Mathias looked down at Kailin, her eyes still vacant. “I can’t do this.” He placed his hand on her shoulder, brushing back her hair. “Me or Akela.” His voice mumbled.
  Gently he brought his lips to her neck, giving a kiss over the area he was about to break. His other hand slid up to her cheek, holding her head gently in his hands. His fangs revealed themselves, and he softly bit into her. When the whole were in place, he began to suckle.
  Kailin jerked, her hands reaching up to his chest and grabbing his shirt. To his surprise, she didn’t pull away. He wanted her to pull away to tell him to stop, and yell at him. Somehow, Tzion made too much sense, and he knew he would regret it soon. His heart told him that he had been tricked and blackmailed, but his mind said this was the right thing to do.
  Her fingers tangled up in his shirt, pulled him closer to her. When he felt her legs weaken, he wrapped his arm around her waist. Though her blood was sweet like Tzion said, he practically choked it down with guilt. He stopped when she let out a sigh, and looked into her face.
  “I’m sorry.” He told her as her sad eyes looked into his own.
  She said nothing, just continued to stare at him. He looked down at her lips, and brought his blood stained lips to her own. The kiss lasted for some time, until Kailin had collect all of her own blood from his mouth. Then her fangs turned to his neck, unexpectedly and she bit deeply into him.
  Mathias controlled his healing, allowing her to drink from him. He had never experienced a blood exchange before and his body was racked with unbearable pain. It seemed like an eternity before spasms of pleasure filled his body. He didn’t want her to stop, but she collapsed to the floor.
  Kneeling over her, he checked to make sure she was alright. The library door opened, and Akela stepped in with a grin.
  “How was it?” She asked, standing over him and Kailin.
  “I’m taking her home.” He pushed his arms under her shoulders and knees.
  “I tried to make it as pleasant of an experience for you as possible, I thought the kiss was a nice touch.” She chuckled, “I think you would agree.”
  Mathias’ eyes shot up to her, “How dare you violate her like that!”
  “I could say the same for you. She was obviously under my control, and it was foolish of you to think, that after all that she has shown that she would given in to you so easily. I’m happy to know you true feelings for her now, however.” She laughed, “Put her in the bed across the hall. Tzion still wishes to speak with you.” Akela told him, and walked into the hallway and out of sight.

  As soon as Mathias laid Kailin down, he knew what Tzion had done and was ashamed that a vampire as old as he was could fall for such simple trickery. He stared down at Kailin, her tight curls fallen over her face. She hadn’t moved, and probably wouldn’t until her aura was prepared to take on the extra burden that he had given her.
  Before turning to leave, he brushed the hair away from her lips. Heading down the hall, he ignored Tzion’s calls to him as he rushed for the front door. The dark wooden door laid before him and as he opened it, Tzion stood before him.
  “Leaving?” He asked.
  “Tzion, I have nothing more to say to you. Out of my way.” He barked, and pushed him aside. His feet made loud echoes as he walked down the stairs and past the posted guard.
  “I’m pleased that after all this time, you still listen to your master.”
  Mathias stopped walking, keeping his back to Tzion as he thought for a moment of what to say. Without turning to look at him, he spoke. “Listen to you? You used your ability on me to trick me into doing it.”
  “Did I? I can’t force you to do anything that you don’t truly wish to do.” Tzion folded his hands together, watching the back of his peon.
  “This was meant to occur eight hundred years from now, and you are playing with the fate of this entire planet.”
  “You assisted me, remember that.” He said, and then stepped into the house shutting the door.
  Mathias turned around when he heard the door shut, and then looked at the guard. He ignored his presence and just looked forward into the darkness. Spinning around he headed for the front gate, he knew it was a mistake to go into the mansion, but he couldn’t risk Tzion feeding from her again. He knew that Kailin could accept both his and Tzion’s memories and abilities, but any more of that would put her on the brink. If her soul became more powerful then her aura, there was no doubt in his mind that she would turn to the Mephis and become their queen.
  Walking through the pitch black yard, he heard the sounds of small pebbles under his feet shift. When he reach the front gate, it opened allowing him out. He could clearly see Khaldun waiting for him, as he exited the estate.
  “You were in there to long, Mathias.” Khaldun’s deep voice said.
  “I know. Where are the others?” He spoke over the sound of the gate closing.
  “I sent them back to Kailin’s apartment to watch over Gabrielle.” He said and as Mathias went to walk past him, he grabbed his arm. “What happened in there?”
  Mathias looked into his long time friend’s eyes. He already knew that something of dire importance had occurred, there was no use lying to him. “Tzion used his persuasion ability on me.”
  It went silent for a moment, and then Khaldun asked. “To persuade you to do what?”
  Stepping back, his arm slid from Khaldun’s grasp. “I have watched her since she was born. As soon as Eva told me that she had seen the mother in her dreams, I ran to her side. I would lay down my life for her, you know that, don’t you?”
  “If you are speaking of Kailin then yes, I know.”
  Mathias swallowed, “Then why do the prophecies portray me as the traitor? What could I possibly do that might upset the order of things?” He looked at his friend, who had no answer. “The worst part of all this, is that no matter what I do, that could be the moment that I betray her. If I leave her alone, then without me she might turn to them. If I interrupt her life, then that might be the moment. Or perhaps, I have already betrayed her without knowing it.”
  “Mathias, when you betray her, I know that it won’t be done on purpose. You can’t dwell on what you can not change. The prophecies have been our guidance since Tzion’s master, and there is no way to change them.” He looked at the light that flickered from the mansion window in the distance, and then back to Mathias. “You must do what you feel is right. In the end, that is all that you can hope to accomplish.”
  He shook his head, “It’s not fair, that I watch her, protect her and when all has occurred as foreseen, it will be me that she forsakes. I…” His eyes fell to the ground, “How can Tzion, a man of pure malice, be her savior?”
  “Come now, Mathias. He is not of pure malice. Tzion is wise beyond our imaginations, and has seen more then we could ever hope to. His life has been dedicated to this moment, to this woman, you are too hard on him.”
  He turned to walk away and then swung back around, “You are not his creation!” He yelled, hate filled his voice. “You were not forced by that man to become something you never wanted to be! You have no idea what he is like! I know, I know far more then you do! That man is evil, it over whelms me just to stand next to him. There is no way, that he can be her savior!”
  “Calm yourself, Mathias. I will not stand here and allow you to yell at me in such a manner. None of this is my fault. Now tell me what did Tzion persuade you to do?”
  Mathias looked at his large friend, anger left his eyes and was replaced with shame. “I fed from her.”
  Khaldun said nothing just looked away, his face empty as he thought. “Are you quite certain that it was Tzion who tricked you into this?”
  “Yes, I am certain. What the hell is that suppose to mean?”
  “It’s no secret as to how you’ve come to view Kailin. Perhaps, it didn’t take any of his abilities at all to force you into such closeness with her.”
  Anger enraged his heart, and Mathias ran forward to attack. He brought up his fist, and as it came down he could feel Khaldun’s hand grab his wrist. He whaled and kicked for a moment, when he realized he was being held off the ground.
  “Calm yourself.” Khaldun said, and then shoved him backwards. “It was only a question, not an accusation.”
  Taking a breath, “I am certain that I would never do that to Kailin on my own accord. I, also, do not understand where everyone had gathered such thoughts as to my feelings towards her. My task is to protect her, nothing more.”
  Khaldun gave a nod, “I understand, and I apologize for my allegation. It is nothing but a rumor, and I should have silenced myself.”
  Fixing his jacket, Mathias gave him a short nod. “Don’t tell the others, I will not have them look down upon me for this.”
  He bowed his head, and began to walk towards the city lights. “You have my word.”

  Lucas sat in front of Captain Madison’s desk, waiting for him to get off the phone. The night Jerry was attacked he was forced to tell the truth or make up a story that wouldn’t be proven by the evidence left. Every fiber of his being told him to lie, but as he spoke he heard the truth pour from his lips to the uniformed officer.
  Jerry had looked like he was going to make it the first day, but by this morning he was worse. His wife cried into Lucas’ shoulder drowning out Jerry’s loud, forced breaths. He held his hand when his heart stopped, and had to be pulled away when they tried to resuscitate him to no avail.
  His partner died no more then four hours ago, and he was pulled into the police station instead of given time to grieve. The memory of his lips pushing out the air and then sucking them back in haunted his mind. Even after they pronounced him, Lucas remained at his side. His mind both irritated that he would give up so easily, and glad that the pain had stopped.
  “Stark, you want to tell me about this bullshit report I have here?” Madison held up the police report on the incident, his words broke Lucas’ thoughts.
  “It’s what happened, sir.”
  “You expect me to believe that little gray aliens killed a police officer?” He yelled, slamming the paper onto his desk. It shook under his fist, and Lucas reached out his hand to catch a picture frame that never fell.
  “They weren’t aliens, they were… Well, I don’t know what they where, sir, but I swear on my badge that that is what happened.”
  The captain picked up the report and began to read, “As we ran from the gray creatures, one jumped in front of us. It shoved it’s fingers into Detective Penn’s abdomen lifting him off the ground. After dropping him, it turned to me. When it was about to attack, a man named Mathias, who I knew from the missing body case, fought it off…”
  Lucas began to cry, trying to hold his sniffles, but they all came out.
  “You wrote this bullshit!”
  “It sounds crazy, I know. But I swear to you that it’s true, I wish Jerry could tell you for himself…”
  “He can’t he’s dead. An officer lost his life, and you are lying to cover up the killer.”
  “I am not lying!” He yelled, and stood up.
  Madison’s eyes widened with surprise, and then returned to their angry glare. “I’ve talked with the commissioner, and we think it would be best if you handed over your badge until the investigation is completed.” He held out his hand, “Your gun too.”
  Lucas gave three short nods as he pulled out his badge and gun, laying them on Madison’s desk.
  “I, also, think you should see the psychiatrist here. Besides being arrested, it’s the only way I will even let you in here again, understand?”
  He nodded, and turned to head for the door. Placing his hand on the knob, he heard Madison clear his throat.
  “Penn was a great cop, Stark. We need to find his killer, you are the only witness.”
  “I wrote down the names of two other people that were there, and then descriptions of the two unnamed people.”
  He sighed, “You think this Kailin Drake had something to do with it?”
  Lucas nodded, “She was there, I am telling the truth.”
  Madison tapped his finger on the desk, “We will see if she has anymore names. Now, go home and rest. Come to your senses, eh?”

  Sitting up, she gasped loudly and looked around her room. The clothes she was wearing were the same ones that she had left to visit Tzion in, but she was no longer at his home. Kailin ran her hands over her face and to her neck, where she felt a slight sting. Standing up, she walked over to the make-up stand and looked into the mirror. Two puncture holes laid on her neck, slightly further apart then the scars that Tzion had left behind.
  Her mind racked for an answer, but she couldn’t remember. How did she get home? Who had bitten her? Her head began to ache and her stomach felt queasy, so she sat back down on the bed. Still holding her wounds, she looked up when a knock came to her door.
  “Kailin, some cops are here to talk to you.” Gabrielle’s soft voice came from behind the door.
  “I’ll be out in a minute.” She yelled, and then ran to her closet to find a turtle neck sweater.
  Finding her dark red one, she pulled it on over her shirt and walked out into the living room. Two uniformed officers stood behind the couch. Both had dark hair, but one was an older Italian, and the second was a tall Hispanic. Gabrielle twisted her body in flirting positions as she spoke to them.
  “Miss Drake?” The Italian asked.
  “Yes.” She walked over to couch, “Gabrielle, go do something.”
  “But…”
  “Go.” She snapped, and Gabrielle huffed then walked into her room.
  “I’m Officer Facciuto, and this is my partner Officer Callas.” He pointed to his partner.
  “Is there something the matter?”
  He looked over at Gabrielle’s door when she stuck her head out.
  “When can I come out?” She asked.
  “How about never?” Kailin snapped, and then watched her shut her door. Her eyes went back to the officers.
  “A couple days ago an officer was attacked and killed, we have a witness saying that you were there the night of the attack and witnessed it.” He told her, pulling a pad of paper and a pin out from his inside jacket pocket.
  “Two days ago?” She asked.
  Both men nodded.
  “In the morning I was here, during the afternoon I was at my office, and I was at the Moonlight Club for a short while after that.” She had to tell them about the Moonlight Club in case anyone remembered her being there.
  Both officers looked at each other, and then Facciuto spoke. “The Moonlight Club was attacked that night as well, and where the officer was found wasn’t to far from there.”
  “Attacked?” She covered her mouth and looked surprised, “Was everyone alright? The bartenders there are my friends.”
  “No ma’am, we are afraid there were a few causalities.” He took on a sympathetic look and then went back to a more serious face, “So, you weren’t there?”
  “I was, but there was a man who was bothering, so I took a cab home. must have been around nine o’clock. I normally walk home, but something about him made me feel uneasy.”
  “You made the right choice then. So, are you saying you did not witness the officer being attacked?”
  She shook her head, “No, Gabrielle can tell you, I was home not to long after nine o’clock.” She called out to Gabrielle, who stepped outside of her room. “What time did I get home last night?”
  “About nine thirty or so.”
  Kailin looked back at them, “See.”
  He nodded, “It was another officer who identified you as a witness.”
  “Not Detective Stark?”
  Both officers gave her a strange look, “Yes, ma’am.”
  “That asshole has been stalking me ever since that body went missing down the street. He thinks I stole it, and he won’t leave me alone. Almost every time I walk out that door, he is there harassing me.”
  “Why didn’t you report this?”
  Kailin folded her arms, and pretended like she was holding back tears. “I didn’t think anyone would believe me, I mean after all he is a cop.” Her eyes continued to flutter, “I heard of people disappearing after accusing a cop of such things, so I thought it was best not to say anything.”
  For the first time Callas spoke, “Alright, thank you for your time, ma’am. I think we have everything we need.”
  “Yes, thank you, ma’am.” Facciuto echoed his partner, then opened the door behind him. “We will contact you if we have any more questions.”
  When the door shut Kailin looked at her roommate, “Why can’t you stay in the room when I tell you too? I have a plan when I want you to disappear like that.” She snapped.
  “Sorry, I didn’t know you were looking to get Stark fired.” Gabrielle folded her arms, and walked into the kitchen. “What’s with the turtle neck?”

  After two weeks, Lucas was no longer a police officer, and the investigation of his partners death continued. Unfortunately, he found himself to be a suspect in the murder, since he was the only one there and his story didn’t seem to hold an ounce of truth. Everything he had ever worked for had been taken away, and it seemed to him that it all started when he met Kailin. Somehow, he wasn’t sure how, but this was all her fault.
  Standing in front of her apartment door, he knocked, not noticing the doorbell to the right of the door. He prepared himself, not sure as to what he was going to say. He had thought about everything on the way here, angry words to pleas, nothing seemed right. The more he thought about the night, the more confused he would become. Grey monsters attacking them it was far fetched to say the least, but he was sure that Kailin was there. Why hadn’t she told them that she had seen them too?
  The door opened with a slight creak, and Kailin looked him over. His brown coat buttoned up, and his arms to the side with black gloves on. He looked like a wet puppy that just wanted to come inside for a little bit.
  “What?” Kailin snapped.
  It was a greeting that he wasn’t expecting. “I…you were there, why didn’t you tell them?” His anger flared as he looked into her eyes, they were empty, holding no sympathy for him or his partner. “You got me fired!” He barked before she could respond, “You got me fired, my friend murdered, and you won’t even help find his killers. What the fuck is wrong with you?”
  Kailin’s mouth remained open for a moment, and then she closed it. Stepping aside, she let him in, and shut the door. “For one thing, I didn’t get your partner killed, that was not my doing. Put blame where it belongs.”
  He turned around to looked at her, as he took off his jacket. “You saw them didn’t you? Those gray monsters?” The anger in his voice left to be replaced with confusion and sadness.
  She sighed, “There are many things in this world in which some do not understand. Things that must be hidden from normal human eyes, and those creatures are one of them.”
  The tight clamp around his heart was released, when she spoke of the monsters. They were real, he wasn’t crazy. “What are they?”
  She shook her head, “No, the question is what are you?”
  Raising his eyebrow, he watched her point at the couch for him to sit down. He followed her lead, when she took a seat.
  “Long ago, humans were birthed from the ocean, and continued to grow through the help of the Higher Being…”
  “You mean God?”
  She stared at him for a moment, thinking of a response, “Not the God that you learned about in Church. No one knows what the Higher Being truly is, only that its there. There is also an Ultimate Evil. These two beings define for us what is right and wrong, and has been that way since the beginning of time.”
  “God and the Devil, ok.”
  Kailin rolled her eyes, “After the Higher Being made humans, then the Ultimate Evil made his own creature…”
  “Those gray monsters?”
  “Lucas, if you want me to tell you what’s going on, then shut up.”
  He nodded, and leaned back in the couch and folded his arms, “Sorry, ok, go ahead.”
  “Not those gray monsters, I made those. I’ll explain that in a moment. No, the Ultimate Evil made vampires, the first kind called the Bowery, and later on a second kind called the Pyrrhonians.”
  “Vampires?” Lucas looked like he was trying to decide whether to believe it or mock her for it.
  “Yes, Lucas, vampires.”
  The dead seriousness of her eyes, pulled away any mockery he had from his mind.
  “In order to stop these vampires from destroying the humans, the Higher Being made his own vampire called the Hallowed. We have been fighting a continuous war since the beginning against the vampires who wish to enslave human kind as cattle.”
  He swallowed, “We? So, you are a…”
  “Hallowed, yes.”
  “And Gabrielle is…”
  “A Pyrrhonian.” Kailin went quiet for a moment, allowing Lucas to digest the information she had just given him. “But, see before the Higher Being made the Hallowed, he made a powerful human that could hunt down and kill vampires. But he wasn’t enough, and the vampires continued to prosper far to well. You are one of these powerful humans.”
  Lucas stood up, and walked into the kitchen next to the table. “This is stupid… ridiculous.” He rubbed his temples.
  “Those gray monsters are creatures made by accident a little less the two hundred years ago.”
  “You are two hundred years old?” He turned around to look at her still sitting on the couch.
  “I am a bit older then that, but yes.” Standing up, she folded her hands in front of her, “I can not tell those police officers about what happen to your partner, because they can not know about us. I tell you because the Higher Being gave you the ability to listen and understand such things, like your father.”
  Lucas was looking a bit pale, and sat down in the chair at the table. “I can’t decide whether to believe you or call you insane.”
  Sitting down in the chair next to him, she nodded. “I wouldn’t believe me either, but it’s the sad truth. The Bloody Hands are those gray creatures, called the Mephistopheleans.”
  “Like the Demon?”
  Kailin nodded, “Yeah, like the demon. All vampires, except the Hallowed have a demonic name. I can not tell you why that is, because I don’t know.”
  Gabrielle peeked out the door, and then pointed at the blinds in the dinning room. Kailin shot up, and closed them so that she could come out.
  Slowly the red head made her way to the table and took a seat next to Lucas. “There is nothing more that you can do, Lucas. His death will always remain a mystery to the humans, but at least you know.” Gabrielle told him.
  “They have me as a suspect, and I am afraid they might try me as his killer.”
  Kailin shook her head, “I am sure that won’t happen, other then you were there, they have no proof.”
  “Reasonable doubt.” He stood up, “I need to go, this has been to much for me.”
  They both stood up, and watched him walk out the door. Lucas headed back down the hall and into the elevator, he continued to think over Kailin’s words. That was not what he had expected to find out, and now had wished that he was indeed crazy. As the elevator doors open, a dark man with a goatee grinned at him.
  “Hello, Lucas. My name is Tzion, and I believe I have answers for you, that Kailin could never answer.”
  Lucas stared at him as the man’s thin fingers offered him a card, he took it from him.
  “Come to my home, when you wish to know the entire truth.”
  He nodded, and watched Tzion walk out of the building and into the sunlight. He looked at the card for a moment, and then shoved it into his pocket. Things were becoming more then he thought he could handle, but somehow knew he had to.

  Night had fallen and Kailin decided to leave the apartment to feed. Gabrielle had told her, that she would be leaving as well and not to expect her to be there when she returned. After what had just occurred she was glad that her roommate wouldn’t be there to question her. Lips, cheeks, throat, and hands were all covered in blood from her latest kill. She didn’t understand what had just happened, except this over whelming desire to cause the dying woman more pain then was sufferable.
  Instead of allowing them to slip into the dark embrace of death, she continued to pull her back as she chewed away at her neck. It had been an animalistic desire to consume the being instead of using her to continue her undead life. When her senses came through, she realized what she was doing and dropped the women to the ground. Still alive, but gasping for air as her esophagus had been chewed open by Kailin’s teeth. She took a moment of pity and snapped her neck so that the pain would stop.
  Suddenly, she was scared of herself and wanted nothing more then to return to the sanctuary of her home. The darkness concealed her as she jumped from one rooftop to the next, cars and people busily going on with their lives below. She hated those damnable humans, living their lives so care-free. Hated them? Kailin shook her head, and took a deep breath. Ever since her second visit to Tzion’s, she had been experiencing sudden changes in her mood. At times, even finding Gabrielle to be nothing more then a maggot, which she could crush under her foot. Other times, she was back to her old self, still hateful and cynical, but about being a vampire, not loving it.
  “Kailin.” The hand grabbed her upper arm.
  Lost so deep in thought she hadn’t even noticed anyone was around, and as the voice called her name as she stood on the edge of the building, it almost caused her to fall to the ground below.
  “God damn it, Mathias!” She snapped. She was about to continue her spew of profanity, until she saw his mini gang on the rooftop as well.
  “Are you alright?” Mathias asked, as she stared at Khaldun, who seemed intent on watching her every move.
  “I’m fine, why?” Her voice was full of anger, as she ripped her arm from his grasp. “Stop grabbing my arm.”
  He ignored her last comment, and continued on. “You just tore that woman apart.” Pulling a handkerchief out of his coat pocket, he handed it to her.
  Kailin took it and began to wipe down her face and hands, not saying anything while they waited. “I said I’m fine.” She retorted, and offered him the blood soaked cloth back.
  Mathias’ hand engulfed both the handkerchief and Kailin’s own hand. “I’ve never seen you feed like that before. It’s because of what happen at Tzion’s isn’t it?”
  Her eyes had been on Khaldun the entire time, his stare was haunting. “What happen at Tzion’s?” She asked.
  He bit down on his tongue, she didn’t remember. Akela had pulled any memory of the night from her head, and now she was clueless to the fact that both he and she had exchanged blood. Perhaps it was better that she didn’t know, and continued to trust him.
  “You want to tell us something, Kailin?” Lycorisa asked.
  “Yes.” She said, and cleared her throat. “Stay the hell away from me!” Turning around she leapt to the next building and towards home.
  Her home street was quite empty, and she was glad to be rid of the humans from before. Something about them made her blood boil over now, and even poor Mrs. Kraig had been a victim of her anger, not that she placed her hands on her. But she had given the old woman quite a scare, enough to keep her away for some time.
  “Leave me alone!” Gabrielle’s voice called out in the night.
  Rushing to find out who she was yelling at, Kailin came to a stop on the roof across from their building.
  “Gabrielle, you have it all wrong. I wasn’t using…” Kristian told her. Both his hands were on her upper arms, and Gabrielle was helpless to fight back. He was far to strong for her to escape him.
  “I don’t care! Let me go!” She yanked back, but his arms didn’t even move to take the blow.
  He tightened his grip, “Gabby, lets not let it end like this.”
  “You are hurting me!” She cried.
  Something in Gabrielle’s cry caused Kailin’s heart to enrage. Normally she would of jumped down and pulled him off, telling him to never come back. She wanted him to receive pain, indescribable pain.
  She jumped down from the building and ran across the street, and before Kristian even noticed her presence, she sent a fist straight into the side of his face. Her other arm grabbed Gabrielle around the waist, so that he wouldn’t take her with him when he flew into the brick building beside them.
  Kristian looked up when he had completed his fall. Kailin put down her companion, and was about to tell him to get out of here, but then it took over. The anger and rage that she had felt with her meal. She charged him, and as Kristian went to stand up, Kailin lifted him up by his arms and threw him into the wall again. Her fists became her weapons as she plowed them into his face and chest consistently, until she heard the sound of breaking bones.
  Stepping back, she let him fall to his hands and knees. The contentment she felt was only temporary because as soon as she saw another chance to give him pain, she began to kick him. His already wounded ribs were no match to her blows, and broke under a short series of kicks.
  “Kailin, stop!” Gabrielle screamed.
  Picking up Kristian, she threw him down the street in a blind rage. Then turned to Gabrielle who was petrified, but she never heard Kristian hit the ground. Turning back around, Mathias held the young vampire in one hand. He had caught him, and handed him to Khaldun.
  “Calm down, Kailin.” Mathias’ words were soft and friendly. “We can help, there is something wrong with you and you need to…” He stopped, when he realized that Kailin wasn’t even comprehending his words.
  Her fangs were out, and she growled loudly. A moment of fear entered his heart, realizing she was doing a similar attack as a Mephis would under pressure. She charged and before her arms could reach him, he sent his flat hand into her upper chest, knocking her back to Gabrielle.
  She laid on the ground and coughed for a moment, as Gabrielle kneeled down beside her and touched her forehead.
  “Shh, Kailin, shh.” Gabrielle told her, brushing her hair back.
  Mathias came to stand over them.
  “What’s wrong with her?” The red head asked looking up at him.
  “I don’t know, lets get her in the house. See if we can calm her down in there.” He leaned over and picked her up in his arms. “Khaldun, take Kristian home and speak to Tzion about this. Lycorisa and Jareth,
   you are on watch duty. Come get me if there is any Mephis trouble.” Everyone nodded, and disappeared into the night. Mathias carried Kailin over to the apartment complex door, as Gabrielle entered the code in and opened the door for them. They stepped in, he hoped that the familiarity and peace of her home would calm her down enough so that she could understand what he needed to say to her.

  Lucas stood across the desk from Tzion, looking at the young man that looked so withered. His fingers were so thin, and his face seemed to be sinking in on itself. He was sure that this Tzion was a vampire, and didn’t understand why he had allowed himself to come into his lair. He didn’t want to seem afraid, so he would occasionally look to the left and right at the built in book shelves, and pretend to read the titles of the books.
  “I wrote them all.” Tzion said.
  Lucas looked back at him questioningly.
  “Those novels, they don’t have titles.”
  He cleared his throat, “So, you are a writer?”
  Tzion chuckled, “Something like that. You see, Stark, I go into trances where I paint images, like the one behind me.”
  Lucas looked at the painting of the small girl in a white dress standing in front of a large house. He didn’t give it much more time, not knowing that it was Kailin, nor seeing that the trees around the house spelt out his last name with their leaves.
  Tzion continued realizing that Lucas wasn’t going to give it anymore thought. “When I awake from these trances, I then write the prophecy that they foretell.”
  “Prophecy?”
  “Indeed. Since the presence of your family line in Kailin’s life, your blood has been a major part in the future of everything you know.” Tzion pointed at the chair behind him, “Why don’t you sit?”
  Lucas looked at it and then returned his eyes to the elder vampire, “I would prefer to stand.”
  “Afraid that I will try to feed from you? Whether you are sitting or standing I could grab you either way without you even so much as flinching, Stark.”
  Lucas swallowed.
  “You know deep within that I have no evil intent to place upon you, so please sit.” Tzion watched him sit. “The prophecies foretell four key players when the Mephis begin to overtake the world. The guardian, the protector, the savior, and the traitor. The Stark family bloodline has given birth to one son since Kailin’s birth to become the protector.”
  “The protector?” Lucas shook his head, trying to figure out what wrong road he went down. Suddenly he was in crazy-ville and strangely enough people were making sense.
  “Indeed to become the guardian’s partner in destroying the Mephis. When your father came into Kailin’s life, I knew that the prophecies would begin soon. I just didn’t know how soon, but I am starting to see paths being played out. Kailin is not ready to fight the Mephis yet, and neither are you.”
  Lucas had realized as soon as Kailin told him that she was a vampire, that she was the very same woman that had hid in the sewers with his father. Tzion’s words only confirmed what he thought he already knew. “Who are the others?”
  “Kailin, of course, is the guardian. Mathias is the traitor, and I am the savior.” Tzion opened the drawer of his desk and pulled out a pad of paper. In his elegant hand writing wrote down a name and street address, then offered the piece of paper over to Lucas. “This is the only vampire hunter that I know of that is still practicing. Beware though, Stark, he is a different kind of hunter. While you believe the Hallowed are decent vampires that should be allowed to live, and are able to see good and evil in all vampires. This hunter can not, his blood line was created before the Hallowed were created.”
  Lucas took the piece of paper, “Damon Anderson? This guy tried to murder my father, what am I suppose to do with him?”
  “Learn from him. He can teach you much, and be truthful, but do not tell him everything. Damon may be a great hunter, but he is blinded by hate. He doesn’t understand that there are two different types of hunters. If you show the same hate for Mephis towards all vampires while he teaches you, then you will be of great assistance to Kailin.”
  “Why would I want to do any of this?”
  “Because, Stark, if all of us don’t do our parts, the Mephis will turn humans into nothing more then cattle with no one to stand in their way.”
  The door opened, and Khaldun stepped in with a badly battered Kristian in his arms.
  “What happened?” Tzion shot out of his seat, and went over to inspect his peon.
  “It was Kailin.” Khaldun’s deep voice told him.
  Lucas recognized the giant man from when they were attacked.
  Tzion looked at Lucas, “Show yourself out, thank you for coming.” He turned back to Khaldun, “Follow me.” He ordered, and yelled to one of the servants to find Akela.

  “Lay him down here.” Tzion ordered Khaldun, as he opened a small bedroom door and pointed at the bed.
  Khaldun did as he was told, and laid Kristian on the twin size bed. The blanket was brown and the room didn’t seem like it belonged in the mansion. The furniture was old, worn, and scraped and the dark brown rug at the end of the bed had several holes in it. The only thing that reminded him that he was even in the mansion was the embroidered walls and the dark red carpet. After a moment, he was sure that this was Kristian’s room, as there were several pictures of him and his family on the bookshelf, night stand, and dresser. He recognized the clothing from the 1930’s.
  Tzion sat down on the bed beside Kristian, and gentle ran his hand over his peon’s forehead. He looked him over, and then up at Khaldun.
  “What happen?”
  The giant tried to find the words that could possibly explain what had occurred. “Kailin did it.” He sounded like he was being accused and wanted to put the blame on someone else.
  “I understand that, but why did she do it?”
  He shrugged his large shoulders. “He was arguing with Gabrielle, and… then Kailin attacked. She wouldn’t stop, I’ve never seen anything like that.”
  Khaldun knew to well what it was. The blood exchange had forced Kailin’s aura and soul to compete for control of her body. He wanted to reach across the bed and break the elder’s neck for what he had done to her. It was hard enough to get the young vampire to trust them, and now Tzion was playing with forces beyond his control.
  “You summoned me?” Akela’s rich voice came from the doorway, her eyes fell on Kristian’s battered body.
  “Seems there was an accident.” Tzion stood up, and held out one arm for Akela to come to him. When she was close enough, he wrapped the arm around her shoulders.
  Akela looked down at Kristian again, getting a better look of his body. His face was bleeding and bruised. “He’s not regenerating.” She said, as if Khaldun and Tzion hadn’t noticed that already.
  “Kailin did it.” Khaldun said, when Akela looked up at him with her accusing eyes.
  “Only way a fresh wouldn’t regenerate would be if an elder attacked them. Kailin is no where near that powerful.”
  Khaldun crossed his arms and took a deep breath, “Don’t you accuse Mathias of this, Akela. I swear you won’t get the first word out before I’m tearing away at your flesh.”
  Akela had her mouth open and then closed it. “Very well, allow me to peer into your mind and see the truth then.”
  He gave a nod, and stared into Akela’s eyes as they fell empty. It only took a split second, and then she returned back to reality. She gave a nod to Tzion, “We will have to complete the cycle quickly.”
  Tzion nodded, and looked at Khaldun. “Kailin needs your help now, Khaldun.”
  He snorted, “Don’t try to involve me in whatever plot you have. You may have gotten Mathias, but I am well aware of what you are attempting.”
  “There is no plot, just the future. The Mephis grow stronger with every passing day, and Kailin is left as a weak fresh. Even if she is invincible to them, she won’t be able to stop them. With Anthony stronger then her, he’ll easily get her to come to their side and fight us.”
  “I’m not doing it, Tzion.” Khaldun tightened his already crossed arms in a display of disobedience.
  “She needs your strength ability. She already has my persuasion and Mathias’ rapid healing, but she needs both your strength and Akela’s mind abilities. We have to make her stronger.”
  “Tzion, I never pegged you for a fool. But the more I listen to you, the more I truly understand why Mathias has hated you all these years. Do you have no understanding of aura and soul control?” He waited for Tzion to respond, but he just continued to look at him, waiting for him to explain more. “It’s obvious that Kailin’s soul and aura are fighting within her, already. If Akela and I were to add to that, then who knows if her aura would ever gain control back. She would be easily persuaded to the Mephis side.”
  “I fear it is you, Khaldun, that do not understand aura and soul control. It all depends on what abilities are added into the being. Akela’s ability will strengthen the aura and yours will strengthen her body while her aura tries to grow stronger over the abilities that Mathias and I gave her.” Tzion’s eyes wandered down to Kristian.
  Khaldun shook his head, “No, I have never heard that. All abilities are controlled by the soul, not that aura or body.”
  “Do you want to chance this happening to another fresh or a human?” Tzion was speaking of Kristian, his eyes still on him.
  “I would rather this happen then Kailin no longer able to save us when the time comes.”
  Tzion’s head shot up, “The time is now!” His voice was full of rage.
  Khaldun stepped back, a little shocked at Tzion’s sudden outburst. He was no fool, Tzion was a far superior vampire, and he wouldn’t be able to win in a battle against him. Mathias was safe from the prophet’s rage, because he was part of the prophecies, however Khaldun was not. He could be killed without any harm to the future, and Khaldun knew he had to keep his place below the elder.
  “Go with Akela to Kailin’s home, and continue the blood exchange by my order!”
  “Mathias will never allow it.” Khaldun said, his voice cracked.
  “Tell him that Akela is there to help strength her aura, and then you must take her into a room just the three of you.”
  Khaldun swallowed, “I think you are making a terrible mistake, Tzion.”
  “The only mistake I ever made was creating that friend of yours, he has been nothing but a thorn in my side since his creation.”
  “Mathias is a great man, and I will not have you insulting him in my presence.”
  Tzion’s lip curled, “Get him out of here, Akela.”
  The dark haired beauty gave a nod, and walked around to the other side of the bed. She tried to place her hand in the crook of his arm, but he yanked it away. “Don’t touch me, witch.” He snapped and headed for the door.
  Tzion watched him disappear down the hall, “Don’t fail me, Akela.”
  She bowed her head, “When have I ever?”
  “I told you to allow Kailin to remember Mathias taking advantage of her. Your personal hatred for Mathias must wait, do not toy with him this time around.”
  “Forgive me, it will not happen again.” She bowed again, and headed out of the room to find Khaldun.

  Running through the halls, Kailin heard the screams of the creature. Every new door lead to another hallway, her dress was ripped and her hair was a mess. She could hear the monster screaming out her name, calling her to him.
  “Caitlyn, come to me!” His raspy voice screamed out. “Let me be in control and the pain will stop, forever!”
  She continued to run, trying to find a way out of this maze of halls. Opening one door, she found a hall that the monster had already traveled down. Claw marks followed down the walls and doors.
  “Caitlyn!”
  “Leave me alone!” She screamed, wiping the tears from her eyes.
  “You? You are me! I am what you really want to be. Emotionless, empty of memories, vacant to the world!”
  “No!” She continued down the hallway, and opened another doorway. When she entered she looked at the words painted in blood, they read, “Marekio.”

  Mathias stood at the edge of the couch, while Gabrielle ran a warm moist cloth over her forehead. He hadn’t hit her that hard, and didn’t understand why she had fell unconscious.
  “What is going on?” Gabrielle looked up, her playful eyes had vanished.
  He dropped his head, determined not to answer her.
  “Who are you? And what is happened to Kailin?” She waited for him to answer, “I know you have the answers, tell me!” Gabrielle stood up, Mathias had almost a foot in height on her, but her anger still caught him off guard.
  “Gabrielle, its not information that is available to your kind.”
  She gave a disgusted glare, “Don’t you dare pretend you are better then me, you fucking cross bearer. This is my friend, and I deserve to know, now!” She stomped her foot.
  He licked his lips as he thought, “I’m sorry, Gabrielle, but…”
  “No, no sorry, no forgiveness, there is something terribly wrong with her. I’ve never seen her act like that, and she’s been strange ever since you came into her life. What is…” A knock from the door echoed throughout the apartment, and both vampires turned their eyes to the door.
  Gabrielle walked to the door and opened it, she recognized Khaldun from the street. Stepped aside she let him in.
  “What did Tzion say?” Mathias asked.
  Khaldun swallowed, “Now, don’t get upset, Mathias, but…”
  “She’s here.” He growled.
  Khaldun nodded, “He told me to bring her, said that she could help strengthen Kailin’s aura.”
  Akela pushed open the door as Gabrielle went to close it. “Pick her up, Khaldun.” She ordered, not even giving the Pyrrhonian a glance.
  “Hold on, what are you doing?” Mathias snapped.
  “I must be alone with her.”
  “Alone with her? You must think I am a complete idiot.”
  “Yes, I do, but that’s besides the point.” Akela walked over to Kailin’s bedroom door, and opened it.
  Gabrielle turned her back to the room, as Khaldun walked in with Kailin in his arms. After he stepped in, Akela looked at Mathias with a deep frown.
  “Don’t make me control you to keep you out, Mathias.”
  “You can’t do this, Akela.” He said in a soft voice, “She’s too weak, and having enough trouble as it is. For once think for yourself, you have such a powerful mind, don’t let Tzion control you further.”
  “Tzion has no control over me. I’ve made my choice, and unlike you I have that capability.” She snapped, and then shut the door.
  Mathias felt pathetic and sat down on the couch with his head in his hands. He knew damn well what was going to happen in there, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. Akela could easily control him, he didn’t know what to do.
  “What are they doing?” Gabrielle asked.
  He looked up at the red head, standing over him. “I’m sorry, Gabrielle. I think this is all my fault.”
  She didn’t understand, but she felt his apologize was heart felt. The sadness in his eyes told her that he was powerless in these moments. Sitting down, she rubbed his back with the palm of her hand. “Its alright. I think I see more now.”
  It was only fifteen minutes, but seemed to last an eternity as they stared at the bedroom door. When it finally opened, Mathias wasn’t sure to be thankful it was over or angry that it had ever occurred.
  Akela stepped out first and without a word, left the apartment. Khaldun stepped out and frowned sadly at Mathias and Gabrielle on the couch.
  “How could you?” Mathias asked.
  “I’m sorry, but I was ordered to.” He took a step towards Mathias, and watched him shoot up.
  “Is Kailin alright?” Gabrielle asked both men, but neither answered her.
  Mathias’ frown deepened, “It’s my fault, I was a fool enough to think you were loyal to me.”
  “I don’t want to die, not yet, Mathias.” He grabbed his arm when he headed towards the bedroom.
  “That’s interesting, because you are dead to me. Don’t ever show your face again.” He headed into the bedroom.
  “How can you be so angry with me? You were forced into it as well. You are angry with me for doing what…”
  “Leave, Khaldun!” Mathias yelled.
  The giant looked at Gabrielle, who only stared down at the carpet when their eyes met. “I’m sorry.” He said, and then headed towards the door, when he opened it, he looked back at Gabrielle, who had her back to him. “I never meant for this to happen, I’ve spent my whole life… it was my calling too.” He stepped out into the hall, and Gabrielle heard the door shut behind her.

Let me know your opinion on this novel. It helps me out a great deal. There are two places to leave a message. On my forum and on my blog.
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Book Cover is done by a great artist Luis Royo. He didn't do this work for me, and it's his copywritted material.

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