Chapter Forty-Six

Your Choice

Mika ver Leth had just returned from five years out in the world, a world he hadn't been part of for decades.

Five years- not long for a full-blooded Vampire who aged one year for every ten lived. But in those five years he'd been gone he'd felt nothing but dread. This War of the Scars could drag for ages, a conflict of its caliber had not been seen since the separation of the Vampires and Vampaneze. During his travels he'd done little, because that was the kind of war it was. Observation, following leads, interrogation when it was required. Mika was not afraid of conflict, he felt no apprehension for drawing his sword and striking, or even for the stalking and reconnaissance that was needed. What worried him, what filled him with such dread was the 'not-knowing'.

The Lord of the Vampaneze was elusive, his title hardly spoken by his purple-skinned followers. Mika had felt like he was tracking a ghost. A bloody ghost that was causing countless scuffles between their peoples, training humans to fight Vampires, and blooding more Vampaneze at an astounding rate.

When he arrived back at Vampire Mountain after five years of nothing he was disheartened, hoping that his fellow Princes had discovered some other information in his absence. Mika had sent a few messages with Generals he had encountered during his travels, reassurance that he was well and still hunting, but he usually heard nothing from his fellow Vampires- or if he did it was the same information he had already gathered. Disheartened. Walking through the halls of Vampire Mountain after five years was the closest he had come to feeling relief since first becoming a Prince. Seeing the mountain still standing, seeing his people in more-or-less good spirits lifted his mood.

The Vampires had clambered around him, calling at him, demanding information. He'd pushed his way, head high, into the Hall of Princes, greeted by the kindly face of Paris Skyle. Shortly after, Darren Shan had pushed his way through, looking as fresh-faced and boyish as ever. Mika couldn't help but cast him a short-lived smile.

He tried not to scan the crowd too obviously, but he couldn't help wondering where Juliet was. As he relayed his report, his mind kept drifting. Five years without seeing her face, after the argument they'd had concerning his departure he was hardly surprised that he couldn't find her gracing the hall, but he hoped...

There.

She sat with her arms crossed, leaning uncomfortably across three seats towards the middle of the Hall. She was breathtaking, her hair cascading over her shoulders, the tresses messy and feathery and begging to be brushed. She was clad in leather- lots of it- something he was sure she'd pulled out of her own belongings the moment her bags had been returned to her. A leather corset of some sort that astounded him at how it lifted her cleavage, and how she thought it appropriate to wear in a Mountain full of burly men. Tight leather pants clung to her legs, trailing downward with buckles and straps that seemed to serve no purpose but to distract. Her feet were clad in calf-high boots, laced tightly with a three inch tall heel, thick and made for stomping. Was she even comfortable in that outfit? Useful in a battle, dazzling in mundane situations. Mika half-hoped she had donned it just for his return. Though her face was turned from him, he could tell she was listening intently to his words, even as she feigned disinterest.

Inwardly he chuckled- perhaps she forgave him for leaving so abruptly. Mika had spent five years trying not to dwell on the psychologically fragile woman he'd left back at the mountain, clinging to his promises, probably the hardest thing about his absence. Seeing her again… he wondered truly why he had believed it a better idea to leave her instead of taking her.

The moment he finished relaying his information about the Vampaneze Lord he was swept out of the Hall on a current of hands, hoisted and carried. Mika locked eyes with Juliet as he was carried away, and she infuriated him by blowing him a kiss and continuing to recline in her seat.

When she walked into the Hall of Khledon Lurt to join in the festivities, Mika felt his heart drop.

So close to her beauty, he truly questioned his motives for leaving her behind a second time. Juliet sauntered toward him, snatching a mug of ale from a Vampire who couldn't hide his attraction to her and downing it. She unabashedly took advantage of her status in the Mountain as the 'hot piece', using it to her advantage. Suddenly Mika understood why the Vampire women were usually not attractive- men are men. Larten and Darren came into the hall one after another, the young Prince eager to join the party. Juliet only seemed to egg the boy on as she procured him drinks and demanded he finish them.

'What in the world is a keg stand?' Mika thought as Juliet pushed her way through the crowd. He had been drinking every time someone refilled his mug, unable to turn his people down after they regarded him as some sort of hero- 'For what?' he wondered. As Juliet positioned herself above the ket of ale, Mika stiffened. Her display was mesmerizing, not only her ability to drain half a barrel of liquid, but also her breasts fighting to free themselves from the confines of her top, something every virile male in the room could not take their eyes off of, even as they urged her to keep drinking.

Mika downed another mug.

Watching Darren interact with Juliet, the Prince wondered how their training had gone. They were certainly friendly. The young Vampire rested himself on Juliet's shoulders, drifting off before his mentor dragged him away. Mika watched as Juliet also began to drift, mug teetering in her hands, threatening to spill on her pants. He approached her.

"Fresh air?" he asked.

She looked up at him with those dazzling eyes and he ground his teeth in anticipation. Unpredictable beauty.

She was smiling.

It was supposed to be a simple walk. Mika explaining to Juliet that he was ready to investigate her past with her, follow any leads they could find. Juliet had sighed plenty, seemingly taken aback by his sudden offer.

"Your people are important to you."

Her understanding had rocked him. The same reason he'd given himself to leave her fifty years ago he had re-used five years ago, and now she spoke it aloud. Not throwing it in his face, but nodding her agreement.

Had they finally begun reaching some sort of amicable friendship? After all these years? Before he left she had barely paid him any mind. He was just another one of her 'employers'. That's what Darren had told him one night in the hall.

"She's settling in, but doesn't want to think of us as anything other than employers. She said it's easier that way." The young prince had shrugged, but Mika had frowned deeply.

She passed him in the halls and nodded in greeting, sparing no words. He had witnessed her dining with Paris or Darren for some meals, always murmurs in the crowd as to what it meant for her to be seated with a Prince. When he'd told her he was leaving…. It was the longest conversation they'd had since the fight in the lower caves.

It had ended about as well…

Now she stood before him in full understanding of his need to protect the people of Vampire Mountain, no mocking, no disdain. She'd shaken her head at his insistence to leave right after returning.

"You still do that?" Juliet pointed to his hands. Mika hadn't even noticed he had removed his signature leather gloves. "What are you nervous about?"

Mika smiled inwardly. 'Nervous? No, I'm not nervous. I'm terrified at how well you've adjusted. It's like dreams I used to have right after leaving you. What if I'd taken you with me? Is this how it would have turned out?'

"I'm afraid you won't want my help anymore." He stated.

"Yeah right. I'm not turning down any help." She scoffed, head shaking from left to right. She crossed her arms in annoyance and opened her mouth to continue

"Is that so? Perhaps I could assist you then?"

Mika felt that tension overtake him, the kind he hated. The kind that showed fear, even as his mind readied a strategy, his body showed fear. Juliet seemed to not feel fear, immediately reaching for her weapons.

"Who's there?" Mika called.

Desmond Tiny emerged from the mist, and Mika tensed further, knowing the man's arrival was never a good sign. "Tsk tisk, Mika ver Leth." He said, his voice jovial and murderous. "Introduce me to your lady friend."

"Juliet, this is Desmond Tiny." Mika managed to grate. He wanted to tell her 'The most infuriating and dangerous man you'll ever meet. Don't trust a word he says. Don't look him in the eye. Don't give him a reason to destroy my people.'

"You can call me Des, beauty." Mr. Tiny bowed to Juliet and she grimaced. "Am I to take you at your word? Are you in need of assistance?"

Juliet glanced at Mika, but he couldn't manage any indication of what she should say. Yes? No? Did it matter? Desmond Tiny was unpredictable. Something he was finding even more disturbing than before. Mika had hardly encountered the man, perhaps twice in his entire time as a Vampire, but every time he brought strange and unsettling news to the Princes. Mika remembered now that Desmond Tinys little person, Harkat Mulds, was the one who brought news of the Lord of the Vampaneze lord, no doubt at the behest of his master. Perhaps the fat man got busy and didn't want to make the trek.

Why was he here now, though?

"I've got some personal issues." She muttered. Juliet removed her hands from her daggers and crossed her arms over her chest, idly stroking her bare shoulders. "Very personal."

Mr. Tiny nodded, his squat body bobbing in time with his head. "I see, I see." He said. "Do I sense a relationship here, between you two?"

"No." Mika said, even as Juliet said 'Yes', much to his surprise.

Desmond eyed them over his small glasses. Juliet shrugged. "It's complicated." She snapped.

"I believe a lot of what I'm sensing between you two can be called 'personal'." He was mocking them. Mika remained silent. "But I can help."

"My problem doesn't concern my relationship with Mika, or you for that matter." Juliet growled. Mika tensed further, wanting to grab the woman and chastise her for her manners. "I appreciate your offer, but I'm turning you down. Pleasure meeting you." She began to turn and walk away, Mika knew this bluff. It was the 'if I walk away fast enough they won't chase after me' bluff.

"Oh, so you're no longer curious about your past at all, Juliet?"

She froze. Mika as well. Juliet turned on her booted heel and began storming back. Mika had to put an arm out to stop her from walking right up to Desmond, dagger in hand.

"Who are you and what the fuck do you know?" she snapped. "How do you know my name? Where is this coming from? WHO SENT YOU?" she was barking now, startling Mika even as Mr. Tiny looked down at the small watch in his hand.

"No time for your questions, dear. Only time for my answers." He chuckled and the sound caused both Mika and Juliet to frown in disgust.

Desmond snapped his fingers, causing both of them to blink. When they opened their eyes again a split second later a large, ornate wooden door had appeared on the bank of the stream, feet away from them.

Mika stared at the door, Juliet at the one who had summoned it. The Prince couldn't quite place where he had seen the door before, but it unsettled him with its familiarity.

"What is this?" Juliet asked. Mr. Tiny smiled eerily, showing straight white teeth. A flicker of fear passed over Juliet's face as she watched him smile.

"This is the door to your past." The short man shrugged. "Do you want to take a peek?"

A/N: I really wanted to rewrite some of the previous chapter from Mika's POV, so sorry for the lack of new information in this one! Please review!