The twinkling of chimes rings just behind my ears when I move to sit on an empty stool at the counter. I turn, not sure what might be seen. A pair of gentlemen glare at me, and I turn back to face a smiling waitress behind the counter.

"What'll ya have, mister? Would ya like a cup of joe to start'cha off? You look like you could use it."

I nod in reply. A cup of coffee is just what's needed right now. The twinkling rings again, and then it dawns on me what's causing it. The rose I gave to Anne last night. She must be crying while she's holding it. I lower my head, closing my eyes and ears to the surroundings.

~ Anne? Anne? Are you all right? It's Xavier. Please, don't panic. I heard the sound of your tears on the rose. Get to a phone booth. I'll call you there. ~

I'm not unaccustomed to the sound of voices in my head when no one is around, but I am startled that his is one of them. Unfortunately, I can't say anything back. That ability was taken from me. All I have is empathy.

Clutching the rose in my now-trembling hands, I find my way to a phone booth not too awfully far away. I stand there, wiping my face with the hand holding the rose, waiting to be called, though not totally certain of how is going to know where to reach me. I look at the rose blooming in my hand.

The cup of dark rich coffee is set down in front of me, and I smile to the waitress, laying a quarter on the countertop. Taking a sip of the hot liquid I carefully place it back on the saucer before standing and making my way to the wooden phone booth in the back corner of the little cafe.

Settling onto the seat, eyes closed the mind wanders again, following the trail of the ringing from Anne's tear. I see her, standing in a phone booth just a few blocks from the club, waiting, trembling in the cold with the rose now in bloom clutched in her hands. I lift the receiver and place a fingertip against the dial on the telephone. An impulse races through the phone, along the old copper lines, to her location, causing the phone there to suddenly burst into a fit of ringing.

"Hello? Anne? Are you there?"

Startled but not surprised, I take up the receiver in my non-rose holding hand and place it to my ear. Trembling, I speak.

"Hello?" I'm half-expecting someone weird to be on the other end, but no, it is indeed Xavier. "It's Anne. I'm here. How...how did you find me?"

"It wasn't very difficult. The rose was created through you, so it picks up your ... vibrations, shall we say? It told me that you were unhappy, crying. What's up? What's wrong?"

Glancing up, the two gentlemen are giving me the oddest looks. So I turn into the booth to shut the glass framed double doors to speak in private.

"I...I don't know. Where are you? It's cold outside. Maybe I could meet you somewhere?" I get the sense that I'm being watched, which doesn't shock me, but I know that if I stay alone very long, I'll be attacked again. Glancing at my wrists, I don't think I can take another attack. They're badly bruised and worse yet, it's going to take some skill with the makeup to hide the damage to my jaw.

I give her the address of the cafe, sensing there is more than what she's telling me. "Don't worry. Nothing will harm you on your way here," I reassure her. And in truth, nothing will. At the moment I say this, a spirit of protection is called and sent directly to her, using the phone connection as the link to her location.

"I'll be waiting for you. We can have breakfa... um, dinner together."

"I'll be there soon."

I hang up the phone and pull my coat tighter to me, adjusting my scarf. I'm not far and the cold is a good reason to move as quickly as I am moving. Bruised and scurrying, I must be a sad figure in the golden light of the end of day.

Cold, a little wind-blown, and definitely not the put together beauty I was in the club last night, I arrive at the cafe, slipping inside and finding Xavier at the bar. I almost stop to question myself and why I am out and about in the city, getting ready to dine with an almost stranger. How do I know he won't hurt me? How do I know that he's not like the power-hungry occultist who robbed me of my gifts so long ago.

"Xavier?" I ask, my face mostly hidden by the hat and scarf.

She's near.

A mug of hot cocoa is quickly ordered, and I turn, standing to greet her as she walks in the door. Helping her take off the coat, I motion over to an empty booth back near the telephone.

"Come on. You must be freezing. Some hot chocolate is coming. What would you like to eat?" She settles onto the slightly padded bench while I slip onto the one across from her, watching her every move. The bruises are noticeable, and a frown furrows my brow.

"Who did that to you?"

"The special sounds fine and thank you for being gentlemanly and ordering hot chocolate." I slip into the booth and carefully take off my hat. I hate them, hats that is.

Catching his frown and his observation of my movements, I carefully fold my hands into my lap and out of the line of vision. My mangled jaw I can do little about.

"It doesn't matter. I'm fine. In my former line of work, you get beat up sometimes. Sometimes former clients don't want to accept you've quit and, well, like I said, it doesn't matter. Whores get beaten. It might actually be biblical."

Glancing up, the waitress brings over the mug of hot cocoa, leaving a menu behind.

"Whether or not it's biblical doesn't make it right. Even in biblical times if a woman ceased being a prostitute she was no longer beaten," I whisper as I reach out to lightly touch her cheek. A warm tingle dances along her jaw line, and when it fades the skin is visibly healed.

A twinkle plays in the corner of my yes as I smile to her. "There now. That's much better." My head tilts towards the window in the direction of the Foundation. A though flashes. I look back at Anne.

"Do you have a decent place to live? Somewhere that's safe?"

My eyes widen, partially out of a trained fear and partially out of wonder. He's healing me. I almost don't know what to say. He's healing me and doesn't seem to want anything from me. I lift a hand, touching my jaw lightly, but I don't say anything. There's something almost childlike about me as I do that, something pure.

"Yes. Nicolia wouldn't allow me to live in filth, though it's questionable in terms of safety. I don't want to be trouble to her so I don't bother her with the finer details of my home." I live in a questionable neighborhood, but it's nothing to worry about. I manage. A faint smile flickers on my face.

"Why are you being so kind to me?"

A sly smile springs to life as I lean back and rest my hands on the table, open and palms up, waiting for her to place her hands in mine.

"Let's just say I have a great deal of atonement to perform. I do what I can, where I can."

My gaze seems transfixed to the space between my hands. Then I look over at her without moving the head. A fire can be seen blazing deeply within my eyes before a blink banishes this vision, returning them to their cold emerald green hue.

I haltingly place my hands in his.

"You're not from here and you've been hurt recently." I whisper softly, eyes cast down for a moment, as though I'm ashamed of my parlor trick power fragments.

Leaning forward, her hands are brought to my lips. With a light kiss, she can feel the same light tingle creep over her hands and wrists. I sit back and resting my hands flat on the table.

"No. I'm not from here. And I have been hurt recently. But that is all now in ... in my ... past," I reply quietly, not wanting to give my past anymore life through words. It's a dead and buried subject.

The smell of heavy smoke and grease fills the air. There's a sizzling coming from the back of the building.

"So, what would you like to have for dinner? My treat." I smile to her, and motion for the waitress.

My eyes flutter for a moment as that tingle weaves in my skin. I love how magick feels. It is so...alive.

"I'll have whatever you're having. I'm not picky, at all. It's one of my rare fine points." I wiggle a brow, indicating my jest.

"So you are a magician? I'm fascinated."

The waitress takes our order of homemade pot roast and wanders back behind the counter, shouting something to the cook.

"Yes, I'm a magician." Eyebrows wiggle in echo of my own jest. "The offer of assistant is a genuine one. A while ago I figured that if I'm going to have all this power, might as well make a living with it. So I perform stage magic with a bit of the real stuff mixed in. The audience has no idea if what they're seeing is real or not. And thanks to people like Houdini and Copperfield, they never will know the difference."

Our dinner is served steaming hot. A plate with rolls is placed between us, and the coffee cup is refilled.

"Thank you," I smile to the waitress before she leaves us to our own devices.

"I'd like to speak with Nicci ... Nicolia, and see if she'd be willing to have a magic act in her club."

"Who is Copperfield?" I ask, tilting my head. "I've not heard of him at all. I can't see Nicolia saying no, particularly if you had me be your scantily clad assistant."

A fork full of pot roast halts in mid air between mouth and plate when she asks that question. It returns to the plate and I glance over at her, straightening my posture.

"Copperfield? Oh, he, ah, he's another magician I know. Just a mundane mortal, no real skills. But one heck of an illusionist." The head nods. "Yup, very good at the art of illusion." The fork finally makes its way into my mouth, and I smile.

"Scantily clad works well in places like Nicolia's. Breaks up the redundant routine of burlesque." Another bit of pot roast vanishes, followed by some buttered bread.

"I wish I could...do what you do, though I'm not sure girls are really supposed to be able to do things like that in theory. You know?"

I smile at him and sip my hot chocolate, warming.

"Do you dance?"

Nearly choking on a swallow of coffee, I look at Anne. "Dance? Why would you ask such a thing?"

I blush suddenly.

"I...I don't know. You just seem...I don't know. Forget I ask." I offer him a shy smile. "Have you always been, magic?"

"Since I was around three, four years old. Yes, I guess. Pretty much." An awkward smile creeps its way on my face as I speak.

"That's enough about me. I'm a boring subject. I want to know about you. Where do you come from? What happened? I know you have some skill, what happened that you haven't been able to develop it?"

The cloth napkin is used to wipe the corners of my mouth as I sit back to enjoy her conversation and the coffee.

"I'm from Manhattan to the best of my knowledge. I was purportedly born there, but I can't be sure as to where I lived out my early years. There was...an occultist. He collected magic things in the hopes he could enhance his own powers. He stole me from my family when I was three and kept me in his lab in the basement of his home." My eyes darken a bit and I look away. "He tormented me until I was ten. Then he...changed his torment. When I was twelve, he succeeded in destroying my powers. All I'm left with is empathy and this..." I lift my hands and carefully pull open the top of my dress to reveal a ghastly scar. "Enough makeup and you don't see it. Anyway, after he got what he wanted...he died. Irony. I ended up on the street...then Nicolia saved me. I guess you can say I've always sold my body."

I look back at him then, my eyes deeply sad.

Silence passes between us for what seems like an eternity. Sometimes, there just aren't the right words to say to some things. Mercifully, the waitress comes over to ask us if we'd like some dessert. I turn, smiling weakly up at her.

"Ye..." comes out in a groveled croak. I clear my throat to speak louder, plainer. "Yes, I'd like a slice of your cherry pie, please."

Looking over to Anne, my head tilts slightly. "Would you like something? Anything else?"

"Coffee."

I sigh and tuck some hair behind my ear. The silence speaks masses and now I feel very ridiculous, even stupid. My eyes swirl a darker gray color and I feel my stomach tighten, my skin faintly changing to a color more ash.

"I'll talk to Nicolia for you, if you want."

The waitress wanders off to fetch the pie and coffee.

"No. I, I'll talk with her. But if you'd do the honors of introducing us, that would help immensely."

A head reaches out to cover hers lightly, and comforting warmth goes with it. My eyes rest on our hands as I speak. "I'm sorry, Anne. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. Please, act as my assistant. In return, I'll do for you what I can. I can't promise anything, but I do have a little bit of skill in a few areas." I look up, catching her glimpse in my direction and wink at her, smiling.

My skin is cold, clammy even.

"No problem with the introductions. And I'll be your assistant, so long as she approves. You don't have to worry about the rest. It matters very little. My kind aren't meant for much more than our parts anyway." I smile sickly and then wrap my hands around the coffee mug, letting the warmth seep in.

"And just what is your 'kind' anyway, Anne. I see a genuinely warm woman who's been mistreated practically all her life. There is no 'my kind' other than what the real monsters have made to make themselves feel superior."

Half way through the cherry pie I push it away, sickened by my own reality slapping me in the face. I'd once been one of those mages, like her occultist who would use other living creatures to enhance my abilities. Since Benedict's phoenix, this is the second living being that has crossed my path, abused and ill-treated. A heavy sigh escapes me.

"I'm one quarter of something that if I told you, you'd laugh and think me insane or possibly even divide me into pieces and make stew of me.... well, no, you'd probably not do that. I'm one quarter human, one half..." and my voice drops then, to a hissing whisper, "...mage-type creature and one quarter of something wholly strange."

I sip my coffee.

An eyebrow raises as I lift the cup of coffee to my lips.

"Really? Try me. You'll find there's not much I'd laugh about when it comes to people not being what the appear to be."

A loud sizzling and cracking comes again from the kitchen of the cafe, soon followed by the smell of burnt meat.

"No, this is flat out bizarre. I'm not even sure if it has a name, but the occultist always used to call it Serpentine. He said it's why I couldn't withstand extreme temperatures.... the cold tears me apart. He said I wasn't special enough to preserve so he just aimed to take everything from me he could. I don't really know what Serpentine means."

"Serpentine?" I ponder this term for a bit, resting my chin in the palm of my hand, elbow propped on the table.

No, she can't be. Not...

"Um, Anne. May I see the back of your neck a second?" I need to see. I need to know if there are...

"Um, okay. I washed though, honest." I smile a little and lean forward, placing my head on the table and lifting my short-ish hair for him.

"My skin's a little weird there, but I promise I'm not dirty. Nicolia would kill me for that."

Leaning a bit to meet her halfway, my fingers move lightly over the back of her neck.

"A little weird there? Why do you say that," I ask, probing her for her interpretation of this malformity.

"Feels scaly. Like I have really dry skin or something. I tried skin cream but it doesn't do anything except, oddly enough, make me feel sick. Does it look strange? " I coo a little at having my neck touched so lightly. "Your fingers are warm."

Leaning back, a glance out of the corner of my eye reveals that we've drawn a few stares our direction.

"No," I whisper. "Not strange at all."

The coffee cup is emptied. "Look, I, um... do you have to work tonight?" The cup is rolled nervously between the palms of my hands.

"No, I don't. Why?" I lift my head, arching a brow. "You look really disturbed. Oh God, it is weird isn't it? I'm sorry." I nervously try to tug my hair over my neck.

Pulling a few dollars out of my wallet and depositing these on the table, I rise, hand outstretched to Anne.

"Come on. Let's go to my place where we can talk. And I'll be able to tell you all about... Serpentines."

I take his hand and my eyes are wide, the gray color briefly swirling to a blue before going gray again. God I hate the cold....

"You know about them? The occultist said nothing about them. Why did you want to look at my neck?"

Nicolia will kill me if she finds out I'm going home with Xavier, but I trust he won't hurt me. He fixed my jaw after all.

Holding Anne close, I guide her the block and a half to the Foundation. Once inside, I glance around, expecting to see security, but there is none. Not yet anyway.

Slightly surprised, I do see that the elevator has been restored. So I press the button and wait.

"Now this is more like it. A working lift." I watch the old dial as it indicates what floor the elevator is currently passing.

Soon the doors open and we enter, rising to the tenth floor, and walking to my suite at the end of the hall. The first thing Anne sees when entering is the large sandpit that occupies the center of the room. Curious, I flip the light switch and again am happily surprised to find all the lights working.

"I wonder..." I mutter to myself. The heating system that had warmed the sand has not yet been developed, therefore it had been removed before the Foundation had been transferred, but since much has been restored I can't help hoping the sand has been somehow heated.

Digging deep into the sand I come across a pipe network that had not been there previously. It's a hot water pipe, and the sand surrounding it is gathering the heat and radiating this out.

"Oh yes. Louis, you are a miracle worker."

I beckon Anne to come closer. "Here, take off your clothes and crawl into the sand. You'll feel loads better. And while your there I'll tell you all about the occultist's Serpentines."

I get up, leaving her to privacy if she chooses to undress and crawl into the sandpit. In the bathroom, a half-empty bottle of oil is found, lightly scented oil that brings back bittersweet memories. I walk back into the room carrying this over to the sandpit.

"Undress and get into the sand pit?" I look at him like he might be insane, but since he has not harmed me yet and I tend to trust for now reason, once left alone, I do just that, slipping from my clothes and into the warm sand.

"Oh...oh my." With the same fluid motions I use on stage, I weave and twist into the sand, my eyes brightening and taking on actual color.

"I don't know what the sand is for but it's awfully nice."

"The sand is for Serpentines. Lean your head forward a bit," I tell her, pouring some of the oil into the palm of my hand before rubbing this into the dry scales covering her neck. And from what I can see, the scales go all the way down her back. It's freaky that someone hasn't taken notice of them, given her line of work. But then, even I didn't notice them the other night.

"What he'd called Serpentines is actually an ancient line of creature called Nagah. They were worshipped as gods once, in ancient times. They were the dragons of old." The oil is rubbed on lightly but completely.

I make happy cooing noises, elongating my neck a little, writhing in the sand happily, feeling warm and sated...glorious even, for the first time in my entire life.

"Nagah? That's an odd word." I whisper, arcing my back towards him as her rubs me. "Gods? I'm a quarter dragon?" It's a little alarming, but the soothing of the oil and the warmth of the sand is almost like a drug. "Why are you rubbing me? How do you know all about...dragons?"

"I'm rubbing the oil on you because that's the only thing that will make your scales soft and not itch from being dry. I know about dragons be..." I sigh. Why do people ask so many fucking questions?

"I know about dragons... because one was my bond mate," I whisper. A tone of deep pain underscores the words.

I stiffen a little and stop being so content. I can feel him hurting.

"You're hurting." I roll over, buried in the sand. "My being here and asking questions isn't helping, is it?" I'm not sure what a bond mate is, but I get the sense it has something to do with love.

"I'll go if you want me to. I don't want you to be in pain." One hand emerges from the sand to touch his face softly.

A forced smile emerges in response to her caring touch.

"No. It's all right. I brought you her. I'd be a jerk to toss you out. Enjoy the warmth. You are very welcome to come and curl up inside anytime you like. Consider it home away from home." A wink twinkles for her. Kicking off the shoes and pulling off the socks and shirt, I wiggle into the sand myself, mostly out of habit, but partly because I miss "her."

Very soon I'm fast asleep, comforted by the warmth and the company.

I'm not sure what to think when he burrows in the sand, when he falls asleep, but I have this urge to curl to him, protect him from whatever sadness I have brought by reminding him...of whatever it is in his past. I fall asleep as well and for the first time in existence, it's without fear or nightmare.

Nicolia's agreement to meet Xavier sends me running back to the Foundation, my feet barely on the ground, my eyes gleeful rainbows. All else is forgotten for the moment, even the miserable cold. I'm not sure why Nicolia agreed to meet him, but she did and that's enough.

As there are yet no guards, I am able to go right into the building and right back to Xavier's room. He's sleeping yet, in the sand. I quickly shed my clothing like so much skin and burrow back into the incredibly comfortable warmth and curl around him protectively. The sadness in his eyes last night is still strongly in my memory. I do feel bad, for bringing up to him what are clearly bad memories.

I snuggle to him and wait for him to stir.

The stars twinkled brightly through the treetops while a warm breeze lightly caressed the skin of his cheek. Beyond the rhythmical crashing of ocean waves upon a shore could be heard. And a tropical sun shone down, beating against his flesh as he lay on the white sands of a distant shore. Slowly, he rolled over, an arm reaching out to wrap around the woman lying beside him.

"Seran."

Seran? I blink a little and move to roll away, only to find his arm wrapped about me.

"No, Xavier." I don't know who Seran is, but I get the sense she was his bond mate. I frown a little. My presence is going to be difficult for him.

"Xavier, its Annevera."

"Xavier... Xavier" floats liltingly on the warm tropic breeze. "Xavier, its Annevera." I blink turning slightly to see Anne's soft pale complexion and enticing body lying beside me in the sandpit.

"Anne? Anne, did you sleep well?" I roust myself out of the sand, making my apologies as I trudge off to the bathroom to clean up.

Revived by a hot shower, the cobwebs in my mind are washed away taking with them that haunting dream.

"Anne, you might like a bath. There are towels in the cabinet. Please, help yourself," I inform her as I make my way over to the closet, pulling out a simple pair of black trousers and a plain white shirt

"Yeah, I slept fine. You?" I slowly crawl from the sand and wander slowly to the bathroom. Getting out of the sand is hard because it is so comfortable, but I don't think I should ever get in it again. I feel guilty, somehow. My eyes tone to a melancholic gray as I bathe quickly, then emerge wrapped in a towel and going for my clothing.

"Did you want to meet Nicolia?" I ask, softly and timidly, not making any form of eye contact with him.

"Yes, I'd like very much to meet Nicolia." I pick up the bottle of oil and walk over to Anne and begin rubbing the tortured scales that cover her spine with its soothing healing properties.

"You must be hungry. Shall we have a bit to eat before we head on over to the club?"

"Eat? Oooh...oh that feels good." I drop my head forward and let the towel fall, fully exposing my scales, my whole posture changing to one of comfort and bliss.

"We can, or we can eat there. I'll let you choose. How are they...my scales that is. Are they looking okay?" I'm a bit aware of them now and I wonder how horrible they must have looked.

An eyebrow raises. "Um, it's obvious you haven't been taking care of yourself. I'm surprised your back hasn't been driving you half crazy with the itch." Her scales are very dry and cracked, almost painful to look at.

"Have them rubbed with oil at least two, three times a day and they, and you, should start to feel healthier."

After a while, I stand and hand her the bottle of oil. "Here, keep it." After washing the oil off my hands, I finish dressing. "Sure, we can have something to eat there. That'll be fine."

Grabbing my coat, I walk over to the door, opening it and wait for Anne to join me.

"You have no idea how much I've itched." I take the oil and slip on my own coat before joining him.

"Thank you."

We walk in silence for a moment as we make our way out of the building and it's uncomfortable. I can feel it. I frown.

"My presence bothers you, doesn't it?"

Shrugging against the cold, the collar of my heavy wool coat is flipped up around my neck. A bitter cold wind blows, and there's the promise of it getting even colder before the day is ended.

Glancing over at her I wink, a forced smile on my lips. "No... and yes. But that makes no never mind. It's nothing I can't live with." An arm wraps around her waist as I hurry her toward a street corner where a cab waits for a fare.

"You'll be the first to know." Not pulling away, she's allowed to take my hand. I can feel her shiver with the cold. To her credit she says nothing, but I know how she must be suffering in this weather.

We make out way to the back of the alley and the entrance to Nicolia's club.

"Watch where yous goin'!" I yell at the person rushing past, a stereotypical accent seeming oddly appropriate.

"Ok, just don't fake things with me. I'd like to consider you a friend. I don't have any of those."

Inside, I release his hand so he can take off his coat. Mine stays on and will until I'm fully warmed. I am so miserable in the cold weather. I dream of moving to a tropical island where I can just sun my naked self.

I ask a lackey if Nicolia is in her office and he nods that she is. I turn and look at Xavier, holding out my hand to him. This way, guards know he's okay as we walk to the office.

"Mother?" I ask before entering, glancing at Xavier.

"I'm going to dance with you tonight," I whisper. "It'll cheer you up. No one can frown when dancing with me."

Sitting in my office feeding Samuel, "Yes Annevera?" I have a mixture of hatred from my brither and sense of pride of claiming Samuel into my brood on my face.

"Is this a bad time?" Feedings make me faintly uncomfortable.

"No, please, come in, state your business my dear." I have a sense of peace now, Samuel making the episode with my brother melt away from me. I turn almost cooing to Sam, "Such a good boy aren't you? You know I take good care of you as I do with all of my brood."

I finish feeding and just lay my head in her lap, smiling and licking my lips, content and almost purring. "You take very good care of me."

Licking my wrist closing it, I pat Sam's head looking at Anne and the filthy Mage. "I take care of all I love. Isn't that Right Annevera?" I let Samuel rest, getting over the rush before he leaves to continue his job.

My quest for a nagah...a female nagah, has brought me here. To NYC. To this speakeasy, specifically. I slip inside and wander to the bar, just watching.

Her whisper brings out a smirk and quiet chuckle from me as we walk into Nicolia's office.

Nodding politely and respectfully to Nicolia a disturbing familiarity is evident.

"Nicolia, Prince, it is good to see you well and whole. How is your father these days?" I stop, standing just to the side of her desk, alert to all that moves in that office and on the other side of the door.

I furrow a brow. Ok, this just feels weird.

"Mother, this is Xavier."

My eyes jolt to Xavier, "How do you know my father? Well and whole? Do I know you?" My eyes turn to Anne's "Maghi ripugnanti" My icy blue eyes slide to Xavier, highly wary of him right now. "Explain to me the well and whole, or how you know my father."

My eyes widen and flicker a faintly yellow hue. I'm not sure what's going on, but I get some weird and twisted feeling that something isn't right here.

"Maybe I should leave you two alone..."

The weirdness of the time-space thing causes some strange flickerings. Anyone with any sense of the future will get bits and flashes of what events are stacking themselves in line in the next year: stock market crashing, clan wars, my suicide.

Holding up my hand to Anne, "No, stay, sit."

"Gift of foresight. Nothing I can control, but it's turned out to be quite handy... at times." A sly smile forms.

"Next time you see him, you might want to warn your father about... about phoenix and fireballs in a dark alley." I grow solemn, quiet, waiting for Nicolia or Anne to make the next move. This is Nicci's ground, and I don't yet know all the rules. If there was one thing I learned from a certain female, the master of the board dictates the rules of the game.

I nod and sit on her sofa, pulling the blanket that lies on the back down and wrapping myself in it.

My eyes narrow to Xavier. "I don't trust you." Looking to Anne, she has to notice his uncomfortable familiarity with me.

"Mamma, he's not a bad person. Look at my scales..." I pull on my collar and turn my head. "He's fixing them!" I try to defend him, but I can feel the weirdness and I can see this strange familiarity. Now I want to know where Xavier comes from. I want to know now.

Looking at Anne gnashing my teeth together. "You come to take my 'daughter' away from me you filthy Mage. I protected her from you people for a long time now, because of your fascination with Nagahs. You will not claim her as your property, you will take my daughter from me over my dead body."

Our eyes meet. Never releasing that lock upon her gaze, I bow slightly.

"Prince, I have no intentions of taking your daughter from your presence. A parent and child should never be separated when love eternally binds them." A moment passes with a heavy sinking feeling in my heart. A longing to know that same love myself. In a flash an emotion of envy over the bond between Anne and Nicolia hits and is gone. The smile fades and then returns.

"I have come only to speak with you concerning a business proposition."

I shoot my mother a look.

"I'm sorry, Xavier, but my mother thinks that every man on the planet wants to fuck me."

~ And she has every right to be protective of you. It is an admirable quality. Especially for a, a vampire.~

"I do not know if you are aware what it is like to lose a child. I do, and I would rather be dead than to lose another, even if she is not my own blood." I rise from my seat looking down at him.

"Business?" My eyes go to Annevera, "Fall silent childe." My tone sharp as a blade. "So Mr. Mage, you wish to work for me a kindred? Do you even begin to wonder where the conflicts of interests begin?"

~Please. I'm just a...I'm just me. It's not like anyone but her loves me anyhow, or ever will. Do you see why I need friends?~ I narrow my eyes and snuggle under the blanket.

The smile grows broader.

~So, you do have a voice after all. That's wonderful.~

""My dear Prince, Nicci, you have no idea the conflicts of interest I hold in my proposition. But even you, with all of your dark skills, can see that I hold no deception in my words or manner. Allow me to work here, perform my little magic act for your audiences, and in return you shall have my protection from those who would seek to bring you down."

My yes close as I let my mind wander through the club, sifting through the upper most thoughts of its occupants. Suddenly, my eyes open wide.

"There is an individual, a woman, who is here for nagah." A burning green glow becomes evident in my eyes as I glare at Nicolia.

"She sits at the bar, talking with the one who you fed as we entered."

I raise a brow and look at Xavier.

~She's looking for a nagah? I'll go down then.~ I start moving to unwrap myself.

"Do you understand the conflicts in interest I have allowing such tainted filth into my payroll? I do not fear others trying to bring me down, I am immortal, I am forever. This threat does not work on me. I've live centuries, through many wars, and survive. No one person has been able to end me, none shall ever." My eyes glare right back to him.

"Childe, you will sit." Glowering at Xavier, "You see what your filth brought in? She was safe until she met you, no one came looking for her as a Nagah, she was safe not knowing and you come and destroy what I kept secret from her!"

My appearance now matches that of Nicolia: glare for glare, height for height.

"I know I am immortal, and have lived over a hundred lifetimes of mortal men. A vampire can be brought down, but I shall live forever."

A hand, glowing with a burning radiance, stretches out towards the door and within the span of a breath the woman who'd come to hunt nagah is standing in the office, held firmly within my grasp.

"This is the creature who would have your daughter. Many have I dispatched in my life for the safety of my bond mate. I shall do it again, for I've sworn an oath to protect all nagah."

My grasp tightens around the woman's throat. "She is yours, if you so desire. Or I shall kill her where she stands."

In a blinking, I'm being choked and I glare at the man doing it as best I can while my prize is just feet away.

"Yes ma'am." I scurry past, not pausing. I still have no idea what is going on, but I run, literally run to the basement.

~What is going on?~ I tearfully send to Xavier. The basement is cold. I'm shivering again.

"How dare you use magic in Elysium! The sleepers are going to go crazy now! They'll kill us all! You've broke the masquerade!"

"Take another look, Nicci. There is a doppelganger sitting at the bar where the woman sat. No paradox has occurred. No sleeper is aware of what has just happened. They are blissfully deceived. The masquerade continues."

The neck of the woman begins to crack under the slow pressure of my grip.

"Anne's enemy will make a fine meal for her. When was the last she feed on still warm flesh? Or drank the life-giving blood as the heart still beat?"

I scowl at the name of familiarity he uses. "There is no violence in Elysium!" My skin turning waxen and clammy looking fighting my inner monster again.

"No violence in Elysium!" I struggle with those words before I lunge forward, not caring or knowing whose throat I'm grabbing.

It is so cold in this basement and there are no blankets. Nothing. Of course I have to be hidden in the coldest corner because it is safest. My shaking grows violent as I hug myself. They won't keep me down here forever, right?

The woman is thrown at Nicolia as she lunges towards me. She may be her old nasty self, but still predictable.

As my hand releases the woman, it reaches out, grabbing a hold of two corresponding threads of time. My hand moves, twisting these around my fingers in a well-practiced pattern. My nagah lover had to awaken me on more than one occasion because I'd started to weave threads in my sleep.

Time slows, but doesn't stop. It slows just enough and for long enough so that I can comfortably correspond Nicolia, the woman, and myself to an abandoned building not far from the club, away from the maddening crowd.

This is so bad down here. I'm shaking all over the place, trembling. The cold is actually starting to hurt. I curl into as tight a ball I can and close my eyes....

Not even noticing what is going on around me, right now I have a one-track mind, and that track is blood. I latch onto someone's neck violently drinking his or her vitae.

Death, horror, the passion of it all is filing my sense, firing up my blood.

Maybe I can go to sleep, sleep is good. Pretend I'm in the sand...

Staggering back away from Nicolia as she satisfies her frenzy, my thoughts reach out.

~Anne, are you all right?~

The dirt and decay of the abandoned building harbors many unsavory little creatures, but these scurry away from us very quickly, instinctively knowing the danger that has entered their home.

~Sand...warm...I sleep now...~ Very weak, very tired, trembling.

Pulling my head back dropping the woman from my grasp, thick rich blood runs down my chin and face, my inner beast still not satiated. My wild eyes turn towards Xavier hissing at him, "Let's see how immortal you are you filthy tainted Mage." My voice doesn't even remotely sound human.

Kicking Daisy away from me I start stalking him, my newest prey. My bast has control of me now, my humanity starting to slip away even further. "Your kind kill my family members, British Mages, So called Gods of our world. Spared me because I was tainted like you. I never found out his name, he spared me because I was dirty trash like you."

"Blood, I smell your fear, I smell your fright, I smell your lies."

British mages? Gods of our world? No, it couldn't have been. He would have told me...

Her words have caught me off guard just long enough for her to over take me.

"Then you smell your own death," I gasp out as her fangs sink deep into my throat. Pain courses like an electrical bolt through my body, followed by the warm gushing of my blood being sucked out.

~Hold on. Hold on. It, it... will b... be ...~

Weak, I feel weak. And then just as the pulse slows to a thread and the heart spasms to beat, I gasp again, eyes flying open wide. This time I gasp for air as a feeling of being born anew washes over me. The heart beats stronger. My head clears. I am still myself, but reborn. Much like when a little nagah girl had bitten me and I'd almost died then. Key word, almost.

Nicolia continues to feed, her appetite insatiable. Lights begin to swirl around my head. The threads of creation dance in wild rhythm to mystical song. And then, the world goes black.

My shaking begins to slow, as does my heartbeat and my breathing. Consciousness begins to fade for me and my whole being turns a ghastly gray as I go still.

Dropping Xavier down, blood staining my face and clothes. I can feel the hit rush coursing through my veins. It's so much like a drug, and at the same time feels so much like death chasing me. I stand there feeling as once powerful as I did the night I was created, the night my sins of a Mage were washed away from me.

Picking up Xavier, knowing he's still alive, barely, I bring him nose to nose with me sneering. "Immortal? Look who clings to his very life. Wash your sins away, and partake unto me, I'll save you as I was once saved."

"For centuries I hold great contempt of you and sun Gods. Tonight, I will cleanse, purge you of your blood's many sins. What say you?"

She has stopped. The pain has stopped, and my vision begins to clear. Enough strength remains in my legs that, with feet planted firmly and squarely below, I'm able to stand, bracing myself for the moment. And within my grasp the first skill that ever came to me while still a toddler, returns.

"I say... that you've underestimated me again, Nicci." My hands, flames sprouting to life and dancing on fingertips and palms, cover her hands just long enough for her to release me.

I stagger backwards, tripping over a broken ceiling beam strewn across a corner of the room, and fall with a heavy thud onto the floor.

"Nicolia. I'm not the Sun god. I'm not Benedict. Please, let's call a truce and talk. There's no harm in talking." The words sputter, hoping to reach some part of her that is still human.

"I know that name." I spit out violently, my hand heal the burns somewhat. Damned fire damage. "I need to see my childe."

"She's silent. The cold of the basement has lulled her into hibernation." Slowly and on shaky feet I stand, awkwardly straightening as I walk toward Nicolia.

"If you'd like, I shall correspond us into the basement. It would be faster that way."

Somewhere in my head, I awaken on a beach. This is delirium, but it's warm. In my dream-state, I rise from the black and white of the cold reality a vision in color, a bathing suit on my body as I pad along a hot beach.

But in reality, my limbs grow stiffer. It's an abnormally cold New York winter and this basement is awful. I'm freezing, literally.

"No. I won't touch you again with the fire. Here." I hold out my hands, palms up so she can see what is offered to her.

"I give you my word. No fire. But we must go now."

I have the look of true contempt on my face, but I have no choice but to trust him, Anne needs ME.

Nicolia and I correspond directly into the basement of her building. There, curled into a ball, lies Anne.

I rush over to her. "She needs warmth. She needs a blazing furnace." I look over at Nicolia. "Does this building have an old coal furnace?"

I can hear voices, but I think that they are somewhere on the beach with me. I turn around to find them. Don't see them.

"No, boiler room." I point down the corridor of my haven.

"It'll have to do." I hoist Anne up and over my shoulder, following Nicolia to the Boiler room.

I open the door staying away from the flames. "I will not go in."

~Can Nagah's tan?~ The breeze is too beautiful for me to speak aloud and disrupt it and I also do not know where Xavier is for sure. He and my mother both on this island.

Nodding in understanding, I take Anne inside and over to the heater. Inside, an intense flame writhes. Anne is set down, leaning against the boiler in hopes that the radiating heat might start to bring her around. I open the door, and pick her up, shoving her inside. Quickly her clothing catches and burns away. Whatever jewelry she wears melts and is soon vaporized. All that remains is a lovely sleeping nagah.

I wait, watching and hoping for her to come back, hoping that she hasn't gone into a deep slumber.

I back up looking at the fire in its full glory. I can feel my panic. I could be as easily thrown into the fire, by him, filthy mage.

Suddenly the ocean before me evaporates, leaving only an endless crater and even that begins to crawl away, fading, vanishing around me. I feel an acute pain that quickly subsides, radiating outward, dispersing. Warmth.

After just a few minutes in the boiler, I begin to stretch and stir, color returning. Of course, I have on idea where I am. I just see...flame.

~Where am I? What happened to the ocean?~

"She's alright," I shout, turning towards Nicolia, beaming from ear to ear. "She's awake. She'll be fine."

I turn back to watch Anne as she bathes in the flames.

~You're some place very warm. Do you feel better now? Would you like to go to the sand pit, or would you like to stay in there for now?~

I breathe a sigh of relief.

~My scales itch. Xavier, I'm afraid of fire. Can go back to the sand?~ My voice holds all the fright of a terrified child. I'm not sure why flames surround me or where the ocean is. I just know that I'm blissfully not cold.

~Where's Mamma?~

I turn. I can't bare to watch flames anymore. I look down at my scarred hands. Fire, damned Mage, FIRE!

~ There is no reason to be afraid of fire, Anne. Nagahs are born of fire. It is the one thing that gives nagahs strength. Their very soul is a burning fla...~ Then it hits me, the scar in the center of her chest. That's why she gets cold so easily for a mature nagah. That son of a bitch stole her inner flame, her heart.

I fight to keep the anger down that begins to well inside.

~She's here, Anne. She's waiting for you. Come out if you'd like.~

I pull off my coat to wrap around her, so there isn't a drastic change in temperature for her.

~I don't like fire. The occultist wanted fire.... ~ I push myself to standing, wrapping my arms around myself as I slowly walk through the flames to the opening of the boiler, immediately wrapping my arms around him upon emergence, aware that the boiler is warmer than outside of it. This enables me to be more easily wrapped in his coat.

Looking at me hands still, this is permanent, I forget, fire is always forever. I hear her shuffling around in there. I don't even want to look at him right now. I just wait now.

Anne is scooped up into my arms so the cold of the cement floor doesn't creep into her. She's carried out to where Nicolia waits.

"Shall we go up stairs where it's warmer," I ask her. "It would be better for Anne."

"Mamma..." I wiggle my fingers at her but stay very close to Xavier even as he carries me. I'm thriving on his warmth.

I don't even answer Xavier. I just start walking away from them heading to my office. I'm losing my grip on everything, even my own mind and body.

Following silently behind Nicolia, I carry Anne into the office, and sit her down on the couch, covering her with the blanket.

Once Anne is settled, I sigh and smile weakly, giving her a wink before I stand.

I walk over to Nicolia. "I need to give you an apology. I'm sorry for provoking you to frenzy. That was wrong of me. And in the process I've injured you. How may I make amends?"

I burrow beneath the blanket, only my eyes peeking out. I wonder what transpired, but I say nothing. I just stay warm, warm and content.

There is a good moment before I can even speak without screaming in pain. "What do you know, why are you here? What do I want? You cause me to slip from humanity, distancing myself from my human mind. And you ask me what I want in exchange for that?"

"You burn me with fire. Fire! I don't want anything from a Mage." Moving my fingers, they start to crack and bleed. "Except my family back." I know full well he can't give me this, and I say it in spite, almost to slap it in his face that I want nothing.

"May I?" My hands are outstretched again, asking for her hands.

Immediately my face changes and fang are out hissing at him as I recoil my hand onto myself.

"Mamma!" I poke my head entirely out.

"I only wish to heal the damage I've done you, Nicolia. Nothing more. I have no desire to hurt you. I really don't. As for your family... I can't bring them to you, but I can take you to them."

"You wish to kill me now?" I look to Anne, "What?"

I realize I have just spoken when her last command to me was silence. I hide back under the blanket.

"No. I don't want to kill you. Now, or... ever. There's no reason for it." A flash of fragmented memory dances quickly through my brain in torment. She still torments me, Quiet does.

"I only want to heal the damage I have unthinkingly caused you. If I fail to do that, then by all means, kill me. If you can."

"I do not trust you or your kind." I look to Anne, and sigh.

I peek back out. Feeling much, much better, I actually sit up and just watch them. I want to know what went on with them, and even more so, why there is this weird energy.

I scritch at my scales a little.

A shoulder shrugs. "Okay, so don't trust me. But given the choice, would you want to go through the rest of your unnatural life with scared hands, or would you rather have them healed?" An expression of complete open honesty etches itself on my face. There is no veil, no guile in me at this moment.

Pursing my lips together turning my head from his holding out my hands.

Taking her hands gently in mine, a light soft kiss is placed on each. A warm comforting sensation follows as the skin rapidly knits itself together, smoothing, and becoming youthful in appearance again.

Quickly ripping my hands back rubbing them, I grunt out a thank you of some sorts.

I tilt my head to one side, watching with widened eyes and great interest. Magic in action without pain...

...I place a hand over the scar on my chest and sigh.

The smile returns. "Your welcome, my Prince."

I turn to move toward Anne, but stumble and fall. The energy drain along with Nicci's feeding frenzy has left me completely weak. I can't move off the floor.

"Xavier!" I squeak and jump from the couch, clamoring to his side, looking up at my mother, but she is clearly in another world.

Looking up into Anne's lovely face, my voice is only a whisper.

"Must ... Sleep." And I pass out.

Mother in her own world, Xavier passed out on the floor, I do the only thing that seems to make any sense to me at this moment: I drag Xavier closer to the couch, pulling down the blanket and wrapping myself and him up in it. I'll keep watch, just in case.

I don't sleep the whole of the night, too busy just watching Xavier. I'll claw anyone who comes near him at this point, including my mother. I don't know what is going on between them, or what the issue is, but there were some seriously heated exchanges and those scared me. I also feel like I owe him now. He got me warm when I was so cold. It doesn't escape me how dangerous things were. I curl a little tighter to him and kiss his temple while he sleeps. I'm very grateful for what he did for me.

Warm beaches, crashing waves, blazing sun beating down and Seran snuggled against my back. What more could I ask for? Ser...

"... an," I murmur as I roll over. Squinting through sleep-heavy eyelids, my vision focuses and I see not my nagah lover, my bond mate, but another.

"Anne? Where am I?"

"Nicolia's office, on the floor by the couch. You passed out." Now that he's awake, I'm sure my being this close will be problematic so I pull away, taking the majority of the blanket with me to cover myself.

"You feel better? You just...collapsed last night."

"Yeah. Just peachy." While attempting to sit up a wave of nausea and vertigo hit, and I wobble, ready to fall back. Catching myself with a propped elbow, a free hand goes to my forehead.

"Whoa. Oh no. Let's not do that again."

Clearing my throat, I gaze over at Anne with a stupefied expression. "Nicolia's office?" My hand wanders down my throat and across my torso. "And I'm still in one piece? It's a miracle." I force a snicker for Anne's benefit. She doesn't need to know just how much that altercation with Nicolia took out of me. Which in itself is a good thing, depending on how you look at it. Now my body will be able to respond quicker should Nicolia decide she's hungry again, and I'm the only meal ticket.

"How're you feeling? Better? Warmer?"

"Whoa, take it easy...." I lean back to him, supporting him a bit.

"I'm so much better and warmer. I think I'm going to have to buy a new coat or something. Cold always bothers me, but this winter has been absolute hell. I wish I knew why the cold bothers me so." I shrug. "Thank you, by the way. I hope you don't mind my staying so close last night...I just didn't want anyone hurting you. I would have bitten them, you know." I snap my smooth white teeth. "Not that'd do any damage, but it's a thought."

Her support is gratefully accepted as I lean towards her a bit. She's so much stronger than she realizes, but has been taught for so long to fear and be weak that she has no idea of her true strength, her true potential.

"The cold bothers you because, being a nagah, you are a creature of fire. You thrive on fire and its warmth. Cold kills the warmth," I softly tell her.

Carefully I turn around, laying a hand gently on the side of her face, kissing her cheek. "Thank you for caring enough to watch over me. I won't forget your kindness. It was a very brave thing you've done."

"But I'm afraid of the fire. Does wool work as well?" I smile a little and fluff his hair. He slept on it funny and it's a nervous habit. Keeps me from blushing.

"Brave? No. I just didn't want anyone hurting you." I nod a bit. "You want to get out of here? I'll buy you coffee if you oil my back again...itchy."

"You tell me." My head tilts towards my coat as it still covers her. "Wool."

Gradually standing, leaning on the couch for support. I nod. "Yes, let's get outta here. But I'd much rather go home, if you don't mind. Being out and about just isn't very appealing right now."

Straightening, my back cracks loudly, and another but milder wave of vertigo passes. "We're going to have to teach you how to extend your fangs so you can give a proper bite." A sly wink to Anne brings me a bit more back to life. Yes, so much she needs to learn.

"Oh, cuddly. But what will you wear? It's frigid out there!" I gather up the blanket and try to wrap him in it.

"I'll get the driver to take you home then...and I'm staying until I'm convinced you're okay." It dawns on me that I'm naked. "And I'm going to have to grab a dress from my dressing area." I take his hand and carefully lead him to my dressing area so I can do just that, actually grabbing both a dress and a trouser outfit. I have a thing for boy clothes.

I let the fang comment slide until we are in the car, headed towards his place.

"What do you mean by fangs?"

Sliding up to Anne to keep warm as much as keep her warm, a quiet deep throaty chuckle forms when she finally mentions fangs.

"All nagah have fangs. Nagah are snakes, serpents. And all serpents have fangs." An arm is placed around her shoulder as she's hugged close to my side.

"All serpents have fangs, but not all serpents are poisonous. Nagah are highly poisonous. That poison is very rare, and very expensive on the black market. There are some, like that woman last night, who will stop at nothing to catch, and kill a nagah."

Twisting my head so I can look into her face, a solemn expression takes shape. "You are an extremely expensive commodity. Your occultist knew that. That's why you were kept locked up in secret."

My hand moves slowly to her chest, searching for her inner fire. But when it comes to rest over the scarred area, I can sense no warmth.

A tear wells and slowly streaks down a cheek. "I'm sorry. I, I am so sorry." My past has finally caught up to me in the form of Annevera. How many nagah have I pursued and left in the same condition as she? The lucky ones were the ones I'd killed and made my millions off of.

A heavy sigh leaves me, and I turn away to stare out the window, ashamed.

I start to open my mouth to ask why the poison is so coveted, but the tear streaking his face stops me. My brows knit together and I tilt my head, trying to get a look at his face.

"Why are you sorry, Xavier? You didn't hurt me and I can't ask you to make the apologies for the one who did." His hand drops from my chest and I replace his hand with my own, tracing the gnarled scar with my fingers, remembering briefly in the fuzzy way one remembers a childhood birthday the agony of that day. Odd, I remember biting.

"Xavier, what's wrong? Why do I make you so miserable?" I take my hand that was once on my chest and touch his jaw. "What is it that I do that makes you sad?"

"It's not you, Anne," I reply, face resting against the cold glass pane of the door window. "It's me. I, it's memories from my past. That's all." Turning slowly, I smile faintly to her. A hand is placed under her chin in the way a lover would caress his precious mate.

"You have done nothing wrong, but be the innocent victim of a hunt that has spanned millennia. And for that, for my part in that, I do apologize."

The car pulls up to the front curb of the Foundation. A long moment of silence passes between us before I move, stepping out of the car, offering my hand to Anne as she also steps out.

I take his hand, brows still knit, eyes reflecting uncertainty and confusions. I don't say anything though. I let him lead me into the Foundation and to his rooms. I fight the urge to run gleefully to the sandpit. Instead, I wait for the door to be shut and just study him a moment.

"You hunted my kind, didn't you?" There is nothing accusing in my voice or in my expression. "That's how you know so much about nagah. That and your absent mate make you see me and only feel pain. No Xavier, I'm the one who is sorry, sorry I can't help you." I sigh and with tears in my own eyes, hug him, wrapping thin arms around him, resting golden head on his shoulder.

"You must have had your reason for hunting nagah. I do not blame you. You don't have to apologize, not to me."

Hesitantly, my arms raise and wrap around her in return of her hug. My cheek lightly rests on her head. And so, here we are, two sides of the same coin, each hurting in our own ways. But pain is pain, no matter what form it takes.

Softly, I kiss her cheek, and continue to hold her quietly as the darkness of evening creeps over the city.

I tenderly comb my nails through his hair, staying close to him for a long moment, feeling a strange sense of wholeness for the time I'm holding to him.

"Let's get into the sand pit. It's warmer there. You can tell me about nagahs there if you want, or talk about anything you want. I'm a good listener." I return his kiss to my check with a soft kiss to his jaw.

Hands reaching up firmly grasp her small arms, pulling them from my neck. I let go and then completely undress, as if preparing to get into the sandpit.

"Not until you do one thing first. Bite me."

"Bite you?" I arch a brow. "Where?"

"On the neck, the arm, wherever you like." A sick silly snicker trickles out.

"Just don't bite me there." A finger points to a scar on the meaty portion of my right shoulder where two very obvious fang marks are sported.

"Okay." My eyes widen at the scar, but then I look away from that. The only place I really know of for biting is the throat and I learned that from Nicolia. Tiptoeing slightly, open my lips. As my mouth nears his flesh, fangs emerge and pierce through Xavier's skin, attaching me to him.

Holding tightly to her, the knees buckle under and I drop down, pulling her with me so our "embrace" is not lost. Her fangs are still there. That is a good sign. Her poison pumps through my veins, sending my on a wonderful hallucinogenic mind trip. The poison is potent, extremely potent. It's clear that she's not really bitten anyone in a very long time.

"E, enough. Please." I cling madly to her, not from pain, but from desperation. "Don't go. Please, d... don't go."

Falling with him, I retract my bite and look at him, eyes both wide with wonder and sparkling with a primal sense of pride...cockiness even that my poison, my poison felled him so.

"I'm not going anywhere." I whisper, clinging to him as well, lips brushing his jaw above my bite.

Warm lips meet soft warm lips as I wrap my arms around her, pulling her tightly against my bare flesh. The coat that covers her is shed like so much dead skin, and my hands move sensuously over her scales in well-practiced motions.

I am lost in her.

This is completely unlike anything else I've ever been party to. Usually when I find myself in anything that whispers of this situation, my scales are manhandled and damaged, scratched, clawed at. But this is different. The more he caresses my scales, the more sensual and passionate my kissing becomes and I weave my fingers into his hair, cooing as our lips lock to each other. Questions have to wait. This is all that matters right now. I run my foot along his leg as I kiss him as if I am starving.

Caught deep in passion and poison induced hallucinations, my subconscious begins warp time and space around us. Stretching out over a three-mile area, the time warp effects everything and everyone within its grasp, slowing all movement, prolonging all action.

The night passes slowly, blissfully, as I spend it in Anne's arms. As the sun begins to color the sky in shades of pink and lavender we collapse in to the comforting warmth of the sandpit, still wrapped in each other's arms.

Tangled to him, something in me feels sated and I blink at him, heavy-lidded. What we've done...it is almost the antidote to the evil and all of the pain. I close my eyes and fall asleep, safe.

Sitting at my desk writing in a rare fit of poetic creativity, a knock at the door pulls my attention away from my journal. Quickly looking over at Anne as she rests in the warm sandpit, she seems safe enough to me. So I get up and walk over to answer the door.

"Hello? Louis? What a wonderful surprise! Please, come on in. Make yourself at home. What can I do for you?"

The door is closed and I follow him as he hesitantly enters the sitting room.

Glancing around the suite, Anne's presence in the sandpit makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. I had avoided entering this suite when Uriel brought his nagah mate to live here, and for good reason. Nagah are a highly territorial creature. I have only vague memories of my great-grandmother, Tiamet, but I do recall the stories that Father and Mother would tell my brothers, sister, and I about her. For me, the mates that Xavier and Uriel have chosen are not a source of any great discussion. Their relationships seem quite natural. But then, some people have a narrow vision of what defines a personal relationship.

"Oh... thank you, Xavier, but I am sorry to say I cannot stay long." Truth be told, what is actually making me uncomfortable is the reason for my intrusion into this life.

I stare at Louis quizzically. "Then what is it that's brought you here? Or do I have to guess. Somehow I think I'd hit the nail on the head with the first blow."

"Yes, I believe you would," I somberly reply.

Sighing, I look squarely at him. "So, when do we have to leave?"

"Before sunset."

"Bef...but that only gives me a couple of hours to find a place to live! Where am I supposed to go that quickly? And what about Anne? I can't take her out into that cold. She'd freeze to death in an hour." A hand is waved towards the window and the bitter winter weather outside.

"I am sorry, Xavier. Maximilian has been able to seduce the will of the council to his favor. And this brings great distress to my mind. He must be stopped before he gains control of the Foundation... and the orb." My eyes lock with his, and while words are spoken and heard, there is an understanding passing between us that transcends that level of communication.

Stepping back, I'm appalled at the visions Louis sends me. I'd known Maximilian was jealous, hell even envious, but his wanting to take over the orb and the Foundation...

"Why, Louis? Why?"

"One reason, he envies you." My voice is cold and hard as ice.

A smirk forms. "Envies me? That's ridiculous. What's to envy?"

I step closer to him, forgetting about Anne's presence in the room. "He envies you because you have accomplished more in your relatively short life than he has in all of his years. He envies you because you have achieved a level of mastery in Spheres in which he dares not dabble. Your are the antithesis of everything he is. You are what he desires to be but cannot, because he cannot bring himself to step out of the box, the cage he has created for himself."

My eyes drop for a moment, and then return to meet his gaze. "You have been closer to Uriel than any mage has ever been for a very long time. And that was a position he desired for himself. He could not achieve it."

Noise disturbs my warm, exceedingly pleasant slumber. The sound of voices, changing in timbre and pitch. My eyes open and I know instantly that Xavier is...upset. I rise from the pit and throw a robe around my body to deflect the temperature change. I shiver just the same.

"Xavier? What's wrong?" I my reptilian eyes narrow a moment when I see what I assume to be an outsider, though I say nothing. It is only instinct after all.

While trying to understand what good reason one person would or could have to envy, even hate another person, I turn at Anne's voice tilting my head.

"Nothing, really. Nothing I wasn't expecting."

I turn back to Louis, sighing. "But I had hoped there would have been more warning."

"Xavier, what is wrong?" My words are slow and deliberate and I move to his side carefully, giving the intruder something of a sinister and almost hateful glare.

Lips pursed for the moment, a slight nod is given to Xavier.

"I shall do what I can to gain you a little more time. But I seriously doubt that you would be allowed anything past midnight. Do what you can. I shall do whatever I am able to aid your flight."

With a gentle smile toward Anne, I take my leave, so that Xavier and his companion can ready themselves for departure.

I watch as Louis walks out the door, and then whirl around as if a devil were on my tail and begin to gather what few belongs I'd brought into the Foundation, thinking I might actually be able to call it home.

"We have to leave. The quorum has given us, me, until sunset to vacate the premises." Stopping, I look over at her for a brief moment.

"Otherwise, they take my life. And yours would soon follow."

"We're being rendered homeless?"

A string of Italian expletives escapes my lips. I picked it up from Nicolia. Fortunately, my possessions are all still crammed in the suitcase.

"But where will you go? Where will I go? Nicolia threw me out...Xavier...we'll freeze to death."

I return to stuffing my few things into two leather shoulder bags. "We'll manage. There's a reasonably priced hotel not far from Nicci's club. That's where I was staying, until Louis showed up. We can take a room there for the time being."

I find the pants I had been wearing earlier and tug them on, frowning deeply.

"Xavier?" I look up at him as I hunt for my shoes. "If it is a money issue..." and my voice lowers.

"Xavier, I have five thousand dollars in an envelope in the bottom of my suitcase. You can have it."

That was my "escape to someplace tropical" money. But now...

I slide on a shoe.

I can't help but to break out laughing. Leaning over, Anne gets a big kiss. "That's sweet, but it's not a money issue. I've got enough for us to live quite well for some time. I just don't like spending more than needed. You know? It's like, flaunting the wealth. I've never understood that."

I finish the packing, and then move to the closet, pulling out the heavy wool overcoat.

"Oh. Well, okay. I was worried for a moment. I don't want you to be homeless. It isn't much fun." Mercifully, I was homeless in warm weather. "Why is this happening?" I still have so many questions. "This has to do with...where you're from, doesn't it?"

Straightening, I watch her as she shuffles over to the door, dragging her heavily laden bag.

"Yeah, it sort of does. It, it's just one ridiculous story. One I'll tell you sometime, but not right now. We've got to haul ass." I hold out the coat so she can slip her arms into it.

Lighting from the cab, I walk around into the alley behind a storefront and up to a cleverly concealed door. The mind of the person on the other side easily yields to me the secret for passage into this establishment. Rapping out the rhythm with a knuckle joint against the door, it opens to us, and we enter, Maximilian and I.

Walking with my powerful stride, I decide to check out what's going on at the club, see if Diamond is having it town down by now. My mind ponders, if Garnet and Sapphire are of course Sabbat, then Diamond could very well be, interesting. Finally heading to the door of the club, I knock and look at them. "You know who this is, now open it up." Stepping inside, I look around and see very few people inside tonight.

My feet lead me to the club. It's habit and of course, I'm let in. Nothing has changed in that respect, but the place is so damn... empty for the time of night and the night of the week. And none of the other dancers are here. I sigh. And then I see Nicolia.

Leading Maximilian off to a side table, we set ourselves in a position to watch the comings and goings very carefully. My eyes widen slightly when I spy Nicolia walking into the club.

So, this is what Xavier was not telling me. Interesting.

"Master Louis..."

A dark warning glance is shot over at Maximilian before he can utter another word.

Passing by the table with Louis and Max, I head down to my haven to obtain a small book. I however did not see Annevera enter behind me.

I rise, a hand leveled at Max to indicate he should remain seated.

~ I shall return shortly. Should anything untoward occur, make certain that you and the nagah depart safely. ~

I follow Nicolia downward.

My eyes catch hold of Nicolia passing by, and then I look at Louis as he stands.

~ Not that creature. ~

Cracking open the safe I keep down there pulling out a ratty journal tossing it into the suitcase. Slamming it shut I turn to the small desk I have when I catch a glimpse of someone standing there. "Who's out there?"

I stay in a corner and just watch. Things are vastly different and the vibe is startling. I'll keep to myself until approached.

"We need to talk, Nicolia." The voice speaks softly into the air like a gently breeze.

"Who the hell are you?" My eyes squint into the darkness. "What do we need to talk about? You're one of Diamond's men!"

"I am no one's man."

In a rare moment my true form is visible as I step out of the shadow, revealing who and what I really am.

"You killed a creature that belonged to me. How shall we resolve the debt?"

"We don't. Patrons enter at their own risk."

I start piling crap into my suitcase.

(Louis post missing.)

The left side of my mouth crooks. I shut the suitcase. "I should be so lucky, I know the laws here I created them."

"Then why break them. Even the creator of the laws is bound by them. Compensation is due me, Nicolia. I shall have it one way or another."

A deep burning flares in my eyes as my gaze fixes heavily upon her.

(scene was not completed)

New York City is almost pleasant to wander during a mid-winter thaw. I've been able to take notice of little things that were ignored while dashing from one warm spot to another. Little things like the statuary that adorns the eaves of some government buildings, or the theater marquis announcing a new film by Buster Keaton called The Cameraman.

It's been very lonely here. Annevera has gone off. I haven't seen her for nearly two weeks now. She had begun to fill a void that was left in my heart. But that void could never be truly filled unless it was by one particular person... or two.

Sighing, I climb the stairs out of the subway and make my way to Time Square. There's an audition at one of the small theaters there. They're looking for opening acts. Hopefully they might choose a certain magician for the job.

The collar of my thick wool coat gets flipped up in reaction to a burst of cold wind blowing through the tall buildings. Passing by a fancy restaurant with large glass windows, I catch a glimpse of my reflection. A shudder runs through me as I also see another figure in the window.

I'm leaning across the table, smiling at an older looking man in an expensive tailored suit. We're drinking wine and having a business lunch. I don't seem to see Xavier, animatedly talking. My hands move as I appear to be telling some kind of entertaining story to my companion who is staring with a piece of French bread half raised to his lips. My eyes sparkle; I look absolutely vibrant.

Turning my head, I look down the street contemplating what to do. Should I go to that audition, or...

I glance back to the familiar figure sitting at a table by the restaurant window.

Or, do I reintroduce myself to... Ben.

Pain grips my heart at the decision presented to me. The timeline has suffered enough trauma from my being here, so I should just go to that audition. Get myself a job. But, the loneliness is becoming so overwhelming at times.

Taking a deep breath, a decision has been made, and my hand reaches out for the doorknob to the restaurant.

What shall I say? He, he looks so engrossed in the conversation with his luncheon company. Maybe, maybe they're lovers. No, not Ben. He prefers younger men, always has. He told me that himself.

Standing in the foyer, I quickly scrawl a note on a piece of scrape paper from my pocket, addressing it to Uriel ben Devi. Slipping the maitre 'd a twenty-dollar bill, he's asked to deliver this to a particular table.

Hopefully Ben will accept my invitation to dinner and the theater, but who knows.

"I swear Jonathan, the students are becoming more precocious every semester!" I am reaching for my own wine glass when the maitre 'd appears and Xavier sees me falter, eyes widening as I read the name. But I scan the paper and then look up- straight at Xavier.

There's a wary curiosity in my eyes. My mind brushes over his, feather light, then withdraws without any kind of penetration of his shields. I smile slightly to Xee, in an unapologetic manner and simply nod. Then I turn back to my companion, looking at my watch and rising out of my chair, patting him on the shoulder as he says loudly "Benedict- those contracts!"

"Tomorrow morning, I swear on God and Gaia," I say and lean in- and the two of us kiss, right on the mouth and I squeeze his hand and then walk towards Xavier.

My gaze drops to the floor as a familiar presence in my head filters through my thoughts. Eyes slowly raised, Ben's smile and nod are barely seen by me before he turns to kiss and make apologies to his companion.

Nervousness begins to grow in the pit of my stomach. Nervousness I haven't felt since the first time I met Ben.

As he approaches, a crooked smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. "Hello... Be, Mister Sinclair." My hand is outstretched to greet him.

"I'm sorry." I smile at him and my hand grips his in warm and firm way. "But I'd like very much to know how you knew about Uriel. That's a name no one but my wives have called me in a very, very long time. And Mister Sinclair is so formal. Please, Benedict will do. You are?"

Even as I speak, I push him gently towards the door, away from Jonathan. Jonathan dearest is completely and wonderful mundane. I want to keep him safe from all things that Uriel ben Devi represents.

Willingly, I let him guide me to the door and outside to wherever he'd like to take this conversation. Speaking quietly, so that the mundanes can't hear, but loudly in a voice only another mage is able to hear, I answer his questions.

"My name is Xavier... Neuman. My proper last name is Regardie. Aaron and Rayzel are my parents." I watch him closely, lightly touching his mind now, just enough to know how much to say and not to say. My eyes narrow a bit against the sting of the cold wind that suddenly whips up.

"Is there some place we could go to talk? This isn't the best of locations." An older lady bumps into me as she makes her way down the slushy snow covered sidewalk. I reach out to catch her elbow a moment before she slips on a small piece of ice, and help her regain her balance. At first she's startled by the quick action, but her constrained expression turns into a grateful smile. I smile back, nodding, and let her go so she can continue on her way.

I look back to Ben, shrugging my shoulders. "Sorry, didn't want to see her carted off to hospital."

"That's impossible. Rayzel is-" barren.

As he helps the older woman, I stare at Xavier though. Then I approach as she toddles off and even reach up and touch his face. "But by the light, you are telling the truth aren't you?" I murmur and stare at him. "No, never apologize for random acts of kindness. Without compassion, the world would end." My voice is so much gentler than he would remember it, smooth and relaxed. "I have a room at the Windsor. It's four blocks away. Do you mind the walk?" The wind has tousled my hair but I don't show any sign of discomfort at the cold.

My eyes slowly close at the touch of his hand on my cheek. Lazily, I open them. A glimmer that had been gone from them has returned.

"No, I don't mind the walk at all," and I keep pace with him for the four-block trek.

Ben, this Ben, is so much more in control of himself, his emotions. I can see now why so many people had become extremely concerned over his behavior. He's like the Ben I'd met after his return from Elysium. Before I'd captured his...

An apologetic smile shows itself for a fraction of a moment. "How is your chantry? Are you still head master in London?"

"London?" I blink. "No, but I am headmaster at St. Clairs school for the gifted in Victoria. In British Columbia. That's where Aaron and Rayzel and Catherine are. We haven't been to London in a very long time. It was too political, in all the wrong ways. Protestants abusing Catholics, Catholics abusing Protestants. I came to hate England as much as I hated Spain when Isabella took the throne. So we emigrated when the colonies opened. With William Penn's congregation and then just kept heading west."

"Sorry, forgot about the chantry in Victoria." My eyes dart away for a moment. Aaron... and Rayzel, in Victoria. But that would be a meeting I could never afford to make. The ramifications would be just too great.

"Then you're here on a... business trip?" A hopeful smile produces itself.

"Very much so. I come twice a year. All the best banks and lawyers are here- well, the best ones outside of Switzerland and Italy." I chuckle and then put my arm around him and continue to walk. "Your father is my very best friend, you know. We have a cabal, the four of us and Tom O'Malley and Nathaniel Deveraux and Lucian DeLucci. The seven of us against the world some days." I sigh and shake my head. We reach the big fancy hotel I've taken rooms and the doorman holds the door. A busboy is in the brand new elevator and I tip them both and take Xavier straight to my rooms, a huge and elegant suite with a fireplace. "Let me take your coat. Could I fix you a drink Xavier?"

It's all I can do to not put my arm around Ben in reaction to him. Once inside his suite, the coat sides off into his hands.

I nod. "Yes, thank you. A rum and co... um, just rum will be fine. Thank you." I wander over to the fireplace to get a fire going. With a snap of the fingers in just a few seconds logs are blazing nicely, filling the room with a friendly warm glow.

"Ah, thanks." The glass is accepted when he brings it over. "The seven of you. If I may, what has become of Taijin?"

I stare at Xavier completely dumbfounded. "Sir- you are a damnable creature." Walking over, I hand him the rum and just stare. "Tai is one of my best kept secrets... or so I thought. Every word you speak convinces me that you are exceedingly dangerous- and yet I find myself impulsively trusting you."

"And Tai shall stay one of your best kept secrets. I've no place to speak of him with anyone other than you." I sigh before sipping the drink. A feeling of being utterly alone in spite of the somewhat familiar company washes over me. Turning to stare into the fire, I don't allow Ben to see the look of melancholy I know is visible. Having a poker face has never been one of my strong suits.

Suits; that reminds me. My hand reaches into the breast pocket of my coat and I hold out a card, my back still to him. "I believe this belongs to you." It is a tarot card, the Fool. "I found it in my bags when I left, home."

Getting a grip on myself, I slow turn to face him. "You are a man of integrity. I can see this Uriel ben Devi. And I have made a grave error in speaking with you. I'm sorry." My eyes look away for a moment. I start for the door, looking for my overcoat.

I stare at the card and swallow hard. Then I whirl and grab his shoulder, turning him around.

"Wait!" I stare into his eyes, desperately searching for something. An explanation. "Who are you?" I whisper. "Who are you -to me-? Don't tell me we've never met. You know too much. I sense... there's a connection between us. Please don't run away."

"I'm... not running." My mouth moves as if to say something, but no words come forth. In frustration, I bite my lower lip. That melancholy look can't be hidden this time.

"We have met, in another place, and time." Hurt underscores these words. "As for what I am to you, even time can't conceal this from your heart." A spark of love flares deep inside for him, rekindled even after a thousand years in the jungles of ancient China, and bondage for all eternity to a serpent.

"Don't leave," I repeat and staring into those eyes, I take his hand and bring it up to my lips and kiss his lifeline. "I want you to tell me... everything. Then we'll decide what to do together, alright?"

My expression changes to one of lazy content as his kiss brings out a purr from me. I love Seran, deeply, but not even she could ever get me to purr. "What I have to say could change history. Are you certain you want to hear it, all of it?"

"Nothing ever happens unless its meant to. The sisters Fate make sure of that." I start smiling and I walk backwards, my hands holding his hands and I pull him to the couch near the fire. "Were we lovers? I've ached for your father since the day I saved him from a mob of Jew-hating Spaniards. He's never so much as kissed me in an untoward way. A very devoted man, your father. To our chantry- and to his God." I shake my head ruefully.

As Ben sits on the couch I straddle his legs, facing him. Leaning forward a gentle kiss finds its place by his ear.

"Yes, lovers. And allies." The purr grows louder with each kiss he receives. And then the visions begin. Visions of our future.

Gasping- the visions are almost overwhelming. I accidentally gag and choke at one little memory involving *cough* rodents magicus. "You wouldn't dare?" I plead and oh how I respond to those kisses. My thumb smoothes back curls from his ear. "I don't want to be that awful man you fell in love with. He was cold and cruel."

"I fell in love with the man when he still was mortal and gentle, and his avatar had not been reawakened. I stayed with him out of hope, and love. And yes, he was cold and cruel."

I move to sit beside Ben on the couch, a finger lightly tracing the outline of his lips. "Please, whatever we do, the future must not be changed. No matter how dreadful it may be."

A tear slides down my cheek. "But while I'm here, and must remain here, is there, could there possibly be something between us."

"Yes," I say softly and reach up- and I capture that tear and cup my fingers, which start to glow. The tear becomes a small heart-shaped charm on a golden chain and I bring it to my lips and I kiss it. Then I slide it around his neck. "But I need to call Catherine, and you'll have to meet her. My wife and I- well, we have an understanding. She's an extraordinary woman. I have my lovers and she has hers. Since she prefers women and I men, it works out perfectly. Go home and rest. Come back in the morning. Let me take you out to breakfast and then to meet her. Sex without friendship is so meaningless. Lets not ruin something that could be so beautiful by rushing into it like imbeciles."

"Catherine." I breathe in deeply. That name makes my skin crawl. "Certainly, Ben. Breakfast and Catherine. It should be an interesting meeting."

Before rising, I lean over, kissing him softly on the lips. "In the morning. " Then I wander over to pick up my overcoat.

He had taken the tear and transformed it into a charm. Oh how I wish the Ben I knew had been like that. He was loving, to be sure, but not quite so caring.

At the door I turn, facing him. "Whatever you do, don't tell Aaron and Rayzel about me, or the others. And to hell with the future. Forget what I said about not changing it if changing yourself means the world will benefit." A hand slips up behind his neck and he's passionately kissed. Stepping back, smiling, I walk out. The promise of a brighter future has just been handed to me on a silver platter.