Stepping from the limo, I look up at this tall skyscraper of Kotowa. This one was directly across from the one I had been to the day previous with Nick when meeting the other clan leaders. Looking up at the beautifully carved edifice, it reminded me of the ancient Greek colosseum. Nick squeezes my hand and I feel the warm blanket of his power over me as he take the wide steps up to the entrance. We were both a little sobered as my eyes flow over the thousands of vampires that line the streets to see even a glimpse of their leaders. The air was heavy with many pheromones of hope, fear, and excitement. Nick hadn't been able to speak with Igor, and had come back soon after Anthea had left. He had seemed angered and nervous.

We had gone on to the library and tried to look studious alongside the other seven night hunters scouring the records. We both knew it would be a fruitless search, but had to keep up pretenses so long as our suspicion of Igor remained. Nick hadn't left my side since and I could sense his nervousness. I had told him that Anthea had come and he hadn't seemed too pleased with that. But time was of the essence and we both knew by tomorrow morning we would no longer be in this city. We had talked at length as to where to go and finally decided the best place would be where humans were. As weak as mankind was, they were still formidable when threatened. So we would hide among them.

Nick looks down at me with a soft smile and says, "You look beautiful."

My eyes lift to him in his fine tailored suit with a vest of red velvet and I smile as we step inside. I felt the sharp power of another Pureblood and look over to see Julianna, Tiberius's wife coming in close behind us. Her pale eyes bore into mine and Nick whispered into my ear, "Pay her no mind. We will get into the party, stay for the required time, then leave so we can prepare."

I nod as we step into the elevator and the doors close by means of the A rank attendant. The party was being held by Aname, and my mind kept playing back to the words that Anthea had said. He was by far not the oldest. If that was the case, could the oldest maybe help us. Who even was the oldest if Aname wasn't? So many questions to be answered and now it felt like I was on a clock as the doors open and a flood of power and pheromones take over my senses. I let out a soft gasp as I feel Nick try to cover as much of it with his warmth and soft pheromones. Even still I felt the prickle of sweat on my lower back as I step into the room. Many heads turn my way, the predators, the phantoms I had prided myself on not being and yet here I was. Everything inside me shivered as Nick introduces me to one of many in the room waiting to see who I am.

It was exhausting as I nod, smile, and shake hands. Nick had prepared me as much as he could throughout the day, and even now I knew he was being seen as weakened by marrying me. Slight snide comments and disgusted looks are the party came into full swing. Over it all I could feel Aname's sun like power blanketing it, as my eyes find him among a group of his family. It wasn't hard to figure with them all in similar dress and I ask, "Is it common to wear similar colors as your family during a party."

Nick nods and says, "You can find our people among the crowd for wearing black and red, the symbolic colors of our clan."

My eyes roam the large room and I notice the black and red. It wasn't as many in number as some, but then again most of the Dracul clan had been wiped out, Nick being the only Pureblood among them now. He was a rare specimen now, and I could feel the eyes of many women who would love to kill me to have him. It was unnerving as music started and the dance floor opened. Nick takes my hand and says, "Seeing as this may be our only chance to dance for awhile, why don't we take advantage of it."

Despite my exhaustion and tension due to all the power and pheromones in the room, I can't help the soft smile as I nod and take his hand. He leads me into the dance and for a change I feel relief. His shattered blue eyes were on mine and for once I try to allow myself to sink into them fully. His smile was soft as he reaches around and brushes a curl from my forehead then leans in to plant a small kiss on my forehead. It felt so intimate and yet I had noticed how often he had started to do this. It felt wonderful and surprising with how cold he had been before. But it felt like every time his eyes turned to me now they were soft. He didn't have to hide himself from me anymore and though I did wish he remembered me I was happy to know I was his and he was mine in this moment. We would figure out the mystery that was the Silent Phantasma. We would bring them to their knees, together.

Just then someone taps Nick on the shoulder and he slows, turning to the person. His once soft features sharpening along with the coldness returning to his eyes as he growls, "What?"

It was Farris, his stocky build and auburn hair unmistakable as he grunts out, "My apologies your highness, but Aname must speak with you."

I could smell the rust scent of Nick's anger, but he nods, turns to me and murmurs, "We must finish our dance."

That when I feel the prickle at the back of my neck as a voice I hadn't expected to hear again says, "I shall take your stead until your return Nicholi."

Turning slowly, my eyes land into the pale blue ones of Dante. He was styled in a white suit and silvery tie. Nick seemed hesitant until I say, "Its alright Nick."

He nods, and lets me go into the arms of my ex-fiance. He gives me one last look before turning away and heading to the dais where Aname now sat to survey the room. Surrounding him were his family, a variabl army, and I felt nervous for Nick as he walked towards them with his small group. Dante chuckles and murmurs, "Oh I wouldn't worry for the Dracul prince, he's stronger than he lets on."

My head snaps around to Dante with a flash of anger, sweat now started to pop out on my forehead from the blanket of Nick's power now gone. He could only cancel others powers when around me and now he was gone. The song changes to a waltz, and Dante pulls me to him. Suddenly I feel a sense of calm and know it's Dante's power. It felt so strange to know such a creature could have such calming effects. But wasn't that true of some predators, they lull you into a false sense of security before they strike. Stiffening in his arms, I say feeling the power inside me trying to awaken, "You don't know that. Aname is the oldest among the vampire and even Nick has said Aname is more powerful."

Dante chuckles softly as he sweeps me into a spin, pulling me towards him again as he says, "Sweet innocent Natasha."

This makes my cheeks flush with embarrassment. This was something he said to me often when I was wrong, but in this I knew I was right. We sweep into the veranda and a slow smile comes to my face with the fall of darkness over us as we dance among the crowd, "I know."

"Know what Natasha?" Dante asks with a smile, his brow cocked as he twirls me again.

Coming back, I whisper into his ear, "Zoran."

Dante jerks ever so slightly as the dance turns slower and he pulls me ever closer, his lips almost on my ear as he murmurs, "Careful."

There was no calm in that one word, but I sensed every atom of fear in it. Slowly I pull away from him slightly, looking up at him. His handsome face was more sever as he says softly, "Nina, nina, if only you knew."

"Tell me Dante."

He gives me a faint smile as he says almost wistfully, "I will only answer three of your questions."

Letting out a puff, I say, "Really? This again?"

"Is that your first question dearest Natasha, remember to chose your questions wisely."

It would always be this way with him now, I knew. So I let calm overtake me, even as I knew he expected me to get frustrated as I ask, "Where is he?"

Dante shakes his head slightly, his face faltering for a moment before he says, "What a question, if only I knew the answer then I wouldn't be here now myself."

"Where would you be?"

Now his smile disappears, calm replacing it as he murmurs, "As far from him as possible, I dare say."

"There is no escaping him Dante."

Dante chuckles sardonically and says, "Oh don't I know it. Why else would I be here and not in my safe little nest in Paris. How unfortunate I find you also here."

We had practically stopped dancing, now just shuffling our feet at the edge of the dance circle near the railing. My eyes sweep out over the city as he murmurs, "Beautiful is it not?"

"Yes."

"Enjoy it."

Slowly my eyes return to his and I ask my final question, "Why is it unfortunate I am here?"

I take in his features, and see sadness in his eyes, his jaw ticking, his smile long gone. It almost looked to me like he was remembering something, soft regret plainly plastered on his face, as he whispers, "I truly do love you Natasha. You would have been my one and only mate if you had trusted me. You were changing me, but alas we can not change the past. I tried to warn you my love, my sweet innocent Natasha, that he would be your undoing...trust me..."

The next thing I know I'm being viciously thrown from the railing by him. A scream escapes me as I shift in the air, arms flaying as I look back up at him. An explosion rockets out around him as he gives me a regretful smile before disappearing into the flames as I fall.