vampire squaring off to a girl possibly just slightly younger than Harry. Harry's memories suggested that she was a Vampire but she was missing some of the emphases. Probably Jez Redfern then.

A human girl cowered behind her in fear and was probably Claire. Time resumed and the Werewolves leapt up to their feet. Hugh yelled, brandishing the cane he used to help his permanent limp and Jez glanced at them as did the Vampire and Werewolves. The Werewolves leapt at Hugh and Harry stepped in front of him even as Rashel and Quinn leapt into the fight.

Harry kept a hand around Hugh's upper arm to keep an eye on him and Rashel struggled to face off with the wolf while Quinn took his apart. The Vampire eyed the changed advantage but he didn't answer to himself. He turned and struck at Jez who made a rather ungraceful move as she made to dodge only to remember that Claire was right behind her. Claire grabbed at Jez and upset her balance, sending both girls off of the edge of the platform and down onto the tracks, just missing the power rail.

Quinn finally killed his wolf and turned to help Rashel who was wrestling with the jaws of her own. The Vampire sneered down at the two girls even as the situation changed. A BART train rounded the corner on squealing wheels but it was going too fast to brake. It froze in its tracks but the girls would be impossible for him to move as long as they were all in the moment. Harry sighed and twisted his body even as time unlocked and Hugh cried out. Harry twisted them so that Hugh wouldn't see it happen but before the instant came there was a massive flash of blue light and the sound of the screeching as the train just stopped.

Hugh shuddered and Harry let him go to stare in shock at the now stationary train, it's pointed nose twisted by the blue fire that had halted it. The Vampire stared in shock at the two girls before turning to leave. The scene froze as Harry finally decided on something he could do. He crossed the platform and drew out the sharpened wooden knife that Quinn had given him that morning and even as time unfroze the Vampire staggered as Harry slammed the blade into his heart putting his entire weight behind it.

"I know. Really sucks. I was all the way over there. The pathetic human." Harry snarked. "Go rot somewhere." He pulled out the blade as the Vampire's skin hardened and he fell onto his back. Harry eyed the blade in distaste before turning. The werewolf that Quinn and Rashel were fighting turned tail and ran and the two quickly moved to cover the exits.

"You must be Jez Redfern then?" Harry asked down towards the tracks in the sudden quiet of the platform. Apart from a few people on the train the place was deserted.

"Jez!" Hugh shouted as he ran to his side. "Are you alright?"

"A hand please?" Jez asked as she lifted her cousin to her feet. Hugh reached down for Jez's hand and helped her up even as Harry lightly dropped down to the tracks with a smile at Claire.

"Hello, miss." Harry smiled. "Would you like a hand up?"

Claire looked at him like he was going to grow another head and Harry didn't really blame her. He still interlaced his fingers and gave her a boost up where Jez caught her and lifted her up. Harry forewent Jez's assistance and scrambled up.

"I don't know you." Jez frowned. "Are you a friend of Hugh's?"

"He's my boss." Hugh told her.

"I am not!" Harry frowned but it was then that Jez noticed the depth in his eyes. A depth only the really ancient like Hugh and Thierry had.

"Another Old Soul?" Jez gasped.

"Let's just say I'm taking a vested interest in the situation." Harry said simply. "Do you have transportation?"

"My bike is outside." Jez nodded. "And Claire's car."

Harry nodded. "Take her somewhere safe while we get this all cleaned up."

She nodded and turned to the entrance just in time for them all to see Quinn hauling over another Vampire. One with dark hair. Quinn forced him still with a hiss. "And you are?" Harry asked.

The Vampire hissed at him before glaring at Jez. "Humans, Jez? What are you doing?"

"The one holding you isn't human." Harry commented.

"We're from Circle Daybreak." Hugh said. "We're trying to help."

"Fuck you." The Vampire spat.

"Morgead..." Jez started.

Morgead struggled. "The Vampire holding you is Quinn. Stop fighting him or he'll take off your head." Harry said bluntly and watched as the young Vampire stilled in pure self preservation. Quinn gave Harry a withering look because Harry had abused his reputation once again. Harry turned to Jez. "Do you trust him, Miss Redfern?"

Jez frowned at him and Hugh came to his rescue. "What Harry says goes, Jez." Hugh informed her. "Not even the Crone of the Witches argues with him. Not even Lord Thierry."

That little slip made Morgead even more tense although it was becoming increasing popular in rumours that Thierry would side with Circle Daybreak in the coming war. Most people didn't realise that it was Thierry that had helped found that Circle in the first place.

"I trust him." Jez told him. "He's not exactly favourable of humans but..."

Harry rubbed his head and crossed to Morgead and crouched down. "You still plan to give up the Wild Power to the Night World Council or can we convince you to save your own life by doing the right thing?"

"Oh? Am I supposed to fear you more than the Council?" Morgead hissed, ignoring Quinn's iron grip on his shoulder.

"I'm about twenty thousand years older than the Night World Council." Harry laughed. "Take your pick."

"Morgead, just come with me. I'll explain everything to you." Jez promised and Morgead looked down as Harry stood up. Finally the Vampire nodded and Harry nodded to Quinn to let him go.

"Jez, take them and go." Hugh nodded. "Call me when you find somewhere to lay low and we'll sort out protection for you all."

"The gang?" Jez asked looking at Hugh. Morgead's head snapped up and Harry saw desperation there. "If they're after us then they might hurt them."

"As long as they don't fight us then Circle Daybreak will protect them." Harry said to put an end to the conversation. "Now get out of here."

Hugh nodded his agreement and Jez tugged her cousin towards the stairs down to the road. Morgead didn't look happy with this turn of events but followed quickly. "Quinn, follow them until they're on their way." Harry requested. Quinn nodded and blurred as he followed them away.

"So?" Harry asked with a sigh. "How do we explain away a smashed up train and two dead bodies?"

"At least Claire is safe." Hugh pointed out.

"You don't still think that the Wild Power is Claire do you, Hugh?" Harry asked with a raised eyebrow.

"What!?" Hugh gasped and rounded on him.

"Jez is the Wild Power, Hugh." Harry shrugged. "I knew that before I got here yesterday."

"Harry!" Hugh whacked him on the shoulder. "Why?... Oh forget it."

"Why didn't I tell you?" Harry shrugged. "And for the record it's actually rather obvious. Nobody would have thought of it with just the clue but she's half and half. Half in the Night World and half in the human world. Two eyes watching. The sun and the moon."

"You didn't tell anyone did you." Hugh accused rather than asked.

Harry shrugged again. "I had a slight advantage. Nobody really refers to the sun and the moon as eyes anymore. That concept disappeared around the time people realised the world was round. Well when humans and Night World people realised. My first Tribe always knew that."

"Harry?" Hugh sighed. "Just shut up a minute while I think?" Harry grinned but obediently kept his mouth shut. "What do we do now?"

"You keep your mouth closed about Jez." Harry told him simply. "The more people that think that Claire is the Old Soul the better. It'll take the suspicion off of Jez."

"And make Claire the target!" Hugh rounded on him.

"I don't much like painting a target on her back but it's better placed there than on Jez. Claire doesn't deserve to die but we can't allow harm to come to Jez. Not at the cost of the world." Harry sighed. "This is war, Hugh. I know you're not used to that but I am."

"I still don't like it."

"And you can blame me if Claire is killed." Harry shrugged. "Hell, I've got enough blood on my hands already. A little more isn't going to damn me any more than I already am."

Hugh stared at him in horror but it was distress for Harry and not against him. He was saved from finding something to say when Quinn reappeared with a frown on his face. "We've got a problem." Quinn told him without preamble. He had a nasty gash on the side of his face. "They were ambushed in the car park and put in the back of a truck. I couldn't get free of the assailants before they were gone."

Harry frowned and swore in French which was simply the first swear word to come to mind and Hugo swore in English. Harry moved closer and looked the Vampire's gash over. "You'll be alright?" He asked the Vampire.

"I'll be fine, Harry." Quinn nodded. "You don't need to worry about me. You of all people."

"Of all people?" Hugo muttered to him as Rashel approached.

"I killed him." Quinn stated simply and turned to let Rashel wipe at the gash. Hugh went pale and stared at Harry in shock.

"It's in the past." Harry told him simply before grabbing his phone and calling Thierry who picked up quickly. Harry ran through the situation and Thierry told them to get out to the safe house while he called in as much help as he could, for the cleanup and the search.

"Let's get out of here." Harry told them all. "The safe house, Hugh."

"Come on." Hugh limped away and Harry, Rashel and Quinn followed.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Four hours later

Harry walked into one of the bedrooms of the mansion on the outskirts of San Francisco. It had nice views and belonged to a couple of the older members of Circle Daybreak and was thus used to house part of the organisation. They'd driven out to it after Jez, Claire and Morgead had been abducted and organised the search for the van that had taken them. Only forty minutes later their helicopter had picked up a massive explosion in a suburb by the bay. They'd reported it as a bright blue flash that destroyed the entire house and when they arrived they'd spotted three bodies amongst the carnage. The house's foundations hadn't been damaged but everything above a foot had just been wiped out.

The guys here assumed that Claire had unleashed her power again but Harry had used his own leverage to have them leave the human girl alone and contact her family to get them out here and safe. They were now downstairs, guarded but left alone. This bedroom was the current residence of a still sleeping Jez Redfern and her Soulmate Morgead. Said Vampire looked at him and glared like he had been doing for hours to anyone that came inside.

"You don't really scare me, Mr. Blackthorn." Harry told him as he crossed to sit by the window. Morgead was on the far side of the bed with Jez's hand in his own. "Vampires have been attacking me for millennia. Hell, I was there when Maya first decided that being a Witch wasn't good enough for her. For that matter I've faced Maya in battle. Crossed swords with her more times than I'd like to go into."

"I'll still tear you apart if you hurt her." Morgead snarled.

"Fair enough." Harry shrugged. "Claire has attempted to tell us what happened but to be honest she might as well be talking in Dutch." Harry blinked knowing that he could understand Dutch easily enough and that wouldn't have been a barrier.

"Why aren't they interrogating me then?" Morgead asked.

"Because I told them not to." Harry shrugged. "By matter of my age I have quite a bit of leverage over them and they'll take my orders as long as they're sensible."

"Are you here to interrogate me then?" Morgead pressed.

"No." Harry shook his head. "I would however still like to know what happened."

"That's the same as interrogating me." He pointed out.

"Except that if you don't wish to tell me anything then I will leave and return after Miss. Redfern has woken up and you have had the chance to talk with her about this all." Harry explained. "I only wish to give you the opportunity to explain things now so that your time with her after she recovers is not interrupted."

"If I tell you that I want to stay with Jez no matter what she decides what will you do?" Morgead asked. "Are you going to force us to fight or something?"

"You will be given your own choice however the nature of what Miss. Redfern is means that we have to protect her." Harry shook his head. "You will not be allowed to leave alone but you will be allowed to leave if that is what you want. Our people will follow you and protect you but I'd rather we were able to work together."

"You know what Jez did?" Morgead asked.

"I know she stopped a train right in front of my eyes. I know that she obliterated a house and your assailants." Harry offered up. "I have allowed this organisation to carry on in the belief that Claire is the Wild Power because I wish to give you two a chance to discuss it first. I understand having your fate taken out of your own control. I wish to give you as many choices as possible."

"I'm not used to being grateful to humans." Morgead frowned. Harry laughed but sat back in silence as Morgead stared down at Jez. "I didn't know she was half and half. She just vanished all of a sudden."

"You cared about her even back then didn't you?" Harry asked. "You grew up together and helped one another survive."

"Yeah." Morgead nodded. "We just competed all the time and riled each other up. When she left though... it was like she'd ripped my heart out of my chest and taken it with her. I could barely function without her. I grew angry at her for abandoning me. When she came back I wanted to hurt her but I couldn't. I just couldn't..."

"I can understand that." Harry nodded.

"She's my Soulmate." Morgead told him and choked on the word. "Do you have any idea what that feels like?"

"I met my Soulmate back in June this year. I was just an ordinary human back then but in the last few months I regained hundreds of life times." Harry smiled as Morgead snapped his head up to look at him.

"Who is she?" He asked.

"He." Harry corrected with a shrug. "He is a Shapeshifter."

"So you get it." Morgead nodded. "You won't stop me being with her and protecting her. You won't try to force me to let her leave by herself."

"No." Harry shook his head. "And Circle Daybreak won't try either."

"It was Lily Redfern." Morgead told him making Harry flinch. "Do you know her?"

"I was a slave on a Night World Conclave once. She was there with her father, Hunter." Harry shrugged. "We never really spent any time near each other."

"She was sent by Hunter Redfern to sort things out after I didn't deliver. I was betrayed. One of my own gang was working with them." Morgead looked stricken by that. "They tortured Jez to get her to tell them who the Wild Power was. I thought she was protecting her cousin but it was her all along. They put a spike in her chest. There was so much blood and then everything just went up in blue fire. We all healed but I was so exhausted. I barely made it to her."

"What do you want to do, Mr. Blackthorn?" Harry asked.

"I need to talk to Jez first." Morgead told him.

Harry stood up and moved towards the door. He turned back on the threshold. "Do you need to feed today?"

"I'll be okay until tomorrow." Morgead told him.

"There's a guard just outside the door. Tell him when you and Miss. Redfern want to talk to me again about your decisions." Harry told him.

"Are we safe here?"

"She obliterated everyone that had you in custody." Harry laughed. "No one is able to track you to this place."

Morgead nodded and turned back to stare at the human-vampire in the bed. Harry slipped out of the room to call Thierry and Cameron.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Three hours later

"Lord Harry." A female witch caught his attention as he sat in the library with a book in his lap. Rashel was sitting across from him reading her own book in way of completing her duty to protect him. "Our guests are requesting to see you."

Harry nodded and closed the book and set it down on a nearby coffee table. "Could you have some food sent up for Miss. Redfern?" Harry requested. The woman nodded.

"Do you need me to come up?" Rashel asked.

"Not really." Harry smirked. "I'm sure you'll hear me from the corridor where you'll be lurking regardless though."

She smirked back. "Might take this with me though."

Harry and Rashel walked upstairs but Rashel stayed outside with the Vampire guard as Harry knocked and entered. Morgead was lying in the bed with Jez, slightly higher up with his arm over her pillow. He head rested on his shoulder. Harry smiled at them.

"Perhaps more formal introductions are in order?" Harry asked. Jez just nodded.

"My name is Harry Potter. Human. Old Soul. And Lord as far as Circle Daybreak is concerned." Harry moved to the end of her bed. "If the Night World knew of me however then I would be on their hit list. As would my Shapeshifter Soulmate."

"Hugh told me about you." Jez nodded. "You're supposed to be the oldest of the Old Souls. Almost as old as Lord Thierry."

"I'm half again as old as Thierry." Harry laughed. "Although when I grew up with him as humans he was slightly older than me."

"What do you want with me?" Jez asked.

Harry motioned to the end of the bed on the opposite side to Morgead. "Do you mind if I sit?" Jez shrugged. Harry sat down, folding one leg in front of him so he could face her comfortably.

"You agreed to risk death by rejoining your old gang." Harry started. "Not only that but you suffered through reuniting yourself with the one person in your life that never betrayed you." Jez looked at Morgead. "You did that because you knew that Circle Daybreak and the entire world needed the Wild Powers to protect the world when whatever happens this time around happens. Trust me, as someone who has witnessed all three of the previously known events I can assure you we need them."

"What's your point?" Morgead asked.

"You know how important you are to us." Harry focused on Jez who nodded. "But do you realise who you are the most important to?" Jez just frowned at him at his weird question. Harry glanced at Morgead. "Your Soulmate."

"True." Morgead piped in and Jez looked at him and moved slightly closer to him on the bed.

"At no point in the future will I ever ask you and him to separate. Where you go he would go." Harry promised. "I might not be able to promise that from the other leaders just yet but I'm older than the lot of them so they can shove it if they don't listen to me." Jez laughed and Morgead smiled. "Right now you need to have a life, enjoy your new found relationship. Trust me I know. I only met my Soulmate a few months ago and I haven't seen him in over a week and it's almost physically painful."

"So what do you want?" Morgead asked.

"Your friendship." Harry told them simply. "Miss Redfern, I know you're already a part of Circle Daybreak. I know you've had people to answer to before, like Hugh, but none of that matters now. What you are right now is Mr Blackthorn's Soulmate and I don't expect anything else from you right now. Let us protect the two of you and your gang. Let yourself get to know us again and let us get to know you."

"Where would we go?" Jez asked. "Stay here? Risk my family?"

"You want to leave them behind?" Harry asked.

"Claire was almost killed because of me." Jez sighed. "As long as I'm around them they are at risk. They need to be moved somewhere safer, witness protection or something."

"I can have them moved somewhere else by morning." Harry promised her. "We can have their finances and belongings moved to them."

"And where do we go?" Jez pressed.

"Lord Thierry wishes you to come to his manor in Las Vegas." Harry told them. "To meet with him and so that you can be best protected."

"Vegas!?" Morgead gasped. "Right in the middle of the Night World and that's where you want to take us? Are you insane?"

"Thierry's manor is the safest place in the world, not to mention close to where I am." Harry told her.

"You're just a human." Morgead pointed out.

"Hey! I'm half human you prat!" Jez slapped him on the leg and Morgead just looked at her and rolled his eyes.

"His point does stand." Harry shrugged. "But in this war that is coming it will end up being my fate to protect you from harm."

"Why?" Jez asked.

"There's a prophecy that led us to you, Miss Redfern. You heard it from Hugh." Harry pointed out. "There are prophecies about me too."

Jez and Morgead shared a look before Jez settled her head back onto his shoulder. "What do you want to do?" Harry asked.

"We'll come with you." Morgead nodded. "Our gang too."

Harry stood and nodded before offering his hand to them both. They shook his hand before Harry turned for the door. "Food should be up soon for Miss. Redfern. I'll send up your gang too if you'd like." They nodded. "We'll be leaving early in the morning for Vegas. Will you require blood from someone, Mr. Blackthorn?"

"He can feed from me." Jez announced. "For the time being."

Harry nodded as Morgead looked at her in shock. He left to let them talk in private about Jez becoming more Vampire again and headed to his own room to call Thierry and Cameron again. After watching the two of them together he really missed Cameron.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

End Chapter