Simon went running to the cemetary, calling for Mary like a mad man. If the brides are around, surely they would have no time finding him. Simon turned going one way along the graveyard section, so I decided to go the other towards the tombs. Mary was a smart woman and would go for better coverage to hide in.

It does not take long to see Mary hiding along a tomb. Dracula was horrably close to finding her as he walked along the tops of the tombs and larger gravestones. He stopped just above her but one tomb over. Mary's face showed the same thoughts I had. She was caught. Despite this, she crept against the wall to the other side of the tomb where she could conseal herself from him and took off running. Dracula apparently only stopped to kick a cross off the top of the tomb and continued in the opposite direction of Mary, completely unaware she was there.

Going forward was a dead end, so Mary must have gone to the left. Looking down the row of tombs, Mary's feet were all I could see as she crawled inside a broken tomb. Slowly, I walked towards it until I caught sight of the vampire on the other side of the yard walking towards Mary's and my direction. A small crash and gasp alerted both Dracula and I. Hiding behind a tomb, the heat rose in me, and his exposed blood was nearby but weak. It was not Mary's, but a dead man. The casket she was laying must have broken, squishing the corpse to ooze blood. I could use it to hide her from Dracula. However, he would not stop hunting her. Besides, he most likely knew where the crash came from.

The sound of stones being tosed around made me look out from my hiding place. Dracula must have seen me in the corner of his eye as he turned to look right at me with an eyebrow raised. This did not stop what he was doing. Having made a hole large enough for him to reach into, Mary was pulled out by the vampire. All attention was on her as I used the opportunity to walk closer to them.

Walking towards Mary, he spoke, "I have walked the earth for centeries insearch of a soul, not bitten, but born."

Mary backed away and replied,"I am not like you!"

"Everything I am is yours...," Dracula explained. Simon's yelling grew loud enough to hear as Mary tried to turn and run towards it. Dracula appeared in front of her, "...and all, you are is mine!"

Mary saw me behind the vampire and gave me a look to help, as she turned to look at Simon, who was known in view. Before Dracula could carry Mary away, I tried to push here out of the way. It would be no good if she was taken to a different location. I could not help her or Dracula if this happened. With a puff of mist, we were gone.

~

Both Mary and I appeared on a rooftop downtown somewhere. Mary gave me another look to thank me for trying. I gave her one in return to reassure her that everything would be okay. Though being taken away was not part of my plan, at least she was close. I was grabbed on the shoulder by strong arms. Instincively, I let my jacket be removed and turned to the vampire, slicing his cheek. My power sang as a few dropped of blood fell from the wound. Blood of such power, I found it hard not to drain it from him. On the plane, when Marcus shot him, the wounds healled too quickly to get a good sense of power. That, and there was a lot of human blood my powers were trying to focus on. The vampires frustration turned to fear when he realized it was not healling and seeing the look on my face. "Always in my way, Stasis..." Then he switched to my mind so Mary would not hear, 'When I hear you were connected to death, I feared what you may be. But if I can not heal...'

"Anastasis, what is wrong with your back?" Mary asked as I turned to her. She stepped back and covered her mouth. I could she the reason reflected in the rooftops greenhouse, my eyes were black circling around the iris, the iris itself was red with black coming out of my pubil. All my teeth were sharp, and my skin had a light glow as my true form should in response to the vampires blood. All of me bare to Mary and the vampire, all except the full extent of my wings. "I knew you said you were something similar, but..." Mary looked scared as she tried to wrap her head around what I was.

The shock made me snap out of it, and my appearance started to fade, "Let me explain..."

A hand running down my back disorented me, cutting my speak short, "Now I know what you are Stasis, you owe me an explination. No running away, no excuses this time. Until I get my explanation, you are staying with me." I tried to turn and fight him, but my body stiffined as he stroked harder, causing me pain. "Such soft, sensitive, feathers... all I wanted to do was touch them. I'll remember what that does to you for later." My mind started clearing as he bound my hands.

I was releasing me from the sensation of my back being touched. I did not like the implication of Dracula's words. Never would I let him near my back again. He knew this, not unless I was willing. 'Discusting!' was sent to my mind as he chuckled. About to stop him from binding my hands, Azrael stopped me, 'Let him. Anastasis, you must stay close to him now. No matter what happens, stay as close as he'll let you until he is dead. When that, of course, is up to you. He now what you are and so you must deside soon how you will act.' Azrael always wanted the vampires end to come sooner than later. However, saying it was up to me must mean it is just about time.

Will Judas die, or will I let him live long enough to save him? "This is the finish line...isn't it? This is the end of line, or at least the end of this race, before a new one starts."

"Sit here while I talk to Mary first, Anastasis. Then we can talk."