Loud music thumped as Brian and his crew entered the Mecca of sweaty, scantily clad men. Lights flashed and bodies gyrated on the dance floor where music drowned out the sound of groans and sticky sex in the backroom. It was a little piece of wonderland as many men stopped and watched as the gang strolled in. A few might have believed that they did so because it was the Prince and his pregnant mate or because of the Slayer, but it was not. Eyes followed the group because its leader was Brian Kinney, the King of Liberty Avenue.

Many hoped for a moment alone with the godlike figure, yet others wanted time with his mate. Justin saw the Toreadors and was ready for them, leaving his mate�s side as they led him to another part of Babylon. He was followed by Regilio who Obfuscated the pregnant Toreador�s belly and Matt, who kept a watchful eye on the keeper of his unborn sibling. There were three other Gangrel that kept by Justin�s side to protect him in place of their absent Primogen.

Brian made certain there were Gangrel and Tremere all around to protect them. He was especially mindful of Justin�s needs considering many of the later attacks had been focused on his young lover. It seemed a bit much for a night out on the town, but since becoming Prince it was necessary. Pittsburgh was still a place in turmoil and probably would be until he had established himself, considering the lifespan of a vampire, he could only imagine how long that could take.

However, Brian wasn�t one to sit back and be a captive to his own life. If he was going to die, he would do so doing his favorite thing. Fucking. Making his way to the dance floor, he shook his butt a bit and was immediately surrounded by men. He chose the two most appealing, then snaked his arms around them and led them into the orgy filled back room.

�Where is he going?� Willow asked as Ted sat down, bringing drinks for the remaining members of the group.

�The back room,� Ted answered, flashing a knowing look at Emmett. �It�s where men go to get to know each other better.�

�And fuck,� Em added.

Buffy flashed a look of disbelief at the two men. She looked to Spike who only laughed, so she decided to see for herself. It took her some time to make her way and back through the barrage of almost naked men, but when she did so her pink complexion showed she had seen more than she had expected.

�So what�d you see?� Willow asked as she sipped on her drink.

�I saw�� Buffy began, trying to figure out how to say what she saw politely, ��that two guys can do it missionary style.�

�You have so much to learn,� Em snickered, stealing a look at his old friend. �Wanna trip the light fantastic, Teddy?�

�I think I need to drink a little bit more before I embarrass myself,� Ted replied.

�It doesn�t seem to bother Brian. He can�t dance to save his undead life,� Em chuckled, glancing back and seeing the Prince already gone. �Doesn�t take him long, does it?�

�Never did,� Ted sighed.

�I�d like to dance,� Buffy declared. �If you don�t mind dancing with a girl.�

�I don�t,� Em said, taking Buffy�s arm as they headed to the dance floor. �You know I even had sex with a women once? It wasn�t my thing, but it did remind me how much I love cock��

Willow watched her friend leave her with Spike and Ted and sighed, �I guess it�s just us three�and some bodyguards.�

�Sorry, but I�m not going to be much fun,� Ted replied, taking out a notebook. �I still have some figures to go over about the website.�

�Figures?� Willow gasped. �Can I help?�

�You blokes are sick,� Spike snorted, standing up.

�Where are you going?� Willow asked. �Or do I care?� After thinking about it a moment she answered her own question. �That�s right, I don�t.�

�Good,� Spike answered, leaving the pair to see what sort of trouble he could get into. After passing a group of men, he smelled great possibilities. �Well, well, well�� He snorted getting the men�s attention. �It�s good to see a Ventrue or two in the house��

****

Michael grabbed Liber Utercumque Turbatus Sedatus and took it upstairs with him. He had heard Brian and his group leave and though he wanted to go to Babylon and have some fun, there was work to be done. The next chapter, The Rise of the New Family, held great promise and he wanted to get through it as soon as possible. To be sure that he wasn�t interrupted he wanted to go to the one place he knew he wouldn�t be found: Brian�s quarters. He was sure Brian and the twat wouldn�t be back for hours, which would give him ample time to go through the next chapter.

After gaining permission from the guards, Michael entered the loft and looked around. He had stopped by on occasion, but was only there for moments, having been told to leave because Brian was upset or in a meeting. Both were especially true when Justin had left not so long ago. He thought he would have more time with Brian, but that would not be the case. Instead he found himself fighting for his Sire�s attention or trying to prove himself to the likes of Lazarus. It seemed strange that the man he had once called his best friend seemed so far away, so out of reach.

That fact was glaringly obvious when Michael closed the loft door and saw a room filled with roses. The sweet smell was overwhelming and it sickened him. At one time he had felt that roses were the most beautiful of flowers, that is until he knew it was the emblem of the Toreador. He hated the Toreador, even more than he hated the Ventrue.

Michael went to the table and sat down. He placed the spellbook in front of him and opened it to The Rise of the New Family. He began to read slowly, making sure he didn�t miss any instructions within the text. Trying to concentrate he flickered his eyes in the direction of a vase full of red roses. He couldn�t avoid them, for the sweet smell wafted to his senses as though they meant to taunt him. The corner of his mouth twisted up cruelly as the new found power he possessed filled his brain. With a twitch of his finger and a well spoken word the vase flew, breaking against the wall and sending the flowers to the floor. Using a spell so rotten, so tainted, Michael grinned as the flowers decayed before his eyes. There was so much more to do. This was only the beginning.

****

Chris crossed his arms and looked down at the spectacle before him. He saw Justin with his fellow Toreadors as well as a dozen or so Tremere soldiers guarding the establishment. He saw the Slayer and smiled. She might be useful at a later date, but at the moment she was nothing but eye candy for him. He wondered who the other woman was, but pushed the idea aside. She was nobody, just a silly woman. The one who interested him was the fair haired man. At first he ignored the man in black. It wasn�t until the fair haired man approached his men that Chris actually assessed the situation. Though the man looked like a Brujah, he sensed otherwise. The man was Ventrue and any brother of theirs only meant a quicker downfall for the Tremere Prince.

Everything was in place and Chris� plans were about to begin. Brian had walked right into his trap. There was one way in and out of the backroom and Chris had control of it. Inside, along with other nameless faces and dicks, were his men masquerading as some of�them. The thought sickened him, but it was necessary so that his greater goals would be accomplished.

Counting his guards to those of the Prince�s, Chris felt confident. He outnumbered them by at least two dozen. It didn�t even matter that many of his men were young, he knew Brian�s crew were younger. The best part was that there were but a few Gangrel in the group and no Brujah.

Chris glanced over to Justin and saw the Toreador who surrounded the young Royal Blood. They were no threat. He knew that Justin would be more than a handful, but hurting the pregnant man wasn�t on his agenda. Well�not tonight.

****

Justin sat and listened patiently as his clansmen told him of their woes. The young Primogen had expected matters of greater importance, but their issues sounded like high school gossip.

�I�ve sung at Kino�s parties for 81 years,� a woman pleaded. �Suddenly, Janice takes an interest in him and I can�t sing for his party anymore? I can�t help it if she looks like Carol Channing and sings like Britney Spears. Her bra has a better chance of holding those sagging tits of hers than she does holding a note��

Justin wondered when listening about women�s tits had become his problem. He supposed any problems that were his Clan�s were indeed his problems. His mother had always been so good at making everyone happy all the time. He hoped he would inherit that trait, but at the moment he didn�t care. All that he cared about was that Brian had just entered the backroom without him with two guys that were to drool for. Seeing Brian leave so quickly bothered Justin. He felt a rumble in his stomach and guessed it bothered his unborn as well.

��are you going to talk to her? She said that since you weren�t around that I had to obey her since her sire�s an elder. What a crock of bullshit, but, of course, I can�t say anything because you aren�t there to settle this.�

�Calm down, Tabitha,� Justin finally said, prying his eyes from the open doorway of the backroom. �Does Kino want you to sing?�

�He said he did.�

�It�s his party,� Justin replied. �If he wants you to sing then sing. If she gives him or you any grief, just call me and I�ll talk to her.�

�It would be better if you were there.�

�I can�t be,� Justin sighed. �My unborn needs to be near his father.�

The truth was that Justin needed Brian as much as their child, but he wasn�t about to say that out loud. Of the things that were right, there were so many things wrong with this situation. The least of his problems was who was singing at some old Toreador�s party. Justin still wanted the Slayer dead, though he knew that wasn�t going to happen while she was working with Brian.

Then there was Michael and all the grief Brian�s best friend was putting him through. He knew the Tremere was up to something the moment he�d found out that Michael wasn�t joining them at Babylon. There was also�pain. Justin grabbed his stomach when another painful cramp hit him.

�Are you alright?� A man asked, kneeling down to assist the Toreador Primogen.

�Just a little�queasiness,� Justin replied, taking a deep breath to regain his composure.

Justin looked up at the man and was taken aback. Though the man was a Toreador, Justin had never seen him before.

�You are new to town?� Justin asked.

�Yes, in fact��

�Have you presented yourself to the Prince?�

�Well, no��

�You know the Traditions,� Justin snapped. �Who is your Sire?�

�She is with Caine,� the man answered. �I was told that because you were mated with the Prince that I didn�t need to��

�You do,� Justin quickly said. �Just because I am mated to the Prince doesn�t mean that the Toreadors can pretend the Traditions don�t exist.�

�I apologize, My Lord.�

�What is your name and what is your gift?�

�I am called Ethan Gold,� the man replied, �and I am a violinist.�

�Welcome to Pittsburgh, Ethan Gold,� Justin said. �I hope you�re lucky�you�ll need it around here.�

****

Michael opened up his book and began to read. Although the words first appeared in Latin, they mysteriously changed to English before his eyes. It was as if they were meant for him. Each word was scripted in Old English and written in his own blood. The strange part was that as he read, his blood disappeared into the air, twirling until it was no more.

�An event will occur on every seventh hour. A trial will occur on every seventh day until the birth occurs on the seventh week and the new family shall arise. On the seventh hour of every time of resting and the time of wake, these words shall be repeated and the blood of one Kindred from warring Clans shall be spilled upon the pages of this book,� he read.

Abeo muto causa anima mei natio sponte mei effero regina.

Michael thought about his situation and saw a small problem. How was he supposed to get the blood of warring Clan members? He wasn�t entirely sure with several members, especially the Ventrue, but he did know where to start. He immediately went downstairs to the room where Cash slept over a comatose Sasha.

�Hey,� Michael said, waking up the groggy Gangrel. �I need a favor.�

�Are you dying?�

�No,� Michael replied to Cash�s harsh tone. �But I will be if I don�t get this spell right for Lazarus. He�s been on my ass lately.�

�I wonder why,� Cash snorted. �What do you need me for?�

�Not just you,� Michael clarified, �you and Sasha.� When it seemed that Cash didn�t seem to care, the resourceful Tremere tried to explain, using the best lie he could think of. �Lazarus wanted me to learn a spell and the different reactions I would get using different blood from different Kindred. I was going to ask Justin but he left with Brian to Babylon.�

�I thought you were going��

�I wanted to, but I had to finish this first,� Michael quickly replied. �So are you going to help me out?�

Cash snickered and held out his hand, �Use it well, because it�s the last you�ll get from either of us.�

�Thanks,� Michael said, taking some blood from Cash and then Sasha.

Without another word Michael rushed upstairs and repeated the chant, �Abeo muto causa anima mei natio sponte mei effero regina.� Though he did not know what it meant, he did as he was instructed by the book. He dripped the blood on the pages of the book and watched as it intermingled with his own. A gust of wind swept through the room, flipping the pages of the book, finally closing it shut.

At first, the whole building rumbled and when it was over a flash of light filled the room. When Michael opened his eyes he saw something moving out of the corner of his eye. When he looked at it, a vine had sprouted where the once dead roses lay scattered on the floor. Within moments roses shot out, filling the room with a powerful aroma of the beautiful flowers.

Michael stood and approached the roses when he saw another surprise through the window. His eyes grew large when branches from a nearby tree made their way into the room, breaking windows and taking out a small section of the wall.

�Holy shit��

�You alright?�

�I didn�t-�

�You stay here,� Cash ordered Michael. He had a frantic look in his eyes as he glanced around the room. �I have to find Brian.�

�Wait!�

Michael ran to the door as Cash left, but the Gangrel was much quicker than the Tremere. There was one thing Michael did notice: there were no guards at the door. Even if they knew Michael had caused this�they didn�t need to know how, did they? Michael went back to table and picked up the book. He�d make sure he�d put it back where it belonged before anyone found out what he was up to. No one would be the wiser.

****

Chris approached the platinum Ventrue and asked, �What do they call you?�

�A vampire,� Spike chuckled. �What do they call you?�

�Kindred,� Chris replied snidely.

�You say tomato, I say tom-ah-toe,� Spike said, rolling his eyes. He scratched at his fingernail and flicked the dry black polish at the man before him. �Whatever the hell you prefer, I really don�t give a shite.�

�What is your name?�

Spike looked up at the man and grinned. If the Tremere in town didn�t know who he was, he hoped his name had more prestige within his own clan, even if it were as a rebel.

�Name�s Spike,� the blond replied. �Or you can call me William the Bloody.�

�The killer of two Slayers,� Chris snickered, �and the bitch of one.�

�We all have to �ave a purpose in life, mate.�

�I am your Primogen,� Chris continued. �I could have you put to death for not announcing yourself to me.�

�No need to when I�ve already bumped heads with the Prince of Fucking,� Spike laughed, leaning on the bar and ordering himself a drink. �And since the whole trying to kill him thing didn�t work, I supposed I�d go out, have a drink and watch him nail anything with a dick and a pulse.�

�You tried to kill him?�

�Some�in� like that,� Spike lied.

�Would you like to prove your loyalty to me and to your Clan?�

Spike gulped his drink down and wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his leather jacket. With one hand he broke the thick glass he was holding and tossed its remnants on the floor with a smile.

�I always love a good fight, mate,� Spike licking his lips with anticipation. �Show me the way.�

Spike followed Chris into the depths of the backroom. As he and the Ventrue walked further into the sexual playground, most of the Kindred and their human companions made a quick retreat. He saw Brian leaning up against a wall as a man performed fellatio on him.

�I think it�s time for you to get up,� Brian announced to the man.

�Thank Caine,� the man replied, showing a knife which he put to Brian�s throat.

�I remember a time when I could fuck a variety of men without someone trying to kill me,� Brian sighed, seemingly disinterested in the situation. He pulled up his designer pants then crossed his arms. �Now, every time I go out I need an army of men to protect me.�

�That has been prepared for,� Chris announced.

Brian moved forward, allowing the trick�s knife to cause a wound in his neck. With a few spoken words and a wave of his finger, Brian sent his trick flying into the crowd of Ventrue.

�Got anything to say for yourself, Spike?� Brian asked.

�Sure,� Spike replied as he walked towards Brian then stopped and faced the Ventrue. �What�s a bloke to do to get into a fight round these parts?�

�Know me��

�Done,� Spike chuckled, taking a hand axe from the inside of his leather trench coat and handing it to Brian.

�Very nice��

�Loved Mary Poppins,� Spike replied. �You should hear my rendition of A Spoon Full of Sugar.�

�Maybe a little-� Brian stopped when he felt a sharp pain all over his body. He could tell that it wasn�t coming from him, it was coming from�

�Justin!�

****

Em danced to the beat with Buffy, loving the attention he was getting. Not from Buffy, but from several men who couldn�t keep their eyes off of him. He was almost tempted to leave Buffy where she boogied, but a clear head prevailed�and the fact that a few men bumped into him to leave Babylon. He didn�t think much of it until several more men stormed right through him and Buffy on their way out. What started as a few quickly turned into almost every half naked, butt shaking man in the place.

Em didn�t know what was going on exactly, but he could guess Brian and Justin had something to do with it. They always had to steal his good time. About to go with the flow and leave Babylon, Em was grabbed by a petite hand which took him against the horde of men leaving.

�Where are we going?�

�Into the fray,� Buffy said over the screams and stomping.

After pushing through the men, Em and Buffy made their way to a group of people surrounding Justin. They saw the young man breathing heavily, holding his stomach.

�What�s going on?� Buffy asked as Willow and Ted rushed up to the group.

�It�s not us,� Matt said. �Sire�s in a pickle.�

�Aren�t you going to help him?� Willow asked frantically.

�Sire instructed me to care for Master Justin no matter what happens,� Matt replied, picking up the pregnant young man. �My first priority is to get him to safety.�

�Put me down!� Justin screamed. �Brian needs us!�

�He might be in labor,� Ethan told the group.

�Who are you?� Em asked.

�We so officially could care less,� Buffy snapped, grabbing Justin�s hands to try and stop him from struggling. When she saw that wouldn�t work, she did the only thing she could think of and punched Justin, knocking him out cold. �Let�s get out of here!�

�You�re not going anywhere,� the leader of a group of Ventrue said, blocking the group. �I think you�re taking our hostage.�

�You got him?� Buffy asked, to which Matt nodded yes. �Give me one second and we�ll be out of here.�

Buffy tumbled over to the group and kicked the first vampire she saw. Before the other knew what was coming, she had her favorite stake out and shoved it into his heart. She got hit a few times, but she shook them off without much thought. A couple of punches and a few well placed jabs of her stake ended the fight without any more conversation.

�Time to vacate,� Buffy announced.

Willow watched as Buffy and the group left. Though common sense told her to leave, she couldn�t. She had other things to do.

****

Brian faced changed, turning feral as Justin�s pain hit him.

�Alright!� Spike screeched, his face changed as well. �It�s time to get nasty!�

Brian wiped blood from his throat and rubbed it between his fingers chanting, �Calculus cruor.� Several men in the group stopped where they stood, their bodies having turned into stone. Though the spell did its job on many of the men, the majority of the Ventrue were unaffected.

�Got something else up your sleeve, mate?� Spike asked.

�Sure, but that should have done it.�

�We came prepared for your type,� Chris snickered.

�Prepared for Brian�s type?� Spike chuckled. �I guess you should be on your knees prepared to suck some cock, eh?�

�Faggot,� Chris sneered, bringing out a small weapon of his own.

�Must be a spell block,� Willow said from behind the group. �Not the hocusy-pocusy type. I bet it�s more of the shiny type that�s on a chain around your neck type.�

�How�d she know that?� A man wondered aloud.

�Just guessing,� Willow replied with a smile. �But I have a solution for that. Lamnia decoquo.�

�You can�t do blood magic!� Chris yelled as the necklace around his and his comrade�s throats melted painfully onto their bodies.

�Not blood magic,� Willow clarified. �Wiccan bullshit.�

�Fuck all of you!� Chris screamed as several more of his men spilled into the room behind Willow. �Kill them all!�

�Wait a minute!� A woman�s voice screamed, pushing through the Ventrue accompanied by a man. When she came into Brian�s sight she smiled. �You guys do not get to start fighting without me!�

�Glad you could make it, Sasha,� Brian said as Willow rushed over towards him. �Wouldn�t want to do this without you.�

�No shit,� Sasha laughed, smiling at Brian, then at Cash, then at the Ventrue before her. �The second I get my hand around a Ventrue�s neck, the better off I�ll feel. I�m tired of dealing with the likes of my dear grandfather. Permission to kick these mutherfucker�s asses, Bri!�

�Permission granted.�

�Wooooo-hooooo!�

�Now that�s what I�m bloody well talkin� �bout!� Spike yelled, sticking out his tongue and jumping at the Ventrue. He took his hand axe and struck a man saying a word every time he broke skin. �Bloody-Ventrue-always-starting-shite! Can�t-a-man-get-laid-in-peace?�

�This is a gift for Julian,� Sasha screeched, punching one man then turning to punch another.

Brian watched as Chris ran before either Sasha, Cash or Spike could end his unlife. He wasn�t worried. With Sasha up and Cash on the ball, his army would defeat the small minded Ventrue. Spike was a nice addition and would prove to be useful, especially considering how old the wayward Ventrue was. His pride, however, lay with the small witch that stood next to him. There was only one Ventrue that made his way through the fighting to Brian and was immediately stopped by Willow.

Brian was told Willow�s hair and eyes turned black when she used her magic, but that�s not entirely what occurred on this occasion. Though her hair turned black, her eyes turned red.

�An eye for an eye,� Willow said, pointing at the man. �Blood for blood�how �bout I just take yours?�

Blood spewed out of the man�s eyes into Willow�s finger until the man turned to dust. She stepped forward to assist the others, but was stopped by Brian�s hand. He wanted her by his side and she didn�t know why, but it filled her with pride.

�Let�s finish this up, boys and girls,� Brian announced when he saw there were only a few Ventrue left. He walked across the dust filled floor and stopped next to Spike and Sasha who were both beating the last man.

�I get to kill him!� Sasha said, tugging on the Ventrue and punching him.

�I had �im first, luv,� Spike replied, grabbing the man�s hair and slamming his face against the wall.

�Ladies first!�

�If you�re a lady, I�m a vermicious Kinid,� Spike snorted.

�Children,� Willow sighed, putting her hand on the Ventrue�s face. �Excuo laxus.�

The man�s face shriveled as blood disappeared into Willow�s hand until he was dust.

�Willow!� Spike said, feigning shock.

�You are so going to have to teach me how to do that!� Sasha replied impressed.

�Later,� Brian interrupted, eyeing everyone in his group. �Now you�ll take me to Justin.�

Brian smiled when his army ceased all conversation and went back to work, heading out of the backroom into the man dancehall. They followed Cash�s Gangrel senses and left Babylon looking for the Prince�s mate.

�Justin,� Brian whispered. �I�m coming for you.�

****

�An event will occur on every seventh hour. A trial will occur on every seventh day until the birth occurs on the seventh week and the new family shall arise. On the seventh hour of every time of resting and the time of wake, these words shall be repeated and the blood of one Kindred from warring Clans shall be spilled upon the pages of this book��