They came out of no where. I wasn't sure where in the woods they were hiding, but they were good at it. I knew the smell of the animals was getting stronger, but I didn't pay any attention to it, nor did Julius. He continued, headstrong into the woods, eager to find out what had left the bodies of the young women in the woods by Ani's house, and why pick that location. He was just as concerned as I was for her.

We seemed to have reached a mutual ground at that point as we stood back to back, our teeth bared, staring at the large red eyes of the beasts before us. There were several of them, though not as many as we had expected to find, or the amounts that were about around the bodies. Those counted into the dozens. Now, we were circled by about six of them. Large and ugly creatures with thick pats of fur that stuck out all around them. They all circled us. A dark colored wolf snapped his mouth at us several times, especially in my direction. This had to be the man in the bar that I restrained. Another wolf, a grayish mix with a hint of brown at the tips of his fur growled angrily at us, but was snapped at by the large black wolf that seemed to be the pack leader. He circled in close as Julius hissed at him like a cat trying to scare away a dog.

"Come on you dirty mutt!" Julius yelled and raised his hands in the air.

The dark black wolf growled again, then looked at me with disgust in his eyes. Yes, that had to be the same man that I threw off of Ruben. Seems someone was vengeful. But the mutt comment didn't hold lightly for the grayish brown wolf who charged Julius. The dark one tried to reign him in, but soon, Julius and the brown wolf were rolling on the ground. And soon enough, I was attacked as well. The dark one howled and a great white wolf ascended on me. I grabbed the snout of the white wolf and crushed it with my hands, leaving the lean beast whimpering as I threw it over my shoulder.

Another one charged as the black one looked on. As if trying to wear me down before he would attack. Julius was being attacked on both sides as he crushed the brown wolf's rib cage and it went limping to the side before collapsing and shifting back into the large, ball headed man that I saw in the bar. He was naked and turning on both sides, screaming in pain. Julius stormed over after he got free of another wolf and picked up the man that lie on the ground that charged him as he snarled and sunk his teeth into the man's shoulder before ripping the veins and flesh from his body. In a triumphant roar Julius turned to beat about the second to last beast that I had tried to sneak up on me as I played ring around the rosy with the black wolf. Julius showed no mercy when he pulled the long and bristle tail back as the wolf wined and he snapped it neck. That is when the black wolf charged, jumping over me and landing on top of Julius. The black wolf snapped at him as Julius struggled on his back trying to get a leading position, as the wolf made it's mark and chomped down on Julius's shoulder.

I yelled and charged towards my cousin as Julius screamed in agony. The bite of a werewolf was deadly to a Vampyre, which is why fighting them was all the more dangerous. We had tried for centuries to wipe them out, but with no avail. In our time of ruling, Julius would lead the Vampyre armies into battles against, what we called at the time, Loup-Garou. We had adopted the French name when the wolves started to appear in Paris back in 1194. Granted they had been around for centuries before then, right about the time that the witch came to Julius and I that fateful night we were turned into this and became the ones that stalked the night. She had told us that the Wolves were thought to have been created as a balance against her, which is why she made us. She said a single bite from a wolf could mortalize a Vampyre in just a matter of days, then the Vampyre could be susceptible to death and disease. So now seeing the bite marks on Julius as he continued to struggle under the breath of the massive black wolf, I worried for my dear cousin who had done nothing but protect me for centuries.

So I did what instinct told me. I reached out and sought out my child, Portia. She was the closest and she was swift. She had shown quite good promise in the past few months I had turned her. I was glad that I was able to keep her for Ani, for I'm sure no one would ever be able to break through to her otherwise if she had lost her friend, especially since Julius was the one that took her mortal life initially. So I called out to her and pulled her essence to me, drawing her to where we were, so we could get aid. And that's when I attacked. Once my message was sent, I jumped on the mighty beasts back and threw him off of Julius as I squatted in front of my cousin's now seemingly lifeless body and hissed at the creature. Like a mother protecting her young, I was protecting my family.

The wolf shook off the leaves that matted his fur and howled again before taking off into the woods, leaving the rest of the marred bodies of his pack members, who were no longer wolves, but people scattered in the clearing, naked and bloody. I checked all the bodies before I tended to Julius, who was coughing up blood from his wounds to his neck and shoulder. All of the bodies were dead. I picked them up and threw them into a pile in the middle of the clearing. Going to the van to anything to start a fire with, I was just lucky enough that they had a canister of gas which I dumped all over the bodies and promptly lighted them on fire with my lighter. I rushed over to Julius then and cradled his head in my arms.

"Cousin? Can you hear me?" I asked, running my hands over his face, his chest, putting my ear to his mouth to see if he might be breathing at all. As if he needed it.

"Silas..." he answered weakly.

"Jules, I have help coming. Please, hold on." I shook him as I bit into my own wrist and forced it to his mouth.

He coughed and spit it out as it touched his lips. He tried to push my arm away, but his strength was weakening. I needed to do something. I had to. The only other person that was able to outlive a pack of wolves, was Ilona. I would need to call her. She would be able to help me. We had been friends for centuries, even if her husband didn't agree with how I lived, she would come to help. She had always been fond of Julius. He was the ladies man after all. So I sat Julius back on the ground softly, and pulled my blackberry out of my pocket and dialed her number.

"Ilona?" I asked as she picked up the phone. "Yes, it's I, Silas."

"Silas? What I owe the pleasure of call?" her thick eastern European accent floated from the speaker of the phone.

"I need your help. It's Julius. He's been attacked by Wolves." I stammered and practically about to start crying.

"I come. I will be at your house in one hour. Give him blood. I shall be there soon" she said rushed and hung the phone up. Ilona was in Washington, D.C., so she should be here fairly quickly, though we were at least a two or more hour drive south, if she drove at all.

So I did as I was told and picked up Julius, I put him in the front seat of the van. His head was leaning on the window as I jumped into the driver seat. I wouldn't have been able to carry Julius to the house with him bleeding as much as he was. And his scent was changing. His scent was almost too much for me, which is why it was better that he wasn't immediately close to me.

With the keys in the ignition and ready to go, I jammed the gear into drive and drove off, leaving plenty of evidence that someone else was here on the ground. I floored the gas as I winded down the dirt and pebble road that lead out to the highway, where then I would be close to the cabin. This van should have no problem getting up my driveway. Maybe I should invest in a four wheel drive vehicle. Maybe a Jeep like Anabelle had. No, too small. A Land Rover would be nice. Or maybe I could get a little all wheel drive sports car. My old Mercedes was the only car that I had, and it mostly stayed at Julius's, since technically, it belonged to him. Granted, I was the one who raced the car in the 1930's, but Julius was the one to insist on keeping it once I had passed my car fancy.

I got to the cabin in a matter of minutes. It would have only taken seconds if I was to run with him, but the smell of his blood was starting to smell abhorrent. It was detestable and it was excruciating to be around. He's whole scent had changed. I had to hold my breath to keep from breathing him and the sight of the blood excited me. By the time I sat him down on the leather couch in front of the fire I had to go to the kitchen to get a bag of blood that I normally kept. The heinous smell of his blood mixed with my desire was not a good combination. I needed him to feed to get better and I needed to feed myself otherwise risk attacking him myself.

I hadn't had time to even drink my fill when Portia stormed in the door, a writhing Ani on her shoulder and Ruben following. "Where is he?" she demanded.

"On the couch, he is not well." I said as Portia put Anabelle down on her two feet. She swung there as if she was drunk. I took a step closer and sniffed, she was drunk. "What's wrong with her?" I whispered.

"She's drunk, I thought it would numb the bond, but it just makes it more intense. What happened? Ani just looked like she was being attacked by something. Are you okay?" Portia asked in hurried questions, running her hands over my arms.

"I'm fine. It's Julius I'm concerned about." I looked towards the fire.

Anabelle had stumbled over to Julius and was knelt down on the floor in front of him, kissing his hands. Whispering to him, "Please be okay. Please be okay".

I wasn't sure if it was envy or sadness that made me jealous of the interaction between them. Either way, she looked at him adoringly and patted his hands, kissed his cheeks and brushed the red stained hair from his face. I had hoped it would be me that was attacked if she would comfort me like such. I turned to look back Portia who was eyeing me sympathetically.

"She loves you" she said.

I just looked away, focusing on the fire in the hearth, but finding my eye drawn to the tears the streamed down Ani's face. "She loves him."

Portia shook her head and her fingers touched my chin, "No, she loves you. She can't help that she's bonded to him. He has an effect on her, but not her heart."

"Blood! He needs blood!" Ani yelled trying to shake Julius who had drifted into a slumber. This was not good. If legend followed true, then he would be a mortal in a matter of a day. "Someone help me!"

I ran to her side and gave her to goblet that I was to drink from, "Here, see if he will drink this. He would not take mine earlier."

"You tried to give him your blood?" she asked bewildered.

"Of course, just because we don't agree, doesn't mean he's not family. He is my cousin, my best friend" I told her, staring into her eyes and seeing the little smile that crossed her lips.

"Then see if he will take mine, give me a knife" she demanded as she stuck out her arm.

"I have a better idea" as I took her left hand and held it palm up before biting down on the fleshy part of her thumb. She whimpered just slightly as I pulled a little, pulling in her sweet life force and a little drink from her blood stream. Once the blood was flowing enough, I let go and she put her hand down on Julius's mouth. Her other hand holding up his head.

"Drink. Please drink" she tried to instruct him, but he did not stir. "What's wrong? What am I doing wrong?"

"It is not you, Ani" I brushed back her hair, still the envy in me that burned green, wishing that it was I that lie there and her willing to do anything to save me.

That is when the door burst open. Without so much of a knock, she strode into the room and past Portia and Ruben. She came towards us with her mouth open in a hiss, her dark black as ebony hair whipped around her head and her gorgeous porcelain features settled. Portia was in front of us and between the woman in seconds, extending her arms out to protect us.

"Move, insolent, girl" the woman scowled though looked resplendent.

I touched Portia's arm, "It's ok. She's here to help."

I could see that it took a minute for Portia to recognize her and as if the world had shifted, Portia grabbed the woman's hands, "Lady Tempes, I beg your forgiveness. I did not recognize you."

"It is quite alright young one. Let me see the damage the wolves have left on poor Julius." Ilona pushed past and sat on the floor, inspecting Julius near the crying and hysterical Anabelle. Ilona looked over at Anabelle and gave her one glance over, licking her lips.

"Can you help him?" she asked Ilona innocently.

Ilona tilted her head to the side and sniffed, then looked at me, "Who is this child?"

"That is Anabelle. She's my...she's bonded to Julius" I corrected quickly.

"Yes, yes, I see that. But why is she here?" Ilona asked, standing up to question me.

"She's here because I brought her here. She is bonded tightly with Julius. As she was in pain, he was in pain. And she in love with Silas, my lady" Portia clarified.

Ilona looked from Anabelle to me, to Anabelle and then to Julius. "This girl, who is otherness, is bonded to your cousin, yet is in love with you?" she laughed. "You do roam in odd circles my dear friend. Should you come back to Court, you might create such a stir fratinizing with things such as she."

I nodded, "Yes, but I do not wish to mingle in politics any longer. I have reined for centuries, it was time to give up my seat."

Ilona touched my face, "Oh, dear Silas. If you knew what was coming our way, you would have never left, yet you live here with your children and family and are totally oblivious to what is going on in our world."

I had an odd expression on my face. I could see that enough through Ilona's dark black eyes as they reflected my expression. What was Vlad up to that would affect us all? Should I have not left the Court some five hundred some odd years ago? I put such thoughts out of my mind for now. We were here for Julius and he had to be saved some way. "Nevermind the politics, can you help him, Ilona?"

"Alas, I can not. He is too far gone now. The bites have penetrated his blood stream, causing shift already. By sunrise, he be mortal" Ilona explained without a care in the world as she waved her hand while talking. "He was lucky to still live after the attack from what I see."

I felt an overpowering feeling of grief wash over me. "Could I turn him again?"

Ilona frowned, "You can not. The wolf venom remains in veins. If you were to drink his blood and mingle with yours, you would surely have same fate and I can not allow for that to happen. To have one brother who was ruthless to begin with be changed back, but to have both of our Originals changed is unacceptable."

"So, he's, going to be...human?" Anabelle spoke up as she stood next to me, trying to take in the final blow of what Ilona was saying.

"Yes. A Werewolf bite can kill use easily as they are one of the few beings thats teeth can penetrate our skin, or if we managed to still live, we change. Our blood starts to change in scent, and our bodies begin to function again as they would if we never turned. It leaves us vulnerable. And unfortunately, no way of changing back. He will have callings to the wolves for as long as he remains human though. He can not shift as they do, but he will be able to feel them when they are close. However, if a wolf was to bite him again and he lives, he will be turned into a wolf." Ilona explained to Anabelle. "Do you still feel your bond with him?"

Anabelle looked down at herself and thought for a moment before answering. I put my arm around her and whispered that it was okay as I held her close. She looked up at me before returning her gaze to Ilona, "A little bit. It's very...weak. But I still feel him there."

"That may, or may not go away with time. When he has turned fully back to human, he can not fully bond to another anymore and any bonds he made, would be broken. But you, you are not wholly human. You smell like strawberries soaked in vodka. You have a strong otherness that I have not smelled in centuries." Ilona stepped forward, smelling the blood that flowed from Ani's palm. "Would you mind if I had a taste? It has been so long since I have been able to indulge in the taste of the Danu."

Anabelle pulled her hand back to her chest and shook her head, "No, you may not."

Ilona laughed and touched Ani's face gentle, "Maybe another time then." She then looked to me and pulled me away from Ani, leading me towards the door. "I am very sorry Silas about your Cousin, but there is nothing that I can possibly do. You are an Original, so if your blood won't help him, no one's will. You know you can always come back to Court if you need to. We have much to discuss." Her gaze lingering on Anabelle, "And that one, I would very much like to see more often."

"Thank you, and I will make a point to come back to Court soon" I agreed before she took off towards her car and off into the night.