Bane was expecting the women to try and stop him from going, but he didn’t think one of them would make a good point as to why to not go. He though about what she said for a moment and then turned to look at her.

“I need to find him, I don’t know why, but I just know that his release is definitely not a good thing. Possibly apocalyptic. Which equals not good, if ya catch my drift. And I don’t see how I wouldn’t face him alone. I have no allies, nor do I know anyone that would be willing to come and face someone with that intensity of power. There is no other way. I need to find him before something bad happens,” bane said then started to turn again.

Then he wondered if the two girls would be willing to come. They both seemed to be able to hold their own. Maybe they could be of some use to him. Maybe they had friends they could bring to help stop whatever darkness had been unleashed.

The strangest part of all was that with the horrible feeling he had and the dark aura he sensed from the man who had been unleashed there was a bright aura as well. As if there was darkness and light. Like life and death.

The lone police officer sighed. Working night shifts, away from his wife and kids, in a dangerous city...Yeah, the perfect night for him. He flashed his torch around, making sure everything was in order as he dragged his feet along the ground, flashing it for a split second into a dark alleyway before turning his back to it and looking onwards across the street.

This evening was quieter than usual. He had not made a single arrest yet, compared to him usually arresting atleast three people in a single night on most good days. The night was quiet, apart from the occasional passing car, or the barking of a distant dog. There was one sound though, that illuded him. A tingling sound...No...A ringing sound...What did it come from? A bike? No, it was a bell of some sort. Perhaps multiple bells. And if it didn't get strange enough, it was coming from the alley behind him....And getting louder extremely quickly as if it was moving at high speed.

He turned suddenly, his torch light allowing him to see for a split second, the blade of a greedy vampire before his neck was slit and Dannin sighed in relief as he held the bodies head, feeling the warm blood spray over his body. He dipped his head and drank some of it, before throwing the body down to his side and wiping his mouth.

He was alone, one of his men guarding the large house they had now taken for a base, another making sure they were known in the underworld. And the final one, well, she was using her body to....Recruit new soldiers to Dannin's cause.

Dannin sighed heavily and rested his large River Blade on his shoulder, before looking up at the moon and closing his eyes, sighing in relief before he set off running down the road, around the corner and deeper into the city. The bells on his waste ringing into the night.

'What an odd turn of events...' Ana observed from her high, wooden perch, now lying flat on her stomach and her tail flicking from side to side, the dakrness still hiding her form. She had watched with a faint tiny flicker of interest that had now died out as Kris had changed his wonderful 'Queen' and she had left to drink with her new vampire servant. The witchy friend of hers had left in an awfully familar rage, much like what Ana had felt towards Kris when she had first learned some random woman was going to be taking her place beside him, at their metaphrocial (or perhaps not so) thrones.

'That strange shape shifter interests me... I wonder what would happen if I just...' She got up, giving a big strech through her whole body and grinding her claws into the wood. Tiny scratch marks appeared which would remain unknown for years to come. Then she slipped off her high seat, ignoring everyone who was still in the room, including the sleeping Kris, as she left through the broken window, sniffing at the positive scent of destruction. As she went by, she gave Kris a glance, and felt nothing. Her feelings had long since vanished and she was now moving on to bigger and more interesting fish to fry.

As she slipped by the brokwn glass and landed with a soft thump on the ground, her nostril flared with the pungent, dangerous and almost delicious scent of chaos itself. Quickly she followed, breaking into a run as she headed towards... Where ever it is the witch man had gone. 'It's possible he'll slay me... I'm in no mood to fight back... What draws me to him, anyway? Is it simply because we are more alike then we know? I wonder...' Not especially caring about what she was doing, or what she was running at break neck speed into; she just wanted to feel alive again, if such a thing was possible for her.

The spark... The flame... The adrenaline rush... She did not remember such things anymore, lost for decades deep within her. But as she approached the creek, the stench of death almost suffocating in the air, she could feel tiny things tightening in her stomach. Anxiety? The chances were, the shape shifting witch was going to notice her stark white form soon and probably attack her, so she slowed when she ehard the splashing... Prowling into the hunt, or maybe just the approach of the prey, which she wasn't even going to kill. Foolish instincts.

Maxine's thirst was more of a need for adrenaline, then blood. Her teeth were still hers. The gold chains linked together around the ankles of her purple and black suede stiletto boots clinking together helped her keep a steady step. Her posture was perfect, her walk effortless. Maxine had never before felt so perfect, her powers were gaining strength with every passing minute, her senses tingling. The feeling was truly amazing.

A purple neon light that read Avalon was the first thing to draw her attention from herself. She slowed her walk in show for Mikael to take her side. "What do you know of this place?" She asked. "It's a club. After midnight, it's mostly vampires, some humans. During the day, however, there's no telling what goes on." He shrugged. Maxine nodded, "Let's socialize then, shall we?" A grin appeared on both of their faces as they approached the door, Mikael opening it to allow her entry.

The bar was painted black, with red trim, and mirrors. Lots of mirrors, she noticed. The two crossed in front of one, and Maxine turned to admire her new self. Her reflection was much more clearer than Mikael's. The man walked behind her and gently placed a hand on her shoulder, leaning down to whisper in her ear, "It fades with age, my Queen." She raised her eyebrows in understanding, and turned to lead him to the bar. Behind the bar stood a woman who appeared no older than 27, but from her aura, Maxine could tell different. She took a seat on a stool, and waited. "You might do well to release your own aura, m'lady. What better way to introduce yourself to your lethal subjects? They know of Kristopher, very well. I, myself, even get recognition here and there, just for residing with our King." Maxine was unaware she had been sheathing her aura, so she slowly took a deep breath; in through the mouth, out through the nose.

Her exhale broke the mirror on the wall behind the bar, 7 foot away from her. It didn't fall, but cracked from corner to corner. The bartender dropped the glass she was drying, and a hush consumed the crowd. Mikael took the honor of turning around to face the intrigued crowd, Maxine smiled and followed his lead.

"Who are you?" Someone whispered from the back. Mikael exchanged nods with Maxine and began, "This is your Queen. Recently turned by your own Kristopher Sangre De Cazador. She has come to explore her kingdom, and make nice with her people. Behold, Queen Maxine Vida." "Vida?!" A woman asked, pushing her way through the crowd. "As in, the Maxine Vida? Dominique's oldest daughter? The witch?" For the first time, Maxine's canine grew approximately an inch. "So you've heard of me?" Her tone was deadly. It was obvious she was going to have to prove herself to these people. "I'll be damned if I serve under a witch! Go find yourself a group of shapeshifters to rule, sweetheart." Instantly, Maxine was behind the woman, her head yanked down to her left shoulder, "Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't we already damned?"

Maxine dropped the woman's body on the floor after she finished, and politely wiped the corners of her mouth. "Would anyone else like to question my race?" With no response, she met eyes with Mikael again. He was sitting on his stool, leaning back on the counter, with his arms crossed and shoulders squared. "How do you feel?" He asked as she approached him. "Amazing." She said. Maxine finished his drink for him, and they left the bar.

As they reached the corner where they parked their vehicle, Mikael grabbed hold of Maxine's arm and stopped her. "What's wrong?!" She asked. He shook his head, "This isn't right. You don't sense the power? It's ridiculously strong, thicker than even Kris's." He said behind wide eyes. Maxine was not used to being able to sense out auras miles away, so she had not been paying attention. But upon Mikael's declaration, she felt it immediately. It was close. She felt her pulse heighten. This was the adrenaline rush she had been searching for. This was to be her highlight.

Maxine broke herself free from Mikaels grip, "No, M'lady. Wait!" She turned the corner, and immediately stopped. The man was as beautiful as his aura led him to be dangerous. Her eyes first went to his ringing bells on his waist, "New to the area?" She questioned. The knowledge from her Vida Coven educated her on all of the powerful vampires in the surrounding areas, descriptions and all. This man had never ever been expressed to her.

"Perhaps. It depends on who wants to know." Dannin said as he skidded to a halt and slowly turned his head towards Maxine. "My, my, aren't you a pretty little thing?" he said, turning his body towards her now. "And who might you be?" he asked her, before remembering simple formalities and bowing his head slightly "Oh, i'm sorry. I am supposed to introduce myself am I not?"

He craned his neck in an ark and rested his River Blade over his shoulder, a wonder to any one who didn't know him how he was even able to carry it. "Dannin Killren, feared pirate, military commander, vampire and leader of the most powerfull clan in Europe stretching from Russia to southern Spain,"

It might have been difficult to know how a clan had grown on such a scale and survived, but in Europe there were no witches powerful enough to appose the rule of the undead and as a result he directly watched over the underground society. Drug dealings, assassins, corrupt police officers and government officials, all answered to Dannin, who was constantly looking for the latest scoops in the world. The truth behind the lies of the media.

Of course, he had to be extremely careful on everything they did, he may have had power but even a small army of vampires would not last long against the military of the more rich countries in the world if they were ever discovered. So that was what Dannin would do now, here with this woman. He would choose his words carefully.

"Ah crap, you scared the hell out of me Fredd" she said as she layed on the floor to rest. Using fire and letting go out of control when she fought was no big deal. But to fight and keep control over it was another different story. Sometimes when the fire got out of control it would leave scorch marks on her clothes or her hand would sometimes be black as if she had played with charcoal. Or her long sleeve shirt would end up getting ruined. She looked at Freed while he practiced and then saw the ice around the punching bag.

"You telling me to keep control of my power, look at yours, you can't even stop it from consuming the bag" she said. But controling elemental powers were hard. So she didn't blame it for not being able to control it. Hell she wasn't even an expert on controllin her own, but she could manage it. "No worry, I still sometimes burn the object I use when I practice" she said as she grabbed a practice katana. She showed him the wood handle and it had a hand printed or better yet, burned on it. "I kept leaving mark on everthing but now thanks to the practices I do with Dominique I have gotten way better at it" she showed off by snappin her finger and a low blue fire appeared and then dissapeared.

"So what do you think will happen now? " She asked him. She knew he was one of the least person to show remorse or feel sorry for anyone that betrayed someone else.

Blue, red, black, and silver hues of florescent light danced gracefully along the path of memories. Subsequently, the lights merged and disbanded, gelled and meshed until a misty mixture of blurs remained. Then the images came.

“I hate you!” An older boy said to the younger. “You have everything I want. I hate you!” he pushed the younger boy down and stormed off.

The colours shift again; a new image appears.

The younger boy again, in his teens, kneeling in front of an older man. They resembled each other greatly. “My son...You have done well. Your abilities are stronger than anyone has anticipated. I will announce to the Coven that you will be taking my place when I am gone and not your brother, Randolph.” The boy looked up and said, “I cannot do that Father. It would hurt him too much. Let me be his second instead?” the older man turn around and said in a stern voice, “You are nobodies second Aramus. I have made my choice. You are leading a hunting party tonight if I am not mistaken...You may go.” The young man got up and bowed, then left the room.

The lights flared and the images shifted again.

The older boy turned man, stood over the younger dark haired man, sword point at his throat. “I am the Coven leader not you!” in a lower tone he said to his brother, “You killed father...or so everyone now believes. You will die gracefully or I will call down hell on you.” The younger mans dark eyes seemed to pulsate and the world was blown asunder. Flying dirt fell from the heavens. The younger man got up and looked down on his kneeling, coughing brother. “I am what I am. I will not kill my own blood. But do not tempt me, Brother.” He said while turning. He silently pulled on a magik aura that would come to save his life. Then all went blank. He was betrayed.

The light burst with the images and Aramus Ipswich opened his tear filled eyes.

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Christopher knocked on the old cherry wood door to the ancient mansions study. Hearing no reply, he pushed the door open and stepped in. Bowing deeply he waited.

“I have caught up on the current events of this world. I cannot say that it is for the better or worse.” The voice from the used leather recliner by the fire said hauntingly.

Christopher took the initiative and moved closer to the speaker, keeping a respectful distance. “You are right, my lord. The current state of civilization is in degeneration. Decadent dealings and immoral acts is what thrives in this time. That is why I thought it important to resurrect you. You are the Life and Death.” He said enthusiastically.

The man chuckled an almost menacingly and said, “I am not the death bringer or life giver. I am; who I am.” The man got up. He looked to be in his late thirties now. “I will tell you one thing though. Complete and utter darkness comes. I have seen it. The Coven and Vampire Clans must be met. Sit with me Chris. I have a message for you to deliver to the strongest Covens. I will meet with the Vampires.” Aramus said; then spent the night speaking of what was to come.

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Christopher Mason left that room with a look of such apprehension that Darren was afraid to ask him about what was said. Darren Mason knew that he was about to set off on a perilous, almost impossible mission for the ancient witch, with his brother in the lead. He sighed and went to pack his bags.

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I walk the street of this new world. The sun is down and the creatures of the night will emerge shortly. I moved near a place not dissimilar from a tavern, with music, drinking and strange chariots called motor vehicles. A scream fills the air. I move closer. I need energy or I will wither like a flower awaiting its demise.

“Come ‘er you filthy whore! Give us some love...you know you want it!” a rather dirty looking man was saying as he was undoing his belt, while another sniggered and held the sobbing, bruised woman on the cement floor. They were panting like dogs.

I never understood how humans could submit their own kind to such acts. I walked closer, my mind made up. The deed is as good as done.

Another sob then the woman kicked out. “Bitch! I’m gonna fuc...” His taunt trailed off as he saw me. I held no expression as I said, “Leave...”

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The young woman, Keighley, looked up at her salvation. An older man in a dark overcoat walked into the dim light as she kicked the man in front of her. The stranger seemed strong and she prayed for salvation. She did not want to be raped. She was about to ask for help then he spoke. “Leave her be.” The man’s words were soft but held a commanding presence. She shuddered.

“Why don’t you go fuck ye’self, asshole, before you get your old bones broke.” The first man said. The second man chuckled again, this time a bit unsure.

The stranger smiled for the first time and Keighley’s eyes widened as a strange light filled his eyes. She closed hers and a soft breath of air was felt against her skin. Then there was not one holding her. She opened her eyes to see the stranger walking away. His hair shining in the dim light. He looked to be in his early twenties now. Keighley let out a sob as she looked around at the ashes that one was her tormentors. She sat there sobbing then crying in earnest.

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I look to the club and smile. I could feel the presence of the dead ones inside. Time to make first contact. My hand rests on my silver short sword at my belt, hidden by my overcoat. I hope first contact is highly uninteresting, yet I knew it would be. I entre the club and walk for the bar.

Stephanie walked to her room, and quietly shut the door behind her. She flopped down on her bed, and rubbed her forehead with her hands. There was no way in hell this Coven, by themselves, were going to be able to take Maxine down. Steph rolled over and pulled her phone from it's charger, dialing a number that was no longer in her call log, but ever so familiar still. Even the song the phone played per every dialed number was familiar to the witch.

"Hello?"
"Sarah?"
"Stephanie?!"
"Yea."
"Wha-, um, how are you?"
"Been better. You?"
Sarah excused herself from the living room, holding a finger up for Bane to wait for her return before leaving.
"I'm great. Is something wrong?"
"It's Maxine."
Sarah stayed silent, waiting for she didn't know what.
"She's been turned, Sarah. She first fulfilled Melody's prophesy, then turned to Kristopher for comfort and is now a vampire, Queen of the vampires, even."
Sarah stifled her laugh, she always knew Maxine was a dark child. As a person with no prejudice against any beings, she was only more interested now in finding her sister.
"So, you're wanting what? My help in bringing her down?"
"Not so much, just letting you know. I know you wouldn't ever be able to take your own family's blood."
"I wish the same could be said for Mother."
"Yeah. Well, guess I'll talk to you later?"
"Yeah."

Stephanie hung up, and propped herself up on one arm, looking at the picture on her nightstand of her and her two sisters.


Sarah clicked her phone shut and walked back into the living room. "Are you sure the person you saw in your vision wasn't a woman?" Hatora gave her a puzzled glance. "Yeah," Sarah began as she took a seat on the couch, "Apparently Maxine has been promoted to the new Queen of the underworld." "What?!" Hatora exclaimed. "I knew she drank the potion, but I told her it didn't neccesarily make her a demon. She chose to be one anyways? I didn't expect that." "Wait a minute," Sarah began, "You knew what she was doing? Why didn't you tell me?" Hatora took a seat in a recliner across from the couch, "She needed to choose for herself, Sarah. You should know that more than anyone."

Sarah sat quiet, contemplating Hatora's statement. It was true she knew what it was like to choose the unbeaten path, but she had never expected Maxine to stray. Dominique must be going crazy. "So now we've 2 forces to reckon with: Maxine, and Dominique." She turned to Bane, "Which is why I asked you if the person in your vision was a woman. Both my sister and my mother are very powerful, and I sense a war coming. With lots and lots of blood." She drew her sad eyes back to Hatora.


Dominique turned her car off. She had arrived at Marie Sardina house, the home of the Clover Coven. Dominique had never before asked for help, but Marie was known for her communications with the underworld. She needed to know everything about her daughter's whereabouts and going ons. She opened her door, and stepped foot for the first time on her cousin's ground. Walking up the steps, she took a deep breath before knocking on the door.



Maxine turned to Mikael as he caught up and stood by her side. She slowly turned her head back to Dannin, "Pleased for you to meet my acquaintance, Sir Dannin. This is Mikael, my Consigliere." She paused as Mikael nodded in the direction of Dannin. He didn't trust the man, someone with such a powerful aura was not someone to take lightly. Mikael was scared Maxine might get too arrogant for this man's liking. "And I am Maxine Vida, Queen of the Cazador Clan."

Maxine could feel Mikael's lack of trust in her, and intimidation of the man before them. It disturbed her to think she might have chosen a weak being for her hunting partner. "As I have just recently fed, Dannin, you've caught me on my best behavior. Perhaps you'd like to explain to me your reasoning crossing the sea into my territory?"

Through his blind rage Jacob had brought himself to a small linear clearing of the trees, although it was miniscule and unnoticeable from anywhere but in it. The creek sheltered beneath the powerful arms of the trees was welcoming to the senseless anger he held and for the moment, helped to vanquish the beast. Above him Jacob could practically see the sky, or at least he hoped so. He waited the time when the sun would break the dark clouds, when beams of light would pierce the tranquility of the dark and bestow upon him a chance to defeat the vampires.

Digging his hands into the cool creak he splashed the water onto his face. Drops of brisk water mixed with the anguishing tears that fell from his face, back into the creek. He felt like an idiot and with no one to see let his emotions swarm over him. The water at his feet began to bubble, but quickly subsided back into the frigid cold he desired. The atmosphere didn’t last long, and the refreshment nature had provided him with was replaced with caution.

Slowly he turned around, in his hand a rock. Smooth and round the speckles of different colors on it shifted over the surface. The shape itself slowly began to change. It elongated, sharpened to a dull point and was clasped like a knife. Done with his back to the noise Jacob lifted his head from the water, wet hair spraying droplets into the air.

“Who’s there?” He shouted only knowing the general direction of the being that surveyed him. “Answer me!”

Breathing heavily Jacob tried to keep his anger under control until he knew exactly what he'd done. His eyes darted from point to corner, desperately searching for the unknown watcher as his frenzied mind brought up the worst of possibilities. Kristopher had come, or Maxine, maybe even both. This thought was soon replaced with others, not even related to what had happened. A dragon had found him, or a witch-hunter, or the worst, the devil had come. propousterous ideas that only a fool could believe. The witch was doubtful any of them were true, but didn't want to initiate an encounter that would end in death, at least not now.

Ana stared at the witch with big, cat yellow eyes, her pupils focused into narrow slits. Her pink tongue rolled out from between her jaws and licked against her upper lips, dampening them. She did not wish to attack the man she was watching through the trees, as he gazed at the shrub she was hidden behind with the eyes of someone who was either very insane or very frightened. Ana couldn't blame him; his emotions were overcoming him and he was in the middle of no where with no clothes on.

The vampiress in snow leopard form's approach was slow and steady, each step done with detailed prisision and anamalistic beauty; the sinews and muscles in her legs rippling under her fur, black blotches melting into silver and then back again, like some weird hallucination or a trick of the mind. Her tail flicked back and forth every so often, though most of the time it remained still, grazing the grass as she got closer and closer to the man in the creek.

When Ana noticed the knife glinting under the moon she stopped, her front paw half way through a step. Her ears flattened against her head and she growled, deep and vibrating, though she did not bare her teeth. She then began her approach again, head stopped low when she flattened her belly against the ground and laid down. Her gaze on him was steady and strong, undistracted by the wavious movements and sounds of the nighttime.

Jacob could feel the presence of the vampire, whom he thought to be an oddly placed cat but only for a second. After that she'd stepped from the bushes and he'd withdrawn slightly realizing that the cat was a vampire. White knuckled hands still gripped the manipulated stone dagger. Tears no longer fell from his face, and instead of anger caution filled the witch. He watched every move of the snow leopard, convinced the vampire was here to kill him. Crouching slightly he felt the water lick at his bare legs sending cold shivers into his spine.

"A lackey to finish me off?" He asked her in a low quiet voice.

He was cold now. Tired, cold and practically helpless. If anything he would simply delay his death for another minute or two. Those minutes could be spent wondering what god he would meet. From whom did he gain his power. The Devil, God, some other pagan gods wiped from history. Perhaps gods no one knew about. Inching back at a turtles pace Jacob inhaled deeply. Now more than ever he resented leaving the coven in search of Maxine. If he'd known what the outcome was he probably would have killed her when he had the chance. Or so he wanted to believe.

Intently observing the possible grim reaper in front of him Jacob tried to brace himself for the cold embrace of death.

Darren shivered in the night air. This was bloody imbecilic, he thought to himself. He glanced over to his brother who was promptly verifying their location on the map. Christopher looked up then back down at the paper and nodded to himself.

“Yup, this is the house. Let us go.” Christopher said.

Darren gulped and nodded; then followed Chris up the path to the impressive looking house. Chris knocked on the door three times. Getting no reply he knocked again and said into the gloom of the house, “Greetings Brothers and Sisters. I seek Stephanie of the Coven Clover? I come bearing water.”
Darren noted his brother used the last remark as a gesture of peace. In ancient days, bringing water to another coven was a sign of friendship. Either way, he had a spell on his tongue just in case these particular witches did not wish to exchange water...or whatever the silly ritual was. Darren had a very funny feeling about this. He also wondered where their new Master was at that particular point in time.

???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

I stand almost naked in the light of the half moon. People gaze at me as if I were mad. I care not. I walk the streets in utter confidence. The previous night at the club had been useful. I had discovered the names of the King and Queen of the Damned. I come to an empty parking lot. Perfect. I place my silver sword on the ground and remove the last of my clothing. I close my eyes and begin the trance. I feel the power infuse my soul and body. I call forth the power known simply as 'Taunt' to call all the vampires in the area to me. I pick up my sword and wait. Only time will tell.

###################################################################################################

*hip *hip, went Billy the Bum. Staggering left then right he falls into his penthouse apartment (A box in a dark corner of the west side parking lot.). Sighing contently he takes another swig of the life giving liquid the gods had graced the name, Whiskey. He was about to give thanks and finish the bottle when he noticed a half naked man walking to the centre of the lot. “Crazy people.” He muttered and took another swig. He spluttered as the man then began to remove ALL his clothing and crouch, placing a silvery sword on his lap. Blue-silvery-white lights began to snake along the crazy man’s skin, noted Billy. Where the lines of light played they began to solidify, as if a ghost was tattooing the man with florescent ink. Strange signs now littered his body with a faint glow. Then he stood up and shouted an eerie and haunting sound that sent shivers down Billy’s spin. Having had enough of these weird supernatural events he promptly packed up his whiskey and started off. The last thing he ever did see was that of a woman jumping out of the shadows and sinking her long canines into his neck. The weird shining man screaming “Aruthius Consolidas Nortallis!” (Bring forth your leaders!) ,while hacking away at the weird people with long canines. Then all was void for Billy the Bum.

Ana, with her vampire powers of Empathy, could sense the man was accepting his fate which he believed to be his death. The vampiress in leopard form wanted to roll her eyes; because she was a vampire she was immediately discriminated of being a witch killer. She stood, stretching before she walked towards him, staring him down as she got closer and closer until...

Her paw flew out and she batted him on the head, like a domestic cat scratching it's owner's hand when it was being teased. It wasn't really a killer blow but it wasn't like a gentle tap. More like a 'get a hold of yourself, for goodness sake you silly man' kind of paw punch. When the witch didn't really react, she did it again, just for good luck, before her form shifted and she slipped back into human form.

Ana wasn't at all bothered about being naked in the extreme cold; her living deadness made sure she enver felt the cold, or the heat, of anything. Nor was she bothered about being seen naked by this man. Vampires, especially vampiresses, were awfully aware of how perfect they looked. Ana was just one of the kinds who preferred not to advertise it. She was balanced on her toes, bent down so she was squatting in a rather ladylike fashion. She hit him round the head again, in human form.

"Who're you calling a lackey? As a lady, I take offense from that. And for God's sake man, get a grip. You may be a witch but even witches die in freezing cold rivers, you know. Get out of there, I'm not here to kill you."

Dannin sighed, shaking his head. "No, perhaps you would like to explain why you are questioning ME, of all people?"
He sighed, of all the people he had met this female had surprised him purely for her attitude. He grinned and turned away from her, looking at the moon. Holding his blade loosely. "Besides. I think I like this place, perhaps I'll move in. It shouldn't take that long to get my clan on it's feet over here....I am 'recruiting' as we speak...This place reminds me of the cities of old....Acre, during the third crusade. That is what this place reminds me of. So busy."

He began to notice he was rambling on about things and that he should stop. He coughed, nervously and then turned back to Maxine. "So, I have only one question. Where are the vida witches? They are the main reason I came here. I will destroy them all before they become a threat to the vampires of Europe."

Dannin smiled slyly at her, seeing how far he could push her before she cracked. "Oh, and sorry about the mess down the street. You might want to clean that up."

((Sorry if it is a little short))

By far the strongest of the Cazador Clan: Belic, stood alone in his study, looking out of his window and into the distance. His senses were some of the greatest, not just out of the clan, but the underworld as a whole. So it was no surprise he could feel all the new power stirring within the area.

“Невозможно выиграть гонку, если Вы не рискуете бежать, невозможный выиграть победу, если Вы не смеете бороться.” He spoke of an old war quote in his language before turning to a vampire, that he had summoned. "A meeting will be held, inform the others." The vampire nodded and vanished, doing as he was told. Only he besides Kristopher, could call these meeting and with all that was going on, it was due time for one..........

…Things slowly became clear, the room’s spinning coming to a stop; a result of Kristopher awaking from his forced slumber. The first his eyes focused on was his loyal friend: Brute, watching over him. "Where is she?...And the man...Where have they gone?" He tried to get up to begin his search, but failed.

Brute rested his hand on his Leader's shoulder and first looked to the window then to the door, it signified the exit points of the people who had been talking about; Kris’s senses would tell him the rest.

Kris's head fell in his hands and began massaging his temples, the drunken feeling and drowsiness leaving him as he sobered up. Standing up, he was finally back to normal, feeling better than ever. He inhaled deeply taking in the scents of the ones that formally filled the room. Jacob exited through the window, Ana behind him. "Disloyal wench!" he grumbled.

To leave with the enemy for any reason other than killing them was shameful and punishable by death. Even if she did go after him to kill him, she had left him there, without even checking on him; Kris had washed his hands of her.

As for Maxine, he could tell she wasn't on the grounds, but he faintly remembered her voice mentioning her going to feed and since Mikael was gone, he must have went with her. Kris ushered for Brute to follow, they had business to take care of, now that the drama had settled. They were barely out the door when a low level vampire appeared, instantly bowing before him. "Lord Belic has called for a meeting." Kris sighed. "What now?!...Take care of this and then attend to the meeting."

Kris and Brute moved past the vampire, leaving him to clean up the library as they made their way to the meeting room. The room was a ways off from where they were, but it couldn't be started without Kristopher, so they could take as long as needed...



The meeting room had now been filled with the inhabitants of the castle, except for three seats at the table. There had always been two empty seats, just in case someone rose up within the ranks and were able to join them; But, it looks like there will forever be two seats open.

Sitting down, Kris took Ana's amulet out of his pocket and glared at it for a second before returning it to his pocket. He snapped his fingers, signaling for a servant vampire to appear. "Our queen: Maxine, is not back yet and I worry for her, so send a group after her. Her appearance here is of great importance." The vampire disappeared to carry out the task he had been given.

Kris's eyes surveyed the room once more before raising his hand, commanding silence and all attention. "Okay, now that I have everyone's attention, we can begin. Belic, if you would?!" Belic stood up, clearing his throat, so he could begin speaking…

In a seemingly trance while facing the vampire Jacob didn’t react when her paw reached out and tapped his head. He was surprised really. Why had he let her, and why hadn’t she killed him. Before Jacob could truly unearth the answers he was pawed again. This time he tried to swat away the hand but was too slow.

No longer a leopard, the vampire in front of him returned to her human form and caught the witch off guard. He stifled a childish giggle at her nudity before locking his eyes onto hers. Slowly his feet began to back away, but he was batted by his enemy once more. This invoked a reaction and the man sighed, stood up straight and took a few steps backwards in the creek.

When she spoke Jacob dropped his head and watched the water rush between, over and around the rocks of the creek. Her words were meaningless but a single clause comforted him. ‘even witches die in cold rivers,’ Probably a slip of the tongue, or unintentional, it still gave the feeling that this vampire had at least a speck of compassion for him.
A small smile formed as the tips of his lips curled and the witch raised his head to face her and respond.

“I won’t die from this. Cold, heat... Both can be brought in and out of my body. It's a simple matter really.” Spoken nearly inaudibly Jacob wondered if her hearing had caught everything he’d said. This was a prime opportunity to see how strong vampires senses were. If she hadn’t heard that, he was sure that he could sneak past the others later on.

To prove his point Jacob stretched out his arms and held his palms open towards the sky. He began humming and soon warmth flooded into his body, pushing back the frigid feel the water held on him. Satisfied he asked the vampiress one more question,
“If you aren’t here to kill me, why are you here?”

Ana kept a close eye on the witch as he sighed and moved to stand, backing away from her as if he was afraid her words were not true. Her eyes slid over his naked form, taking in the sight of his wet skin under the moon, the shape and sizes of his appendages, though she preferred not to comment. She was not that kind of woman.

Through her words, he seemed to gain comfort though none had intially been intended. Ana had simply wanted to assure him she was not goning to kill him, because indded she felt no need to. She had broken herself away from Kris and she hoped he had finally let ehr go. She didn't want nosey vampire spies sticking their noses in her new life; a life free from the vampire lord who had changed her and ruined her life. Even if she would have died eventually, she'd have rather had that then an eternty of him and his backstabbing ways.

Ana's attention was brought back to the present and away from her memories as the witch named Jacob spoke, his tone confident as he assured her he would not die from the extremes of temperature. Ana's nostrils prickled at the scent of magic as he warmed himself, sensing it was from a direct and powerful source. When he was finally done and he spoke to her again, her eyes darted to the ground.

"I don't know... I just thought that... I don't know. Both you and I have been betrayed by someone close to us and because of that our paths have crossed. We share similar powers, even though we are two very different species." She looked him in the eye, dull grey orbs staring at him. "Perhaps that is the reason I followed you here.... Does my being here... Bother you? I understand some witches despise vampires more than anything. I will leave if you so wish. There is nothing for me back at that household, I'll be moving on... Our paths will probably enver cross again, with your limited lifespan." She did not know why she was telling him her plans... As long as he didn't know names and palces, then it would surely be fine, right?