I'm so sorry that it's taking me so long to update! I really do adore this story, I just seem to have less and less time on my hands to write. I'm staying strong though and promise to see this to it's end... which seems to be long in coming but I hope you all are more excited in the fact that you get more story than the fact it'll take a while to finish. Reviews are much appreciated and I give my thanks to all readers who have stayed with me thus far.

Disclaimer: I'm not claiming ownership to anything but this delightful plot line.

BTW: I'm adding a new character! The development for her will be through this chapter mostly and let me know what you think!

Chapter 10:The King Is Back

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Every eye turned to the blonde sitting behind his desk, his silvery eyes suddenly stark blood red and then fading to quicksilver once again once he'd regained control of his own mid after the little memory. The woman standing in his doorway was another of his kind, beautiful and graceful, she had long dark waves that reached far down her back and cobalt eyes that stood out contrasted from her pale visage. This one was definitely of his own clan he could tell, "My Lord, I am Charis of the High Clan, one of your own." It was customary to present yourself to the highest noble in presence, and especially the own head of your clan, yet Draco knew he would be greeted in any room he sat in.

It was then he noticed how she was favoring one arm, "What has happened to you? Why have you come to me?" His mind began searching her own finding it cluttered and in disarray, but he still caught glimpses of a face that had his blood boiling. "So he sent you to deliver a message then, if you are of my clan then why are associating with such underlings, he is of the Baser Clan. Go ahead deliver his little threat for all to hear, I would like to see my comrades' reactions." His eyes trailed over to Guildenstern, as he lowered his feet to the floor to stand as he looked at the little vampire still sitting stiff with fear in his floor, so she knew of his full reputation, she was familiar but the women of his clan were all a blur to him from the months that he had denied himself his own mate.

"My Lord, he told me that leaving your little harlot alone even in the next room will be a mistake... He wants you to know that he plans to succeed in destroying you through her." Darco was growling even as Charis cowered in the floor as she finished speaking. The other men began discussing their intent to help their Lord destroy this brazen rebel in any way that he might have need of them. Yet silver eyes still clung to the form of the presiding headmaster of this abhorrent establishment, "Lord Malfoy... please will you give me something to tell him... he has cursed me... I come to him when ever he summons." Draco understood that, but knew his power was great enough compared to this threat from the Baser Clan that he didn't need a pitiful dark curse to summon others even against their will. The men standing around him were enough example of that, turning back to this seat he took to his comfortable position in it once again.

The other men turned to the dark royal figure sitting back at his desk, they all were waiting on baited breath for him to answer the young lady sitting in his office's floor, "My dear, I shall grant you something even better than an answer... the bastard doesn't deserve an answer. You, my little lady, shall return when he summons you, only to inform him that I am taking you under my wing that after he releases you once again my own magic shall destroy his hold on you as long as you are in mine or any of my colleagues presence. Tell him I see a violation against you is just as high as one against myself, that should bring him to me." his smirk was pronounced against his well-carved looking features, as beautiful as the palest marble to any who viewed him. The other men seemed to understand just what the man was up to, the girl he felt suddenly began drawing on his aura then stood to touch her hand only for a swift second to the skin of his ankle then she smiled gently before she disappeared before his eyes with understanding in her deep ocean eyes. The girl if he remembered correctly was an empath, able to feel as other did and take on others feelings, pain, and a variety of her things. Her gift made her just as sought for as his little mate or Twilight, she was very vulnerable as well with it and it seemed to add to her gentle and timid nature.

The men stood around him discussing a few more things around him, but his mind was not with them. It was how she looked just as she was leaving, almost certain that she had been summoned away from his clutches once the evil ass realized where exactly she was or who she was with. Leaning back into his leather seat, he contemplated the books and the decoration scattered throughout the room. Hermione would love just looking through each of these books, would probably scold him for hours on end for keeping them from her, but to be honest he had never known if he would ever return to Malfoy tower on Rosencrantz's dreadful campus. It had been a few months since he had last stepped into these chamber or grounds, he had planned to keep the streak going. Guildenstern then cleared his voice, "Lord Malfoy, we have been discussing all this, perhaps it would be better if you took Lady Malfoy away then return to complete your mission with another partner?"

Draco's eyes were practically feral when he looked at the incompetent man he was being forced to cooperate with, "My mate and I have been apart far too long as of late and anyone with a mate knows the pain of being away from each other... our mission here is an undetermined amount of time and as such I will not allow us to be separated for any amount. Besides, taking her away as such would show cowardice, like running away from a fight. I am no coward, my mate will be safe with me." Each man in the room's mind berated Guildenstern for even suggesting the thing, they had all apparently ruled out his choice of action but the man was stubborn and presented it anyways. Draco smirked at the fact so many of his trusted officials knew him well enough except for the only man he was forced to include due to his place here at Rosencrantz. "Men, I just brought you here to alert you to this development, thank you for your continued alliance. Now down to the business of actually dealing with it..."

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Hermione Malfoy never took orders well, all except from her beloved mate did she even consider most of them. She had her own mind and usually was persuasive enough to influence those around her to doing what she though was best, but that was because her ideas were almost always the right thing to do. This time she was listening to Draco, albeit she thought she was not that weak, just desperate for their bond to be like it was before and terrified of this man who was threatening her and her beloved. Voice from somewhere in their apartment told her that Draco had called on some of his vampire associates, to talk about what she had no idea, but still she tried to eavesdrop. It was most certainly a bad habit to form, but years spent around Harry and Ron had most decidedly formed it and showed just how reliable it could be in desperate times of need. This was a time of need to her, her mate was keeping her from something and she wanted to know what. Sometimes the man could infuriate her with how much he tried to protect her from all the bad in the world, she wondered if she even realized just who his mate had been before he'd stepped into his rightful place in her life and who her best friends were, as well as what had been their most dangerous and adventurous pastime. She was Hermione, Gryffindor Princess of the Golden Trio, best friends with Harry Potter the Boy-Who-Lived and Ron Weasley his faithful sidekick, the other counterparts of the Golden Trio, and they had spent every year at Hogwarts fighting off the most evil man ever to exist on this Earth Voldemort.

When the front door opened and light, graceful footsteps were heard crossing to the room she'd heard the mens voices her curiosity peaked, especially when this new presence announced herself in a decidedly feminine vocal tone. Then the one who addressed her was the baritone of her own mate, what in the world was going on in there. If there was anything she hated being more than not being well informed, it was purposefully not being well informed by being completely left out. She knew was being overly-dramatic, a little Pansy-esque, but ever since she'd been changed Draco and life in general kept sending her for loops and she was damn well tired of it. It irked her quite a bit lately that people found it easier to exclude her then come to her when it was all falling apart to let her fix it, it stressed her out and the way her life had been as of late she wouldn't be able to handle it if it continued. For a second she just stopped, she decided that she sounded quite a bit hateful and certainly a tad whiney with all that her mind had been going through since Draco had left her in here to seek counsel among his own kind. It was exhausting, yet she knew it wasn't sleep that she was craving.

Slowly she rose from the grandiose four-poster bed drawing back the drapes the Draco had closed to block out the blinding sunlight beyond. Mesmerized as her skin shined in the sunlight when exposed to it, for quite a bit of time she just stood twisting her arm watching as it gleamed. Draco had always been so beautiful to her when he stood out in the sunlight, she was sure that had attracted even more of the female population to him, nit that they hadn't been before he was turned, the Slytherin Sex God he had been. Her chestnut curls fell around her heart-shaped face like never before and her almond shaped eyes were more golden than they had been only weeks before. Perfection was a trait of the immortals, making them irresistible to their - prey. Their eyes bejeweled to capture them so hypnotically to draw them in like a moth to the flame. Shudders ran through her suddenly.

A bang from just out in the lobby where their front door was snapped her back into reality and she turned just in time to find Draco throwing their door open and tackling her to the ground. His body immediately rolled to catch the brunt of the fall then rolled again to cover her body with his own, then she heard terrifying cries like that of wild animal. Without thinking her body reacted immediately and black fog surrounded them. Draco's moan of pain caused her to look at him suddenly, her eyes focussing on his metallic eyes that stabbed straight into her heart. "Not the void..." he begged her and she held them at limbo between the living and the void, "I'm too close to standing on the edge to go there... my soul... it begs for it..." she didn't understand what he was talking about, what was going on with him? The fog fell away from them, the light died down and they were back on the wooden floor of their bedroom. Draco rolled off of her so suddenly breathing like he had ran a mile as a mortal without previous physical training. The guards on him were all gone, almost as if he'd completely withdrawn into himself, she couldn't even feel the familiar presence of his mind brushing hers with his gift.

When she looked up at the door she saw only a burnt place in one of the magnificent Persian rugs, still smoldering a bit and several other immortals standing around it as if they had just fought some battle in their apartment. "Draco... what happened? What is going on?"

Slowly his head fell to the side so that he could look into her eyes as his breathing finally came under control, "An intruder, a blocker... someone who has a unique ability to block their minds... I couldn't see them until the last few seconds when the door banged open. I pressed my mind harder than I have in quite a while to break their blocks to see their intentions... I had only seconds to reach you before them, my love. Oh Hermione... I could have lost you... if they had entered quietly..." The sorrow and pain flashed quickly through his eyes and she was in his arms cuddling against his chest as they laid in the floor faster than he could blink them away. Inhaling deeply she knew he was taking comfort in her scent as proof she was there, he was feeling her, that she was still alive for him to have.

"Oh Draco... my silver dragon..." she cried for him, sobbing into his chest as he stared up at the ceiling just rubbing circles into her back, not saying anything to her just knowing she was there. Slowly she sat up and gripped his face between her hands forcing him to look into her eyes neither caring that others stood just outside the open bedroom door staring at them, they were one, mates, kindred souls. The kiss was agonizingly passionate and slow, lasting until each had filled the other with their current emotions, letting them hold each others burdens for just that moment in time, knowing at least they had the one to understand completely for them. Draco rolled over onto her once again, this time sliding his hands under her shirt suddenly needing to feel more of her skin as if he could never get enough of her. She arched into him, encouraging him, knowing he needed this just as much as she did. They had been parted so long and had only shared one kiss since being reunited once again.

Their voyeurs slowly moved back into Draco's office she noticed once Draco had moved back down to her neck, her half-lidded eyes showing her pleasure as her mouth open in a silent moan. It was a slow frenzy, that was all she could describe it as, a halting urgency. His fangs were protruded and he licked away blood from her as painful pleasure filled her as they scraped against her skin. A rip sound as he tore her shirt slowly from her, her bra soon to follow as his mouth slowly devoured her upper half. It was so painstakingly slow, his hands slowly making her way to grip onto the band of her pants while still balancing himself on his elbows. Her hands dove into his hair, feelings erupting in her unlike ever before between them. Their bond allowed the pleasure and emotions to echo back between them, like a constant building of waves on a shore in different tides. When his hands sensuously slow drew he pants over her hips and down her thighs she was practically begging him with her mind. The feel of his beautiful lips on her inner thigh just about did her in, then another rip as he removed her of the last reaming undergarment. Before she could catch her breath he sent her off the edge as his lips performed tasks she'd could barely believe. It was a slow, long lasting feeling of euphoria, then he climbed slowly back up her body to kiss her just as softly and passionately as before.

One of her fingers slowly traced down his chest popping each button off his shirt slowly, the noise of them slowly rolling across the floor accompanying the moans of the tow lovers as they kissed. Once his shirt was open she pushed it roughly off his shoulders and he lifted enough to remove it the rest of the way from his body, her nails already making their bitingly pleasurable presence known as they clung to him as she tried to pull them closer together. His growls only powered her on as he moved back to her neck, she scraped her hands down his back circling around his waistband to find the front clasp. Playing with the clasp and zipper, she slowly flitted her hand across the sensitive area around there, moving her beautiful legs up and down to brush against his sides drawing out a shudder of pleasure from her lover. Then wiggling down she kissed his neck and moved down his chest as her arms pushed his pants along with his boxers down as far as she could with him pressed on top of her. He drew her back up to his face, kissing her once again as he kicked his lat remaining garments off, leaving them pressed intimately together. When she felt the fullness of him as he slowly took her, she cried a small joyous lilt.

It was a caring slow kind of love, one she read as being apologetic for al he had been putting her through, for when they were apart. It was telling her of how happy he was that she was alive, that he had truly saved her. Her heart reached out through their bond to comfort him, to wrap him in her essence, his reaching out to her and possessing her with his emotions that he could only truly express before her. It was an amazing experience, never before had either of them felt such intimacy that their bond provided in such a profound portrayal of what they felt for one another, a private display affection between true soulmates. She was climbing to peaks she hadn't even known to exist, and his body trembled when hers would close around him, then with one last feral sounding cry from both of them, she felt the weight of him as he collapsed atop of her then as he rolled over with his arms wrapped tightly around her. Relaxing against his chest they both struggled to catch their breath after so much passion. "I love you, my kitten."

"I-I lov-ve y-you..." she told him breathily as she looked up and saw his eyes caught somewhere between a bright silver and metal, hers she knew were going from pure gold to a honey color. Nuzzling his chest, she felt him suddenly stiffen against her and she was truly confused when quickly sat up to press his fangs against her neck, when they punctured her eyes flew wide in another form of pleasure and even more confusion. "D-Draco...?"

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Twilight was curled into a tight ball in the floor of the tower's floor after her exclamation, Moody was bending over her trying to get her to calm down. "Dammit Malfoy isn't here to tell me what's going on in her head and Zabini isn't on hand to calm her down like he always does, even Luna would be helpful at this point. Gripping the girls arms, he'd long ago trained himself not to flinch at just how cool to the touch a vampire's skin was, he pulled her up to wear they were staring into each others eyes, yet hers were clouded meaning she was beyond the reach of his words.

She knew he was there but the vision she had just seen was stuck in pause on the image she saw now, a blonde hair caked with blood, a damned wolf standing above it, and someone else standing in the shadows. Her heart was beating too quickly, she would pass out soon if she didn't let the vision finish but she wasn't sure she wanted to see it. She would have no choice though, she never did as it started again, A hand reached out to run a single finger across a bite mark left in pale smooth skin a sickening smile across the now human face of the one that had left it as it's tongue swiped out to lick the red substance away. Then both figures turned and walked away leaving a barely convulsing body lying against the cold cobblestones of the hallway floor. Twilight suddenly snapped up and looked straight at Moody, her eyes turning a bloody red in her rage, the old man wasn't scared of her though as she stood and climbed onto the railing of the tower. "This can't happen... But how can I stop this? She saw it, I saw it only in part... Why would she do this? Why didn't I see it earlier? There;s nothing we can do, absolutely nothing, it's all going to hell, but she knew that." Her fist carved out a moderate sized chunk of the column next to her.

The feeling of someone watching her reminded her that Moody was still in her presence and probably wondering what she'd seen that had caused her to go this crazy, get this upset. It was so hard to even begin to think of the words she'd use to explain to him just what she'd seen, just what was going to happen, what they couldn't possibly prevent. Fear, rage, and depression were taking their hold her, and she pictured the poor face lying so tragically and another that would turn even more to fatalism if she had to relate this new vision especially now. There was so much she needed to say, so much that had to be done, yet still she could only stand there arm still extended staring out at the landscape that made up this haven called Hogwarts.

Memories floated into her mind of somewhere far away, a place that so much like this place and not at the same time. A place where she grew up unlike those around her, where others looked and lived as she did according to her own culture and traditions. Here it was close, but still fundamentally different. Touching the only scar she had, right above her right hip bone, the only place she'd ever been touched with fire. It had marred the perfection that had once been her pristine skin. Still her mate kissed it so lovingly every time he saw it, he told her it was what made her so unique and lovely to him, that it was a part of who she was and that was someone he loved. A brush of her fingers against it sent a shock reeling through her system bring her back into this world and away from the past that was getting caught up in her mind once again. Jade eyes turned to her favorite old man still standing waiting patiently as he always had with her for what he was to do or needed to know. Blaise had left her with someone who would take care of her, her mate always ensured her care above all else even though he was human and so much more susceptible to death than herself.

Entertaining the idea of just remaining silent she knew that that was impossible, she had to say something, this was just too big of a shock to keep locked away inside of herself to never reveal. One last fit, the end of a tantrum that had waged war inside of her burst out, "How could she go through with this all if she knew that this would be her fate?!" the feral cry echoed across the old wooden support beams of the tower and out across the sky over looking the beautiful lake on the campus grounds. Only the old man behind her would ever know just how much grief had over swept her in that moment.

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Cobalt eyes peered up into the deep ruby red of her captor once again, and she had to resist not flinching. "How long do you expect the High Clan to tolerate a halfling such as yourself?" his snide voice remarked as he looked at her a sneer covering his evil face, "You are disgusting even to me, and I am a full-blood of the Baser Clan. I guess be a halfling of the High Clan could still be considered better than one of the Baser. Yet you know as well as I do it is only a matter of time before they rid themselves of inferior ties to their ever-strengthening Clan, the High Clan does not stand for mixing, especially not those who are halflings. It's surprising some of us can even have children with each other, let alone one of our nobles have one with a non-immortal." his voice only continued to degrade her with his tone, nothing would allow her to feel any better than dirt on the floor upon with she knelt.

"M-my mother was one of the most beautiful of the half-immortal wizards... you must admit even they grow into much older ages than those of the muggle race. I am have magic, just as much as I am half-vampire so I their traits. My father was not denied forgiveness in our clan because my birth killed my mother who was not immortal, would not allow herself to be changed. It broke my father... they accuse my mother as being an enchantress that brought about her own death just a much longer prolonged one than they had thought it would have been if my father had taken care of everything as he should have." A slap echoed across the room and she clung to her stinging cheek, she knew better than to talk back but she knew that she had to or never would he be able to know that she was not one to be kicked into the mud. Concentrating she felt her magic in her veins, drawing on that power she whispered softly, "Impedimenta..." The man suddenly flew back across the room, he was a Baser which meant he carried little of the dark magic known of their kind, even as a halfling she knew she could out do him in a duel.

Anger burst forth from him as his aura all but knocked her over, "You may have advantage of the use of magic, but even so you cannot do so without your wand..." He then was at her side, ripping away her cloak then gripping her hand tightly enough that he forced her wand to snap. Tears fell from her eyes as now she could only rely upon spontaneous magic, something she knew she had no control over for her safety. "Little one, you have no power to stop me from destroying him, your Lord will fall and so shall his house. It is time that the High Clan knew just how dangerous it is to stomp down upon those that have for so long supported them." Her hands gripped his wrist as his fingers tightened around her throat suddenly, "Warn anyone of this and it will be more than your life I take... I have seen your heart's dream, I know who it is that you seek beyond this castle's grounds." A whimper escaped her lips as he suddenly threw her against the stone wall, "Now be gone from my sight and let that threat stand for it will not be withdrawn. Don't allow me to see you in their presence once again."

Shaking she stood, stumbling her way out of the room in fear, her long skirts felt constraining to her legs as she fled up into the light of day from the dark hollows that she was imprisoned to. The forest around her were eery, and her heart was heavy with the burden of his revenge and anger. Empathy was a burdening gift, even more so upon her as her gift gave forth powers of harmful healing and healing harm, such an oxymoron only the muggle Shakespeare could happen to appreciate. As if from a dream, her heart reached out to someone so far away, pulled upon it a unearthly calm, but also a sorrowful fear and guilt that brought fresh tears upon her cheeks. The soul was one she knew, one she held a bond with, one she needed to find. Yet here she was trapped, there was no choice for her at this time, the curse had been cast, upon pain of death would she come if it called but 'til then her oath had been drawn to serve a master until he released her or his death did. A death she could not aide in or she would die too. The campus came into sight now, the looming towers even more gloomy against the storm cloud sky, the eyes of her Lord flashed into her eyes and she felt herself sob in her helplessness. Their Lord had never felt as he did now with his mate, now she was part of the plot to destroy that and him all in one. Making her a traitor of her home and heart.

A sparrow landed on a branch next to her and she smiled softly, as a halfling she did not inflict that instinctual fear that her full brethren did upon those around them, even those of their own kind. Whispered words brought out her patronus, a small bird just like the one on the branch, "Take a message to one Hermione Malfoy, 'You don't know me, but I promise you know harm, your mate is my Lord. I am of the High Clan, I would like to meet you in private. I know why you are here, my quarters are in the western wing tower, I will be waiting for you with tea. If your mate asks, tell him Charis has sent for you. This sparrow shall lead you to me.'" With a sad smile, the best she could ever hope to manage as tragic as her life was, watched the little glowing bird flitter off towards the impressively terrifying Malfoy Tower.

Climbing the stairs that led into the grand entrance hall of the Western Wing near the Malfoy Tower, this was the residence of the High Clan, she watched as others walked about cooly, graceful dignity exuding from each member. Slowly she wound her way through the halls leading to the tower that held the only place she could remember calling home. Quietly she ascended the stairs, entering her room at the top of them and scanning for any message lying about about or unexpected visitor. Turning to shut her door, she was only slightly surprised to find a someone directly behind her. "Did you know I was following you or are you truly that oblivious to our nature?" the girl cooly asked as she slipped into the room, this was not anyone she had expected but she had known someone had been following her. This girl was of the Sight Clan, the prophets of their kind or clairvoyants, a rarity they were. "Seriously Charis, you haven't changed a bit since I left you to find him. It was fight to come back here, and I;m only coming to see you because I know how angry it will make your Lord to know I am here at all. Tell me how it has been for you since I have left."

Sitting her down at the counter she began preparing for her visit with her Lord's mate, meaning she was now her Lady. Bustling through the kitchen she prepared her thoughts carefully, "Well it seems your eyes have been busy if you have not kept them on me." the girl chose to ignore that as she took a home-made candy from the bowl in front of her, "If you must know, I had me heart's dream..." she looked away as her guest gasped waiting for details, "It is no matter though, I know of him and where he can be found. Thanks to one of your relatives, of course. We have another of the Sight Clan here now did you know? Of course, you probably did, you and all of us knew that Guildenstern wouldn't stand it long without at least one of yours here on our unhallowed grounds." She knew she was rambling to avoid revealing too much to the one who watched her closely, "It's not as crucial for me as a halfling to find my mate, it is a constant intense pain but not my life, unless of course he dies. I can bear pain... I have all my life as you know with my gift. Only those of certain clans bear gifts, and only select few, don't you find that odd?"

Looking to the side she saw the girl roll her eyes, she knew what she was trying to do, seemed prepared to wait her out too. "I can't tell you who he is... he has a love, he does not need me in his life, it is going to be fine without me, I learned that many months ago." A sorrowful sigh slipped past her lips, "As long as I remain obedient it shall be so." The tea began to whistle and she took it off, setting it on a table to be ready for her guest. "I have a guest... an expected guest arriving soon. Would you like to-" she was cut off as the girl suddenly leapt from her seat and took out the door in a flurry of rushed anxiety, something was wrong, Charis never doubted her gift and took after her old friend. It was when they began to close in on Malfoy Tower that she began to fear for her Lord and her Lady.

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The taste as it washed into his mouth was almost too much, it was like standing on the edge of desire staring into euphoria unknown. The soft keening he heard was barely audible as he concentrated on just the taste. It was calling to him, so desperately it called, and he hadn't fed in days, not since he'd left to go with the others. This was something he just couldn't resist, the feeling of that pulse and the nearness of its warmth and pulled him in. This was instinctual, yet unexplained, it just had to happen.

Pulling more of the warm liquid into his mouth he tasted his own brand of poison in its content, his own brand of magic laced it as well, finally a coolness faded against his tongue that tasted like a shadowed fog. This was not about feeding, about that sort of instinct of his kind, this was more... so much more.

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Amata Mercy

Yes Charis is the new one.... now to figure out all her secrets and past! I'm really excited about where this is all going so maybe it won't take too long to update! Let's hope anyway!