The air in Paris was breezy in the predawn light. Everything took me back to that time 60 years ago as I took a deep breath of the air. My small smile comes to my face at the long buried memories. Those long years ago were the happiest I had had in all my years as a Phantom. It was true that Paris was the city of love and I had started to fall then after all those years of bitterness and loneliness.

'Nina.'

Suddenly I'm snapped back to the present, my happy memories fading as my eyes landed on the Dracul Pureblood who stood with the door of a black taxi open. I nod and slide in. He gets in and gives the driver the address to a hotel in the city. Silence reigned for a time before he finally asks, 'So did you feel them?'

I nod, knowing what he meant. Dante's minions had been at the airport and had already started following us. Though Paris resided in the Elric Clans realm, Paris truly belonged to Dante. There was little point in hiding our presence now. Dante had his hands in every pie that ever existed both human and vampire. I could feel the blanket of Nick's power cover me and the vampire that was our taxi driver. The driver starts to sweat and Nick asks in a deadly voice, 'If you don't take us to the hotel, this will be your last shift.'

'Of course Dracul Prince.'

I hadn't noticed him at first, so lost in my own thoughts and I felt my breathing being restricted once again by Nick's power. That week without his power on my shoulders had almost made me forget what he was. But now it was a stark splash of reality. My sense of survival kicking in once again, knowing I was so much lesser than he was. Somehow I needed this to remind me of why I was here. So I ask the driver, 'You work for Dante don't you?'

The Phantom stiffened in his seat and I could see the dread on him, his face pale as he croaks out, 'Yes.'

'If you are a messenger, let him know I will speak to him tonight, should he wish it.'

The poor man nodded, his own breath coming in stops and starts. Dante was terrifying, but the Dracul Pureblood beside me was moreso, and this poor vampire knew it just as well.

The sun was setting as I look out the window. Truly nothing was as spectacular as watching the sun set in Paris. 60 years had changed it, but so much architecture was the same, the rich stonework, the cobbled and crooked streets, even the music and smells of baking bread. Paris was a long forgotten dream I never thought I'd allow myself to see again. But it was so much stranger now with my maker walking it with me. Nick had been calm, but even I could tell he felt naked without his royal guard here in the city with him. He had remained quiet, but his power was still a heavy blanket on me, even now. I knew it was to warn other vampire not to take any chances, and to stay clear of him. Purebloods truly are terrifying. He was the only one I had ever met, and only Dante was a close second, and A ranked vampire, just under that Pureblood rank. It made me wonder what he was like as a child and how he had turned into such a dark monster along the way.

Just then a knock came to my door and I jerk, turning to look at the old mahogany face of it. Taking a calming breath, I walk over to it and open it saying, 'Ni...'

I stop there when I see the wide expanse of chest in front of me and slowly look up. A splash of nostaglia hits me as I look up at the stern face of Han, Dante's right hand man. He was a bitten like me, but had had the same nasty interests as Dante, after all Dante had been his maker. Leaning on the door, I smile softly and say, 'Hans, long time, no see.'

Hans looked down at me like I was an insect and his green eyes narrow as he says in that thick german accent, 'Dante has requested your presence in his chambers.'

'Of course.'

With that I grab my red blazer off the hook I had left it on, knowing this was coming, and follow him out of the old hotel. A rolls royce was waiting, with drive holding the door open for us.

Sliding in, I ask softly, 'How has life been treating you Hans?'

He just gives me an inferior look, and tells the driver to take us to the Luve. It wasn't a long drive and before I knew it I was being ushered into a side entrance to the art museum. This massive art museum was just the top layer of Dante's collection.

It had been years since I had been here, but the familiar halls, and finally the catacombs were unmistakable. Of course, I had only seen the good of Dante's world, but now I could hear the cries of agony, sorrow, and fear. Dante had a flare for the dramatic and cruel, and knowing this sobered me. I kept my eyes forward, never looking into the rooms. Since ghe Divine Comedy, Dante had taken on his role to well with torture of human and vampire alike. I made me think of my own torture and my stomach clinched. However, I could not show my fear, it would only entice Dante further.

Deeper we went, walking slowly as I ask Hans, 'You haven't seemed to have lost your accent yet Hans?'

'Why should I? The language of the German race is far superior to your own.'

I only smile, amazed at how Hans had yet to lose his prejudice for all others besides his own. It was to be expected of an ex high official of the Third Reich. He would be considered of the Ayrian Race because of his blonde hair and pale green eyes, but to think he still held onto beliefs that were nearly non-existent.

I could imagine after Dante turned him, he had tried to turn others of the Reich only to come to the realization he couldn't. He had likely been ousted by his own people as insane and thus returned to Dante out of desperation and hope he would turn others. How disappointed he must have been.

Finally we reach the large elaborate doors, deep below the city, far from anything the human race had yet explored. It was eerie and cold, but the doors well. Dante may have left off much of his vestiges as Hades, but the doors still held the ancient Greek words of death. Two vampires opened the doors, the deep rumble of stone against stone still made me shiver.

The feel of Dante's power was instant, but just as quickly gone. Another reminder that he was powerful and I had to be in my guard. The room was vaste, and only a long bridge lead to a small arena among the stilagmites that dripped water into the vaste pool below. It was soothing, yet unnerving as well.

Slowly I cocooned myself in calm reserve as Hans said, 'You know what to do.'

With that the large doors closed behind me with a deep rumbling boom. Taking a final calming breath, I walk forward, each step echoing in the large caven. My heart was calm, as was my mind. Slowly memories flooded me of my first time meeting Dante. It had been in a park in the evening on a cloudy day. The farmers market had been open and I had been searching among the carnations, enjoying the smells and beauty of them when he had said, 'Such beauty that nothing can compare.'

I had chuckled at him and said that flowers were lovely, but he had said that it wasn't the flowers of which he spoke and then he had introduced himself.

'Natasha,' came the voice from the ancient ivory chair in the middle of the arena.

The voice was deep, but with a rasp to it that brushed against your skin in a strange way. Slowly I look up at the man. He was still the same. His pale blue eyes, in pale skin, with hair as white as snow. To think the man who called himself Dante and Hades looked more like an angel, than a demon. Unlike Nick, he was fair and had a kind smile about his lips. His features were almost hero standard, unlike Nick's sharp angles and hard wolf like form. His white hair was unmistakable and long, pulled into a low ponytail, and falling down one shoulder nearly to his waist, a pair of white slacks and white button down only accentuated his paleness.

In that instant I was transported back to a time I could say I was happy to be a vampire and say softly, 'Dante.'

He lets out a chuckle, shaking his head, and stands slowly. He steps down and comes forward, his manners that of a nobleman of my time. I nod my head, finding a warm smile slowly spread on my face, a lightness coming to my heart, 'It has been far too long.'

He raises a brow and says, 'If I remember right, you left me at the alter about 50 years ago.'

'Yes, I did.' I say, remembering that day I had run, not because I wanted to but because I had to.

'So have you returned to marry me finally?' He asks, an amused smile coming to his face and a glint in his eyes.

Coldness filled me as I say softly, 'No Dante, you know as well as I, it would have not worked between us.'

'What a pity, you were everything I was looking for in a mate, beautiful, soft, kind... a perfect opposite to me. Persephone, to my Hades.'

His voice had taken on an edge at those final words as I say quietly, 'But it wasn't meant to be.'

'So your letter said,' he says, stepping closer, brushing some of my blonde hair away from my face and I could feel my pulse quicken.

He was so smooth, so sly, you would never imagine his cruelty. His thumb brushes against my collarbone, making my pulse skip again and a flush come to my cheeks. A smile brushes his lips again as he murmurs, 'Natasha, you still blush so easily.'

'As you smile as well.'

Finally he takes a step back and asks, his voice less husky, 'What brings you here Natasha?'

I take a step back as well, feeling the dizzying effects of his pheremones play along my senses once again saying, 'I have come to ask you about the Silent Phantasma.'

Dante stiffens for only a second, his eyes widening only for a nanosecond before he walks over to a small table with a pitcher and wine glasses saying softly, 'And what about this do you wish to know?'

'I have a source that says you have dealings with them, and know of them.'

He chuckles softly, shaking his head, his back turned to me as he pours the liquid I had smelled on coming into the small circle arena. Slowly, he turns, one side of his mouth turned up in a smile I knew was mischievous, his eyes twinkling with it as he says softly, 'Such a source should be fearful of speaking my name.'

'But you know her well.'

The mischievous smile wavers only a moment before he says in a sigh that seemed to vibrate the cavernous room, 'Jack.'

They had had history too, though not one of a possible romance, no it was of control and power. Dante was attracted to kindness, but was a snarling monster when it came to others poaching on his turf. It had led to Jack's removal from the continent, due to threats Dante had made against thr Elric clan, though a large amount had to do with Jack's own viciousness and breaking of the Phantom code. I nod and his smile fades, his face turning stoney for a moment before he seemed to return to himself as the chiverlous gentleman he tried to fashion himself as, instead of the demon he truly was.

'What is it you seek to know? But I will only answer three of your questions.' He says, as he walks back up to me with three fingers up before continuing, 'Choose your questions wisely.'

Dante loved games, and I feared I wouldn't survive them. But I had so far and I would have to now as well. Though at one time I had started to have feels for him, and the nostalgia of them was strong, I now knew what he really was and why I should fear him. It was hard to believe how close I had come to death nearly 50 years ago.

I nod, gathering my thoughts, and finally ask, 'Who is their leader?'

A glint in his eyes and smile on his lips he said, 'No, no, no. You seem too eager, try again.'

'Do you trade with them?'

'Now that is a question, and the answer is yes.' He says, before taking a sip of the red liquid.

'Why?' I asks, my brows knitting together, feeling cold inside.

'Why not? He possess ancient wealth that lines my pockets nicely.'

'He.' I murmur.

'Oops! I have said to much!' He says, faining surprise.

I knew he was leading me on and I say, 'So I am looking for someone, a vampire to be sure who is ancient, a possible Pureblood.'

He smiles and asks with a quizzical look on his handsome face, 'Why do you say that?'

'Because only a Pureblood can attain such wealth, and control so much.'

'But I am not a Pureblood and I control much.'

I nod but murmur, 'However can you control ghoul?'

Dante's face changes for only an in instant with shock, returning to a soft smile. He taps my nose and murmurs, 'I should have never let you leave, you were always so much smarter than you appearance of innocence let on.'

'And it has proven to have grown sharper since, so what can you tell me Dante?'

'I will for a price.'

'What price?'

He steps closer, making me have to look up at his face, his smile turning sultery as he murmurs, 'I will give you a clue to your answer, for the price of a kiss.'

I jerk, stepping back, but his arm wrapped around my waist, keeping me close to him as I place my hands on his chest to keep from bumping into him. He was not baiting me, I knew as he murmurs in a husky voice, 'I have not felt the touch of your lips for over 50 years.'

He was still in love with me all these years later, but I knew it wasn't truly love. He wanted to possess me like a trophy. But I knew if I wanted answers what I had to do. My insides were quacking with fear and at the same time a longing. He had been for me a saviour when I had thought of ending my agony as a Phantom. He had breathed new life in me and helped me continue despite my ache of loss for both family and friends.

Slowly, I lift my hands to his face, his eyes dropping from my eyes to my lips and I knew he was serious. Getting up on my tip toes, I kiss him, feeling a slight tremor of the love I once had for him disappear and I slowly pull away, our eyes locked. His breathing was deep, having barely changed since my arrival as he murmurs, 'The one you seek is the oldest living vampire, but not of this time, of the past. I have traded with him for many years in Tridium and humans.'

'Where can I find this person?'

'For that you must find his name, to do so, you must go to the oldest library of this world.'

Slowly he lets me go, and I step back. Feeling my breathing return to normal, his face slowly changing, the soft smile turning cold as he says, 'To seek him will be your undoing Natasha...you should stay here... safe... with me.'

I give him a kind smile and murmur, 'I can't do that Dante, you know that as well as I do.'

Slowly I bow my head and turn away. As I'm walking a away, I hear him say in the voice I had only heard once when I found out what his true nature was, 'Say hello to the Dragon Prince for me.'

I look back at him with wide eyes and see the murderous glint in his pale green eyes, a devilish smile on his lips, his fangs flashing, that bespoke murder, the moans of pain, and shrieks of terror deep in the cavern sending my skin crawling.