'Geeze Auntie M, I don't think I'll ever get used to teleporting.'

Morrigan landed in the main hall of Arne's mansion after teleporting with Madelyn from St. Augustine's. Madelyn always had wobbly legs after teleporting and stumbled slightly, her Aunt keeping her upright by holding on to her hand. She chuckled as her niece quickly shook her head and stamped her feet a few times making sure she was on terra firma, the sound of her boots made a dull clacking sound on the shiny, lustrous hardwood floor. The mansion was always warm and inviting, with a sweet fragrance that drifted through each and every room and the sound of music seemingly coming from nowhere in particular, but audible everywhere.

'You will, it just takes time. You'll know when you start using your own portals more often, it just takes practice.'

Arne had heard his witchy lover practically from the other side of the building and came in to the main hall closely followed by Duncan. The mansion was quiet today as many of their clan had either gone out for some reason, probably to feed or were out travelling to visit their other vampire family and friends.

'Greetings.' Arne purred as he stalked his way over to Morrigan. Her face lit up as soon as she saw him and giggled in to his shoulder as he picked her up and spun her around in a close embrace. Her feet were nearly a full foot off the ground but Arne was not putting her down any time soon. Arne and Morrigan stared at each other in bemusement as they kissed and rubbed their noses together. Duncan; a little more subdued in his public displays of affection, gently held Madelyn's hand to his lips and laid a soft kiss on the back.

Madelyn blushed at him. She hadn't known Duncan for that long, but she could tell he was a gentleman by his demeanour. Arne and Morrigan had known each other for a long time and were bonded to each other and they did not care in the slightest who were witness to whatever it was they were doing. If there was any opportunity to be close to each other then they took it and revelled in each others company. Arne could be intimidating as hell when he wanted to be but when Morrigan was around, he was like putty in her hands and practically worshipped the ground she walked on. He spoiled her rotten and gave in to her every whim. Morrigan had her own unique brand of scary that could even be more frightening than Arne's at times, but when she was with him; she mellowed out and genuinely looked happy and at peace.

Madelyn watched as Arne reluctantly, but gently put Morrigan back on her feet.

'You want to use your lab?'

Morrigan nodded.

''Could you keep an eye on us for a few hours please? We're going in for a bit.'

Arne graciously bowed and took Morrigans hand and swiftly led her through the house to where her lab was, Duncan and Madelyn in tow. Morrigans laboratory was an expensive, modern but strangely cosy affair which Arne had spared no expense at getting the best of everything for. It had been built several years ago at the rear of the mansion, looking out across the expansive back garden. The lab consisted of the main room with a large kitchen style island in the middle, counter tops surrounding it on the outside walls and traditional apothecary cabinets dotted about in between wall mounted cupboards. It was essentially, a glorified kitchen as Morrigan didn't want a proper laboratory. They were "too clinical for home" she mused and said that she "had enough clinical stuff" to deal with at work anyway. The pièce de résistance of the lab though was the orangery, a large room made of intricate brickwork and glass where Morrigan grew hall the plants and herbs she used for her spells. It was always warm in there even in colder weather, the sun shining in from as soon as it came up to when it set.

Arne and Duncan led the two women to the lab and retreated for a short while, leaving Morrigan to literally work her magic.

'She's doing that thing again isn't she?' Duncan asked his adoptive elder vampiric brother.

'Forced Astral Projection, yes. I'm, not a fan.' Arne replied showing his discomfort.

'I've never been present for it, but I think I know what happens.'

'It's an awful thing to go through, especially when it's happening to your bonded being. Morrigan says it's the safest and easiest way to astral project in to the other realm for a lengthy amount of time but it's, unsettling. But Morrigan cannot be stopped from doing what she sets out to do.' Said Arne looking genuinely worried. He glanced at Duncan who was now starting to look a little worried himself.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

'I apologise Duncan, I seem to have worried you. Madelyn will be perfectly fine with her Aunt, she wouldn't put her in danger like that.'

Duncan looked intently at Arne, arching an eyebrow slightly.

'I'm not worried I'm...' He paused, looking slightly sheepish. 'I mean, Madelyn and I aren't bonded.'

The corners of Arne's mouth started to twitch up in to a coy smile.

'You like her though, don't you?'

Duncan looked down and picked at his fingernails. He didn't need to say yes, it was written all over his face. Arne showed his most compassionate smile and laid a comforting hand on his younger siblings shoulder in reassurance.

'Come on, lets go find some books or some cards to keep us occupied while we watch over them.'

Arne and Duncan returned to Morrigans lab after finding some things to do whilst they kept and eye on the Taylor women. They retrieved a few books to read and they did find a pack of playing cards to which they could maybe have a few games of gin rummy, but Arne insisted on bringing his most favourite game ever; Boggle. The nearly twelve hundred year old vampire couldn't remember when his penchant for Boggle began; probably back in the seventies when it was released but it had been a firm favourite of his ever since, much to the dismay of most of his clan who didn't share Arne's passion for the word game. Duncan however, would entertain Arne in his pursuit of a good Boggle game or twelve.

The vampires made their way in to the meditation room to find both Morrigan and Madelyn passed out in amongst the pillows and cushions. Their advanced hearing could make out two distinct fast and erratic heartbeats coming from the women who's breathing also sounded shallow and short, similar to that of a person hyperventilating.

'That doesn't sound right.' Duncan said as he sat beside Madelyn. His nose twitched at the oil burner on a small table in the middle of the room. He could make out the scent of lavender and what he thought was valerian, but there was something else in there too. He could smell blood within the mixture.

'It doesn't, give it half an hour and it'll get weirder.' Arne replied. He sat beside Morrigan and gently caressed her cheek before he made himself comfortable. The woman was in her late thirties but genuinely looked much younger than she actually was and definitely didn't act her age. He glanced at Madelyn who had similarities to her Aunt and he would assume the other members of her family. While Madelyn didn't have her Aunt's dark almost jet black hair; she did have similar large round eyes, prominent nose, a thin top lip and fair skin. Her face was framed by long, medium blonde hair that now lay somewhat wild amongst the cushions. Neither of them made their facial features out to be something they weren't by over drawing those thin lips or making their noses look smaller, but they both enhanced their best features; Morrigan focused on her eyes and Madelyn with her hair and clear skin. Duncan figured by today's standards they would be considered "unconventionally pretty." But they were much more than that.

Hours had passed along with several games of cards, books finished and many, many games of Boggle all nearly won by Arne except one that Duncan miraculously managed to win. The two Taylor women had squirmed and rolled about occasionally, disturbing all the cushions and blankets as they writhed. Duncan now understood what Arne meant by him saying "it gets weirder" as the heartbeats of both Morrigan and Madelyn had slowed down to a worrying rate. Madelyn had freaked out Duncan a little bit when one of her eyes shot open and darted around, reminding him of REM sleep. Morrigan had rolled over on to her side propped up on some pillows; a stream of drool escaping her mouth.

The two vampires could now hear the Taylor women's heartbeats start to speed up after about seven hours of them being in this deep sleep state. It had just gone one o'clock in the morning and Arne and Duncan were starting to get a little peckish.

'Are you hungry Duncan? Morrigan usually keeps a supply in a fridge in her lab.'

'Yeah I could eat.' Duncan replied, it had been a while since he last ate.

The pair got up and made their way in to the main room of the lab, Arne gliding over to a small fridge Morrigan kept tucked away in a corner.

'Their heartbeats are going back to normal, that means they'll be coming too soon. What type do yu want?' Arne asked.

'B neg if there is any.'

'There's always B neg, Morrigan keeps well stocked of B neg.'

'Is it her blood type by any chance?'

Arne just smiled as he grabbed two B negative blood bags out of the fridge and placed them in to a microwave that barely got used near the kettle. He closed the door, set the timer for forty seconds and waited. As soon as the microwave pinged, he took the bags out and threw one over to Duncan. He shook the bag gently and tore one of the valves off the top turning it in to a rudimentary straw, turning the blood bags in to a bizarre Capri Sun for vampires. Their late meal was welcome though after watching the Taylor women for almost eight hours. Their blood bags were drank and thrown away just as they heard sound coming from the meditation room. The two women were now awake and groaning, sounding more like they had just woken up from a heavy night of drinking. Arne had already pulled Morrigan up and was giving her a piggy back ride out. Duncan knelt beside Madelyn and steadied her as she was trying to get up.

'Not up to standing?'

'I don't think so.' Madelyn sighed. 'Wow I've never felt this bad in a long time, not since I last had the flu I think.'

'Come on then, let's get you a cup of tea and get you in bed.' Duncan said as he effortlessly picked Madelyn up in his arms, gently carrying her up to her room to get dome proper rest.