Ok this is kind of the part 2 to Innocence. It's the Countess's point of view of when she meets Jack and Schuyler in the epilogue of the Van Alen Legacy.

Enjoy!

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Dangerous Times and Familiar Faces

Countess Isabelle d'Orleans POV

"There is a couple who requests an audience with you, Countess." A young servant said.

I looked up, half expecting the Baron to be telling me this. His death was a hole in my heart.

"Who?" I said sharply.

"I do not know their names, Madame, but they are American, judging by their accent. Though, the speak fluent French." He said, uncomfortable under my gaze.

I nodded and the boy left the room.

American? From the New York Coven then.

I felt my jaw tighten. I had never been a fan of the so-called Uncorrupted.

I stood with a flourish, dropping the letter I had previously been working on.

The young couple was waiting for me on the terrace, overlooking the Mediterranean.

I stopped when I saw them.

The boy was Benjamin Force. Last I had seen him, was when he was a small child, playing in the rose gardens of the Hotel Lambert.

His determined gaze seemed to hold very little of the laughing boy she had last seen. The years had aged him.

But the girl whose hand he held, stopped me in my tracks.

She was beautiful. Her dark, wavy hair hung loose over her slim shoulders, contrasting with her pale skin. Bright blue eyes shone from under the dark fringe of her bangs.

Her face though, looked strikingly familiar. Her aristocratic features reminded me of someone.

I let out a slight gasp.

She was Gabrielle's daughter.

I looked between the two and felt the bond between them.

The girl looked around apprehensively. Benjamin wound his arms around her in silent reassurance. My gaze fell to their still joined hands.

They had broken the bond.

I let a slightly smug smile work its way over my face, imagining Azrael's reaction. I chucked in spite of myself.

The lovers broke apart at my entrance.

"Countess Isabelle d'Orleans." Benjamin said, addressing me by my full title.

I nodded in acknowledgement.

"Why do you come here?" I asked, fixing my level gaze on them.

Benjamin made a move to speak, but the girl answered before he could.

"We need your help." She said in a clear voice. "Your protection", she clarified.

I raised an eyebrow. "You are refugees from Michael's tribe?" The expression on their faces gave me my answer. "What makes you think I shall give you what you ask? Why should the European Conclave care about two wayward children?" I challenged.

This time Benjamin answered. "Your Grace, we understand your skepticism… but we are desperate. Without the protection of the conclave we will not be able to carry out Lawrence Van Alen's work.

That surprised me. Lawrence Van Alen? Well, if I'm correct he was the girl's grandfather. He had been a good friend of mine.

I saw the pain in the girls eyes when his name was mentioned. Benjamin must have noticed because he squeezed her hand.

I softened. "So you are in Europe to try to fulfill his legacy?" I clarified.

"Yes, Your Grace." The girl nodded.

"Then why did you not mention it sooner?!" I demanded, causing them to jump at the sudden noise.

The two exchanged a glance. It was so full of surprise and apprehension. "Our apologies." Benjamin said with a slight bow of his head, but looking at me warily.

"Then, I shall grant you access to the European Coven, and give you my blessing." I said with a flourish. I looked at their joined hands meaningfully. The girl blushed, trying to pull her hand away, but Benjamin just held her hand tighter. "While you are within our borders, the New York Coven will not be able to touch you."

They looked visibly relieved.

"Thank you, Countess. You don't know how much think means to us." Now with the weight of this discussion off her shoulders, I could see her face lightening.

The pain on the girl's face brought back the pain of losing my best friend. His death was a stake in my heart. His body had been found in the Seine. Despite the circumstances of his death, he died with a peaceful expression on his face, and for that I was grateful.

"This war has taken the life of my most trusted friend." I said, my voice sounded far away, even to my own ears.

They nodded solemnly. "We are so sorry to hear that." The girl said, the pain and understanding in her eyes real. She knew what it was like to have someone she cared about taken from her. Taken too soon.

I saw Benjamin pull her closer. They really cared about each other, I thought.

"You know, I was always a friend to Lawrence and Cordelia. It was Charles I could never stand." I sighed. My mind was far away. Deep in the past, flooded with ancient memories. "I knew he had to punish my brother, but I thought the punishment was unnecessarily draconian. Surely, there must have been a way for us to live in peace together without resorting to such stringent measures." I sighed.

I forced a smile on my face, though the result was unconvincing. "Well. I guess there isn't much we can do about that now, is there?"

I saw the puzzlement on both of their faces.

"Your brother, Your Grace?" Benjamin asked, confused.

Suddenly, I saw a flash of who he had been.

Strong, handsome Valerius. I remembered my sisters and I fighting over him, when we came to a marriageable age. But of course, Agrippina fought harder than the rest. I gave a decidedly ungraceful snort.

I returned my gaze to the young couple. It was now a different girl holding his hand. I smiled, a flirtatious smile, thinking of Rome.

"Why, Valerius, have you forgotten me so soon? Oh, how much we three sisters fought over you, when you came of age! But Agrippina won you." But I zeroed in my gaze to rest on the hand he had around the girl's waist. "Well, perhaps not anymore. You're a very lucky girl, my dear." I told her with a wink.

"I'm sorry?" Benjamin said, trying to follow my train of thought.

"Back in Rome, you knew me as Drusilla." I stood from my chair. "Come children, l believe lunch is being served. And my chef makes an excellent tomato salad, you will join me wont you?" I turned from the room.

Roger, my chef, set down the meal before us. A filet of beef, potatoes, and – of course – tomato salad.

I turned to the beautiful pair in front of me. "So you are Gabrielle's daughter?" I asked the girl.

If she was surprised she didn't show it. "Yes, Your Grace. My name is Schuyler Van Alen."

"Lawrence and Cordelia's granddaughter?" I clarified.

She nodded. Benjamin sat back, watching the two of us. Her bright eyes looked at me curiously. But there was an edge there. A sense of wariness in her eyes.

She had seen many things that she shouldn't have had to see. My maternal instincts were triggered, looking at her face.

"Why are you sheltering us?" She asked. She hadn't said it in a rude way or in any way ungrateful, but I could tell she was tired of danger.

I sighed as I tried to form my answer. Truly, I didn't know exactly why I had.

"In times like these… in dangerous times… we must – look after our own." I said, stopping to try to find the right words.

"I knew your family. We had always been friends, and sheltering you seemed like the least I could do." My brow furrowed. I looked back to Schuyler.

Her face had lightened with the honesty of my words. She gave me a slight smile. A secret smile.

And I smiled back. I didn't know what it was about her, I couldn't help it.

As we finished, and the butler came back in to take our plates, I thought about the situation on hand.

It would only get worse from here. We were already on the descent to chaos and war. But it needed to be done. All these years we've been turning the other way to any sign of trouble.

I looked up to see Benjamin and Schuyler smiling at one another.

Yes, I thought with a smile. Change would happen. But maybe it's time we embraced it.

Good? Bad? Review please!!!

Windy