(A/N): I've been trying to figure out how to introduce parts of this chapter for a while now but didn't really know how. This seemed like the best place for them.

Leo

The day after we visited Audrey and Jay, we decided to hold a special training session with Herc to get a fresh set of eyes on the twins growing abilities and control. They had come a long way since they had been forced to flee by Elaine's very presence the summer before fourth year, but they still had some issues- I mean, who didn't? It certainly wasn't effortless for them to be around humans, but as long as they kept their distance- and didn't spend too long downwind from an picnics- they're manage.

We were asking Herc for his advice on the matter, because, being from a larger, 'new growth' clan, he had a bit more experience wrangling baby vampires than we did. First things first, we had to show Herc what the twins capabilities were, so we had Jo square off with Lisbet, and Danniel and I sparred together for Herc to observe.

We started off slow, much like we had when the twins had first been brought to us, and slowly ramped up the speed and difficulty until they were at their maximum output. It was definitely more than they had been capable of the last time we had done this, but neither of them were up to the level of their partners. Herc instructed us to maintain maximum output until they tapped out, so we did so.

It only took a couple of minutes for Jo to crack, getting put on her back by Lisbet, and Danniel immediately let me get the better of him and do the same, as if he had been waiting for Jo to go down first before he could let himself give up. This wasn't surprising to me, considering that the competition between the two usually ended up pushing Danniel further than he would normally go, and while it was useful from a training standpoint, we were trying to get him out of the habit, as there were situations where it would put people in danger- clan mates or otherwise.

Like when he had tried to push himself to stay longer while meeting Elaine, and had ended up being dragged off by my father after he had lost control and tried to attack her.

"Buen trabajo, very good!" I held out my hand to help Danniel up as Lisbet did the same for Jo, and he took it.

"Thanks." He was out of breath, and his face was redder than I had ever seen it, but he seemed proud of his performance.

"So, what do you think? Any suggestions?" Lisbet asked of Herc, and he considered the twins for a moment before shrugging.

"Fighting is muy bien. You said they had problems with control?" Danniel looked embarrassed by this, which wouldn't do, so I threw an arm around his shoulders.

"They're hardly the only ones with those sorts of problems." Jo gave me a subtly appreciative look, while Danniel seemed too stunned by my sudden tactileness to really respond.

"Still. Got any suggestions?" Herc thought about this for a second.

"They seem normal for their age. Maybe even above average," They both looked proud of this observation. "I would expect vampires of this age to much more... unpredictable. If you really want to try to push forward in terms of control, exposure is the only suggestion I can give." So they just needed to be around humans more? Well, that sounded pretty easy.

Wait, no!

Lisbet was already observing me, as if she could read my thoughts.

"Whatever you're thinking, I'd just like to state here and now that I don't like it." The smile that grew on her face made me like it even less.

"The fact that you've come to the same conclusion means its the only possible solution, and you know it, which is why you're taking it out on me." There wasn't much I could say to argue with that, as much as I wanted to.

"Without dad, and with Shari on bed rest or-" My gaze flicked to Herc, who very much looked like he wanted to stay out of the debate until it was over. "elsewhere, we have even less people who can remove the twins from the situation if they suddenly go rogue. Not to mention, none of my friends have been here since before my father died- what am I supposed to say when they ask why he isn't around? 'Maybe you should check the cemetery at the edge of the grounds'?" Lisbet shrugged, looking wholly unbothered by every complication I threw her way.

"Your inability to confront your fathers death and tell your friends notwithstanding-" I flinched, not expecting her to be quite so straightforward with her counter argument. "You and I can take the twins, we've just proved that- and they're supposed to be building a tolerance, which means that as long as they leave under their own steam when they begin to feel like they're losing control-" She eyed the twins, who both nodded solemnly, agreeing to the terms she had set out. "We shouldn't have to remove them." I felt the weight of their eyes on me, and crumbled under the pressure.

"Fine. But not until summer holidays." Lisbet rolled her eyes.

"What? Did you think I was going to fly them here on the back of my broom?" I wouldn't put it past her. "And if you're that worried about the fact we have fewer more mature members of the clan, maybe we should consider adding a few new members." I blinked.

"Who did you have in mind?" Lisbet shrugged.

"You said Jerremyah brought the twins in, right?" I didn't like where she was going with this. "He was... an old friend of mine." Hm, vampire code. Does that mean he's an ex, or he turned her? Maybe both.

"Is he trustworthy?" Lisbet looked unsure, but I didn't know whether it was because she didn't know if he was trustworthy, or because she didn't want to tell me.

"He's... strong. And... very loyal, when he wants to be." That was very noticeably not a yes.

"Can you keep him in line?" She hesitated, and I crossed my arms over my chest. "Lisbet, bringing in a new vampire just to have some extra muscle isn't a good idea if he's just going to do whatever the hell he wants." She winced.

"I'm not sure if I can keep him in line, because I haven't spoken to him in a long time. I wouldn't want to give you a false impression by saying I can do something when I don't actually know for sure." I sighed, and shook my head.

"Check it out. Evaluate his suitability to join the clan. But in the meantime, I'm going to see if my trainer during the school year would consider joining us."

(A/N): Buen trabajo = good job. Muy bien = Very good.

Herc's clan being a 'new growth' clan basically just means its mostly younger, more inexperienced vampires, and maybe a mix of other creatures.