JT: Blood for Blood

“We fight then. We will die tring to defend our way of survival.” Tyler looking at the group in the room. “Is this true for everyone in this clan?” Cyth answers for the family. “Yes, same for Dillans clan as well.” Rising to his feet Tyler addresses them. “I and a few others in my clan are with you.” Devon quickly questions. “What of Lady Nia?” Answering to his quick question. “She is one of the few. Then this is the option. Two against two. What of Oranis?” Cyth puts his head down. “His is stronger than us but still under Satans leash. Alright then. With that said the night grows short.” All turn to leave my room except Cyth. “I will inform the family of our new arrival. What is his name?” Tyler closes the door as the last one leaves. “His name is Mark.” 1

“Alright then. There are only a few of us who still know military tactics from battle but another would definitely help. Not to mention if she is like us than they could live happily like the rest of us. Or maybe he is the key and one true ruler. Goodnight Tyler.” Cyth turns to leave the room. “Goodnight Lord Cyth.” Tyler retreats to his bed.2

Back at the Tevarus mansion the clan puts up their things to rest. Inside Tevarus’s bedroom I see his guitar he always played. “Do you still play?” Smirking as he puts up his clothes. “Not as much as I used to.” Closing the window I turn to leave. “Thank you for comforting me in the car.” As I finished his hand grasped mine. I stopped in mid step. “I know your acceptance is difficult. I love you though. It’s not right but I love you so much.” Looking at his face to the sincerity of his love our hands held on. A feeling of being loved again sent my thoughts running. We stood so close our clothes touched. “The night is nearly gone. It would be safer to stay here tonight.” Tevarus mentions as the birds start to sing. I still stare into his eyes to see this monster is not what Iexpected. He reaches up to take his shirt off, then pauses to my hands helping him. Finishing he looks deep into my eyes. We reach to kiss. Our first kiss since our union. Closer we got the more our hands roamed to feel our skin. One by one our clothes we tossed to the floor. Slowly we make it to the bed. Landing he grabs the covers as we slide under still kissing. Stopping he looks. “I love you!” I smile but do not return the favor. 3

Tevarus slowly kisses my neck and continues to my chest. Both of his hands almost message my breast as his kisses are centered between them. My hands come up his back to his head. Arching my back to his sensual touches he comes up with a strong thrust. I lean my head back and moan. We caress and kiss each other with every thrust. Each sensation intensified by the next. I bite him sending each other in a pool of pleasure till at peak. At the height of our loving ordeal one last bite as we reach the climax of pleasures wave. He rolls over to hold me in his arms. Before he falls asleep exhausted by this night he mutters. “Stay with me not master.” Lifting my head I ask.4

"What did you just say?" He mutters again. "Stay with me not him." He falls asleep and I am left with my mind thinking all day while I try to rest. The next night Sam comes to my bedroom to help get ready. Holding her bag of makeup and jewlry she knocks. "Lady Nia. You awake." opening the door a smudge she looks to see my room was not slept in. Confused she starts to look for me. A servant steps out of Tevarus's room after dropping of his breakfast. Watching him close the door Sam notices a smile of the servants face. "Wait. What are you smiling about?" Putting his finger to his lips. "SHHH. They are still asleep." He points inside the room with the door partly closed. Through the cracked door she could not beleive her eyes. In Tevarus's bed layed Nia wrapped in his arms. The door closes shut and she begins to smile. Tyler walks in the front door. "Tyler where were you?" Sam rushes to him to see him. "I have been over at Cyths place." Looking around the family is all abuzz over the latest gossip. "What is going on?" He asked. "Lady Nia stayed with Lord Tevarus last night." Shocked by this latest news he takes Sam to the garden. "What is it that you have to lead me to the gardens?" Sam requested sternly. "This something the family figured would happen but this changes things a little." Serious and looking for anyone listening she gets nervous. "What is going on?" Looking deep into her eyes he starts to beg. "Please do not utter these words to Lady Nia!" She nods. 5

"I visited her husband a week ago to tell him to end his year long search and now he seeks Cyth out." She could not believed what he told her. 6

"Did you lose your mind? Wait. That means he wasn't afraid of you and is willing to die for her. But he can't be with her, she is married to Tevarus now." Tyler takes a few steps deeper into the gardens. 7

"Yes but he is very strong and very smart. The man has no fear not even death can make him flinch. Cyth is going to turn him to join his clan." She is no longer happy for Nia. "That means he will be looking for her." 8

Tyler explains further. "Things will continue and he will find her but not until the ceremony for Oranis. Cyth is going to make him a military advisor for their clan. We will have a single ruler but if Oranis is the one. He could change things to satisfy his wants and endager us all. We risk it by feeding each month like we do."9

Sam looks away. "What about her husband? Is he going to want the same thing to fight with us?10

"I beleive so. We can use his strength to fight. Once he is one of us he will adjust like the rest of us." They both head back inside. I step out to the main floor dressed and ready. "Sam, Tyler. Where have you been?" The hang their head down. "Sorry my lady." I Walk down the stairs. Their faces seem so plane. "That's alright. Tyler darling you are not ready! We are leaving shortly." Looking at his clothes he excusses himself and heads up to change. Tevarus comes down to be by my side. "Ready." I shrug my shoulders. "I rather not." He gives me this look of disappointment. "We do this every month. Please, it's tradition." I look at him holding his hand. "I don't have a choice do I?" Tyler comes down as Tevarus answers. "No. Everyone ready." Looking to the clan. "Lets go." Again we go out to walk among the people as if we belong there. 11

That same night Mark leaves his hotel to look for Cyth. The address is to an abandon house. Driving up to the house he knocks. Watching his surroundings he turns to a sound of a leaves russling. With his back to the front yard the door opens. Seeing nothing he turns and is baffled by the door. He haulers. "Hello! Anyone here!" All at once the candles on the wall and fireplace light up. Two chairs sit infront of the fire. A voice speaks as Mark walks in. "I hear you are looking for answers?" Mark walks closer to the chairs to see Cyth sitting there with his hands together. "Are you Cyth?" 12

Mark asks feeling angered by these games they play. Smirking he sits up. "Yes. And you are Mark. You are here about your wife Nia." 13

Sitting down confused that he knows so much. "That's right. I want my wife back or if she is dead to let me be with her too. I have tried with no luck." He shows him his arms. Cyth is shocked at the attempts left as a reminder for Mark. "I see you have no fear of death but what of vampires?" Cyth smiles at him to show his fangs. Mark not impressed looks at the fire. "Your tring to scare me. Well it's not working!" He stands up and reaches to pull Cyth out of the chair. "Kill me if that is what this is for otherwise help me be with her again!" Cyth laughs to his strength and lack of fear. "You are what I hoped." Mark starts to let him go. "What are you talking about?" Out of the dark cornors came Tyler, Jack, and Devon. "You know Tyler. The rest are my trusted friends. Tyler has told me about you. Yes Nia is a vampire like us. She is also the key to our masters arrival." Brushing his clothes Cyth steps closer to the fireplace."Your strength and military like lifestyle is what we need. You see even though we all get along as a family we all don't agree with our way of life. We are split in half. One side loves to feed and endulge in their urges. The others feed for defense or family growth." Thinking of this Mark sits in the chair behind him. Cyth turns to face him. "We are have lost many good fighters and leaders in our disagreements due to wars between each other. We need you to help us if we go back to our old ways." Walking to him he sits down and leans forward. "I beg of you. Join us." Mark starts to catch on to their ways. "So you feed to defend only." With a smile and a nod Cyth continues. "Yes, your wife lives with those that feed to indulge in their pleasures of fear and death." Looking so desparate to have her back he beggs Cyth. "Please, help me be with her!" Cyth puts his head down to his plee. "That is the hard part. Unlike those that have come in the past none have been married to a clan leader." Marks eyes get wide. "Married!" Tyler stands beside Cyth. "She is married to my clan leader Tevarus. The day she died and was turned was the day your marriage was voided and her new married life began." Looking at his wrist Mark goes silent. "How am I to get my wife back now?" Cyth gets close to him to explain. "Your wife is a problem but she is the key that will give us our new ruler and to end the feud. 14

Prophecy says a new ruler will rise from heavens flames and be reborn giving all vampires a new life. Oranis is the first true vampire and father to us all. That it is to be Oranis to rule his family again." Mark listens to his story. "I take it he is like those that will feed whenever he pleases?" Devon answers his question. "Yes, he wants to be closer to this world to rule by fear." The room goes quiet. Mark stands up to walk in front of the fireplace. He stares deeply into the flames, watching them flicker and lick the walls surrounding it. 15

"This is your choice Mark. You can go home to your family or join a new one and we will help you find a way to be with you wife somehow. It may take alot of planning but we will try. What do you say?" Cyth now standing right behind Mark still to his silence. Letting out one last breath showing no fear he answers. "I will!" 16

A smile forms on Cyths face. "Are you sure?"17

Plane faced he replies. "Definitely."18

"Very well then. Brace yourself." Cyth's breath can be felt down Marks neck the closer he got. Never flinching he concentrates on the fire. Cyths teeth starts to pierce his skin. Sinking in he feeds from Mark slowly. Marks eyes widen to his heart slowing down. Devon and Tyler stand as witnesses to this new member. Graduelly he begins to rest in Cyths arms. Cyth gently lays Mark into the chair. Barely able to move he tries to look at Cyth. A knife is handed to Cyth as he starts to cut his wrist. "take my hand and drink." Lowering to his face he presses his wrist to Marks mouth. Cyth's blood drips on his lips and runs down to his tongue. Mark swallows those few drops and raises his head to take more. Resting his head back after tasting death itself he slowly starts to shake and his breathing gets more difficult. Just before his heart stoppes his hair quickly grows changing his apparence to complete his transformation. Still and no longer breathing Devon picks Mark up to bring him to their mansion.19

In town others are out gathering their meals. Flirting and tanting them to their deaths they feed. Tevarus holds a woman in his arms. To an innocent they look like they are making out. Weakening her he reaches for my hand. "Here Nia." The hunger fills me again. With a nervous look on my face I stop. "I..I can't." He leans back down to finish the deed. Rising up he leads me to the shops nearby. "Take your pick my dear." We look around to the people walking by when I am stopped by the sound of music near the edge of town. My interest was peaked. I left his side to walk into a club. Oh I have missed my music so that I started to blend in with the crowd dancing. A tall stranger joined me in my grove. Pulling me closer comenced simultaneous motion flowing with the music in the air. This close opened my ears to his heart beating above the beating instruments. The longer we groved the more he wondered his hands to caress my waist and thighs. His head rest closly to my neck. He kisses my lips working his way to my neck ever so gently. I look over to Tevarus dancing with a young girl. Tevarus nods to let me go with the stranger. The stranger rises to my ear to ask me to ride in his car. I lean back and smile at him letting out a little girlish laugh. He turns towards the door not letting go of my hand as we rush out of the club. Tevarus follows close to keep me in his sights. We get into the car and he punches it out of town. Driving for a few miles he pulls up to a dirt road which leads to a lake next to a hugh oak tree. The car is turned off and this stranger moves to face me. "So are those some kind of goth contacts?" Laughing at his comment being he does not know what I truely am I play along with his come-on lines. "Would you like to take a closer look?" I look at him with a suductive look. Smiling really big he leans closer. "Yes I would." He continues to move closer to me that we start to kiss. I raise my hand to his face as we kiss softly against our lips. His arms reach to pull my body close. His breathing increases as he explores my body with his hands inch by inch. Caressing me down to my thighs I start to move my body against his. I make my way to his neck and the sound of his racing heart overpowers my mind. Slowly I open to sink my fangs into his skin. He was aroused by my bite. I drank his blood as we held on closly to each other. Suddenly I noticed the slow pace of his heart and released. "I can't do this." I sit up to face the window. "Please don't stop. We both want this too much." I turned to look at him sadly. 20

"Please let me be with you tonight." He moves closer to me with a slight grin. A drop of his blood hits his hand. Raising his hand he looks confused. "Blood?" Still bleeding from my bite he feels a tickle on his neck. "What the...!" Wiping the blood from his neck his eyes get wide as he starts to panic. Tevarus springs from the back seat and completes what I could not finish. I open the door and run out of the car as his heart stops completely. I ran to rest up against a tree and started crying. I was afraid anymore of this and my mind will be lost forever. Tevarus takes my hand and we walk away into the darkness of the woods.21

I did not say a word to him as I headed straight to my room. The wind blew and rain poured in sheets outside. Sam close behind me shut the door a little before he got there. Shaking her head no to him Tevarus just stood there listening to me cry as Sam close it completely. Turning she sits beside me on the bed. "Lady please. We both hate it but crying every month is not going to help." Sam hands me a tissue. I wipe the tears and sit up. "Yes but we are just drawing more attention to ourselves as well as torturing our minds with regret from the lack of control." I rest my head on her shoulder. "You would rather kill to defend than to just feed for pleasure. That is what Cyth's clan does." Raising up I fight the tears back. "So not all the clans are the same?" 22

Shaking her head she replies. "No. Cyths and Dillans defend. Ours and Brians are big of pleasure and death."23

I stare to the floor. "Tevarus said the four made a truce to end the wars."24

"Yes but they still have a few differences. Tevarus is the owner of all the blood banks because Oranis made it so." Sam sudenly faces the door to someone knocking. 25

"Love please let me in!" Sounding like he is in tears I get up to go open the door. Barely cracking it he is standing there with a handfull of flowers. "I'm sorry. I know it is hard for you but it is what we do. I just want you to be happy to be my wife." Taking the flowers from Tevarus I open the door to let him in. He stands in the middle of the floor as I put them in a vase "What can I do to make you happy? Please tell me!" Sorting the arrangement I look at him. "I can't kill someone! I don't want to feed like that anymore." Desparate to keep me with him he agrees. "Done. I won't force you to do that anymore. Please don't leave!" 26

I look at him with a forgiving face. "Chris I can't go anywhere remember. Why do you think I will be with another?" Sam is suddenly beside herself just staring at him. "Is that your name my lord?" Keeping his eyes on me he shows no anger to his name being said. "Yes that is my name. Christian Tevarus. But she is the only one that can call me by that name." I walk closer to him as he reaches for my hand. Our hands joined. "Chris the reason I asked is because you talked in your sleep the other day." He smirks and kisses my hand. "I'm sorry. I tend to have bad dreams." 27

"About me being with Master Oranis!?" I look deep into his eyes for some truth peaking through.28

"So I did say something. Dam it!" He gets up to walk to the window. "After the awakening he will chose his queen. He can take anyone of the women he pleases. I just wish it not to be you that's all."29

I come up behind him and hold on to him at his shoulders. "Is there something you are not telling me?"30

He turns to put his hand on my check. "No. There are possibilities that he could chose you or me for either part of the awakening and I am hoping this is not the case. After it is all said and done he will rule and help to bring fear back into the world." I remembered this part of the plan but I also believed it to be risky. "Wouldn't that bring more attention to us?"31

"No more than we have already. People go missing and bad things happen but just like big corporation it won't be traced back to us." Leaning down he gives me a kiss on the lips. Wraping his arms around he continues to describe what he knows. "This will be the main home and the company will keep us alive. We will be sent out to do what we always have done. Starting trouble and making things worse for others. Our own covenant to have parties and play with the mortals from time to time." I lean back and look at him. Everything I know is wrong but I almost enjoy hearing this. I feel like I am forgetting who I once was and it scares me at times. The only memory I have left is of the faces I onced loved and still miss. He can see this sometimes when I don't say the words he longs to hear but he still remains forever patient. Music plays downstairs. "What's going on?" We say as we look at each other for the answer. 32

All of us head out the room and down the stairs. The clan has gathered in the main dining room with lights and a stage set up. A celebration was set up as soon as we got in without us noticing. Everyone was having so much fun that Tevarus and I joined the crowd. Sam started till someone grabbed her arm. "Tyler!" Putting his finger up to his mouth he leads her out of the room. "Tyler were have you been?" Looking around he leans forward. "I have been at Cyths place during the feeding. Mark met Cyth tonight." Her eyes grew wide. She raised her hand to her mouth in surprise. "Did he chose?" Bouncing up and down Tyler holds her still. Laughing. "Yes he did. He is resting after his transformation. Mark will be the new military advisor for Cyth but he will not let her know he is one. Not untill Mark can find a way to make her his again." They start to head in the room with the others. Jax comes up to Tyler. "There you are! I have been looking all night for you. Where were you?" Swiping his hand before he could speak Jax continues. "I need you to go to the other Cyths to pick up his and Dillans bank records." Baffled and wanting to have a good time with the band on the stage he solks. "Alright." Snatching the satchle from Jax's hands Sam blurts out. "I will do it!" Tyler not sure of what Sam wil do he questions. "Are you sure? Remember what we said!" Swaying back and forth like she is about to go on a date she reluctantly answers. "Yes I know. Behave and be quick about it." Smiling and winking to he that he trust her they agree and Tyler is up on stage on the drums. 33

Mark's body lays resting in a room suitable for a warrior. Weapons of every style and era hang on the walls. A mural tapestry hangs over the fireplace. Cyth and Devon enter the room just to see Mark start to move. Just as Nia's night began with the moon lighting the room Mark begins to breath again. His eyes open to his new room. Sitting up he sees Cyth and Devon standing nearby the bed. Devon holding a tray brings it over to his bedside. "What is this?" Looking at Mark Cyth takes the bottle and glass on the tray and pours. "This will give you strength." He hands Mark the glass. Looking at it the red color lets him know it is blood and his hunger increases as he is more awakened. Bringing it to his mouth he slowly takes a sip. His eyes stayed closed as he pulls the glass from his lips. Mark savors the taste in his mouth. 34

A feeling of release surges as he quenches the pain with his drink. "So horred is the thought but how sweet as necter is the taste."35

Cyth and Devon smile at each other to his first impression. "Yes it is strange but is the price for life." Handing his glass for another he looks around the room. Astownded by the weapons around him he rises to get a closer look. "This room is amazing!" Moving closer to the mural he pauses. "What is this?" Cyth stands next to him and hands him his glass. "What do you see in it?" Looking at every detail made in the tapestry he notices a story unfolding in the pictures. " A single ruler from fire to come or go." Underneath the pictures were the same but inverted. "What do you mean go?" Both of them look closer at the mural. Mark points to a symbol in the pattern. "You see there is no direction here. He could come from here to rule or be sent back the same way through fire." Cyth and Devon just looked at each other " This is a copy and Oranis is the only on with the original mural. What could he be keeping from us Cyth?" As they pondered this new information Mark pours them a drink. "We will contemplate the theories later. A toast!" Taking their glasses they place them together. Mark begins his toast. "To the love that drives us in life and death, the animals we've become and the ability to destroy!" The glasses clanged together as they smiled to his toast. "Yes sir." They said in unison. "Cyth, I think I found my new best friend." Devon puts his arm over Marks shoulder. "Come let us plan ways of destruction together." Mark smiles at Devon we suddenly the doorman knocks. "Lord Cyth someones here to see you.” Looking at the doorman strangely he motions for the guest to come in. Upon entering the room a hooded woman stood their with a satchel in her hands. She removes her hood. “My lord Cyth I am here to collect the bank records.” Smiling at her he tells the doorman to get his records. “Sam. How are you?” As she walks closer he grabs her hands to hold them. “I’m fine my lord. May I ask, who is this young man?” Cyth turns her to introduce them. Sam looks at Mark and is startled by his eyes. “Mark this is Sam. Sam this is…” He pauses to her fright. “Sam are you alright?”36

“Yes sir. His eyes just startled me.” Confused he looks at her. She does not remove her eyes from his. “I’m sorry Mark but your eyes are as red as fire itself.” 37

Both Devon and Cyth take a closer look. “Amazing! There has never been a vampire with red eyes before.” Cyth shakes his head to agree with Devon. “Yes we will figure this later but now we must prepare our newest member for the family. Ah here we go Sam the records Tevarus needs.” Mark looks at him. “Tevarus!” Sam looks at him nervously. “Yes sir.” 38

“Then you know my wife.” Mark says calmly.39

“Sir I do. She is with him right now.”40

Cyth worried for Nia he questions the nights event. “How did she do today?”41

“As usual. Did you not see the rain?” Sam replies looking out the window.42

“Yes I saw it. Mark your wife was out tonight feeding with the others. They go out once a month for this.” Tring to explain to him what happened Mark gets frustrated. “She feed on someone.” Sam steps closer to Mark. “Sir she feeds but cannot take a life. It is just not in her to do so. When she cries it rains.” Mark mutters as she talks. “I have felt it was her somehow.” 43

“But the rain stopped just as quickly.” Cyth questioned.44

Sam reluctant to say slowed her words cautiously. “Tevarus agreed to exempt her from feeding like the rest.” All three of them turned to her surprised. “Why did he do that? He has always pushed her to be like the rest?” Devon blurted. 45

“He said he would do anything for her to stay no that he’s got her.” She says less nervously.46

Mark steps closer. “He would do anything because he is afraid right.”47

Sam sees Mark is smart and can plan anything from the smallest of details. “Yes, He is afraid to lose her since she tried to starve to death.”48

Shocked he blurts out, “Starved!” Cyth and Devon try to explain to him why she did not succed. “She went for days without feeding which only makes things more difficult. The longer you wait the more dangerous you are to the people around you. The evils hunger takes over till it controls you.” Realizing that the man that took her wanted her just as bad as he does gives him the answer to why she was gone. “So Tevarus loves her.” Feeling sorry for Mark Sam answers. “Yes he does. He was an old boyfriend of hers.” Mark looks at her remembering the last guy she was with. Angrily he utters. “Christian! I should have known. So under his insanity he did love her. It has been a year has she accepted his company?” 49

Shaking her head in fear she answers. “Yes but my lord time goes quickly for us and she suffered her tears long enough. She still refuses to tell him she loves him though.” That comment eased his mind enough to calm down. “She will always love her family. That will never change in her.” A tear forms in his eye. He goes to take Sam into his arms and gives her a hug. “Thank you my dear. I am glad you are with her.” A smile forms on her face as she takes the records back to Tevarus. Once the room was empty they left to meet everyone. Down in the main hall a sea of faces filled the room. They clapped to his arrival. This was a greating he did not expect. Everyone wanted to shake his hand and get to know him. “Come Mark we need to get started.” Devon urged to get him from the family. “This is our main center for the business. Just like Tevarus we have people donate blood. Some go to hospitals some to our banks for food. Now this way.” He follows him down a hall to a wall with a statue in front of it. The statue is of a beautiful woman of roman times. Devon stands in front of it and puts his hand on the arm to push it down. The wall opens inward to a dark room. Walking in Devon switches the lights before the door shuts. It was just like Marks room with countless numbers of weapons that are alike. “This is the armory. We have enough weapons for a good army. We are to fight if our way to survive is jeperdiced. We will help train you in all weapons and go over stratigic operations. You ok with this?” Mark is impressed with the way they prepare. “Yes Devon. I understand.” Devon extends his arm to two men across the room. They are suited up for combat training. Mark faces hours of training in all sword, hand to hand, and covert operations. He only gets a few hours a night to feed and relax before he continues his training. For several weeks Devon and Cyth watch as he shows little improvement. Instead they remain astounded by how natural it comes to him. Determined to learn this new life in hopes to live this new one with Nia he remains strong. One night he heads to the training room only to find it empty. “That’s strange. No one’s here.” Suddenly the background lights come on to reveal six men in black robes. “Who are you? Devon are you in here?” No answer is heard he takes his stance. This fight starts with two rushing him at full speed. He fights them off and dodges their advances. They start to come at him at all sides. He pulls a sword of the shelf. In a flawless motion he fends of the others. 50

One by one he makes his fatal move causing them to drop like flies. Breathing heavy after this vigorus fight clapping is heard in a dark cornor. Mark looks into the darkness to see a figure. “Reveal yourself or you will join these men!” Slowly the figure steps into the light. A tall man in a red satin shirt and black pants still clapping smiles. “Who are you stranger?” Mark still ready to defend keeps his focus on him. “I am just a servant. My master knows all his children. But you are different. He needed to know what you are capable of being this will soon be his military.” Watching him as he walks in a circle around him Mark looks confused. “His. His who?” Laughing a little the man stops. “Why Oranis of course. The father to us all. You defeated his own guards to his tomb without breaking a sweet.” The door opens. Devon enters. Seeing the men on the floor he rushes to Mark with this stranger. “What is going on?” Coming up on Mark he sees the sword in his hand and the stranger beside him. “Ah Devon. How are you? I see you are training this new man well.” Shocked to see the man in here he stands in front of Mark. “Johnathan. I did not know you were coming?” With an evil smirk he walks away from them. “Yes, I know. We had to meet this new young man in person. I have to say I’m quite impressed. And now I must bid you goodnight.” The man stood by the wind and disapeared with the wind. “Devon who was that?” Angered he goes through the papers on the desk. “That was Johnathan. He is the main servant that lives in Oranis’s tomb.” 51

Confused at Devon’s searching he puts his hand on Devons arm. “What are you looking for?” 52

Calming down he answers. “If there was any information on the table. There is nothing here. Mark get Cyth and no questions till I say so!” Taking everything seriously Mark remains quiet and leaves to get Cyth. “My lord you are needed.” Cyth surprised by his request he drops the folders he had and goes to him. "what is going on?" 53

"Devon said no questions." Mark turns to walk out the room. They meet each other in the main hallway. "The night begins." With those words and a single look they new what each other ment. Devon left the house first. Cyth and Mark walked down the stairs to the side hall. Cyth slows down to let him lead. After a few steps he pushes Marks shoulder to lean against a wall in the hallway. As he looks both ways he pushes him back further. 54

The wall gave way to the outside were he stumbled infront of Devon. A few minutes later Cyth went through the same door. "This house has more backdoors than I can think of." Smiling to his comment they leave the grounds towards the cemetary near the woods. Passing the head stones they stop at a huge tree with an open trunk. Cyth steps through to disapear in it. Then Devon. Mark slowly steps up to the tree to put his hand through watching it vanish till he goes through completely. “The tree is a protected portal. We come here to plan without interferance from Oranis and the others. We are safe here.” Cyth takes a torch near the opening. As he walks down you can see stairs spiral to a deep dark center. Further and further down we went the quieter it got. Any noise from above just slowly went away. They made it to the end of the steps. The center had room a table and four chairs. Devon sits down in one of the chairs. “We all sat here and come up with the truce. Now it could all end.” Sitting down Devon explains what is going on. “The reason I needed you away from the house is Johnathan was in the training room!” Cyth surprised by knowledge of his visit. “Why did he come here?” Mark answers his question. “He came for me. He said that I was difficult for the master to figure out?” Devon slams the table. “Devon calm down!” Cyth pauses. “Mark you have changed differently like your wife just no powers. Oranis knows us through our dreams. We don’t see him in them unless he shows himself. He must not be able to see you in your dreams.” 55

“So he sent his tomb servant with half of his guards!” Devon says disturbly. Cyth turns to Devon. “His guards!” 56

“Yes. He had to fight all six guards before being faced with Johnathan. He destroyed them all in a professional and speedy manner though which thrilled me.” Devon still excited over there dimise smiles at Mark and they start to laugh. “Alright so they came to see you. So now they think they have a well trained captain for Oranis.” Looking at Devon and Cyth Mark is shocked. “Captain!” 57

“Yes. We agree you are fit to be our captain of this army of vampires.” 58

Mark feels good about himself for being considered that good. “Johnathan did not find anything we were planning. Since you are now a major part of this here is what is going on.” Devon explains the plans for the event to come up in the next few months. “Oranis is to chose someone in a dream. 59