/Catherine/

I nodded. "I know...I still remember when the idiot figured out I wasn't truly in love with him. After all..." I tugged on the neckline of my blouse (which seemed to be getting tighter around my belly every day now) to show Rolf the scar where I'd been shot. "He tried to kill me...well, one of his brides did..."

/Alexsei/

I knelt and put a hand on Sigrid's shoulder. "I know you didn't mean to worry her. And I understand, Sigrid...I remember how it felt when I had to leave Carmen here...but we do need to get you back, otherwise, Catherine will have an anuerism..."

/Alexandra/

I smiled to the red-eyed vampire. "Thank you, sir. I've already met Aunt Carmen, she seems to be a wonderful woman. I think her and I will get along just fine. Now...I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name. What was it?"

/Gabriel/

"I honestly do not know..." I said to Carmen. "I guess maybe I was thinking about the fact that Fiona looks like me, even though Vivian and I barely know each other. Or maybe my mind's just randomly wandering. I have no idea."

/Carmen/

"Fiona looks like you? Hmm...I say that's a sign from God..." I said. "You were meant to be her father..."

/Gene/

"Oh, excuse me. I'm Gene Verona, heir to the Valencian throne. Pleasure to meet you. And looks like we found Egil...." I said, looking at him.

/Cynara/

I smiled, lying down beside him. "Good..." I heard a sound and looked the door and saw a small boy by the door in bloody clothes. It was Quinn, the boy from the castle. He looked like he had been crying...

/Gabriel/

"You, er...you really think so?" I asked Carmen, avoiding eye contact with her.

/Alexandra/

I gave a bow when the vampire-Gene, he said his name was-said he was royalty. "A pleasure to meet you. Now...who's Egil? I keep hearing his name mentioned, but I don't know who he is..."

/Carmen/

"Of course! I believe in fate. And fate hasn't failed me yet. I especially love the man fate chose for me." I laughed. "The person you are meant to spend your life with will come as a surprise, when you least exp--" A baby's cry cut me off. "Did you hear that?"

/ene/

"Oh, he's a shapeshifter who is pretending to be a female friend of us. And apparently, Dracula has the hots for her so Egil's in an awkward position." I pointed to Sigrid who was talking to Alexsei. "This here is his niece....who should have sayed at the inn."

/Gabriel/

I nodded. "I did...and it's coming from nearby..."

/Alexandra/

I shuddered. "Ew, that is an awkward position. I feel terrible for this Egil person...I've heard the stories of Count Dracula...my father used to be a comrade of his in war, and by all accounts...he has an insatiable appetite for women. And he's not all that attractive."

Father. Why did I say that? He wasn't my father, he was a murderer who killed my real parents.

Damn these old habits.

/Carmen/

I followed the crying until it came to a door. "It's coming from here..." I tried to open the door, but it was locked. "Would you break the door in, Gabriel?

/Gene/

"You can say that again...He forced my mother...er, foster mother into being his newest bride...it enflames with hatred of my...father..."

/Gabriel/

I nodded, then slammed my shoulder into the door. It didn't budge the first four times I tried that, but the fifth time, it came open just fine. I rubbed my shoulder.

"Fifth time's the charm..." I grunted as I walked into the room.

/Alexandra/

It took me a minute to process his cryptic statement, and then it seemed to dawn on me. "So...are you saying that Dracula's your father? And he forced your foster mother to be his bride? Wow...and I thought I had reason to hate my parents..."

/Carmen/

"I thought third's usually the charm. Isn't that a phrase from somewhere?... Huh, just like Vivian. First Anna, then Kaja, and third is Vivian...What a concidence...." I followed the crying to a crib. Inside was Fiona! I'm surprised. The room was freezing cold and the baby had nothing on except a diaper. "Let's get her out...."

/Gene/

I narrowed my eyes. "You hated your parents? But your uncle always spoke highly of his sister and her husband....why would you hate them?"

/Dracula/

My perturbation was forestalled once I plopped down in front Egil and Gabriele--with one snatch she was against my dead chest and a large, sharped nail at her neck threatening to draw blood--my fangs elongated, one slight movement and her jugular could be severed--he didn't want that now, did he?

"Careful is the warning I give you, Mr. Deceiver," I spat with inhumane eyes, "You have severed our little agreement with this little trick and now it is time that I take the upper hand in the bargain--seeing as I have your only little chip," my brides came down beside me--rendering the girl simply paralyzed.

"Bring me Zenevieva--the real one--and you can have this little b.itch---fail to do so will result in a very satisfying meal for my brides and I, won't it my loves?" I let my tongue crawl out a trace the edge of her neck, my cold eyes glued to him, as my brides looked one with longing sighs.

"I give you leave to go--but don't delay--I'm already feeling quite. . .peckish. . ." I said with a sardonic laugh.

/Gabriel/

"I'd prefer it if you didn't bring up Anna or Kaja..." I mumbled to Carmen, lifting Fiona from her crib. She was wearing nothing more than a diaper, and the castle was freezing, so I took off my scarf and attempted to make it into a makeshift blanket. I would've used my coat, but it would've swallowed her completely, since she was so small...

/Alexandra/

"Oh, no, no, not my real parents!" I amended for Gene. "No, I mean my foster parents! I don't even remember my real parents...they were killed when I was five. By my foster father. Who took me in and lied to me for three hundred years..."

/Carmen/

"Sorry....." I apologized. "Come on, Gabriel. Let's go outside..."

/Gene/

I shifted my eyes towards the direction where Egil was. I heard Dracula making threats. "Oh no.....Alexsei, time to introduce Chandara to Dracula...Egil's in trouble."

/Gabriel/

"It's all right, Carmen..." I said to her. "Let's go..."

/Alexsei/

I glanced over my shoulder at Gene's words. "Hell...all right then...Gene, take Chandara on ahead. I'll stay back here with Sigrid. Chandara...make me proud, my wolf princess."

(Why! Why?! *sniffles* I-I thought I was *sniffles* special...*leaves room sniffling*)

/Carmen/

We headed back the way we came from. We had no trouble...spoke to soon.....the Dwergi spotted us.

/Gene/

"Aren't you coming? The more wolves there are...the easier it is to break Dracula's mind..."

(Alexsei: Wait! It doesn't say wolfling anymore! You're still my little wolfling!)

/Gabriel/

I watched as a few Dwergi gathered around, pointing at us and screaming in their weird, garbled language. I passed Fiona to Carmen.

"Not these guys again..." I growled, taking out a revolver and taking aim.

/Alexsei/

"Er...good point," I said. "But someone has to make sure that no one tries to kill Sigrid...Egil and Catherine will have our heads if anything happens to her, and I don't wish to test either of them..."

(*sniffles* Really? *looks at post* Wow...you did change it *sniffles* Hug me?)

/Carmen/

When Gabriel stared shooting, Fiona started to cry and was she a crier! Her cries wes loud enough to make the last Dwergi flee. "Wow..."

/Gene/

"She can come with us....under my watchful eye..." I took Sigrid's hand. "She won't leave my hand at all."

(Alexsei: Of course, wolfling *huggles*)

/Gabriel/

"That works too..." I commented, holstering my revolver and taking Fiona back. "Sorry if I scared you, Fiona..." I apologized to her, trying to calm her crying.

/Alexandra/

"Right...now that we have that settled, may we go?" I asked eagerly, almost impatiently. I wanted to cause a little mayhem with Dracula...never really liked him much, honestly, even if he was Father-Sirius's-old brother-in-arms. He was a disgusting chauvenist pig with horrible breath.

(*huggles back* I-I thought you didn't like me-e anymore...)

/Carmen/

Fiona's crying stopped immediately as Gabriel held her. I pouted. "Oh, that's nice...Fiona likes you better than me.." I mumbled playfully as we headed out.

/Gene/

I nodded. "Let's go..." I scopped Sigrid into my arms - I wasn't going to let her go. "After you,, werewolves.."

(Alexsei: No, no, I'll always love you)

/Gabriel/

"I guess she just...likes me..." I said as we headed out the front doors of the castle. "I don't know why, but she does..."

/Alexandra/

I nodded, then bounded off down the hallway in search of the vampire king. I heard Uncle Alexsei's footsteps as he followed me.

(Aww....I'll love you too...more than Jacky....)

/Carmen/

"I'll telling, it's a sign. You are meant to be her father!" I went through the exterior door.

/Gene/

I followed behind. Dracula's voice and Alyssa's cackling grew louder. I saw Egil up ahead. Sigrid tried to free herself and run to Egil but I held her tight.

/Gabriel/

"I just don't know if I'm ready for another relationship..." I said to Carmen. "Not yet. I mean...I thought Kaja and I..."

/Alexandra/

We came to a stop before none other than Count Dracula and a blonde bride. They were facing off against a large man with platinum-blonde hair and a young woman with blonde hair and green eyes. I snarled at the king of the vampires.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Overlord of the Bats," I growled at him.

/Carmen/

We went outside and hid behind a tree, waiting for the others. "I know...I had my heart broken before...I know what it feels like." I said, my voice dropping to a whisper. "I'm not asking to go marry her, take it slowly by all means. But don't keep your heart closed. Even you need some love."

/Gabriel/

I nodded. "I know, Carmen, I know...Vivian's a nice girl, really. And I can't help but to feel horrible for what she went through before...she's told me, she had a terrible husband before she came here. A husband who, as soon as she'd given birth to this beautiful baby girl, tried to get her pregnant again..." I sighed. "And I think he succeeded, which is only worse. Thing is...I don't know. Maybe what I want to figure out so badly is why Kaja left..."

/Carmen/

"We all want to know why, Gabriel. She was a friend to all of us. You're not the only one pained by all of this, but tell me this, would Kaja want you to worry about her constantly or live happily?"

/Gabriel/

"Live happily, I suppose," I admitted, shifting my grip on Fiona.

/Carmen/

"And would you rather mourn her absence or cherish the times together?"

/Gabriel/

"Cherish the times together..."

/Carmen/

I patted his shoulder. "So why are you moping around. Think of the fun you two had, okay?"

Getting Fiona back to Vivian would cheer him up. I had an idea. I tapped into the mental link to Gene.

I found the baby. Gabriel and I are taking her back to Vivian, call me if you're in trouble. I told him.

I turned back to Gabriel. "Ready? We're going back to the inn. gene gave me the okay." I said, standing up. "And Vivian's reaction to getting Fiona back will cheer you up."

/Gabriel/

I had to smile a little at this. "She'd love to have Fiona back." I stood up, looking down at Fiona, who was cuddled in my arms, almost asleep.

"We're taking you back to your mama now..." I said softly to her. "I know she'll want you back..."

/Rolf/

I nodded. “I recall Egil mentioning that episode to me. After all, that’s how you and Egil were acquainted with each other again—him retracting a bullet out of you.”

/Erik/

Quinn was standing in the doorway and Cynara rushed up to him while I tagged along. “Quinn, are you all right? What happened to you?”

To Cynara, I whispered, “We need to find a change of clothes for him; his clothes are completely soaked in blood!”

/Sigrid/

As Uncle Egil came in sight, I wanted to cry out in joy that he was unharmed (at the moment), run up to him and throw myself into his arms but Herr Gene held me back. I bit my lip, trying to be patient as Savne Chandara confronted Dracula. That’s when I saw Dracula dangling Savne Gabriele in the air.

“What’s he doing?!” I hissed, glancing up at Gene’s impassive face.

/Egil/

My hand tightened considerably on the handle of my pistol and I was half-tempted in shooting Dracula in the face again but I couldn’t risk Gabriele’s life, my brother-in-law and fiancée would have my head on the silver platter if I did. Masking my contempt for the count, I was about figure a way out of this mess when a petite female with cascading golden hair stepped out of the shadows and began insulting Dracula.

Hm, perhaps the scales are being tipped into my favor…

/Carmen/

Within the hour of flying, we reached the inn. "Here we are...." I said, entering it. "Go return Fiona. She'll be so happy."

/Quinn/

I sniffled, still crying over Enrique's death. "I-I want E-Enrique-e-e..."

/Catherine/

"Indeed," I said, covering the scar again. "I remember that...what an interesting period of time that was, wondering if Egil liked me or not-"

I was interrupted by the sound of footsteps coming up the nearby staircase. There was Gabriel, carrying a small bundle that was wrapped in what appeared to be his scarf. It had to be Fiona! I smiled and moved aside so he could get into the room.

"Go on...Vivian's been waiting..."

/Alexandra/

The little girl cried out, asking what Dracula was doing. I glanced over my shoulder at her.

"He, draga mea fată, is being his usual, arrogant, obnoxious, sadistic self," I said to her, before turning back to Dracula. "You probably don't remember me. But I remember you visited the pack one time. Surely you remember one Sirius de Autechane?"

(draga mea fată-"my dear girl", Romanian)

/Viv/

I saw Gabriel come in with something in his arms. I wiped off my tear, hopping off the bed. "FIONA!?" I ran to Gabriel's side and took the bundle and unwrapping it. The makeshift blanket was cold so I replaced with her pink blanket. 'Oh, hank you, thank you, Gabriel! Thank you so much!" I started to cry again - this time, out of pure joy. "Th-Thank-k y-you-u, Gabriel..." I whispered, rocking my baby girl.

/Gabriel/

I put a comforting arm around Vivian's shoulder, watching as she rocked her daughter and cried in joy.

"It's not a problem, Vivian," I assured her. "I didn't want to see Fiona hurt by Dracula's brides. I know just how they can be..."

/Dracula/

"Get rid of her," I said with disinterest at this new threat--my brides did it easily.

"Now. . what'll it be boy?" I asked reinforcing my threat upon her life, my stare ever colder when peering at him. "My Vieva for your little friend? Or just a bunch of blood spread out across the floor?"

/Viv/

"H-How-w ca-can I-I ever-er r-repay-y....There-e has-s t-to-o b-be-e a-a w-way-y...."

/Alexsei/

I snarled in rage as one of Dracula's brides tossed Alexandra aside, sending her tumbling to the floor. Next thing I knew, I had pushed my way between Dracula and Egil, growling at him.

"You've got a lot of nerve, laying a hand on my niece like that, you bloodsucking bastard," I growled at him.

/Gabriel/

"You don't have to repay me," I said. "I wanted to save Fiona...you could say I've taken a liking to her..."

/Viv/

"But-t there-e has-as t-to be s-some-e way-y-y...to-o repay you..."

There had to be a way. Anything! In all haste, I leaned forward kissed him. It wasn't a kiss like back at the cafe, this was a kiss of gratitude. I looked away in embarrassment when I realized what I had done. "I'm....I'm-m s-sorry-y.."

/Gabriel/

Vivian leaned forward, pressing her lips against mine, much like we'd done at the cafe. My heart instantly started to beat a little faster, feel more alive...like it did with Kaja. And with Anna.

As if I loved her.

"It's okay..." I said to Vivian when she broke the kiss and apologized, feeling a bit...I don't know how to describe how I felt. A bit caught off guard, perhaps, though not in a bad way. "I, um...it's fine..."

/Viv/

I rummaged through my bag, taking a few coins. "H-Here-e, -take-e it....for f-finding-g Fiona-a-a...."

/Gabriel/

She tried to hand me a few coins, to repay me for finding Fiona. I took her small hand in mine, gently curling her fingers back over the coins.

"I was serious when I said you didn't have to repay me, Vivian," I assured her. "I wanted to help you get Fiona back..."

(Uh-oh, we is about to run outta room here! I'll go set up a new section...)

/Dracula/

"Why thank you, dog boy, although, I believe you are mistaken--for I did not lay one finger on the little thing--now step away. . Mr. Changeability and I are discussing matters of real importance, aren't we?" I asked with a snicker. .

/Alexsei/

"I don't give a damn whether or not you actually put a hand on my niece!" I snarled to him. "Touch her again and you'll wish you never made a deal with the Devil..."

/Viv/

"B-But I-I want-t to repay-y....You saved-ed Fiona-a....and m-my life...." I protested. "How could-d I-I pay you-u? Cash-h? Money-y? Property-ty?"

/Dracula/

"I'm afraid that thought has crossed my mind all too many times to really count--so your threat is somewhat pointless--and don't worry, I have no mind to lay any sort of hand on your neice--just keep her fair distance from me and all will be well."

/Gabriel/

"Well...I mean...I suppose if you're so insistant on repaying me..." I said slowly. "We, could, uh...go to dinner again. And hope we don't encounter the same waitress from last time...if that's all right by you..."

/Alexsei/

I snarled at Dracula again. "Really, I should just tear you to shreds for what you've done to Catherine, Quinn, Carmen, and everyone else you've tormented," I growled in a threatening voice.

(Gabe's so into dinner dates!)

/Viv/

i sighed, placing the money into my bag. "I-If-f I-I can-n pay-y for-r the night-t...I want-t to thank you-u...."

(Gabriel: What? I really don't know how to date, but dinner always seems like a good idea...)

/Gabriel/

"I...well...all right..." I said, finally giving in. "But then, consider us even. There's really no need to repay me..."

(well you definitely knew how to kiss on first dates...)

/Viv/

"Alright....i-if you-u say so-o....why don't we-e try a-a different place-e....I-I don't feel comfortable with-h that-t waitress.."

/Erik/

“Sssh,” I hushed, stroking Quinn’s head, “We know you do but he’s—” He started bawling his poor heart around and threw himself into both Cynara and my arms. Later, I decided, we would clean him up and find him a change of clothing. For now, let him unleash all his anquish and pain.

/Rolf/

When Catherine turned back to me, I resumed our conversation. “Yes, Egil can be a rather fickle man, likes holing all his emotions in. But you understand why, he, no doubt, told you of his story about…Cassandra.”

For one fleeting second, I hoped he did, for if he didn’t I would be stuck in an unfavorable situation.

/Sigrid/

Unable to stand it any more, I lunged at Dracula but once again, Gene’s firm grip on me prevented me from getting nowhere near the count.

“Leave my uncle alone, you toad!” I shouted, my azure eyes flashing many colors. I needed to change, to free Savne Gabriele from that overgrown bat’s clutches–Herr Gene must be worried about her!

/Morfran/

One of my pet ravens hopped onto my shoulder, whispering the pending battle brewing in the infamous Castle Dracula. I silently digested this information, knowing one my next prey was among those supernaturals…yet the answer was which one?

“Thank you, Fenrir,” I murmured to the raven and I slipped out of the tree, furtively entering one of the back doors unguarded by those unsightly creatures that could shatter mirror with their hideousness.

The hunt was about to begin.

/Egil/

Christ, what do I say? This really is no-win situation.

Before I could voice my opinion on the matter or concoct a plan to set Gabriele free (I nearly had a heartattack when I heard Sigrid’s voice, what the bloodly hell was she doing here?) a raven few into the room, cawing and croaking. An ominious feeling washed over me yet I brushed the strange notion aside.

“Gene, get Sigrid the hell out of here,” I commanded grimly to the vampire. I’d be damned first before Dracula ensnares her again!

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