"what kind of a name is sugar skull any way?" Bones demanded? Cat and her men were gathered around the schematics for Zero's lair, discussing the best way in.

"it is a kind of candy mate, sold on Dia De Muertos... the day of the dead." Juan offered with out looking up from the blueprint.

" what?"

"yeah, they are little sugar candies in the shape of skulls decorated with brightly colored frosting. They are really good, sugar skulls were my favorite food" he continued, not realizing what he had insinuated.

"dude, not cool." Tate warned.

"oh, sorry Bones. You know I didn't mean it that way."

"never mind Bones' hurt feelings," Cat snapped. "we are going to need more than just us. I know this is a lot to ask but... do you think you can pull Ian and his people in on this?" she looked directly at Bones, no dancing around the subject.

"you never do things the easy way do you Kitten?"

"never." she agreed.

Ian sat upon his thrown, looking down at the red reaper and her husband, his former friend, Bones. The last time the two of them had stood before him it was to defy every thing he had stood for and brake away. Here they were asking for his help.

"this is really messed up Crispen." Ian told him. "i was damn near in a state of shock when Annette showed up at my door step. She wanted to swear her allegiance to me... said you cast her out. Now that I have heard the whole story can't say I'm sorry I turned her down." Cat had never liked Ian before but he was growing on her just for that.

"will you join with us old fried?" Bones asked again.

"i will stand by your side and fight for your daughter." Ian told him. "what is your plan?"

"this is your plan?" Ian looked around at the hundred or so vampires Bones had amassed.

"yup." Cat grinned, obviously feeling good about their chances.

"so while you, me, and Crispen enter that death chamber full of Zero's men, your men are going to surround the place and wait for your command before attacking?"

"only if I give them the command." she clarified for her trigger happy posse. "there is always a chance that we can handle this diplomatically."

"like you did with me?" he raised an eyebrow.

"yeah, cuz that went grate." Tate mumbled.

"it went better than most of Crispen's attempts at diplomacy." Ian informed him.

"I'm more of kick ass now and take names later guy... all this 'talk about your feelings' shit gives me a head ache." Juan scoffed at that, he had always been a ladies man who could easily articulate his feelings. "we can't all be Don Juan." Bones defended.

"OK, you all know your orders. Take position... we are going in." Cat told the mass of vampires. It would only be a matter of moments before the gates were raised to allow the three masters into Zero's lair.

Zero's lair, as it turn out rivaled even Ian's gladiator pit. It put one in the mind set of the Roman Colosseum. "if this bastard lets the lions out I am going to be so pissed at you." Ian growled in Bones' ear.

Bones recognized Zero right away, it wasn't hard. Cat and Ian guessed easily enough who the ring leader was. He had to be the arrogant ass seated above the open pit in witch they were now standing, wearing a fucking golden crown of all things.

"Crispen, I have been wondering when I'd be seeing you." his voice was much more high pitched than Cat or Ian would have guessed. "took you long enough to find me."

"good evening Zero. It seems you have been planning a party for me, my invitation must have gotten lost in the mail."

"indeed." the ugly vampire master sneered. "Crispin, have you met my daughter?" Bones went rigid, he had killed Zero's daughter over two hundred years ago. Zero held out his hand and laid it on the arm of the young girl seated beside him. She looked down at his hand as if it was a spider she wanted to crush.

The girl was stunning, as tall and graceful as her mother had been. So thin she was almost transparent, with white porcelain skin. Golden curls were piled atop her head, tumbling down to frame her stunning face. Cat noted that Her pink lips had the same cute pout Bones got when denied what ever it was he wanted.

If that wasn't enough for Bones to know who she was, her eyes were. They were so dark her pupils and Erises blurred into one black smoldering glaze. Those eyes held untold intelligence as they darted around the room, watching, waiting. One wrong move would put her on the defense. But there was something else about her, the way she held her body and watched the faces of every man in the room. She had a kind of wild nature, masked by the quiet poise and dignity that she controlled.

"say hello to my friends Sugar Skull." the girls eyes watched them intently. She was trying to take in every detail of them as fast as she could. If she had any inkling of who they were she didn't show it. "poor dear is a bit shy. My fault I suppose... she has led such a 'sheltered' life." he smiled down again.

"what do you want Zero?" Bones demanded, sick of playing games already.

"it is simple really Crispen, a life for a life. You took my daughter...so I took yours. I feel we are even. Unless you have brought me the red reaper in trade?" the girl suddenly moved, just across the bench. In a blur she was out of Zero's reach, her dark eyes locked on Bones.

"no such luck." Bones growled, reaching for Cat's hand.

"well then I am afraid we have no further business here."

"give me the girl Zero."

"what makes you think she would go with you even if I agreed? You are the father who abandoned her before she was even born. And while she has been out in plain sight for two centuries you never came for her." Zero smiled at the child, who to every one's surprise, returned the gesture. "so no Crispin, I will not hand over the girl."

"than you give me no choice but to take her from you forcefully." Bones looked at Cat meaning fully.

"just a minuet." Ian stepped forward. "good evening Jack, i see you have done well for your self." Zero just looked down his nose. "I feel that perhaps and agreement can be reached that will satisfy both sides."

"do tell." Zero smiled.

"the two women will fight. If the girl wants to stay with you as badly as you say than she will fight for you. If Cat wins than Sugar Skull will come with us; with out any more trouble. If Sugar Skull wins than you get to keep her."

Zero seemed to ponder this for a moment before a Cheshire cat grin slowly spread across his face. "not enough... if Sugar wins...than I get her and red reaper."

"what are you doing?" Bones demanded, grabbing Ian by the front of his shirt and pulling closer.

"the vampire you caught said she is kept weak, Cat should be able to take her fine."

"and if he was ling?" Cat asked.

"i have seen you take on the worst of the worst, including myself. Don't tell me one little girl scares you."

"that's not the point." Bones groaned. "for this to work they each have to hurt each other, and I don't want to see either of them hurt."

"like it or not...that is the bargain on the table. If you call in the Calvary you run the risk of him killing her out of spite and losing her forever." he pointed out. "plus, no offense but your daughter is beautiful... it's gonna be hot watching those two fight." Bones punched his friend in the face.