Slowly I swirl my spoon in my cup of coffee. The morning was dreary and cold. The streets were fairly empty of people as I sat at the small cafe a few blocks from the hotel. I felt hollow inside, as if the illusion of love was now extinguished from my vocabulary. I had run from my feels for Dante for years, they were bitter sweet with betrayal and now that I had met him again, I had confirmed all my parting questions. He had been a mirage of a possible mate, but once the wool had been lifted it was gone. Had I been so naive back then, was I still.

My mind went back to last night, going over those parting words Nick had said. Him? Jealous? Purebloods couldn't possibly understand that word. I felt disturbed by them, but even more so was the fact that the more I thought about Dante wanting revenge, the colder I felt. He had been nice enough last night, but I had felt a cooling off once he had kissed me his eyes having gone cold and then deadly once he mentioned Nick.

I was afraid to be alone, but what was worse is I couldn't stand the thought of feeling the blanket of Nick's power a second longer. I was naive, and had to steel myself, Nick was using me and trying to manipulate me just as Dante had tried nearly 50 years ago. Brushing my hair back, I look up at the cloudy sky until its blocked and I jerk in surprise. Nick was looking down at me with a raised brow. I hadnt felt his presence and the pressure of his power was not there, suppressed.

He comes around and sits opposite me asking, 'It isn't safe to wonder the streets alone in Paris.'

'Its fine for vampires.'

He conceeded but states, 'True, but not every vampire rejects the unoffical King of Paris, Dante.'

I nod, sobered as he leans back and says, crossing his arms as he stares at me, 'He knows I'm here, so there is no point in hiding the fact I'm still alive. You said we need to go to Alexandria, so I could book one of my private jets to take us there by the evening.'

Blinking in surprise, I look at him, but he puts up his hand as he says, 'Don't get me wrong, I still have zero trust in you. However, the fact that you got a nitorious vampure to tell you things that even the Night Hunter's couldn't pull from me, inspires me to believe that you may be on the right tract.'

My heart was slamming in my chest as I grip my coffee cup tighter and he asks, his eyes flat, 'What do you say? Do we have a deal?'

The plane was quiet as it started to make its final approach to the airport in Giza. Nick looked out the window at the sparkling night lights that lit the pyrimads in the distance. I had conceeded to using his private plane, but I still felt nervous. This would alert the world to his presence, but I knew the longer I stayed in Paris, the bigger the chance I would be sucked into Dante's inferno. So we had left that evening while the cloud cover was still sufficient to do so.

Now as I looked out at the buildings becoming more detailed, I wasn't sure if I had made the right choice. Nick says calmly as he looks out the window in front of me, 'It has been years since I was in Egypt.'

Blandly I reply, 'Probably because you dont have diplomatic immunity here.'

Nick gives me a cutting glance and says, 'Its true that my father lost these lands a millenia ago ti the Zula, but that doesn't mean I can't come. Especially now that there is a vacuum where a majority of the Zula lands are concerned. Before long all the clans will be trying to canablize it, as well as the Romane lands, but I'll prevail.'

The certainty in his voice made me shiver inside. His Pureblood was showing at the moment as his eyes glanced over the land again. It wasn't so much the land that the Purebloods wanted, but the people in thisw lands. the more land occupued by the clans, the stronger they were because of being well fed.

The plane landed wuth just a breath of a tug and I feel myself becoming anxious. Nick wad assuming command once again now that Jerry was out of his way,even though he promised me two weeks. Today would make the nineth day, leaving me with only five left. It would ve impossible to find everything he wanted in that time, but if I could at least find the trail abd chase it for a little linger, I might get to breath another breathe.

Nick stands as the pilot comes out saying, 'A car will be waiting for you below sir.'

He nods, turns to me and says, 'Come, I have already had arrangements for accommodations made.'

The only way he could have done so was if he had used mind control on the pilot. It made me shiver to think what else he has been doing since we had met. Picking up my duffle, I follow him down the planes ladder and to wa waiting Mercedes Benz and accompanying driver.

I knew instantly that the driver was a vampire, his eyes focused on me and he bows to Nick and says, 'Master, it is good to know you are well.'

Nick gives a faint smile and says, 'Coal, you are too formal. I would luke you to meet Nina Simmons, my charge as of the moment.'

The driver slowly stands tall, shorter than Nick eith briwn haur and calm gray eyes he holds out his hand. It took me a moment to realize he wanted to shake my hand and I quickly do so. He says in an almost monotone of a voice, 'It is a pleasure. Please, I will take you to the house.'

House? My eyes snap to Nick as he got in and I follow suit askibg that very question, 'House?'

'I have a house in Egypt, it would seem idiotic not to use it.'

My eyes were on his face, looking for anything that would tell me what to do next. His eyes snap to mine like lasers and I jerk, looking away. Too much was happening too quickly. It felt like I had suddenly been sucked into quicksand. Fear ate at me as I tried desperately to think of what to do next. My eyes slyly look at Nick. He seemed relaxed and I noticed his duffle wasnt with him and I ask, 'Did you finish drinking what was left of the blood?'

He nods, not even taking a moment to look at me. Something had shifter for sure and it unnerved me.

My mind went back to the cafe, as I handed him my phone reluctantly. He had called and set up the flight to Giza. After finishing is call, he had explained how at nearly every airport he had a plane housed at the airport away from prying eyes. The wealth and status of the Pureblood in the world was terrifying. I had luved so long in hiding, now seeing how seemly open they were made me wonder just how well hidden I really was.

It wasnt long before we were in front of an old stone wall, two large weathered wood doors with intricate designs stood close. Nick gets out of the car and says, 'We are here.'

I get out, feeling eyes on me and look around. There were deeply tanned Egyotian children staring at us, eyes wide, mouths dropped open. I glance nervously at Nick as he says, walking towards the door, 'Poverty is common here, come along.'

But i couldn't do that as I walk over to the children, they nervously step back as I say I Arabic, 'Dont be afraid.'

Slowly one of the older ones steps uo to ne and says, 'You look like the jewel of the Nile, Lady.'

Chucjling, I take off the pearl necklace I had been wearing and hand ut to him, 'Thank you for your compliment, this is for you, take it, sell it as my thanks to you.'

For a moment he hesitates until his seeming sister nudges him. He grabs it and runs away. All the ither children laughed and ran after him. I feel Nick's cold presence behind me as he asks blandly, 'Why did you do that?'

'I'm not cruel and I remember how it feels to be so hungry you wish for death,' I say as I stand, dusting off my pants and look up at him, rememberibg my torturous days in the darkness of a room hung on chains.

His jaw twitches as he murmurs, 'You do realize that child doesn't have long in this world. You did smell it on him, didn't you?'

Turning towards the old worn doors and stone, I reply, 'Of course I did, but at least I can provide a moments respit from that darkness.'

It was another unfortunate ability of being a vampire. We can not only smell blood from a distance, or see the micro pulse under the skin, we can smell disease, even differentiate between them. It was one way vampires are able to find food of the best quality. The boy was dying of Hep A. Just from the smel of him, I could tell his liver was already failing. His sister had it as well though she would be alright for a while longer.

Glancing at Nick, I know he doesn't care. The doors open and we step inside. I am greated by an oasis,so different from the sand and dirt outside. Beautiful mosaic floors of blue and white litter the floor. All thoughts of the boy I push aside, trying to keep my thoughts on my own tenuis future.

Nick has a maid show me to my rooms. I place my duffle on the luxury bed and notice that the windows are already covered with blackout curtains. It wouldn't be long before the day came, minutes from what I could tell.

The wind howled through the house and I felt like I should run now, just run away and disappear once again. Who cared what the Phantasma wanted from me. I was able to walk in the sunlight and escape while all other vampure coward behind the shadows. Not only that but it seemed I could go longer than anyone without blood, meaning I could run longer and further than any other vampire. However, just as quickly as those thoughts came they were gone. I could still only run so lobg from these problems. So I needed to find out what they wanted and possibly end this conflict.

Suddenly I hear Nick's smokey voice in my head, 'Come to the library on the first floor...we have much to discuss while the sun is up.'

Slipping into a sundress to help keep me cool, I do just as he asks.