"It is nice to see you", the old woman stepped in through the door to find Faye in a reclining sofa, "My Lady".

Faye turned her head slightly toward her and smiled weakly before closing her eyes and looking away.

"I had a feeling he'll send you. He'll probably not be well off himself though. Right, Tête?", Faye replied.

"Barely. My Lord has banished me from his sight ever since you left. It would hardly matter if I was there", Tête answered.

"Is that right?", that was surprising for Faye, though she didn't demand a reason.

"I am not the only one he sent either. There's also this young man", Tête said as a young boy entered the room, "He's Cassius, from one of the branch families, the last of his family, quiet like you, my Lady".

Faye opened her eyes and examined the young boy who was probably somewhere in his early teens.

"The last of his family? Are you a Dhampir, kid?"

"No, my Lady. I'm a vampire. Lord Magnus performed the blood ritual himself before sending me here".

"My father did? I see. You must have hated leaving, huh Cassius?"

"Not at all. There's nothing for me in Ruman. My family is gone, if Lord Magnus hadn't taken care of me, I'd be too."

Faye nodded slightly before resting her head on the back of the recliner.

Winter flew by before she felt anything, spring made her uneasy and summer was tedious. Tête and Cassius tended to all her needs. Benoit hesitated seeing her for longer periods of time but he made sure to visit every single day. It was the beginning of autumn when the day finally came.

Faye was in excruciating pain and Tête nursed her. There was a hustle at the mansion with maids running around preparing for all sorts of things.

Faye made all the maids leave her alone. The only people that remained in her room were Tête and the head maid who was awaiting the nurse.

"My Lady, hold on", Tête took her hand in her own.

"Just like me", Faye muttered.

"My Lady?"

"They have to be...just like me", she breathed hard, "Like I lived...instead of...her".

"Don't be saying that now!", Tête wore a concerned expression.

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She knew Faye had been granted a death sentence by her father, the minute he told her she had to produce heirs for the family. And Faye knew that as well. All this time, she had been awaiting her death in that prison hole.

Still, Tête prayed that she wouldn't die, even if it meant the loss of those that were to come. Tête thought that it would be fine even if Faye was the last vampire. After all, there would be no grief in that.

Tête remained outside as the midwife carried on with the delivery. She thought about her master and mistress and everything that was to come. It was a good thing that Benoit hadn't made it yet. He would be here soon though, but at least by then, the goners would be gone.

Soon the midwife stormed outside, mortified and with a wild expression. She had lost all words and she was weak in her knees. It looked like she had turned tail and decided to run after seeing a monster. Tête hurried inside seeing her condition and found Faye sitting in her bed. She had survived.

But she wasn't the only one. In her arms were two babies. Tête hurried to look at them, but stopped midway. One of them was silent, the other one was growling.

"Tête", Faye spoke weakly, "They are not like me..."

"My Lady...!"

"Don't come here, Tête. You don't want to see him. Leave us alone."

Tête hesitated but there was no other way. She bowed her head and left the room.

Faye continued to gaze lovingly at her two children. One was sleeping peacefully. The other was rather playful, moving around already. His fur was dark grey and his fangs, though small were still far too big for his face. He was covered in a layer of green and black fur on his chest, resting there shaped like a tree.

"My little wolf, I will never let my father's dreams materialize in a world where there is no salvation nor acceptance for you", she began talking to him, "I promise your brother that the two of you will always be together. So forgive me from sparing your life from endless pain and torture. Even if...my dear Vlad...there is no place for you in this world...I am still here."

She placed her hand on his chest and his fur began to glow, burning away in her hand as the little child stopped moving. A strange glow appeared on his body and all the fur and the fangs burned away into the air. A single tear dropped on his chest from his mother's eyes before the door was sprung open.

Cassius and Tête hurried inside.

"Tête", Faye spoke before Tête looked at the babies and noticed the wolf was gone, "Vlad has gone home."

Tête took what remained of the wolf from Faye's arm and moved back. She covered him in clothe and glanced at Faye who looked like a living dead.

"Come now, sir", she instructed Cassius, "The father would see them. We should get going before he comes."

Cassius and Tête disappeared. Faye kept staring at her other boy that she held close in her arms. She didn't realize when Benoit entered the room. He kissed her forehead and kept talking to the baby for years and years. He held him in his arms protectively and he was so happy, it was almost unbelievable. Faye remained absent during most of what pursued after that. She couldn't remember what he said to her. He was probably naming the boy. And that is how Aloïs was born.

Faye wasn't herself for the longest time after his birth. The distances which existed between Benoit and her didn't exactly fade away but any sentiment of hatred and tension was gone. Faye tended to her boy all day. Tête cared for both of them. Cassius reported to Magnus that the Root had never materialized in the child. Magnus was probably disappointed and angry but they never heard back from him. Cassius got rid of the midwife before she could spread rumors and though stories began spinning around in many circles, Faye remained oblivious to the outside world.

Three years later, she faced a dilemma again when Louis was born and Vlad as well. She cursed that she had survived again, if it wasn't for her, Vlad could have relived in the same world even if it was just a painful existence. But she did survive. However, this time, judgement, or perhaps Vlad's curse followed her.