Note:

(Elesary: Yeah it was cut off, I had gotten a new computer and it wouldn't let me transfer the whole thing for reasons beyond my understanding. But it let me put out this next chapter. )

(SORRY to all the READERS! It's my freshman year of college and I am still trying to get my barring all set. I'm on thanksgiving break. So please expect a few chapters to make up for the fact that I haven't written in so long! And please R&R! Cause without it I would never be able to keep writing, seriously without it I would have given it up a long time ago! Thank you for your patience!)

Chapter 8

If this was a dream, it was a rather cruel one. The fact that Mary-Lynnette standing there…it just hadn't made any sense, but here she was, standing there with him before the door to Thierry's mansion. She's never been out of her hometown before, he realized. She'd taken a plane and had the money for a taxi. Mare was doing this completely blind and it was all for him.

She also didn't know all the dangers that were walking around. I'll make sure that she stays safe, nothings going to happen to her. Ash would do anything to make sure that she could stay by his side.

Ash was lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice the pair of eyes that were starring down at them, starring down at her with a vague sense of interest and loathing. The boy had smelled her the moment she had stepped onto the property. The small scent of grass and a hint of mint perfume, but he could only call her vermin. Just like al the others that walked around this mansion and the person he'd once called sister. It seemed that more and more of them were coming through those gates. If only Hunter Redfern could see him now, cowering in the shadows of enemy. Yet even if he wanted to do something the fear, that childish fear he could never seem to escape grappled at the logical side of him.

What was it about these creatures that could make the most superior beings on this earth fall down to their knees and renounce their heritage and power? He had remembered seeing Ash Redfern, a direct descendent of Hunter. The boy remembered how much of a power creature he had been, feared almost nearly as much as Quinn with the reputation of power among all nightworlders. Yet that girl, the one standing outside the main gate had changed this power hunter into a piece of prey for the remaining Redferns.

There isn't any fear in his eyes either, the boy noticed. Instead a new light shined in them, reminding him of that stupid girl who had unceremoniously saved him from that fire over 6 months ago.

He watched them head in through the gates, noting the two duffel bags carried between them. Perhaps, he thought, this could be the moment to truly get to know the facts about this disease. He would never studied Rashel even if her partner was Quinn. This was the second best choice. Ash Redfern and his "Soulmate"

"Let's see what vermin magic you use." He said.

As if his voice carried out over through the glass and with the wind, the girl looked up. Their eyes met and something in him flashed, those eyes were midnight blue. Such a rare color for vermin he thought. The creature offered him a small smile and made a small attempt at a wave.

Timmy threw the curtain forward, blocking that face and the magic he feared. "I'll figure out their secrets. Stupid vermin."

Who had that boy been? Mary-Lynnette stared up at the curtains the hid the boy from her. She'd been staring up the mansion in awe when she noticed his face staring down at her. There had been something about it, something that didn't seem quite right. He had the face of a child, but… those eyes, the seemed too old be belong to a child of any kind. He was part of the nightworld that she was certain about.

Beside her Ash twitched anxiously, the excitement rippling through his spine and the knowledge that she was standing there next to him, nervous as he was, but confident at the same time. How was she able to do that? Every minute, it seemed, she managed to still amaze her.

"You ready to come in and meet everyone? I'll warn you as soon as you walk in you'll be swarmed by people." He suddenly seemed interested in the garden with a small fountain of children playing in the water, "We don't get many people that come in."

"Are you sure that it has nothing to do with the fact that I'm your soulmate?"

He winced inwardly; she always hits things on the nail. I would have a soulmate like that.

Ash shrugged her duffel bag over his shoulder failing at the attempt to ignore her small laugh. It was beautiful… and I am turning into mush. Yet if it was by Mare he truly didn't care. Love is just so confusing, he stated.

He opened the door, not waiting for one of the attendants to open the door and summon them inside. Mary-Lynnette was already uncomfortable and he felt that having herself be announced would just make everything a bit worse.

But the slam of the door didn't keep some from noticing and shortly after a wave of red hair peeked out from behind one of the doors and a bright smile. Ash was relieved, if there was any person that had to run into them he was glad out of all of them was the Lady.

She came over, a warm smile on her face and a flash of something he couldn't quite place in her eyes. He smiled back at her, "Mary-Lynnette this is the Lady Hannah, Lord Thierry's Soulmate."

Mare stepped forward, her hand outstretched. "Hi." What else could she say… what was she supposed to say?

Hannah laughed, "No title Just Hannah, I've only had a title for the past few months. Please." She added the last part seeing the uncertainty flash through Mare's eyes. But she waved them off, "So this is your time in Las Vegas right? When you guys have the time definitely make Ash take your around and go sight seeing. There are some amazing breath sights. Out in the desert the stars are so bright out there, its perfect for stargazing!" Hannah gushed picturing passed moments of her own.

"Stargazing?"

Hannah blinked, "Isn't that what you always do? Ash bought a telescope when he first joined up with the order and—"

"Anyway, I wanted to get Mare all set up in the room. So we'll see you later?" Its not that he didn't like Hannah… or the fact that she was bringing up, well, sensitive stuff. He'd rather have her not know about all the people that know about her from his own mouth.

Lady Hannah smiled up at them both, "Definitely, I'll tell Thierry that you both are here now. So get settled in and you'll get a chance to meet everyone at dinner. See you later."

Mary-Lynnette watched the girl walk off. Even if she'd only been the title a short while ago, there was something about her, something that seemed older and wiser. Perhaps it was the way that she carried herself? Was she….?

"Is she an old soul?" She asked.

His gaze lingered on Hannah, "Yeah she is. She is probably one of the oldest souls there are. If you don't count the deaths then she's just as old as Lord Thierry."

"Deaths?"

Ash didn't quite meet her eyes at that moment, instead took the lead down of the many hallways. "Lord Thierry is also slaying a lot of his own dragons for his lady."

But what wasn't said between them hung in the air. And Mary-Lynnette, while following Ash, was starting to put the small pieces together. She remembered the night that they watched the stars in the bed of her truck, how he told about some of the other nightworlders that fought with circle daybreak. Hannah's story had stuck out the most.

Lord Thierry and Lady Hannah's story is just like ours. Except she chose to follow Thierry while I just pushed Ash away telling him to fix everything.

Right then the only thing that she could think about was how cruel she had been. Ash had taken it all in stride and wanted to prove himself. What had she been doing that whole time? I'd been filling my life with college applications and good grades. I've been anything but fair in this whole relationship. I've got a lot of work to do.

Ash stopped in front of one of the doors. The only thing that stood out from the others was the small gold plated number 15 above the door. This was more like a hotel then a mansion. "You ready?" he asked.

Mary-Lynnette nodded, "Yeah."

Ash opened the door, all Mare could do was gap at the sight. It was as if there was a small apartment complex inside a larger home. The room they walked into wasn't the bedroom—even though she was expecting that—and it just felt like Ash. The room was filled with neutral colors that made everything seem warm and it one corner was a small pile of books that seemed on the verge of falling over, a chart of the different stars held themselves over one wall where a small desk stood with a computer perched on top. A couch reminding her of the color of dark red whine sat in the center of the room, completing the look.

Mary-Lynnette could honestly see herself living in this place… in her own words, "Paradise."

"So you like it?" Ash stood back behind her in the doorway, trying to read how she'd been taking in the room. It was as if he was anxious to seek her approval.

"It's amazing! It's gigantic—what else can I say? It's—"

An arm came around her waist, warm breathe at that spot between her neck and shoulder, and a heart that beat against her own. "Perfect." He finished.