Author's Note: In this chapter, you see a small glimpse of Lisa's power. Most of this chpater is about Lisa and Cian. I can assure you, for those who don't really like vampires (MUSE) there will be Zoe and Lucian moments. I, however, am partial to vampires which is why I like Cian so much. But that really doesn't explain why I made him a porn star. I'll never know what's going on in my head. Hell, sometimes I don't even know what I'm writing most of the time. Hahahaha...just felt like laughing. You know, I'm very spontaneous. If I can surprise myself, then I can surprise you who are reading this.

The words hit home and Lisa could feel the words seep into her mind, her body, her heart. She could feel her pulse speed up, feel the warmth of his body closing around her, keeping her safe, keeping her grounded. Aside from Lucian and their family, no one on the outside had ever told her that they loved her. But why did the words of a perfect stranger effect her so much? Was it the truth of his words or how he spoke them, so close and so intimate that they were the only ones to know? What was it about him that made the world disappear and leave only the two of them clinging to each other on the Island of Possibilities? Was it possible to love a stranger? Was it possible to love a vampire who had everything and would give it all up for her? Was a love like theirs possible at all?
Lisa turned her head so that she spoke against the wall, knowing Cian could still hear her. �Don�t make promises you can�t keep.�
�I always keep my promises.� Responded the vampire.
Lisa shifted her body so that they were pressed against each other, face to face. There was something of uncertainty in her eyes, something of surety in his. Now, more than ever, he wanted to kiss her, to hold her and make that seed of doubt forming in her mind disappear. He was close enough to her face that a single sharp breath would have made them touch. But as usual, Lucian interrupted the mood by barking for Lisa�s presence.
For compensation, Cian gave her a hug and kissed her temple, lingering until he lowered his head to kiss her cheek. He let her slide away from his embrace and was content to walk behind her, observing her long, hurried stride. One day he�d do the same thing to Lucian and Zoe. See how they�d like it if every time they tried to kiss he�d become the overprotective brother. Oh, yeah, he could see that happening soon, considering the looks he saw between the Necromancer and the werewolf. He couldn�t wait to find an excuse to annoy Lucian and Zoe.
Zoe was sitting on a metal railing, her hands in her pockets, looking dully at Lucian who was planting the man with the broken arm onto a make-shift cross. Cian looked for a place to sit and decided that standing was better than sitting next to his sister. Lisa stood to one side, watching and instructing Lucian while he tried to straighten the crucifix.
�This is an execution?� Cian asked.
Lisa nodded, not meeting his eyes. The blush that was still on her cheeks could heat the entire city for the whole of the winter months. �By the eyes of God he will be judged. Those who have been hurt by their sins are the jury and set the verdict. We set up those responsible by offering them to the Lord, we are the executioners.�
�In short, we just speed up the process.� Lucian added.
�I didn�t mean to do it!� Cried the man. �Please, spare me!�
�Did you get the necessary information?� Lisa asked, drawing something in the air with her finger. She pointed to the ground and followed something with her eyes that only she could see.
�Got it all on tape. Confession, approximate dates, times. And what�s left of the victim�s residue.� Lucian answered, holding up a tape recorder and a series of little baggies. �I also have his fingerprints, blood sample, and...um, semen sample, too.�
Lisa turned to her brother who had a slight blush of embarrassment on his face. �How did you come by that?�
�He had it on his pants.� Zoe pointed out, snapping from her trance. She squirmed where she sat. �I...found it.�
�Good eye, Zoe.� Lisa replied, smiling. �Well, we don�t need any more evidence, do we?�
Lucian shrugged and kicked the base of the crucifix to test its hold. �This will have to suffice for the Cardinal. I can�t think of anything else to give him for evidence.�
�Did you get a last picture of him?� Lisa asked, walking around the crucifix four times, following the pattern she had drawn in the air.
�Yeah. I got the Polaroid.�
�Good.� Lisa said, stopping in front of the man. �By the powers invested in me, you are hereby declared a disgrace to humanity. Your existence is no longer warranted nor in favor of the Lord. Evidence against you has been taken and is evident in the case presented against you. Whether you accept it or not is irrelevant for you are no longer a part of the world. As witnessed by Zoe Darsh, Cian Donovan, Lucian Vincent, and I, the executioner, Lisa Mayfair, you are now to be passed unto God to be judged for your crimes. Do you have any last words?�
The man laughed and hissed like the were-tiger he was. Knowing his fate, he stared down at Lisa. �Yeah. I enjoyed watching those girls scream. I enjoyed spreading their legs and ripping into them! It felt good. It felt damn good and I hope to do it again in the next life! I hope I get to fuck you the next time around!�
Lisa raised her right arm, held her closed fist up to the man�s heart. �It seems that the only one that�s going to get fucked right now...is you.�
The witch�s fist uncurled, her fingers spreading wide as a white aura began to emit from the circle she had walked. From the four corners came the power of each of the elements. They crashed into each other like the birth of a new star, emitting a blinding, bright light that clung to Lisa�s body like a second skin. From her hand alone came a steady stream of white-hot energy that shot upwards from the center of her palm and spread wide, sliding over her and engulfing her body. She felt as if she had become pure energy, weightless and yet as heavy as the world around her. She could feel her power growing in intensity, growing until it reached her limit and she had to pull back, but not far enough that she couldn�t finish what she started.
The white wave hit the man squarely in the chest, making his scream and jerk his body to escape. He threw his head back, eyes shut and tears sliding down his face. It was both painful and painless, teetering on the edge of unconsciousness and awareness. He didn�t know if he was dying quickly or slowly, only knowing that his body was slowly disintegrating into dust. He had opened his eyes in a moment of clarity and already his heart was gone and yet he was still alive. All he saw now was the witch, staring at him with a blankness that scared him more than his own death. He wanted to say sorry, to ask for forgiveness, but looking into her eyes, he knew he would receive none, so he succumbed to death, let the blinding whiteness consume him.
Lisa dropped her hand, standing very still until the particles of energy began to draw themselves back into her body. She could almost feel every little spark or energy touch her skin, fill up the well reservoir of power she kept whenever she had to perform executions. All the other times she used her power, it came directly from her soul, her blood. The power she used for executions was something far different. It was something that had been touched by God, something that was holier than anything she had ever done. Her God-given abilities to give and take life were something that she had to use sparingly or she would die in the process. She couldn�t use it on just anybody, it was a limited power, something that wasn�t in the Mayfair genes.
When she felt that her well of power was replenished, she looked up at the crucifix. The cross was whole, as if nothing had been pinned to it, but the body that had once inhabited it was gone. She looked down at the circle and with a quick turn of the wrist, a soft wind rolled through the ground, erasing whatever power circle she had created. She turned to her brother and gave him a half-hearted smile.
�Can we go home now?�
�Yeah, we can go home.� Lucian answered.
He watched his sister drag her feet towards the car and winced when she nearly collided with a utility pole. With a swift kick at the base of the crucifix, it fell over, shattering into thousands of unusable pieces. He was aware that Cian was watching Lisa, but, surprisingly, made no move to hound her. He picked off Zoe from the rail and helped her walk as she argued that she couldn�t keep her eyes open.
�If you�d like, we could stop at my condominium.�
�Now why would we do that?� Lucian growled as he opened the car door and helped himself to getting Zoe buckled in. He turned to his sister who was already sleeping and glared at Cian who was making no move to touch her. �You�re acting strange. Why don�t you want to jump my sister�s bones all of a sudden?�
�We came to an understanding.� Cian answered.
�Really?� Lucian sat back and laughed. �She made you the town eunuch already?�
�No, I don�t think she would have dreamed of giving me your job.�
�Hilarious.� Lucian mumbled. �Are you going to buckle her up or not? She is human, remember?�
�Look who�s acting strange.� Cian mused. He positioned Lisa in a way that had her legs over his and her arms crossed over her stomach. Otherwise, she was safely buckled in. �Before you would have bitten my head off if I even looked at her. Now you�re being awfully compliant.�
Lucian rubbed the bridge of his nose. �I�m tired, alright? Just buckle her up so we can leave.�
�Will we be spending the night at my condo? It�s only a five minute drive downtown.�
�Into Vamp Territory, I presume?�
�Naturally.�
�I�m only going there because it�s late and the girls are tired.� Lucian argued. �So don�t you dare think it�s something else or some hidden agenda to see your glamorous lifestyle.�
�I wouldn�t dream of it.�
Lucian started the car and glanced in the rear-view mirror. Once again, Cian was precariously close to Lisa who, this time around, was sleeping. Snarling, he nearly stopped the car in the middle of the road and jumped into the back seat.
�Keep your hands off of her!�
Cian let out his own frustrated sigh. �First you don�t want me to touch her, then you tell me to help her into her seat belt, then you tell me not to touch her again. Which is it? Do you want me to touch her or don�t you?�
�I don�t want you touching her. Period!� Lucian snarled.
Horns blared from all directions because, thankfully, Lucian had stopped at a red light. Unfortunately, the light had turned green and he wasn�t moving. He rolled down his window and stuck his head out, screaming at the top of his lungs.
�Shove it up your asses or I�ll do it for you!�
Strangely enough, once the drivers saw his face, they withdrew from pounding on their horns, quietly-and quickly, drove the opposite direction.
Cian laughed in the backseat, but didn�t comment anymore except to give Lucian directions. He sat content listening to Lisa sleep, half-wondering what it would be like for her to be sleeping in his bed. Oh, his Clan would be surprised that he traded in a whole harem of men and women who came and went like the seasons, for one extraordinary woman. If they knew how precious she was to him, they would understand. And if he knew his Clan, they would welcome her with open arms.
Lucian stopped at a single, high rise tower that was also known as the Whore-ahem-Core of Tourmaline. He would have admired the building, but there were two smaller buildings on either side of the tower, and a dome at the top that made it look even more perverse. By far it was the largest phallic symbol he had ever seen and he swore if Cian even mentioned any sexual innuendo, he�d kick the vampire out on his ass and drive back to Lisa and Zoe�s apartment.
�Where are we?� Zoe mumbled, turning on her side. Her eyes caught the glint of silver and she shot up in her seat, nearly slamming her head against the dashboard. �What the hell? Why are we in the Purple Hills?�
�Purple Hills?� Cian repeated.
Zoe turned to face her brother. �It�s a human term that means we�re in a place of total vampire fabrication. Meaning that this entire part of town is all some exaggerated vampire glamour. None of this is real. They compare it to taking some...very potent 60�s psychedelic drug.�
�Excuse me,� said Cian. �But I happen to live here and I can assure you that everything you see is real.�
�Shit.� Zoe said in defeat.
�What? You�re going to believe him just because he said so?� Lucian argued.
Zoe turned to the werewolf and tried to put into words what her mind was trying to explain. �Cian doesn�t lie. Ever. If he told you he was...going to kiss you, he won�t lie about it. He won�t try to kiss you, he�ll make sure he does so that he doesn�t lose face.�
�So if he said he was going to kill me for making a move on you?�
�He�ll kill you.�
�I�m still here.� Cian said, poking his head between Lucian and Zoe�s seats. �I still have ears, too.�
�What�s wrong, fang-face? Not getting enough attention?� Lucian teased.
�Oh, I�m getting plenty of attention.� Cian smirked. �From your sister.�
Lucian�s head spun around so fast that the bones in his neck let out a long string of pops. He stared down at his sister who had shifted and was leaning over Cian�s lap, so close to his... He saw red and reached over into the backseat, intending to shake Lisa awake and slap some sense in her. He got as far as grabbing the back of her pants, but she had woken up and stared at him behind a veil of her bangs. �Lucian...?�
�Get up!� Lucian shouted.
Half-asleep and half-lazy, Lisa propped herself on her elbow. �Why are you being so anal?�
�I�d rather be anal than have you suck his cock!� Lucian yelled.
Lisa turned her head to the vampire, but the look was enough for the witch to know why Cian was smiling so wickedly. She wanted to smack him, but if she was right, he�d probably like a little slap here and there. She struggled to sit up and brushed over his nether regions. Twice. Each time she swore he was getting a little bigger. She blushed and risked hitting her head against the window rather than to see how big Cian could get under confined spaces.
�I am putty in your hands.� Cian murmured to Lisa, hoping she got the movie reference.
Lisa grinned at him as she looked at him over her shoulder. �In my hands, nothing turns to putty.�
It would have been funnier if Cian had hooked a finger into his collar to let out a little steam, but Lucian had had enough of their sexual innuendo�s. He started the car and pointed a finger at Cian.
�Get the fuck out of my car.�
�I thought you were all staying the night. It would be another hour for you all to get back to Lisa and Zoe�s apartment. And you said you were tired. Won�t you crash in your current state?�
�I�ll take my chances.�
Lisa shook her head. �Lucian, no. Let�s just go up. Besides, we�ll all get a few hours sleep and the office is just west of here. It�s on the way.�
�Fine.� Lucian shut off the engine then glared at Cian through the rear-view mirror. �The girl�s get their own rooms and I�ll sleep on the couch. You can sleep in that damned dome for all I care.�
Cian shrugged, a gesture that meant everything and nothing. �Glad we�ve come to an agreement.�
As if by magic, several footmen emerged from the shadows, opening up doors, offering to take coats, and ushering them into the foyer. Cian flashed the security guards at the front desk a smile and was simply waved inside. Several elevators opened on their own accord, but Cian had taken another elevator, a few more feet from the main foyer that guarded by two large dogs and even bigger men.
�Good morning, Mr. Donovan.�
�Hello, Frank, Virgil.� Cian acknowledged the men. He slid a hand over each of the men�s shoulders and sauntered inside, trailed by his curious guests.
�What the hell was that about?� Zoe demanded. �I knew you were probably screwing the footmen and the guys behind the desk, but do you have to screw everyone in the entire building?�
Cian shook his head as he pressed a series of buttons. �They are my personal guards. They don�t give a shit about the complex. It can burn down for all they care. They make sure that I am protected. This is the only elevator that goes to my floor.�
�Not surprising.� Lucian mumbled. He looked over at the floor indicator. �It�s taking too long. What floor is your apartment?�
Cian smirked and looked like his usual, arrogant self. �The entire twenty-seventh floor is mine.�
�Then what about the elevators?� Lisa asked. �Unless its magic, elevators can�t go horizontal.�
�There�s a shaft that goes through my apartment. It�s also the emergency exit and the stairs. Everything has been taken care of. We have total and complete privacy.�
�The hell you talking about?� Lucian growled. �You and Lisa are not going to be alone together.�
�I was merely saying that we won�t be bothered if you don�t want to be. Why do you think I have guards down below?� Cian asked. He turned to his sister. �And they are not there just to warm my bed on a lonely night. Though I do intend to indulge in a little bit of witchcraft.�
Zoe glanced at the witch, then at her brother. She clasped her hands over her ears. �I�m not listening! If I don�t hear it, maybe it won�t happen. I don�t want to hear that you�re going to screw my roommate.�
�Jesus, Zoe.� Cian said mildly. �I don�t throw around the word �screw� so easily. I use a more refined word like-�
�Bang, slam, bone, sixty-nine, hand-job, blow-job, ride the rocket, or simply...fuck?� Lucian provided.
Cian shook his head. �You and Zoe are made for each other.�