Draven awoke to a vast silence. She sat bolt upright in bed, clutching the sheet to her naked body. She breathed a sigh of releaf. The room she did not recognize, but the person sitting in the chair beside the bed she did.

"You stayed."

Dasani smiled. There was something warm, caring about his expression. It stilled her heart for a moment. "I wanted to make sure you were safe."

"Elidamet andam." Her voice was soft, barely a whisper as she spoke those words of her Ancient tongue. A dilect of the Carpathian language.

"I speak Italian and English, Draven, sometimes bad English."

She smiled and looked down at her lap as she translated. "I offer my life for yours."

Dasani rose from the chair. The leather pants he wore barely making any sound as he walked across the carpet on bare feet. His pale chest was bare, showing the spiderweb pattern of veins beneath his skin. Draven was itching for her fingertips to trace those patterns of veins, wondering what his skin would feel like beneath her flesh. She saw him shudder and realized that their metaphysical connection was still open. Slightly embarassed, she adverted her eyes. Since when did she get embarassed? She never did around Rancor, what made Dasani so different?

A gentle touch made Draven turn her head back towards him. His eyes were serious, a vivid cyan color that seemed to send a tingle through her entire body, something she felt all the way to her toes. "You, my dear, have been through much in these past few months. Let someone take care of you instead of you taking care of them." His lips seemed suddenly so close to her own.

"I can't. It's in my nature to protect."

"You did not have to give yourself over to Markus, Draven."

"I did. He would have killed you either way. I had to use that time as a diverson so that you would get away. So that you and the rest of the Council could get away."

"They are all alive. In hiding. Jezza returned to Egypt, Vangelo to Spain, Lavra to Scottland."

"You stayed." She made it a statement rather than a question.

"I knew you were still alive, even without our connection open. Had you died, a part of myself would have followed."

"Soulmate." Her voice was nothing more than a whisper and she didn't know if he had heard it or not.

Dasani's fingertips were gentle, light as they slid into her hair, combing through the tangled strands of black. A small crimson tear trailed from the corner of his right eye. Draven found herself reaching up, her thumb brushing that trail of sanguine away from the perfection of his skin. "Are you sure that is what it is, Draven? Are you sure it's not just the connection between Sire and Childe?"

"Positive. Do you feel this way with any of your Children?"

"No."

"Then there's your answer. As much as I want to love you, Dasani, my heart still grieves."

"I know. That is why I'm reluctant." He snorted, a sort of chuckle. "Reluctant lovers."

Draven rested her forehead against his. "I am sorry."

"Don't, Draven. Don't ever be sorry." He framed her face with both of his hands and pressed a kiss to her forehead. It was the gentlest touch but it sent her heart skipping. "You have nothing to be sorry for. You need your time to grieve."

"They took my child, Dasani, my unborn child." The tears that Draven had kept at bay for so long finally slipped free. Her body trembled as she sobbed. Reguardless of his love for his Sire, Dasani held her, running his fingers through her hair as she cried for her lost child, her lost lovers and the loss of the very thing with which she had promised to protect with her life.

"They will pay, Draven, this I promise you. Every last Mortuus will pay with their life." He framed her face again with his gentle hands. Dasani tilted his head forward and tenderly pressed his lips against her own. It was as if he sealed his promise with that kiss. His promise to help her recreate the Sanguine Veil, a promise to destroy the Mortuus, and a promise to love her not matter what fell between them. "Soulmate." His voice was nothing more than a whisper against her lips.

"Forever."

They may have been Soulmates as they claimed, but they would be reluctant lovers until they finished sorting out the rise of their newest Empire. The Sanguine Veil was going to be risen from its ashes, even if it was the last thing they did.





Draven knew they would be there. Dasani had made the call. An urgent matter had come up and he needed the support for the rest of the Council. They were unaware that she was still alive. They all thought she had perished in the fire that ravaged Carpe Noctem. Jezza, Lavra, Darkasha, and Vangelo were escorted by guards of the Acontinum Bloodline and Revanants from the South Docks. It was only a matter of time before they arrived to the Estate that Dasani called home, the place where Draven was calling home at the moment until she established herself again.

The door opened to the bedroom and Dasani peaked his head in. Draven looked stunning. It was as if the past events of these few months had never taken their toll on her. Her hair was kept loose, trailing down her back like a silk waterfall of shadow. Her eyes, bright and full of the intelligence she held shimmered in the subdued candlelight. Her skin was flushed with the recent Feeding. Their admittance to that feelings for one another had given Draven the nourishment she needed to heal her wounds, emotion or otherwise. She wore simple clothes of black suede. Fastened around her slender waist was a new sword, the rapier that Karise had favored. Dasani had saved it for her from the blackened remains of Carpe Noctem. She was the picture perfect image of refinement. It sent his heart racing and his blood boiling.

"They have arrived." It was all he could do to not rush to her and take her in his arms, to keep her with him for the rest of the night by his side. Sighing inwardly, he opened the door for her. Draven's scent floated up to his senses as she passed by and Dasani's knees nearly weakened. He was torturing himself. But it was a pleasureable tourment. He knew she wasn't ready. Closing the door behind him, he walked by her side through the Great Hall.

Draven allowed Dasani to enter the Study first. She took a deep breath, steeled her will and walked in behind him. Silence followed for a moment before Jezza bust into tears.

"Oh my God, Draven." She nearly fell to her knees. If it wasn't for Lavra she surely would have fallen. Vangelo was the first to approach her. He reached out, letting his fingers clasp her chin. He turned her face to his, letting their gazes lock.

"All you have been through, and not one ounce of fear. You, Draven, are a miracle." At one time, she and Vangelo had been lovers, but his appetite for fear had separated them. She knew now just how ruthless and powerful that emotion could be. "You saved our lives by putting your own on the line. You saw Markus intent before it became apparent. We are forever greatful to you, my dear." There was genuine admiration in his voice. She knew he always respected her, but it seemed that his respect had gone up a few notches.

"I had told you all that I would give my lives to protect you. I meant it."

"I had not believed you would until recently. For that, I apologize for my lack of faith." This came from Darkasha who stood at the end of the couch, a delicate hand resting against its arm. Her mightnight blue eyes glittered with unshed tears. The fall of blond hair framed her heart shaped face. Her features were delicate, and she played every part of the Healer that the Spectral Bloodline was known for.

"It wasn't lack of Faith, Darkasha. If I were you, I would have thought it unbelievable as well."

"How did you escape?" This was from Jezza. Draven made her way over to the Dimensia Vampire, resting her hand against the womans face.

"I was able to endure the tourment until the right moment arose. They took my unborn child from me. A child that was apart of your Bloodline, Vangelo." Draven turned to him for a moment before turning back to Jezza. "With my grief and my rage, I managed to trick the guards. I dressed as one of the Mortuus, masking my presence. I felt a complusion to end it once and for all and so I sought out Markus. He is no more, but that does not meant that the Mortuus will back down. If anything they will be more eager to start a war." She let her hand fall away from Jezza's face and she turned to the rest of the Council. "But I will not let the Veil fall again. They have tried to break us, but their intentions only made us stronger. We have survived this long and we will continue to do so. We will rebuild our Empire."

"Do you think its wise?" Lavra asked softly, settling Jezza down upon the couch.

"I do, but we will not rebuild this Empire in a shadow of its former one. This time, it will be different. A turn of the century approaches, a time of change. Each Bloodline will be given its own safe house and the Council will meet in a disclosed location. We will start slowly. It will take time, but the end result will be worth the effort. Trust me."

Vangelo nodded once. "Where and when do we start?"

"We start here and we start now. Dasani has already sent up his own safe haven, now it is time for ours. If need be, we will build with our own hands. Our security needs to be heightened. Vangelo, you and Lavra are in charge of that aspect. Jezza and Darkasha, I'm leaving it to you both in order to find locations for each save haven. Dasani and I will scower the City in search for a base of operations for the Circle. We are to meet back here at Dawn."

"Is it safe to go into the City?" Darkasha seemed worried.

"Protect yourselves by any means necessary. Magick, steel, silver. Anything that you can use against an enemy. If you have any trouble call to us. Any an all that are within range will come to your aide without hesitation."




The night air was cool against her skin. The cobblestone streets of the City were slick with the rain that poured down from the sky. The horse drawn carriage that left the Acontinum Estate made no noise upon the streets. Draven sat beside Dasani, a look of grim determination set across her face. She had argued the point of taking a horse drawn carriage. She prefered to be on foot. But he had insisted, and been right, that she was still not at her full strength.

"Don't look so happy." Dasani teased, reaching out to run his fingers through his Sire's rain drenched hair.

"I would prefer to be on foot than stuffed inside one of these abominations."

He laughed. It was a sound that sped up her heart beat. "I know your preference, but it is more logical since you are not at full strength to be within the saftey of a carriage, no?"

She sighed and turned towards him, reaching up to let the palm of her hand rest against the side of his face. "My heart knows you are right, but by brain is telling me different." Draven lowered her hand and turned her attention back out towards the window. The massive stucture that the carriage was passing by seemed to be abandoned.

"Driver, stop." The carriage immediately haulted just in front of the massive building.

"Draven, what-"

She was already out of the carriage, nearly racing up the steps of the cathedral. "This is absolutely perfect. No one would expect Vampires to congragate in an abandoned Church and the Mortuus, being superstitious bastards, would never have the balls to set foot here."

Dasani could see the ironic yet logical thinking behind her idea. He stepped out of the carriage, almost immediately being assulted by rain. He paid it no heed and hurried up the steps to join Draven. The red brick of the Cathedral seemed grim with no lights, no sign of life visible. The stain glass window above the door had no depictions of any Religious scene, but the colors were remarkable. Vivid blues, reds, greens and even purples. She was right. This was perfect. Just the feel the building gave off called to them both. A sign perhaps, or inevitably an omen.

Draven tested the door to find it locked. Frowning slightly, she reached into her boot and removed a small switch blade. Flicking the blade open, she tested the lock. A slap of her palm against the hilt of the knife sprang the door open. "Let's have a look."

"You know, Draven, I think there's something against breaking and entering against a Church."

"Where's your sense of adventure?"

"I never knew I had one."

"Oh come on, you're always the one rushing into a battle."

"Last time I checked, that was you."

"Hmm, yes, but you're my Childe. It's bound to have passed down."

Dasani couldn't help but laugh. Draven was certainly one of a kind. Caring, loyal, funny. And damn sexy as hell. Frowning slightly, at the latter, he pushed open the door for her. "Age before beauty."

"Funny."

He grinned and followed in behind her. It didn't take long for their perternatural vision to adjust to the inky blackness that engulfed them. The interior of the Catherdal was flawless, save for a few cobwevs strewn about, and about two inches of dust. "The benches will have to be removed, as well as the altar."

"I have a large dining table that we could use here back at the Estate."

"Perfect."

"I was able to save most of your things from the fire."

That was news to her. Draven turned to glance at him over her shoulder. "That is a releaf. I was figuring on having to aquire all new things."

Dasani smiled, and she was able to see it reach his eyes even in the darkness. She turned back around and let her eyes take a sweep over the inventory. "When we get back, I'll talk to my lawyers and see what can be done about the deed to this place." If there was anything he could do to repay Draven for saving his life, not once, but multiple times, this was just a start.

"Thank you, Dasani." Draven turned back towards him and linked her arm through his. Together they walked back out into the comforting embrace of the night. He pulled the door closed behind them and heard the lock snap into place.

"Something tells me that place is haunted."

"A few ghosts never hurt anyone. They may be greatful for the company."

"Yeah right, and I'm a Hunter of the Undead."

"Bastard! You betrayed me!" Laughted sparkled in her eyes as she played along.

"All the better to get closer to you my dear." Dasani moved swiftly and swept her up in his arms. He spun her around once before running to the waiting carriage and ducking inside.

"I was quite capable of walking."

"I know but I wanted to carry you. Call it impulse."

"I can only imagine and wonder what other impulsions you have locked inside that head of yours."

"Sometime, Draven, you will know." He muttered softly as the carriage pulled away and made its way deeper into the City.