Just like before the dam was built.

He could feel their trust.

Water crashing forth, now held still.

The waters of ice.

The waters of life.

Why must they be so foolish?

Can such power be contained?

A crack in the dam, and water appears.

Do not worry, they condescend.

Not more than a trickle.

Not even a stream.

No reason to fear.

No reason to flee.

No one ever understood why it was I had cried.

All the times I begged, explained to them.

And lied.

All of it was for my peers.

Those innocents living in the shadow.

The shadow of a power they foolishly contain.

No dam would damn them.

What else would turn the water wheel?

What else would churn their butter?

Grind their wheat?

Power their houses?

People?

People existed to enslave, not work!

Not to sweat, and ache, and toil!

But I knew…

That one day…

It would break.

They would be covered in the freezing torrent!

Everyone and all, swept away to their own liquid grave!

All this I told them.

All this I knew.

All this I felt.

But it was that power!

That sheer destructive force!

How it was held and weakened to such a state!

That was what gave them their confidence!

Their contentment!

Their foolishness.

A trickle, easily controlled by those ants it would crush.

Easily bent and yoked.

Now, not even a shadow of itself, it can do nothing but be.

And wait.

And weaken.

Ever so weaken…

That which keeps it enchained.

One day it will break.

Upon all those foolishly dwelling in its home.

Its bed.

Its land.

I warned them of the leak.

I warned them of its whisper.

Too late.

The day had come.

It stormed and rained.

People screamed and people cried.

Thunder cracked.

As did the dam.

Like I had said, to no avail, this power would not be held.

Now it is done.

No more reason to fear or lie.

I warned them.

I told them.

I had begged and I had cried.

Truly, I tried to save them.

Truly, this child begged to be heard!

But there was not an ear to hear.

No more tears, or fear, I had failed, but am now content.

I mourn not the loss of home, my friends, or family.

Nor a place to lay my head.

Why is that?

Because now, me and them…

Beneath this river…

On what is now our eternal bed…

Are all quite dead.

~A Child and a Dam

~Feldyn Goldchord, the Endless Bard

* * *

He was awake again. The pain was gone. Although, it was also gone while he was unconscious. Cautiously trying to move, he still hung by his chained wrists, feet tickling the ground. Wincing, he scratched the no pain thoughts. More like no excruciating agony. Regardless, he had survived, and, if his senses told truth, was once again whole.

The way the zombie king used alchemy was truly satanic.

Dismembering, cutting, ripping, sawed off... and then the body part removed or destroyed was either regrown or rebuilt. Feldyn was never conscious for that part, he just knew his appendages had been there upon regaining consciousness each time, and assumed his organs were in place as well, since he was alive. Feldyn truly prayed his parts had been repaired organically, and not replaced with something sinister or monstrous. So far the crazed alchemist had not messed with his legs. Or other things below the waist, leaving his torn and bloodied sweatpants.

At least Lance was still with him… Though it brought him little to no solace. Why was Lance letting him suffer so? He had sacrificed all to free Feldyn before, and get them here. He assumed his friend knew the futility of trying to escape. Even blinking him out, where would they go? Where would he run? What could he even do to defend himself and escape on this magicless world, when pursued by demons?

Or… did Lance know something Feldyn did not? Maybe he had been out doing reconnaissance while Feldyn was unconscious? Perhaps he knew help was on the way? Was it possible... that Caleb and the others... were alive? Would they…

Would they come and save him?

Feldyn laughed from where he hung in the darkness. Why would any of them come save him? He was the mad hurricane that had blown across their path, threatening to destroying all that they loved. If by some miracle the enemy had not found them, they were surely to flee. Perhaps they would fight back. Possibly even win... Heh, bloody fat chance of that happening. They were all insects in the face of their enemies.

Friend was also a term loosely applied to this new people in his life. He had true friends before. Friends he trusted with his life. They were dead now. Because of her. The love of his life had made a deal with Darlothz, one of Antioch’s generals. She betrayed them, which subsequently led to Feldyn falling into enemy hands. Into the hands of Darlothz Tch’tlegion. And the worst torture, the worst physical agony, of his life. Nothing, no pain would ever compare to what Darlothz did to him. Not that he hadn't deserved it. ... After... after the way... what he had done to...

Regardless, ff not for Lance and the professor, he would not have survived to be here today.

Feldyn wasn’t so sure being here today was actually such a good thing. And when light washed into the tiny ramshackle shack turned torture chamber, the only door opening, he was pretty damn sure it wasn’t such a good thing.

“You’re awake already,” Larry observed, closing the door behind him. He flicked a switch, turning on a single overhead light bulb, illuminating things in a pale yellow glow.

The so-called zombie king, and earthly queen of the witches, had assuaged the half-elf while he was conducting his 'research.' What a complete bloody fool he had been. Sleeping in the outer building, simply to feel more isolated, and not part of the group, had been his downfall. He had been completely unprepared for opponents of such strength on Earth. How helpless he had felt, how naked and vulnerable.

His separation from the others may have saved them. Feldyn knew they lived, from asking Lance, who dug his claws in to give the positive reply, when they were alone. But that was all Feldyn knew. When asking Lance if there was any hope, he received no answer. It not being a no did not help. Feldyn was done. It was over for him. Lance could still open the portal, and bring Caleb back to Aethra.

The only goal now was to get the zombie fucker to end things quickly. Or, at the very least, render him unconscious again.

“So then, Mr. Larry," Feldyn addressed the large, oily, foul smelling man-thing, that had moved to the tables of torture devices, "is there anything ye would like to know perhaps, or even ask me this time? Or shall we get on to my limbs being torn from my body?” The greasy-haired head tilted back to look at the ceiling, “Mr. Larry… That sounds ridiculous. I like it.” He turned to the half-elf, holding what looked like a jailers key ring, housing hypodermic needles instead of keys.

“Was not sure if ye would prefer that, or Mr. Ted.” The master alchemist’s expression froze. “Nay? Aye, if ye ask me, it sounds more like a barnyard animal than a king.” Larry’s mood quickly changed. “Where… how did you know that name?” the zombie king demanded steadily. Feldyn, disappointed with the current lack of rage, noticed something. Maybe he hadn’t pressed the wrong button, he just needed to keep pressing it. The look on Larry’s face was like a child looking for a long lost toy, that had just gotten a hint to its whereabouts. Unable to contain himself, Feldyn grinned wide and toothy. “They didn’t tell you. I guess it’s possible they just truly do not know, but I would guess-”

“TELL ME WHAT?!” Larry shouted, and the half-elf almost flinched. Apparently, it was indeed the right button. Now to mash it.

“I heard it from Reba. Well, Reba and John.” Larry didn’t move an inch, so Feldyn continued, “They reside in that base, next to where you and Suzie found me-" his words cut off in a scream, when Larry lunged at him, stabbing a needle into his right eye.

“You better be fucking lying!” Larry seethed, and twisted the base of the needle, which caused it to suck out the eye it had penetrated, depositing its mass into one of a few small chambers on the needle ring. “H-h-how else w-w-would I kn-know?” Feldyn stammered, body convulsing. The pure violation of whatever the zombie king had done to his eyes was almost as bad as the pain, which had not faded in the least.

“The fuck are you fucking doing?!” the blonde witch queen hissed, storming into the tiny torture shed. 'Ah, don’t interrupt him now! I need to die! I need this to end!' But Feldyn’s mental pleas went unanswered. “Piss off, Shuzariel,” Larry growled, as he went back to his small table and set the needle ring down. “You know X’al’antra brought them here, so be fucking quiet!" the beautiful bitch snarled. "She gets forced out of the proverbial closet, and she’s gonna go ballistic on all of us!”

Hanging from the wall, infuriatingly more aware than he would like, Feldyn distinctly felt Lance dig his claws into his shoulder when Shuzariel mentioned them being brought here. 'Them? Could… Caleb and the others truly be alive? Had they not been targeted? Why… would the vampire queen bring them here?' And from the sound of things, if it was them, they did not even know they were in the company of the Terrors.

“Is it true?” Larry asked, turning to the bitchy, airheaded-looking blonde, “That my Philosopher’s fucking Stone was in that cocksucking Order hideout?!” His teeth grit hard enough that Feldyn could hear it. The sound was quite… grating. “Is it true, the two inside, that the imp bitch killed, were my Philosopher’s cunt and the Order priest THAT DESTROYED MY LIFE’S WORK?!” he roared that last loud enough to shake the walls.

That… the imp killed?! Lance had said they were all alive? Why was he not digging in his claws now? Had they since died? Were Reba and John... the only two of his new friends- acquaintances- that could fight... dead?

“Yes,” a voice Feldyn couldn’t quite place (as the horrible implications of what Larry said sank in) answered, opening the shack door. There was hardly enough room for the two standing before him to begin with, so this new girl remained in the doorway. Feldyn was reluctant to open his only good eye, but he did anyway, squinting to see in the harsh light shining in from the open door. “Larry, keep your voice down, and minimize the screams. Now. Or I will permanently kill you, do you understand me?” Her voice was calm, quiet, and commanding.

“Fuck you, X’al’antra,” Larry answered, albeit much quieter. Feldyn squinted hard when he heard her name, and the voice he knew that he recognized, trying to see her features in the damn glare. Where had he heard her voice before? “No, fuck you,” X’al’antra stated calmly, letting Suzie walk past her, outside, so she had room to step in front of Larry.

Now Feldyn could see who it was. She’s X’al’antra?! “You?” Feldyn rasped, and then knew nothing. That wasn’t when he had wanted to lose consciousness, but having half your skull caved in by a fist, tends to do that..

Distraction now unconscious, X'al'antra kept her focus on Larry, whom gave s shocked grumble, and moved to keep the seizing half-elf alive. “I killed them because I need you focused on the game. And nothing would have distracted you more than those two.”

“That was not your call to make, Xal!”

“Oh, I beg to differ. All the calls are mine to make.” She stared unflinching, looking into the eyes of the much taller terror. He didn’t flinch either. “You lost nothing but your revenge, Larry. You long since relearned, and exceeded, any knowledge you had in that homunculus.” Now Larry broke eye contact, his voice sounding whiny. “That’s not the point,” he complained, looking at his ‘medical’ tools.

“Discussion over,” Xal informed him, and turned to leave. “Oh, Larry, remember that we need the Aetherian in one piece. He is important. And I need it quiet. If you must dissect him, use a paralytic to keep him quiet at least, would you?” She walked out, closing the shed door without waiting for an answer.

The sun was bright as it rose ever higher in the sky. X’al’antra had waited a long time for this. For all of this. But the moment was not now. Right now, she had more carnal urges to sate. She was starving, and it had been a long, aggravating night. And a near equally as aggravating a morning.

Walking back to her large house, Suzie bounced over to fall into stride with her. Could one look any lower on the intelligence scale than valley girl whore?

“Did you speak to my nieces?” the vampire queen asked, and Suzie nodded. “Yeah, I told that little bitch to find Ki’yi’xyit, and get her ass back here.” X’al’antra knew Iiyni’jeari’eea only listened because she chose to. She was looking so forward to watching her die. “From Larry’s little drama, I’m going to assume Jenta succeeded.” Suzie grunted, “So she says. Honestly, I have my doubts. Those two are far too loyal to their sister. You sure it was a good idea bringing them here?”

A good idea? It was a fantastic idea. X’al’antra needed that… anomaly of a niece dead. And killing Iiyni’jeari’eea, in almost every instance, was impossible. However, with what she had planned, it was more than just possible, it would be easy; but the bitch had to be summoned for it to work.

Iiyni’jeari’eea was too powerful for a normal summoning, even with Shuzariel and Larry assisting. Which is why X’al’antra had commissioned Jen’taa’yi and Ki’yi’xyit. With the two powerful imps assisting, the five of them summoned Iiyni’jeari’eea with minimal trouble. Larry had half exploded, and Shuzariel shit herself and lapsed into a brief coma. Still, it had succeeded.

Suzie’s swampy multi-colored eyes looked over to her leader. Apparently, she wasn’t going to answer her. Suzie rightly decided to change the topic. Questioning Xal’s judgment was probably not the brightest. “Do you think I could have the half-elf? Just for one night? I want to feel what he feels like inside of me.” Xal ignored her and kept walking. “Oh c’mon, I like a good orgasm as much as the next girl.”

“You are not a girl,” X’al’antra answered, still walking.

Jeez, Xal was always so pissy! “Please, Xal? You’re the one that made me have sex for days on end with the boy.” Now X’al’antra stopped, then spun on the pigtailed witch, grabbing her by the throat with one hand and lifting her off her feet. Suzie didn’t bother to struggle. “That is something you will never do again. He is mine, and that was a necessity.” After a few more seconds, Xal set her down.

“Does the bitch still live?” X’al’antra asked the witch queen, who didn’t seemed fazed at all by the throat hold, was offended by the question. "Of course she does!" was the defensive reply. The two stood silent for a moment.

“Fine,” the Vampire Queen consented, Suzie jumped up and down and clapped her hands. “Keep him quiet, Shuzariel!” The pretty witch nodded that she would. “And keep your teeth retracted!” Xal demanded, and turned to continue walking to the house.

Suzie fell into pace behind her, and followed silently and happy. Finally! This whole plan of Xal's had cost her the most. She needed this to take her mind off it all. That boy had something about him, that made her feel... whatever. Now Xal won’t let her touch him. Bitch.

And for fuck’s sake, Xal didn’t have to tell her to retract! She wanted to fuck the elf, not eat his junk. So of course she would keep the teeth in her vaginal wall retracted. Gawd! A good consumed penis through her vagina was something she only did occasionally, anyway. Tended to give her diarrhea. The kind that lasted for hours, and made you moan and tremble. Still a hassle though; fun as it could be, girl had better things to do than get half off shitting her brains out.

* * *

Caleb’s group had made it to Rashelle’s property safely, and were sleeping soundly before the sun ever rose. Rashelle had insisted that Trixie and her friend (Caleb had learned her name was Sarah) stay in the main house, letting Caleb, Bryan, and Pazely stay in the guest house. Trixie had refused to leave Pazely, but Sarah left for the mansion-sized house a good way up the hill from where they were. Rashelle also left, saying her mom needed help with things.

In less than ten minutes of the four being left in the large, cabin style guest house, they were soundly asleep, blood moon still in the sky. All were more tired and exhausted from the night’s ordeals than they had realized.

Pazely woke up starving. And soooo freaking confused. Blinking, she looked around bleary-eyed. She was on the floor, lying on and under some blankets next to Caleb and… Trixie?! Oh yeah... They were at Rashelle’s. Pazely wasn’t sure how long they had been out, but it had to have been forever. She was confused, starving, and had to pee so bad that she was a little worried to move. Good thing there was a bathroom in here! Rashelle may be a bitch, but at least she was a rich one that liked nice accommodations!

Moving ever so carefully, Pazely almost couldn’t stand up all the way. Holy crap her legs were weak. It only took two steps before the urge to stretch overcame her. Arms in the air, she moan-groaned loud enough to wake Bryan. He sat up abruptly, on the bed that was almost directly in front of her, glasses still on and crooked.

Pazely broke into giggle cries. She was glad her stretch released her around that time. She wailed a screech on her way to the bathroom. Caleb and Trixie about jumped through the roof at the sound. Trix mumbled some loud gibberish, and both boys looked at her, and she looked back intensely, like they were supposed to understand whatever she had said. Caleb still found it cute enough to laugh, even with the rude awakening.

“What the hell time is it?” Bryan grumbled, looking around for a clock. All that registered to Trix in that moment was she had been sleeping snuggled with Caleb, and currently wanted to crawl in a hole and hide for the rest of her life from embarrassment. Her -rather conservative- pajamas felt risqué as underwear to her.

“Oh shit, the sun,” Bryan realized out loud. “The red moon ended!” How long had they slept? He was starving, and needed Pazely to hurry up in the bathroom!

Paze came out as Caleb stood to go to the door of the cabin. Bryan scurried in the restroom before Trix could move. They all needed to pee apparently, though Caleb and Trix didn't feel on the verge of exploding.

Opening the front -and only- door to the guest house, Caleb had to shield his eyes. They were high in the mountains, overlooking town to the west of them. The sun was almost directly overhead. Stumbling outside, he figured he would let the others use the restroom first. He needed to stretch his legs, and think. He didn’t know, or really care, how long they had been asleep. They had friends and family out there still; they needed to work on a plan.

Pazely walked over beside him. “I know that look,” she said. “Where are we going first? Reba's?”

“That should be a good start,” he confirmed. “Maybe we can find survivors somewhere… I dunno, regroup or something. But we need to have more of a plan than that, or we’ll just be running around, trying to not die, like last night.” He then realized his head was quiet. Caleb could still feel the crazy, it was just… not talking.

“What about Trixie and her friend? And Miss Terra?” Pazely asked, turning to look up the hill. She couldn’t see Rashelle’s house from here, the guest cabin being a bit removed from the main part of the property. “They’re as safe here as anywhere,” Caleb told her. “If there are rescue efforts underway, it would be better if they just stayed here and waited.” Pazely turned and squinted at him now. Her scrunched up face as she tried to adjust to the light made him want to hug her. “I hope so,” was her somber reply.

Trixie walked out of the guest cabin, still in the same aqua-colored button-up shirt and pant pajamas as last night, bare feet looking tiny. The large blue buttons were only half buttoned, the bottom half undone, showing a dancer’s flat belly. “You think… maybe my grandma is alive?” she asked in almost a whisper, avoiding eye contact with her two older friends, who stood squinting in the sunlight.

Caleb panicked a little. He wasn’t used to dealing with people that had family that cared for them enough for them to care back; empathy was difficult in this situation. Though he was trying to empathize. “I doubt it, Trixie,” he said as kindly as he could, still getting a viciously swift and painful kick to the calf from Pazely.

The tiny girl in the aqua jammies started to cry; soft and delicate. “Do you... think she died like Grampa?” She was sobbing more gently and quiet than anyone Caleb had ever seen. Pazely wondered if she herself looked that pained, that wretched, in her own tears.

Caleb was also confused.

Horrence was a prick. Just about everyone Caleb could think of wanted to beat the man senseless for the way he treated Trixie. Yet, here she was, sobbing for him. Why?! “Trix I’m sorry…” walking over to kneel in front of the girl that stood on the small porch, “I don’t really understand what the hell is happening, but we’re going to take care of you, and everyone, okay? We will die trying. We won’t give up!” She still wouldn’t make eye contact, and Caleb grimaced at his poor phrasing. “Bad choice of words. I mean, we will look for your grandma. Promise. We’re going to try to save everyone.” He frowned, “But I honestly don’t know if there is even anyone left to save.”

Hanging his own head now, he feared she would choose that moment to make eye contact. How did you tell a little girl the truth about something like this, not traumatize her, yet not lie to her? All while looking her in the eyes?

So, of course he panicked, and changed to a horribly timed and worded topic. Looking back up, “Trix… did you… love your grampa?” Caleb asked. Now she rose her head to meet his eyes, “Of course! He was my grampa!".

Bryan and Pazely both knew Caleb wasn’t gonna drop this. He never dropped things, even if they were rude or flat ignorant; he just kept fucking talking. “Dude, don’t,” Bryan urged from behind Trixie. Caleb ignored him, “I understand Trix. He was just so… cruel to you.”

Disgusting and appalled was her expression. Taking a step back from him, helped to sink the point of the guilt dagger in more. “But, he was my grampa!” she answered in a tone that matched her eyes. “He wasn’t perfect, Caleb, and neither are you!” Trix was shaking visibly now, and Caleb couldn’t tell from what emotion. “He was… he was just always scared. Yeah, he hit me. Everyone knows! But that’s it! And he only did sometimes… He never really hurt me or anything! Him and Grandma take care of me, and they don’t even have to!”

Now she was angry, “If they are gone… who is gonna raise me? Huh? Who is gonna raise me? You? You’re a kid too y’know! I have no family left! I’m going to get put in an orphanage, and you are asking me if I loved my grampa?!” Everyone was silent and still as she lectured, and worked out her new reality.

Pazely’s heart felt sick and sad. Caleb’s retarded questioning aside, she totally understood what Trix was feeling. What even was she, herself, anyway? A Japanese American, with no relatives to her knowledge whatsoever; dad was missing as far as she knew, and mom was… Her mom was…

“Did you think I might be happy? Happy that my mean grampa is dead, so I can be free?! That I wanted him to die? Like that? Killed by giant bees? What is wrong with you?!” Now Trixie was furious.

Caleb often forgot -no one else did, as it was obvious- she was several years older than Gigi. She was also the most grown-up acting of the little kids at the studio, and very intelligent. “Let me ask you this then: what were his last words?” Trixie’s question startled the kneeling boy, and his eyes went wide. “Exactly! And who did he ask?” Caleb had to sit all the way down on the ground, the weight of the answer settling on him.

“What… did he say?” Pazely softly, and hesitantly, asked; voice laced with an apology in the chance her question was inappropriate or accidentally rude. She did get bitched at for being inappropriate by people a lot. She didn’t ever mean to be...

The young girl (brown hair that Pazely normally only ever saw up; was loose, hanging just barely past her shoulders. It was thin, but healthy and pretty,) looked up at Pazely. The look was accusatory, though not intended for her Asian friend. “He died being stung to death by giant bees. Giant wasps! And died begging Caleb to save me!” Even Bryan almost gasped at that revelation.

Horrence hated Caleb. Horrence was a self-indulgent, self-righteous, abusive prick. Yet, he died begging for his granddaughter's life to be saved? He completely and totally came across as despising the girl. Not once, however, did he ask for help. Now that Caleb thought of it, the old bastard’s first thoughts when he was being freed from the cocoon were of Trixie. None of that made any sense to the boy!

Why? Why did Horrence say those things in his final moments? Caleb was positive he was a bad man! the fucker hit Trixie! So why?! Had his own judgment been that wrong? … Then… why was Horrence the way he was? Is it possible for someone to be both abusive, and able to love the one they abuse enough to be self-sacrificial? That was a contradiction! It was... disgusting! Evil! Victim mentality! It had to be!

“About time you all woke up!” Rashelle announced joyously, practically skipping around the building. When everyone turned to look at her, she stopped, noticing the looks on their faces. “Oh… sorry, bad timing. But seriously, you guys have been asleep forever,” she complained, in a whiny voice. Pazely wanted to punch her in the throat.

“How long have we been asleep?” Caleb asked with a resigned sigh, turning to look at his 'girlfriend'. The current mood and topic was going to be forced to a halt, it would seem.

Bryan walked over and put a hand on Trixie’s shoulder. Harsh words or not, she loved her friends, and was grateful. And guilty. She had more than once wished her grandfather would leave. Just leave and never come back. Was it… her fault he died that way? Was it her fault her grandma probably died too? Why did bad things have to happen to the people in her life?

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Like, a day and a half!” Rashelle answered Caleb, and Trixie felt Bryan’s hand flinch. “Wait, we’ve been asleep for a whole day?” Caleb asked, confused, taking a step towards Rashelle. She frowned and nodded, “Yeah. It’s been boring just wai-”

“Why didn’t you wake us? What happened? Where are the rescuers? Emergency responders?” Caleb interrupted, talking fast. Motioning to the view of Castle Rock in the distance, “Last night, nothing weird happened?”

“Don’t you think I would have woken you if something happened?” She stomped her foot a little, and Pazely scurried over by the door to the guest house to get clear of the incoming bitch mode. “There’s still no cell service, or TV, or anything. No one’s shown up, no helicopters, nothing,” Rashelle further explained, with a frown. “What about Miss Reba?” Trixie chimed in. “Miss Terra is here, you said, but what about Miss Reba? Does anyone know if she's okay?” Trixie looked quite concerned about the dance teacher they all loved.

“Yeah, what about Miss Reba?” a new voice, high pitched, childish voice, asked. “Think she’s alive, Shelly-poo?” Around the same corner of the guest house Rashelle had walked from, two little figures appeared.

Caleb was stunned. The two young Asian girls he had seen at the studio! The girl that had briefly peeked out the window before it was closed, and the one with the eyes that were so lonely he hadn't been able to get her out of his head; until all the drama started. Now here she was, standing in front of him.

The one with the eyes was smaller than he had expected. She wore tiny jean booty shorts that would have made Ally ask where she bought them, top was a purple, snug-fit, sports bra. Her hair was pulled into a tight, intricately weaved braid, hanging a good length past her delicate white shoulders.

Only... delicate didn’t seem quite the right word. Her entire body was so small, yet so flawless. And Caleb could swear she was somehow insanely toned if you looked just right. Her lonely eyes were locked on Rashelle’s, mockingly. But it wasn’t her eyes, or clothes, or body, that Caleb noticed the most.

It was her teeth. She grinned a large, crooked grin, teeth easily visible. They… were all pointed, sharp and jagged, while also being perfect. How… does one get teeth like that? They were so freaking cute!

“Oh, people!” the smaller one of the two girls chirped, trying way too hard to appear like she just noticed them. Rashelle did not look happy, “Yes, people. Why are you two here? I said I needed to see my boyfriend, and to wait for me."

That was it for Caleb. He had been sleeping here an entire fucking day! Not Reba, or Feldyn, or Stryker, or anyone had shown up! And he had no patience for this stupid girl! Why was she acting so casual? No, this girl was a problem. A problem that needed to be resolved. And Caleb being Caleb, his moronic logic said the right timing for said resolution was now.

“I’m not your boyfriend anymore, Rashelle,” Caleb informed her from where he stood. “If anything, I’m Pazely’s.” He shrugged a casual sorry. He looked way more of an asshole than intended. In fact, he actually thought he handled that quite well. He had wanted to be quick and polite, to minimize hurt feelings. Yup, males were retarded. This one especially so.

Pazely looked a bit like she was choking, eyes moving, no sounds coming out. Bryan was trying desperately not to start laughing. Sometimes Caleb’s ignorant stupidity was beneficial, he supposed.

The Asian girl with the sad, lonely eyes, Caleb was so passively obsessed with, burst into cackling giggles.

Caleb was trying to decide if he should admonish the stranger, when Rashelle practically growled: “We will talk about this later! Alone!” and stormed off.

Iiyni’jeari’eea, quite enjoyed that little moment! After a couple involuntary snorts, she reined in her laughter. Where the feigned amusement was real as a demon could experience, she couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to laugh from actual emotion.

And with that, her mind went blank, and her body tensed. The fuck did she just wonder what real joy felt like? Who gave a shit! Weird for her to think that way; probably just needed to feed.

Refocusing, eyes going to Caleb first, sneering at Dragonfarts gangly form, their eyes met, and her heart skipped, a feeling of warmth in her chest and face.

No, she felt nothing, because imps didn't feel shit! Fuck this weird fucking fuck!

Snapping her eyes away, they next landed on Pazely; the girl the OBNOXIOUSLY ANNOYING teenage male had chosen over her aunt.

The bitch had impossibly long lustrous hair, with a midnight blue sheen. If that wasn't weird enough, her eyes were blue! And she wasn't wearing contacts! Was she some kind of mutant?! Iiyni’jeari’eea was a sex demon, and a damn hot one! So why didn’t her hair register on the thick and sexy scale to that degree? Whore needed to be taught a lesson, bring the arrogant bitch down a peg or twelve. Wannabe loli cunt.

Tired of getting glared at, “The hell is your problem?” Paze snipped, attitude abounding. “The hell is my problem?” the pissy imp replied, decent attitude of her own flaring up, veins in her temples throbbing.

“Hi! I’m Kiki!” Ki’yi’xyit introduced herself, suddenly standing in front of Pazely, eyes closed in a huge awkward smile, hand extended in greeting.

Pazely unflattering thought of Gigi. 'At least this girl is cute. And her teeth look so cool!' Both of these kids had some kind of weird demon-monster, delicate pointy teeth. They looked natural though, not costume. It really was pretty cute. She shook the hyper little shark-toothed girl’s hand. “I love your teeth,” Pazely stated in awe. ‘What the fuck about MY teeth?!' Iiyni’jeari’eea bitched to herself.

“Tch, I’m bored already,” Iiyni’jeari’eea slurred, and shrugged. Caleb wondered if she was trying to act like an anime character.

Regardless, when she turned and walked briskly away, behind the cabin, he immediately noticed her butt. Surely she was a teenager, right? Just small, like Pazely. They were both Asians, and Asians tended to look a lot younger than they were. Had to be the case. Not like he was checking out a little kid, like Trixie, or something. Realizing that he hadn't even had the chance to ask her name, Caleb hurried to catch up with her.

Pazely sighed as Caleb ran off after the bitchy little girl. Zit frowned, watching him go. “It’s just Caleb being Caleb,” Bryan told the kid, as if that explained anything. “Want to come in?” Trixie hesitantly offered. Whipping her head back around, giving a hyper nod, and clapping her hands, Zit skipped inside. Yippie! She was so excited! This would be her first time hanging out with humans! She hoped she got to learn something fun! Once she started killing them off, they probably wouldn't want to be her friend anymore, so it was now or never!

* * *

Clearing the building quickly, the girl was nowhere to be seen. She hadn’t been walking that fast; did she sprint somewhere to hide? He looked around the mostly empty hillside. Was a good distance until you could break line of sight...

Running a little up the hill (the majority of the property was on a slope) to give himself a better vantage, he stopped to look around again, and saw her off a ways, at an old fashioned stone well. Damn, she was fast! No matter, he knew where she was now, and headed quickly over to the girl, whose name he insisted on knowing.

The imp wasn’t paying much attention, staring down into the fancy, old-style well. Equally deep in her own thoughts, she was more irritated than surprised when glancing up to see doofus approaching her. “What ya doin?” he smiled, reaching the well. 'What am I doin?! What the hell are YOU doin?!' Xal needed to keep her toys in better check, lest they get broken. And from the grin on Caleb’s face, he was clueless how bad she wanted to hurt him. Eyes averting back to the well, “I made a wish,” Iiyni’jeari’eea answered truthfully, and blanched. 'The fuck did I tell him that?!'

Dropping his retarded grin, the boy stepped closer, leaning over to peer down into the dark shaft between them. “The fuck is your problem?” she snipped at him. “Sorry. Just being an ass, and violating your privacy by looking for your wish,” he answered, continuing to gaze into the depths. “Are you retarded?” she asked, voice so overfilled with irritation, the dipshit finally winced a little. “Nope,” he replied, meeting her eyes. up now. “Well, sometimes, I guess. I’m Caleb,” the moron introduced, and leaned across the well, extending his right hand. Iiyni’jeari’eea wanted to grab it and pull him into the fucking thing! “Iiyni’jeari’eea,” she answered instead. 'Gya, what the fuck?!' At least only offered him a glare instead of her hand The fuckshit did she give him her actual name for, though?!

“So,” he smiled at her, not minding getting rejected, “Iiyni, then.”

The level of red she turned, Caleb found adorable. He had no idea whatsoever just how badly Iiyni wanted to kill him. She was red from anger, not flushing in embarrassment. She had a name. If fuckers didn’t like it, they could, well, go to Hell! And if already in Hell, then she would ensure their preoccupation with other things than her FUCKING name!

It was bad enough Zit called her Nini. Even Jenta was doing it now! She only called Ki’yi’xyit ‘Zit’ out of retaliation, and Jen’taa’yi wanted to be called Jenta. Iiyni’jeari’eea had a reputation to uphold! Sisters calling her something dumb was allowable. Some fucknut human nicknaming her?!

And why Iiyni? Wasn’t there enough douchey ‘ee’ sounding names around this faggot, already? Iiyni was sure there were tons, but couldn’t be bothered to memorize all the names she heard. 'FUCK, I just thought of myself as Iiyni!'

The girl he called Iiyni crushed a brick under her hand. That finally gave Caleb pause. Um…

“Oh shit, Rashelle’s gonna kill me! Dammit!” The imp needed to remove herself from this situation, lest Dragonheart become Dragonstain. “She warned me some of these were brittle, and needed replaced!” Time to leave. Easily jumping up on the bricks, Iiyni’jeari’eea hopped over the well, landing on the edge in front of Caleb.

Their eyes met again. Her heart thumped. Iiyni tripped. Caleb caught her.

“Whoa, easy. She’s a bitch but I don’t think she’s homicidal,” Caleb teased, assuming she was panicking, and trying to go hide from Rashelle. Her confusion as to how the fuck she had lost her balance, or why she let herself be caught by this dumbass, was quickly forgotten when he lifted her from the edge of the well, and set her on the ground.

The feeling of his hands on her was like nothing she had ever experienced.

“W-w-w-what the fucking shit was t-t-that?” Why the fuck am I stammering?! AND WHY DID I SAY THAT OUTLOUD?! “All these dumbass, cutesy sounding ‘ee’ names all over the shitting hell in this cunt-hole of a fucking town!” Now I’m rambling and making no sense! And this young Christian man hadn’t even flinched. Like her nonsensical, stammering, profanity-laced tirade was easily understandable, and totally normal to him! Yargh!!!

The rekindled desire to murder him helped Iiyni -'Iiyni’jeari’eea, dammit! Your fucking name is Iiyni’jeari’eea!!!'- to finally focus and think before speaking. Kinda. “What the hell is your problem? You just go around touching little girls? I didn’t ask for your attention, or your help! Now move, you’re in my fucking way!” Caleb blinked, “I’m standing next to the well you just jumped over. How am I in your way?”

Neither moved or said a word.

Iiyni’jeari’eea eventually turned and stomped off, up the hill and out of sight. Caleb wondered if he would see her again, after this was all over. The imp didn’t have such thoughts, for she knew that he would be dead by the time this was over. If Xal liked it or not, she was going to kill this dick! Fucker! Asshole! Prick! Even her insults were lame right now!!! Rrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaa!

Though neither clueless Caleb nor angry Iiyni, would have ever guessed the direction fate would lead them.

* * *

Masque had barely gotten Stryker out of there alive. Their odd speaking vehicle had gotten them far, but eventually high-centered in a low stream bed, forcing them to continue on foot.

It had not taken long for Stryker to lose consciousnesses. Masque carried him up a mountain, and into a cliff-side cave the creatures pursuing them could not reach. The sun rose and the blood moon ended, before any flying enemies appeared to harass them.

And Stryker managed to not die. Many times that following day, Masque had been sure the man’s life was to end. So bad was he, Masque feared to move him. He also feared leaving his side, and in turn leaving the man to die alone. When the sun set once again, Stryker still clinging to life, Masque sat ready and waiting – nothing happened. No blood moon. No enemies.

That was when he decided. Stryker was surely going to die. Even if his body managed to beat the poison, he needed food and water. The latter being the most urgent. Optimally. an antidote could be administered. If this night was to remain a normal night, Stryker was safe in this cave, and the vampire needed to act to save his… friend’s life. Even if that meant risking a lonely death for his new friend.

He knew the girl, Reba, was still alive, and could easily create an antidote. If the human cop could save him from a powerful demon, and survive such a perilous night, than Reba and her father most definitely still live.

Leaving the cave, Masque jumped along the cliff, making it to the top. Shadowstepping wasn’t inherently magical, but neither was it purely scientific. Same for his netherweave. Overuse of either, and it would drain energy, possibly even mana. Masque was fast and strong enough on his own to not risk draining an energy pool he did not even know the depth of. Only that with his inability to feed, it was most shallow. Reaching the top of the cliff and sensing nothing, he -carefully- cleared the many miles back to town in a manner of minutes.

Masque was baffled. There was no one. Anywhere. Bolder than normal, he headed into downtown along the rooftops. There was indeed no human life. However, he did find plenty of unlife. Here and there, scattered about in pockets and groups, alchemically animated corpses of human and animals lingered.

Buildings were mostly intact, and there were few visible traces of blood, yet the scent was everywhere. It was obvious that all the people here must have been killed, or taken away by force.

The sweet putrid tang of the rotten meat that shuffled its way along the shadows, added to the ominous presence. This damage was not done by the dead. More than likely, the witch queen's coven had used the blood moon to animate minions, as well manifesting other horrors to do their queen's bidding.

Which begged the question: had he and Stryker been targeted? Surely it could not have been a coincidence. Displacing them out over the valley as they had was not some random occurrence. Masque had not sensed any humans, nor other beings, besides the creatures attacking them in the valley. His assumption was they were animated beforehand, and he and the officer were sent there specifically. But... why? With the power these terrors have, why toy with them?

Pondering returning to the current; where were the bodies? Were they taken? Had they perhaps been eaten? No… There would still be some remains. Perhaps to harvest their hearts? Could they have not harvested the hearts in the field easier than taking entire bodies? And why the animated dead? Were they waiting for something? For someone?

Then he looked closer at the zombies, and almost growled at his own foolish oversight. Among the many rotten shuffling corpses, were many fresh shuffling corpses. It appears at least some of the town, was now among the undead. He saw no children, fresh nor rot. Knowing X’al’antra, the ones whom lived were probably saved for her to later dine upon, the dead disposed of.

Moving to the top of a nearby church's steeple, Masque was still, letting his sense of smell try to catch something familiar on the wind. He needed to get closer to where the others may be, without rushing blindly to the obvious locations that had surely been targeted... The dance studio of the children, where Reba also taught? That was a hub for them, near the girl, Pazely's, home, and the tunnel.

Sliding through the shadows as he knifed his way through the air; his own ability to understand the nether allowed him, like most demons, to simply avoid disrupting much in their movements. The difference between holding your palms against the wind, or slicing your hand through it. Demons could knife their way through the currents, and more than a few could hide their own scent, and presence. It was no more magical than lift. Though some did use more than a mundane understanding of creation to conceal themselves.

Masque now stood in the parking lot of the destroyed dance studio, with the feeling he was being followed. Yet there was... something else. He had intended to move farther into the woods for cover, but instinct had halted him in the open. Masque was sure he was not alone.

Something moved.

Over by the trees, behind him, away from the building… Nothing. Yet, someone was there. Of that, Masque was sure. Then he heard it, merely a whisper to his senses - the sound, the presence, of a footfall.

“I know you are there. Come out!” Masque stood facing the trees from where he knew the presence concealed itself. “So, you aren't as oblivious as you appear,” a small, stern voice appraised from behind him. From the razed remains of the dance studio. From a location he hadn’t even suspected someone to be. They… were not what he had heard in the trees. This was someone else entirely. Something else. “Confident enough to keep your back to me? Impressive...-ly stupid."

Masque moved to face the black-haired child standing in the rubble. She wore a black human-leather leotard. Her long hair was unbound, hanging behind her shoulders. This imp was a slight taller than the one encountered previous. And for her physical presence; she was also weaker. Though Masque knew she could also kill him without much difficulty. This was not a good situation.

“Quite stupid, Masque the Forever Shadowed,” she condemned, begging to walk out of the rubble. “Do I, too, get to know the name of my opponent?” the vampire asked, voice calm and dry; the question stopping the imp dead in her tracks.

“Opponent? Me? You intend to fight me?” When he didn’t so much as blink, she gave a rare grin. “Jen’taa’yi,” the pretty child-creature offered, continuing towards him. “I respect your attempt at honor, though it is no use on a real demon.”

“So you say, though unlike your sister you appear to want a one on one.” She again stopped, having existed the rubble. Her half stalking stance relaxed, and she gave a quizzical smile, standing up straight. “I can see the resemblance,” Masque clarified, and Jenta gave a rare laugh. She could see now why Nini kept getting distracted with these people.

“I like you,” Jenta complimented honestly, and began to circling him. It was true. Too bad she had no reason to leave him alive anymore. Was fun while it lasted. “Goodbye,” she said, almost -not really- regretfully, and quickly closed the gap between the two of them. Masque was about to shadowstep, when Jen’taa’yi stopped, appearing to catch an unseen object in her hand, and scowled. She then ducked, and stepped away, spinning, looking about, confusion on her face as she avoided... something.

“Tek’tiryin’thu!” came a man's commanding shout, and what looked like vines of glowing energy wrapped themselves around Jen'taa'yi's body. "what the FUCK!" she roared anger, struggling against the tendril-like energy bindings. "Do you think this will stop-" there were loud clunks as something hit her in the head multiple times. "-I can see you now you fucking bitc-" the imp's face contorted wildly, when a strip of paper appeared on her forehead. Back arching, eyes rolling back, several more of the tags appeared on her torso, as did sounds of more heavy blows.

Still on her feet, the demon let out a horrible child like wail of agony, which shifted into a demonic howl, her body violently snapping back forward, a tag coming off her torso.

Suddenly Masques sense of the child-demon was warped, like she was being erased, and her demonic howl of fury was cut off abruptly.

“KOH-LUHN!” John shouted, accompanied by a female's grunt, and thud of an impact; dual attacks launching the bound demon into the air, over the ruins of the studio, into the darkness beyond.

“Ugh!” Masque grunted, a knife was now pinned to his chest, securing a note in place. The avenger class weapon burned terribly, and had been stabbed into him with quite a good amount of force. Removing the blade, he glared at the paper. Why would someone stick a note to another individual using a dagger?! Granted, he was fine, but it was beyond rude and quite uncomfortable! He was going to have a talk with his favorite alchemist about using one’s allies as pin cushions or message boards

The note read: ‘1318 W 5th Ave. RUN’. Why would Masque know the street names or locations in this town?

Though baffled he could not see, smell, nor hardly sense the duo, Masque trusted their judgment and abilities to meet him at the location indicated. If he himself could find it...

Allowing both the note and the knife to be taken within his netherweave, he was moving; this time, taking extra measures to conceal his trail as he searched for the address. Masque did not want that imp to follow them. It would already be easy enough for her, he need not make it even more so. Address located, he knew it would take the duo some time to arrive, especially while concealing their own trail, and avoiding enemies. The vampire took that time to survey the immediate area.

On many doors on the neighborhood blocks, were those tags that had been placed on the demoness. Inspecting them closer, Masque found them to be simple pieces of paper with demon wards hastily inscribed upon them. How very crude, though he could not deny the effect witnessed. Or that he could feel the repulsion from them even at his proximity. There were no such tags on the house of the property he to meet them at. Unknown if he was to wait inside or out, he chose inside.

He had not waiting long, before the back door opened. “I am sooo sorry, Masque!” Reba apologize, her voice clear, though he still could not see nor smell her. “It was so sudden when you appeared, I wasn’t sure what to do, and was curious if you could sense us! When that imp showed up, I sort of panicked. Imagine my surprise that she didn’t seem to know we were there!” Her voice moved into the small kitchen. “I didn’t want to risk being overheard, and didn’t want to risk you not noticing the note either. Again, I am so sorry!”

Masque was confused.

“Why can I not see you, nor detect your scent?” he grumbled towards her voice, the back door was now closed, and a warding tag appeared upon it. “Alchemy. But I would like to think I don’t stink enough to stand out,” Reba joked, happier than she probably should be. “Just a sec,” and a moment later he began to detect her scent. Though it was… difficult. “Better?” she asked close to him. “Not… really,” he answered honestly. She sighed. “Guess just wiping it off doesn’t help.” Then, her head appeared, facing away, long hair bound several times along the length in a tight ponytail. Her back was bare, as she leaned down and looked to be removing clothing, slowly appear as if climbing out of another dimension, until fully visible.

And quite naked.

“REBA!” John shouted, horror in his voice. Masque had not even known he was standing nearby. “Jeez, what? He can’t see us! And not like he cares if I’m…” her voice trailed off after she turned around, and Masque was looking at the ceiling. John, of course, had turned around himself. “Good grief,” she said, trying not to sound as panicked as she was feeling, and hurried upstairs. Masque risked a glance when she turned his way to go up the staircase. “I saw that!” John snapped, and the vampire quickly returned his gaze to the ceiling.

Neither male said a word until she came back down, wearing a poorly-fitting bathrobe, though it covered her well enough. “Sorry, sorry,” she said with a smile.

“You are quite beautiful,” Masque stated awkwardly. “Um, thanks?” Replied replied, with a brief involuntary giggle. Of course, John had to put in his two cents. “That will be enough of that!” he huffed, off to Masque’s side. Though Masque still saw no one there.

“Are either of you going to explain how you can become invisible?” the vampire asked. “Alchemy, I told you!” Reba lectured. He didn’t look like that answer would be good enough. Sighing, she explained, “I have a mixture that essentially scrambles the senses of undead, rendering anything it’s on basically invisible to them. After the imp let us go-”

“An imp let you go?” Masque interrupted. “Hmm? Oh, yeah. Well, we assume she did. She basically ignored us while setting the explosives, so we fought our way through the zombies, and used an emergency one time only type of back exit.” He scowled at her over simplified answer. "Anyway, when we got to a safe place, I mixed up my little camouflage concoction, using some vampire blood I picked up along the way, and added a few other tweaks. Just, because, you know, couldn't hurt, right? I had no idea it would actually work on vampires though, let alone a full-blood demon. And before you ask, the temple tags were dad's idea,” Her last sentence held tone showing what she thought of it. "They worked, didn't they?" John protested.

“Masque, are the others alright?” Reba changed the topic without missing a beat. Masque felt a sudden pang of dread remembering the officer left in the cave. "All I am sure of is Stryker has been poisoned, and needs your help immediately."

“You can carry me, right? Bring me to him.” Masque eyed her, leerily, as she gathered things into the backpack she had on the kitchen counter. “I fear John may not take kindly to my hands being all over your body,” he answered. “I most certainly would not!” John confirmed.

Reba placed both hands on the counter, and hung her head, “Well, for one, you don't need to phrase it that way. And two, I don’t care." stepping back into the loving room, Masque stared at her unflinching. She glanced down to find the front of her room had come open a bit. “Uh, after I change into something else. Then, once Stryker is stabilized, we can worry about finding the others.”

"Why?" Masque asked, and actually flinched at his own question. All three of them were survivors, and undoubtedly the two ex Order members had left many to die, when deemed the risk too great. The risk in this situation was too great to measure. Reba stopped, did not move for a moment, then looked over her shoulder at him, and said, with a bit a pain in her voice, "I don't know."

* * *

Rashelle had managed to talk Caleb into staying for a good meal, taking the time to plan their little sojourn into town, and not run off hungry and half-cocked. Caleb reluctantly agreed, a part of the decision due to the damn voices in his head returning, complicating the ability to think and plan.

They arranged a quick picnic down at the guest cabin, fatigue quickly overtaking them shortly after they began to eat; all worries forgotten, all the remained was the desire to sleep. Trixie, who did not seem to be as sleepy, went up to the main house to bathe. The rest of the kids promptly fell asleep.

Caleb’s body had not intended wake, nor had it been easy to rouse him. So when he was finally shaken out of a dream, and looking into the deep, icy-blue eyes that stared back, he had a bit of a panic seizure thing. At least he didn’t scream. “Wake up,” the cold presence said from above him. “How do I not seem awake?” Caleb croaked, struggling to understand what was going on or why Masque was here. Where here was.

There was still light coming in from outside. Why were they asleep? Wasn’t he supposed to be doing something important?… Pazely opened her eyes, the sound of talking rousing her, then also startled awake at the sight of the large vampire, making choking, strangling sound. Caleb totally understood; that giant ninja look was a freaky sight to open your eyes to! Bryan cursed loudly and did a flopping push-jump backwards a bit, when he lifted his head.

“Be silent!” Masque hissed at Bryan, who had apparently passed out on the floor in the middle of the room. At least Caleb and Pazely were in the corner where they slept before. Had they been drugged or something? Were they drugged the last time too? “It is not safe here! We must leave, now!” Masque hissed again, urgently.

“But we CAN’T!” Pazely chirped quite noisily, trying hard to keep her eyes open, mouth and lips felt dry as a concrete. “She’s right… Masque.” Caleb had to hesitate a moment to remember the… vampire’s name. Vampire. That was still going to take some getting used to. “We have friends up at the house- Oh, that’s right! Last I saw, you were on the hood of Stryker’s patrol car. What happened? Is Stryker okay?” Masque looked furious and worried, now standing next to Bryan, the black misty cloth substance rolling around him. “We don’t have time for this!” he snapped, though quieter still than any of the others had been.

“Wait, what? Why?” Bryan asked in a slurred mumble, heart still pounding as he stood and almost fell, left leg and arm having apparently fallen asleep in the odd angle he had been lying, “what’s going on?” Bryan sat heavily on the couch to try to work out his arm and leg.

Masque closed his eyes, and clenched his fists, trying to calm his escalating irritation.

After bringing Reba to help Stryker, the four of them had regrouped. Masque had left alone to search for Caleb and the others, and realized something was wrong when he increased his search radius to the woods near the closest mountain range. Following the wrongness the pushed at him to flee, when he reached this property on the side of a mountain overlooking the small town; the scent of death and evil was so unbelievably strong, he was ashamed he hadn’t noticed before. Although, it did appear contained to the property, and Masque never crossed this area, choosing the woods around it for pure stealth reasons. You didn’t go through someone’s yard, let alone over a mountain, when you could go around it. He had quickly returned to to the others, and quicker still, they decided the kids must be rescued immediately.

Fools. They were fools for saving them. John justified it as prophecy. Stryker, because he truly loved the kids and his town; now destroyed. Reba, Masque felt, was a combination of care for her students, and the thrill of a fight. Masque? Masque had decided, no- he believed these people, he was fated to find. And to that end, would die to protect them. As noble as it may say, he also knew, deep in his un-beating heart, he had nothing else, and needed that belief. That hope.

“We are in the lair of the enemy,” Masque tried hard not to sound angry. “We need to get clear, to safety, then we shall off all the time in the universe to chit-chat.” Opening his eyes, he stared deeply into Caleb’s.

The black-garbed man Caleb felt no life from, burned with intensity, the scalding blue ice from his gaze conveying their need to hurry. “We will return and find your friends, safely, not haphazardly causing their deaths and our own. If they still live,” the demon promised him.

Caleb had been no less brutal to Trixie. So he agreed without complaint. He may be an idiot, but he tried not to be a hypocrite. Fine, we’ll go with you,” Caleb agreed. And Rashelle opened the front door of the guest house.

“And exactly where are you taking them?” she asked, stepping into the room. She was wearing very small pajama booty shorts, and a t-shirt. Bryan would have been liking the view, if it wasn’t for the heavy presence of pure freaking evil, as Rashelle walked just past him. “Well? Anything to say for yourself?”

It dawned on Bryan that she was speaking to Masque, like the sight of a six foot tall slab of muscle dressed like a ninja, was totally normal. Then, Bryan saw Caleb’s face. It looked… confused. Concerned. Perhaps even a little afraid. That was because Caleb didn’t know what to be feeling, watching the expression in the large vampires eyes change to fear.

“You have a lot of balls these days,” Rashelle said to his back, her tone changing to one of confidence superiority Bryan had never heard from her, all traces of high school girl gone. “You’ve come a long way from being my favorite thrall, haven’t you, Masque?”

Bryan was standing now, and moved quickly over to Pazely and Caleb, who were also on their feet. Caleb's mind was reeling; Why was Masque so afraid of Rashelle? Why did she know his name? What was this feeling?

Try not to die yet, bitch

Get behind Masque!

As Masque turned, Caleb heeded the advice in his head, and stood behind the large, yet slightly shorter than him, man. Bryan and Pazely followed suit. The vampire paid their positioning no heed, coming to terms with something inside of himself.

When Rashelle had walked into the room, he recognized her presence immediately; no longer was she concealing it. The dread that welled in him at her voice, the fear that crashed through him - lasted but a moment. For he realized something. The one he had feared so greatly... was just another being. An evil being. A very strong evil being, but able to be defeated like anything else. Masque was done with the fear of his oppressor. Done with the fear of power greater than his. For the one who claimed him as their own, was the very creator of power itself. The Creator of everything.

Facing her, he took in how different she looked from his memories of so long ago. Similar in many ways, though this body was obviously not the original. How that was possible, he could not say. It was known she could alter her appearance, as were there many other means in this world to do so, but no - this was a completely different body. A young body.

His stance was strong, and he rose in height as much as he could, standing in defiance for the first time in his life, of the one he once called Queen.

“You have no idea how far I’ve come,” Masque snarled, netherweave flaring in all directions, eyes blazing; their icy-blue mist boiling forth. “And you have yet to see how far I shall continue, X’al’antra, you whore of a queen!” Masque may be one of deep self-control and emotional stability, but he was having a hard time not grinning. He had waited a long time for the confidence to utter such words.

X’al’antra, Queen, Ancient Mother of all vampires, snarled. And her eyes began to blaze a pitch-black glowing haze, to match Masque’s own ice blue.

Caleb was almost certain she had not had those fangs before…