The day of the party had come as I sat before the mirror in the master bedroom. My mind was in turmoil as I looked at myself in the mirror. Nick had left earlier this morning to talk to Igor at the Nights Templar. Fear permeated me when he was about to leave, but he held me close, kissing the top of my head, and reassured me that everything would be ok. But how could it be. We knew Zoran was out there, that he was planning things and that he had killed his own son to prevent himself being called into question as the Phantasma's leader. Everything inside me quivered with fear as I brush out my damp hair.

Nick told me to continue to get ready for the party while he spoke with Igor, and so I went through the motions of taking a shower, and picking out the dress that had been bought for tonight. Stylists would be here later in the day to make me up, but for now I had to seem as normal as possible, including that of going to the library until I had to prepare for the party. As I put down the brush a knock comes and my eyes slowly lift to it in the mirrors reflection. 'Come in.'

The door opens and there is Venus, she looked a little nervous as she bows and says, "The Grand Seeker is here."

"What?" I ask in shock and turn to face her.

Venus wasn't nervous of me, but of the seeker. I could tell from her demeanor even though I knew she was also nervous of me as her power was lowered and her pheromones nearly non-existent. She nods and murmurs, "It seems she was expecting to meet you along with Nicholi, but he had deemed it unnecessary. But it seems she is insistent and came here to meet you personally."

"I see, very well."

Standing, I walk past her and into the hallway. Venus shows me the way to Nick's study and opens the door, bowing as she does and murmurs, "Keep your defenses up, the Grand Seeker is crafty."

The hairs on the nap of my neck rise quickly as I walk into the room. Stopping instantly, all I can do is stare at the woman standing by the windows, looking out at the city. This woman was beautiful, her hair a lush golden blonde, with skin so honey it looked like she was shining. Slowly she turns to look at me, and her eyes are different, one of bright blue, one of deep green as she smiles warmly at me and says in a voice so calming it made me relax, "MiLady Dracul, it is a pleasure to meet you."

Everything inside me said I could trust this woman, but at the same time I felt myself tighten up as I step quickly across the room and hold out my hand to shake, as I say, "Grand Seeker it's a pleasure."

"Please just call me Anthea," she says as she takes my hand.

Warmth spreads through me at the contact, the strangeness inside me waking and stretching toward her like a cat uncurling for an old friend, and she lets out a little gasp as do as well, her eyes shining with sudden happiness. It makes me stiffen as she says, "Natasha is your name yes?"

"It is," I say hesitantly, pushing down that thing inside me that was no longer numb but happy, as she releases my hand. "Please sit."

She nods and sits in one of the chairs, as I sit in the other facing her and she says, "Nicholi told me so much about you."

"Really?"

"Oh yes. It surprised me when the news of his marriage reached me from my seeker Orzet. He seemed quite displeased that Nicholi had married a c rank. But Nicholi assured me that there is so much more to you than meets the eye."

"What do you say?"

A soft smile broke over Anthea's face as she whispers, "Very much so."

The silence stretched for a moment as she stared at me before continuing on, "It's fascinating how history seems to repeat itself."

Looking at her with a puzzled face, I ask, "What do you mean?"

"Oh just thinking out loud," she says waving her hand in front of her face as if moving thoughts away as she asks, "How are you liking Kotowa?"

"It's...majestic."

"I must agree, I still remember when it was being built."

This jerks me from thinking about what just happened with my power, and I look up at her saying, "What do you mean?"

"Oh I was here when it was being built by Fideous the Great."

"But... you look so young."

Anthea lets out a short laugh before saying with a large grin, dimples showing on her fresh face, "Oh yes, youthfulness is a wonderful facet of the vampire race, but yes I am very old."

"Does that make you older than Aname? I thought he was the oldest vampire."

She sobers at that, her hands slowly laying her lap as she replies, "Yes he does like to say that, because he knows no different. You see I do not say this lightly in saying I am by far not the oldest vampire, but neither is Aname."

Now my eyes were on her, everything on high alert. There wasn't a single pheromone in the air, and I felt no push on my minds defenses. So what what this? Why did I suddenly feel as if she was testing me. Very slowly I look at the doors leading into the room as she seems to anticipate my questioning eyes, "This study is soundproof. I know this from the building plans of this mansion."

Eyes cutting to her, I feel fear pull at me. But she puts her hand up to stall my mind as she says, "Before you ask, I have my reasons for coming here. But now I know my worries are unfounded."

"What fears?"

Anthea puts her hands back in her lap, one over the other, looking more like a goddess than a vampire as her odd eyes stare at me and answers, "I know you are like Fideous."

Terror grips me as I grip the chair arms and growl, "What do you mean?"

"I can feel it from you, with my ability. You are...a daywalker, like him."

The fear grew as I stood and say coldly, "I think you have me mistaken for something I know nothing of."

"You knew Fideous as Furlow correct?"

Ice filled my veins as I look down at her, she was looking up at me with sad but kind eyes as she says, "Furlow told me about you."

It was like a gut punch as my knees give way and I land back in the chair. She lets out a soft huff and says, "He came to me the day he wrote in his book and told me about you. He knew that one day you would come here and that I should prepare myself for that day. I never thought it would be on the arm of a Dracul Prince, but here we are."

Everything inside me was numb as I stare at this woman, this ancient creature, as my numb lips part and I ask, "What did Furlow tell you?"

"You would rule the vampire world when you came. But it seems to me you haven't reached your full potential."

All I can do is stare at her as she continues, "You aren't ready and I know no one knows what you are. You must keep it that way. I know of the Silent Phantasma and what they want. Furlow I believe knew it as well. He told me he would confront the leader, but he never told me who it was. He was like a father to me when I was young and I can see he was the same for you. Please don't be afraid of me, your secret will remain that way until my last breath, just as it was with Fideous. I am your friend, just as I was his."

Slowly she reaches over at takes my hand and I feel that same warmth as she continues, "Fideous was right about you, you were built to rule. My abilities allow me to sense the truth of a person and you truly are like sunlight. But I must warn you, you need to leave Kotowa immediately."

"Why?"

"I fear the Silent Phantasma is already here, is already... doing things that will destroy our society. You know as well as I do what that means for the world."

"Chaos."

"Yes," she nods slowly, her mismatched eyes never leaving mine.

"I will talk to Nick about leaving tomorrow morning."

She nods, a grim look on her face and she says, "Good. You must survive... you must."

Author Notes: Thank you everyone for the long awaited return. A lot as happened since I started writing this book but I plan to release a chapter every week till the end. The story needs to be completed and its epic finale awaits.