A/N Nikola makes his wish.

FIFTEEN

"Blood demon," Aurelian panted, leaning against the stone surface of the stairway, "you're alive."

Nikola shrugged, brushing dust off his sleeves. "It's a gift."

Ylerin helped Aurelian to his feet. "I was afraid we wouldn't make it just now."

"What are you doing here? Why leave the others?" Nikola shrugged dismissively, finding Aurelian too close for comfort. The Sybarite was beginning to grow suspicious and question Nikola's motives.

Ylerin tugged on Aurelian's sleeve and made her face him. They had one of their purely facial conversations, Aurelian shooting glances at Tesla every now and again. Nikola pretended to examine his nails. Finally, Aurelian nodded. "All right, blood demon. We'll see what she thinks."

"Why do you insist on calling me that?"

Aurelian smirked. "I already call William, buddy."

They made their way down the stairwell. Silver light flooded the end of the path and the Sybarites grew silent as they reached the entrance.

The chamber was smaller than Nikola expected, but it was elegant. Its walls were smooth and rounded, polished by unseen hands. There was a shallow, circular pool of water in the middle of the chamber.

The Sybarites knelt at the pool's edge, touching the surface of the water and bowing their hands in reverence. Nikola knelt by the edge as well, unsure of what to do. The simplicity and bareness of the fabled chamber had caught him off guard.

"What happens now?" He whispered.

Aurelian frowned, in thought. "Declare yourself as her champion. You're a blood demon … so, I guess you will give a drop of your blood."

Nikola bit his thumb and held it above the water's surface, watching as a single fat drop broke the stillness, spreading ripples. The water seemed to shimmer, taking on a more silver sheen.

Nikola felt the back of his neck prickle. The air in the chamber seemed to grow colder. Aurelian and Ylerin both raised their heads, tendrils of silver leaving their mouths and curling in the air. Instead of dissipating, the silver mist twisted and pulsed as if it were a living thing.

Nikola felt something cold brush against his mind, he gave an involuntary shiver, feeling his throat close with fear.

"Declare yourself to her," Aurelian hissed urgently.

"I," Nikola began, unsure of whom he was speaking to, "I am Nikola Tesla. I've walked through the Path of Silver to the Chamber."

He heard a voice echoing in his mind, and it seemed as if the Sybarites could hear it too. It was in their archaic language, but somehow he could also understand.

:What does a child of the Blood Family know of me?:

"He is not of the Family," Ylerin said out loud.

:What are you then?:

"A scientist." Nikola added as an afterthought, "And the father of alternating current. Namesake of the Tesla coil – maybe you've heard of me."

The voice in his mind laughed, but in a manner that set his teeth on edge.

:I see what you are. Not human. Not sanguine. Some half-breed in the middle.:

"Where have I heard that before?" He muttered under his breath with distaste. He suddenly felt the cold presence in his brain, probing. A faint memory of when he and Helen had discovered the vampire queen Afina came into view.

:How do you know of her?:

"Rude bitch, she called me a half-breed too. Didn't end well for her."

:What do you mean?:

Nikola shrugged. "Helen and I blew her up."

The voice went silent, as did the Sybarites. They looked stunned, as if he had pole-axed them with a heavy stick. Then the voice began to laugh.

:You are interesting, Nikola Tesla. Perhaps only one with half-blood could seek me out. Why did you come here?:

"I heard you grant wishes."

:I'm not a genie or a fairy godmother. You need to prove yourself worthy and in need of such a gift.:

Nikola got to his feet, easing out a cramp in his side. He was tired of kneeling, and while he knew he had to be on his best behavior, any tone of authority always raised a streak of defiance in him. Even if it was legitimate, divine authority.

"Are you looking for my personal worth or my loyalty? Because my accomplishments speak volumes to the former. But as for the latter…" He held out his hands and smirked. "…I bow to no one, darling."

Aurelian's face froze, stricken by Nikola's audacity. But Ylerin looked as if she were trying to hold back peals of laughter.

"Lady," Aurelian quickly spoke up, "we are the last two of your children. Left here to guide all those who would find their way back. But now there is no one else."

:Yes, and I am glad to se you, son and daughter. And … you do not come to be broken…:

The silver mist seemed to waft and caress Aurelian and Ylerin's faces in wonder and fondness.

"We have had some of the Family's taints reversed from us. He orchestrated that." Ylerin looked to Nikola encouragingly.

The shifting silver mist rolled over to bathe Nikola's face. The cool presence in his mind seemed to be looking him over in a new light, examining him closely.

:How?:

Nikola held up a finger, and with a wink, a spark of electricity shot from the tip and arced across the expanse of the shallow pool. The chamber lit up with a sudden electric display.

:You are very curious indeed. Descended from he Blood Family … and I see you've inherited their lust for power and ambition. And yet, you bring my children back to me healed.:

"I hate being predictable."

:You hate being seen as many things. You are petty, selfish, single-minded … but you may be my champion yet. What did you wish to ask me?:

The silver mist stroked his face, fonder of him now, but the presence in his mind felt icy. He knew he was standing on the edge of a precipice. The Silver Lady was waiting to see if he would stand steady, or overreach and fall. Either way, she would be laughing.

"There is a man I know. His name is John Druitt. He has an energy elemental inside of him that seeks only chaos and havoc. It infects his mind, fills him with rage … causes him to do horrible things."

The silver mist darted around Nikola, weaving in and around his person with piqued interest. He could feel the cold buzzing and cooing in his mind.

:No love lost between you either. Jealousy. Hated. Competition. You want to best him? Want to see him fall?:

Nikola closed his eyes, suddenly thinking to Helen and the look on her face when she thought he'd darted off to meet his death. "I want you to free him of it."

The silver mist stopped moving, hanging heavy in the air.

:Broken child … lost child … not one of my own, you belong to no one. Why do you wish such a thing?:

Nikola felt the probing in his mind again, but firmly shut it out. "That's my business."

The silver mist began swirling around him again, assessing him. :I can remove it, but it will have to go into another vessel. Perhaps you are more clever than I anticipated … I sense my daughter owes you such a debt.:

Ylerin bowed her head in assent. Aurelian looked over alarmed, but remained silent for fear of speaking out of turn to his deity.

"No," Nikola said softly. "You'll put it into me."

Ylerin's head snapped up, ready to protest, but a tendril of the silver mist stroked her mouth, indicating her not to interfere.

:This is no noble thing, Nikola who walks alone. I sense this energy being … it is malevolent … cruel. Inside you it would unleash more death and destruction than I will allow on my conscience. Wish for this thing, and I will destroy you.:

"Your temple is under threat. It will be sacked, picked clean, and turned over through many hands." Nikola drew in a shaky breath. "Ylerin and Aurelian are all that are left. You know no one else is coming. Do this for me, and collapse the temple. I'll stay. Bury me."

The silver mist enveloped him, he could feel its cool touch over every inch of his skin. He trembled.

:You would rather die than tell her your true feelings?:

Nikola closed his eyes and thought, instead of speaking out loud. I would rather she'd never have to feel lonely again.

The silver mist recoiled in surprise, then settled above the glistening pool of water. The voice that spoke in his mind was warm and tinged with affection.

:Nikola, half-blood, caught in between … how I wish you were one of my own, but you are special in that you belong only to yourself. Deign to be my champion instead. I am sorry, child, for the pain you will feel.:

Aurelian and Ylerin both closed their eyes, looks of pure bliss on their faces. The Silver Lady was making her goodbyes to them privately.

Then, the silver mist began pulsing, flickering. Aurelian and Ylerin rose to their feet, watching the spectacle in anticipation, and a healthy amount of fear. Nikola could hear the sound of screaming in his mind, at first faint, but growing louder.

The silver mist began to darken as it pulsed and writhed. With each second it grew darker and darker until it was black as oil.

Then, the blackness reared up and hurtled towards Nikola. He staggered back, but the blackness raced down his mouth and nose. He could feel it burning inside of him, every nerve screaming in pain.

Finally it was over. He stumbled backwards. His head felt like it was on fire, and he smelt blood. He heard two hearts beating rapidly. He turned to Aurelian and Ylerin, a strong, carnal voice inside of him crowing for their blood.

The walls of the chamber shook violently, a stream of dust raining on them from a fissure that formed in the ceiling. He could feel himself transforming against his will, his eyes black, and his voice feral.

"Run."

The temple rumbled warningly again, and Aurelian looked upwards in alarm. It had already started. He nodded once at Nikola, grabbing Ylerin's arm.

"You're not bad for a blood demon."

Nikola chuckled, sinking to his knees as he fought the black blood lust coursing through him. The water lapped at his legs, soaking through his clothes and bringing cool respite.

As the Sybarites ran out of the crumbling chamber, Ylerin heard Nikola Tesla call out to her one last time.

"Remember what you promised."