Immortal Heart

by Happy Palm Tree

A chance meeting leads to true love for Jemma and Skye, until Skye is murdered and Jemma becomes a vampire to get revenge. Now Jemma wanders the world with Fitz, Bobbi and May as she searches for her reincarnated love. An AU Skimmons Vampire story.

2. Chapter 2

A/N: The poem Skye writes for Jemma is from a song called Twist of Fate by Olivia Newton John.

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PART THREE: LIFE OF THE UNDEAD

Italy, 79 AD 15th of November, the city of Pompeii…

The massive Egyptian merchant ship came into port on the afternoon tide, the foreign ship was an unusual sight at the Roman port catching everyone's curios gaze. And before the ship had docked both of Pompeii's Dummvirs, the town magistrates, Antonius Casto and Lucius Apronius, along with a guard of a dozen fully armed legion soldiers walked the length of the dock to greet the ship. Most citizens of Pompeii were used to seeing the vigiles or local civil guard, to see armed soldiers out in the streets raised alarms, yet no one dared question Pompeii's Dummvirs for fear of retaliation or imprisonment.

Without word the sailors on the merchant ship pulled the ship close to the dock setting up the stairs and the ships sole passenger debarked wearing a heavy black cloak that hid the passenger's features from the curious men working the ships around them. And as soon as the hidden passenger was standing in front of them both Dummvirs bowed in greeting.

Lucius Apronius, a tall balding fat man, was the first to address the cloaked figure as his hands fiddled with is heavy cloak everyone could feel the winter chill in the air. "Master, I am honored by your return. If you will accompany us, Antonius and I will escort you home."

The cloaked figure nodded and joined the town magistrates in the back of a covered cart with the soldiers marching behind. The cart took them into through Pompeii to the north section of town where there were nothing but massive villas and estates of the Roman empire's elite. As they rode, both magistrates rambled at length giving the cloaked figure all the intimate details of the inner workings of the town. Both men talked in a nervous rush yet it was Antonius, a short thin man with thick curly hair that began sweating profusely. It was not until they reached the largest estate in Pompeii, that they finally stopped speaking. The massive estate was a combination of six villas and the entire property was surrounded by a wood fence that was constantly patrolled by its own private heavily armed guard. At the gate of the estate, both magistrates exited the cart first followed by the hooded figure, together with the magistrates tailing a step behind they walked the length of road leading to the main villa. It was not until they reached the entrance of the villa that the hooded figure finally spoke. "Have all the preparations for the celebration been taking care of?"

"Yes." Antonius Casto replied with a tremor in his voice that Lucious and the hooded figure noticed.

"And the populace? I won't have a repeat of the last celebration."

"They will be kept at a safe distance. I have brought in extra help from Herculeum just for the occasion." Lucious replied shooting a disapproving glance at his companion.

"Have the others arrived yet?"

"No, Master they have not. Only the scholar resides. Do you wish to be informed of their arrival?"

"Yes. And this time the runner better reach me before the ship docks." The hooded figure said with quiet malice.

"Your will shall be done Master. We will not fail you." Antonius stated firmly, he even dared to look the hooded figure in the eyes for a long moment. The hooded figure didn't reply, they moved on toward the entrance of the villa and both magistrates turned and left. Alone the hooded figure entered the villa and was immediately greeted by the main house servant, Raina and five guards. Raina bowed from the waist and spoke with respect. "Greetings, Mistress. I have personally prepared your villa. Guests for the celebration are due to begin arriving in two days. The guest villas are still being prepared for your guests, I assure you it will be ready in time. And yes, Master Fitz is in his villa. He has not left the grounds in eight months however he is eating regularly. He remains as always in his workshop."

"Walk with me Raina." The hooded figure ordered and Raina motioned to the guards and they quickly disappeared. The head servant met her mistresses pace as they walked through the main villia and onto a path leading to the villas at the back of the estate. Raina reached out as her mistress removed the heavy cloak handing it over.

"How was your journey this time Mistress?"

"Unfortunately it was uneventful." Jemma replied as she shook out her hair.

"I'm sorry Mistress. Hopefully the goddess will bless you with her presence next time." Raina replied with a warm bright smile.

"Has there been any complication's in my absence?"

"Yes Mistress, but not in town. Messengers from Rome and Corsica arrived three days ago. They brought reports from your watchers, Mistress Bobbi's legion have leveled another town. This brings the current tally to fifteen towns."

"Anything else?"

"Mistress Melinda sent word that she has completed the task and will be returning on time."

"Have you had any trouble gathering enough food for the celebration?"

"No Mistress. I have been as careful as always and steady in my collecting. We will have everything you requested for the celebration. "

"Thank you Raina, without you they would drive me mad."

"I will always be here to ensure everything goes as it should Mistress."

"Why do you not leave? Take the coin I have offered and marry, have children. Why stay and keep working? You do not need to Raina, you are a free woman to do as you wish."

"I keep working so you have someone you trust attend to your affairs. I will not take the risk of allowing another to take my place as head of your household. If my absence lead to anything bad happening to you, I could never forgive myself."

"Has Fitz eaten yet?"

"No, shall I bring you both something?" Raina asked as they reached the villa on the north east section of the estate.

"Yes, thank you Raina."

Raina nodded standing still as Jemma moved on entering the villa. There were no servants to greet her, no servants to attend to her as Jemma walked through the dark home to the work shop in the back. This was Fitz's villa, the smallest of the six villa's with a very large workshop attached so Fitz could work at will which Jemma always encouraged.

Jemma pushed open the heavy doors slipping inside. The workshop was lit by the forge in the center, the soft light illuminated the maze of tables and shelves, each filled with countless projects in a state of half assembly, each made of different materials. Some Jemma recognized some she had no idea what they were or what they were for. Fitz didn't like to share his ideas or projects until they were complete, so Jemma learned not to ask. Fitz was at his work table, hunched over furiously sketching by candlelight; from the scattered parchment Jemma knew he had been working a while.

"How was your trip Jemma?" Fitz asked without stopping or looking up.

"A dead end like the last five trips." Jemma replied with a heavy sigh as she took the comfortable chair next to Fitz's worktable. Jemma watched Fitz for a long moment, "You've let your hair grow out again. Would you like me to cut it before the celebration?"

"If you think I need to." Fitz replied pushing his hair out of his eyes.

"I think you need me too. You seem to be frustrated with the length."

"It keeps getting in the way." Fitz admitted with a heavy frustrated sigh getting Jemma to smile.

"Did you encounter any complications this time around?" Fitz asked pushing his hair out of his face for the sixth time.

"Same as always. You know how much I detest killing, even if it's necessary."

"Well at least you stop to think about the consequences. Did Raina tell you about Bobbi's latest slip? That makes fifteen so far, who knows how many more villages and towns would have been razed if you had not come back now."

"What are you getting at Fitz?" Jemma asked giving him a probing look and Fitz finally set down the bit of charcoal in his hand to turn around and look his friend in the eyes. "I think it might be time to rein Bobbi in. She's going too far, and if she keeps this up she'll expose us. Despite how many people we have working for us we'll be no match against the emperor's army if they find out the truth about us. It'll be just like Memphis again, and I don't think the Roman's will be as forgiving as the Egyptians were."

"That was twelve centuries ago Fitz. We learned our lesson from that mistake. Besides newly crowned Emperor Titus would never have the courage to send his legions after us. We have too many of our own people in the Senate. Besides his attention is on funeral arrangements for Vespasian, this will be Titus's chance to show Rome he's not his father."

"If we are exposed Jemma, they will take away everything we have been so careful to build. Do you not see what Bobbi has been doing for the last four centuries? You cannot be that blind Jemma."

"I have never been blind to Bobbi's actions. I know her behavior has steadily gotten worse over the centuries. Maybe we should be grateful that she's listened and followed orders for as long as she has."

"That you even say that out loud, is…troubling Jemma. You've always been so soft with Bobbi. And everyone knows why."

"And what reason is that? Or is this so called common knowledge only common to everyone but me?"

Fitz laughed and grinned as he replied. "If you insist on me being blunt, so be it. Bobbi is in love with you, she's always been in love with you. How you've not noticed these last one thousand four hundred and twenty one years is completely beyond me."

"Bobbi may have been enamored with me at one time but not any longer. That was centuries ago."

"That's today, this year and tomorrow. Bobbi's never gotten over you."

Jemma frowned giving her friend a look to say she didn't believe him. Fitz smirked and told her. "Think about it Jemma. Why would Bobbi stay? Why would Bobbi follow your rules if she didn't want to make nice with you? Yes the four of us make a family but that does not explain why Bobbi has stayed all these years. Bobbi has wanted to venture out on her own for over a thousand years. Yet, she stays to follow you around like a puppy dog. It's cute and sickening at the same time."

Jemma gave him a look of utter confusion and the truth struck Fitz's mind hard making him gasp wide eyed.

"You…didn't know. You didn't know! Jemma! How did you not know? The way Bobbi listens to you, the way she literally follows you around. Do you remember those two hundred years you tried to be a wandering hermit? I wasn't the one bringing you supplies and it wasn't Melinda either, that was all Bobbi. She's always looked at you like the moon rose and set with you. She's been your number one go to soldier since the beginning and you never questioned why? You know Jemma for someone so analytical, so methodical and precise, how in the world did you miss, Bobbi's never ending crush on you?"

"I…I…I…thought we moved past that."

"Moved past it? When?"

"Macedonia."

"Is that why Bobbi suddenly took up with Alexander? I knew the boy was talented, handsome and one of the most brilliant strategist, I've ever met but I never known Bobbi to take up with humans for any reason. No wonder Bobbi was so devastated when Alexander died."

"She tried to turn him, you know, Alexander, Bobbi made him an offer and he turned her down. I thought that was the end of it. Bobbi seemed to be different after that. I thought she had moved on." Jemma admitted looking troubled. Fitz's eyes grew wide as he replied. "Alexander was a good man at heart, but his intellect drove him to the brink of insanity. If a man like that had immortality he would remold the world several times over in his image then burn it all down and start again."

"I know; that's why I never would have approved him as a candidate for joining our family. So, I let it slide. I thought Bobbi was just grieving. And now…" Jemma paused to take a deep breath. "And now I wonder if it's something more."

"Jemma, I was going to let Melinda bring it to you but I don't think it can wait. Bobbi is getting out of control; she's no longer waiting for the vote anymore when making new fangs." Fitz informed her with a serious tone and Jemma frowned in confusion.

Just then Raina knocked and entered the work shop, Jemma sat back in her chair silently staring at Fitz as Raina brought in a black pitcher and two gilded cups setting it down on Fitz's table before bowing and leaving. It was not until, they both heard the sound of the shop doors closing that Jemma asked. "How many has she turned without permission? Why didn't Raina tell me of this? I would have come home sooner."

"Raina does not know, not even Melinda knows the whole extent of it and when Melinda finds out it's going to be brawl between them. Melinda has been looking for an excuse to put Bobbi in her place. And it'll have the same outcome as it always does, they will fight and it will be a draw as it always is."

"True, Melinda hates to admit that they are equally matched. That's why they both spend so much time training, they're both looking for an edge over the other but their determination and bullheadedness ensures that they remain equally matched."

"I think Bobbi may have gone too far this time in search of an edge over Melinda."

"What do you mean?"

"There can be only one reason behind turning more people without permission. That's to build an army. We both know Bobbi's been looking to expand her power bases and by making her personal army bigger she'll finally have that edge over Melinda."

"We agreed to keep things above level, why would Bobbi do that?"

"I think Bobbi has many motivations she keeps from all of us." Fitz commented with a sad expression. Fourteen centuries with someone and to know they still didn't trust you hurt on a deep, deep level.

"How did you find out Fitz?" Jemma asked with a heavy frown, this news about Bobbi was troubling.

"As you requested after that mess in Egypt, I have kept a close eye on both Bobbi and Melinda."

"How? You never leave your workshop. And you don't create, so how?"

"In truth I do leave the workshop, once a month if not once every three. Mainly to get more supplies for the shop, but also to check in with the men I hired."

"You hired?" Jemma asked with a look of genuine surprise, a rare expression indeed.

"Yes. You know I don't want to turn anyone; I don't like having that type of control over another person, it's so distasteful. I never liked the dirty feeling it caused. That feeling never goes away."

"I know; you've always felt that way." Jemma cut in and Fitz nodded in agreement as he continued. "So I used the coin we've saved to buy my eyes and ears. It works well. I have always, gotten what I need and neither Melinda nor Bobbi, have been the wiser."

"When did you start hiring people to spy?"

"The day after you asked me to keep an eye on them; and you know this would be so much easier if you'd just personally turn a few more to balance out the power structure."

"I never want to make another vampire again. I meant what I said."

"I understand Jemma, more than Melinda or Bobbi. Neither you nor I have honestly taken to being undead where as both Bobbi and Melinda have fully embraced it. The more we found out what we were the less we wanted to be what we are. I was the only who didn't question you, when you chose to stop making new vampires six hundred years ago. Why do you think I've supported your search for the goddess all these years? You know neither Melinda nor Bobbi, understand the need to find the temple again."

Jemma frowned and reached over picking up the pitcher, she poured carefully filling up both their cups with blood that was still warm. They both took a moment to drain their cups then pour more; they continued to drink as Fitz went on. "In over fourteen centuries, you've found the Goddess's temple three times. And three times you've drank directly from the Goddess. The only vampire who's ever had that privilege, at least that I've met. You are the only vampire who walks this earth that the sunlight can no longer harm. Yes Melinda, Bobbi and I don't burst into flames in the sunlight anymore, we're too old but it's still extremely painful for us. You, however have no such weaknesses. Why not tell them the truth?"

"I don't want to talk about her."

"I know talking about Skye hurts."

A tear welled up in Jemma's eyes. "You're always so sweet Fitz. You never ask why I keep seeking out the Goddess either. Are you not curious?"

"I know it's about Skye. You're looking for her."

Jemma's jaw fell, she was shocked. She had no idea Fitz knew the whole truth; he was smart yes and knew her better than even Bobbi did yet Jemma thought it was her secret, that she hid it so well. She stared hard at Fitz and he smiled at her. Jemma closed her mouth and blinked several times.

"I've never spoke of this before Fitz. The Goddess told me that Skye will return; that I will have another chance with her. I keep asking the Goddess when, and the Goddess lets me drink. She wants me to live forever."

"Would that be so bad Jemma? To live forever?"

"There have been points in my long life I would say it was, and others I'm glad for the time."

"Yes exactly. When I get too deep in thought over such things, I try to focus my mind on my projects instead. Then I begin to imagine how much I could do with all that time, the things I could make."

"I never will understand Fitz, why you allow others to take credit for your work."

"Getting credit for all that I've made would expose us."

"I know. However I still have a problem with you allowing that blowhard Archimedes to take credit for so much of your work. You've let many others over the centuries take credit for your ideas, the many war machines, all the new weapons, the innovations in architecture and mathematics, your work has moved human civilization forward. Archimedes was so arrogant and he did nothing! Nothing Fitz, nothing. I wanted to tear his throat out so many times."

"Is that why you went east for four centuries?" Fitz asked pouring the last of the blood equally between both cups.

"Yes, I didn't want to break my promise to you and being so close was too much temptation. I must add my favorite invention of yours so far is that children's toy you created last time we were both in Rome. What did you call it the Come-back Toy? I still like my name better, Yo-yo sounds more eloquent, and fun. Your name for it sounds tedious."

Fitz laughed then grew serious. "Jemma, you can't dismiss Bobbi's behavior any longer. May I ask a personal question?"

"You don't have to ask for permission Fitz."

Fitz smiled and gave her a look that said he knew better and she smiled sheepishly in return, Fitz knew her better than anyone else.

"Why do you go so soft on Bobbi? You are not soft with Melinda and you are not soft with me, so why is Bobbi different?"

Jemma blinked a dozen times at the bold and blunt question. She thought to dismiss it or even to give a distracting answer yet one look at the expectant expression on her friends face and Jemma gave in.

"I've known Bobbi the longest. I think of her as my sister, I always have. And it was my fault she was sentenced to death. I felt and still feel that Bobbi is my responsibility."

"That can't be all of it; you show her favor in small ways. You always have and when you do, you give Bobbi hope."

"Hope?"

"Hope that one day you could love Bobbi like you did Skye. Bobbi has always wanted you to herself, she always will."

Jemma was quiet for a long moment as she thought everything Fitz said over and over again. Eventually she sighed and nodded. "You're right Fitz. I didn't realize I was making things worse by showing my affection for her. I thought the talk we had all those centuries ago settled things."

"So you believe me?" Fitz asked scratching his chin and the stubble growing on it.

"Enough to speak to Bobbi again; I need both Bobbi and Melinda to keep things going. I don't want to personally run the network yet the network is necessary for our survival and safety."

"I know I helped you organize and set the whole thing up. I'm just worried Bobbi has taken things too far this time in her never-ending pursuit of your attention and affection."

"But Fitz, why would Bobbi think I would allow her to break rules I set up?"

"I've thought long and hard about this and all I can come up with is that she hopes to prove to you she can run it all by herself that you can rely on her more than Melinda. I don't know why Bobbi still sees Melinda as competition but she definitely still does."

"Thank you Fitz. I will take care of this. I will speak to Bobbi at the celebration. I won't punish her hard, I'll just have those she created without permission killed then we can start over."

"I hope it's that easy. I hope Bobbi doesn't push it more. We've all been together for so long I don't want to lose Bobbi or Melinda over anything so silly."

"I completely agree Fitz. Hey, how about I give you a haircut and a shave, unless you like the stubble."

"Its itches like crazy, a shave would be such a relief. I wish some of the crap they make up about vampires were true. I'd like to never have to shave again."

"But if that were true that would also mean our hair would never grow and we wouldn't get to change our style along with the rest of the world. I rather enjoy that we can still grow hair like humans, still get hurt and bruised. I like that we are not simple indestructible killing machines. I like that we haven't lost all of the things that made us human, I enjoy the tether to the past. It reminds me of who I really am underneath the years of boredom."

"I could go for a shave now if you're willing."

"Let me get the kit, I'll be right back."

Jemma got up and found Raina waiting just outside the work shop doors, Jemma sent Raina to fetch the kit and more blood. Jemma returned to her seat next to Fitz where they kept chatting about how the world was turning. When Raina returned along with two other servants, Jemma had them set everything up outside so they could watch the sunrise. Three bright torches were set up to give adequate light as well as a small table and two chairs. Once it was ready, Jemma waved the servants away and told Raina to be ready in a few hours.

Alone, Jemma took her time cutting her friends hair and carefully shaving him. They talked about the stars and Fitz's many projects to see the stars better. Fitz was sure that the human race would one day move beyond the earth and up into the stars where the gods lived. The conversation eventually shifted to tools, medicine, and healing; Jemma had dabbled over the last thirteen centuries in healing and had made dozens of advances in medicine and surgery. Over time as Jemma pulled away from constant death and destruction, she began searching for something new and stumbled upon healing. Jemma had a natural talent for it and it fed what was left of her humanity. More and more Jemma returned to healing, she enjoyed helping people and her knowledge of medicine and surgery was unparalleled by any mortal man, even those who studied in the grand Alexandra Library. It was to the point Jemma felt it necessary to mention it to Fitz. "I think I'm going to make a change."

"And what will it be this time?"

"I think I want to open a few hospitals, I want to focus on being a healer. I think I can help many people with what I already know."

"You want to teach others what you know?" Fitz asked intrigued by the idea.

"Yes while helping those I can. I need to do something….more human. I think its time."

"I'm not surprised Jemma. You've always looked for a good way to spend eternity. Boredom on our level has been known to cause madness and destructions of entire civilizations."

"That was only once Fitz. And we can't blame Bobbi and Melinda for that, they were stuck in the wilderness for two centuries. I still insist to this day that being around humans is good for one's sanity. I said that then and I say it now."

"Oh I know, why do you think, I keep my workshops in populated places. I like being around humanity, it helps me deal with the endless forever."

"Is it so bad Fitz?"

"The boredom can be. And I imagine if we were with other vampires, if you had not kept us together as a family all these years we would have tried to burn the world down for no other reason than our continued frustration with humanity." Fitz laughed. "I do enjoy all the places you've had us settle. I think I like Pompeii the best, its right next to the sea. Big enough to have what I need yet small enough I can breathe. I like Rome but you can't breathe there, it's too crowded. Pompeii is just right. I hope we live here for a long time."

"Many good things have happened to us in Pompeii. So as long as the gods are willing, we keep Pompeii as our home."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

The sun rose for another beautiful day in Pompeii.

Jemma saw Fitz to bed, and then bathed in the new morning light while watching the city wake up. Jemma's bath was an outside heated pool that overlooked the entire city allowing her a full unobstructed view. And Jemma's keen eyesight soaked up each and every detail. She noted every new ship at port, every new occupied home on the hill and even the new patrols of vigils. Her ears picked up the singing coming from the women who worked the market stalls, and the patter of feet on packed earth and stone as the citizens of the city began their day.

Jemma closed her eyes and reached out with her senses and she could feel each human and vampire within one hundred miles. Jemma opened her eyes and laughed, she could feel Bobbi and Melinda as well as dozens upon dozens of vampires on separate boats heading toward her, they were still at least a week away. Jemma found it amusing that Bobbi would test her in this way which in turn made her think of the conversation she had with Fitz just a few hours earlier. Fitz was right about a lot of things, and though he was the only one to know about Skye which is why she rewarded him with the secret the goddess had shared with her about seeing Skye again. In truth that wasn't the sole reason she sought out Lilith, it was once in the beginning but that was not the case anymore.

"There are reasons Fitz, reasons I cannot share even with you my most trusted friend."

There were things that the others, Fitz Bobbi and Melinda did not know about, things that Jemma had kept from them since the beginning. The first time Jemma sought out the goddess she was only seeking answers in how to find Skye again. She wasn't expecting to be given a task and force fed more of the goddess's blood. The Goddess Lilith had chosen Jemma to carry out a task no other soul on earth had attempted before. The price of seeing Skye again would be more than becoming a monster and taking life again and again and again, no the real price was servitude for eternity.

Lilith had chosen Jemma for more than her thirst for vengeance and everlasting love for Skye. She was chosen for her highly intelligent mind and her unwavering determination. The Goddess explained that there were other vampires out there and that they had wasted the gift given to them, squandered it to indulge in pleasures of the flesh. These other vampires had turned their back on the Goddess to wallow in all that was the worst of humanity, greed, gluttony and obsession with power. For turning their back on the Goddess, Lilith wanted them dead. And Jemma was to be the Goddesses wrath and righteous fury.

And for one thousand one hundred and fifty one years Jemma dutifully hunted down and eliminated every vampire she came across that was not from her own line. In private Jemma created two lists, a kill list created from the Goddess herself and a roll call of death. Jemma made a record of each vampire found, their location and details about them. Jemma stored these records in Lilith's temple, adding new scrolls every time the Goddess allowed her to visit.

Jemma took full responsibility of all the vampires she personally made, and all the vampires she allowed Fitz, Bobbi and Melinda to create. To make it fair, she drew up a list of rules and promised swift action upon anyone who broke those rules. Some infractions Jemma would punish with "Fang-Removal" otherwise known as slowly starving to death. Other infractions would call for the vampire being staked to the ground and burned by the new morning sun. For those few who warranted mercy, Jemma would end them quickly by removing their heads and burning the pieces. The first few times the rules were broken Jemma found it difficult to go through with the executions even though she insisted on doing them herself. However, as the years rolled by, and centuries began to feel like decades Jemma's heart hardened and the task grew routine. It became harder to muster up sympathy or mercy, and many felt it on their way out.

The secrecy surrounding her special task weighed heavily upon Jemma. As a vampire she had time, endless time and having Fitz, Bobbi and Melinda with her throughout the many years kept Jemma sane, kept her grounded and tethered to what little humanity she had left. The usual distractions that a normal human could enjoy were not an option for a vampire. Food and drink held no taste and no satisfaction; there was only blood and blood and more blood. And with the limitations the sun enforced, Jemma had to find other ways to amuse herself with her endless time.

Jemma tried different jobs, different roles, different everything and nothing stuck, nothing satisfied endlessly frustrating her. Eventually Jemma turned to education, she persuaded knowledge picking up languages even dead ones, learning the history of everywhere she traveled and about anything that crossed her path. Jemma's pursuit of knowledge was the only relief she enjoyed, the burden of acting as hunter and executioner for the goddess wore her down with each new evening. The pressure of leading the others, of having to endure despite hesitations, despite doubts wore her bare.

And yet, the worst that Jemma had to endure to keep going, to keep living in some semblance was her memory betraying her. She missed Skye every single day and every single day she tried to recall Skye's face, Skye's smile and with each new day it got harder and harder to remember the little things. Skye's crooked smile, the twinkle in her eyes when she laughed. And as Skye became harder and harder for Jemma to remember, Jemma grew desperate to find her again. Jemma's faith in the goddess was complete yet with each new passing year that faith was tested again and again forcing Jemma to confront her motivations for living again and again. After fourteen centuries, Jemma couldn't help but wonder if the goddess's dangling Skye's return in front of her was a motivation tactic to keep Jemma doing the good work of the goddess. Each time the question rose up in Jemma's mind she quickly pushed it away, to even imagine what she's dedicated so many lifetimes to might just be false hope was too much to bare, the darkness too deep. Jemma knew without a doubt that if she went into the darkness, it would swallow her whole.

A bird overhead, singing in the early morning sunshine drew Jemma from her deep thoughts drawing her attention back to the beautiful new day. Immortality allowed one to forget the small joys, the little bits of beauty that spoke to the human soul. Jemma forced the dark thoughts from her mind and laid back in the bath to stare up at the bright blue sky. Despite the beautiful day, Jemma's mind went to the dark place as details of her trip north floated up.

The kill list had haunted Jemma since the day she created it for the Goddess. And each name she crossed out, each name added to the roll call of the dead meant one step closer to her reward, the return of her love, the return of Skye. Jemma had work for many centuries to eliminate every name on the list, even going so far as to stamp out any fangs created by those on the list to ensure the list didn't get any longer than it already was. Methodically, and at personal cost to herself Jemma whittled the list down to one name.

The trip south was supposed to be her last trip for the Goddess, and she failed. The vampire outwitted her, eluding her and almost killing her before leaving her behind to wallow in her humiliation. The only thing the trip provided was a half dead victim in the vampire's home, the human confirmed the vampires real name.

"Johann Shmidt the Red." Even saying the name out loud made her stomach twist into knots.

Jemma would never admit it to Fitz or Bobbi and especially not to Melinda, but the vampire she was sent to kill turned the tables so fast on her it made her head spin. She thought she was the strongest vampire out in the world; that feeding directly from the goddess so many times would give her edge over the other vampires and usually that was true. Shmidt proved to be the exception. He humiliated her and left her alive to drown in her failure. Jemma limped home licking her wounds, angry at herself and determined to hunt Shmidt down and finish what the Goddess began.

Children's laughter caught her attention, she turned to see a handful of the servants children playing by the fruit trees. The sight of such innocent happiness pulled Jemma from her brooding and reminded her today was a good day. She was home, she was alive and she would be reuniting with her whole family, something that always brought her joy.

"Raina!"

"Yes Mistress?"

"Get changed and get my clothes, we're going to walk through town today."

"Yes Mistress." Raina replied with a bright eager smile.

PART FOUR: SECOND CHANCES COME WITH A PRICE

As was her way, Jemma refused to have guards accompany her on her early morning walk through Pompeii. She wore simple common clothes, taking only Raina with her so that together they appeared to be nothing more than servants out on morning errands though most of the city knew exactly who Raina was and what house she spoke for.

After making Pompeii her home three centuries before, Jemma took to keeping an eye on the town to ensure nothing could rise up to force her to leave. She was careful to only stay for twenty years at a time before leaving only to return as the "daughter" of the previous owner, and often Fitz played the part of her husband or brother assisting the ruse when necessary. The fact was that Jemma owned most of the wineries in Campania, the west southern area of Italy she enjoyed the quiet power it gave her.

Raina led the way from the south east corner of the estate taking a servants path to the side streets of Pompeii. Jemma's massive estate of six villas was the largest in the region and was used as the outer boarder of the city. Behind the estate was Mount Vesuvius, a massive volcano that over looked Pompeii and a dozen other towns.

Taking the tiny alleyway's to the main street Jemma noticed new graffiti on the walls. She paused and read a dozen of them laughing with amusement at the colorful language. Raina watched her with a curious expression.

"Mistress may I ask a question?"

"Yes Raina, what would you like to know today?" Jemma replied with mirth as she continued to read the graffiti.

"Why do you always stop to read the graffiti?"

Jemma grinned, "It's a reflection of the human mind which I find fascinating and more importantly most of it is very funny."

Raina laughed and nodded in agreement.

"I didn't have a chance to look around last night. How are the repairs going?"

"On schedule Mistress. The earthquake seventeen years ago did substantial damage to the city but Pompeii is prosperous and resilient. Even the light tremors of Vulcan rolling around in the mountain do little to deter the people from their work; the city is close to full restoration." Raina brightly replied and Jemma smiled.

Tremors from Vulcan's mountain were common in Campania; and Pompeii was a favored place for the rich and powerful of Rome to vacation making the city bustle and grow with each new year; the last census count estimated the cities population to be around twenty thousand people, slaves not included. It had everything Rome could offer yet was small and intimate; Jemma called it being able to breathe and it was true which was why the city was so popular.

Their path took them over paved streets past elegant homes and beautiful fountains. Past bustling shops and small markets and lots of temples, Romans loved their many gods and the Temple of Apollo was the most impressive, even in the early hour there was a crowd gathered. The traffic that morning was light most businesses were still setting up for the day. And Raina made sure to greet each shop owner or merchant she ran into. Jemma could tell who would be a problem by how they interacted with Raina, any signs of hostility or fear would give them away.

Jemma loved this early hour, she loved walking through the city and just observing the people around her. Being able to walk in the sun as if she were human was something only she could do; having so much of the Goddess's blood running through her definitely had its advantages.

They reached the largest market in Pompeii known as Macellum when Jemma stopped Raina. "I'm surprised there is so much fresh selection at this time of year. Raina make sure the staff gets the best the city has to offer and remind them to stay out of the main villa, our guests will be arriving in a week and I don't want a repeat of last time."

"Yes Mistress."

After Raina spoke to several merchants in the Macellum setting up deliveries they moved on to the Temple of Isis. Jemma had personally picked out the offering then sent Raina in to present it to the statue of the goddess. Jemma was always careful to send her servants into the temples of other gods, she didn't was to disrespect Lilith by personally making the offering yet felt it necessary to make an offering for those who have died so she could live. The Temple of Isis was across the street from the theater, and a good distance from the other temples that were clustered together on the east side of the city. And when Raina went in Jemma wandered off to sit by the fountain, one of the largest in Pompeii that was dedicated the muses, it was very beautiful. Jemma only paused at the fountain, she spotted a commotion behind the large theater where the gladiator's ludus (training school) was located and walked over out of curiosity.

A slave trader had stopped in town to let the Lanista (gladiators manager, owner) look over his stock before moving on to the slave market just outside the city. The ludus was always the first stop of the slave traders, gladiators in training needed men to fight against and at times, women too. Usually such common occurrences wouldn't draw Jemma's interest and yet something got her feet moving with the intent of getting a closer look. The slave trader had three dozen people mostly men chained and tethered. The trader was animatedly speaking with the Lanista while the traders assistant watched the slaves. Then the assistant unchained a woman from the back of the line passing her a ceramic jug and kicked her while motioning for her to fetch water from a small fountain in front of the ludus.

The woman was filthy and wore a metal collar around the neck that was connected to manacles around each ankle forcing her to move in shuffling steps. She was the only bound in such a manner which made Jemma question the reason why she over all the others was sent to fetch water. Then a few moments later it became very clear.

The slave trader's assistant looked around, not noticing Jemma watching him, licked his lips then followed the bound woman to the fountain. He didn't let her fill up the jug all the way instead he pulled her by the arm around to the side of the ludus. His intent clear, Jemma felt her stomach twist into a hard knot. Rape was common yet it never failed to disgust Jemma to her very core.

Shaking her head, Jemma grimaced and followed the pair into the alley. The man barely waited until they were out of sight before he started hitting the bound woman trying to force her to the ground and to Jemma's amazement the bound woman put up quite a fight. Jemma approached them and waited, she watched the bound woman head-but the man then punch him square in the face twice making the man bleed. The man grew enraged and went to pull his sword, and that's when Jemma stepped in and simply took the sword away from him.

"Hey! What are you doing? Don't interfere!"

Jemma was having a good morning and she didn't want it spoiled by this cruel yet, very dumb man or his need to act savagely.

"Why are you trying to rape this slave? Would your boss like you beating the stock? I do not think she'll get a good price with her face seven different colors or do you intend to kill the woman and owe your boss money."

The man stopped and looked confused, the way Jemma spoke to him gave him pause. No servant would speak to a free man like that.

"Why do you care about some slave?"

"Why do you insist on raping? What you can't find a willing woman?"

The man frowned growing angry he was not accustomed to being spoken to in such a way. With a sneer the man asked, "What does a servant care? Don't you have work to do? Some one's cock to suck? Yeah, that's it, why don't you go off and be useful by sucking your Masters cock. You're in my way so unless you want to watch—leave. Unless you want to take her place?"

Jemma frowned and glanced over her shoulder, no one was coming to interfere, so she turned back and smiled sweetly at the man. "Did you know it's been seven hundred and forty two years since any one dared speak to me in such a manner, I'll be honest I'm not used to it any more. I find it distasteful."

"Fuck off or I will take my whip to you. I should tell your Master you're getting out of hand so he'll punish you properly, teach you your place."

The man turned around and raised his hand slapping the bound woman with a very heavy hand knocking the woman down. He laughed and twisted toward Jemma with a smirk and Jemma grabbed him by the face and squeezed, the man screamed. He clawed Jemma, wildly lashing out trying to use his fists to force her to let him go to no avail it only made Jemma squeeze harder.

The screaming caught the attention of others and in moments the Lanista, the slave trader, Raina and several Gladiators rushed to Jemma's side. The Lanista looked to Raina to take the lead and she did running to Jemma's side. "Mistress what happened? Who is this?"

"This man insulted me."

"What! This scum insulted you Mistress? I will handle this, please I beg of you allow me, I do not wish you to sully your hands further on this dog!" The Lanista stated shooting angry glares at the slave trader, who looked stricken by the mess.

Jemma didn't speak, her face was a stone mask, hard and cold. Raina's eyes widened, she knew what would happen next if she didn't do something quick, then she noticed the slave standing up. "Mistress may I have your permission to buy this slave for the house?"

Jemma blinked then turned to look at Raina, she blinked twice and smiled coldly letting the man's face go. The slave trader instantly snatched his man up pulling him back and profusely apologizing. "I apologize for my man's behavior, he doesn't know how to act in a city. I will teach him better manners."

Raina turned to the Lanista and gave him an expectant look and he jumped into action motioning to his Gladiators and they took hold of the slave trader and the hurt assistant. The Lanista glared at both men, "I think it's time you left. I don't want you back, this is our last business together—understand? Marco I want you to pay Miles then take them both to the Stabia Gate, make sure they leave. Marco be sure to pay him 50 for everything."

"Brutus! Please, that's a third of what we agreed for those ten men."

"Those ten men and this girl. If you want to argue about this I can call the Magistrate and he'll arrest the both of you and confiscate the slaves you have left. Your choice."

The slave trader nodded and the Gladiators took them away. The Lanista turned to Jemma bowing and apologizing, she was not paying attention. Jemma's focus was on the bound woman, the woman was covered in thick dirt and grime, her hair was matted and wild obscuring most of her face.

"Raina, take the girl and get her cleaned up. I need to speak to Brutus."

"Yes Mistress. Girl, with me."

Jemma waited until Raina and the slave girl were out of sight to turn to the Lanista and hand him a large pouch of coin. "Thank you Brutus. I appreciate your help in this matter. If you will allow, I would like to invest in your Ludus. I believe you will go far."

"With your assistance Mistress. I will go very far indeed, it was pleasure to assist you. I am always at your service."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

A cool night breeze blew Bobbi's hair out of her face, she smiled breathing in through her nose and enjoying the scents it carried. She was excited to head home, she missed Jemma; she missed her family. The smile that rose up at thought of reuniting with her whole family gave Bobbi pause and she quickly hid it. Bobbi had a reputation to protect and being seen smiling like some girl would give too many ideas. As the smile fell memories bubbled up to the surface, and Bobbi was sucked into her past.

Bobbi had a hard time recalling her human life; it was so far away, so long ago it didn't even seem real anymore. Yet, while her time as a house servant seemed so unreal the day she heard Jemma had been arrested stood out like an explosion in her memory. She remembered that feeling of overwhelming anger and fear that made her bold, made her take action, gave her the courage to rescue Jemma. Bobbi remembered the resolve she felt stealing the horse and supplies, the thrill of breaking the rules and freeing Jemma. Bobbi remembered the calm she felt when she was caught and arrested, she was terrified of death yet if helping Jemma survive was the cause then she would go gladly. Bobbi took the beatings and the taunts in stride, Jemma meant everything to Bobbi, she could die happy knowing she helped Jemma live.

Then Jemma came for her.

Jemma came asking Bobbi to stay, until Jemma no one wanted Bobbi, until Jemma no one cared about Bobbi and when Jemma asked to give Bobbi the kiss it was everything Bobbi could have hoped for. But the woman she was once fourteen centuries ago was gone; Bobbi had evolved into someone else, a warrior, a leader and a survivor.

In truth, everyone in the family had changed over fourteen centuries, and yet at their core, they were still the same good people they always were, only now, they could bring death to those who deserved it. Bobbi had always taken that responsibility very seriously so when Jemma proposed setting up their own network in order to secure a safe future for them all, Bobbi jumped at the chance to lead. Bobbi wanted to show Jemma she could be everything Jemma needed her to be, Bobbi wanted to prove to her worth to the only person who had ever mattered to her.

Of course over such a long time, Bobbi grew to love Fitz and Melinda as a one would love their siblings. Fitz was simply lovable and sweet and was a constant shinning reminder of how one could handle immortality without going insane. Melinda was stubborn, aggressive and incredibly intelligent; Melinda was frankly the best warrior and strategist Bobbi had ever known, Melinda put Alexander the Great to shame and that made Bobbi proud and jealous all at the same time. Melinda was the big sister Bobbi never had, they were competitive with each other, pushing each other to do better while teasing each other when they failed they inspired each other to try harder.

Where Bobbi differed from Fitz and Melinda, was her never-ending romantic love for Jemma. Melinda and Fitz only felt familial love for Jemma, whereas Bobbi wanted nothing more than to be Jemma's lover and partner in their immortal life. However, Jemma didn't see Bobbi in that light, not yet.

In over fourteen centuries of trying to win Jemma over Bobbi had only succeeded a handful of times, and she came close in 500 B.C in India. A piece of bad luck while trying to help a poor family exposed them to the rulers of that land, and they sent hunters after them. Bobbi repelled the hunters and got them to safety up north. Jemma was so impressed they kissed for real and in the heady moment of success they made love. Bobbi had many lovers over the centuries yet no one compared to Jemma, attentive, intense, rough and loving; having sex with Jemma was beyond Bobbi's expectations and dreams. It proved to Bobbi she had been right, Jemma was the one for her. Now she just needed to convinced Jemma of this and everything would be perfect.

The dream only lasted two days, when Jemma climbed out of bed it was over. It took Bobbi a while to realize it was over, and when she did it hit hard, like a brick wall had fallen on her. It was the worst pain she had ever felt in her unnatural life. Bobbi went numb.

They left India as a group traveling west, they settled in Macedonia in 334 B.C. Bobbi began searching for a distraction, something to take her mind off of Jemma and she found it in a boy named Alexander III of Macedon. With nothing more than a note written on a scroll left for Fitz, Bobbi took off joining Alexander's army in 336 and she remained with him until his death. Bobbi wasn't the only one who joined Alexander in his quest to conquer the world, several of her own vampires accompanied her as well as half a dozen of Melinda's vampires. It was a fleeting moment of freedom and it was gone too fast.

Bobbi couldn't bring herself to head home after Alexander's death, she wasn't the only one. The vampires left in Alexander's army scattered to the winds. Lost, Bobbi wandered and for a short time with a vampire named Lance Hunter. Thought he was sired by Melinda, Lance was a good companion eager for adventure, eager to have fun. Bobbi and Lance grew to become close friends, then briefly lovers. Lance professed his love and Bobbi was frightened. And as Jemma had left her after two days together, Bobbi did the same to Lance leaving him with nothing more than a note.

Bobbi continued on her now solo journey, she felt lost, aimless and numb. She was hurt and nothing helped so she wandered west all the way to France where she met Grant Ward. She turned him right away, he became her second chance. Someone who wanted her, someone who loved her and was dedicated to only her. Someone who didn't know her past with Jemma, Ward was someone new. Ward encouraged her wild side, pushed her to go further and think bigger. Bobbi fell for Ward as much as she could while still pinning for Jemma deep inside her heart.

When Bobbi returned to the family she brought Ward with her, and he began to change everything.

"Barbara! Barbara. Barbara?" Ward called out and when he received no answer he reached out touching Bobbi on the shoulder, she startled but he couldn't tell.

"Ward." Bobbi said with a smile, he smiled back wrapping his arms around her pulling her close.

"What's on your mind pet? I haven't seen that troubled look in your eyes in many years." Ward asked kissing Bobbi's neck, she frowned and quickly hide it under a false smile. "I'm eager to get home that's all."

Bobbi felt Ward stiffen then huff. "As am I."

"I know you're not eager to return to the fold but there is strength in family."

"They are your family Barbara, not mine. They've never taken to me, they act as if I am a hindrance instead of the resource that I am. How many more years will it take to earn their trust, to earn their favor? Barbara I'm getting tired of waiting."

"Ward, you must hide your frustration better. Even among our own people you must remain the stoic leader, they look up to us and you must be the public face of what we do. Do you want them to start questioning you? After we've all built together?" Bobbi asked trying to sooth Ward fragile ego.

"Have they been questioning me?" Ward asked his voice suddenly hard as he pushed Bobbi away and forced her to turn around holding her arms in an overly tight grip. Bobbi frowned and didn't hide it this time. "Not that I know of, maybe you need to ask Bakshi since he's your second."

"I'm sorry I don't mean to put my hands on you Barbara. I'm frustrated not just for myself but for you too. You are smarter than Jemma or Melinda or even Fitz, you deserve to lead the family not them. You deserve to run the armies not just the leftovers May has left you. They don't deserve your loyalty Barbara they push you aside and give you light assignments which proves they don't see you for all that you are. Jemma has kept you under her boot for too long and May doesn't deserves what she has."

Bobbi frowned and Ward pushed. "I've been watching you serve Jemma for nothing in return. She acts as if you are her slave and are nothing, she does not care for you. If you were to disappear right now I would be the only one mourning you. Jemma obviously favors Melinda and Fitz over you and that needs to stop. I promised the day you turned me that I would never leave you, that I would always support you and this is part of that. You deserve to be on top Barbara not acting as some lap dog. I am the only one who has remained by your side through everything."

"It's not like that Ward, my family cares for me, they love me. Jemma does not see me as a lap dog to order around. You don't know them like I do, you don't know we've been through." Bobbi argued and Ward pulled her close. "True I don't know what came before. I only know right now. Did they come to your aid when we were cornered in Constantinople? No they left us to die. Did they send reinforcements when they asked us to head north? No, they left us to do the job with a fifth of the people Melinda has under her. We almost died three times on that one. Why would your precious Jemma do that unless it was to get rid of you and me?"

Bobbi didn't know what to say. It did seem that over the last few centuries Jemma had grown cold toward her, and that Fitz and Melinda were not as welcoming as before. Bobbi didn't understand, she still loved them, she was still loyal but Wards words wouldn't let the doubt rest. Something had changed between them but what that was eluded Bobbi completely.

"I have been on point getting everything done no questions asked and there were no losses no needless deaths just as she always asked. I don't understand why she would push me away. I've done everything she's asked." Bobbi rambled as she glared at the sea and Ward's face grew dark, he looked angry and had to force it down before he said. "She doesn't appreciate you Barbara, she never did and she never will. When will you realize that she'll never love you, not like I do. Do you still love me Barbara?"

"Yes Ward, I still love you. You're all I have." Barbara admitted with a slight frown and Ward smiled brightly pulling her close and kissing her on the lips.

"Excuse me sir, the new members of our group our getting out of hand. Your attention is required." Bakshi politely interrupted with his slimy fake smile. Ward and Bakshi exchanged looks then Ward turned to Bobbi kissing her on the cheek. "I'll be back in a moment."

"When did we take on new members? Did you hire mercenaries? I don't think they should mix with our people. That might be too tempting for the younger ones." Bobbi asked confused.

"It was supposed to be a surprise for you. So can I keep my secret until its ready?" Ward asked with his most charming smile and Bobbi fell for it. "Okay Ward, I can wait. Is it a good surprise?"

"The best."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

"Mistress! Did you encounter any problems? You were gone for so long." Raina asked worried as she followed Jemma in from the main gate.

"I had other business to attend to. Did you have any problems getting the girl clean?"

"No, she was very cooperative and curious. Mistress may I ask what are your instructions for the girl?"

"Where do you have her?"

"My villa with the other servants."

"I will come see her now then we will figure out what to do with her."

"You didn't have a plan? That's very unusual of you Mistress."

"I saw a woman in need of help, and I helped, that's all."

"You make it sound so simple."

"It was simple, what was hard was not tearing off that fuckers face. I hate men like that, such arrogant weak pieces of meat." Jemma sneered, bad memories floated to the surface and Raina was smart enough not to ask. They walked in silence to the servant's home, Raina led Jemma to the store room in the back then stood at the door to ensure Jemma's privacy. Jemma walked in to find the girl sitting on a pallet in the corner by stacks of supplies. The bound girl was picking at her restraints.

"I can help you get that off if you'd like." Jemma stated walking over and kneeling down next to the girl's feet. The young woman didn't startle but she didn't raise her eyes either, she hid behind long newly combed hair.

Understanding the need to be gentle Jemma slowly reached out grabbing the iron manacle around the young woman's right ankle and snapped off the lock and pulled the pin out freeing the girl. Jemma heard the young woman's breath quicken but Jemma didn't stop, she moved on to remove the other iron cuff tossing the metal restraints aside before addressing the young woman directly.

"May I?" Jemma asked motioning to the girl's collar. "So I can take it off."

Shyly the girl nodded yes still hiding her face behind beautiful long brown hair, she twisted around moving her hair to the side exposing the lock at the back of her neck. Jemma frowned when she noticed the metal collar had cut the young woman's skin in several places. Jemma carefully reached out pulling the collar apart forcing the pin to snap inside the lock breaking the terrible device for good. Holding it in her hands Jemma noticed an inscription on its front, it read: I have run away. Catch me. If you take me back to my master Zoninus you will be rewarded.

"Is Zoninus your master?"

"He is…was…my master; those…men were returning me." The young woman replied in a small scared voice.

"Not any more. From this moment on you are longer a slave, you are a free woman. And so you know once I took claim over you in front of my head servant and in front of Lanista you became known as a freewoman. I am well known in this city and they know I don't keep slaves. So you will have some time to adjust to this and when you're ready you will be given new clothes and some coin to start a new life, it will be your choice on what you do next."

"I have heard of manumission but I never thought I would ever be that lucky." The girl said in a slightly louder voice. There was something in it that pulled at the back of Jemma's mind something so familiar in it yet Jemma could not place from where.

"Do you have any questions?"

"Who are you?" The girl asked shyly taking a peek at Jemma from under her long hair.

"Oh, forgive my lack of manners. I am Jemma first daughter of Quintus Romulus, of the first Romulus family. I am the patron of Pompeii but if anyone asks it's my brother that's in charge." Jemma said in a mirthful manner getting the girl to smile.

"What is your name girl?"

"The master called me Tertia."

"That is your slave name, tell me what they called you before?"

"Chloe."

"It's nice to meet you Chloe. Do you have any other questions before I ask Raina to take over for me?" Jemma asked trying to catch the girl's eye but the young woman remained elusively shy.

The young woman nodded and Jemma waited for the question. In a meek voice the young woman asked. "Why are you helping me? I have nothing to offer you, in return for your kindness."

Jemma heard the change of breathing in the young woman and she could smell the tears welling up in the young woman's eyes, Jemma refrained from mentioning it to answer the question. "I am helping you because you needed help, I will be honest with you Chloe. I don't go looking for young women to rescue, I just happened to be there. Has no one ever been kind to you?"

Chloe shook her head no.

"I am curious though. Only runaways receive collars and anklets, did you run?"

Chloe nodded her head yes.

"How many times?"

"Every time." Chloe answered and Jemma grinned, she liked this girl.

"Chloe have you eaten yet? I know you've missed the noon meal but I can have something put together for you if you're hungry."

Chloe shook her head no but her stomach growled loudly in the silence. Jemma could feel the girls blood rise to the surface but the girl hid the blush as best she could.

"I'm going to take that as a yes. Come on." Jemma said standing up and offering her hand to help the young woman to her feet. Chloe stared at the outstretched hand and looked up making her hair fall back away from her face finally revealing herself to Jemma. Big deep brown eyes locked with Jemma's and Jemma felt her heart suddenly speed up. Jemma opened her mouth and closed it several times over while blinking rapidly at Chloe. A dizzy feeling washed over Jemma, she felt suddenly wobbly on her feet and everything seemed to twist into a pinpoint focal point of Chloe's face.

"Skye?" Jemma whispered and fainted falling to the ground scaring Chloe. In a panic she rushed to Jemma's side, Raina turned to peek in when she heard the commotion and when she saw Jemma unconscious on the ground she panicked.

"What happened? Why is the Mistress on the ground? What happened?" Raina demanded as she gently tried to revive Jemma.

"I don't know! I don't know! I don't know! I don't know! She offered me her hand to help me up then she fainted."

"The Mistress does not faint! Something must be wrong. Something must be wrong." Raina declared looking angry and frightened which in turn terrified Chloe.

"Did I do something wrong? Did I do something wrong?" Chloe begged Raina but Raina ignored the young woman to call for help from the other servants. A stamped of people rushed in and the shock and fear from seeing their mistress unconscious and helpless traveled with lightning speed through the group.

"The mistress is on the ground! Raina what happened? What's going on?" Was what everyone asked and Raina quickly took charge of the situation.

"Marcus!"

A large muscular man pushed his way through the crowd. Raina ordered him to pick Jemma up then ordered everyone to go back to work and be alert in case this was something serious.

"No one hears about this understood?" Raina ordered looking everyone in the eyes to make sure her instructions were truly understood. They all nodded in agreement before filing out of the small space.

Chloe stood there feeling helpless on the verge of tears, she was so confused and scared; this was all happening too fast for her. Unsure what her role was or what was expected of her, Chloe followed Marcus and Jemma, so close that none of the other servants questioned her.

In a moment Chloe found herself alone with Riana as Marcus set Jemma down on the bed. Chloe tried to make herself invisible against the wall, she just needed to see that the woman was okay, she didn't know why it mattered so much just that it did matter. Marcus quickly left and Chloe was alone with Raina, and Riana had not forgotten she was there.

In one swift movement Raina was upon Chloe with a very sharp dagger pressed against Chloe's throat forcing Chloe to stand on the tips of her toes. Raina's eyes were a bright hazel they sparkled in the low sunlight, giving Raina an, other-world quality that frightened Chloe.

"If my Mistress is harmed in any way I will end your life."

Chloe could see past Raina, see the woman who saved her unconscious on the bed. However before Raina had finished saying the word "life" Chloe blinked and Jemma was suddenly standing next to Raina.

"Enough Raina, I'm fine."

Wide eyed in shock Chloe stared hard at Jemma but Jemma's eyes were on Raina. The head servant quickly turned toward her Mistress with a fearful look that morphed into relief when her eyes told her Jemma was indeed fine. Raina immediately let Chloe go, she turned to Jemma asking. "Mistress, what happened? I was so afraid."

"I think I…I think I fainted." Jemma admitted with a confused expression, one that Raina mirrored as she asked delicately. "I didn't know you…could do that."

"Neither did I."

"Mistress are you sure this girl didn't harm you? Slip you something?"

Chloe was very surprised by the level of concern in the head servant's voice, it was obvious to Chloe that Raina cared deeply for her mistress and the warm relaxed smile Jemma gave Raina in return made Chloe's heart flutter and she didn't know why.

"I promise you Raina, I'm fine. I really did faint, I was…surprised and it caught me off guard. Now if you would be willing I could use some of my special wine and I think our guest Chloe could use some wine as well."

"Would you like me to make a tray for our guest?" Raina asked glancing at Chloe who was still pressed up against the wall looking terrified.

"That would be wonderful thank you Raina."

Raina nodded still eyeing Chloe with suspicion before quietly leaving. Chloe continued to stare at Jemma and now that they were alone the room suddenly seemed suffocating. Chloe held her breath and Jemma took three steps back as she smiled sweetly. "I apologize if I frightened you. Please, come sit with me, if you allow I would like to get to know you."

Chloe was too timid to answer so she nodded her head and slowly approached Jemma. The patient woman gestured to the seats just outside the bedroom, a small patio that overlooked Pompeii. Jemma lead the way and took a seat giving Chloe time to approach on her own. Jemma took several deep breaths trying to hide her own nervousness yet Chloe saw it and grew confused again, why would this rich woman be nervous to talk to a newly freed slave.

Chloe took her seat just as Raina returned with another servant following close behind. They set down two pitchers of wine and one pitcher of water, two cups and a tray over loaded with fruit, meat, cheese, bread and deserts. Raina poured Jemma her "wine" then poured water and wine into the other cup for Chloe.

"Will you require anything else Mistress?" Raina asked still watching Chloe.

"No, that will be all. Thank you Raina and I don't want to be disturbed."

"Yes Mistress." Raina and the other servant left and the silence became deafening, Chloe fidgeted with her fingers quietly checking everything out in quick glances. Tension from the silence mounted growing so thick it felt oppressive even in the open air.

"Chloe? May I call you Chloe?"

Chloe nodded her head yes.

"Please feel free to speak openly, you will not be judge by me or punished in any way. And please call me Jemma."

"That's not proper." Chloe replied then looked shocked she had spoken and quickly shut her mouth. Jemma smiled amused, "Proper is whatever we make of it. Please call me Jemma."

"Okay."

"Thank you."

"Can I ask you a question…Jemma?"

Jemma fought the smile growing on her face and Chloe noticed.

"You can ask me anything Chloe. For you I am an open book."

"Why? Why are you so nice to me? Why did you save me? Why did you free me? What do you want from me? And please don't tell me you don't want something, everyone wants something."

"Let me answer each question separately. First, I do what I want when I want and no one can tell me different. I have been…on my own…for a long time. Next, I'm actually a nice person unless they doesn't deserve my civility then it's another story entirely. I saved you because I don't like rape at all and I freed you because I don't keep slaves, I never have and I never will. And to be honest at first I only wanted to help you start a new life, it's something I do for every slave I've freed. However, now, I would like to get to know you. The only thing I want from you Chloe is your time; I want to get to know you."

Chloe knew Jemma was telling the truth yet it confused her even more. With a lost expression Chloe admitted, "I don't understand."

Jemma smiled warmly, "You remind me of someone I knew once."

"Really? Who?"

"A princess."

"A princess?" Chloe asked with disbelief, Jemma chuckled softly smiling as she nodded and insisted. "No, really. Her name was Skye and she was a princess. She was the most beautiful woman anyone had ever seen and she was loving and warm and strong. She was the strongest person I had ever known, she inspires me to be…better every single day."

Chloe listened with great interest, she immediately pressed. "You knew her well?"

"We were very close, yes." Jemma said with a sad smile, she heard Chloe's heart beat speed up.

"What happened to her?"

"She died." Jemma couldn't stop the tears that formed or the one that escaped down her cheek, she quickly wiped it away and Chloe did not see the color only the gesture.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have asked."

"No, no. It's okay Chloe. When I said you could ask me anything I meant it." Jemma smiled a bit brighter and it relaxed Chloe enough for her to ask. "Jemma where are you from?"

"A small city in the East, it's called Qattara. Where are you from?"

"Amphipolis."

"You're Greek?"

"I thought you could tell by my name."

"Sometimes a name has nothing to do where you're from. Knowing you're Greek means that name was not given to you in jest. Being named after a fate is serious business and to be named after the most powerful fate of all…" Jemma let the words fade away as her mind spun at the implications of Skye's reincarnation being named after the fate in control of life and death.

"So tell me Chloe, how did you end up in Pompeii?" Jemma asked getting up and pushing the wine and tray of food toward Chloe, the young woman blushed and began to eat and drink as she explained. "Well, I was born in Amphipolis but raised in Athens. I was educated until I was nine. I was taught to read and write in three languages and how to do math. But my mother died when I was nine followed by my father soon after. My uncle was poor, he owed a lot of debt; he sold me to slavers in Nicopolis."

"Please go on." Jemma gently pushed as she refilled Chloe's wine cup.

With a shy smile Chloe kept talking sharing with Jemma what it was like to be put into slavery as a child, how she watched other girls and young women sold off to brothels to be "worked to death", how she escaped that same fate by making it clear she was educated, earning a spot in a large house working as a tutor for the masters children. Looking off in the distance with tears welling up in her eyes and Chloe's voice changed, going lower and softer as she described what came next. "The master took notice of me, he forced…himself on me and the mistress of the house found out and I was beaten. Then I was sold to a different house that same day. My next owner was not as kind, I was forced to work the fields then forced to work as a bed warmer, they were also not kind. I…I couldn't take it. I ran away. I only got two towns over before I was caught; that when they put the collar on me and the ankle shackles. When I was returned, the master tried to break me."

Chloe paused to wipe away her tears and Jemma reached out taking Chloe's hand surprising the both of them and yet it gave Chloe the strength to go on. "They tried beating me, I spit at them. They tried raping me but I bit it off. That's when I ran, I was supposed to go to the gold mines down south but running forced a bounty to be put on my head. The slave trader wasn't supposed to sell me, he was supposed to return me."

Jemma's eyes went wide. "Wait, you bit…it off? Wow, I have never heard of a slave doing that. You are so strong Chloe; I honestly don't know many people in this world who could survive such circumstances. And that you ran not once but many times! And you kept fighting back. I am in awe of your strength Chloe, in awe."

Chloe wiped away her tears and shrugged with a shy smile.

"No, really Chloe I am in awe of you. I have known many people in my long life and yet only a small handful have shown the strength you have. And I promise you Chloe, you will never be a slave again. Even if it take every resource I have I guarantee that you will not have to go back to that life."

"What do I owe you for such kindness?" Chloe asked with an innocent hopeful expression.

"Be happy. That is all I can ask of you." Jemma replied with a warm smile, she muffled a giggle that bubbled up from Chloe's happy confused expression.

"Now, you haven't eaten much. Please, eat."

"Are you not eating?" Chloe asked hesitantly reaching out for a piece of meat and cheese.

"I already ate. And my wine will satisfy me. You are my guest, please eat."

The warm reassuring smile Jemma gave Chloe finally put the young woman at ease and she began to eat with vigor and cleared half the tray before slowing down to ask. "Jemma, am I really free?"

"You are. Do you remember what that's like?"

"Not really."

"I can teach you how to adjust. We'll get some new clothes for you, we'll go shopping. Pompeii has some of the best shops in Campania and…"

Chloe's face fell and Jemma stopped talking. "What's wrong Chloe? Does that not sound like fun? We can do something else if you prefer?"

"Really?"

"Of course. What did you have in mind?"

"Do you have any horses?" Chloe asked with a hesitant expression and Jemma smiled wide. "Yes I have many horses. Would you like to go riding? We can take a ride through the countryside, and we can picnic too."

Chloe smiled wide and relaxed even more. "Jemma, how did you end up in Pompeii if you're from the East. Did you move here to marry?"

"I've never been married. And no, after I lost Skye I had to move on."

Chloe stared at Jemma expectantly prompting Jemma to keep talking. And as the sun set and night took hold Jemma and Chloe kept talking; the more Jemma told Chloe the more Chloe wanted to know. Jemma was happily surprised to find out Chloe was actually quite intelligent; when Jemma took Chloe to her library and showed her the maps she had collected Chloe knew how to read them. In fact every time Jemma discussed something that most common people would have no understanding of, Chloe proved that not only did she understand it, she could point out stuff on it that even Jemma wasn't aware of.

Chloe confessed, "My father, before he passed, was a map maker."

Jemma was delighted to show Chloe the knowledge she had collected over the years. And they kept talking late into the night, Chloe was very curious and that Jemma let her wander and explore delighted Chloe to no end.

Several times Jemma had to step back and pinch herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming. Chloe had Skye's face, Skye's laugh, and she had Skye's silly sense of humor. Hearing Chloe speak, the gestures she made with her hands even the quirky half smile all made Jemma's dead heart flutter.

They talked all evening long wrapped up in each other with only the rising sun to remind them of the outside world. Jemma had felt the sun's motions even in the dead of night, her body was in tune with the world, she felt the sun rise as she felt the birds in the skies hearts beat. And Jemma knew Chloe was getting tired yet it was not until the young woman yawned twice that Jemma finally put an end to their conversation and to the evening.

Chloe resisted, insisting she was not tired but Jemma gently pleaded and showed Chloe to a guest bedroom inside her own villa. When Chloe realized, she instantly blushed and turned incredibly shy.

"Jemma…I…this is….I…Jemma I'm not sure…I…this is so much…I…" Chloe stammered until Jemma reached out gently shushing her with a finger to Chloe's lips. "I know what you're thinking. You're not a slave, you're not a servant, Chloe you are my guest and this guest room is the best I have to offer. Please accept my hospitality."

Chloe blinked a dozen times at Jemma and Jemma had to suppress her growing amusement by pressing her lips together to hide the smile. Chloe frowned and blurted out. "What will everyone think of you for being so kind to me?"

"I don't care what they think. Chloe, to be honest, I don't care what anyone thinks of what I do in my own home. I'm too old to care and frankly unless they show up at my gate with several legions I'm going to keep doing whatever I like when I like."

Chloe stared at Jemma with awe. "I have never met anyone like you before Jemma, you are so different."

"I could say the same thing about you. Now get some sleep and when you wake come find me or Raina. I would like to continue our conversation and take the horses out for a long ride this afternoon if you're willing."

"That would be wonderful Jemma, thank you. May the gods bless you and reward you with sweet dreams."

Jemma smiled sincerely, "The gods have already given me everything I've ever desired."

On a whim, Chloe suddenly leaned forward grabbing both of Jemma's hands and pulled them up then placed a gentle kiss on each palm shocking them both and sending a shiver up Jemma's spine with each soft press of Chloe's lips. Jemma stopped breathing for a long moment she could feel her dead heart beat fast and hard inside her chest. Swallowing the lump that had formed in the back of her throat, she took a deep breath whispering to the young woman. "Sleep well Chloe."

Jemma played it cool nodding once to Chloe and closed the curtain giving the young woman privacy. Jemma could still see, feel and smell Chloe through the thick curtain of material; the young woman's scent was intoxicating, heady, clean and sweet. Jemma's heart sped up, she felt her mouth water and her nipples harden, she was aroused and in another heartbeat she felt ashamed for her intense abrupt reaction. Silently backing up three paces, Jemma turned and ran from the villa; she didn't stop until she reached the base of the volcano where there was a fence marking the edge of her property and startling a guard on patrol.

The guard nodded to Jemma and kept going whistling a happy tune, she was relived to be alone. In the cool morning air, she took several deep breaths and mentally willed herself to have control.

"You're too old to act like this, control Jemma, take control!"

The volcano rumbled shaking the earth beneath her feet and she frowned. The rumbling always made her stomach twist into knots, the way the earth would shake worried her and had worried her since the last earthquake that almost took down the city. Jemma stared at the mountain for a long time, letting the morning sun soak into her skin making her itch.

The sun no longer posed harm to Jemma yet it caused an annoying sensation nothing more. She stayed in the sun often it was nice and allowed her to think despite the irritation. This day her mind wandered to her new guest and Jemma turned heading over to the stables surprising her stable hands. Jemma gave instruction to have the horses ready by mid-day then went in search of Fitz.

She found her closest friend still working in his shop, Jemma gently began persuading him to take a break to play a game, Fitz only relented when she mentioned she wanted to play his new game. Fitz called it Chess, Jemma found it fascinating and a thrilling exercise in strategy. Jemma was in high spirits and mirthfully joked with Fitz after winning three games in a row catching his attention.

"I have a feeling I've missed something." Fitz commented watching Jemma closely.

"Why do you say that?" Jemma asked with the same grin she had been wearing all morning long.

"Because you don't smile like that unless something really good has happened. So, tell me!"

"I don't want to jinx it."

"That good huh?" Fitz asked with a half smile, Jemma's good mood was infectious.

"I think it may be."

"Do I get a hint as to why?"

"If you really must know…I freed a slave yesterday."

"Really? Why? Did Raina purchase new slaves for the estate?" Fitz asked with a confused expression that made Jemma giggle.

"No, we were taking a walk through the city when we stopped by the Temple of Isis. I sent Raina in to make my offering to the goddess when I happened upon an attempted rape. A slaver was taking advantage of his stock."

"And you stopped it." Fitz finished for her with a knowing smile, it was not the first time Jemma had stepped in to save someone. Jemma nodded and Fitz asked. "So what of the slave? Do we have a new servant?"

"No, I've asked her to stay…as my guest."

"Your guest? Jemma, you never ask a human to stay as your guest unless there is a purpose behind it. Who is this ex-slave that has caught your attention? Is it someone important? Do you remember when we stumbled across that Greek writer, what was his name again. I always forget."

"Aesop. He was a fun diversion and interesting. I liked his stories."

"So is it another writer? A person of political importance?"

"No and no."

Fitz frowned and gave Jemma a probing expression, she laughed. "I know you Fitz, you never let anything go so if you must know the slave I've freed is a young woman named Chloe. She's asleep in the guest room in my villa if you'd like to take peek. I think when you see the young woman's face you'll understand."

Fitz frowned even more and immediately stood up rushing off. Jemma remained seated and patiently waited. Fitz returned a few minutes later, he entered his shop with a slow stumbling pace and an open mouth wide-eyed expression that remained on his face until he reclaimed his seat across from Jemma.

"I…I…can't believe it…I…I never thought I'd see it. I thought it was just empty hope. Jemma, Jemma do you know what this means? I can't believe she's finally returned. She looks exactly like she did before…Jemma?" Fitz stammered shaking his head in disbelief.

"When I saw her face the first time I fainted."

"What! Fainted? How? I…I thought we couldn't do that anymore. We are very old Jemma. Are you sure that's what it was?"

"Oh yes, scared Raina half to death and all our servants. But I did faint then I talked to the girl. I know it's her Fitz, I know its Skye's finally come back to me."

"How do you know?"

"I talked all night with her. It's Skye reborn. The goddess Lilith said it would happen, I thought it was just false hope. I was…shocked to see her again. I feel like I'm dreaming."

"I can understand why. So…what is this…Chloe like?" Fitz asked leaning in. Jemma smiled and they huddled a little closer as Jemma began telling Fitz all she knew about Chloe. Fitz was enthralled and they began a discussion on reincarnation. The trip to India allowed everyone in the family to meet and get to know Siddhartha and from him they learned of Buddhism. Many ideas from that time lingered in their minds. For Jemma it was the first time encountering the fully fleshed out idea of reincarnation outside of the goddess Lilith. The man who would become known as the Buddha was the only person Jemma had personally offered the Kiss to and had been turned down. When he finally passed they all mourned him, Jemma took his death the hardest.

It was not difficult for Jemma and Fitz to get lost in a deep intellectual discussion for hours on end. They could out debate, out think and out argue the best minds in history without breaking a sweat. They found over time that due to their limited lives normal humans could not wrap their minds around many ideas and concepts that were emerging in various cultures across the known world. However Jemma and Fitz had no such limitations.

For half the day Jemma and Fitz debated and discussed reincarnation and the possibilities surrounding it. No one bothered them until mid-day when Raina politely knocked and entered with their "lunch" and as she set the pitchers of warmed blood down upon the table she announced. "Mistress, your guest has risen and is eating. She inquired when she could speak to you about…going for a ride?"

"Wonderful! I've already had the stable prepare the horses. When Chloe is finished eating, give her the proper clothing and shoes then escort her here. I want to introduce our guest to Fitz before we leave."

"You're going riding? In the middle of the day?" Raina asked with a confused expression. Most servants would never speak out of hand or question their masters commands however Raina had a different relationship with her Mistress.

"Yes I am going for a ride in the middle of the day. I thought a ride in the sun would be safer for our guest then having her accompany me on one of my midnight rides in the dark."

Raina thought about it nodding in agreement before excusing herself to deliver the message. Fitz waited until Raina was out of the room to burst into hearty laughter.

"Raina is so cute, she seems so perplexed by this guest."

"Well, so did you until I explained." Jemma replied with a grin. Fitz laughed nodding in agreement. They resumed drinking their lunch and a short time later Raina returned this time with Chloe beside her.

Jemma's face lit up when Chloe entered the room, Fitz grinned enjoying seeing his oldest friend happy for once. Chloe immediately noticed Fitz and grew shy, this only made Fitz grin wider. When they reached them, Fitz stood up offering his hand to Chloe, a gesture not lost on Raina who looked puzzled by the warm familiar greeting he was giving this stranger. "I've heard many wonderful things about you Chloe. It's wonderful to meet you." Fitz kept the warm inviting smile on his face as he extended his hand a little more. Chloe blushed and smiled as she shook Fitz's hand.

"Chloe this is Fitz, he's my oldest and dearest friend. Fitz this is Chloe." Jemma stated trying to suppress the smile that came up when she looked at Chloe.

"It's nice to meet you Fitz." Chloe replied shaking Fitz's hand, she was a little taken aback by how Fitz met her gaze without hesitation or judgement. "I know you two have plans to go riding but would you join me for a drink first? I've heard so many wonderful things about you. Im eager to find out if its all true."

"How could I say no to such a enest request. Jemma would you mind if we had a drink with your friend first?"

Jemma smiled and shook her head no. Raina bowed and left, she returned a few moments later with a pitcher of actual wine and a pitcher of water setting both down on the table next to the covered pitchers that contained the warmed blood. Jemma nodded to Raina and the servant refilled Jemma and Fitz's cups then poured Chloe's from the other pitcher.

"Thank you Raina."

"Your welcome Chloe. Mistress, I will be gathering the meal to take with you on youir ride this afternoon."

"Thank you Raina that will be all." Jemma answered giving her head servant a happy smile that made Raina smile in return.

Chloe kept shifting her gaze from Jemma to Fitz with a nervous tick, it made Fitz grin a little wider and reach out to pull Chloe over to the table they had been sitting at.

"Chloe do you play games?" Fitz asked as he gently pushed Chloe into a chair.

"Um, a few times when I was a child."

"Would you like to try one I invented myself?" Fitz asked with an eager expression that drew out a shy smile from Chloe, she looked around then asked. "Is this your shop?"

"My workshop but I don't sell any of my inventions." Fitz stated and Jemma laughed adding. "Instead he gives them out to let other men take credit for his work."

"Really? Why?" Chloe asked Fitz and he sheepishly shrugged. "I don't need the acclaim. It's enough that my inventions work or bring joy like my games do."

"What sort of things have you invented?" Chloe asked a sparkle in her eyes that made Fitz light up. Jemma smiled and sat back sipping on her "wine" content to let Fitz and Chloe talk shop, Fitz loved to show off his inventions but only to people with enough intelligence to understand them.

"Come and see, I'll show you everything I'm working on." Fitz declared pulling Chloe out of the seat and pulling her along with him as he moved to the center of the large work shop.

From her comfortable spot Jemma could hear Fitz and Chloe's conversation and for a moment Jemma thought they'd be right back and they could go on their ride. However, Chloe was as intelligent as Jemma had boasted and Fitz was beyond delighted when Chloe asked a simple yet complex question about the mechanisms in a water clock, pointing out several problems she noticed from just observing the outside of the invention. When Chloe began asking questions about different counter weights and how that would affect the clock Jemma realized her mistake and got up going in search of Raina.

Jemma canceled the afternoon ride and personally unpacked the lunch placing everything on a silver tray and carrying it back to Fitz's workshop where she found Chloe and Fitz in deep conversation about the physics that allowed the yo-yo to return to the holder's hand after unraveling it. Jemma quietly set the tray down and patiently waited until Chloe and Fitz's conversation was finished which wasn't until long after the sun set.

"Oh I'm so sorry Jemma. I completely forgot about the ride. I'm a terrible guest." Chloe announced looking stricken when she realized how late it was. Fitz was quick to jump in and defend Chloe. "Now Jemma you can't be mad at Chloe for making you wait, it wasn't her fault it was mine. You know how I get when I show off my work, I don't get to do that often and never to someone who actually understands what I'm trying to do."

"I know Fitz and I'm not mad, not at all. I've really enjoyed listening to you talk all afternoon. It was the best entertainment I've had in centuries."

"You're really not mad? Really?" Chloe asked obviously surprised. Jemma smiled warmly reaching out and grabbing Chloe's hand giving it a light squeeze as she nodded yes assuring the young woman. "I'm glad you've taken to Fitz, he's a wonderful man and we're short on real friends or even real conversations. You are a treasure to us both. For far too long we've had to make due with conversations between just the two of us. To have someone else to converse with is like drinking from a cool spring after traveling a long hot desert."

Chloe smiled shyly squeezing Jemma's hand back and held on much to Jemma's private delight. With a little hesitation in her voice Chloe looked into Jemma's eyes to ask, "Jemma will you, and Fitz, tell me more about your travels? You both hint at all these magnificent things and I would love to know more, if that's alright?"

"I would enjoy telling you all about it. What about you Fitz? Are you up for some storytelling tonight?"

"I think I am."

They moved from Fitz's shop to Jemma's villa where Raina awaited them. Jemma lead them to the intimate sitting area that overlooked the city and Raina was quick to get them the proper refreshments. Jemma gestured for Chloe to take the seat in the middle while she and Fitz sat on each side of the young woman. They settled in and Chloe was quick to comment, "Is that Pompeii?"

"Yes."

"It's so beautiful from up here." Chloe said with wide eyes that drank in the illuminated city.

"Have you never seen the lights of the city from a distance?" Fitz asked innocently and yet a dark cloud shadowed Chloe's smile as she replied. "Slaves don't get to go sightseeing."

"Well that's all changed now, maybe later we'll take a walk to see the mountain, at night you can see the glow of the god inside." Jemma said reaching out to gently squeeze Chloe's hand only this time when Jemma let go Chloe entwined their fingers. No one spoke of it and the conversation moved on.

"Well the first time I saw a real city from a distance at night it was Thebes. It was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen and it was more people than I ever dreamed would be in once place." Fitz admitted earning him a smile from Chloe.

"The more we traveled the more we learned about what was in the world and yet the way a city is illuminated by life still holds so much beauty." Jemma added and Chloe lost the sad expression and smiled with open joy. Jemma and Fitz began telling stories about the places they had visited, the simple adventures they had stumbled across and all the different people they encountered. Chloe asked dozens of questions, she was wrapped up in the excitement of it and pushed to learn more. They sat talking for hours and hours until the sky began to lighten with the new day. And ever so slowly Chloe grew tired then sleepy yet fought it in desire to stay up and hear more.

Fitz and Jemma were a little lost in their own memories of their vast past and didn't noticed Chloe's eyes flutter then shut, they did notice Chloe moving to sit with Jemma and curl up beside Jemma using Jemma's shoulder as a pillow. Out of reflex Jemma wrapped her arm around Chloe holding her close. The conversation died away and they sat in silence watching the sun rise while watching Chloe sleep.

When they both heard Chloe's breathing and heartbeat shift slowing down a bit, they knew Chloe was in a deep, deep sleep. Breaking the tranquil silence, Fitz said "I didn't know Skye; I never got the chance however I can't help but wonder what she was like now that I've met Chloe. Is it odd Jemma that I already like this girl?"

"No, it is not odd. One day and I've already gotten so fond of her, it frightens me. Then I think of Skye, and it was just as fast. The first time Skye looked into my eyes I was hers completely. That night with Skye was the happiest night of my life, it was the first time everything felt right it felt good. Nothing that has happened to me since can compare, it's as if someone poured a whole jug of water into my cup of wine." Jemma said wistfully then added with a small growing smile. "I was a little disturbed at first that this young woman looked exactly like Skye. Then I talked to her and that feeling welled up. I didn't know I was still capable of feeling and yet here I was enamored with this—human. I kept telling myself that it was simply because Chloe looked like Skye only the longer I talked to Chloe the more I noticed the small things that were all Skye. The crooked half smile, the twinkle in her eyes and the intensity of her mind. Even the way Chloe frowns and raises that one eyebrow when she's challenged, that's Skye."

"And that feeling? What does it tell you?"

"That I've found Skye again, that the Goddess has honored her word and brought her back to me." Jemma said with a red tear welling up in her eyes, she was quick to wipe it away and smile with relived happiness.

"What are we to do now? We have the rest of the family coming in a handful of days for our annual celebration. Will you hide her away, make her leave to travel to another city where she'll be safe or keep her here and hope that Bobbi and the several other lovers you've taken over the last two centuries don't try to murder her out of spite."

"I don't think Bobbi would murder anyone over spite or jealousy. You need to give Bobbi more credit than that." Jemma interrupted and Fitz sheepishly nodded in agreement. "You're right. Bobbi we can trust not to lose her head but the others? I'm not so sure. You know Jemma, you never did tell me why you chose your lovers from those Melinda and Bobbi, have turned? Why not find a human and turn them yourself? Why leave anything to chance?"

"I never liked the idea of being my lover's master. Humans die too quickly and too easily, our kind, well they're much heartier and long lasting. I thought by taking lovers that could last I might lead to happiness instead of frustration and trouble. I may be very intelligent but at times I am not smart at all."

Fitz laughed nodding in agreement, "Well Jemma you're not the only one. We've all had those moments. I like to think its tied to what's left of us that's human."

"Fitz, am I too old to love? Too old to be loved? Am I told old to love someone who's still human? Or I am too far gone. I'm frightened that if I allow myself to try, allow myself to love this girl I will doom us both." Jemma asked unconsciously holding Chloe a little tighter.

Fitz looked at them both then over to the city with a worried expression. "I'm not the right person to answer that question Jemma. I've never experienced love as you have. I have not made the sacrifices you have or suffered the consequences as you have. However, I do know this: the love you share with Skye goes beyond life and death, Skye's reincarnation into Chloe proves that. That love that you two share is worth fighting for and I have faith in the Goddess will honor you both. She chose you for a reason Jemma, it wasn't because of me, it wasn't Melinda and it wasn't Bobbi. The goddess chose you because of the love you shared with Skye. Chloe proves that love will transcend time and human life, it will transcend all Jemma."

"What should I do with Chloe? Should I run away with her or turn her to keep for all time?" Jemma asked studying the young woman sleeping in her arms.

"A decision such as that cannot be answered quickly Jemma, give yourself time think things through and the answer will come to you. All I am certain of is that you cannot miss our annual gathering, without you all that we've built will crumble."

"I know, that's why I'm so conflicted. I have all the time in the world and when I need it I have no time at all."

They sat in silence for a long moment eyes on the lightening early morning sky, when sun peaked over the horizon Fitz grimaced in pain. "And with the rising sun I must go lie down and rest for a while. Not everyone can withstand the pain of the new light. Give my apologies to Chloe for not joining you on the ride today."

"I will."

"Three days Jemma. Three days and the family will be here. You must decide what you will do within two."

"I know Fitz, good morning and sleep well."

"Good morning Jemma." Fitz replied with a resolved nod as he got up, leaving to head back to his own villa to rest.

Jemma sat there holding Chloe watching the sun rise and silently praying the goddess to give them time together.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

When Chloe awoke in Jemma's arms it began something new, something pure and beautiful.

Chloe felt different, she felt whole and content for the first time in her life. Part of it was the feeling of being free. And she somehow knew that Jemma was serious about her being free. That there were no strings attached to her freedom and if she wished she could leave at any time. The question was did she want to leave? The answer was simple yet so completely complicated. No. Chloe wanted to stay right where she was, which was with Jemma. Something about being around the other woman pulled her in, something about the beautiful woman spoke without words to Chloe touching her deep down inside in a way she didn't know was possible.

When Jemma saved her, Chloe thought she was dreaming. Not because someone had rescued her, but, because Jemma had rescued her. Chloe recognized Jemma instantly, how could she not? Chloe had dreamed of the same beautiful woman with strawberry lips and skin the color of fresh milk with dark slightly curly hair and dark eyes that could see through her for as long as Chloe could remember. The dreams didn't change as she grew up; Chloe didn't know the dream woman's name she only knew her face and the dress the beautiful woman wore. The gown was unlike anything she had ever seen before, a yellow dress that covered most of her along with a silver and gold veil in a style Chloe didn't recognize. The woman under the veil wore thick eye makeup and smelled of rose oil. In Chloe's dreams this woman laughed, touched her and kissed her. Chloe fell in love with this dream woman, resigned to the idea she'd never be real and then Jemma rescued her.

Chloe didn't understand how this woman could be real and here she was pulling Chloe out the misery that was her life. And not only was this woman real, Jemma wanted to spend time with her and get to know her. Jemma was even better than the dream woman, being physically close with Jemma was better than any of the dreams. Jemma made her feel so comfortable and wanted.

Then Jemma introduced her to Fitz, and he made Chloe feel accepted.

Waking up in Jemma's arms seeing the affection in the other woman's eyes made Chloe feel so good she wanted to be bold and kiss Jemma on the lips, however she didn't act and the moment passed. Jemma got Chloe breakfast and let her eat while she got the horses ready for an early morning ride. They were gone before mid-morning taking a path that led around the entire city, Jemma showed her everything then surprised Chloe with a picnic for lunch.

Jemma lead them to a spot along the coast in a shaded spot under a tree. Jemma laid out a blanket two bottles of wine with two cups, bread, cheese and dried fish with black olives and oil. Chloe thought it was odd that Jemma declined to eat any of the food she had brought with them, Jemma only wanted to drink from the one bottle and insisted Chloe drink from the other. Jemma had kept the conversation light throughout the ride and continued to talk while Chloe ate. Chloe didn't give the oddities another thought when Jemma offered to refill her cup for her, it was such a small yet meaningful gesture that made Chloe feel special.

That special feeling made Chloe's heart swell and when she looked into Jemma's eyes she felt impulsive and bold. This overwhelming electrifying sensation pushed Chloe into action, she set her cup down and reached out taking hold of Jemma's hand. The gesture surprised the other woman into silence and Chloe took a chance and leaned in kissing Jemma on the lips.

Chloe felt Jemma tense up and inside she panicked, she moved to pull back but Jemma grabbed her by the arms holding her and kissing Chloe back. Feeling Jemma's hands move up into her hair, Chloe opened her mouth seeking out the other woman with her tongue and was rewarded with the hottest kiss she had ever experienced. She melted into Jemma's embrace, her head swam and her world spun; she needed more and in her daze as the kiss continued with a dance of tongues Chloe pushed Jemma back straddling Jemma hips and holding Jemma's arms down by the wrists. Chloe broke the kiss to pull back enough to look deeply into Jemma's eyes which were dark with lust and intense desire.

Chloe stared hard into Jemma's eyes searching for hesitation, doubt or rejection and she found none, Jemma stared right back with a look of barely restrained desire. It made Chloe feel powerful and in the next instant she was overwhelmed by images of her dream woman and bits of her dreams disorienting Chloe, making her blink and shake her head. The images from her dreams became superimposed on what was happening now, the images layered on top one another made each one blur. Chloe sat back grimacing with her eyes closed her hands clenched at the side of her face.

"Chloe? Chloe? What's wrong?" Jemma softly begged as she reached up to pull Chloe's hands down to reach up and use her fingertips to gently massage the sides of Chloe's face in effort to help ease whatever pain Chloe was in. Jemma sat up and kept gently massaging Chloe's head as the young woman took a deep breath and slowly calmed down eyes still clamped shut. Jemma could hear the other woman's heart beat fast and hard and what smelled like fear. Worried and feeling helpless Jemma asked quietly. "Please tell me what's wrong Chloe, I need to help. Please."

"I don't know what's wrong Jemma the dreams are invading my waking life. I can't stop it and it hurts, it hurts." Chloe admitted leaning in to Jemma and letting the other woman hold her tight. The contact of their skin, the rose oil lightly adorning Jemma's skin calmed Chloe's mind and stopped the images from painfully overlapping. Waiting patiently in silence Jemma held Chloe tight until the young woman could speak.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what that was. That's never happened before."

"What was it? You said it was dreams?"

"Yes. I…I don't know if I should tell you this. It might scare you away." Chloe admitted with tears welling up in her eyes, she held onto Jemma even tighter. Jemma could smell the salt of Chloe's tears and began rubbing soothing circles on Chloe's back. "Chloe, there is nothing you could say to scare me away. I want to be with you Chloe, if you'll have me."

Chloe burst out into deep sobs pressing her face hard into Jemma' neck and Jemma just held her and kept rubbing Chloe's back patiently waiting for the other woman to calm. Eventually when she did Chloe apologized and tried to explain. "I'm sorry for my outburst Jemma. Those…dreams. I've had them for as long as I can remember and always of the same things." Chloe fell silent and Jemma pushed back far enough to look Chloe in the eye and plead with her. "You can tell me anything. Please Chloe."

"The dreams are of a beautiful woman smiling at me, laughing and talking to me. The woman also kisses me and…touches me and it always feels so good but when I wake up I always felt so lonely and empty. Jemma, the dream woman had your face."

"Really? Do you remember anything else from your dreams? Any other details?" Jemma asked in a quiet voice as if she had a hard time speaking, Chloe didn't notice she was lost in her own thoughts.

"Her dress, she wore a very beautiful yellow dress that covered most of her and a veil of gold and silver. And when she takes the veil off, she has thick eye makeup on." Chloe replied and Jemma's eyes went wide, her eyes filled with red tears. Quickly wiping away the red, Jemma took several deep breaths looking as if she had seen the gods themselves. Chloe noticed Jemma's reaction and was afraid it meant Jemma would send her away, however before Chloe could get up or move away Jemma suddenly turned to her asking. "Did the woman in the dreams ever tell you her name?"

"No, from what I remember when she spoke I didn't understand."

"Did it sound like this?" Jemma asked then shifted her speech speaking the language to which she was born to and Chloe's eyes lit up. "Yes! That's it! Jemma how do you know that language? What language is it?"

"Chloe…this is going to sound strange but you were dreaming of me. Actually you were dreaming of us."

Chloe's eyes got big and she frowned at Jemma. "That…doesn't make any sense. How can I have dreamed of you, of us if we have never met before."

"It's complicated…"

"Explain it to me then." Chloe replied moving away from Jemma purposely putting space between them.

"I'll try."

Chloe sat back giving Jemma an expectant look. Jemma looked down frowning as she began. "Every person has a soul, something that is unique to each person that contains all that they are. I've learned the soul does not die but moves on and can be re-born."

"Re-born? What does that mean? How can a person be re-born?" Chloe interrupted and Jemma shrugged going on. "When a person dies, their soul remains and by the gods will can be put into a new person, a baby to be born and live again."

"Why? Why would the gods do that?"

"To give someone a second chance." Jemma paused to search Chloe's face for a reaction and Chloe frowned so Jemma kept talking. "To give me a second chance. When I was a young girl, I lived in a city where two powerful men helped the king run the kingdom. These two men did not get along, they were enemies both hoping to gain the kings favor. My father was one of these men, Skye's father was the other. We never should have met but a chance occurrence allowed us to met and we fell in love as would a husband and wife. And as you know love of our type would never be allowed to flourish. Skye and I were caught, we were arrested and sentenced to death. I watched Skye die in front of me then I was left in a cage with her to watch her rot as I slowed withered away."

Chloe's eyes filled with tears and silently fell as she took in the horror of Jemma's past. Jemma's eyes were on the distance, her mind lost in terrible memory as she continued to speak. "My friend Bobbi recused me and with Fitz and my friend Melinda I was able to escape death…I…not long after I stumbled across a temple of a Goddess I had never heard of before. The Goddess name was Lilith and she told me I could get Skye back; that I needed time and she would return to me. I think that's what this is."

"You think I'm Skye returned? Am I not enough for you Jemma? Do you need me to be this other person to love me? I…I…I think I love you Jemma but I don't know how to wrap my head around this…it's all too bizarre."

"Chloe, I know this sounds strange and it is, it's very strange but I'm telling the truth. I've been searching for Skye since the day the goddess told me there was a chance. I never thought it would actually happen, only a few wise even knew what reincarnation was and even I thought he was crazy until now."

"You don't actually like me you want me to be someone else. I feel sick. Can we go back to the villa?" Chloe asked retreating to the corner of the blanket as far away from Jemma as possible.

"But your dreams prove its true!"

"The gods or even you could have put those dreams into my mind. Try to fool me into loving you. I…I…I want to go back to the villa now, please." Chloe stated unable to look Jemma in the eyes.

Jemma frowned and reached out for Chloe, the younger woman cringed and recoiled away. The pain of being soundly rejected by Chloe hurt Jemma worse than anything else had in her long undead life. Jemma was stunned silent, after waiting over fifteen centuries she finally found Skye again and was lost to her. Thoughts of suicide sprang up in Jemma's mind as she physically reeled from the very physical pain Chloe's rejection caused. She felt heavy, numb yet unbelievably painfully so.

Jemma struggled to regain her composure. She had a reputation for never losing her head, for always keeping her eyes on the ball and able to overcome anything—unsurmountable odds, setbacks and betrayals and yet nothing prepared her for this moment in whichJemma felt her heart stop, her body fell quiet and for the first time since becoming one with the Goddess Lilith Jemma felt the full burden of being what she was, a monster. She could hear the quick beat of Chloe's heart, she could smell the fear on Chloe's skin and with every beat of Chloe's heart Jemma felt the pain slip into total icy numbness.

Without word, Jemma stood and walked back to the horses that were tethered to a nearby tree. Silently she waited for Chloe to follow, in her mind Jemma planned what was to happen next out of reflex not need. Jemma's body and mind were running on autopilot and she felt outside herself. Climbing onto the horse Jemma with slow resignation, she barely registered the sound of Chloe following.

"Shouldn't we take this back with us?" Chloe asked on the verge of tears and Jemma didn't answer.

Chloe felt terrible and she didn't know how to fix it. It was obvious to the young woman her words had cut the other woman deeply. Jemma glanced at Chloe from over her shoulder, looking at her yet through her, silencing any further questions. The older woman looked as if she had just lost everything, her eyes were so empty and Chloe knew she was the cause.

Chloe was confused, conflicted and in great emotional pain over what she had done. She didn't understand why causing Jemma pain in turned caused her to feel as if she were being torn apart and yet here she was.

They left behind the blanket, the wine and food riding in suffocating silence back to the estate with Jemma leading the way. They were met at the entrance and word of their return was sent ahead by a runner. Raina met them at the stables along with two stable hands to take the horses. The head servant immediately sensed something was off however she refrained from asking when she noticed the dark look on her mistress's face.

Jemma handed the reins over then address Raina with a heavy sigh and resolved tone to her voice. "Raina, I will be indisposed this evening. Please attend to Chloe and make sure our guest has everything she needs."

Chloe stood there with a shocked hurt expression while Jemma's was a mask of cold stone. Raina hid her confusion quickly and nodded before gently ushering Chloe back to the main villa. Chloe kept glancing over her shoulder at Jemma, she hated the wall that was between them, she wanted so badly to speak out and call Jemma back but Chloe didn't know what she would say to the other woman, so she kept silent watching Jemma walk away.

Jemma didn't look back at Chloe even though she very much wanted to, instead she kept her eyes forward and stomped her way over to Fitz's villa, slamming the workshop doors as she entered. Fitz had heard her coming and didn't flitch at the loud noise, instead he kept working and gestured to the bottle of warmed blood on the table. Jemma took a seat next to Fitz landing with a loud heavy sigh of frustration and sadness, something Fitz had not heard from his friend in a long time. Without looking up from his task Fitz bluntly asked. "What happened?"

"I told her the truth and she rejected me. Fifteen centuries of waiting and searching and she rejects me in a day." Jemma confessed red tears welling up and spilling down her cheeks.

Fitz frowned, "Wait, I can't believe that. I've seen how she looks at you, Chloe is in love with you. I don't understand, tell me everything and don't leave anything out."

Jemma nodded sipping on the blood as she told Fitz everything. Only after she was done Fitz declared. "Do not lose hope yet, I don't think Chloe's really rejected you. I think she had a hard time wrapping her mortal human mind around something that took us a few centuries to understand. I think if you give her time she'll come around to it. It's not easy to be told you lived before. I'm surprised she didn't ask how old you are. Not that you don't look great for your age but still, she might ask later. Have you decided what you're going to tell her?"

"No. I haven't."

"Take the time she gives and come up with something to tell her. Chloe's very smart, she'll figure out were not human quickly."

Jemma nodded then sighed, "I'm going to stay here with you for tonight if you don't mind."

"I'd love the company. Would you like that Chess game again?"

"Sure."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Chloe was given free reign of Jemma's villa, Raina drew her a bath while she sat on the balcony absently sipping on wine. She felt numb yet emotionally raw and when she thought of Jemma pain in her heart would flair up and new tears would leak down her face. Raina returned to announce the bath was ready and the head servant noticed the young woman's distraught state right away; however she didn't speak until she helped Chloe undress and step into the bath.

"Would you like more wine Chloe? Some food?"

Chloe stared off into nothing and absently shook her head no. Raina watched Chloe for a long moment with a troubled frown, she moved to leave then stopped and turned back. "Chloe, it's not my place but I'm concerned. Is something wrong? Did something happen?"

Chloe looked up with tears in her eyes, "Why do you care? I thought you didn't like me?"

"It's not a matter of like, it's concern for another young woman. I know you just got here, I know moving past being a slave for so long is hard. Not everyone can do it. I also know you have caught my Mistresses eye which makes you important to her. And in truth I would prefer nothing bad happening to you. Think of me as a concerned friend. So, did something happen today?"

Chloe nodded yes her lips trembling. "Jemma thinks I'm someone else, someone I am not. I think she wants me to leave. Raina, I don't want to leave. I think…I…no I know I'm in love with your Mistress and I don't know what to do about it."

Raina nodded her face full of sympathy. "No one I have ever met has made the Mistress smile like she does around you. You bring a life to her eyes that is so very rare. I will not believe she wants you to leave. Take tonight to rest, sleep the answer of what to do will come to you, you'll see. Now I'm going to get you some spice wine and some food."

"Thank you Raina." Chloe replied sincerely and Raina gave her a real smile in return.

Chloe did drink the wine and ate the food Raina brought her before going to bed as soon as she felt her eyelids grow heavy. And that evening Chloe dreamed, again Jemma appeared smiling beckoning to her however this time it was different, this time Chloe paid attention and sought answers through her dreams and what she found shocked her. And to Chloe's astonishment, the answer remained with her when she woke the next day.

Immediately Chloe sought out a writing stylus and a wax tablet to write down what she remembered. Chloe spent all morning writing on three wax tablets when she came up with an idea. She sought out Raina seeking her help in setting up a surprise for Jemma and when the head servant saw Chloe's renewed vigor and confidence in what she would say to Jemma, Raina did everything she could to help the young woman.

Chloe did ask about Jemma and was disheartened to hear that the Mistress had not made an appearance all night that she was holed up in Fitz's villa. Chloe asked Raina for proper ink and parchment and spent a good deal of time carefully writing out what she had worked out on the durable paper. Morning flew by quickly as did the afternoon, yet as the sun set Chloe was exhausted yet satisfied it was done. Chloe handed the bundled parchment over to Raina with the request that she deliver it to Jemma.

"I will wait here by the display until you return with her answer." Chloe stated exhausted yet resolute. Raina nodded silently taking the parchment and leaving to deliver it immediately.

Raina's mind was on her Mistress and the note she carried bundled in her hands. It was the head servants hope that her Mistress and the young woman worked things out, she wanted her Mistress to be happy. Abruptly interrupting her thoughts was another angry tremor from the mountain, the vibrations silenced any other thought as Raina slowed her step to prevent from tipping over on the suddenly shaking ground. The tremors stopped a moment later and Raina continued on her way.

"I told the Mistress they're getting worse, this is the twenty second tremor in as many days, this is not a good omen, the gods seem angry." Raina whispered out loud to herself with heavy sigh.

Raina knocked politely before entering Fitz's workshop to find Jemma and Fitz playing an endless games of Chess as they had been doing all night and all day. Neither Jemma nor Fitz moved or reacted to Raina's quiet presence until she set the bundle down on the table next to Jemma. "Mistress, Chloe bid me deliver this to you."

"What is it?" Jemma asked her eyes glued to the chess pieces.

"Something the girl has been working on since dawn, she used several wax tablets getting it right before asking for the proper materials to write it down for you." Raina answered with a blank expression on her face and that caught Jemma's attention, Raina never held back with Jemma.

"So I take it you won't be pulling any more daggers on our guest?" Jemma asked sarcastically and Fitz looked up cracking a crooked half smile. Raina didn't react she simply and flatly answered. "No."

That got Jemma to crack her icy expression and she picked up the bundled parchment pulling the leather cord to unravel it. Jemma immediately noticed the careful precise handwriting, Chloe was very skilled. It read:

Do we deserve a second chance?

How did we fall into this circumstance?

We weren't so straight and narrow

This is much more than we deserve

A higher voice has called the tune

Two hearts that lost the beat will now resume

The gift of life extension

By divine intervention

It's gotta be a strange twist of fate

Telling me that Heaven can wait

Telling me to get it right this time

Life doesn't mean a thing

Without the love you bring

Love is what we've found

The second time around

Don't understand what's going on

Woke up this morning, all the hurt was gone

This is a new beginning

I'm back in the land of the living

It's gotta be a strange twist of fate

Telling me that Heaven can wait

Telling me to get it right this time

Life doesn't mean a thing

Without the love you bring

Love is what we've found

The second time around

Jemma read it five times over with tears silently spilling down her cheeks. Fitz grew concerned and got up moving to stand behind Jemma and read the parchment over his friends shoulder.

"By the gods, Jemma does this mean she remembers? This has to mean she remembers being Skye, right?" Fitz asked his face twisted up in worry and confusion.

"Maybe, maybe. There is only one way to know for sure. I need to speak to her." Jemma announced setting the poem down and walking out. Raina and Fitz were quick to follow and they found Chloe patiently waiting just outside on the balcony.

"Chloe?" Jemma called out and the younger woman turned around with a hopeful smile on her face. "Jemma, I have something to show you."

Jemma stepped forward and Chloe reached out taking Jemma's hand pulling her to stand next to her and Chloe announced. "I know who I am, I understand I was wrong. Please forgive me Jemma for not having faith."

"Why the sudden change of heart?" Jemma asked suspiciously yet kept her hand clasped to Chloe's.

"I thought I was dreaming last night. I wasn't…I was remembering. They were never dreams, they were always memories."

"How? How?" Jemma stammered terrified this was a trick. Chloe smiled a tiny smile and replied, "The Goddess came to me while I was asleep and showed me the truth."

"How can I believe you?" Jemma asked in a quiet almost whisper of a voice, she had been visited by the Goddess but she had never heard of the Goddess visiting anyone else—ever.

"Let me show you."

Chloe pulled Jemma to the edge of the balcony and suddenly the empty yard that was directly below Jemma's balcony had been transformed into a lush garden that Jemma recognized.

"By the Gods! It's King Hammau private garden! Fitz! Fitz! Look! Look!"

"How would Fitz know?" Chloe asked confused.

"Fitz's father was the head gardener, I met Fitz playing in this garden when we were children. It's exactly as I remember it. How did you do this?" Jemma asked staring hard into Chloe's eyes searching for deception behind them Fitz walked up and looked his eyes going wide.

"I have not seen this place in many centuries and yet…Jemma she remembers!" Fitz announced with a shock and awe.

"I helped her Mistress. I bought most of the plants from neighboring farms. Is it as you remember?" Raina asked giving Chloe a small fast smile of approval that made Chloe's smile grow.

"It is. I can barely believe my eyes but it is." Jemma replied then dashed off rushing out to head out into the garden with Chloe in tow. Jemma didn't stop until they were in the center of the garden.

"The Goddess really came to you?"

"Yes."

"Then you actually remember…your life before?"

"I remember being Skye but I don't remember my death. My memories are sporadic, they were in pieces but I remember our time together. This was meant to be, we are meant to be."

Jemma pulled Chloe in for a hard long deep kiss, Chloe melted into Jemma's arms and up above Fitz smiled at them then pulled Raina away from the balcony telling the head servant. "I think they need to be alone."

"I'll make sure of it."

Raina retreated into the house and sought out four of the estate's guards putting them on protection duty with the instruction no one was to go into the villa or the garden out back with our her specific permission. Fitz headed back to his villa to write in his personal journal, a record he kept to assist their memory. He began it right away to help himself process everything that happened, now he kept it up to keep their memory accurate because after so many years it began to blur unless something specific was recalled.

Back in the garden a reunion took place.

Pure bliss overwhelming the senses made both women feel as if they were floating above the earth. Once their lips pressed together the rest of the world disappeared. Jemma held on to Chloe as if her life depended upon it, she trembled with barely restrained emotion. Two hearts beats later, Jemma burst into a hard sob breaking the kiss and pressing her face against Chloe's neck as she broke down in heavy red tears. Chloe held Jemma tight letting her own tears fall as she whispered to her love, "I'm sorry you had to wait so long. I'm sorry I didn't believe you. I've missed you too. I love you Jemma. I will love you for forever and through all of time."

Chloe let Jemma cry holding her tight and whispering her love in Jemma's ear. When Jemma finally calmed she pulled back kissing Jemma on the lips seeking her lovers tongue with her own. They fell softly to the grass at their feet, Chloe straddling Jemma kissing her until she couldn't breathe. Pulling back Chloe noticed Jemma's red tears.

"What is this?" Chloe touched the wet, she knew it was blood. Jemma blinked several times licking her lips before finally answering with a worried frown. "It blood."

"Why are you bleeding from the eyes? Are you sick?"

"No. It's…I have to tell you something." Jemma admitted sitting up purposely leaving the blood on her face. Chloe frowned yet nodded yes, refusing to move off of Jemma as she awaited the answer.

"I made a deal with the Goddess Lilith; I needed time to find you and the Goddess gave me a way. I am not as I was before, I am less and at the same time, I am so much more. I am what some call a vampire, one born of the night, immortal yet bound by strict rules. I no longer eat food or drink wine, I sustain my existence with the blood of man."

Chloe didn't move, her face was still a frown. "Show me."

"I…are you sure? The face of the goddess inside of me is not one of human beauty."

"I want to see what you did for me. I need to see it Jemma. I will love you no matter what. I need to know."

Jemma looked Chloe in the eyes and held her love's gaze as she transformed. In the fading light as the sun set Chloe saw Jemma's other face in all its terrible glory. Jemma braced herself for the worst only Chloe's face softened as she took a long moment to really take the change in. Then Chloe smiled as she reached up to trace her fingertips across Jemma's brow, nose and lips. "Nothing can hide your beauty Jemma. I love you, thank you for waiting for me." Chloe kissed Jemma sweetly on the lips, "I've lived a hard life this time around Jemma, I know how precious this is, I won't waste the time we have."

Chloe pushed Jemma back onto the grass then stood up pulling off her dress revealing her nude body to Jemma whose eyes went wide, she smiled and quickly stripped her own clothes. Once they were equally nude Chloe climbed back on top of Jemma kissing her hard and deep and reaching out to touch every inch of Jemma's body. Neither woman was innocent this time around; they knew exactly what they wanted, what they needed as they sought out each other's bodies with their hands and mouths, bringing each other to the heights of ecstasy again and again.

As night set in and the moon rose high up into the sky the torn apart lovers made love and reconnected; renewing their bond and giving both much deserved happiness.

PART FIVE: THE STORM HITS

79 AD, 22nd of November, the city of Pompeii…

The winter storm had raged for three days with no end in sight. Jemma watched the raging rain, wind and claps of lightening with rolling thunder from the balcony with Chloe wrapped up in her arms. No one was out in Pompeii that evening, the city was dark except for the muffled light of the many homes. Jemma and Chloe could see the violent seas just past the city through the flashes of light from thunder in the storm, in the far distance four ships were fighting their way towards the port.

Jemma could feel Melinda and Bobbi on those ships, as well as every vampire on them, forty in all. Her blissful time with Chloe was at an end, she had to make to her choice there was no more time. Seven days of pure happiness with Chloe, time Jemma never thought possible. Seven days of enjoying life and each other. They wished it could last forever, of course that was not to be. Time stopped for no one.

Chloe changed everything. Jemma knew it, Fitz knew it, even Raina knew it and the moment Melinda and Bobbi stepped on shore they'd know it too. Fitz was the only one who truly knew what Chloe's presence actually meant: what was before is now over. Everything would be changing and Jemma was worried about how Melinda and Bobbi were going to take it. It was a big change, one that would deeply affect them all. And there would be no hiding it, Chloe refused to be sent away for her safety, she refused to leave Jemma's side.

Jemma turned to Fitz and they had a long conversation about it. They eventually agreed they would approach it like a long holiday for Jemma until Chloe chose to accept the Kiss from Jemma. Jemma wasn't ready to offer it yet, she wanted Chloe to enjoy her human life after beginning it with so much pain. And while Jemma was on holiday, she would officially turn control over to Melinda, Fitz and Bobbi equally. Of course, she needed to work out the issues with Bobbi first but Jemma was confident whatever was bothering Bobbi would be worked out in no time, after all Bobbi was family.

The couple stayed on the balcony watching the storm and the ships approach. They stayed until Chloe grew too tired and needed to sleep, Jemma laid with her in bed until the ships entered port. Jemma quietly slipped out of bed, dressed and met Fitz and Raina in the stables. They took several large covered wagons out to the port to greet the incoming ships. They arrived as the ships were docking. Jemma, Fitz and Raina went out into the storm to meet their guests.

All four ships docked with ease even in the terrible storm, a supernatural influence made sure of it with all four gangplanks being dropped at the same time. Hooded figures departed in a file with two taking the lead, the pair greeted Jemma with a bow at the waist. Despite the weather and the heavy hoods, they could all see each other clearly.

"The Goddess has watched over you and delivered you safely. It is good to see you both. I am overjoyed that we are all together again." Jemma announced opening her arms up toward the pair and Bobbi stepped forward first hugging Jemma back. "It sooth's my soul to see you Jemma."

Bobbi let go to hug Fitz while Melinda stepped up hugging Jemma then Fitz and nodding to Raina. Everyone but Raina all climbed in the back of the lead wagon each pulling back their hoods once they were out of the rain.

"This weather is driving me crazy. I swear it's been following us." Melinda declared, shaking the water out of her hair. "I feel like I've been wet for a month."

"You have been wet for a month." Bobbi replied in a deadpan and they all burst out laughing.

"How was your journey?" Jemma asked them both bluntly and both women took a deep breath before answering with Melinda gesturing to Bobbi to go first.

"It was rather terrible. Not the worst I've been through but it was one trial after another. I'm glad to be home. I've missed everyone greatly." Bobbi replied reaching out putting a hand on Melinda's shoulder giving it a light squeeze of affection while smiling warmly at everyone.

"I hit some trouble and lost a handful of my people. However, I was successful in my journey, which makes it worth it." Melinda admitted and Jemma gave her an encouraging smile. Melinda was always the direct, blunt one of the group and she was the one most successful when put to work.

"It's always disappointing to lose people, I am glad you were successful it will give those who passed on peace that their sacrifice was not in vain. I'm very happy to see you all. I'm sorry the weather delayed you for so long." Jemma commented as lightening flashed and thunder rumbled the sky.

"The gods are in a mood that is for sure." Melinda commented with a shake of her head, Fitz added. "You have no idea. The mountain has been talking, particularly loud for the last week."

"The tremors have returned? We should have visited an oracle." Bobbi insisted and even Melinda looked worried. Jemma gave them a reassuring smile, "We'll visit the one down south after our celebration."

"That sounds good. I'd like to go, maybe we'll all take the trip as a family. We haven't done that in almost what? Five-six centuries?" Fitz asked and Bobbi was the first to answer. "Six and a half, it's been far too long. I agree with Fitz's idea, a family trip would be a lot of fun and I could use some fun right now."

They kept chatting until the covered wagon entered a covered walled off receiving area that would keep them out of the bad weather. They climbed out of the wagon walking inside the brightly lit gathering hall, the only non-Roman building on the estate. The gathering hall was based off of the first Etruscan meeting hall, modified to include a large bath. Jemma only used it for their annual celebrations as it allowed everyone to remain in one building while they enjoyed themselves. The building had two entrances, each with heavy brass doors and no windows to allow the guests uninterrupted revelry. The entrance was on the west side of the building, it lead directly into the hall where people were met by the large heated bathing pool, on the east side there were large over stuffed cushions for people to lounge on as well as three large warmed brass containers and stacks of glass cups. Musicians and servers dressed in nothing awaited the guests.

Jemma lead the way in, servants removed their wet cloaks hanging them up to dry along the wall while other servants met them with cups filled with still warm blood. The mood was jolly and everyone had a smile on their face. Jemma lead the main group to the back where there was private seating, she waited until everyone was inside and had the doors shut against the howling wind. Once everyone had a cup of blood in their hands the servants stepped back and Jemma stepped forward addressing the room.

"Welcome friends and family to our annual celebration. This season has been one of the most difficult in memory and I applaud your hard work because it has been the sole reason we have not only reached our goals for this season, we've surpassed them allowing us to advance our plans by six years, congratulations everyone!"

Everyone cheered and clapped, the happy smiling faces staring at her brought Jemma joy. This small group of vampires was building her legacy as she hoped to help humanity instead of destroying it.

"To reward all your hard work at the end of the celebration, I will award those responsible with promotions and more. For now, drink, relax and enjoy. And remember all humans without the gold collar are for your pleasure, enjoy and remember to place all trash to the side so the servants can remove it."

The cheers were deafening, Jemma was just glad Chloe wasn't there to hear her endorse vampires abusing humans for their pleasure nor to see the carnage in person. Despite her own misgivings about such things she knew it was beneficial to her continued control over the slowly growing army of vampires underneath her. Chloe had seen Jemma and Fitz in their vampire state however she had not witnessed the destructive death they could easily cause. Jemma didn't want Chloe to have nightmares or become frightened of her, she was glad Chloe was in a deep sleep in the villa on the other side of the Estate.

The crowd dispersed, most got into the bath to wash off the rain and salt from the sea. Conversation erupted as music from trios of musicians all over the hall began at once creating a loud din to the room. Jemma looked over the room, noting where each vampire was and their attitude. She took note that Bobbi's people were clustered together and Ward looked smug and cautious.

"I never understood Bobbi's taste in men." Jemma whispered under her breath shaking her head.

"Jemma! Come on, drink with us, you can watch everyone later." Melinda said with a smile as she wrapped her arm around Jemma's shoulders handing her a drink. Jemma took the cup of warm blood Melinda offered and drank with a smile. Melinda led Jemma over to Bobbi and Fitz in the private area when they were approached by a handful of Melinda's people.

"Master, we have a gift for you that could not wait." Lance announced carrying a covered item with both hands and wearing a grin that stretched from ear to ear.

"Then bring it over Hunter, let us see what you've got." Jemma let Melinda go and waved him over. Lance trotted over merrily and dramatically kneeled presenting the covered gift to her. Hunter was Melinda's most loyal solider, one of the few that had earned Jemma's affection, she enjoyed the joyfulness of his demeanor, Hunter was always the one to bring levity to serious things allowing them to gain perspective or much needed relief.

Jemma smiled with affection at Hunter as she reached out pulling off the decorative silk cloth revealing a thick gold gem encrusted necklace. The design of the jewelry was a mix of early Egyptian, African and Mesopotamian, Jemma had only seen drawings of it and yet it did not prepare her for the welling of emotion upon seeing it in person. White and yellow gold twisted in an overlaying pattern to create a fine gilded rope that held a large pendant of white gold with rubies, emeralds, diamonds and onyx creating an image of a flying bat and red moon over a green sword.

"The Armor of Lilith!" Jemma exclaimed picking it up holding it up to the torch light to look closer at its intricately detailed surface her face a mirror of wonder and awe.

"Did we do good Master?" Hunter asked still on one knee.

Jemma's hands trembled as she ran one finger delicately over the surface of the pendant tracing the design with her fingertip. She had searched for almost over a thousand years for this piece of the Goddess, and now she had it. With a bright eager smile Jemma slipped the necklace onto her neck instantly swooning as she was filled with liquid golden light. The rush of euphoria forced her eyes closed and her toes to curl.

Watching Jemma, Melinda Bobbi and Fitz along with Hunter and the rest close by grew alarmed when the necklaced began to glow a hot red from the inside out then transform before their very eyes. The necklace and pendant shifted to a flat dull iron gray with four new ropes sprouted from the pendant to wrap around Jemma's torso locking in place. They had all heard whispered stories of the necklace, each having followed lead after lead in search of the mythical object under Jemma's command. The necklace was said to have special powers, protecting the wearer against anything and even imbuing the wearer with enhanced strength and abilities.

"Jemma? Jemma are you alright?" Bobbi asked stepping closer with a worried expression on her face.

Jemma took several deep breaths before nodding yes; she opened her eyes revealing glowing bright pink and red eyes. A few heartbeats later the glowing subdued until they were normal but now Jemma looked a little intoxicated. Bobbi exchanged a silent look with Fitz and Melinda, they were all concerned about the effect the necklace was having on Jemma.

"Thank you Melinda."

"Jemma are you alright?" Melinda asked quietly leaning toward her friend. Jemma smiled and nodded yes. "I'm feeling good Melinda. This is a big win for us. Come now let us celebrate!"

The blood flowed as the vampires indulged themselves in every whim, drinking, slaughtering and fucking the naked slaves while the musicians played and the gilded collared servants kept cups filled and the dead off the floor. The servants were hypnotized personally by Jemma so they didn't react to the carnage and also so that they didn't remember the party, not even as a bad dream.

Raina wore a gilded collar as she walked the floor surveying the party. Jemma was still in the corner with Melinda, Fitz and Bobbi each were enjoying themselves as a parade of vampires under Bobby and Melinda came through to speak to Jemma, most to give well-wishes and requests for more missions, each vampire saw it as a huge point of pride to be commanded by Jemma. Raina kept an eye on the procession and noticed that some of the vampires were not getting in line to speak to Jemma instead these vampires were hanging back huddled together with Ward. Raina found it very odd, frankly she could not remember a celebration where a vampire in the fold did not want to speak to the Master, it was simply unheard of.

That these odd vampires remained huddled around Ward did little to calm Raina's suspicions. Raina did not like Ward, he seem insincerely sweet and menacing just under the surface. And she got the feeling that Ward did not like Jemma which in itself was very odd, Raina couldn't think of a single person who didn't like Jemma or at the very least respect her yet Ward seemed to quietly hate Jemma. It disturbed Raina enough to push her to watch him every time he returned home with Bobby. The energy coming off of Ward this evening was making the hair on the back of Raina's neck stand up. And the longer she watched him the more she noticed how little he was drinking and how serious he looked, all the vampires around him had the same serious expression while everyone around them laughed and celebrated with joy.

The party continued in full force, everyone mingled with each other, even Ward's vampires had spread out across the room yet still easy to spot with their sour expressions. The sun rose outside, they could all feel the dawn and fought the urge to rest instead they kept the party going.

Ward was pressed up to Bobbi kissing and whispering in her ear, across from them Melinda and Jemma talked quietly and Hunter made Fitz laugh with a bawdy story. Raina supervised the distribution of a dozen more naked slaves for the vampire's pleasure when she noticed something odd out of the corner of her eye. A sudden movement from Ward, he snapped to attention as if he heard something then quickly acted as he had not paused. He put on his fake charming smile kissing Bobbi on the neck then whispering something in Bobbi's ear. Raina watched Ward excuse himself and get up grab a cloak slipping out the door. No one but Jemma could withstand the sun's light, going outside meant pain and flames. Why was Ward going outside? Raina frowned and followed Ward out the door.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Bobbi waved Ward off without a second look, her eyes were on Jemma. Ward had been trying all night to get Bobbi to say something to Jemma about promotion he kept trying to convince her Jemma was trying to punish her. Bobbi was exhausted by his nagging, and was glad when he left her side. It finally allowed her a moment to really stare at Jemma, Bobbi needed to figure out what it was about Jemma that had been nagging her since they docked. There was something different about Jemma, even before she put the special necklace on, she seemed so radiant and…happy. Something was different, something had changed Bobbi just couldn't put her finger on exactly what.

Standing up Bobbi handed off her empty cup to the vampire next to her and walked over to sit next to Jemma and Melinda. They both smiled at Bobbi and Jemma raised her hand in welcome. "I was about to come get you. You're too far away Bobbi. I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you too Jemma. You seem so radiant tonight, what's the good news?" Bobbi asked and Melinda grinned watching Jemma's reaction closely. "I'll tell you about it later. Right now I'd like to talk to you?"

"Why so polite Jemma? What's going on?" Bobbi asked and Melinda stood up excusing herself. "I'm going to see if Fitz and Hunter wanted to start a game."

Melinda walked over to Fitz and Hunter whispering something to them and they immediately got up leaving Jemma and Bobbi alone in the corner. Bobbi took a longer look at Jemma's dress, and she realized Jemma was wearing something very old.

"Are my eyes deceiving me Jemma? Is that the summer dress from your fourteenth year in Qattara?" Jemma grinned happily as she confirmed. "You have such a keen eye Bobbi! I was hoping you would recognize it. You'd be the only one who would."

"You've never been one to reflect upon our beginning Jemma, is something going on? Has something happened?"

"Yes but we'll talk about that after. Bobbi, I need to talk to you about your new additions and about some of your recent behavior, it's so unlike you. Normally I wouldn't need to bluntly ask such questions however I feel as if we've drifted apart and asking has become necessary for clarity. So, is there something going on that I need to know about Bobbi?"

"Why do you ask me that?" Bobbi asked defensively, she shook her head insisting. "No. There is nothing I feel I need to tell you; if you have any questions about my service in your name you need but ask and I will answer. I have had some trouble this last season, I've had setbacks and Ward's been a handful but I managed to get every task you set upon me finished with success. So I'm not sure which behavior you're referring to. And what do you mean new people? I haven't expanded upon my brood for over a year now. Do you mean the humans with my people?"

"Bobbi? Are you joking? You didn't ride in with any humans, they were all vampires." Jemma stated and Bobbi sat up alarmed. "Jemma! I haven't turned a new vampire in over a year. There were over a dozen humans with us, they're mercenaries hired by Ward."

"You can't sense them?"

"I sense human. You must be mistaken." Bobbi insisted and Jemma frowned, she glanced down and noticed something. "Bobbi, where did you get that necklace? It's glowing blue."

"It's a gift from Ward, is it glowing? It's not supposed to." Bobbi admitted and without any hesitation Jemma reached out yanking it off Bobbi's neck making Bobbi yelp out loudly. "Owe!" Bobbi shut her eyes in sudden intense pain grimacing and shaking her head then when it cleared she opened her eyes and frowned. "That was painful. And I don't feel the humans anymore, all I feel are other vampires. They're not mine Jemma, I didn't make them. That means…shit! That means Ward made them. And he used an enchanted necklace to fool me. Jemma, I'm sorry…I feel as if I failed you."

"No Bobbi, Ward deceived you and I intend on finding out why." Jemma declared standing up when the ground suddenly began to shake and an explosion sounded rattling the walls and silencing everyone in the room including the musicians.

Everyone stopped looking up to the ceiling, they could all feel the sun and the mountain angrily erupting. The first explosion was followed by another then another. They all felt the air change and heard the frightening rumbling from deep in the earth. Jemma moved toward the door ordering everyone to stay where they were.

"Melinda! Bobbi! Fitz! Control the room, Raina! Raina! By the Gods where is that woman. I will be back in a moment, I'm going to check this out. Everyone keep calm!"

Melinda, Fitz and Bobbi moved into action immediate taking charge of the room. Jemma stepped outside as another eruption shook the ground. Jemma looked to the mountain to see fire, flame, rock and exploding towers of gas shooting high up into the sky with a thick black cloud that blotted out the sun plunging everything into darkness. A wave of heat rolled down from the mountain forcing Jemma's eyes shut, she raised her arms shielding herself from the blast and turned around heading back inside. When the eruptions were over there had been several eruptions in all, heat and rocks from the blasts were rolling down the mountain in continues waves.

Back inside Jemma found chaos had taken hold of everyone. Melinda was closest, thin darts dangled from her neck she was staggering around looking drunk as were most in the room, each tried to fight it only to have the few vampires up on their feet force feed them blood or shoot them with darts dipped in some sort of sleeping agent.

Jemma snatched a spilled cup from the ground sniffing it, the blood stank. She could smell wolfsbane and silver on the blood she did not dare to taste it. Jemma rushed over to the large bronze tubs that were being gently heated to keep the communal blood warm, she pushed off the cover off revealing a bundle of wolfsbane tied with silver wire floating in the blood.

"By the Goddess!" Jemma turned back to her people finally noticing it was the vampires with the sour expressions that had come in with Ward that were trying to drug her people and they were succeeding. Her people were dropping left and right until only Melinda and Bobbi were left on their feet to fight off vampires with poison darts. Once hit with the darts both Bobbi and Melinda went down and they turned on Jemma, she growled and transformed using all her anger to try to tear apart every single standing vampire in the room.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

The sun was already rising over the sea however it was not the typical morning. The storm had finally stopped but the clouds remained, the air felt heavy and warm, too warm. Raina followed Ward from the hall and down to the edge of the estate, she could see smoke rising up from Ward's cloak. The sun was already burning him, yet he continued on his way all the way to the fence.

Ward reached out his skin bubbling and smoking as he picked up a torch still lit from the night before and sprinkled a dust onto the flame changing it to a bright glowing red. With his exposed hand and arm smoldering and smoking Ward waved it high up in the air a dozen times then put the torch back, the flame shrank then went out leaving it smoldering like Wards skin. He turned around to head back coming face to face with Raina.

"Raina! I didn't notice you there. What are you doing out here?"

"I saw you leave, I thought I could offer assistance. I can see from here the sun's affect upon yourself. Do you need assistance Lord Ward?" Raina asked carefully taking a step back with every step Ward took toward her. "I do need assistance Raina, I think I misjudged how far I could go."

"Shall I fetch a thicker cloak?"

"No, allow me to lean on you and I think I can make it to safety." Ward replied giving Raina his charming smile though this time the suns effects on his vampire skin twisted it into a gruesome smirk.

Raina knew better than to believe him yet cautiously approached Ward, he reached out to her with one hand and then a glint of polished metal caught her eye from under his cloak and instinctively she knew it was a knife. Raina dodged his hand at the last moment, moving behind Ward to snatch his cloak yanking it off exposing the knife in his other hand. Ward screamed using both smoldering arms to block the sun's light from his face, in moments every inch of exposed skin began to bubble and blister.

"You were out here signaling to someone. I would have thought it innocent if you had not just tried to kill me. When our master hears of this, she will tear you head clean from your body and feed the pieces to the dogs!" Raina sneered bundling up the cloak in her hands. Over Wards shoulder Raina noticed the large black ships with black sails heading for port, the very sight of them made Raina's stomach twist into painful knots.

Ward lunged for her and the cloak, only he was weak and in great pain from the sun, Raina side stepped him then used her foot to kick him in the ass knocking him down into the grass face first. Raina didn't wait to see him get up, she turned and ran back to the main building. Even a weak vampire caught in the sun could kill and Raina didn't want to give him the opportunity. Raina glanced back once to see Ward struggling to his feet his body on fire then suddenly the ground violently shook as the mountain erupted sending gas, smoke and rock to litter the ground. Raina was forced to run to the nearest villa to escape the heat and rocks.

Huddled under one of Fitz's worktables Raina hid waiting out the eruptions. When the ground finally stopped shaking Raina grabbed a sliver ax meant for protection from Fitz's weapon's cabinet and rushed back to the meeting house. Raina had to doge rocks dribbling down from the black skies, some so small she didn't feel it as it struck her others so big she feared it would crack her head open forcing her to dodge and cover as she ran across the estate.

The sky seemed too calm for a moment as Raina reached the meeting hall. Worried about what could be happening inside Raina moved to take the servants entrance, once inside she heard the screams of battle, then she saw it. All the vampires under Jemma seemed to be dead, incapacitated on the ground thought seemingly unharmed. The one's causing the cacophony of screams was Jemma single handedly taking on a dozen vampires and ripping them to shreds.

Raina had never seen her Master go full on battle rage upon anyone, it was the most frightening thing she had ever witnessed and yet in the same moment she also felt such pride for serving such a warrior. There were dead torn apart vampires littered around Jemma's feet, she paid it no mind as she tore apart each and every vampire stupid enough to get within reach. Raina watch them shower Jemma with darts but nothing slowed the head vampire down.

In a few loud moments the room stilled, only Jemma was left standing.

"Master! Master! Are you alright?" Raina asked rushing over the silver ax still clutched in her hands. Jemma snapped her head in Raina's direction, her eyes blazing hot, her mouth pulled into a snarl. "Yes! Where were you?"

"I saw Lord Ward slip out, no one leaves the party in the day time. So I followed him and found him signaling to ships with black sails coming into port. I wasn't able to stop him but I took cloak and slowed him down. Master what is going on?"

"Ward has betrayed us, he's turned against Bobbi. They drugged everyone."

"Why?"

"I'm not sure but I will find out. Raina, we bigger problems than that. The mountain is angry with us, the eruptions are too many and too strong. It will not stop until this city is gone and us with it. I need you to gather all the servants and what slaves are left, take them to the port put them on my ship. Pass the word that the city must be evacuated immediately."

"Master what about you? What about the others? What about Chloe?" Raina was starting to panic.

"I will take care of this and Chloe. I will get them to safety. After you get everyone from the estate on my boat, I want you wait on the second boat, I will send Chloe to you and I will stay with the others."

"Master…I…I'm not sure I should leave your side." Raina replied with tears in her eyes. And Jemma reached out letting her features return to their human state as she look the woman in her eyes. "Raina, I am over fifteen centuries old. If it's my time, it's my time but right now I need you to follow my orders one last time. Oh and one more thing, fill both ships with the gold from the treasury. And if I don't contact you within a moon, divvy up the gold between everyone make sure everyone gets a fresh start."

"Master?"

"Raina! Please don't make me ask again."

"Yes Master."

Raina started crying, Jemma had to physically push Raina to get her moving. Raina took one last look at her Master as she opened the heavy brass doors leading outside. Tears spilled down Raina's cheeks, she took a deep heavy breath then slipped outside. She did not see the cloaked figure sneak up on Jemma, nor did she see the cloaked figure hit Jemma over the head with a heavy war hammer.

Inside the meeting hall, Jemma crumpled to the ground. In what should have been a killing blow, the hammer had only succeeded in knocking Jemma unconscious. The villain in the cloak cursed loudly with frustration, he pulled back his heavy hood revealing a profusely sweating Bakshi wearing a talisman and herb covered headband. Raising one hand to wipe the salty sweat from his eyes he scratched himself with the heavy silver covered leather slave bracelets that had been etched with ruins of protection.

"The Master will not be happy with this. The hammer was supposed to kill her not put her out." Bakshi growled through clenched teeth.

"You should be more concerned with what I'm going to do to you Bakshi." Ward hissed through cracked burnt lips. "You were supposed to stop anyone from following me. You had one job to do and look what's been done. Do you know how long it's going to take for me to heal from this!"

Bakshi physically flinched at Ward's hard words. Ward had pulled himself up and was using the wall to lean upon, his entire body smoldered smoke still wafted off of parts of his back and head. His clothes nothing more than blackened burned rags, his hair patchy and spiked with his eyes wide and clear, his teeth clenched in a grimace Ward looked monstrous.

"Tell me you got that nosy slave out of the way?" Ward demanded and Bakshi flinched again making Ward roll his eyes and scream in frustration. "Then you better find her. The Master will be here very soon, we must have it all prepared."

"What about the volcano? The mountain…it's erupting. Maybe we should take what we can and flee?"

"You fucking coward Bakshi. We will not run because it's a little hot. We have a job to do for the Master and we will accomplish it. I didn't spend all those years pretending to be in love with Bobbi only to run away now. You do your job or I stake you to the ground for the sun to reclaim you."

"Yes master."

"Find the servant, kill her and any other humans left on this estate." Ward ordered and Bakshi ran off. Now alone in the meeting hall Ward really looked around, all of his vampires were dead, their body parts littered the ground everywhere. Among them were all of Jemma's vampires, Ward took a deep breath mustering up the iron will he would need to complete this next task.

Burnt, in pain, and exhausted from being up while the sun was still shinning Ward mustered his strength to slaughter Jemma's vampires one by one. The plan was to take them out quickly with his full force, however Jemma ruined those plans by slaughtering all his help. Ward was forced to do it himself, alone with nothing but a heavy iron ax. Beheading each vampire took three to five wacks with the ax making it a laborious and exhausting task that took much longer than anticipated. Ward was forced to stop multiple times to rest, as he sat panting amongst the unconscious he silently prayed to his master that Bakshi was having better luck then he.

Across the estate Bakshi covered up in a special thick sun-blocking cloak caught up to the human servants in the middle of evacuating. The one he recognized as Raina was leading the crowd to pack, gather as much gold as they could carry and fill the cart heading for port. He thought he could slip in unnoticed and cause chaos, only he was spotted immediately by a young servant girl who quickly screamed for help. The large muscular male servants rushed to subdue him, Bakshi struggled trying to break free but with the sun up he was too weak, they overpowered him then tied him to a column outside, leaving half of his body exposed to the unseen sun's light, it was enough to incapacitate him and set half of his body on fire. Bakshi couldn't keep quiet, he moaned and whimpered in pain.

Raina watched him squirm in pain with satisfaction, she hated him for the pain he caused by this treachery, she spit on Bakshi then returned to her duties overseeing the evacuation of the estate. Raina was the last one behind. She made sure each servant and slave were on the carts with Jemma's treasury heading to the port to be loaded upon one of Jemma's many ships. The servants were loyal to both Raina and Jemma, they could be trusted to watch over the still hypnotized slaves and the massive treasure they rode with. With them off the property Raina turned her attention back to the estate and getting one last human out of dangers way: Chloe.

Raina put on a thick winter cloak to shelter herself from the drizzling rain of hot rock falling from the black angry sky and checked each room of each villa making sure the human staff had all left. Raina left Fitz's villa and Jemma's villa for last and expected to find Chloe holed up in her bedroom only when she got there Chloe was nowhere to be found. After checking every room in Jemma's villa Raina moved on to Fitz's.

"Chloe! Chloe? Are you in here?" Raina called out as she stepped into Fitz's workshop.

"Raina?" A meek voice called out, it was coming from underneath one of Fitz's sturdy work tables. Raina rushed over pulling back a thick cloth revealing the frightened young woman.

"I thought everyone had disappeared. Jemma said she was going to a party and not to expect her back for a while but Raina I'm frightened. The ground started to shake and the sky is black with fire reigning down. What's happening?" Chloe begged with fresh tears streaming down her face. Raina reached out to her and Chloe grabbed her letting Raina pull her out of her hiding space. "The volcano is erupting, we need to leave right away."

"Where is Jemma? Why isn't Jemma here telling me this?" Chloe insisted and Raina frowned showing her own fear as she replied. "I don't know. She was supposed to be the one to come get you."

"What do you mean Raina?" Chloe demanded still clutching Raina's hands with a death grip. Raina frowned harder explaining, "She ordered me to get everyone off the estate and to the boats for safety. She said she was going to get you then the others to the boat. I don't know what happened to prevent her from doing that. I've got everyone off the estate, well everyone who wasn't at the party."

"It was a vampire party?"

"Yes." Raina admitted with a slight wince that Chloe did not notice, the young woman's mind spinning on something else entirely. "Raina, we have to find Jemma and Fitz now! I can't leave without her."

"Let's go, the only place left to search is the meeting hall." Raina declared searching Fitz's clothes for another heavy cloak to shield Chloe from the raining rocks and rolling waves of heat. Once Chloe was properly wrapped up they moved to the doors to leave when Raina suddenly stopped, "Wait, we need something else." Raina searched Fitz's weapons cabinet finding two more ax's with silver heads. When Chloe realized what Raina had needed to get she immediately stopped. "Why do we need that? How is that going to help us with the volcano?"

"It's not for the volcano."

"Raina, what haven't you told me?" Chloe demanded and Raina took a deep breath and replied with a worried expression. "One of the vampires under Jemma has betrayed her. Her delay maybe because of that so we have to be prepared for the worst."

Chloe didn't know what to say, she started breathing fast and hard her eyes growing wide with fear. Raina noticed it and passed the second ax to Chloe looking her in the eyes as she told her. "You know how to use this so don't let Jemma down."

"I won't. I protect her with my life if I have to."

"Good. Let's go." Now, properly armed, the duo left Fitz's workshop heading the far corner of the estate.

The sun had continued its trek across the sky as Mount Vesuvius kept spewing smoke, gas and rock into the air spreading it across the land bathing Pompeii in its heat and ash turning the angry sky black casting its dark shadow over everything. Thought the day passed no one could tell everything looked surreal as if Hades inferno had opened up to swallow them all leaving every person in Pompeii in a suspended state of panic and confusion.

Crossing the estate Raina and Chloe held hands for comfort and to keep close. When they reached the meeting hall, Raina led them to the servant's entrance on the side and motioned for them to be silent as they entered. Chloe nodded her head in understanding and released Raina's hand to grip the handle of the ax with both hands, as look of grim determination settled across both women's faces.

The hall was quiet, there were no voices, no movement only the regular smack of a blade cutting into thick flesh. Both women knew the sound and it brought their biggest fears to the forefront, still they walked in ready for anything. And it took all their courage not to whimper, not to cry out or run away. The view from the servant's entrance allowed them to see the entire expanse of the room. It looked like a massacre. The pool was red with blood, headless bodies floated grotesquely on the surface. The floor was slick with gore, decapitated bodies and heads of screaming vampires littered the ground. No one seemed to be left alive, no one except the burnt vampire in the corner wielding a silver ax.

Panic filled both women as they silently searched with their eyes for everyone. A wave of relief washed over them when they spotted Jemma, Melinda, Bobbi and Fitz propped up against the far northern wall unconscious and otherwise unharmed while the burned vampire worked on decapitating everyone else. Chloe felt anger well up and take over when she spotted the large wound on Jemma's head, it had turned her hair black and coated half her face with blood. Chloe gripped the wood handle of her ax tighter and stepped forward slowly approaching the crispy vampire.

Raina's eyes went wide when she realized what Chloe was doing, she reached out to pull Chloe back but the young woman was too far ahead. Raina grimace bracing herself for the worst, inside her mind all she could hear was her Master asking why she let the girl go alone. Raina's fear of disappointing her Master overrode all other logic pushing her forward, making her legs move until she trotted over to Chloe ax in hand ready to back her up.

The burned vampire didn't notice he was totally preoccupied with getting his dull ax blade through another neck. Raina recognized the vampire he had murdered, her name was Maria, a recently turned vampire from Melinda's side she was only twenty two.

It took the burned vampire four hard whacks to separate Maria's head from her body, the silver blade looked chipped, worn and dull. He was heaving as if out of breath from the task, the ax looked heavy in his hand. The burned vampire paused to catch his breath and he groaned from exhaustion. Raina's eyes suddenly went wide, she recognized that groan. In a panic Raina reached out grabbing Chloe stopping her, silently Raina motioned to Chloe that "He's the one that betrayed Jemma."

Chloe stopped, her muscles tensed as Ward stumbled over to another body, this one a man with short hair and stubble, Raina knew him as Lance Hunter. She motioned to Chloe for them to act as one and Chloe nodded readying her ax. They counted to three as Ward tossed the ax back getting ready to strike. A moment before he let it fall the women struck. Raina caught Ward's forearm cutting the limb off in the same moment Chloe hit Ward in the thigh burying the ax so deep it got caught on the bone. Ward screamed dropping his ax and twisting toward the ax in his thigh. Raina pulled back and went in for a second blow while Chloe struggled to remove her ax from his thigh. Ward hissed screaming through clenched teeth at Chloe frightening her, Raina struck hitting Ward in the center of his back effectively stopping his attack on Chloe as he slunk down to the ground, his energy seemingly seeping from him.

"You will die for this. You will all die for this. The Master comes! The Master comes." Ward growled before falling unconscious with both ax's still sticking out of his thigh and back.

"Is he dead?" Chloe asked her chest heaving, her face pulled back in a panicked grimace. Raina was in the same state yet was brave enough to peer closer. "No! He's not dead, the bastard is still breathing."

Chloe nodded her eyes fixed on Ward and the growing pool of blood seeping out from the ax wounds. Then as if suddenly remembering who she was really there for Jemma popped back in her mind and she turned rushing over to Jemma's side. She held her breath until she saw the subtle rise of Jemma's chest as she continued to breath. Letting out that breath Chloe choked on her own sobs of relief, she pulled Jemma into a tight embrace holding and gently rocking her back and forth. Raina moved to check Melinda, Fitz and Bobby. When she found each of them alive she started sobbing. A few minutes later, when she had composed herself, Raina moved to see if anyone else was left alive, unfortunately the only other vampire left from Jemma's brood was Hunter.

The ground rumbled alarming Chloe and Raina. A loud deafening explosion from the volcano threatened to bring the building down, the walls shook and tiles from the ceiling fell. They both heard the mountain scream, seconds later heavy rocks from the sky began plummeting down crashing into the building and taking out huge chunks of the roof and walls.

Frightened out of her mind Chloe desperately tried to wake Jemma she called her name and gently shook her begging Jemma to open her eyes. To Chloe and Raina's amazement and relief Jemma opened her eyes.

"Ugh, I'm going to kill him." Jemma moaned as her eyes fluttered trying to open all the way. Chloe had tears silently streaming from her eyes as she asked, "How hurt are you?"

"I'll be fine after I feed." Jemma replied forcing her eyes open all the way. Chloe pulled her hair aside and presented her neck to Jemma ordering her love to feed. "Chloe no! Not you."

"Jemma, there is no one else. Feed so we can survive. Please Jemma." Chloe begged staring into her love's eyes and Jemma blinked three times before giving in. "Just this once."

Chloe nodded in agreement and helped Jemma up so she could drink from Chloe. Raina tried waking the others, it was slow but they did regain consciousness. Jemma drank for three minutes, it was enough to heal her wounds and fully revive her without harming Chloe. By this time Fitz and Melinda were on their feet, Bobbi had been hit with the poison darts three times as much as everyone else, she was still trying to shake off the effects of the drug and needed assistance which Melinda and Fitz provided.

"We need to get moving. The eruption will kill and bury everything in its path including us." Jemma ordered her left hand entwined with Chloe's right, the small gesture was not lost to Jemma's oldest friends but it was Bobbi who bluntly asked. "Jemma, who is your new friend? Do I know her? She looks familiar?"

"Bobbi, this is Chloe the woman I will make my wife. Chloe this is Bobbi my other oldest friend and the woman to her left is Melinda." Jemma answered directly shocking Bobbi and surprising Melinda, making the Asian's woman's eyebrows raise up and stay up.

"Where did she come from?" Bobbi demanded, they could all see unshed tears in Bobbi's eyes. And with a gentler tone, Jemma answered. "She came from the goddess."

"Oh." Was all Bobbi could muster, she leaned heavily upon Melinda and Fitz as they left the meeting hall. Bobbi and Melinda were distraught to see their "children" destroyed, it was hard to ignore. They had to walk through the slaughter to reach the doors on the other side, everyone but Chloe and Raina could feel the sun was still out however they were not sure how much was filtering through the eruptions cloud. To be on the safe side, each vampire took a heavy cloak from the one's still hanging up along the wall and put them on. Properly covered they pushed open the doors and were blasted with intense blinding heat. Jemma first instinct was to shield Chloe as they stepped into the darkness.

"Raina you're behind Chloe stay between us and don't remove your cloak." Jemma ordered motioning to the others to file into a single line and together they began walking through the estate toward the city.

They came across the stables and Jemma went inside alone to see if the animals were dead from the excessive heat and gas rolling down from the mountain. Jemma was relieved to find all thirteen horses alive yet frightened, she opened the stable doors and released them. They took off not toward town but south in desperate attempt to escape the volcano.

Jemma rejoined the line leading them through the estate to the road heading into Pompeii. Rocks of various sizes rained down upon them as waves of rolling heat pushed them from behind. Raina and Chloe could not see in the dark or through the stinging heat, they relied on Jemma. However the further away from the estate they got the less suppressive the heat was. Once they reached the city Chloe and Raina could safely open their eyes only to see Pompeii partially destroyed and everyone in a state of panic as they tried to evacuate the city clogging the streets with people seeking shelter, those who could, fled to the port.

The sun set as the ships with black sails pulled into port, an odd sight as almost every other ship in port was heading away from the city. Only the vampires knew the sun had set, and that's when Jemma felt it, a familiar dangerous presence that made her stop and look around. She could feel him close by but the eruption was messing with her senses, she could not pinpoint exactly where he was.

Unbeknownst to Jemma a horde of vampires hidden under black cloaks poured off the ships running into town so fast they were a blur. The only vampire Jemma could feel was giving off vibes so strong it drowned out everyone else and sent mixed signals to her brain. Confused about where the threat was actually coming from Jemma pushed them faster in attempt to get to the port only to find the way block again and again. Groups of panicking people packed the streets, half the routs were destroyed or blocked from fallen homes and walls toppled over. Jemma was reaching her wits end from the delay when suddenly shadows upon shadows materialized around her and her survival instincts kicked in. She searched for a fast exit.

"Into the Temple of Jupiter now! Move!" Jemma ordered getting everyone to dash into the large building to the left with Jemma bringing up the rear her eyes searching for the shadows she could still feel like rancid breath on her neck. They entered the temple and all four vampires muttered a quick, "Jupiter forgive my trespass" as they entered the sacred space. The temple was filled with terrified poor people, each one on their knees begging Jupiter to save the city.

"Why are they still here? Why are they not getting on a boat to safety?" Chloe asked and Raina answered. "Only those who can pay for passage get a spot on the ships leaving the city. These people are doomed to die here."

Chloe began sobbing and Raina pulled her into a hug. Jemma was still on alert, she could feel the other vampires outside circling the temple. Melinda and Bobbi looked to Jemma and they noticed how freaked out she was, it was alarming.

"Jemma! What's going on? Is someone out there?" Melinda pushed as her eyes searched the shadows for the threat. Jemma glanced at Chloe and Raina then leaned in whispering to Melinda and Bobbi. "There's a powerful vampire out there, I've run into him before. He's going to try to kill me, kill all of us."

"Who is it?" Bobbi asked staring hard at Jemma, she had never heard her friend speak of anyone with trepidation.

"A mistake of the Goddess." Jemma answered and Bobbi pushed. "How do you know about him? I thought we were the only vampire clan?"

"We're not, the Goddess made a mistake and gave her gift to the wrong person. I've been trying to kill him for years. He's never hunted me down before." Jemma answered honestly making both Melinda and Bobbi frown in frustration.

Melinda insisted, "You should have told us Jemma."

"The Goddess gave me the task not you, not Bobbi. It was mine to deal with and my failure that allowed him to follow me home. I'm sorry." Jemma replied in her no-nonsense attitude.

Another explosion from the volcano shook the walls, making dust and concrete chunks rain down from the ceiling. This tremor lasted longer than the rest, the shaking didn't stop and the south wall of the temple began to crumble inward. The wall came down along with a blast of thick dust and ash from outside, everyone instinctively moved away covering their face and mouth with their cloaks.

Jemma grabbed Chloe and Raina pulling them back behind her, the opening in the wall made all her senses tingle. And as the tremors finally stopped a second wall, the west temple wall collapsed and the vampires in black cloaks rushed in. Instinctively Fitz, Bobbi and Melinda moved into position to protect the humans with them, they could not see their attackers but felt them and it was enough to allow all three to defend their position and make the attackers bleed.

In the confusing blinding dust and ash Raina and Chloe clung to each other, all they could hear was the swooshing of swords and the clashing of metal as Fitz, Melinda, Bobbi and Jemma fought their attackers. After what seemed to be an eternity, the attack finally stopped. With chest heaving from exhaustion Fitz wiped the black blood off his sword on the fallen vampire at his feet. He walked over to one of the remaining walls plucking a lit torch from its cradle and used it to examine what was left of the temple. The ground was littered with dead vampires in black cloaks, their skin was translucent and hairless.

"Who are they? They don't look like regular vampires. " Bobbi asked looking around and Jemma answered. "There not, they're that bastards creations. This is why the Goddess wants him gone, he's trying to infect the world with his disease through these mindless creatures."

Raina and Chloe moved from there hidden positions to look around, while Raina moved to look at the odd vampires closer Chloe moved to the edge of the ruined wall to peer out at the city. Heavy ash was raining down from the sky slowly turning everything gray. Bobbi moved to her side to examine one of the vampire's weapons, her focus was on the dead and she did not see the glint of metal in the distance but Chloe did.

"Watch out!" Chloe screamed at Bobbi rushing to push Bobbi out of the way and they crashed down to the floor just as an ax with a silver head whizzed by to harmlessly hit the opposite wall and clatter to the stone floor. Bobbi was stunned, Chloe quickly untangled herself from Bobbi to stand up while Bobbi lay there staring hard at Chloe with such obvious surprise Chloe felt prompted to ask, "Are you okay?"

"Thank you for saving me, that was very brave of you. I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Bobbi." Bobbi said from the floor and Chloe smiled offering her hand. "My name is Chloe, it's nice to meet you Bobbi, Jemma has told me many wonderful things about you."

Bobbi reached up to take Chloe's hand when Ward popped up as if out of nowhere to snatch up Chloe, holding her by the waist and running off with her. Bobbi and Jemma both screamed "NO!" but were too slow to stop him. All they could do was helpless watch Ward carry Chloe back toward the estate.

"I'm going after her. Melinda, get Raina to the boat. Fitz, Bobbi go with them." Jemma ordered as she moved to retrieve the ax off the floor. Melinda, Fitz and Raina looked torn while Bobbi openly argued. "No! I'm not going to the boat until Chloe is with us. I owe the girl."

"Bobbi! I can do this, get to the boat." Jemma argued back but Bobbi was firm, realizing arguing with her friend would get them no where Jemma relented. "Fine. You three go, we'll meet you as soon as we can."

Melinda nodded and Fitz reached out to briefly hug Jemma causing a crack in her composure. "Go, be safe. I'll be right behind you."

"May the Goddess protect you." Fitz whispered before letting Jemma go. Melinda took Raina's hand and looked to Jemma, their eyes locked and Melinda pressed her lips together and nodded to Jemma who smiled tensely back with a fast nod of her own.

Melinda, Fitz and Raina made a dash for the port while Jemma and Bobbi went back up the mountain. The crowds grew thicker the closer they got to the docks, Fitz was forced to grab onto Raina so they could press past in a tight line. When they finally made it through they saw that the only ships left at port were the one's belonging to Jemma. Marcus and the other house servants were armed and doing an admiral job of keeping the panicked people of Pompeii off the ships When the large muscular man spotted Raina, Melinda and Fitz he visibly looked relieved.

"Raina! Where is the Master? We must go, there is no time."

Melinda pushed her way through the crowd to reach the gangplank and she stopped to make sure Fitz and Raina got on first. With Jemma busy, Melinda took control.

"Marcus! Send word to the other ships to allow as many as they can on board and to take them across the sea to safety. As soon as Jemma and Bobbi return we will leave."

Marcus nodded and went off on foot to personally deliver the new instructions, three armed servants had to forcibly hold the crowd back. Melinda motioned to the other house servants to pull up the gangplank to prevent people from rushing onboard and word that the other ships were letting people on spread like lightning and soon the crowd moved on.

Melinda stared at Pompeii with the Vesuvius in the background, it looked like Hades on earth and for the first time in centuries Melinda began to pray. "Please Lilith, keep them safe, keep them alive."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Jemma and Bobbi raced to catch up, they could feel the heat searing their skin, they could smell the Sulphur and other toxic gasses spewing from the mountain, they could taste ash on the air. The same panic that took hold of her that day long ago when she and Skye were arrested and taken to the king settled in the pit of her stomach making her head spin and her stomach want to climb out of her body.

"I can't lose her again. I can't lose her again. I can't." Jemma whispered to herself. Bobbi over heard her yet kept quiet. They reached the Estate's main gate, the heat was bad this far up above the town, the gas and ash choking, it was almost uncomfortable for them. Both vampires worried about Chloe up this far, as they both knew all too well, humans were frail.

This close both Jemma and Bobbi could feel Ward, they could feel dozens of other vampires close by and a single human. Ward had holed up in the servants villa at the front of the estate. Bobbi pulled her sword out as Jemma readied the ax storming in the front entrance. Three pale bald vampires attacked from the shadows and were immediately cut down, pushing their way in Jemma and Bobbi cut down a dozen vampires to reach Ward and Chloe in the cellar deep underground.

They found him huddled in the corner with his arm around Chloe's neck his dagger's blade pressed to her throat halfway hidden by stacks of grain, vegetables and caskets of wine. Ward had a wild look to his eyes, his face was twisted in pain, he was still badly burned. Ward looked desperate and damaged. "Stay back! Stay back or I'll cut her throat!"

"I'm to kill you so slowly you bastard." Bobbi sneered at Ward, she slowly approached him with her sword pointed at him. Jemma came around the other side silently with steady forward steps, her whole being was focused on Ward until a wave of tingling spread across the back of her skull. In an instant Jemma knew it was Johann Shmidt the Red.

Jemma swung the ax around and met the massive blade of her enemy sending sparks flying, moving swiftly she dogged his attacked and snuck in using the ax up close cutting his side open, the stench of rotting meat spilled out. Shmidt screamed and attacked harder, this was their first hand to hand combat, this time Jemma was going to make sure it was last. Jemma attacked with a fury slashing at Schmit, dodging his blows and slowly cutting him to ribbons. The cramped cellar was to Jemma's advantage, she was physically smaller than Shmidt she could get in close and back out before he finished swinging his massive sword.

"Back off the Master bitch or I'll cut your whore's throat." Ward growled at Jemma and Bobbi moved to cut him down when the room was flooded with more of Shmidt's henchmen. Bobbi was forced to drop her sword and step back, Jemma kept fighting Shmidt until Ward purposely cut Chloe making the young woman scream and Jemma finally backed off. She knew she almost had him.

"Drop the ax or I kill her." Ward ordered Jemma and staring at him with intense hatred she dropped her weapon. "Now, back away."

Jemma stepped back turning her gaze to Shmidt, she spat at him. He growled at her as he stood up dusting himself off. Ward turned to the pale bald vampires, "Take Bobbi upstairs. I'll deal with her in a moment."

Bobbi tensed to fight but Jemma silently shook her head no and Bobbi let herself be taken upstairs slightly stomping every step of the way. Upstairs the villa was deserted except for the last of the vampires Shmidt brought with him, only a dozen or so plus the dozen with her. Bobbi allowed herself to be led into the kitchen. Once she was out of sight of the stairs and the others below, Bobbi attacked those escorting her fighting them with her fists and feet into the kitchen and out back. She stole a dagger off of one vampire using it to slice three throats and steal a sword. With the sword Bobbi quickly dispatched the rest of the vampires, and when she was done she checked the area to make sure there were no more.

Bobbi went back to stairs leading into the cellar creeping down a few steps to listen in and watch, there were still a handful of vampires standing around protecting the ugly red faced vampire after Jemma. Bobbi would wait for the right opportunity to help Jemma then Bobbi planned on slaughtering Ward.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Johan Shmidt the Red slipped his sword into its sheath nodding to his men, the pale bald vampires nodded back and went upstairs. He then turned to Ward and smiled, it looked like an amused smirk but it made crispy Ward beam with happiness. "Good job boy, bring her to me."

Ward did as he was told with a happy smile on his crispy face. Jemma sneered yet remained still; she patiently waited for her moment to act. Chloe struggled but was unable break free of Ward's grasp and as they passed by Jemma, the patient vampire suddenly lashed out grabbing Ward's arm with one hand and Chloe's dress with the other. In move too quick to see Jemma snapped Ward's arm back breaking it in three places and pulled Chloe back away from Shmidt and Ward to stand just behind her.

Shmidt began to laugh, his smile turned genuine and he clapped in appreciation. "You keep amazing me girl, all these years, all your lame attempts to stop me and you still impress me. That's why I'm here to give you the attention you've given me for so long. To open my arms with the same affection the Goddess has me." Shmidt opened his hands toward Jemma revealing special gauntlets one's that bore what appeared to be a set of six thin barrels protruding from both wrists. "The Goddess will never be rid of me and no soft little girl is going to stop me."

Gilded darts flew from the gauntlets aimed at Jemma, caught in the corner she braced herself for the hit. Chloe's eyes went wide and she leaped in front of Jemma catching all twelve darts in her torso slamming her against Jemma. "No! Chloe! NO!" Chloe slumped down into Jemma's arms, she leaned back to look Jemma in the eyes. "I love you Jemma."

"Why Chloe? Why? I didn't need to be saved." Jemma argued, red tears streamed down her face. Chloe smiled, "You had to live. Fine me Jemma. I know you can. Find me." And before Jemma could say a word, Chloe died in her arms.

Jemma clutched Chloe to her chest screaming in pain, in one heartbeat her pain turned to anger and she transformed. Jemma set Chloe down and leaped at Shmidt claws out, he wasn't expecting her to act so quickly he barely had time to raise his hands when she was upon him. She used her massive wings to pin down Shmidt's arms leaving both hands free to grab Shmidt's left arm to hold it up, Jemma bit down tearing through flesh and bone and Shmidt screamed. He tried to fight back using a silver dagger hidden in his gauntlet only it barely pierced her skin, the necklace that had wrapped itself around her had begun to glow.

"When did you get the Armor of Lilith? NO! NO!" Shmidt screamed in anger and frustration, it would take so much more to kill Jemma now.

Jemma moved on to the other arm tearing it from his body at the shoulder, Shmidt's black blood gushed out the stump, he growled at her. "I'm going to kill you and everyone you've made. I will kill you again and again and again."

In response Jemma opened her jaws screaming at him, a shrill cry of vengeance that made Shmidt's ears bleed. She used her right hand to pull Shmidt's sword from its sheath and twisted around to put one knee on Shmidt's chest the other on the ground. Jemma used Shmidt's sword to cut his body in half, she hacked and dug the sword through Shmidt's body severing it into two pieces. Shmidt screamed and thrashed but could not push Jemma off.

Jemma laughed and moved ready to plunge the blade into his chest when Ward came up behind her carrying a silver pike with intent to put it into her back, she moved at the last moment making Ward miss. He hit her in the right wing and through her arm and plunging the pike's head deep into the hard packed earth effectively pinning her to the ground.

Vesuvius erupted one more time shaking the ground so hard, it felt as if the whole world would fall down. And as it gathered its strength for one last long blow, down below those alive scrambled for their lives.

Bobbi felt the mountain shake down to its core and knew she could wait no longer. "Jemma catch up, please catch up. Don't give up and stay. Please Jemma." Bobbi prayed fleeing the house, running as fast as her legs could take her back to port. She eventually made it getting on the ship and begging Melinda to put the ship to sea before it was too late.

"Where's Jemma? Where's Chloe? Bobbi what happened?" Melinda demanded and Bobbi had tears streaming down her face. "Chloe's dead, Jemma's not coming. She's not coming. She's not coming! We have to leave now Melinda or we're all going to die, it's coming! It's coming!"

Melinda could see the black cloud coming at them like a wall of death; Fitz, Melinda and Bobbi combined their powers to pull the ship out to sea with a supernatural wind barely escaping the black cloud. They all watched in horror as Pompeii disappeared.

Back up the mountain in the same moment that sent Bobbi fleeing down the mountain, Ward had grabbed hold of what was left of Johan Shmidt the Red and carried him from the cellar and out of the villa. With desperate flight Ward carried his Master all the way back to port, back to the black ship with black sails and they disappeared into the night.

Back in the cellar Jemma let Ward flee with Shmidt, she had felt the ground shake and knew the end was near. She freed herself by painfully pulling the pike out. Transforming into her human form Jemma slowly walked back over to Chloe. She sat down on the floor next to Chloe and pulled her love into her lap cradling Chloe in her arms. She heard the mountain explode and the wall of rushing death coming, she felt the heat rise and ash flutter in covering everything. Jemma held Chloe tight to her chest and pressed her cheek to the top of Chloe's head, and as she closed her eyes she whispered. "I love you Chloe."

Ash filled the room settling over everything as hot gas washed over the earth freezing in place everything in its wake. As more ash and rock fell it quickly buried the estate, Pompeii, the port and the surround farms. For hours the eruption rumbled and spewed death upon the land. It did not stop until dawn, when morning broke those who had fled, those who were left alive saw nothing left, nothing but a massive field of black.