"My liege, princess down the tunnel now! Sorceress Jade, Knight Starson go with them-do your duty." General Magnus ordered them as he opened the secret passage that ran beneath the kingdom and out to safety, away from Giddeon’s onslaught.

Tatiyana simply nodded, smirking and thinking to herself. Like I’d do anything else Magnus, watch over my sister…your wife. Her sister Sarah was the only family she had and she’d given up the cloth of the Sorceress-thinking that she wanted something else out of life. For now, she was with the queen, protecting her from the Kindred advance. Save for the single member of their family that was exiled nearly two years ago, they were the last of their line.

Magnus nodded to her thoughts for she hadn’t veiled them. I will Tatiyana, doubt it not. Then, he closed the door behind the retreating little girl, her father, and the Starson-Jade pair. Throughout this exchange Pierce had said nothing, simply watched his Sorceress with care. "Seal the door Tanya…" He murmured absently as she had already begun to chant the spell which would deny anyone but those of their blood access to the chamber. The two were like that-often finishing each other’s sentences and thoughts. For years they’d fought side by side. Sorceress and Knight, thus it had been for thousands of years in this kingdom. Upon completion of their respective training each Jade was given a Starson Knight as a protector. Each held their respective abilities, and, when paired, were virtually unstoppable. Today had proven that fact wrong. Once Tatiyana sealed the door, in silence they ushered the king and his young daughter along. Poor Christiana had no clue what was happening or why but was just following orders instead. The child would likely never know her birthright after this day.

Meanwhile in the throne room, Sarah cowered with the queen. Armed guards were holding Magnus, her love and husband, while Giddeon paced before them. "Sorceress are you? Jade wench, come here." Her green-blue eyes shot with anger as she stood and stepped forward. "What do you want, vermin?" She could think of a no more appropriate title for he who stood before her. A sharp backhand from the vermin in question sent her reeling for but a moment. Quickly, she drew on fledgling powers. Tanya, if I don’t make it out of here, I love you. Faint whispers of holy magic came to her fingertips.

Giddeon, who found all this pomp a vast annoyance, scowled as her felt her drawing. The child couldn’t beat him and he knew it. That wench Tatiyana and her bastard Starson knight, however, could have but they’d fled-or so his agents had told him. No matter, the kingdom and its wealth were his. His gaze flickered to the guard nearest him. "Behead her." He ordered and started to turn away.

Sarah paled at the order but refused to give up. Sasha, my queen, run….quickly. She thought to her, not realizing Tatiyana had sealed the door with their blood. In a last ditch effort, the white of holy magic flew from her fingertips, connecting with Giddeon’s turned back. The searing flames of the light burnt him badly….but it wasn’t enough.

Before she could blink, she was thrown into a wall with such telekinetic force that it rendered her unconscious. She didn’t hear Magnus’s cry nor Giddeon’s repetition of that order. In fact, she never heard another thing.

In the depths of the tunnel, Tatiyana heard her sister’s last thought. No time for tears…She thought as she continued to usher them along. She was on point--leading the way through the tunnel while Pierce brought up the rear which left the princess and the king between the two. Her senses told her the tunnel was nearing its end. Absently she caught Pierce’s of comfort about her sister. Silently, she thanked him and moved on, stepping out into the night. They were due south of the kingdom. An arrow broke the silence around them. Shouting, she crouched low and headed for the cover of shrubbery. "Everyone down, follow me." When she reached the bushes, she saw Pierce hadn’t followed. Pierce? Then, she saw him lying the on the ground. The arrow had caught him in the leg and he was immobile. Turning she looked hard at the king then handed him a Jade crest. "Give this to Christiana, it will keep her safe for she is innocent. You, my liege, however, must watch your back. Go east, I will meet you as soon as possible." The pair ran after the king simply nodded in answer.

Her gaze went back to the clearing. Enough of this. Eyes the shade of emeralds slithered closed as she drew on the vast expanses of power. Her mind zeroed in on the minds of those attacking Pierce. Worry not you know I won’t leave you…His thought to her was harsh. Light damn it Tanya, go with the king…That thought, she ignored-as she often did when he was being stubborn. As she focused on those attacking him, the arrows-some twenty in number came to a halt while the attackers themselves turned as white as the moonlight above. How she hated Kindred. Soon, they were ashes and she darted into the clearing where Pierce lay. "Now let me see that blasted wound."

Minutes later, she healed him. "Tanya, you stubborn wench…" He muttered as he got to his feet and offered her a hand. "No more than you Pierce, no more than you." She shot back with a snicker before the two headed into the direction they’d sent the king and princess. They never found them.

Months passed as Tatiyana and Pierce searched. In time, they bought a parcel of land and began to build upon it…At that time, she was pregnant with her first child. Never had she revealed to him who the father was-she guessed it was some person she met for Pierce could only speculate. Thus, the Manor was built and appropriately named Jade Manor.

One afternoon, while travelling west with her son, Alec, she stumbled upon something that was an aching reminder of what was. The tower loomed overhead-a darkened place compared to what it was at the kingdom’s height. The baby who sat nestled in a satchel on her back stirred softly. Pierce, to me…come. I’ve found something. Before she finished the thought he was at her side. "By the Light, the Tower-how does it still stand Tanya? " He asked looking around them at the seas of black roses that surrounded the tower-roses that were once red.

"I don’t know…but…the earth…life here is tainted Pierce I can feel it. They tried to get inside but something stopped them…" A voice murmured in the mind of the Sorceress. Your ancestors stopped him…their spirits coupled with life with in…tread carefully Tatiyana for the path ahead is dangerous. Lightly she scowled…"Like it was ever anything different…." Emerald orbs closed once again as she drew on the powers of life itself and began to cleanse the area around them-she only succeeded with the Tower itself, which was restored to its former brilliance. The weren’t far from Damaria’s western border-how she wished for home but thought it likely that there were nothing but wastes and deserted buildings.

"Come Pierce…let’s go home hmm?" At that, he nodded and they both winked out of existence with a scant thought.

Months later, Giddeon found them. As the mortals who worked at the Manor perished beneath of his Kindred armies, Tatiyana rushed for the tower, leaving little Alec with Miranda-Pierce’s daughter. Quickly, she cast the spell to seal the doors, drawing her dagger and slitting her own wrist-thus sealing the door with her own life force. She knew she was going to die this day…and if she did, so would Pierce. Pierce forgive me but we must protect what will be….She had no student, so the secrets within the tower must remain just that. Already she was forgiven. Her life force was waning quickly. With her last thought she sent the dagger to her son, Alec. With her last thoughts, she told the boy she loved him. In those fleeting moments, she heard Pierce tell her those same words. Death greeted her with a smile upon her pale lips.

He’d grown up an orphan, Alec Jade thought as his gaze scanned across the horizon with a small frown. Diana Starson sat next to him-this enigmatic woman he’d intended to marry. Theirs was a whirlwind romance. After a brief meeting he knew he loved her, though why he could never express. They'd been hunting the same two Kindred, Kira and Dameon, for years though their paths had never crossed. Dameon had been trying to kill him since he was but a teenager though, even as a boy, he'd never understood why. Currently however, his gaze was fixated on the quiet beauty behind him.

Locks of white blonde were tugged and toyed with by the gentle evening breeze. They were hunters of Kindred, a difficult pair to top once they'd realized they were hunting the same demons. She a healer, he with mild elemental talents and expert with a sword. She was just as, if not more talented than he but her arena was holy magic and healing, something he knew full well she was at least partially, if not fully, trained in. As stated before, he was an orphan and had grown upon his own. He’d known nothing of his mother or father but had been abandoned with nothing but the shirt on his back and that strange little dagger he’d just given his intended.

Her velvet voice punctuated the brief silence between them. "It’s beautiful Alec but why are you giving this to me, I cannot use it as you do." She said in reference to that strange eerie white glow the dagger gave off whenever he focused on it. Those tones reflected faint confusion. True, she was a healer, but that dagger didn’t respond to her the way it did him, so why give it to her?

A dark blonde brow raised as he spoke gently in explanation. "I have my sword and that is enough. With you to watch my back love, I need nothing more. You however.." He paused looking over her form for the briefest of seconds. Diana couldn’t have been more than five foot two in height and she looked as innocent has a babe and thankfully, he was able to keep the blatant hunger out of his eyes when they traced her body. "You can always use the protection." Leaning over he kissed her softly. That kiss she readily responded to and, as a result, the dagger was readily forgotten.

Their union was a happy one though darkness lingered…haunting specters of times past ever watchful of them and their family. Even as those gentle spirits that watched from above guarded and kept them, the darkness lingered. Each smile and small joy was greeted with a maniacal vengeful stare, that withering darkness which would someday uproot the seeds of love they planted beneath the fiery sunset.

Moonlight filtered through the trees that night while stars shone like diamonds. Around them the forest sang with the tones of clashing blades. Two pairs of eyes, ever watchful looked down upon the proceedings in concern. Below, the small clearing teemed with life-- two people would die and two young lives would be forever altered. As they watched , one pair of eyes looking through the night's glow worried.

Diana screamed for her husband as the male vampire disarmed her. Gods damn it--how did he take my short sword from me? Being a seasoned hunter, she didn’t understand how she had been outwitted so easily by these two Kindred whom they'd been fighting on and off since they were married.

"Don’t even think about it Dameon," Alec Jade growled lowly as the vampire Dameon locked an arm around his wife’s throat while raising his own blade. Emerald clashed with black, pupiless eyes as he stared at the Kindred who held Diana. "Or I’ll hunt you until you’re dust."

"I somehow doubt that hunter…" Dameon sneered while tightening his grip around Diana's slender throat. Those pupiless eyes of his shone nothing but malice for the man across from him. The wretched mortal and that demon-damned wife of his had eluded them for years.

"Why is-" Alec was abruptly cut off as a dagger plunged into his breastbone. The crest of the dagger was a simple piece of amber--within lie a single drop of blood. This was the last thing he saw as his life drained from him. Barely he heard the voice hissing in his ear. "Because hunters never win." Kira, Dameon’s partner, hissed softly while she pulled the dagger from Alec’s body, then let it slump to the ground.

"It's about time Kira." Dameon muttered as he snapped Diana’s neck, tossing her aside as though the action cost him nothing--which, in his eyes it hadn't. Mortals had little use beyond food for him. "He was getting annoying."

Small anguished shrieks rose from the shrubbery in the form of a single word. "Mama!!" The small girl darted from the bushes and dropped to her knees beside her mother’s lifeless form as her green-blue eyes filled with tears. In her wake followed a small boy-his dark green eyes and dark blonde hair contrasted his sister’s, his demeanor calm and well controlled for one so young.

"Shit, these hunters have kids? How stupid can mortals be?" Dameon said harshly, reaching for his sword as the little girl with white-blonde curls stared up at him angrily. A child's anger was so little a threat to him, but this foolish creature mocked him with her defiant stare regardless. The boy's emerald gaze was icily cold and difficult to discern the emotions lying within. His attitude was a sharp contrast to his sister's fiery temper.

Kira put a hand on his arm to halt his action towards the children. "Dameon, we can’t kill them. They're innocent in all of this and you know it." She looked up at her mate imploringly. Yes, they'd been given orders, but only to kill the adults. These two were innocent of the whole matter and, thusly, Kira saw no reason to destroy them.

He stared down at her for a few minutes, realizing slowly that she wouldn’t let this go. "Fine but if they’re any trouble, they’re my midnight snack." He turned and stalked out of the clearing after sheathing his blade across his back.

Kira knelt beside the children and hugged them both tightly. The boy remained stiff and standoffish while the girl wrapped her arms around her and cried. "What are your names little ones?" She asked gently. There was summer's warmth in the girl and winter's bitter chill in the boy, fire and ice were these two, or so she estimated.

"Alexandra Jade." The little girl answered between sobs while the boy remained silent-from either shock or anger though Kira was unsure which. That emerald gaze bewildered her just a bit because it was so unreadable.

Alex looked at her brother and whispered quietly at him. "Marc, don’t be so rude." Marc didn’t answer merely glared at his sister in reply; Chuckling lightly, Kira slipped her hands into their miniature ones and guided them down the path towards home.

The house was massive-larger than anything Alex had ever seen in her six years of life. As her little legs climbed the hill, she looked up at the vast two story building. Silently, she wondered why it had so few windows. As she grew, she would understand. Her newfound family would tell her of their aversion to sunlight and why, but Kira decided now was not the time for such things. Now, she needed to get her two precious little gifts home and into a soft bed. Looking down at them she smiled softly and tugged them gently on, her smile turning to an outright grin as she saw the shocked looks on their little faces. "Come along children." She said as she walked up the stairs to the front door.

She led them into the house and upstairs, putting Alex in a room not too far from her own and Marc down the hall from his sister. Looking outside, Kira realized dawn was nearing and she herself must sleep. Scooping Alex up, she took the little girl into what was to become her room and tucked her into the large bed, kissing her gently on the forehead, not bothering to change the child’s clothing, but only pausing to remove her shoes. Kira turned from the room, stepped back out into the hall, and slipped her hand into Marc’s, walking him brusquely down the hall, if a little hurriedly, for her time of rest was drawing near. She thought to herself that she must find someone to care for the children while she and Dameon slept.

She tucked Marc in as well, his manner still rather distant, detached and cold. Frowning softly, she kissed him on the forehead as well. After leaving the boy, she crept into her and Dameon’s room already finding him in bed.

"Are those brat’s put away?" He asked dryly as he rolled beneath the bedcovers and beckoned him to join her. It was time for rest--those brats were already cutting into his time with her. How much worse could things get? The thought was a silent wonder as he scowled in the darkness at her. Idly he watched her undress before she began to berate him. Damn she didn't play fair.

"First of all they’re not brat’s Dameon, they’re little children whose parents we were forced to kill. Secondly, I’ll not have you refer to them as such again. And thirdly, you lay a hand on them and I will destroy you myself. We owe it to them to give them a good life-considering we were the ones who snatched theirs from them…" Kira's tones were quite harsh as she slid into bed beside him and curled close, resting the slender fingers of one hand upon the cool flesh of his chest.

He looked at her bent auburn head in surprise for a few minutes before commenting. "Then mayhap we should have killed them Kira. Maybe then they would have been better off." She was a walking paradox sometimes intriguing and vastly amazing, one that never failed to enrapture him completely.

She arched a single auburn brow at him and tucked an errant curl behind her ear with the hand that was resting upon his chest. The tones that answered him were innocently curious. An innocence he readily saw right through. After four centuries with her how couldn't he? "Then how would that have righted the wrong Dameon? Hmmm?"

In the dimming darkness, he swore softly, knowing she was right but refusing to admit it, even to himself. The witch had out smarted him again. A gruff mutter was all that was given in reply to her questions. "Just go to sleep Kira."

Meanwhile, Alex lay awake in her bed, lonesome for her Mama, Papa, and her brother. She sat up quickly as her bedroom door opened then laid back down as she realized it was Marc. Alex never understood how she always knew her brother was around; her Mama had always told her that it was just something special about the two of them and that, with time, that mental bond would grow stronger. She even said she had shared the same connection with her brother before he was killed; Alex had never met their uncle though he was her brother’s namesake. Mama had often talked about him fondly and how much Marc had reminded her of him.

Marc’s soft whisper startled Alex from her thoughts and longings for familiarity. How had he known she'd need him now? A gentle voice whispered in her mind. He just knew Alex baby, it's okay, it's who you are. Her young mind attributed that voice to her mother and smiled just a little when Marc asked. "Can I stay with you tonight Alex? This place scares me…"

She slid over, softly patting the bed beside her. "’Course you can…" What she didn't tell him was that the clearing had scared her quite badly. She'd felt Mama and Papa die, felt them snuff out like a candle beneath a harsh wind. That had scared her badly and, frankly she didn't wish to be alone tonight. Though she told him none of this, she had a feeling he knew.

Marc crawled into bed beside her and slipped his little hand into her own. Wordlessly, he just nodded to what she was thinking--another common trait between the pair, to answer one another's thoughts unconsciously. "Are you scared?" He said softly.

"A little…but remember, Mama always said that things work out for the best, no matter what." She murmured softly to him, her heart aching for their lost mother, and squeezed his hand. "We gotta believe that…"

"’Kay…" The little boy yawned and absently returned that gentle gesture of affection. His tones were weary, and far from the cold he'd presented the woman who'd brought them here with. Papa always told him never to trust strangers but now, now Papa was gone. "I miss ‘em…"

"Me too." Alex closed her eyes, intending on only doing so for a moment, but quickly slipped into an exhausted sleep. Marc drowsed beside her and added sleepily. "Love you Alex."

"Love you too Marc…" She answered and dropped into sleep as her brother closed his eyes and did the same.

The next morning Alex awoke. Looking down at her brother she smiled at him and reached down, tickling his sides gently. He squirmed a little and rolled away from her, falling back into sleep. Grinning mischievously, she moved closer to her brother and tickled him again. This time he grinned in his sleep and slapped at her hands. As she continued, she grabbed one of his legs and started tickling his feet. At this, Marc burst into laughter and grabbed the pillow next to him as he giggled madly and threw it at his sister, hitting her in the head with it. "Alex…no fair…no fair." He managed to get out.

Falling away from him as the pillow hit her Alex began to laugh, oddly easing the ache of their missing parents with teasing and his company. "Good morning Marcus." She smiled sweetly at him.

"Oh you…" Marc sat up and pounced his sister pinning her to the bed. Though he was two years younger than she Marc was almost as big as she was and definitely stronger. Returning her grin, he looked down at his sister. "Good morning Alexandra…"

"Oh shut up Marc." She pushed him off of her and got out of bed then stopped to look at him. In her six-year-old mind, she realized that he was all she had left of what she knew of her Mama and Papa. Everything she had and loved was in him. When she was older she'd value that all the more.

Suddenly, a sharp knock sounded at the door, startling Alex from her thoughts and causing Marc’s head to snap up sharply at the sound. "Come in?" Alex called out softly, expecting it to be the woman who had brought them here-Kira. Much to her surprise, a petite young woman walked into the room carrying a little gown and a set of pants and shirt for Marc. "Good morning Mistress Alex and Master Marc." The servant said softly. "Lady Kira left a note this morning welcoming the two of you into the household."

"I see…" Alex said softly as Marc asked the servant what her name was. The boy's tones were innocently curious and inquisitive, something that surprised his sister. Miranda would say nothing but Marc was his father's spitting image and Alex looked just like someone she knew as a child, one of the lost ones.

"Miranda." The servant answered as she blushed lightly at her brother’s question. A forced blush to be sure considering she was the only one who lived in these walls who knew their true heritage, both for them and of this house. Her father had told her long ago of what must occur but, under penalty of death, she could say nothing to the children. At least, she could care for them since she'd failed their father so badly.

"Just leave the clothes please…" Alex said softly, her young voice filled with authority. . Marc looked at his sister in surprise, only ever having heard her speak that way a couple of times before, both times the bullies bothering them had left with their hats in their hands as awestruck by the girl’s tone of voice as the servant before them.

"A-as you wish." Miranda stammered and set the clothes on the bed, quickly exiting the room and closing the door softly behind her. Miranda blinked once out in the hall at the tone of voice Alex used because it oddly reminded her of one long dead, one whose name was better left unspoken in these walls.

Marc and Alex both burst out laughing as soon as the door was shut. Marc looked pointedly at his sister. She stared back at him and muttered. "Not a word…" She flopped down on the bed beside him and chuckled softly. "That was mean of me wasn’t it? She was just trying to be nice…" Something in the woman had sparked that attitude in her, but the child she was couldn't discern what.

Marc bobbed his head in a slight nod at her, while a mischievous grin curled his lips. Obviously he was amused by what she’d just done though she remained a bit puzzled by it. "It was but it was funny too…"

"Let’s get dressed." She said as Marc nodded his agreement. For now, her confusion was filed away in favor of a child's amusement. Exploration.

For the rest of the day the pair explored their new home, Alex looking in awe at the library, as she was the only one of them that could read well as of yet, though Marc was learning quickly. Usually a servant was on their footheels, following Kira’s instructions to let the children explore the Manor but to be certain they stayed out of trouble. Marc and Alex ran through the house and outside through the back door. Marc slipped to his knees and skinned one smartly on the cobblestones, crying out sharply as Alex giggled at him. Marc glared at his sister hotly while his knee oozed with blood.

"Oh Marc…" She laughed again and knelt beside him, wiping the blood from his skinned knee, through the hole in his new pants. Looking up at the sky she realized the sun had set, hence the reason Marc fell. Alex nearly shrieked aloud as a soft hand settled on her shoulder. She turned around; her sea-colored eyes locking with Kira’s dark brown ones.

"Good evening Alex and Marc." She smiled warmly at the children, trying to ignore the smell of blood coming from Marc’s cut. Kira was silently thankful she had fed before coming to see them. Dropping to her knees beside them, she gently set Alex aside and ran a light finger across the cut, sealing it with her healing powers.

Marc’s jaw dropped in shock; he had only ever seen one person in his life do that. He barely remembered it-he had only been two and had busted his head open on a rock. The boy vaguely remembered his Mama’s hands glowing white just as Kira’s finger did just now. Looking up at the woman who had just healed his cut and kissed the small scar gently then looked into his green eyes lovingly. In that moment Marc accepted Kira as a new mother to him.

Alex shared her brother’s shock and felt the waves of the emotion rippling off of him, just has she had felt his pain a few moments before. She always felt what he did-it was just something she accepted.

Kira looked between them. Her own small sense of telepathy picked up on the bond between the two, but unable to sense them directly. Looking at Alex, she smiled brightly and got to her feet, assisting Marc to his. "Marc why don’t you go into the kitchen. I believe Cook just made some cookies." Alex bit back a laugh as she watched her brother’s face light up and looked at his sister imploringly. She tried something she hadn’t before. Thinking to him she said silently. "Go on bro, go ahead…" His grinned reply was all she needed. Nearly laughing in delight, she added one more thing. "You can hear me? Answer me if you can..."

"Yeah I can! This is so cool!" He thought back cheerfully and ran into the house after the aforementioned cookies. "Be back soon…you comin?"

"In a sec." She answered and looked up at Kira, smiling. Her tones were far from kind, far from gentle, but as cool as the ice Kira thought only Marc was capable of. "What did you want?"

Kira looked down at the little girl, surprised by her perceptiveness. "I came only to talk Alex, nothing more." She smiled warmly. "We both know that Dameon and I aren’t your real parents, but I think it might be best for both of you to stay here…"

She glared up at Kira and shot back hotly. "But you killed our Mama and Papa…you took them away, and now you want us to stay here?" To her it made no sense, and it was beyond her comprehension or understanding. Why would the people that destroyed her life want to raise her?

"Yes I do." Kira said gently and persuasively. She only wished she had the powers over the mortal mind others of her kind had-though, given the connection between the children she’d be afraid to even try it. "Dameon and I…we did what we had to or we’d have been killed ourselves. Besides, where would you two go? You have no one else.""

Alex grumbled lowly. "I guess." She made a silent vow never to forget-her Mama, her Papa, what happened that day. But, in all her years, Kira knew something the child didn’t. Time flows like a river, washing away the memories of childhood like sunlight washes away the darkness. In time, both children would forget the day their true parents died and come to accept Kira and Dameon. "Let’s go have some cookies huh?" She smiled broadly.

"Wait…" Alex said softly. "You and Dameon are Vampires aren’t you?" She asked lowly, remembering Dameon’s comment as he left the clearing the day before. Even at her young age she was aware of Kindred and what they were. How they acted, and their general make-up was something her Mama had just recently taught her for her own protection.

Kira stopped dead in her tracks, again surprised by the child’s intuition. Perhaps it wasn't mere intuition, Kira didn't know either of them well enough to judge just yet. Soon however, she would know them. Of the two of them, she and Dameon, she was the only one who wanted to know them. "Yes Alex we are."

"Will Marc and I ever…be like that?" She asked, her voice echoing both confusion and innocence. That was the one thing her mother never told her, how they became what they were.

"It will be your choice Alex, we’ll never force you." Kira explained. "But that choice will be closed to you until you are eighteen and that is a long way off little one." She held her hand out to Alex. "Shall we my dear?"

"I guess…" The child reluctantly slipped her hand into Kira’s and followed her inside. When they arrived, Marc was diving into cookies and milk. With a gentle laugh his sister joined him. Later that night, the children were tucked into Alex's bed and Kira vanished.

The thudding of his footsteps interrupted her quiet, soon additional ruckus would be heard when the six-year-old boy dashed into his sister’s room, calling her name softly. "Alex? Are you here?"

"In here Marc…" She thought to him absently from her closet, while standing on a chair to fetch a fresh journal. She had just learned to write well and found that she took great pleasure in writing little stories and keeping track of the thoughts in her brain. Sensing his urgency, she felt him rush into her closet and close the door behind him, then quickly move towards her. "What did you do now?" She murmured to him audibly as her bedroom door slammed. She was silently thankful that Dameon and Kira couldn’t sense her and Marc. Their mother could pick up on it on occasion, simply by reading their expressions.

"’Twas only a small prank sis…" His voice rang sheepishly in her ears as Dameon’s voice boomed in the room. "All right you little whelp where are you?"

"Marcus…" She thought to him patiently. "Tell me…" Her tone was that of a silent command, a tone her brother rarely ignored.

"I only put a snake in his boot Alex, it wasn’t even poisonous, just a little garden snake…" He silently explained.

Kira heard Dameon’s angered command from the bottom of the stairs. Sighing inwardly, she raced upstairs to see what was the matter. Leaning against the doorjamb of Alex’s room she crossed her arms over her chest and looked at her mate.

In the closet Marc cringed against his sister and she wrapped her arms around him, pulling the two of them back farther into the closet. Marc often tempted fate by playing little tricks on Dameon, also often provoking the male vampire’s short temper, which Kira was usually able to calm. Reaching out with her mind, she tried a trick she had just recently learned…how to move small objects with her mind. She grinned with delight as she heard the lock on the closet door click and bit back laughter as ripples of surprise came from her brother’s mind.

"What is Marc’s grave offense this time?" Kira asked, mildly amused at her mate, as she heard the lock on the closet door click. She encouraged the children to use their mental powers. Given their heritage, their own mother’s mental capabilities, and their father’s talents with the elements, it was only right that they had something of their birth heritage. Someday she would find someone to teach them their elemental talents, but, for now, they could build their connection and their telekinetic abilities.

"That little brat we inherited put a snake in my boot." He hissed as those haunting eyes of his fixed upon the closet door. "And I intend to teach him a lesson…"

"Marc is but a little boy, and you know as well as I a boy’s penchant for pranks." She said softly and gently while biting back laughter at her son’s idea of fun. "Were you hurt?"

"Of course I wasn’t, you know that." He muttered then added. "When I was a child we had more respect for our elders, nor did we go hide in our sister’s skirts when we were caught." Dameon taunted the boy and shot a glare at the closet, also having heard the lock click, and knowing how Marc hated being called cowardly.

Inside the closet, Alex felt her brother tense in anger. "At ease, brother, he’s only trying to make you angry…why let him?" She whispered gently in his mind as she held him close to her. Anger was never worth it-and because she spoke with him it more oft than not saved him a beating at Dameon’s hands.

He nodded slowly as she smiled, feeling him calm and keep his anger in check. "I hate him Alex." He thought to her, his tones laced with truth and malice all intermingled.

"I know my dear I know…" Dameon avoided the children as much as he could and when he did see them he was deliberately nasty and demeaning to them both, for reasons neither could understand. Maybe it was his way of making them stronger though Alex wasn’t sure.

Sighing softly Kira walked up to Dameon and wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. "Is a small boy really worth all your anger Dameon? Why don’t you go find some other more…harmful mortal to take your temper out on…?"

He looked down at her again and muttered. "Fine…" Stalking out of the room, he slammed the door behind him.

Looking at the closet door Kira chuckled lowly and called to them. "Marc, Alex you can come out now." She heard the lock click open and Alex and Marc appeared as it opened, Alex shoving her brother gently ahead of her. "I can’t believe you sometimes." She murmured to him. "You’d think you’d know better by now."

Marc glared at his sister again, knowing she was right. He looked up at Kira and grinned shamelessly-said grin wiping cleanly from his face as his mother glared down at him then spoiled it by chuckling. "That was a rather…original prank little one." She reached out and pulled Marc onto her lap as she sat down on Alex’s bed. "Though you really should find another target-one that’s probably less lethal to you should you get caught." She tapped a finger on his nose. "In the future you really should steer clear of pranks and Dameon, he doesn’t quite have the sense of humor that I do, all right?"
Marc looked down at his hands a moment and murmured. "Yes mother." Then glancing back up again, he grinning knowingly at his sister.

"Don’t even think about it," Alex warned him softly.

"And you young lady," Kira shifted her gaze to her daughter. "That was rather quick thinking with the lock, you did well. I had no idea you were improving with that."

The girl flushed crimson under the praise then smirked at her brother. Her eyes glittered with apparent mischief. This was quite common for these two, Kira new full well what they were capable of. "Mayhap you can do that sometime soon brother."

Marc locked eyes with his sister and smirked back at her giving her a light shove with his mind and answering her. "Mayhap I will." Those tones were smug and playful. Most of the time they didn’t readily discuss what they’d learned, but rather, waited until an inopportune time to spring it on one another.

Her sea colored gaze narrowed at him as she muttered. "You didn’t tell me?"

"No, I didn’t know you could either…" He shot back then grinned outright-that plotting grin that his sister knew all too well. "Y’know sis, maybe we can team up?"

Alex laughed at her brother. "Oh no, Marc you’re on your own with that. And don’t be thinkin’ that I’ll be a test subject for your jokes." She grinned at him.

"Is that a challenge sister dear?" He shot back silently; both having long since forgotten their mother was there.

Alex merely shoved him back with her mind in answer, nearly knocking him off Kira’s lap in surprise. Kira managed to catch him before he hit the floor. "Now that’s enough you two." Kira bit back laughter once more as she set Marc on the bed, letting him off her lap. "If you two must fight? Please do so outside, and don’t break anything in the house…including each other." She instructed them sternly.

"Yes mother." The children said their voices practically in unison, both bursting into laughter as they realized it. Kira then left them and the two siblings sat on the bed, laughing and talking.

Time flew for the two of them. Years passed as quickly as one turns the page of a book. Alex fell into her writing and gardening, finding her little niche in the world. As for Marc, he never outgrew his sense of mischief and fun, though his loyalty and love for his sister came before all. As their Diana had predicted, the bond between them grew and when one was in trouble, the other knew long before anyone else. Their powers of telekinesis grew as well. When Alex was fifteen she discovered that she could toy with her brother and not even be in the room with him. It gave her great delight to gently poke him in the side with her mind, or tickle him when she was elsewhere in the Manor. Soon after, Marc developed the same talent and more often than not Marc gave her back double what she did to him. Before she knew it, Alex was seventeen and facing a choice she never thought she would.

The morning sun was bright and warm. Around her the marketplace was beginning to fill with the vivaciousness of every day life. Alex had told Kira the evening before that she wanted to go to town to do some shopping. Their mother had insisted she take her reluctant brother along.

"But mother," She had argued while her green blue eyes sparkled with an adamant teenager's anger. "I’m seventeen years old, I can take care of myself."

"I know you can Alex." Kira answered gently as she looked to her younger brother for help. Stubborn they both were--hopefully that stubborn nature would be tamed with patience in time. "But you are still a young girl and shouldn’t be traveling alone."

Lacing his fingers behind his head as he stretched in his seat by the hearth, Marc smiled smugly at his sister and met her eyes, thinking snidely. "Yeah, sister dear you shouldn’t."

She, who was currently sitting directly across from him, narrowed her eyes at him and answered him pertly. "Mind your tongue Marcus." Interfering--something her little brother did well. Though, to do him credit, in her heart she knew he meant well but, she was a grown woman who could take care of herself, at least by her estimation.

A sour look crossed his face at her use of his full name-which only she knew and used. "I’ll think about it Alexandra." He shot back silently.

Kira gave them both an amused glance. She knew of the connection between the two, though, even after eleven years of raising them and caring for them, she was still unable to sense them, only guessing by the looks on their faces. "Now now my dears stop wrangling. Alex if you go to town tomorrow morning you will take Marc with you and that’s final."

"Yes mother." She answered softly, wishing she could wipe that smug grin from Marc’s face. "I’ll get you for that brother dear…in due time." She thought to him as she left the room then grinned as she added his favorite phrase. "Count on it."

Marc bit back audible laughter and answered her, his tone amused. "Is that a challenge dear sister?"

"Of course Marcus." She chuckled as she walked into her room and closed the door behind her. "See you in the morning."

Now, presently, Alex trudged through town with Marc at her heels. She stopped suddenly and her brother plowed into her. Falling forward she cringed inwardly about the bruises she’d get from the street’s cobblestones. She closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable, then opening them in shock as she was caught by a strong pair of hands and set gently on her feet. Blushing deeply she raised her eyes to meet those of the man that had caught her, blushing further when she met the darkest pair of blue eyes she’d ever seen. "Excuse me, I’m terribly sorry." She mumbled.

"Quite all right, it appears the young whelp behind you is at fault." He held out his hand to her. "Colin Devereaux."

Alex flushed crimson, her cheeks readily reflecting her embarrassment at the situation. Of all the embarrassing things that could have happened, this was it. "The whelp in question is my brother. Alexandra Jade." Her hand slipped into his offered one and shook gently yet firmly in greeting.

"I don’t like him Alex." Marc’s voice rang in her ears as he stopped himself from instinctively reaching for her hand to pull her back from the man in front of them. "There’s something not right about him."

"Hush Marcus no one asked you." She chided him silently. He always did judge people without knowing them. Rarely was he one to take a chance outside of what was known.

"As you wish, sister." He answered her, his tone soft and careful. Something about this man bothered him, though he couldn’t be sure precisely what it was. "But be careful." He added.

"Brother huh?" Colin arched a single black brow and looked between the two of them. "One would never have guessed that such an example of unrefined youth would be related to such an enchanting beauty."

Alex’s cheeks tinged pink once more and she absently reached up and tucked an errant strand of hair back into her braid. "I thank you for the compliment but please don’t insult my brother." She added silently. "Marcus, please leave us."

"Alex…" He thought slowly as his emerald gaze locked on hers. As always, he was concerned only for her safety. "Are you certain?"

"Yes love, I am. I have my dagger-you’ll know if I need you." She answered him; her soft loving tone lingered in his head. He worried so much about her--sometimes it was too much.

"As you wish Alex." Marc turned from Colin and Alex, wandering down the street, his last thought drifting over his shoulder to her. "Have a care Alex, don’t get your heart broken…I may be forced to kill the bastard…"

"My utmost apologies Miss Jade." Colin said softly as Marc departed, snapping Alex’s attention from her brother while he disappeared into the morning crowd of the marketplace. "Tell me, what brings you to town?"

Looking up at him, she disregarded Marc’s last comment. "Apology accepted Mr. Devereaux, and please, call me Alex, or Alexandra if you prefer." She stammered then answered his question. "I came to town to shop a little-window shopping mostly." The young girl babbled nervously.

Smiling gently at her nervousness, he was instantly intrigued by her. "I see. Would you mind if I accompanied you Alexandra?" He offered his arm to her.

Alex slipped her small hand into the crook of his arm, obviously pleased with the gentlemanly sentiment. "No I wouldn’t mind at all Colin."

The two walked through town arm in arm, chatting pleasantly. Alex stopped in front of the dressmaker’s shop and looked over a dark green gown in the window. The gown was a simple dark green velvet with long tight sleeves and a scooping neckline, which was trimmed with simple white lace. She thought about the small bag of gold in her pocket, doubting her mother would mind if she added it to Kira’s current bill with the seamstress if it was out of Alex’s own means.

"You like the green one I take it?" Colin’s low baritone voice murmured in her ear as he came up behind her, halting but a few inches behind her. Very close--too close by Marc's estimation who was still watching her mentally. This evinced a scowl from he who watched--she had to know he was there…no, she was too wrapped up in Colin and the dress in the window. Women.

"Aye that I do." She answered, thinking she had the perfect black cloak to match the gown. Alex glanced up at him. "Could you wait here a moment Colin?"

"Of course Alexandra." He answered amiably and averted his gaze to the rapidly gathering crowd about the marketplace.

Walking into the shop, Alex stopped one of the dressmaker’s assistants and asked her the price of the gown in the window. She nearly clapped with delight when the price quoted was well within her means. The assistant took Alex’s measurement and told her that the gown would be ready tomorrow morning. Frowning lightly Alex inquired if it could be ready this very afternoon and that she would be willing to pay a little extra to have it today. She haggled a little with the other young woman and grinned when she was told it could be ready within the hour and that the alterations needed were minimal. Thanking the woman politely, Alex turned and left the shop with a contented smile on her face.

Stepping out into the street, she locked eyes with Colin again, finding him utterly captivating-dark and mysterious. Alex wanted to know more of him, she knew that much. Where things led after that, however, she didn’t know.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Colin asked her gently as she stopped in front of him.

"Aye, that I did Colin." She smiled softly and slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow once more. "The gown’ll be ready in an hour."

Colin arched an eyebrow in surprise. Interesting, that look in her eyes--innocent and pure….or so he thought. To him, she looked like she'd never known any sort of pain in her life. "An hour? Hmmm, you must have been pretty convincing."

Alex flushed lightly with embarrassment while her gaze skittered away from those striking cobalt eyes. "I know how to get what I want…" Her tones were gently apologetic when she explained.

The two continued to talk quietly as they walked through the Marketplace. She listened to him talk about his family. His mother and father had owned a small weapons shop. When he matter-of-factly told her that vampires had killed his parents, she flinched inwardly given her own background. Alex simply listened as he talked, offering little information. Colin spoke for nearly the whole hour she waited for her dress to be finished.

Suddenly she felt an achingly familiar presence at the back of her mind. Smirking lightly she thought to him. "Good afternoon Marcus my dear. I thought I asked you to leave me be?"

Marc narrowed his eyes at the back of her head as she walked arm in arm with this man. "I just came to check on you, no need to be snide sister, besides we should go home soon…"

"I know Marc, we will go shortly, and I just have one thing to pick up before we return to the Manor." Looking up at Colin she spoke audibly. "I need to go pick up the dress now and return home…"

"As you wish my dear." He said simply then smiled as she flushed at his term of endearment. So the girl was easily embarrassed, that was an interesting thing. She was young, Colin thought, and quite beautiful.

Her brother, obviously eavesdropping, murmured silently to her. "My dear huh? This one’s smooth…" Those tones were dryly sarcastic as he stood an in alley near by, watching her with a patient emerald gaze.

"Since when did you become such a cynic?" She shot back at him and smiled at Colin, who was blissfully unaware of Marc, as they reached the dressmakers shop. She however, was in full awareness of his proximity to the two of them.

"Since I’ve found that I have a sister who turns into a bloody twit at the first pretty face she sees." His harsh tone rang in her ears as she flinched inwardly. Those tones were laced with the bitter ice that Kira was fully aware that the young man possessed.

"Marc…that’s not fair and it was cruel…" She said to him, her own tone hurt. He had never been that cruel to her before, ever, even at their worst teasing fights. She walked into the shop, gave the girl her name, picked up her gown and paid the woman, thanking her politely.

Looking up at Colin, she smiled softly. In spite of her brothers chilled attitude, she’d had a wonderful, most certainly interesting, day. "It’s been a pleasure Colin, hopefully we’ll meet again…"

"The same to you Alexandra, you may depend upon seeing me again." He smiled down to her. "Where’s that’s whelp you call brother?"
"Right here…" Marc growled lowly at his shoulder, obviously annoyed with the man. So Colin bothered him, more than a little. He felt..off. It wasn’t something he could readily explain but rather, it just was.

"Marc, calm down…" She thought to him and looked up at Colin. "Please do not call him a whelp, I will not ask again. If you value our…friendship, you will do as I ask."

"Yes Alexandra, as you wish." He murmured and glared over her head at Marc, mouthing to him. Equally the boy bothered him-it was as if fate itself pitted them against one another. "This isn’t finished whelp…"

Marc narrowed his eyes and mouthed back. "Count on it." Inwardly, he feared for his sister, as this man wasn’t what he appeared to be. He was sorry for the things he had said to her, but she was being a twit. If she’d only open her eyes, she would see what kind of man Colin really was-domineering and controlling, but also cunning. He prayed Alex wouldn’t get hurt in her naiveté but only time would tell on that count.

Slipping his arm through his sister’s he thought to her, hiding his true emotion as best he could. "I’m sorry Alex, I shouldn’t have said that…" He apologized, looked down into her eyes and smiled sheepishly. "Forgive me?"

"Of course, you silly boy, they were only words." She smiled back up at him then turned to Colin. "Good day Colin."
"Same to you Alexandra. Marc." He waved to them as they departed down the path deciding that he would pursue the young lady, as he thought she may lead him on a merry chase, hopefully a lifelong one.

Walking down the path with her package tucked under one arm and her other linked with her brothers, Alex smiled softly then looked at Marc curiously. "Why were you so rude?"

He stopped dead in his tracks and looked down at his sister. "I was rude? I do believe he shot first sister."

Locking eyes with him, she thought for a few minutes over the afternoon’s conversation. "I suppose…" She said carefully, weighing her words around him as she always did. "But he was very nice…" She smiled again.

"Alex…" He stared down at her, seriously, for a change. "Please be careful, I don’t want you to be hurt."

"I will be Marc, I promise you." She said softly and reached up brushing a lock of hair behind his ear, grinning as she did so. "You need a hair cut brother."

"Mayhap I do mayhap I don’t." He said indifferently. Figures, she was dodging him again, big surprise. She usually did when he had a point to make. "But mind my words Alex, please."

"I will I will…now would you please let it go?" She said to him, obviously exasperated by his persistence. "Let’s go home. Mother will most likely be worried if we’re not back by the time she awakens."

"Yes Alex, I’ll let it go, as I have your word and I know you never break it…" He murmured. "Let’s get home then…and give me that package, what did you buy anyway?"

Laughing softly, she surrendered the box to her brother. "I bought a gown if you must know…I’ll show you when we get home…now lets get moving, the sun’s almost down." She grabbed Marc’s arm and tugged him along. Grinning mischievously she called over her shoulder, "Race you!"

"Alex! Wait! Not fair!" He called after her as she started to sprint up the hill towards home. He followed her quickly, catching up to her easily, in spite of the cumbersome bundle under his arm. Falling into stride with her, he grinned and turned around running backwards, gaining a small bit of ground on her, and looking her in the eye. "Hi there…" He grinned.

Alex laughed and slowed down. "Cute Marcus…really…" She bent forward leaning on her knees and panting. They were both now a few feet from the front porch.

"Good evening my dears." Kira called from the darkness. The sun had set and she had been slightly alarmed when her children hadn’t returned home.

Alex’s head snapped up at the sound of Kira’s voice. "Good evening mother." She said softly, still panting as Marc thought to her. "I believe that’s a tie sister dear…"

"Oh shut up…" She shot back at him silently. Getting to her feet, she smiled at her mother. "How are you this eve mother dear?" She asked.

"Now what would possess me to do that?" His voice rang in her ears though not without affection. Often they bickered mentally-perhaps it was something in their personalities.

Kira laughed softly at the two of them, thinking that she’d never realized how much she would come to love them both. Alex for her soft, loving heart and Marc for his courageousness and devotion to the people he loved. "I am well, Alex, come inside, both of you."

"This…" Alex thought to him and shoved him playfully with her mind.

"Careful sister dearest I might drop this package I’m carrying…" He thought as he was pushed backwards lightly.

"You wouldn’t dare Marc…" She grinned as she followed Kira into the house.

He muttered beneath his breath as he followed his sister and his mother in the house. After walking into the main rooms, Kira spotted the package beneath her son’s arm. "What did you buy today?" She looked at Marc curiously.

"I didn’t buy anything ‘tis Alex’s." He said after setting the package on the couch. Damn thing was heavy after that run. Women and their frivolities. Again, something he’d never understand.

Kira shifted her chocolate colored gaze to her daughter. "Alex?"

"I bought a gown Mother." Alex crossed the room and opened the box, pulling out the green velvet gown she had bought, turning and showing it to them. "What do you think?"

"Oh my Alex, ‘tis quite lovely…" Kira said softly and looked it over. "Why don’t you go try it on?"

Grinning widely, she grabbed the gown and went upstairs to change. "Yes Mother."

Kira turned to her son and gave him a gently speculative look. One that he rarely questioned and simply answered her. Usually she only gave him that look when she was worried about one of them. "What else happened today Marc? I haven’t seen her that happy in a long time."

"She uh…met a guy, his name is Colin Devereaux." He said sheepishly, shrugging as he spoke before adding. "I don’t like him Mother. There’s something not right about him, I can feel it as tangibly as I see you in front of me."

Kira nodded slowly at his estimation. Marc had an intuition about people-he oft saw the darkness in others before his sister did. Soon she would need to learn to look. "Does she plan on seeing him again?"

"I think so…" He answered, inwardly still worried for Alex. To Kira, his expression showed it better than any audible speech could or would have. That distant shine to his emerald eyes and how the faint frown creased his lips and brow. A mother always saw these thing she supposed. His mind wasn’t there but upstairs, focused on his sister.

"Then you will accompany her whenever she leaves the Manor. I hope your instincts aren’t correct my dear as I don’t want to see her hurt…" Kira’s answer was quite simple in her eyes. To keep Alex safe, Marc would go with her though she had a feeling she didn’t need to tell the young man such a thing.

"As you wish Mother, and nor do I." Marc looked up and smiled as his sister joined them, looking quite lovely in the green gown, the black cloak adding a bit of innocence to her. "Sister, you look quite lovely." He complimented her as she walked into the room, momentarily forgetting the small issue with Colin.

Kira echoed her son’s sentiment. "Indeed you do Alex. Tell me dearest, what are your plans for tomorrow?" The question was purely innocent in its tones though her reasoning was far from such. Thankfully Alex hadn’t become adept enough to read lies outside of her brother’s mind.

She furrowed her brow in momentary confusion. What had brought this discussion up? For a moment her gaze met her brother’s. His eyes shifted away from her. Neither one had acquired a proficiency for lying. "I hadn’t decided yet, why?"

"In the future, when you leave the Manor, please take Marc with you. There is a new...threat to Dameon and I and I would be much comforted if you took Marc with you when you go out." Kira’s tone brooked no argument so Alex didn’t bother trying. It would’ve been a losing battle anyway.

Alex shot a knowing look at her brother. "What did you tell her?" She growled at him silently as she spoke aloud to Kira in graciously gentle tones. "As you wish Mother…"

"I told her nothing." He lied, praying fervently that she wouldn’t catch him. She always did but that rarely stopped him from trying. After all, she was all he had and he would keep her safe at all costs.

"Try again Marc, I know better." She thought to him impatiently, his answer pressing her temper sorely. "Did you tell her about Colin?"

Marc swore softly, silently and fluently. Damn he hated it when she caught him, she was always so blasted smug about it sometimes but this was for her own good even though she failed to see it as such. "Yes I did, ‘twas for your safety and she asked what else happened…was I supposed to lie to her?"
Alex slumped visibly apologizing to him silently. "No…I’m sorry I snapped at you…" Her shoulders rolled and a gentle sigh passed her lips as she raised her eyes to hesitantly watch him in the chair.

"It’s all right…" He rose and crossed the room, having momentarily forgotten their mother, which happened often when they got into their mental spats or conversations, and pulled his sister into a tight hug. "I’m just worried for you…"

Kira watched them; silently wishing she could have heard what was said between the two, knowing they had been arguing but the matter had been resolved with Marc’s simple hug. "Alex, Marc, the time has come for us to speak of your turning." She interrupted them softly.

"I know Marc, but I’m fine…" Alex thought to him, hugging him back then breaking the embrace. "What Mother?" She curiously looked at Kira as she distracted her attention from her brother and their little spat.

Kira swallowed and looked at the children she loved more than living. "Alex, you will be eighteen this spring, a choice lies ahead of you, a choice between mortality and immortality. If you choose to wait, I will respect that, for it is your decision. "

Alex nodded lightly, floored by the choice ahead of her; not realizing it would come so quickly. Time had flown like a dove on a summer wind for them-quickly and gently. Those dark memories of their true heritage were no more than shadows, dreams and nightmares. She vaguely remembered the conversation she had with Kira many years ago when she and Marc came to the manor…there was something before that as well, but she couldn’t remember what. "Please let me think it over mother, I don’t know what I want right now."

"That’s fine Alex, I am just telling you that the decision is ahead of you." Kira murmured softly, nodding as well Alex’s choice for now. "But enough of this…just know it is there and think it over…"

"Yes Mother." She said and locked eyes with her brother, asking him inaudibly. "What would you choose brother?" His opinion and thoughts she valued above all others so she asked.

"Alex…I would go for it, honestly…but don’t do this for me, the choice is yours alone sister, don’t do it for me, please." He answered her, staring back down at her. "It’s all a game of fate, what will be will be."

She nodded at him, breaking her gaze from him and looking at her mother. "Mother, may I be excused?" For now, she required the solitude of her own thoughts, though it was rare for her to need such since they’d always more or less shared the same mind.

"Of course dearest." Kira said softly and smiled as Alex turned and walked upstairs, slipping quietly into her room.

Marc, sensing his sister’s confusion excused himself as well and followed Alex upstairs, knocking gently upon her door as he reached it. "Alex, are you okay?" He called softly.Within the room, Alex had slipped out of her gown and cloak and into her nightgown. Walking to the door, she rested her forehead against it and answered him silently. "I’ll be all right Marc…" She stepped back and let her brother in, looking up at him softly and lovingly.

In that moment he realized the woman his sister might become-strong and loving with compassion matched by no one he’d ever known. In that moment he realized something else as well, how much she would need him-for protection as well as support.

His own eyes softened as he stared down at her and walked into her room. "Will you?" Marc asked gently, reaching up and running a hand down her cheek. "Mother just gave you much to consider."

"Aye love, that she did…" Alex murmured lowly then looked her brother in the eye. "You would give up mortality?" Her tones were laced with that maddening curiosity of hers. Sometimes it drove him up the wall; others, like now, it was welcomed.

"Yes I would," He answered then continued as her mouth formed the question why. "Because…it’s just something I feel I must do Alex, I can’t explain it." Marc’s eyes sparkled with the idealistic excitement of youth. "Alex, can you imagine what it would be like to watch the world grow and change?"

Seeing his excitement and joy at the prospect, she knew the choice ahead of her would be difficult. The mixed emotions she felt for Colin further complicated matters. "Mayhap brother, mayhap…" She smiled up at him. "Could you leave me be for awhile love? I need some time alone."

His brow furrowed at that, as she rarely asked to be alone unless something deeply troubled her. Sighing softly, he also realized there was little he could do for her in this instance but merely respect her request. "As you wish sister." Marc pulled his sister into a tight hug, whispering gently in her ear. "Whatever you decide, I’ll think no less of you…" At that, Alex burst into tears and cried softly on his shoulder as Marc mentally kicked himself for making her cry. "I’m sorry."

She sniffled and rested her head on his shoulder. "It’s not you Marc…it wasn’t what you said. It’s just all…this…" Alex sighed raggedly and slipped from her brother’s embrace, setting her emotions aside. "Now go on Marc, I need to think okay? I’ll be all right…"

"Okay okay…" He grinned and attempted to make her feel better. "I know when I’m not wanted."

She chuckled lowly at his comment and the vain attempt at improving her humor. "That you do, now remove yourself…"

Marc walked out of the room still sensing the heaviness of his sister’s heart, feeling now more concerned for her than he was before. What would she choose? He didn’t know if he could handle the prospect of his sister aging while he remained forever young, nor was he sure if he could reconcile himself to the idea of never seeing her again.

Meanwhile, Alex took out her journal and began to write, attempting to find the peace of mind she often did when she wrote. "I wish I knew what to do…" Her pen paused momentarily as she tapped it thoughtfully on the page before her. "Marc is my brother…can I let him suffer? Can I stand to be alone without him, his comfort? Would Kira turn me out for refusing?" Tears slipped down her face as she read and reread the questions before her. "And what of Colin? What of these strange emotions he invokes in me?" Alex sighed raggedly. "So many questions, so few answers…" She sat there and looked at her journal for a long time, thinking about the choice and the problems ahead of her. She stood and curled up in her bed, drifting into an uneasy sleep.

Down the hall, her brother laid awake, sensing her heartache, sharing in it and his own. He muttered softly and slid from bed as he grabbed a robe because he was unable to stay away from Alex when he felt she needed him. Stepping out into the hall, he stopped in front of his sister’s door once more, walking silently into her room and closing the door just as quietly. He sat in the chair beside her bed as she slept and watched over her like a guarding angel.

The next morning, Alex rolled over sleepily and yawned. Her half asleep mind sensed her brother, which wasn’t uncommon. Opening her eyes, she bit back a shriek of surprise as she saw him still asleep in the chair at her bedside. "Oh Marcus…" She whispered softly, slipping silently across the bed so she sat in front of him. Reaching out she cupped his cheek gently in her palm. "You didn’t have to …"

He stirred slightly at her touch, not quite awake, but enough to hear her words and feel her hand on his cheek. "How could I stay away sister?" He murmured back.

Alex looked her brother for a long time, tucking an errant, bed tangled curl behind her ear. "I know Marc, I know." She whispered and leaned forward, gently kissing his forehead. "Thank you."

"Anytime Alex, you know that." He smiled sleepily at her and stretched, wincing at the stiffness in his neck and back. "Just next time I’m possessed to do this?" He grinned. "Set a cot out for me would you?"

She laughed and launched a pillow at him. "Funny Marc…" She returned his grin playfully. "So what are we doing today? Since you happen to be my escort should I leave the manor."

"I hadn’t decided yet Alex, other than I’m training with Dameon tonight." Marc’s voice lowered to a lethal tone when he mentioned their father, if one could call him such. Dameon was cruel to the children, he had been since the day they arrived at the Manor. Little love was lost between the boy and the male vampire.

"Do you mind if I watch?" She casually asked him as she slid out of bed, crossing the room to the closet and picking up the green gown she had bought the previous day. Closing the door, she continued to speak with him using her mind, as she had so often done. "And I was wondering if you’d mind another trip to town?"

"No I don’t mind if you watch, and I’m guessing you want to see Colin again?" He called through the door, still not completely awake yet. Her ran a hand through his tangled mop. She was right, he really did need to get a haircut.

"Of course I do love, I need to follow this through, for myself, more than anyone else. " She answered him silently since she didn’t really feel like raising her voice. Hearing her brother’s exasperated sigh, she knew he was worried about her, but she had to trust her heart in this, she knew that.

"Fine Alex, we will go, but I’m not leaving your side this time." He said to her softly as she stepped from the closet. She had left her hair down, which was something she never did when they went out. With her white-blonde curls framing her face, her look was one of a child’s-complete innocence mixed with love. Marc knew in the days ahead that look could get her killed, even if she decided become immortal. That alone was why he had agreed to train with Dameon-for her more than himself.

Alex gave him a dazzling smile, one that lit up her whole face. That smile would melt the hearts of men and he knew it. Thankfully, it had little effect on him. "That’s fine Marc. We can do it that way, just please, please, for my sake, be nice to him."

"I’ll make you a deal, my dearest sister, I will be as nice to him as he is to me. That fair?" He returned her smile lovingly, wishing it were something else that gave her eyes a happy light.

"Yes more than fair Marc, more than fair." She chuckled softly and reached over, ruffling his hair. "And you still need a haircut."

Marc laughed outright at his sister, reached over and tugged on a lock of her hair, grinning at her outraged look. "You started it…" He said softly and tickled her sides gently with his mind.

"Marc…that’s so not fair…" Alex burst into laughter and gave him a mental shove, knocking him from his chair. Laughter turned to surprise and a bit of guilt when her brother knocked his head on the bedside table.

Marc rubbed the back of his head as his sister approached him. "Damn Alex, that hurt…" He muttered in mildly painful tones. What a day this was starting out to be. One headache after another or so it would appear.

"I’m sorry dear." Feeling the lump tentatively, she said. "You’ll only have a headache, I think you’ll survive."

"Yeah…thanks…" Marc muttered and got to his feet, glaring at her. As much as he loved her, she could be so damned careless sometimes. At least when they bickered. Oddly enough the thought that he might be just as bad never crossed his mind.

"Anytime brother, so when can we go?" Her eyes danced with mischief and laughter as she looked at him. There was that look again. Someday he hoped his sister would find someone worth of that loving look. Someone worth more than that Devereaux bastard.

"As soon as I’m ready, and not a minute sooner." He murmured and walked out of the room, striding down the hall to his own room. Marc quickly bathed and slipped into some fresh clothes, not realizing until he was at Alex’s door that he had selected all black. Chuckling he knocked on her door as he bit back audible laughter at his sister’s surprised glance. "You ready?"

"Of course I am…" She smiled softly at him and eyed his attire curiously as they went downstairs, arm in arm as usual. "All black?" She questioned while a delicate white blonde brow arched.

Her brother playfully smirked at her when their eyes met.. "Yeah, I thought it’d be rather…appropriate."

Alex socked him in the shoulder with a small fist. Though she was little she packed a good punch-something he himself had taught her to do. When the fist impacted however, he simply tightened the muscle so it didn’t do more than sting. "Remind me why I put up with you again?"

"Because I’m your brother and you love me?" He thought softly to her, still grinning that same utterly shameless grin. It was true, where she was concerned he knew no shame. But then again, she was just as bad.

"Oh...yeah…" She answered him audibly, returning his grin as they left the house and started down the path towards town.

The day was sunny and warm, a beautiful spring day in fact. As the pair walked, birds sang and a gentle breeze blew through the trees. The sun warmed them as they reached the town’s outskirts while quietly discussing what might come that night. Never had she sat in on her brother’s training sessions with their father.

"Don’t think I’m going to let you get away with ripping me off wench…" Colin’s harsh voice reached Marc’s ears as they found him arguing with a petite female. They had been passing through the market. He recognized the woman but gave no indication as such in Colin’s presence.

"But, good sir, I’m only…" The young woman started softly, her eyes danced with fear of this man. Marc imagined she’d been hurt before; it was common with people of Colin’s arrogance and demanding nature.

"I don’t care." He said flatly, eyeing the cart of fruit before him. "This is all spoiled…and I won’t have it, now I demand my money back."

Marc narrowed his eyes and started to speak, but his sister’s temper beat him to it. "Colin! Stop this!" She said harshly as she slipped her arm from her brother’s and strode towards them. Marc stood behind his sister and put a light hand on her shoulder, watching Colin while he barely restrained an amused smirk.

"A-Alexandra…" Colin’s expression went from one of haughtiness to one of utter shock. A soft, kind smile replaced the shocked expression quickly. "What brings you to town today?" His tone was innocently attempting to placate her but from the looks of it, Alex would have none of it.

Alex looked at Colin for a few moments then dismissed him and turned to the young woman as she smiled gently. "What appears to be the problem Miss?" Thankfully, Marc was out of her line of sight for she’d likely have throttle him for that smug little grin on his face and the amused stare he gave Colin. The dark haired man simply scowled at him and restrained his own urges for violence.

"I sold the gentleman a piece of fruit and he told me it was spoiled, but Miss Alex, I never sell spoiled fruit." The little blonde woman explained earnestly, looking between Alex and Marc.

"How much did you pay for this fruit Colin?" Alex asked as she turned back to him. Her tones were calm, simple and polite. Marc saw what she was doing and knew what lie ahead before she even said anything more.

"Just a few gold pieces." He started slowly as he looked down into her eyes-those eyes of hers, brilliant and passionate in all their glory. Eyes that never failed to lure him in like the spider would lure a fly into its web. She was far to innocent however to be a spider, but the analogy, he thought, was quite apt.

Reaching into her purse, Alex removed a few pieces from her small allowance and handed them to Colin. "Now the matter is resolved." She turned back to the vendor. "In the future, please be more mindful of your wares…and you..." Alex shifted her gaze back to Colin. "You shouldn’t be badgering women half your size, especially those who are only trying to put food on their table…" She turned from Colin and slipped her arm back into her brother’s, and barely noticed the amused light to his eyes as they walked away, leaving both Colin and the young woman stunned in their wake.

"That was absolutely priceless Alex," Marc smiled softly as he spoke to her with pride-filled tones. "You know as well as I none of that fruit was spoiled, we buy from that vendor all the time."
"I’m aware of that my dear." The tones with which she answered him were quiet and mildly miffed still. They would’ve walked on, she tucked under the safety of his arm, but a shout caused her to stop and turn around.

"Alexandra! Wait!" Colin huffed as he ran after them. The entire situation dismayed him. He thought this girl malleable and innocent. She had to be with a face like that. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you."

"I’m not the one you should be apologizing to Colin." She snapped, obviously annoyed with him. Marc beside her didn’t move nor lower his arm from her shoulder. In fact, he only raised a dark blonde brow at the man. His look was quite cool, a sharp contrast to her temper. As Kira had predicted that first day, they were indeed fire and ice.

Colin never thought the female he met yesterday would be the least bit difficult. This sudden temper-tantrum was a surprise to him. "I did apologize." He lied baldly; he hadn’t said another word to the wench after Alexandra had departed with that brother of hers. In reality, he didn’t care for Marc, or the scene that just occurred.

Alex turned, looking at Colin and smiling softly as she chuckled. "You did? Well then maybe there’s hope for you yet…"The matter went forgotten to her but to Marc, such was not the case.

Marc narrowed his eyes at the obvious lie; unable to believe Alex didn’t catch it. After thinking for a few minutes, he decided she probably just didn’t want to see it. "Alex, he’s lying." He thought quietly to her, his tones harsh and direct as always.

"Oh Marc, be quiet, you can’t know that." She answered him silently as she looked at Colin. "How are you faring Colin?"

Colin laughed politely at her comment, while remaining inwardly annoyed that this girl could say such things to him. "I am faring decently Alexandra, yourself?" He hid it well however, but such was not beneath her brother’s noticed. How it maddened him that she was being duped and didn’t even know it.

"Better now." She smiled softly and slipped her free arm through Colin’s, tugging the two men down the walk.

Marc and Colin endured each other’s company for the entire afternoon. Marc silently listened as Alex and Colin spoke about a menagerie of things-from Alex’s love of quiet, her gardening, and writing, to Colin’s fascination with weapons and hunting. The latter two worried the younger man the most, given what their parents were. Marc’s brow furrowed worriedly when Colin mentioned how his family had been killed. The casualness of Colin’s tone made his skin crawl. As the afternoon progressed, Marc’s dislike of the man turned to an outright hatred of him. Hatred mixed with fear and worry for Alex.

Before he knew it, the light of afternoon had faded to the soft glow of evening. He leaned over and whispered in his sister’s ear. "’Tis time to go home Alex." Marc nearly laughed as Alex started in surprise then scanned the evening sky as if she didn’t believe him.

She nodded to her brother then turned to Colin. "It’s been a lovely afternoon but I’m afraid ‘tis time to leave." She slipped her arms from the both of theirs and turned to face Colin. "Thank you, this was nice." Alex smiled warmly up at him, and then blushed deeply as Colin brushed a soft kiss across her lips.

"My thanks to you Alexandra, you made the day far brighter…" He turned from them and started back down the path, as Alex stood there dumbfounded.

"My my that was rather calculated." Marc murmured behind her. He found it rather rude that Colin had only spoke to him when Alex forced it.

"What was that?" Alex asked him pointedly as she watched him with half lidded eyes, her cheeks still warm from the kiss.

"Nothing dear…you need not worry." He rested an arm around her shoulders and steered her up the path. "Now let us get home." The sun was setting and it was important that he be on time for his training.

Swords clashed as Alex watched her brother and Dameon spar. Dameon’s constant goading often annoyed her brother to the point of anger but for some reason tonight Dameon just couldn’t get to him. Perhaps it was because the boy’s mind was elsewhere and unfocused.
"Come on whelp, you can do better than that." Dameon growled at Marc as the boy thrust his blade forward intent upon drawing it across Dameon’s torso. His own sword deftly blocked Marc’s move then parried back.

"I’m not a whelp damn it." Marc hissed back at him. For the life of him he couldn’t best Dameon. For a few moments more metal clashed against metal. The tones rang in Alex’s ears. Suddenly Alex found herself roughly grabbed by the arm and dragged to her feet, Dameon’s blade pressed to her throat. "Now what will you do whelp? Your sister’s life is at stake."

Marc stared at his father in utter shock; unable to believe Dameon would use his sister as pawn. Growling lowly, he thought to her. "Alex, on three I want you to pull Dameon’s blade from his hand with your mind…on three mind you, not two or two and half, three."

"One…two…three." Marc nearly laughed at Dameon’s shocked expression as he stood there and counted aloud while bringing own blade up. On three, as asked to, Alex yanked the blade from their father’s hand and darted out of reach as her brother moved forward, pressing his own blade against Dameon’s throat. "If you ever threaten her again, I will kill you. I may not now, but I will. Count on it."

Dameon’s look of surprise turned to a scowl as he had been outwitted by the children-it reminded him of how their mortal parents had outsmarted him so many years before their deaths. As Marc lowered his blade Dameon walked to Alex and promptly backhanded her to the ground. He smiled in satisfaction as blood trickled from her lip and a welt began to form on her cheek.

"Bastard!" Marc’s temper snapped as he grabbed Dameon with his mind, yanking him forcibly away from his sister. He knelt beside her. "Alex are you all right?" He asked, his voice filled with concern as he brushed her hair back, his temper edging ever so slowly forward as the welt rose on her cheek. Marc stood and whirled back to Dameon, pinning the elder man to the wall mentally. "You touch her again and I will end your life." He put himself between his sister and his father.

Dameon simply smirked at the boy; actually pleased Marc had used his other abilities. It was a sign of strength and cunning, learning to rely on one’s own abilities outside of the blade. A lesson that Marc had learned earlier than expected. "She shouldn’t have interfered. Now release me."

"Don’t take my words lightly Dameon." He released his grip from the elder Vampire and helped her sister to her feet, wiping the blood from her lip and looking carefully at the bruise that was forming on her lovely face.

Dameon collected the blades and went inside without another word. Silently thankful he was gone; Marc smiled gently down at his sister. "I’m sorry."

"I’ll be fine Marc, it’s okay." She winced as he brushed a lock of hair from her bruised cheek. Stepping forward, Alex wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly, giving into her fear and crying softly. Marc kissed the top of her head and rested his chin upon it as he rubbed her back and offered what comfort he could. In his own mind however, he had one further reason to kill the other man. Before, Marc might have let him live after he himself became immortal. Now, however, Dameon’s days were numbered.

In the weeks that followed, Alex and Colin grew closer. Her beauty and her heart, her kindness for others, entranced him. Though he hated her brother with a passion, Colin fell in love with Alex. He couldn’t understand how the two could be so different-they seemed like polar opposites. It boggled him that the two were so close yet so different. Colin was left little room to maneuver with the boy, simply because, if he said a sour thing about him, it would upset the woman he loved.

He equally entranced Alex. In short, she was head over heels for him, much to Marc and Kira’s dismay. Marc’s hatred for the man grew, as did Colin’s for him. Before he could blink, it was Alex’s eighteenth birthday.

Alex sat with Colin in the library of the Manor. In the months that had passed, the two had fallen deeply in love. He had long since met her mother and father, and found out what they were, much to his dismay. Colin resolved to find a way to get her away from here, which brought them to the current moment. Her wretched brother had gone out and her ‘parents’ slept still. He slid from his chair and dropped to one knee beside her, pulling a small box from his pocket. "Alexandra, I have something I must ask you."

"What is it Colin?" She looked down at him, dumbfounded as she had a hunch what he was going to ask of her, and wondered what he would think of the choice ahead of her.

"Will…will you be my wife?" He looked up at her, his eyes filled with hope and earnestness. It was a brazen move given the short time they’d known each other but it was most assuredly a chance he was willing to take for he loved her in his own misguided way.

"Aye, Colin, I can accept your proposal, but there is something you must know first." Alex looked at him calmly, her young eyes filled with determination-the kind that would lead to total devotion if in the right hands. "I am eighteen now, and I must choose between mortality and eternal life." She locked eyes with him as she watched his eyes turn cold and hard as the earnest expression wiped cleanly from his face.

"Alexandra, you can’t…I forbid it. Leave them." He ordered her sternly. "You can’t voluntarily become a monster." Colin looked at her helplessly. How could she do this to him? Knowing how he hated these demons?

"You cannot forbid it love." Alex replied quietly, not the least bit phased by his anger. "The choice is not yours. I greatly resent you referring to those that raised me as monsters."

He stared at her, his ice blue eyes boiling with anger and outrage, even a bit of pain. "Then I will make this quite simple, if you choose eternity then you will lose me."

Alex shot to her feet. Knocking Colin onto his backside, she watched him scramble away as she advanced on him angrily. "My family or you?" She clenched her fists at her side, but paid no mind as the fire suddenly shot up from the fireplace She also didn’t register Colin’s gasp of surprise. "How dare you?! To choose between my mother and father? To leave my only blood kin?" Her soft voice rose with each question. "How dare you force me to make that choice?!"

"Alexandra," His voice was that of a soft, lethal anger while his cobalt eyes glittered hard at her. "I dare it because I love you and you belong to me."

Her temper snapped as she hissed at him, quite angry. "I belong to no one Colin-not you, not Marc, only to myself. The choice is mine alone and I will not allow you to take it from me. Do you understand that?"

Colin got to his feet and snatched the box from the floor. "Then be well aware of what your ‘choice’ will cost you." Colin sneered as he slammed out of the house, nearly knocking Marc over when he came up the path and rushed into the house as he had sensed his sister’s anger. He found her standing in the main rooms with her fists at her sides. "Alex?" He said softly as he walked in and stood in front of her. Nearly gasping at the look in her eyes as hers met his, Marc pulled is sister into a hug. "It’s okay love…" He murmured then added silently. "Do you want to talk about it?"

As his arms slid around her, Alex slumped against Marc and started to cry. "He…he wanted me to choose between you and mother and a life with him…He wanted me to marry him Marc." She answered him with her mind, unable to speak she was crying so hard.

Marc’s eyes hardened as he felt her pain and confusion. Silently thankful she was too upset to sense his emotions, he gave her what comfort he could, while he repeated the words he’d spoken a few months ago. "Whatever you decide sister, I’ll think no less of you. All that matters to me is that you’re happy."

She sighed raggedly and rested her cheek against his chest as she thought to him. "It’s not fair Marc. Doesn’t he realize he’ll lose if he forces this choice? That we’ll both lose?"

"Apparently not." He pulled away from her and looked down at her, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Listen, why don’t you stay here and relax for awhile, I have a few more errands to run and I’ll be home and we’ll talk, all right?"

She nodded slowly and hugged him again. "Be safe." She slid from his grasp and disappeared out into the afternoon sun to work off her aggressions in the garden. Usually when she worked there while angry the plants around her whithered and died but neither could ever understand why. Hopefully this was not the case today otherwise it’d just frustrate her further.

"Always sister." He smiled and turned from her. Walking quickly upstairs he grabbed his sword and two daggers. They were similar to the one his sister carried, though hers was the original. Their mother gave it to her when Alex had turned fifteen. Kira explained that the blade had belonged to their mother and was part of their heritage, along with the gold watch Alex carried with her when she traveled. The pictures inside meant little to them both though since they didn’t remember either parent.

Marc settled the daggers into two sheathes, one on each calf, and buckled the sword at his waist. He was damned if he was going to go see that viper Alex loved unarmed. For but a moment, he was thankful for training Dameon had given him in the last few months. Grabbing his heavy black cloak, he left the Manor silently and strode quickly down the path towards town.

Finding him in a local Tavern, the young man walked to the bar and tapped Colin on the shoulder then sent a fist flying towards the elder man’s jaw. Colin himself appeared unarmed and took the punch to the jaw because he reacted too slowly. He fell to the ground and glared up at the boy as blood trickled from his lip. "Outside, now." Marc growled and turned from him as he left the tavern and walked outside, slipping easily into the darkness. He watched Colin stumble from the Tavern then shout a bit drunkenly at the shadows. "What? Has the whelp come to defend his demon damned sister?"

"Defend, no. Alex is quite capable of doing that herself. However, retribution is more my suit. You hurt her. I give back double what you dish out." Marc hissed and stepped from the shadows, his sword and daggers still sheathed.

"You?" Colin burst into laughter. As he laughed, Marc’s emerald gaze turned icy and cold while his jaw tightened in anger. As if he could get any angrier, but Colin seemed to be pushing the correct buttons. "That’s rich, really…you’re half my size."

"That’s your second mistake," Marc whispered lethally as he lifted Colin from the ground with his mind. "You underestimate me, just as you did Alex."

"What the hell…" Colin looked about himself, obviously bewildered then grunted in pain when Marc threw him against the tavern wall.

"You will stay away from my sister, you will not speak to nor go near her again, or you will be dead." Marc growled his own orders at Colin. He’d had enough of the man toying with Alex’s emotions.

"Marcus, stop." Her soft command rang in his ears as she watched from the shadows. "Yes I knew what you were going to do." She thought to him as she stepped into the moonlight, their mother following behind her.

Marc stared in surprise at his sister. In his anger, he didn’t sense neither her approach, nor her and Mother watching from behind him. "Alex, go home, let me handle this." He growled, not loosening his grip on Colin.

"I will not be sent home like some errant child Marcus." She thought to him as her eyes narrowed at her brother. Walking to him she looked him over carefully. "You’re armed? By gods Marc, what were you going to do to him?"

Marc shot a look back at her, releasing his grip from Colin as the elder man’s body slumped to the ground and he watched the siblings in shock. Colin didn’t see Kira approach; his attention was focused solely on Alex and Marc. "I was merely going to warn him Alex."

"A warning which was unneeded Marc…" She murmured softly then added silently. "Colin won’t harm me…at least not physically." Sighing slowly, she cast her eyes up to meet her brother’s. "I’ll be fine Marcus." Sadness lingered in her gaze as she said that-sadness that he hated to see and would do anything to disperse that feeling from her.

Marc swore softly as he looked down at her and thought back. "All right, all right, I’ll leave him be, but only for your sake Alex, yours alone."

"Thank you." She whispered lowly and slipped her hand into his then squeezed it gently. Completely she understood his reasonings but it was not needed in her eyes. "Thank you for trying to protect me Marc."

"Of course." He answered simply. If he’d drawn his blades he wasn’t sure he would’ve been able to sheathe them, even in her presence. He was just that angry at this man. Idly he wondered if over time this would get any easier, seeing her hurt. It was bound to happen, they were human after all.

While the siblings spoke, Kira stood looking down at this man who had caused her daughter harm. She narrowed her eyes at him and hissed lowly beneath Alex’s hearing. "My mate and I could have mortals like you for breakfast. What my son did was minimal to what we can do to you. Best you remember that if the urge possesses you to go near Alex again."

Colin merely glared up at her then turned his head and spat at her booted foot. "Get away from me demon." He growled lowly then turned his attention back the siblings.

Kira reached down and turned his face forcibly towards hers. "Try again…or you die this eve." She allowed her fangs to come forth as she looked at him. "And I can make it last, horribly and painfully."

Colin paled as Kira extended her fangs, then whitened further when she told him she could do him harm. Silently, he vowed her would get even with them, all of them, for coming between him and what was rightfully his-namely, Alexandra. "Leave me Demon, I believe you. I’ll not go near your…daughter again." He spat the last two words at her.

Kira chuckled lowly and pushed herself to her feet, looking Colin over as if he were a mere snack. "Remember my words…mortal." She hissed softly and turned away from him. Walking back to them, she looked at them both. "Is everything all right? Alex? Marc?"

Both nodded and all three turned from Colin who still sat slumped against the wall. As quick as lightning Colin drew his dagger and with a practiced flick of his wrist launched it at the three of them. His throw however was miscalculated, whether from his drinking or from Marc’s blow to the jaw, he wasn’t sure. The dagger flew between Alex and Marc, grazing the young girl across the arm. As Alex swore softly at the cut, and the blood soaked the sleeve of her gown, Marc’s temper soared once more. Stopping dead in his tracks as the dagger landed in the dust in front of them, he grabbed it with his mind then turned back to Colin. "How dare you?" He growled. Bringing the dagger in front of him, he grabbed the hilt with his hand and released his mental grip on it. With a flick of his own wrist, Marc threw the dagger back at Colin, embedding it all the way to the hilt in the wall beside the elder man’s head. "You only live because she allows it." Turning back to his sister, he looked over her wound. "Are you all right?"

Alex gasped sharply at the throbbing pain in her arm. Stupid bastard, she couldn’t believe pulled a weapon on them, all because of her. "Aye love, ‘tisn’t deep, merely troublesome." Looking at Colin, she gave him a look that would turn passion cold and love to hate. The tones were emotionless and chilled as a winter morn. "Stay away from me Colin, mayhap ‘tis best for us both."

Stunned, Colin stared at her. "But…Alexandra…" He stammered and fixed his gaze upon her in the shadows. She was rejecting him?! It had to be that demon damned family of hers, surely she couldn’t be thinking for herself could she?

"No Colin…’tis better this way." She winced as her mother came near and looked over the wound, completely ignoring Colin, absorbed only in her daughter’s care. Alex shook her head negatively when Kira asked if she’d like her wound healed. "It’ll remind me of my stupidity." She said softly. Looking between the two of them, she added. "Could we please go home?"

Marc nodded lightly and slipped a light arm around her shoulders as he thought to her. "You know I had to do this Alex." He hugged her gently, mindful of the wound on her arm.

"Just as you know I did what I had to Marcus." She sighed audibly as he steered her down the path towards the Manor. They both knew Colin had hurt her deeply but she would survive. She didn’t know that right now but Marc did-Alex was stronger than she knew, far stronger than he was, at least by his estimation.

Marc tried not to look at the wound on her arm, nor the blood soaked sleeve though the wound had since closed. If he looked at it or even thought about it, Marc would likely go back and kill that bastard Colin. "It’ll be all right Alex, I promise." He whispered silently to her.

"I know Marc, it’s just hard right now." She answered him silently as they stopped in front of the Manor.

Looking down to her, he smiled gently and pulled her into a gentle hug. "You know I’m here if you need me Alex." He whispered in her mind.

"I know Marc." She murmured back audibly. Pushing herself out of his arms, she turned and went inside. As she climbed the stairs to her room, she began to cry softly at first and, when she reached her room, burst into harsh sobs. She hadn’t wanted it to end this way. Collapsing in a dirty, disheveled, bloody heap on the bed, she tucked her knees into her chest and wrapped her arms around them and just cried.

Meanwhile downstairs, Marc sensed his sister’s anguish and sorrow. He started to climb the stairs after her but his mother stopped him. "Marc," Kira murmured lowly as they both entered the house. "’Twas an honorable thing you did today, trying to protect her like that."

"I know Mother, but it wasn’t enough. I didn’t stop him from hurting her." His tones were sad and still angry but he was calming, thankfully. Marc tended not to think rationally when he was angry-neither one of them did. Kira hoped time would teach them the wisdom to know when to control their tempers.

"Better for her to hurt a little now than to spend a whole lifetime doing it my son." Kira smiled gently up at him. "Alex is strong. In time, she’ll learn."

Marc stood in silence as he fought the urge to race upstairs after his sister. "Aye she will…" He muttered lowly as he silently added. "Most likely the hard way, stubborn female." Thankfully, Alex was too tangled up in her own emotions to sense that from him. After a few minutes silence, Marc glanced up the stairs then back to his mother, regarding her for but a moment.

"Go on Marc, go to her." Kira smiled and chuckled at her son. She herself knew where Alex was and how she must be hurting right now. Her daughter would never show it though-not to anyone but her brother.

Marc turned and quickly climbed the stairs, taking them two at a time. Without bothering to knock, he slipped into the room and watched her. Apparently she had cried herself to sleep. He glanced to the corner and nearly laughed aloud as a cot was set out for him. Even when she was troubled, his sister always thought of others before herself.

Walking to the bed, he looked down at her small form huddled on the bed. Gently, he brushed a stray lock of hair from her face and smiled down at her. Careful not to disturb her rest, Marc bent and gently kissed her cheek before retreating to the cot. Silently he slid beneath the blanked she’d left and rested his head on the pillow, knowing that if his sister woke and he wasn’t here she’d likely be frightened. Yawning, he closed his eyes and drifted into an uneasy sleep.

Near dawn, his sleep was interrupted. Alex cried out in her sleep sharply, which caused her brother to snap awake both mentally and physically. She was having a nightmare. Images swam before him, nothing concrete, but the emotions of loss, grief and anger flooded him as she dreamed. Staggering to the bed, Marc sat down on the mattress and shook Alex gently. "Alex…" He muttered softly as he kept his emotions in check. "Wake up, sister, you’re dreaming."

As he shook her, he watched her groan like a wounded animal then shot straight up in the bed as she screamed, nearly knocking him from the bed beside her. "Marc?" Her first instinct was to find him, she nearly cried in relief when his soft, "Right here Alex," was uttered in reply.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked gently as she moved forward and wrapped her arms around him. Rubbing her shoulders, he relaxed as he felt whatever she feared leave her.

"No." . She answered in tones as sharp and brittle as glass. In truth, she was far closer to the breaking point than even he could suspect. Her heart was thudding a maddening drumbeat of pain in her ears at the recollection of vague images of that nightmare.

He was a bit taken aback by her abrupt, but he wouldn’t push the matter. Pushing her, he’d learned, was something that just couldn’t be done. He smirked wryly against the top of her head. When pushed, Alex tended to push back instead of going in the direction one wanted. It was a shame Colin hadn’t learned that about her. Stupid man.

Alex pulled away from him and looked up at him curiously. "And what are you thinking?" She asked as she eyed him a moment.

"Me? Bah, nothing of import, sister dear." He looked her over for a few minutes. "You know, those tatters really don’t suit you."

Snickering softly, she punched him lightly on the arm. "Oh shut up." She slid from his arms, the dream somewhat forgotten. Vaguely she remembered death and a lingering sense of loss, but no details. Quickly, she slid into her closet and changed into a nightgown then ran a brush through her tangled locks. Stepping back out into the bedroom she grinned at her brother. "Now do I meet with your approval Marcus?"
"Back to bed you." He yawned, not bothering to answer her question, and sat back down on the cot. "And thank you for taking me literally when I mentioned that cot in jest."

She too yawned and answered. "I figured you’d make use of it eventually." Alex slipped beneath the covers and pulled them up to her chin. Closing her eyes she murmured softly. "I love you Marc."

"Love you too Alex…" He murmured back, nearly half asleep. The days ahead could be good, they could be bad but at least they'd be together.

As dawn neared all in the house drifted to sleep as with the twilight another plotted the family’s demise, beginning with the parents. Colin sat and watched the sunrise as he hissed softly. "You’ll pay, in time. With each sunrise the debt grows deeper. Mark my words demons, you will pay."