A/N: So you all are starting to get a feel for how things are going to go for this series…this chapter is bit more heartfelt to lighten the mood a bit. Enjoy!

Chapter Eight

Three Months Later

The next few months passed by without hide or hair of any Amethyst vampires roaming around. Dana threw the ring into the fire after I handed it back to her. She tried not to show her fear and worry around the children but I could still sense it. It was worse whenever she looked at Lucian. That was when her brave front would break and you could faintly see her emotions surfacing. Everything would be fine though if it wasn't for Lucian's nightmares. One night he told me that ever since the encounter with Tristan, he had these terrible dreams filled with the purple eyed vamps coming to claim him. He told me that everyone would try to protect him, but the end result was always death.

Since Christmas and the arrival of Eamon, his shadowling in the form of a wolf, the nightmares have not been as intense and less frequent. I'm thankful for this but I still fear for my son. I walked down the long hallway towards Lucian's room. I knocked on the door and waited for an answer. I stood there for several minutes before finally answering the door. Toys, books, and clothes littered the floor. His bed was unmade and the large bear he got for Christmas was hanging halfway off the bed.

"Lucian?" I called scanning the room for him.

When I was satisfied that he wasn't really in there I ventured a few doors down. I knocked on the door and got a reply this time. I opened the door to see my two beautiful girls playing with Autumn's tea set and their China dolls. Curajos and Sagira were lounging beneath the table, their golden eyes watching me carefully. The two girls both smiled at me as I came into the room.

"You wanna join our tea party Papa?" Victoria asked raising her delicate teacup.

"Not today lovely," I said smiling down at her. "I'm looking for your brother."

"He went outside with Eamon a little while ago," Autumn told me pretending to pour tea into her doll's cup.

"Do you know where he was going?" I asked kneeling beside my daughter.

"I think he was going to the gardens," she replied picking up her teacup and taking a sip.

I smiled and kissed her cheek before walking out. I quickly walked down the hall, down the stairs, and out the back door in the kitchen. Spring was starting to make an appearance and the cherry trees were in bloom. The garden that Dana had created was like walking into some fairytale land. I walked down the pebbled path leading to a large fountain in the center of the garden. Lucian was perched on the edge of the fountain, Eamon curled up beside him. The wolf's ears perked up as I approached and watched me with critical eyes. Lucian looked up at me, sensing his wolf reacting to my presence.

"What are you doing out here?" I asked sitting down next to him.

"Being out here calms me down," he said looking at his hands folded in his lap.

"Did you have another nightmare?" I questioned placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Not really," he mumbled reaching over to gently stroke Eamon's fur.

"Want to tell me about it?" I said with a small smile.

"I was in this weird land," Lucian began not looking at me. "There was this other boy there with me. He kept saying we had to hurry, we had to run. I didn't ask anything, I just went with him. So, we ran. He led me down all these winding paths and the entire time I could smell something. It smelled just like that man: this sweet minty scent that stung my nose. I could hear someone coming up behind us and we ran faster. Then you and Mama were in this big room we ran into. You two didn't see us and were talking about something. You were holding a box with a ring in it I think. Mama looked so scared. Then this girl came up behind you two. She had the same purple eyes as that man. I kept trying to scream at you to turn and see her, but when I opened my mouth nothing came out. Then the boy looked at me and pointed at you. He said 'I protected him once, not it's your turn.' Then I wake up."

"Do you remember what the boy looked like?" I asked trying to keep my voice from shaking.

"He was really pale and had dark gray eyes and black hair like mine," Lucian said looking up at me. "What's wrong Papa? Did I say something wrong?"

I glanced at my reflection in the pool of the fountain. My skin was much paler than normal and a look of pure dread was plastered on my face. I mentally shook my head and forced a smile. Lucian still looked up at me with slight worry and fear. I ruffled his hair and moved to kneel in front of him.

"I think it's time I showed you your Christmas present," I whispered to him.

Lucian's eyes light up as he smiled. He quickly got to his feet, Eamon yipping in excitement as he ran circles around us. I took Lucian's hand into mine as I led him further into the garden and towards the dense forest behind the house. Lucian's hand tightened its grip on mine. I knew what he was thinking despite having no telekinetic powers. He was remembering our encounter with Tristan a few months back. I gave his hand a small squeeze and led him into the trees. We walked a little ways until a small clearing with a lake that had a waterfall pouring into it. Lucian's eyes grew wide as he took in the whole scene before him.

I smiled and led him around the lake and towards the rocky cliff the waterfall tumbled down. Carefully, I led him along the rocks and behind the roaring fall. Just behind it was a large cave with the sunlight streaming through the water providing a dim light to see by. I let go of Lucian's hand as I walked further into the cave as memories washed over me…

I was running through the trees, but I was much younger. I was only two in human years but I had the appearance of an eight-year-old a bit tall for his age. My eye was throbbing from the hit I received from my father. It stung as tears streamed down my face and flew behind me as I ran through the forest. Whether they were tears of pain, betrayal, or anger I wasn't sure. I tripped over a tree root and was sent tumbling to the ground. I laid there in the grass as I sobbed. I don't remember how long I was there until a gentle hand touched me on the back. I looked up at see a face identical to mine, minus the black eye.

"You alright?" Davian asked as he helped me to my feet.

"What did I do wrong?" I cried clinging to my brother. "I don't remembering doing anything bad. Why does Father hate me?"

Davian did nothing as I clung to him and cried bitterly. He waited for me to stop before he took my hand in his and led me further into the forest. I sniffled and wiped carefully at my eyes as I followed my brother. Eventually he led me into a large clearing with a lake and a waterfall. Davian said nothing as he led me towards the rocky cliff that the water fell over and behind the waterfall. There we stood in a large cave.

"This is where you can go when Father gets too rough," Davian said quietly his voice echoing off of the stone walls.

"Why did you show me this? How did you find it?" I asked turning to my brother only to find that he had disappeared into the shadows.

"This is where you used to go?" Lucian asked snapping me from my thoughts.

"Yes," I said. "Your Uncle Davian showed this to me when I was a little older than you. This was where I used to go to escape from everything. This was my sanctuary. This was where I felt safe. Now come here, I want to show you something."

Lucian came towards me and took my hand tightly in his. Eamon's green eyes gleamed up at us in the dim light as I led us further into the cave. Towards the very back of the cave was a tunnel. Lucian looked at it warily and then up at me. I chuckled and snapped my fingers, flames rushing to the tips. I held my hand in front of us to light the way as I walked through the tunnel. Lucian kept glancing down at his shadowling to make sure he was there and then up at me. I kept my eyes forward and led him through the tunnel. Soon, after traveling for what seemed like forever, a faint light reached our eyes. A stone door blocked our way at the end of the tunnel. I reached over to a rock jutting from the wall beside the door and I pushed it in.

There was a low rumbling and the stone door swung open slowly. On the other side was a small room carved out of stone. There was a squishy armchair on one side of the room next to a tall bookshelf that reached from floor to ceiling. There was a table beside the chair covered in the wax of many candles. Over on the other wall was a small bed, a thin layer of dust settling on the sheets and pillows. Toys and books were scattered all over the room, much like my son's.

"I made this room when I was a little older," I said breaking the silence that had settled over us. "On the other side of that bookshelf is the library in our home. I found out that many of the tunnels connecting to the cave led back to the mansion. That way, no matter where I was, I could always escape to my haven."

"I love it," Lucian whispered as he walked further into the room.

I walked over to the shelf and showed him where the false shelves were that fashioned as a door. We walked through it, startling my father who was sitting at one of the many tables in the library. I felt the color drain from my face when I realized that my secret place had been discovered. Father said nothing as he looked from me to Lucian to Eamon. He got up from his seat and quietly walked from the library. I looked at Lucian to see the same shocked, frightened look on his face. We stared at each other before bursting out into laughter. Lucian stopped laughing and hugged me as tightly as he could. I hugged him back, my eyes closing as I felt a wave of peace wash over me for the first time in three long months.

A/N: Isn't that just too sweet? And you all got a little glimpse at what a good guy Davian can be…sometimes. Please remember to review!