Eva walked barefoot from her bathroom into the bedroom, lifting the hem of the long dress as it grazed along the floor. She glanced at the shoes that had been placed by the foot of her bed by Mrs Bates. Quirking an eyebrow, she wasn't looking forward to wearing high-heeled shoes. Shit!

Picking them up, she walked towards the dress mirror. The reflection was not one she recognised, her posture stiffened.

Taking a step back, tilting her head, she dragged her teeth across her bottom lip, smudging the pale pink lipstick that had been applied less than twenty minutes before.

Way to go Eva.

She turned left to her left, then right, but still she couldn't adjust to her reflection, almost alien to her.

This was the first time she had ever worn a dress like this, and she looked very different. She wasn't sure if she liked what stared back.

Won't stop people staring at my eyes though, will it?

Popping the shoes on the floor, she shifted from one foot to the other. She liked the dress that Mrs Bates and Kara had made for her.

It was a simple design, ivory, with a halter strap neckline. It sheathed her body, skimming over every curve as it fell to the floor. She felt taller, slimmer. But frowned when she noticed her breasts were a little over-exposed. As she smoothed down the silky fabric, she adjusted the neckline, trying to hide her ample assets.

Signing, she looked at her hair. It was a whimsical half up and half down style, pinned neatly, flowing down her back into large loose curls. Nothing like her usual ponytail. It gave the appearance of someone older, sophisticated... maybe?

Well, it is a special occasion... Right? Being offered like a slab of meat at a butcher's shop window!

Her stomach dropped as she brought up her nail to her mouth, nibbling at their frayed formed edges like a famished door mouse.

'Stop chewing your nails!' She heard Kara's voice in her head as she dropped her hand to her side.

She almost jumped as she heard a tap at her patio door window. Turning, she saw Christian out on her balcony, crouching lower than usual – not wanting to be seen.

She almost tripped on her dress as she hurried to let him in. Stupid thing!

Opening the door, Christian stepped inside, and a second later his lips crashed into hers.

Eva's heart burst into a flurry of excited beats as she felt his tongue tease his way in her mouth. It quickly became a full on, open-mouthed kiss as his cool hands traced their way up her bare arms, pulling her closer. She almost melted into his touch as shivers ran down the length of her spine.

As the kiss ended, both breathless. Christian lay his forehead against hers, her smell flooding his senses.

A few seconds later he pulled back as his eyes dipped down, trailing the length of her body.

"Wow Eva! You look amazing." He let his hand trace down her arms, down to her hands. He wrapped his finger through hers, lifting them outwards. Taking a step back to admire her further.

"Fucking hell Eva!" His eyes widened as his jaw slackened.

Eva still recovering from the kiss stood looking at him, dazed. His glare caused a sudden heat to spread throughout her body, flushing her cheeks. It was then she noticed his eyes lingered on her breasts... a little too long for her liking.

"My eyes are up here Christian." She raised an eyebrow, stifling her laughter.

Dropping her hands, he chuckled as he placed his hands on her hips and pulled her closer, squashing her breasts against him. "Well, I've never seen you dressed like this." He looked down into her deep cleavage. "You look so grown up and sexy as fuck. I just hope nobody tries to steal you away looking like this."

Eva blushed again as she pushed him away. Using her hand to flatten her dress down, she pulled again at the neckline of her dress. "Don't be crazy, it's not like I'm going on a date. It's a presentation to demons, angels and god knows what else. To see if I'm worthy or not."

He stepped closer into her personal space.

Eva had to look up as she watched him run a finger down her cheek.

"Eva, you are too good for any of them. It's them that are not worthy of you." He smiled as he held her chin between his fingers. "I just hope nobody takes an interest in you. I don't want that for you." His voice was fragile as if his heart would break any minute.

Eva held his gaze as her chest tightened.

The thought of becoming a vessel and never being with someone... feeling this way... with Christian, with anyone again, crushed the air from her lungs.

"Father promised me that won't happen, so this is just a formality I have to go through." She tried to smile to reassure him, but her own words tasted bitter on her tongue.

Christian felt her tense, wanting to calm her, he laughed. "Well, just tell them one of your terrible jokes, I'm sure that will deter any interested party."

"Excuse me!" She pulled back, squishing her eyebrows tightly together. "I have the best jokes."

"U-huh," he replied.

Eva smiled as she heard the grandfather clock chime it hourly alert, her face dropped.

"You need to go; they can't catch you in here. Kara will be here any minute, she left to finish dressing."

"Don't worry princess, I sent Seb to distract her. So, we have a few minutes left."

He pulled her against him hard and planted another kiss as she was about to object.

Eva felt her whole body warm as she kissed him back with the same enthusiasm.

Forcing herself to pull away, she shook her head. "Go on go! You know what will happen if we get caught." She reached up and rubbed her pink lipstick from his lips. "And look what you've done, you're wearing more lipstick than me... I will need to re-apply!"

"Well pink is my colour." He grinned before puckering his lips.

She forced him to turn and pushed him towards the patio door. "Go!"

He grinned, dodging her push to turn and face her. "Okay, okay, I'll go. But promise me you'll try not to look too appealing to all those demons... and angels... yeah?" He winked.

Rolling her eyes. "I'm sure I won't even be noticed." She followed him out onto the balcony. "And please be careful out there on the ledge, you're much too large for that tiny ledge."

Christian scoffed. "Listen to you, miss sneaky. You use the outside ledge more than you use the stairs."

She laughed. "Ok, point taken. Go on go." She heard a knock at her door. Over the side of the balcony, Christian grabbed her one last time and gave her a final kiss.

Feeling her whole-body flush as he pulled away, she watched him walk along the ledge for a few seconds before she headed back inside. Closing the doors behind her she pivoted to see her bedroom door being opened.

"Hey, you ready?" asked Kara.

"Hey, yeah. Nearly," replied Eva, as she took a deep breath to calm her pounding heart.

Kara closed the door and walked towards her. She could see Eva's cheeks were pink and flushed. "What's got you all excited, you're glowing!"

"Nothing, was just out on the balcony getting some fresh air, it's just the wind!" Her heart was banging against her chest.

Kara looked her up and down. "Eva, you look stunning. I knew that dress would be perfect on you, good ole Mrs Bates outdid herself this time."

Eva looked down. "Yeah, it's pretty, but do you not think I'm a little exposed?" She pointed to her breasts.

Kara laughed. "No, and I say, if you got it – flaunt it girlfriend." She clicked her fingers. "Have you tried the shoes?"

"Nope." She walked towards the dress mirror and picked up her shoes. "Did you have to pick a pair that was this high? I don't think I will walk in them."

Kara tutted. "Put them on, you'll be fine."

Eva placed them on the floor, lilting her dress she gently eased her foot into each shoe. "My god Kara, these are torture devices!" she scruntched her face as she shifted on her feet.

Kara let out an exasperated sigh. "Stop complaining, they are beautiful. You are beautiful." Kara stood in front of her placing her hands on either side of her hair. "And they had done a fantastic job with your hair and make-up. You look like a lady... for once in your life."

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"Hey cheeky."

"But what's happened here." Kara pointed to Eva's lips.

Eva blushed. "Oh nothing, I just smudged it when I had a drink from the faucet."

"Great, you look like a lady, then spoil it by acting un-lady-like and drinking from the faucet. Never heard of a glass?"

"Why change a habit of a lifetime!" They both laughed as Eva took a moment to admire Kara's dress.

The dress she wore was a long figure-hugging burgundy dress. She looked like she had stepped from a vogue shoot. "Enough of me. Look at you! You look amazing Kara. Perfect! But then again you could wear a bin liner and make it look mind-blowing."

"Don't talk rubbish. Haha, no pun intended." She giggled at her own joke, as she flicked her braided hair from her shoulder. "But I like this dress and Sebastian was speechless minutes ago. So I know I look okay."

"Okay? Really, you look more than okay." Eva pulled Kara to stand next to her as they both looked into the full-length dress mirror. "And you looking like that, will take any attention away from me!"

"I don't think so Eva. But thanks for saying I look nice." She smiled, pushing down her own nervous feelings that were running rampant. "Now are you ready, you look ready? Well apart from the lipstick."

She grabbed Eva by the hand and pulled her towards the dresser, re-applying the lipstick. "Perfect, now let's find your father, he'll be waiting, and we can't be late.

>>>

Eva and Kara found her father in the lounge, waiting for them. He stood when he saw them enter. His breath caught in his throat when he saw how beautiful and grown up his daughter looked. It was another of those moments he wished he could share with Sophia.

Striding towards the coffee table he picked up the box that lay waiting. "I want you to have this." He walked towards her and held out his hand offering her the small velvet box. As she accepted the box and opened, he heard her let out a small gasp.

He lifted her chin. "You look beautiful Evangeline. And this is the only item of jewellery that I gave your mother and I know she would want you to wear this today. So, a small part of her is with us."

Eva looked down as her finger traced the outline of a small white diamond heart. "Father it's beautiful, thank you, it means the world to me." She lifted it from the box, as he took it from her, she turned to let him place it upon her neck.

Turning back around, she traced the heart with her finger. "I won't ever take it off." She looked at him. "Is that ok, if I keep it on?"

"Yes sweetheart, it's yours now."

She turned to face Kara.

"It's beautiful Eva." She smiled.

Daevan looked at his watch, as his stomach grumbled, churning like a cement mixer. "It's time we leave."

Eva turned to face him. "How do we get there?"

"Portal."

Although Eva had no desire to go to the Conclave, travelling through a portal for the first time was exciting.

"Wow... where is it?"

"Basement," he replied.

"Basement! That's where you've been hiding it all this time?" she asked.

"It's for safety reasons, I keep it hidden."

The key rattled in the door as Daevan unlocked the entrance to the basement stairs.

"Oh, my Lordy, Lord. Look at you, you look breathtaking my dear." Mr Bates appeared as if by magic, pulling Eva in for a hug. "Now this is how a lady should dress," she whispered into her ear before nudging back to give Eva another once over glance. "I knew the dress would be perfect on you and look!" She carefully lifted the pendant around her neck to inspect. "Stunning." She had to choke back the tears.

Taking a deep breath, she blinked back the threatening tears and looked at Kara in her dress. "And look at you, perfect as always my dear."

Kara smiled. "You outdid yourself Mrs Bates."

"Yes, I did, didn't I?" she chuckled. "Well come on, you had all better get moving, you can't be late."

Daevan flicked on the light and the three of them headed down into the coolness of the basement below.

Reaching the last step Eva glanced around the barely lit basement. It had a cold damp smell, she wrinkled her nose.

Curious to know where the portal actually was. She was about to ask her father when she watched him walk to the middle of the room and stop, peering down at the floor.

He uttered words that Eva had never heard before.

"Revelare," he said out loud.

Eva's eyes opened wide as she saw a red circle appear around him. More shapes... circles appeared and inside those circles, a triangle came into view, each corner pointed to a strange symbol. She had seen something similar in her father's old books.

More shapes appeared and within those shapes, symbols appeared as if drawn by an invisible hand.

"Aperi ianuam," he said in a commanding tone.

Kara took Eva's hand and forced her to step back.

The outer red circle glowed and the triangle inside moved as if the floor itself was shifting and as the smallest of the inner circle glowed white. A portal opened up before him filling every corner of the cold basement with a warm silvery light.

He turned to face Kara and Eva and held out his hand for Eva to hold.

Eva stepped forward and took his hand.

"Ready?" he asked.

Eva was stunned by the sight before her. Biting down on her lip, she stepped forward, gripping her father's hand tighter. She followed him, letting the light swallow her whole.

>>>

Eva stumbled as the surrounding light faded. Feeling a slight tug on her hand, she looked up to see her father's face now in full view. She had been unable to see much of anything as she had stepped into the portal.

"How was your first time?" he asked, his eyebrows raised.

Eva blinked rapidly, her breaths were slightly elevated and shallow, her pulse pounding in her temples. "Wow, that was something else." She felt him squeeze her hand before releasing.

Eva glanced at her new surroundings. Without warning, a swirl of panic bunched in the pit of her stomach as she clutched the material of her dress in her hand. Get a grip, we've only just arrived.

Daevan could sense the change in Eva. A muscle twitched involuntarily at the corner of his eye. He placed his hand on the small of Eva's back and Kara walked to his left. "This way." He gestured towards a large archway.

As the three walked towards the archway, that led into an enormous hall. Eva marvelled at the surrounding grandeur. The room in which she stood was large and filled with elegantly painted, full portraits and thick, wide tapestries.

The floor beneath her feet was of polished stone and was well carpeted with thick rugs. The rock walls were whitewashed to a clean white and many small objects of antiquity such as weapons hung beside the tapestries and portraits. There were a further two arched doorways on either side of the hall and a wide tall staircase graced the rear wall.

A balcony twenty feet above her travelled around all four sides of the grand room and had a passage on either side that travelled into the upper depth. Eva was sure she was in some sort of castle.

She turned her head and gasped at the wonders decorating the room. "So this is the Conclave?" she asked.

"Not exactly," replied Daevan. "The location is different each time."

"Where are we then?" she asked

"Europe... Romania to be exact."

"Ooh," she replied, mouth slightly ajar as she continued to marvel at the beauty. A thought crossed her mind. "Where is everyone?" Suddenly curious.

"Wait, you'll see."

Eva waited and then from the corner of her eye she saw a flickering of light and a shimmering effect fall across the room. Confused, she narrowed her eyes as an outline of figures of people came into focus. "How's this..."

"Magic," said Daevan. "The room is cloaked and as our presence is accepted, the glamour disperses, and you can see what was hidden."

"Wow." She shook her head, almost disbelieving her eyes as more and more people came into view. She looked around the room to see lots of unfamiliar faces and was sure all the ones that wore white and ivory outfits were like her, a vessel.

Although they looked younger than her. There had to be at least twelve others she counted. Seven males and five females.

From the corner of his eye, Daevan saw Martha walk through a door from the main hall into a library. She looked over her shoulder and gestured for him to follow.

"There is something I need to attend to, you can look around, but don't leave this room – although the balcony there is permitted. But make sure you don't go into the room on your right." Daevan pointed to two huge double doors. "Kara you're with me."

Well, isn't this great? Eva watched Daevan and Kara leave her side. She felt a little awkward now being stood on her own but wandered around the room looking at the marvellous ornaments, hoping nobody would pay her any attention. Each step she took she heard her heals on the stone floor. She felt curious gazes from the surrounding strangers. Holding her head high, she took a deep breath, determined that nobody would see how nervous she felt.

>>>

Azrael knew the second she appeared in the room. Her scent even from a distance was warming his nose, tickling his senses. Barely listening to the Necromancer by his side, he stepped towards the balcony and peered down.

He spotted her in an instant. From the high balcony he watched her walk around the room obviously not used to walking in high heels, he smiled, amused.

Very aware she looked different tonight, beautiful but slightly awkward. He doubted she would be accustomed to dressing this way. When he had seen her last week in the daytime for the first time, he had thought her stunning, but tonight she was head-turningly perfect.

As if on autopilot he made his way round to the enormous stone staircase and casually jogged down. He thought he heard his acquaintance mutter something "I'll find you later. " He was oblivious to everything else around him except her.

"Hello Angel," he heard himself say. He could see her emotions were not easily hidden on her innocent face. It was her eyes that captured his attention once again, each so different but captivating, striking and delicately warmed by surrounding pale brown eyeshadow. Tonight, he felt he was looking directly into her soul.

'Quod anima non invenitur nisi agnita,' his mind repeated the very words she had uttered to him on the first night they met. A soul, never lost... only recognised.

Eva blinked as her long-mascaraed lashes fluttered. "H- Hello," she stuttered. "What are you doing here?" Her voice a whole octave higher.

There was a lengthy pause as he watched her eyes grow wider. Azrael looked at her drinking her in before he realised he needed to say something. "Did I not say we would meet again soon Angel?" He leaned in brushing his lips past her cheek. Moving towards her ear. "And you look beautiful my angel, quite ravishing in fact."

Eva shivered. Her lips parted as she tried to form words.

By the Angels... He was here... Shit!

She watched him smile revealing straight white even teeth. Opening her mouth to speak, she felt a hand on the base of her spine.

"Evangeline." Her father's voice was irritated. As she turned to face him.

"Hi, Father, I was just speaking with..."

"Yes, I'm quite aware who you are talking to." He nodded curtly at Azrael. "Prince Azrael." He returned his gaze to Evangeline. "I want you to go and wait with Kara Evangeline."

Prince? He's a Prince? What the? She could feel her father tense beside her. "But..."

"No buts Evangeline. Go now."

She gave one last look at her father then Azrael. "Okay, Father."

Azrael tipped his head towards Eva. "It was lovely seeing you again." He could feel Daevan's eyes burning a hole into his head as he turned his attention to him. "It's been a while Lord Daevan."

"It has." Daevan replied, briskly.

"I see your pledging your daughter here today."

"Yes."

"A little late aren't we, pledges are offered at a much earlier age?"

"I had already promised her to another, so felt no need to bring her to Conclave."

"Oh, I see. And whom might that be?"

"Martha, Witch of the High Coven. Evangeline has already shown skills in magic and Martha feels she would be a suitable host as she has natural born abilities.

Azrael pondered for a second – Could it be true? Was that the subtle difference he picked up in her? "Well she is beautiful; you have been blessed. May I enquire who her mother was?"

Daevan clenched his fists as he shifted on his feet, uncomfortable with this line of questioning. "A human servant, one from my house. Nobody of consequence."

"Ah, well I would like to meet this human who could produce such a fine vessel, one of such beauty, worthy of my attention."

Daevan's nostrils flared, to restrain a growl. "She died, during childbirth."

Azrael lifted an eyebrow. "Well, isn't that unfortunate?"

"Yes." He paused. "If that is all Prince Azrael, I would like to rejoin my daughter, she will enter the circle of pledge shortly. It's a big day for her as I'm sure you will appreciate."

Azrael tipped his head. "Yes, please... don't let me keep you."

Daven tipped his head before walking towards where Evangeline and Kara were standing.

"Is everything okay Father?" asked Eva.

"Yes, yes it's fine Evangeline...." He was interrupted as the double doors in the far end of the room opened. Bringing in a sweeping wind along with a person, someone whom Daevan hadn't seen in centuries.

His stomach fell to the floor. Fuck!