This is War

[Kyle Aodhagán †]

A warning to the people
The good and the evil
This is war
To the soldier, the civilian
The martyr, the victim
This is war

It had been two days since Kyle had awaked in the little apartment and six days since Sephira had made her presence know in the human realm. By now his wounds were healing quite nicely. Skin was growing back over the burns and lesions, some nothing more than black and purple bruises, but the shifter still walked with a slight limp and his ribs were tender with certain movements.

That tenderness would not keep him from finding the witch and dispatching her army, but the dragon wasn’t so arrogant that he didn’t realize he needed help in doing that. The Council, thanks to Ilani, understood the gravity and urgency of their involvement; not only in the war, but with the protection of his woman and child. The evil sorceress was no doubt seeking the prophet out in order to use her against the shifter, which would have driven him to the brink of madness had he not known that the others were keeping as close a watch on her as well.

Lillie, of course, had been relentlessly urging Kyle to rest, which he was having none of considering it would be -her- harm that would kill him before anything else; especially at the talons of a hollow witch and a band of aged dragons. She had argued that he needed to teach her to fight, but the shifter would hear nothing of that either. His woman would stay safe behind council walls continuously guarded, and he would avenge her honor as well as the honor of their unborn childe. If the sorceress was powerful enough to feel the connection between Kyle and Lillian, then she would certainly be able to determine that this wife was the very reincarnation of the one she had slaughtered before and that knowledge alone was enough to weaken her ancient enemy. The dragon needed to focus, and distractions like his pregnant mate on the battle field just wouldn’t do.

The shifter and his mate traveled to the Portal in downtown New Orleans by way of human vehicle, for Kyle had yet to take his larger natural form since the incident and he didn’t want to put any undo stress on his body. He needed to reserve all the power that he possessed, and besides, the feel of the human’s knee under his possessive palm as they drove seemed to give him more purpose. The visceral bond that had been branded on his soul by the human female appeared to bestow more power on the dragon than he had felt in centuries. Simply being near the woman gave him tangible strength, focus, and his wounds healed under her delicate finger pads as if she were a healer instead of a clairvoyant.

As they pulled up to the modest edifice that housed the powerful threshold to the Other World, Kyle glanced at his woman and his intense cobalt eyes softened.
Her bravery; though she was unaware of such a thing, would be a story he would tell their children as he tucked them into their warm beds at night. The radiance that shone in those unfathomable aquamarine eyes was the only light that could have guided him back from the hell he’d lived for so very long. Whether Lillie realized it or not, she was his redeemer. A fair warrior on a fearless white steed; the woman was the archangel that had slain the monsters that had kept his heart a prisoner.

“We are here.” Kyle informed her plainly in that husky brogue, his gaze darting back and forth within her azure orbs. He was looking for any sign that she was not ready for this, and he would instant turn the vehicle around and return to the safe cocoon of their home. It was a daunting place; the Council Chambers, and many of its members even more intimidating. The dragon did not want his woman to feel fear for even a moment.

Finding no hesitation in Lillie’s eyes, the shifter climbed out of their transportation and hastened to the female’s side, opening her door and reaching a hand out to assist. They moved quickly towards the unpretentious wooden doors so that passing mortals would pay no heed, and pressed through to be acknowledged by the fearsome guardian of the portal.
Lillie’s disconnection toward the organization forbade her entry into the Council Chambers, but the sentinel wasted no breath on argument regarding her access. It was widely known throughout the Other Worldly faction that evil had had breached the veil of the human world, and the word had spread of the Prophet’s predictions of it.

Besides…who was going to argue with a dragon?

The shifter and the clairvoyant stepped through the threshold hand in hand and appeared within the majestic hallway that led to the Council Chamber. The walls were lined with depictions of both worlds, as well as members of the commission past and future. Kyle watched Lillie take in the spectacle and the whisper of a smile turned up the corner of his lips. It felt…good to introduce her to a part of his world that she’d yet to see. There were still so many things they had to learn about one another and those rare moments of discovery were a treasure to him.

Finally they arrived at the massive double doors of the Chamber. Pushing them open, Kyle lowered his head in reverence and waved a hand for Lillie to enter. Around the immense mahogany round table, her paintings of the war had been propped up for all to see. It was frightening, but at the same time, it made the shifter swollen with pride. The depictions would aid the council in winning this war. Perhaps her visions would save them all.

[Lillie Galleau]

Lillie was walking on eggshells, as she put her little Volkswagon into park and allowed herself to be led out of the car. For a moment, she could do nothing but gawk at the tall, elegant building that stood before them. Did the Council house themselves in a castle? Were they supernatural royalty, or something? She found herself feeling nervous for reasons other than the knowledge that her mate would be going into battle soon. She didn’t know the protocols for coming into a place like this; what she should and shouldn’t do. Gah, embarrassing Kyle was the last thing she wanted to do!

That familiar brogue slid over her like a balm, and she forced a smile at the question in Kyle’s eyes. It had only been a little over a week since that horrible night on the road, when she’d thought the dragon dead. He’d been so still; so covered in blood and gore that she’d felt certain that this was it; she’d lost him again. But he’d pulled through, somehow managing to heal himself in a matter of days…or, at least, that’s the story he kept telling her. She could tell that he was still days away from regaining his full strength, and the urge to somehow tie him to their bed was overwhelming. She never wanted to go through the hell of praying for him to live, to come back to her and their child.

But she knew that it was inevitable. She was a warrior’s woman, after all.

Steeling her spine, she walked with Kyle to the door of the large building, doing her best not to cringe at the guard’s intense frown. Okay, so it was obvious that plebes like her weren’t supposed to be in the Chambers, but he was in loathe to point it out to them. There were definitely perks of being the reincarnated wife of one of the most powerful shifters in the Realm.

“These are beautiful,” She whispered, once inside. The drawings and portraits on the walls rivaled her own skills, and she looked at them with awe. She felt so…small, in this place. Instinct told her that decisions of life and death were made there, and the urge to…gah, curtsey to those centuries-old images was strong.

The only time she let go of Kyle’s hand was when they entered the inner chamber. Just as she had been in the vault under Tulane, she was drawn to the paintings that lined the room, and ran her fingers over the ornate frames that surrounded them. Images of war, death, chaos and fire; she closed her eyes as the dream-like scenes played in her mind once again. She’d thought those images fictitious once; a life time ago, or so it seemed. Had she really lived a life so ignorant to this beautifully dark world?

“Well, well…if it isn’t the Prophet and the Dragon.”

A voice slithered through the chamber, and the blood in Lillie’s veins turned to ice. Her eyes popped open as she spun around, and for the first time, she saw the face of her kidnapper. He was large; almost too much for the seat in which he sat with his legs stretched out before him. He was grinning at her; a nasty little smile that had her instantly moving back a few steps toward Kyle. Her fingers ached in memory of those brutal hands, and she instinctively put a protective hand over her belly.

“Don’t be afraid, little bird,” Corbin continued, his eyes alight with obvious amusement. “I’m not going to hurt you…this time.”

“Yeah, because he knows that all of us would kick his ass, if he sneezed in your direction,” Ilani’s voice rang out through the room. As usual, the psychic was dressed in her usual Goth wear; steel toed boots, spiked leather pants and a short cut red shirt. She had red streaks in her hair that night, and on her face was a look of absolute irritation, as she moved over to Kyle and Lillie, continuing to raze the Fae over her shoulder. “Shut the Hell up, you asshat. The only reason why you’re here is ‘cause Rissa said you’d be good, so don’t make me go tell on you.”

Corbin raised his lip in a snarl, shooting back a remark. At that point, Lillie had ceased to listen as she quickly moved back to Kyle’s side. Cowardly or no, she needed his solid presence to keep her mind in the present.

More footsteps sounded, as another man appeared from a portal off to the right. Dressed in Armani and sporting an almost arrogant look on his face, he approached the table and gave everyone a haughty look before sitting down at the large table in the middle of the room. Vincent bit back a sigh, as he listened to Ilani exchange niceties with the freaks over by the door. He never could understand why the woman surrounded herself with these…things, but to each their own, he supposed. An impatient look was on his face, as he waited for the others to arrive.

[Wulfgar Fenrisulfr]

Lovely. Just freaking Lovely.

From his seat at the Council head, Wulfgar Fenrisulfr watching everyone arrive and stepled his fingers in front of him. A side ways glance at his siblings showed them coiled and ready to leap forward at any indication that shit was about to hit the fan and he prayed they didn't have to. The shifter enforcers stood behind them as one after another, the Council chairs filled and the meeting prepared to get under way.

As his icy blue eyes traced around the room, it was all the Viking could do not to curl his lip at the new Fae king. Everything inside him wanted to leap across the table and rip the assholes head clean from his body. He suspected that the Dragon was having just as hard of a time controlling the urge but if they were to circumvent the witch.. they were going to need all the forces they could arrange.

Unfortunately, that meant that the Fae would have to stomached. They could not risk making an enemy of that realm because they were a powerful race on their own. To bad the new queen had not accompanied the King. Or better yet. Left the son of a bitch at home.

Running a hand through his blond locks, Wulf nodded a greeting to the Dragon and then his lady. A quick look over her frame told the wolf exactly what made the older shifter hover so protectively and he felt a pang of envy even as he slammed a hand down on the table.

"I think you all know why we are gathered here today. Kyle's woman has brought us news of a sorceress who seeks to invade our Realm and take over the world with her black magic. This can not be allowed to happen so we come together as a war council this time. We must make plans to stop the witch and put an end to her threat, once and for all. We can only do this by banding together and combining our forces as she has been breeding and raising her army for decades. She will not be easy to defeat."

From his side, Wulf saw Erik shift and Brom smile grimly. Ty's expression was blank but he knew he could count on them at his side. Kaera's face took on a determined tilt and the old warrior had to bit back a proud smile even as he turned to the others once more.

"The Wolf clan is in. We put our resources at the Councils beck and call. The rest of you must decide for yourself what you wish to do."

[AJ Romanov]

From across the room, AJ sat still and quiet in her seat even as she listened to the volley of emotions and words around her. Having been one of the first ones to arrive, she'd slipped into her seat and chosen to remain silent. As a representative for the European Vampire council, it was her job to observe and report the actions of the other clans and to take what action she deemed necessary. It was a bold position for such a young vampire but then.. she wasn't just any run of the mill female either.

She was a Princess born of blood and a warrior born of necessity.

Leaning forward, AJ Romanov caught the Head's eye and when his blue gaze turned to her.... She quietly gave a nod and then spoke.

"You can count on my help and whatever resources you need that I might provide."

That said, she leaned back and noted the wolf's quick nod before going back into observation mode again.

[Marissa Skye ☀]

How was it that she had gotten drafted into this again? OH RIGHTTTTTTTT... She'd had the dubious pleasure of being born to an ancient Fae Prince and being the only female left of royal blood, thats how.

Yippy, Skippy.

Hence the reason she was hovering behind Corbin's chair, watching and observing the others on the Council before she made her presence known.

Politics. She'd hated them as a mere human. How much worse could it be now that she had gone and gotten herself crowned with the Light Courts tiara? Gah... Scratch that. She didn't think she really wanted to know but she had a feeling she was going to find out very shortly.

This just kept getting better and better.

And then the Dragon and his Lady showed up. Rissa could very easily have huffed out a few choice words but settled for narrowing her eyes on Corbin for his antagonistic words and smacking him on the back of the head. A smack that rang out over the the room with startling clarity and cause many a gaze to turn towards them in bemusment and some bewilderment.

Which went over about as well as a box of rocks considering she was still on invisible.

AHHHHHHHHH HELL. Guess that it was time to reveal herself.

Grimacing, Rissa dropped her shield and appeared to the room in all her Fae like glory. With glimmering blue eyes, she gave them all what she hoped was a regal nod before lowering herself gracefully into the chair next to her lover and arched a brow coolly.

"Please, go on.... The Fae Courts are at your service too..." she twinkled out in musical tones that revealed just how much Fae she had become since her crossing over.

Then and only then, did she turn her eyes to her mate and smile at him with her own warning gleaming hot in her eyes. Leaning closer, she whispered.

"Now, Now, my love..... Play nice or I shall be forced to take my own drastic measures..... "

Then, sitting back, she turned her attention to the room and more specifically, the Dragon and his mate.

Let the good times roll... Of whatever it was they were to have.

[Kyle Aodhagán †]

It's the moment of truth and the moment to lie
The moment to live and the moment to die
The moment to fight, the moment to fight, to fight, to fight, to fight

Kyle was too captivated by the rapt glow in Lillie’s eyes to notice that others had arrived at Council Chambers before they had. His concentrated gem-blue eyes saw only the divine female with outstretched hand, pale fingers gliding over the surface of her paintings as if seeing them for the first time. The dragon’s expression; usually a mask of impassivity, was remarkably contemplative, and a murmur of a smile was even apparent over his whiskered face. He was at peace in mind; watching her, feeling safe, as though nothing could break through the wonder walls in place right now.

That whispered beam melted the moment the Dark Fae’s voice echoed through the chamber like talons across a glass plane and unbidden, fangs pushed through his upper and lower gums and the pupil’s in his cobalt eyes became thin, vertical reptilian slits.
The brimstone that lived within the shifter at all times was a sweltering furnace desperate to be released, and had his woman not been clutching his side for security, Kyle probably would have let it go.
If there as anyone in this world or the other that the dragon loathed as much as the sorceress Sephira, it was the fae king, Corbin. The fae had stolen his woman and made her suffer mentally and physically, and the shifter had been since craving the removal of his dark head.
A snarl was torn from the dragon’s throat and smoke rose from his flared nostrils, and placing himself between the Fae and his pregnant mate; it was all the man could do not to leap across the room to slay the male.

But this was neither the time nor the place. The head of the council was present, as well as a slew of witnesses, and council law stated that any one member harming another would be sentenced to imprisonment according to the degree of harm done. Killing the Fae would land him in prison for eternity, which at the moment, considering his mate’s safety hung in the balance, would do him no good.

The dragon’s large body was trembling with anger as he leaned forward to clutch the edge of the mahogany table to keep his feet from diving towards the male of their own accord, and he narrowed his fury gleaming orbs at Corbin. Before he had even opened his mouth to address his rival, a crack was heard and the dark head thrown forward, as suddenly the presence of the light fae queen became obvious. Her ire toward her mate was laughable, but did nothing to ease the dragon’s tension, and he gripped the table so hard it crumbled beneath his tanned fingers.

Inhaling sharply and standing up straight, he wrapped a light arm around his female’s waist and led her to a far chair. All the while his gaze never left that smirking face, and he growled out a threat regardless of the higher powers presence.
“Dark throne or not, I will return the favor you have shown my woman, Fae.” He rumbled threateningly. “But unlike the flower, you will not survive. I will make your queen a widow and your memory will fade like the wounds that have since faded from Lillian’s skin.”

Unable to sit for his body was still vibrating from sheer fury; Kyle took the place behind his woman, standing strong and ominous even though his palms were a light weight on her shoulders.
“My gratitude is extended to the rest of you…” The dragon took a moment to meet each of their eyes, speaking without words the appreciation he felt for their assistance. “With your allegiance, we will make an indestructible force bend. It is not only the safety of our world that lies within our palms, but that of our children, and their child henceforth.”

At that statement Kyle let his fierce expression soften to stare into the waiting eyes of his female. His sapphire orbs swam with adoration and dedication, and they fell to her swollen belly before becoming fierce again to address the group.

“Since our last meeting I have been gathering and training new allies. I have established a large faction of new warriors to help with the coming war, but as Wulf has stated, the witch will have her own army of vicious soldiers.” And after this statement he took a moment to offer the Council head due respect with downward tilt of his head.
“Sephira has an object of great and terrible power, with which she is able to rip our world open so that countless enemies may bleed through. It is of vital importance that we obtain this crystal from her, or our numerous army and powers may prove useless.”
He let out a heavy sigh, shoulders sagging as if the weight of the world rest upon them. “Lillie’s paintings are a window into the future. Seek in them predictions of where these battles will take place and the kinds of monsters we are up against. And know…that it is an honor to fight at your sides...”

[Lillie Galleau]

Gah, life would be great if her insides would stop shaking. She felt like she was either going to scream, run out of the room or climb on top of Kyle’s head, so she could hide her face in the back of his neck. All such options were ridiculous of course, but hearing that voice again…

She’d been telling herself for weeks that she was stronger than him, that the time she’d spent in his ‘care’ had made her stronger. She’d made a mantra- a mix between ‘it never happened’ and ‘it’s over’- and had even started keeping a journal; something her brother had suggested she do, in order to release stress. But hearing that voice again, and finally being able to put a face to it...she wasn’t sure if she could hold it together.

Yeah, she was really the brave, confident woman that Kyle thought she was. Her hand gripped his sleeve a bit harder as she fought against the urge to smack herself in the forehead. It was either that, or start screaming invectives at the smirking man, and something told her that the powerful guy sitting at the head of the table over there wouldn’t appreciate it.

Not to mention that Kyle was making all the right noises for her. For a minute there, she was concerned that her mate was going to explode in flames. Her concern didn’t stretch so far to her own safety, given that she knew that he would rather hurt himself than harm her, but there had to be consequences for setting another Council Member’s eyebrows on fire…even if they deserved worse.

Drawing strength from the dragon’s nearness and the strength of his body in front of her, Lillie took in a deep breath and demanded that her insides calm. No, she wasn’t going to throw up, cry or pass out. Corbin couldn’t hurt her anymore; especially with her mate at her side. So, when she was urged to walk at the opposite end of the table, she did so with her held high and her face impassive. Okay, so maybe she was looking like a constipated Ice Queen, but she was satisfied at the annoyed look that crossed onto the Fae’s face…as well as the loud smack that practically echoed through the room.

She really did like that Fae Queen. Now she knew why.

Using the chair and table for support, Lillie lowered herself down and leaned back. She was only a few weeks pregnant, but it seemed that shifter babies tended to mature a bit faster. She wasn’t at full beached whale status, but if the twenty pound weights at the small of her back- and not to mention her bladder…oh boy, did important war meetings take potty breaks?- was anything to go by, their daughter was sprinting for the outside world quicker than the average baby.

Her hand stole up to rest her fingers on the knuckles over her shoulder; needing the constant reminder of his presence. Corbin was a bit distracted, glaring at Marissa as he was, but Kyle’s words made his attention come back to them. She flinched slightly at the expression of hatred that came onto the Fae King’s face then. Something told her that after this war, they would be fighting another one.

But the talk turned from barely veiled threats to the threat at hand, and the prophet looked up at the dragon while he spoke. As if a powerful witch, a horde of evil dragons and a crazy guy who could shoot green acid fireballs wasn’t enough…she had a freaking object that could cut through time and space? Oh, wonderful. She was never going to get a full night’s sleep again.

[Corbin Muunokhoi]

Well, wasn’t this room just so ripe with tension? Corbin just stopped himself from laughing out loud, as he scanned the angry, irritated faces around him. Most of the negative energy was directed at him…and Gods help him, but he LOVED it! After playing the politician for these long, grueling weeks, he’d come to miss being in the middle of something not concerning which nobles he’d yet to pay off for their support.

He missed the fighting, the insulting, the warring and pillaging. If he had to listen to one more ‘My Lord, please,’ or other such niceties, he’d probably end up blowing up his own castle!

And oh, that look of fury on the dragon’s face was almost orgasmic…and he wasn’t even going to TOUCH how he felt when he drank in the abject fear on the prophet’s. Ah, memories…he really had enjoyed having the little human in his company, even if she pissed him off half the time. She’d been so damn fun to torment and she’d made all kinds of amusing noises when he broke her bones. Hmm, perhaps when everything was over and he was at last solid on his throne, he’d take her again.

He did so miss those agonized whimpers, and the way she scuttled away from him on her hands and knees like an animal. She had a very nice backside…eh, nah, his woman’s was better—

His train of thought was instantly derailed, as Marissa’s hand smacked him upside the head. He’d known that she was standing nearby, but when Kyle and his woman had come into the room, he’d just HAD to say something! Damn, but the force she’d used…his little witch was definitely growing into her new found powers.

Now, if only she’d use them against someone other than him.

A snarl escaped him as he glared daggers over at his woman, his hands clenching into fists. Kyle’s words did nothing to put him back into his previously good mood, and something akin to foreboding prickled his stomach. Promises like those were to be taken seriously, especially now that he had more enemies than allies back in his Court. He clenched his teeth to keep from shooting a barbed reply, and his body practically shook with dark magic stirred by his anger.

He was as restrained by the Council laws as Kyle, and as such, he couldn’t outwardly attack the dragon. But when the war was over…oh, they were going to have words.

Turning back to his mate, Corbin couldn’t help but curl a lip. However, even though he was quite angry, he seemed to visibly soften when he looked at her. “You will refrain from EVER doing that again, woman,” He growled in reply. “Do you think that causing me embarrassment will make me heel? The next time, I will hit back…with love.”

He had to add that second part, if only to use sarcasm to hide the fact that he would never make do on his promise. Gah, when had he turned so soft?

He forced his attention back onto that hated visage of the dragon. When he spoke next, he was satisfied that his voice was imperious enough.

“The witch is in possession of a Fae object, as well as others,” He declared, eyeing the others around the table. “The Fae Courts will join in on the war…if we get the object back, when the witch is dead. There will be no compromise on this matter.”

[Ilani Moonblood ♬]

For her part, Ilani watched the proceedings with a mixture of annoyance and amusement. For one thing, she really did hate it when guys did their macho-dances around one another. The whole growling and metaphorical manhood thrusting between Kyle and Corbin was enough to make her want to hop onto the table and cut them all off. Thank God that Rissa stepped in when she did, or she was going to have to have words herself! Gah, men and their testosterone…

Not that she didn’t support Kyle, because he was defending Lillie. But the psychic was on shaky ground, given that both women were her friends. She wanted Corbin dead as a doornail for hurting Lillie, but she knew that the loss would kill Marissa. Frick, talk about a catch-22 like crazy!

She really wanted her Derek. He would take one look at the entire situation and know exactly what to do.
It was a thought that made her want to beat herself, but…hell, she was starting to rely on the guy more and more lately, so it really wasn’t much of a surprise. Those wolf shifters and their perfect-ness…

When the declarations of loyalty were being thrown onto the table, Ilani nodded as well. “You can count me and my ghost buddies in,” She said, glancing to the side, where her little band of Confederate bodyguards stood. “Though…I might need some funds for the porno stuff I’m gonna have to buy for them. But, other than that, you’ve got the support of just about everyone I know in my circuit.”




Vincent frowned as he shifted where he sat a seat down from Ilani. He shot the woman a look that basically declared her annoying for speaking out of term, but he bit his tongue. He knew how futile it would be to teach an old, wild-as-hell dog new tricks. She’d been named sub-chair for a reason, especially her contacts in the criminal world, and as such, he’d have to put up with her insolence.

After the dragon warrior’s speech was finished, the human steepled his fingers in front of his lips. He took his time in looking every one of the gathered men and women over, and flinched a bit when his eyes landed on the slim form of the younger Fenrisulfr woman standing behind her brother’s chair.

That was just about what had him agreeing to their terms…even if he hated just about everyone in the room. He could care less if this ‘witch’ killed every single person in the room and their children, but…hell, he owed his support to Kaera, for the hardship he’d put her through.

He still carried out some guilt for not recognizing her husband, when the large man had been brought in unconscious. Given that there had been no attack on his compound, he figured that Banning Vuldanshe had forgotten about certain…procedures that had been done on him, and for that, Vincent was even more grateful.

“You have the full support of the Human Council as well,” He said finally, glancing sideways at Ilani. “As well as any additional help that I, or Montegue Industries could provide.”

[Wulfgar Fenrisulfr]

If looks could kill, the Dragon would have vanquished the enemy with one fierce glare. Unfortunately, it was going to take more than that to remove the threat the evil sorceress presented. Even as his eyes flickered from the shifter to the Fae King, Wulfgar prepared himself to intervene, no matter how much he'd hate to miss the spectacle of the dark lords defeat. It would no doubt have been a fight to end all fights but the wisdom of ages told the wolf that they were need the Fae in the coming fight and to make enemies of them now would be a very unwise move indeed.

A truth brought home further by the appearance of the new queen right beside her lord and consort. Even though it looked as if the heir of the Seelie Court was none to please by her mate's actions, it was equally obvious by the glittering look the female laid upon the Dragon that she would not stand silently by and have her King attacked. No matter the nymph's personal sympathies towards the young prophet and her shifter, Corbin was her reflection in the Fae Realm and she would obviously back him if it came down to a fight.

In that, Wulf could respect her stand even though he personally found the Dark One unworthy of such loyalty. Corbin would no doubt ripe her to shreds if given the opportunity and the shifter could only wish her the best as he turned his attention to far more important matters.

"So we have the Shifter clan... The Vampire Council.... The Human Council......And the word of the Fae to join the fight... What say you Gods and Goddesses? What say the Wizards and Witches? What say the Demon Council?"




Even as he spoke, another figure appeared with long legs propped on the meeting table and twirling a long dagger. A loud pop resounded from the bubble gum that Zoe Harris was chewing and a wicked grin danced across her lips.

"Hell, Fenrisulfr! If its a fight.. You know we are in. Been entirely to sedate around here lately. I'm ready for some action. Cousin Demios has already informed Uncle Ares of the going on's in the area and he's amassing soldiers as we speak. Uncle Hades says hes got a few extra souls of fallen warriors laying around if we want them too.. You know how he likes anything that might lead to more souls being damned to the Underworld."

Grinning like a fiend, Zoe looked around and gave everyone a mocking salute with her blade.

"Oh.. Sorry for the sudden appearance... I'm afraid we've got a series of demi god deaths I've been looking into and a new shadow. Never was much good at time anyways, you know..."

[Christopher Savage]

“Sir, your car is ready. Whenever you would like to go downstairs, please let me know.”

“Thank you, Callo.”

“Oh, and I have also taken care of your dry cleaning, sir. I took the liberty of having an entirely new wardrobe made up for you.”

“Uh…okay. Kinda liked the old wardrobe, but thank you, Callo.”

“Is there anything else that you require, Sir?”

Chris just rubbed at his eyes and sighed at the small man standing in front of him. Callo, the ‘steward’ that came with his new lot in life, was attempting to do a mix between complete prostration and standing. His eyes were glued to the floor at Chris’ feet, his shoulders were hunched as if he were half-bowing…

In short, it was enough to drive an already crazy vampire…well, batty, pun notwithstanding. What was it with these old vamps and their need for everything Old School? Man, the previous ‘Lord’ Donovan must have really loved the dark ages…

“No, that’s all, Callo. I’m just gonna go mosey on downstairs and get moving. I’m probably already fashionably late as it is…hell, I don’t even know the procedures for this type of thing. Do I show up with gifts? Cigars? Full metal armor? And…hello, armed guard. Really, this isn’t necessary.”

Callo just shrugged and kept himself a few steps behind his ‘master.’ Good lord, he really wanted to go back to his Bogey days, when everyone just thought he was some kind of mook with a damsel-in-distress fetish. Rolling his eyes, the vampire allowed himself to be escorted to the town car waiting outside of his office, and took out his frustration with a bottle of bourbon.

In no time, he was standing in front of a portal, having a staring match with the guard outside. Okay…so what now? Was he supposed to be poofed into another room? Walk through a seemingly normal door? He had bets on the latter, as the guard nodded toward the old, wooden thing. With a shrug of his own, Chris moved toward the door, eyed the handle, then stepped inside.

Inside a freaking HUGE room. Holy crap; and here he’d thought that Donovan’s old place was nice! Look at this!

Voices caught his attention before he could gawk, and the Vampire King moved closer toward them. He knew absolutely nobody at the table, which was probably a bad thing, but he prided himself on knowing how to grease a crowd. When the woman to his left- what was that about Ares and Hades?- finished talking, he took the opportunity to chime in.

“I’m sorry for my tardiness. I’m Christopher Savage and I represent the Southern Vampire Clans. I’ve been briefed on the situation concerning a certain witch, and you have our support as well.”