Soon she would be ours,I thought as we walked silently through the woods. Though I could have flown, but I had to cart around this ingrate here who came to supposedly help me. I wasn't sure how much I believed him. I knew what was in his heart. He genuinely loved the girl, therefore he wouldn't intentionally put her in danger. I wasn't sure I could trust my little Danu slave anymore. Perhaps I should test him. See who he was truly loyal to. I could have him kill that decrepit blond human, Julius, who keeps getting in the way. Though, his bond with Ani might prove to be difficult to get around should he be killed. That is if the bond is intact. Plus, attacking Julius I've learned is also an attack on Anabelle. I can't afford to have her harmed, at least not yet.

I knew this was going to work as I spoke with the Vampyre Queen who came to me shortly after I met with my wolves. She had confirmed that Julius was indeed a human again. I remember rubbing my hands together in delight, though I dared not to speak of such meetings with Nyx. I had a feeling she knew too much already as she is an all seeing eye looking down upon us all. She was the mother of all things in the night. Even I had no true power over her. She chose my side out of delight and amusement, not because it was the right or wrong thing to do. There was no such thing in Nyx's mind, just simply choice. There were always two paths in her mind. Choices that lead to consequences for one or consequences for another. I was lucky to acquire her on my travels once I left the farm that dreadful night when Tristian deceived me.

Tristian was silent for most of the walk. I would have let him pop out of existence if I could have trusted him enough not to go elsewhere and warn Anabelle about my plan. He had carted a horse with him when he arrived that evening. I was disgusted at his choice of animals. That despicable Romeo that Anabelle loved so much. Either way, I was glad he was out of the stall. He would make a great demon beast. I had tied him up in the field by Dog's trailer and warned them all not to mess with it for they would all be sorry if they had. Dog swore that nothing would happen to the horse and he would take responsibility should anything happen. Damn right he would. I had to admit though, the horse was beautiful. His ebony coat that shined like the night and the bright white star on his forehead that stood out amongst the darkness of his body. His long, muscular legs that pounded the ground as he bucked and reared up, shrieking with terror. His long and broad teeth trying to gnaw at the ropes that held him in place to the pole in the field. No water, no food. He would be broken to my command soon enough. I would make him a fire breathing dragon if I needed to. A red-eyed beast of hell is what he would be, I just had to break the spirit.

Tonight was as good as any to go back to the farm. Granted, it was really to implant Tristian back into Anabelle's life and since he hasn't been gone very long, she might just forgive him for walking out on her. She might suspect him in taking her horse, but he knows not to tell her where the horse is or even that he took the blasted animal. Soon, if I just kept patient, Anabelle would be mine and her powers would soon come to fruition for me to use. See, she wasn't just any Seer. She could however do the same as Tristian with implanting a vision in someones mind, making them dream and think they are in a different place where they felt no pain, but she has yet to pull in her true calling. I've experimented with Halflings before in my lifetime and they can be quite the powerful ones. Even more so than a true Danu or being. Now, if only I could find the prized Lilith, I should be able to make a Vampyre and human cross breed. Maybe I could blend Anabelle with a Vampyre, but keep her human so that she could project onto them as well. I knew that wasn't the deal with Ilona, but I honestly didn't care. Making deals with death dealers was like trying to make friends to a drug addict. Pointless and disappointing as they always went back on their word.

We reached the property line, I could smell the rotting flesh of the woman that Dog had left out. Her corpse still undiscovered by police and removed. Smelling the air I sensed many things. Several Vampyre scents. Two humans and beasts, leather and muck. She's been out here recently and not alone, with another human. Most possibly that Julius man that kept getting in the way. I had him just in my grasp last time and would have kept her busy if not for that dark haired cousin of his that seemed to get his grubby paws into everything. Which made me think, if Dog managed to turn Julius by just biting him, could he do the same to Silas so that they are both out of the way? That was something to really think about and then I could eliminate them both. Had I thought of that earlier, it would have been a great proposition for Ilona who was seeking to get rid of the two of them as well.

It didn't take us long to walk to the house. The light in the kitchen was on, but all other lights were off. Not a sound stirred. No television was playing, no radio, muffled voices or chatter. Not a single noise. Perhaps she was asleep, but it was still fairly early in the evening. Too early for her to have gone to bed already. I turned to Tristian and held my hand out, "Stay here, I will fly up to see if she is in the house."

Changing form was effortless as I made myself a grand Raven who's wings spanned several feet in length. I flapped and turned my wings so that they bulstered me up into the air and towards the house where I perched myself on the windowsill of her bedroom. Pearing in with my beedy red eyes I saw nothing. Not even her bed was ruffled. Had she even been home? This did not bode well for my plans.

I swooped back down to Tristian while I changed back into my womanly form. "She is not there, I want you to stay until she returns."

"But, my queen," Tristian argued.

"No buts. You will stay." I commanded as we continued to walk towards the house and I found the door was unlocked. Even the Jeep was still in the drive. Perhaps she just went out for a drive with a friend and will be home soon. I would have to hurry. "Go, sit in the kitchen, I will return shortly."

Tristian nodded sadly as he took his place at the kitchen table. His fingers were rubbing the green plaid place-mats that marked seats for four with little yellow napkins with decorative napkin rings. Anabelle always liked to be able to entertain.

I turned back towards the rest of the house. I see she was busy with repairs and getting rid of all she could while I was gone. One place I found undisturbed was my sanctuary which was on the far end of the living room to what one might think would be a den that was closed off. The door was still bolted shut and looks like she tried to tamper with it but failed. The enchantment on the door was too strong for anyone to enter without the correct pass code. Even though there was an illusion of padlocks that barred the door, it was actually an enchantment that kept it closed. I leaned in close to the lock and whispered, "fola le haghaidh iocaiochta," which meant "blood for payment" as I sliced a small cut into my finger and touched the lock.

The lock opened and the door swung towards me. The room was a small little room, no bigger than a office type space. I kept nothing up here as all the windows were barred and shut letting no light in and no light escape. The entire room was enchanted as well with bewitching spells for anyone that would trespass. Only my combination would release all spells cast here. On the floor was a large grate. When lifted showed a set of very steep stairs that lead to a very musty smelling basement where I kept my things. With a grand smile on my face I went down into my sanctuary where I could gather my potions and herbs that would aid me in my quest.

I could hear the patter of footsteps above me and I knew Tristian was moving around. He wasn't leaving and I knew that much. He was only allowed so far before my barriers would zap him back. There was no leaving me now. Grabbing my book of Shadows I flipped through the pages to the one I wanted the most, "The Locator," I mouthed as my fingers coursed over the words on the page. I would need ingredients before I could cast in order to find her and bring her back to the house.

"Let's see, I will need a lock of hair, which shouldn't be too hard to get, an heirloom, a piece of her jewelry and a map. Shouldn't be hard at all," I said to myself as I read the inscriptions aloud. I knew just the things to use for this spell and I would send Tristian on the quest. Summoning him to me was no hard feat, I merely had to say his name and the wind carried him to me. He came skittering to a stop and while my back was still turned, still focused on my next curse, I gave him the instructions. "I need you to find some hair of Anabelle's. Possible in a brush in her room. Grab the picture of her family and a necklace from her jewelry box, the one with the two intertwined hearts. It was her mother's. She never wears it because she doesn't want to risk losing it. Then bring me a map of the state. We will need it."

I shooed him off and got back to work. I set my kettle aflame and let my pot warm up. Flipping through the book I found yet my next spell, The Soul Gabhala. I could finally trap that little fairy soul of hers in a jar and use her shell as a vessel to do my bidding until I needed her fairy self again. Then, I would just implant her soul into a shell of my making and under my own control. I was giddy with happiness that I was feeling for getting what I needed and wanted. Soon, she would be mine and there was nothing that no one would be able to do about it.

"My Queen," Tristian interrupted as he handed me a brush, the picture and necklace that I had asked for along with a folded up map of Virginia.

I touched his marred face gently, "Thank you, dearest. For your hard work, I suppose I could help you with those."

I turned and grabbed a dark sapphire bottle from the shelves above the kettle. Black smoke rose from the top as the cork came out and it snaked towards Tristian. "Yes, my little babies, ithe ar shiul agrain agus a dheanamh nua."

The black smoke called to my command and soon attacked Tristian, leaving him blind and screaming on the ground which only lasted a few seconds, but must have seemed like several moments for him. Soon the screaming ceased and the smoke was gone. Tristian lay on the ground, breathing heavily. "What did you do to me?"

"Why, take a look for yourself, handsome," I said as I grabbed a mirror from behind me and showed him his beautiful, unmarked face.

He touched his skin, not a single ridge, not a mark of where they used to be. He stared in the mirror for several minutes, touching his skin, pulling it away as if it was just an illusion. I grinned, knowing it was, but he didn't know that. To him, he was unmarked. He was as beautiful as he was the day he was made. As glorious as he was before I marked him as my own. I stood and looked in astonishment at my little trick before I turned away and took the mirror with me.

Unfolding the map, I laid it out on the large spell book, placing the hair and the picture on the edges. Tristian followed me, still touching his face in pure awe while I dangled the necklace over the map and thought of Anabelle. With my eyes closed, I concentrated hard whispering the words, "go tapa le gaoth, a iompar de uisce, thaistil ar tir, lit ag tine" as the necklace swung and circled from my still hand. I repeated, "go tapa le gaoth, a iompar de uisce, thaistil ar tir, lit ag tine". The necklace was circling faster and faster as I continued to chant the verse, "go tapa le gaoth, a iompar de uisce, thaistil ar tir, lit ag tine" until finally the necklace swung out of my hand and landed on a part of the map.

Raising my eyes and Tristian looked down at where the necklaced laid. "Washington, D.C.?" Tristian said. "What would she be doing there? Especially this time of night?"

"I know why she is there and actually, this might work to our benefit," I chuckled as I scrunched up the map with all the items and laughed at my good fortune.