Emelia was walking towards the nobles chambers and her own. She rounded a corner of the dark corridor and nearly collided with a long, slender man wearing out of fashion clothing. A turban wrapped around his head. Despite he never showed it to neither Viktor nor her, she could see his century long tiredness in his feverish light blue eyes. He sighed at her sight, not leaving his spot leaning nonchalantly against the wall. "Evening, princess." His voice was kept in those same monotones that gave her the creeps every time he spoke.

Even when he was human, his coldness made him one of Viktor's favorite. 'Oh sorry it was still 'lord' Viktor.' Emelia thought with her teeth clenched, nearly drawing blood. Yet as much as she hated Viktor, Solm was, strange, to say the least. Sometimes he was his equal, sometimes his opposite. On one hand she could count his cold attitude towards everyone as Viktor did. On the other hand, he wasn't charismatic. Far from it, he was barely 'seen' around the castle. He just stalked the hallways, not making a sound as he walked.

"What is it, Solm?" His usual attitude was broke with a smile, one that could easily creep her out even more if he didn't keep it small. He adjusted his pose, shifting his weight to his other leg. With some concern did he watch the door he had turned his back on before his face turned to it's usual non-caring expression.

"I believe lady Vladislous is not whom she seems. Though it is not my place to utter such words to spread rumors, I'd think you would do better knowing yourself." His voice remained in monotones, sending a shiver down her spine. She had no idea how this man did it. She was an elder. One of the most powerful first generation vampires. Yet this man could creep her through and through.

"I am... Quite aware of this, Solm. I even know who she is and she is my friend. Will that be all, Vizier?" She remained in a offensive pose, ready to dare him into trying anything or talking about this. But as usual, his face remained neutral. His hand unfolded from his position and without sound dashed in front of her. His eyes were not what scared her, a black viper was crawling out of his sleeve. He grabbed the snake and softly comforted it before making one of his teasing grins again.

"She likes you... With some respect." Emelia was enraged by this, 'the audacity of this man!' It angered her more then anything. However there was no lesson of respect that would work on him if he did do something rash. It was rare that he did anything at all other then make a report to Viktor, annoy her because he could and then stalk around, creeping out human servants.

His next comment threw her off guard. A look of concern on his face. "What has become of lady Amilia, princess?" though his expression was quick to revert back to the nonchalantly standing around stance, Emelia saw that he may just be a bit better then he showed. Spending her time in the library, Marcus and Emelia had edited, with the aid of a smirking Tannis, the book that they were using to copy in the new history.

"She's our daughter now." She grinned at the quirked eyebrow. 'Finally, some reaction!' The reaction was small yet Solm had a knack for being irritant. He leaned in to whisper something in her ear, though she knew everything about Amilia, Solm still was a master at noticing things. When Viktor didn't notice some twitch in a face that indicated a lie he would know moments later by a tapping finger on his shoulder.

"Amilia has become a bit crazed lately don't you think?" His voice was teasing her.

"I have seen her charge odds that would inevitably cause her death with eagerness, I have seen her sitting in her room for hours on end, staring at nothing but the wall."

Emelia was struggling to show no emotions, but she knew he had her. He always had her, no matter how or what subject. He could send shivers down her spine and break the ice encased around her.

This particular subject however was where he had gone too far. Punching him on the chest and pinning him to the wall the closed the remaining distance using her body and pure strength to pin him there. "I know, Solm. I knew before you told me. I knew from day one, I 'saw' her from day one and I could tell, like you, she was on the brink."

She had lost it. However. No matter what she did, he had the audacity to do what he did best. Twisting her palms with strength nearly greater if not equal to hers. Twisting her body so she was with her back against the wall he pulled out a curved dagger and, using his body to pin her palms between their bodies he put the dagger to her throat.

His gaze was intensified, his arms steady as the dagger was beginning to apply pressure to her throat. "I have you neck, princess. Consider this. I trained Amilia in combat. But she also has mastered the arts Viktor taught her, including blood sorting. I do not think you'll be missed by him. Merely replaced." His voice were still monotones, but his intense gaze was enough to ensure her he meant it.

"And what now, Solm? Replace me?" Emelia wasn't aware if his knowledge of blood sorting was true. But if he knew...'He couldn't know..' Yet the man before her pinning her in a lethal position had known stranger things that seemed impossible. Yet his snake was still nowhere to be seen. Which was a good sign. As her brought one of her wrists up, he bared his rarely shown teeth and bit down causing a gasp to sound trough the hall way. Her looked up at her with a deadly smirk. In a fit of rage she bit down in his neck, groaning he yanked her from his shoulder with Viktor's strength. Yet it was far to late, Memories flashed before her eyes.

A girl wrapped in an attire much like her own, only she was fair hared and crying in the arms of her mentor. 'He knows, he knows everything!' The memory flashed before her and Emelia was horrified, if Amilia had broken down before she came back to witness the reformation of the counsel then Solm was now aware of just about everything she knew. Shoving him backwards against the wall much to his annoyance she nearly shouted at him as glares were exchanged.

"What did you do to her? What have you found so interesting?" The blank expression that followed didn't scare Emelia, in fact he seemed to slightly rip his own shield apart in light of this revelation. "If it surprises you, my lady. She came to me first. I merely inquired why she was suddenly no longer in her zombified state. As unexpected as it was, she suddenly was wrapping her arms around me for some reason. I believe you are familiar with the pose?" A teasing hint. Subtle enough to tell her what he had seen.

'Oh god no. Me showing compassion seen by him? Hell no.' Remaining in her usual cold pattern, Solm sighed, but it wasn't annoyance. He looked at her with tired eyes, yet it wasn't boredom.
"Solm what else is wrong?" He didn't immediately reply, even though her hostility had vanished, he didn't grin. He stared at her. Taking a sigh he made his reply, not bothering in the slightest to reformulate his plan in anything less shocking.

"I wish to build a slumber tomb and plan on using it once finished. I need time to think, alone and unspoiled. And some peace and quiet." His monotones as usual. Emelia eyed him, her exterior remained cold. Her insides crumbled. Their greatest Vampire warrior gone. 'It's not like you could replace him, hmm?' The voice rang loudly in the back of her head. And it actually occurred to her that they technically already had. Amilia had a seat at the head of the counsel, she led the death dealers.

"And why the urge to sleep Solm?"

Her coldness put a sly smile on his face. One of the many things you never knew with him. He was unpredictable.

"Princess, I think you know the meaning of tired better then anyone." About to open her mouth for another question he silenced her putting a finger to her lips.

"Doing it will be fine. You, after all, are an elder. I am not." With these words did he depart. Moving soundlessly away from the corridor she wanted to walk through for about as soon as her friend had arrived.

Knocking on the door Emelia stood in silence. 'Perhaps they already left.' Movement. A female voice. "Yes, who calls?"

"Victoria... It's me.." The door opened and Victoria stepped out. Dressed in a dark blue elaborate dress. It elegantly hugged her curves and her puff sleeves added a nice touch. Her hair was flowing over her shoulders down her back.

"Yes, princess Emelia. What is it?" A smile played across her lips and the rarity of such beautiful things were an outrage. "May we be friends, or are you trying a subtle way of saying you're pure business now?"

Victoria's Mansion 2000

She knew what happened next. This was an exact dejavu of their last encounter. Somehow Emelia always ended up holding her in her arms. Yet things were different now. It was a different world, although it was the same as it always was. They had lost most of their men. Wasn't it for the admiral two vampire elders would've died in one stroke of daylight.

"I care, Emelia." The voice was calm and composed. She was snapped from her thoughts. 'How long have we stood here?' "Yet my mind is made up. By the way, I think you'll want to speak to Marcus after this is over. It'll take time for the contact to come here. He's by boat, so in a few days time." She let go and set off. Leaving Emelia in the office that was used by her friend for so long. As she was about to throw the desk through the window, until she noticed the phone's red light bleeping and remembered this meant it had some message on it.

Sitting herself down she pulled the horn off the hook and laid it next to her ear. Next she pressed a series of buttons she had learned to press since the phone's invention. A loud bleep sounded through the horn and the message began to play. A male voice spoke and she remembered it from somewhere, as she listened she tried desperately to remember where.

"My dear, if you are listening, I wish you to know I have always loved you. As I have William and Marcus. Yet in light of a recent event I cannot let you fall to the hands of my son's tormentor. I will arrive in the harbor in five days. Take Viktor with you. I shall deal with it, peacefully if I can. Violently if I must.

Tell Emelia not to grieve for Viktor, he has little left to loose. Marcus has seen her, and he leaped in joy when he did. I only hope she will to. Ahem... Anyway, be ready. Lorenz Macaro."

'Lorenz Macaro...' Emelia never heard the name in her life. Though she could venture a guess in who he was, she had learned this only led to unpleasant surprises. She would see for herself. Five nights of waiting. "My dear." She shot up in the chair. "Viktor." His cold voice was unmistakable. He leaned in the door way eying her carefully.

"Who was that?"

Emelia glared at him. "The term privacy has lost it's touch, apparently." she snapped at him, certainly she wasn't stronger, but the only one in this house that could beat him was probably outdoors.

"Do I have to repeat myself?" His voice became threatening. Perhaps too much for her liking. Stepping into the room and towards the desk she sat at, Viktor posed a direct threat. He could kill her. Not easily but still. Leaning forward with a cold expression on her face she went into hostile mode nearly growling at him as she bared her fangs.

"Perhaps you have overstepped your boundaries. I am still in control, and you. You will soon sleep again along with me." Her cold gaze bored into him and to her surprise he backed off a moment. Though she had realized Miloviec was leaning in the door way. Nodding to Viktor then jerking his thumb towards the exit.

"This is your leave, pal." His Chechen voice was distinctly marked with a Hungarian accent mixed with it. Viktor reluctantly walked out. Watched by a pair of light illuminating from under his sunglasses. The lights disappeared and her shifted his weight to the other leg leaning on the other side of the door post.

"Well? Are you going to tell me or must I interrogate you, Soren style?" Grinning at his own remark and the at the cold elder.

"I believe I'd kill you before you even got started." She replied flatly.

Sancta Helena

He sat quietly a moment, hearing the familiar sounds of rotating blades above him he took a stance in front of his desk. He could sense her. It had taken her two nights to round up the remaining Lycans in the latest destroyed den. And she had spent a part of the day too. The door opened softly as the man straightened his Grey coat. Before him stood a woman, paler then any and eyes illuminating in a creepy white blue. Her blond locks fell over her shoulder and down the back of the armor plating she had worn.

"Was the mission successful?" He asked calmly and relaxed as she nodded.

She spoke quietly. "Yes, sir. There were no witnesses to be silenced and we cleaned the place of bodies. Area was secured."

Her brief report satisfied him and he nodded to the men behind her. "You can go." He held his hand up to her.

"Not you my dear. There's someone I'd like you to meet. And old friend of yours.."