“But it has to be you,” Snowhawk cried. “That scent, that voice,” she paused. “And I would never forget those eyes. What did she do to you?!”

“Listen, you loon, I don’t have the faintest clue who you’re talking about,” Kirrian growled, leaning towards her again, “but I’m not him.”

She whimpered again, sniffling a bit, then looked him directly in his eyes and said, “Then I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“This,” she said a half second before slicing his arm with an icy spike. Once his arm was away from her she lept from the small bed and tried to put herself as close to the door as possible. Her legs and hooves nearly refused to work, still exhausted from earlier. She stood, legs trembling, with the spike still in her hand. “I don’t want to hurt you, Janus, but I won’t let you go without trying to bring you back.”

“So the mare does have some fight in her!” The wolf stood, looking at the cut on his arm, then to her. “You won’t surprise me like that again.” Kirrian grinned, slowly stepping closer to her.

“Your grandfather built this cottage,” she began, reciting what Janus had told her in the past. “Your family used to spend their summers here. Your mother and father died on their way up one year. That’s why you never came back. Am I getting through at all?!”

The Lupino had stopped in his tracks, holding his head. “No, no one can know that.”

“I do, Janus, because you told me! Years ago!”

“You’re lying,” he growled, then lunged at her and pinned her down, his teeth around her throat.

“You were attacked by an Avizon named Anya. She struck you three times with bolts from her crossbow. I thought you died in my lap, then she took you away. After that…” she whined as she felt his jaws close a little tighter on her, then relax and finally release her throat as he sat up a few moments later.

“Anya,” he repeated, remembering the name.

“She did this. I killed her for you. I was looking for a body, then found you.”

A half moment later, the door to the cottage burst open, and both Onyx and Adian entered. Adian immediately bristled and growled, “Get off of her you–”

“Adian, wait!” Snowhawk called out. She quickly noticed the black wolf’s confused expression. “Don’t you even remember your own brother?”

Kirrian sat back further, allowing Snowhawk to sit up. “I did have a brother.” He paused for a moment, thinking, then his confused look giving way to a growl. “He stole my mate from me.”

“No! No, that’s not what happened! Anya must have told you that. Adian has done nothing of the sort. Anya took you from me.”

“Snowhawk,” Adian softly began, “we should go.”

“I can’t go. I won’t go until he listens to me.”

“Snow, we have to go, your condition can’t be good.”

“No, it’s not. But this is more important.”

Kirrian growled again. “That can’t be my brother.”

“Dammit, Janus, don’t you remember anything?!” Snowhawk yelled as she wiped the remaining tears from her eyes.

“Come back with us then, wolf, if you won’t listen to her. I may be able to help you,” Onyx responded.

“Where? This is my home.”

“No, Janus, it’s not,” she said, lightly touching his shoulder. “Please, come back with us.”

He batted her hand away from him. “No.”

“Then I will stay here. And I will make you remember. I gave up too much because I thought you were dead. I’m not losing you now.” She sighed, determination etched on her face. “Look, here,” she said, pulling the locket she wore away from her chest, and opening it. Inside was a tiny picture of Janus. “This is you. This was you. I don’t care if that’s what you will ever look like again, but I need you.”

The wolf in front of her carefully took the locket in his hand, looking thoughtfully at the tiny picture of what she said was him. “It can’t be me,” he shrugged, dropping the locket.

“But it is!”

“I’ve been a black wolf for as long as I can remember.”

“Then how long is that?” Onyx said, before anyone else could.

Kirrian was silent. His memory was mostly blank for anything longer than three or four weeks ago. What was there didn’t add up. He was infuriated, confused, and simply hurting all at once. “Get out.”

“No,” Snowhawk stated. “I’m not leaving until you come to your senses.”

“I don’t advise it, Snowhawk,” Onyx commented.

“Since when did I listen to you?” she grinned, then her expression turned to concern as she looked back to Kirrian, and placed her hands on his forearms again. “I’m sorry for injuring you earlier,” she said as her horn began to glow more than just from the light around her. She moved both her hands to the cut on his left forearm, and they too began to glow. After a moment there, she moved her hands away, revealing a stripe of silvery fun where the cut had been. “I knew it… It is you.”

Adian was shocked, and concerned. Snowhawk had never shown any healing magic before, and this could mean she was no longer just partially a vampire.

“The color change must have been from the Avizon’s venom,” Onyx commented. “As the venom leaves his system, his fur, and personality should return. Keyword being should, Avizon venom is hard to cleanse.”

“Snowhawk, how did you heal that?” Adian concernedly asked.

“I’ll just say that we should hope Hunter’s search is successful. I’m not making it back to town as a mortal,” she sighed, then turned back to the wolf before her.

Kirrian was confused, “How could you heal me?”

“Because,” she began, reaching up now to stroke his cheek. “You are my mate, no matter your appearance. I know you would say the same about me, if you could just remember. Will you please come home?”

The black wolf sighed and finally conceded. “Fine.” He soon after found himself with the arms of a pale lavender Delphin wrapped around him.

“Before we go, Snowhawk, would you come outside and speak with me?” Adian requested.

“Of course,” she replied, finally trying to stand on her still shaky legs. Realizing she was mostly unable to carry her own weight, the chocolate Lupino picked her up and carried her outside. He brought her to the vehicle that he and Onyx had arrived in, some yards from the cottage, and sat her inside, on the far side from the cottage.

“What were you thinking?! Running here? Now you can’t walk, and I don’t know if I can pull you back.”

“It’s all I’ve ever known to do, Adian,” she said as he grabbed her left arm and bit into it, to try and keep her from becoming a full vampire. She flinched at his bite. “I couldn’t just wait.”

“You’re too goddamn impulsive,” he half growled, pulling away from her arm. “First you say you can’t ever face him again, then you run up here like some damned idiot… Can you heal that?”

“No. I’ve never been able to heal myself, and I doubt I ever will,” she replied, as he grabbed her arm. “But if I can heal him–”

“No, I won’t allow that. We’ll take him to the hospital, or let Onyx if he can. It’s too risky for you. You need to worry more about yourself.”

“I can’t,” she simply stated. “That’s not how it was, and you know it.”

“Snowhawk, those days are long behind us.”

“No, Adian, they’re not. Not for me.”

The wolf sighed. “I’m going to have to break you of that too, I see.” He looked up and waved the Delphin and the other Lupino over. “But we will continue this later. It’s time to get you both home.”

*********

Five days after returning to Ametition with Kirrian, some of Janus’ personality had returned, but over all, Snowhawk was further exhausting herself with trying to help him remember. She eventually reached several points where she had to excuse herself to go off and cry over the whole ordeal. She had found him, but he was not the same wolf she remembered. During one of these, Onyx approached her with some news. She composed herself as quickly as she could before opening the door to her room. “I’m sorry Onyx, come in.”

“I hope this news can at least ease your pain a bit. Hunter has returned with some doctors from Juv that may be able to help you.”

“That’s wonderful news for myself, and Adian, if it works for me, but,” she paused, “I was hoping you’d found some help for Janus.”

“It’s possible that they may be help him as well.”

“That’s better news,” she weakly smiled.

“You need to take a break. I know you’re trying the best you can, but you’re exhausting yourself. I’m sure your hooves still aren’t healed.”

“No, but I’ve been okay, really.”

“You say that, but how many times have you had to ‘take a break’ and come in here or go somewhere else to cry?”

“So you saw that?” Snowhawk asked, hanging her head.

“It’s hard not to know. I think Janus even knows, but he’s too confused with this Kirrian persona over the rest of him to do anything to help you.”

She nodded slowly. “I know. I’m not expecting him to help me right now.” She signed and paused. “Now, when will we be seeing these doctors?”

“We can leave right now, if you wish.”

*********

It was only a short time before the two Delphin and the two Lupino arrived back at Nytehawk’s home. They were greeted by Hunter and several doctors from the medical school in Juv. “Who’s the black wolf?” Hunter asked, confused.

“He’s Janus,” Snowhawk began, “But not.”

“An encounter with an Avizon?” one of the younger Delphin doctors asked.

“Yes. About a month an a half ago, but I’m not sure how long she had him,” Adian answered.

“What’s your name?” the doctor asked, stepping toward the black Lupino and then examining the fur on his arm.

“Kirrian. I think,” Kirrian replied somewhat wary of the Delphin.

“I see. What do you think Director?”

“Well,” the Director began, paying close attention to the silvery line of new fur on his arm, “With the fur growth, he should be back to normal on his own soon enough. If he hadn’t started changing back to what I figure is his original coat, I’d be concerned. Who healed this?”

Snowhawk tentatively raised her hand, “I did.”

“Aah, you must be Snowhawk, the half-vampire.”

“Yes.”

“I didn’t realize how far along you were. We’ll start with you, please come with us.”

Snowhawk gave a small nod and followed the group of doctors into Nytehawk’s home. “So, what all does this entail?” she somewhat worriedly asked after a few moments of following them through the hallways.

“Mostly injections and a lot of observation. This is completely experimental, but if it works for you, then it could give hope to those that have been turned and didn’t want to be.”

“So not much different than what Adian’s been doing?”

“In it’s own way, not really. We’ll just be doing more testing on your blood to see what everything looks like. And rather than just managing the vampirism, we should be able to reverse it.” He was quiet for a minute, then stopped and looked at her, “I can’t guarantee that this is going to be pain free.”

“Considering what you’re attempting, I wasn’t expecting it to be.”

*********

Through researching the origins of vampirism, the research team had learned of it’s creation from a modified venom sample from an Avizon a group of humans had been experimenting on thousands of years in the past. This was applied to a male Delphin, and then the result was the first “vampire” of the world. The Delphin was rumored to be alive, still, and would be the only truly immortal vampire. Otherwise, the effects of vampirism on a being’s lifespan simply make them harder to kill, from time’s effects or in a fight. Most vampires would easily double their natural lifespan, but would eventually die.

The research team was overjoyed their first test would be on a Delphin, as vampirism seemed to affect them most. Their joy faded once they realized how painful the reversal effects would be on the subject, who was, in this case, Snowhawk. “We can’t use it like this,” one of the researchers, a Feln, commented to the Director.

“Is it working at all?” the Lupino replied.

“Yes, it working beautifully, but the pain that Snowhawk feels is just,” he paused, looking for the word, “immense. I’m afraid it will drive someone without as high of a pain tolerance, over the edge.”

“See if you can get the other vampire to assist you. And the brother as well, if he still has some of the Avizon venom in him.”

“Considering his fur color, I’d guess he still does.”

“Good. That could be the key to making this work. We’ve only been working with partial samples, and they could be missing what makes them painless.”

*********

Over the next weeks, the progress made in reversing Snowhawk’s vampirism was notable, if slow. With the help of Adian and the residual venom from Anya in Kirrian, the amount of pain from the reversal was greatly reduced, though not eliminated. Also over those weeks, the persona of Kirrian was fading away to reveal Janus again.

After three months, Snowhawk was finally declared free of vampirism, and Janus had mostly returned to normal. There were still hints of the untrusting, somewhat vicious Kirrian, and Snowhawk had somehow retained the ability to heal others.

“It’s good to be back, love,” Janus said, as he cradled Snowhawk in his arms as the two lay on a bench one afternoon back at his estate.

“It’s good to have you back,” she responded, hugging him tightly. “Things finally seem quiet.”

“They do. The doctors have gone back to Juv to perfect their work and pass the news around to the other medical groups there. I have to wonder though, why Adian didn’t take them up on their offer.”

“It wasn’t comfortable in the least,” she stated. “He may be wanting to wait until it’s been perfected.”

“I’d hope that’s all.”

“I’m sure it is. I think Adian’s a very different wolf now than who you grew up with.”

“Yes, and that’s what makes this so confusing.”

“I wouldn’t worry about him,” she smiled, nuzzling him gently.

Hunter was growing discouraged. It had been a week since he had returned to Juv. No one seemed to have an answer for him, other than how to prevent vampirism from spreading further in an individual. There was one medical school left to ask at, though Hunter held little hope of an answer there. The school was small, lesser known, and didn’t attract all the top minds the others did. Still, he had to try.

He met with the Director, one of the city’s few Lupino, and was pleased to hear they had made some strides in finding a cure. “In fact,” the Director said, “I’ve got a trial ready to go, but we have no vampires in the city. That’s why no one else has bothered to look further into a cure.”

“Do you know what might happen if it’s wrong?”

“Not exactly. We’ve only occasionally been able to work with vampires, but their-,” he paused to think of the word, “-habits had them run out of the city. And I’m sure you know how hard it is to get in here in the first place.”

“It’s worse than it used to be.”

“Yeah. Dia’ru’s slavers have been breathing down our necks. We have little to protect us, honestly, other than the walls.”

“Would they even let her in the city? Or would you have to travel to Ametition?”

“I would have to travel there. ‘Savior of Delphin’ or not, knowing she’s been infected would be devastating to morale around here.”

“Yeah, don’t ever tell her that. One of our workers did and that did not go over well.”

“Still, she helped more than Delphin. She helped my mate and myself. We were both slaves.”

“And you became a director in that time?”

“Just because your race lives long, doesn’t mean the rest of us can slack off, we don’t have the luxury of time. Besides, if we can break the mystery of vampirism, we may be able to help the other races live longer, so we could have the luxury of time.”

“Lofty goal.”

“Well,” the Director shrugged, “so is curing vampirism. Why not go a step further and try to understand it?”

*********

During the days Hunter was gone, Snowhawk often found herself wandering the grounds of her cousin’s home, usually with her son on one side, and her vampiric protector to the other. Nytehawk had little time to spend with her during the day and into the early evening. She spent most of it meeting person after person, in meeting after meeting. Snowhawk didn’t envy her, but did feel guilty her cousin was so busy only because she refused to be a figurehead.

One afternoon, on the fifth day Hunter was away, the trio was joined by Jerome as they walked. “Gentlemen,” he said to Adian and Valerian, “Might I steal Snowhawk from you for a moment?”

“Just bring her back,” Adian chuckled.

“Of course,” the Golden Guardian grinned.

Once Jerome had led Snowhawk a short distance away, Valerian turned to Adian and asked, “So, what’s the deal with you and my mom?”

Snowhawk flinched as she overheard her son’s question, and glanced up to Jerome. “So what is really going on with you two?” he asked.

“I told you. He’s my protector.”

“Then why are one of you asleep in the other’s room each night?”

Snowhawk flinched again. “You know I can’t stand being alone.”

Jerome sighed and stopped, turning her towards him. “I’m only asking you this right now because I have word from Onyx.” Snowhawk opened her mouth to say something, but Jerome quickly continued. “It’s nothing solid, but there are signs he could actually be in the forest, the more northern reaches.”

“But, why? He never wanted to be there unless he was with me.”

“We don’t know, but there are signs he’s there.”

“I have to go!” she said, spinning about and stepping to run off.

Jerome quickly grabbed her. “No, not yet! There’s more. If he did change, like you told us Anya said, then it could be bad. Sometimes Avizon and Lupino don’t mix. She could have basically caused something like one of our phase shifts- in a damned wolf!”

Snowhawk bit at her lower lip, fidgeting about. “But I have to go! Changed or not, I can’t lose him now!”

“Snowhawk, please. Give it a couple days. We’ll get a group together and find him, if it is him.”

Snowhawk nodded slowly, then lightly stamped one steel shod hoof, the sound catching the attention of her son and her protector. She again turned to walk away as the two trotted up to Jerome. “What happened?” Valerian asked.

“Adian, I think we may have found your brother. But there’s a chance he’s not the same as he was. He may have, because of Anya, experienced something like a Delphin phase shift.”

“And she’s ready to go find him right this minute?”

“Yes. Please keep an eye on her. I want to wait a couple days and gather some supplies before heading north.”

“Of course. Would you watch Valerian so I can catch her before she does something stupid?”

“Certainly,” Jerome nodded as Adian ran after Snowhawk.

“What’s a phase shift?” Valerian asked.

“Well,” the Guardian began, kneeling to the child’s level, “It’s something on Delphin normally go through. At certain points in our lives, we change rapidly. Usually, it’s just our coloration, but some of us gain horns or wings. Or even both, like your aunt. I gained my wings during my first shift, so did your mother.”

“Will I get my wings then?”

“Possibly. Just don’t be disappointed if you don’t. You’ve got a year or two to go until your first one anyway.”

“Why is it bad though?”

“It’s usually not, but sudden ones, like what your father and mother went through can mess up the brain. And if it happens to other species… It’s kind of the same thing.”

“Oh,” the young Delphin said, not really understanding.

“Don’t worry, you will be fine. Just stay away from broken horns and vampires,” Jerome smiled.

*********

“Snow! Wait up!” Adian called to the pale Delphin.

She stopped, turning to face him. “You too?! Of all people!” Her eyes were filled with tears, and several had already streaked their way down her face.

“You can’t go alone! You don’t know what could have happened to him. He may kill you.”

Snowhawk snorted, her emotions racing between feeling betrayed, being hopeful, and as lost as ever. “I don’t care right now! Adian, I have to go. He would for me.”

“I can’t let you, Snowhawk. I’m sorry. We can go once Jerome has more information and has gathered some sup–”

“Fuck his supplies and his information! I don’t need it!”

“Snowhawk!” Adian yelled as he grabbed the turning again to flee Delphin. “I want to find him too. Mostly so I can smack the shit out of him for staying away, but I want to find him.” He pulled her into his arms to hug her as she broke down and cried. “We won’t lose him again, if he is out there.”

That night, as everyone slept, Snowhawk took a page from her son and climbed out of the window, using a trellis to safely lower herself to the ground. She had a very strong suspicion where he’d be, if it was indeed Janus. A tiny old cabin in the northern forest was his family’s summer home. The cooler temperatures there suited them better than the city, and it was on the way there one year that they died.

She’d only been there once, but she remembered the area well. That had been her duty as a slave: to go some place once and remember. She was the best at her job of any Delphin.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered as she ran from the estate. “You would understand if you were me.”

Her pale fur vanished into the night, heading north, and out of the city into the forests. The night was cloudy, shielding her from the light of the full moon. Her fur glowed in the dimmest of light, something that was both a gift and a curse. It would give her position away, but she also looked like a ghost, potentially scaring off all opposition to her flight.

She’d inherited the gift of speed from Kione, and the longer she was away from Adian’s bite, the more of that gift that would appear. She’d kept the dark silver locket on, in case Emerald came back, but she would have to get him back fast, before she became a full vampire. Still, she was only partially a vampire now, and the longer she traveled at speed, she grew ever more tired. She ran for over a day, farther and farther into the northern forests and into the mountains. She eventually reached a point where, her legs, feeling as if they were on fire, the soles of her hooves bruised and sore, she collapsed to her knees near a mountain stream. She was exhausted, and figured she’d done more damage to herself than she might have had she simply walked here. But she had to outrun Adian.

Still, she was so tired. She knew she was in the right area though, and she figured she could rest for a few moments by the stream. She slowly, sorely crawled to the edge of the stream, and lowered herself into the cold water, trying to cool her legs off and at least numb the soles of her hooves. She lay back on the gravel bank behind her, closing her eyes. She soon drifted into an unwanted sleep.

~~~~~~~~~

She never saw the black furred Lupino step from the brush. He walked to the pale equine figure laying half in the stream, slightly tinted blue from her time in the icy water. She didn’t respond when he nudged her with his paw, but seemed to be shallowly breathing. He picked her up, tossing her over his shoulder and carrying her back to his small cottage in the nearby woods.

He gently pulled her soaked clothing from her, then placed her in the one small bed he owned, covering her with some deer furs.

~~~~~~~~~

Snowhawk awoke some time later to an empty cottage, surrounded by the smell of old, tanned hides. She tried to recall what had happened, but couldn’t remember how she wound up naked in a strange bed. “H– Hello?” she called out, her voice not wanting to work at first. A moment later, the door swung open as the same black-furred wolf that had pulled her from the stream walked into the cottage.

Icy blue eyes seemed to pierce through her as he nearly glared at her, and she subconsciously pulled the furs around her, up to her throat. “So you are alive,” he said in a gruff voice, one that seemed faked, but familiar. “Though I’m sure had I come along much later you wouldn’t be.”

“Th– thank you.”

“Oh, don’t thank me. You owe me now,” he grinned. “I know what’s behind that fur.”

“I can’t pay you back that way. Please,” she whined, shrinking back, but finding only a rough log wall behind her, “just let me go and you’ll never hear from me again.”

The wolf advanced on her, licking his lips and kneeling on the bed, blocking her in. “I’ve heard your kind made excellent slaves. And I think you really owe me for saving your life.”

She whimpered as he advanced on her, one knee to each side of her, one arm blocking her escape to each side. Then she caught a scent past the hides and leather. “Janus?!”

The wolf stopped his advance, backing up and looking somewhat confused. “Who?”

“Janus, is that you? What did she do to you?!” Snowhawk parted the fur on the wolf’s arm, finding the roots to be silver. “It is you!”

The wolf’s other hand caught her throat. “You’re crazy. My name is Kirrian.”

“No, it can’t be! The scent, the voice, the fur–”

“You’re mistaken,” he growled, cutting her off with a squeeze to her neck.

“Janus, please, it’s me! It’s Snowhawk!”

“Oh, well this is interesting,” he grinned. “I’m sure someone would pay a fine ransom for your return.”

“Janus…”

The wolf pushed her back into the wall. “Stop calling me that!”

Once he released her, and backed away, Snowhawk began to cry. “It’s happening again,” she whispered, drawing her knees to her chest.

The small, brown box with no return address that arrived at Nytehawk’s home would have been unremarkable, save for it’s contents. Inside was a letter from her cousin, and the hilt of a Guardian’s sword. The letter told Nytehawk everything of the past several days, from the situation with Legacy to Snowhawk’s current state of half-vampirism.

After reading the letter several times, Nytehawk leaned back in her chair and sighed heavily. “These are interesting days.” She wanted to return contact with her cousin, and not knowing any other way, she decided she would send the letter directly to the Sininensusi estate, and pray that someone there knew how to contact Snowhawk. Nytehawk’s letter, much shorter than her cousin’s, would simply request that Snowhawk visit them, and her son, at her home.

After writing her letter and handing it off to a courier, she searched out the Golden Guardian, to ask him about the sword hilt. “Jerome, I have a question for you about something I received today.”

“I’ll help the best I can,” he replied, turning toward her.

“Can you identify this?” she asked, showing him the hilt.

Jerome paused for a moment, a look of shock on his face. “That hilt… That’s from Legacy’s sword.”

Nytehawk sighed. “I was afraid of that. I received a letter from Snowhawk today telling me he was, indeed, Quillen and that he was now dead. Again, I guess.”

Jerome nodded. “I was mostly sure of who he was, but I never said anything because I couldn’t prove it. If the blade has been reclaimed, then it means that he is dead. For certain this time. The dark silver used in the blade of a Guardian sword is further enchanted to the owner’s life. The enchantment helps the blade stay sharper, and makes it nearly indestructible as long as the owner lives.”

“I see,” Nytehawk responded, frowning a bit.

“What is it?”

“There’s more. Janus is suspected dead, killed on the same night. And Snowhawk,” she trailed off.

“What about her?”

“Snowhawk is apparently a half vampire now.”

Jerome sighed heavily. “Well, this is not an ideal situation.”

“I know. I’ve sent a letter and asked her to join us here, at least for a little while. Maybe we can find some way to help her.”

“I know Juv has been working on a cure for vampirism. I don’t know how far along they are, though.”

“Then I’ll send someone there too, and have them bring back any information they can.”

“The Delphin City is not welcoming of strangers, you know,” Snowhawk’s voice said, causing both Nytehawk and Jerome to quickly turn around to face her.

“How did you get my letter so fast?”

“I met your courier on his way. You should hire someone not quite as terrified of me.”

“It’s wonderful to see you again, Snowhawk,” Jerome said, breaking an uncomfortable silence between the cousins.

“Thank you, Jerome. It’s a pleasure to see you again too. Though considering I managed to get your head of security killed, I don’t know how wonderful it really is.”

“Will you be staying?” the Golden Guardian asked, ignoring the subject of Quillen for now.

“I can’t stay away from the estate for too long. My condition is being kept in check by Adian.”

“Adian?! I thought he died!”

“No, the same vampire that put me in this condition found him near death and saved him.”

“Can it be reversed by him?” Nytehawk asked.

“No. Not completely. But if the Delphin in Juv have learned anything, we’d both love to hear it.”

“Maybe I should ask Hunter to go. He’s from there. They’d be less suspicious of him.”

“That’s probably your best bet. I doubt they’d let even you, their race’s leader, through the gates,” Snowhawk smirked.

“About that–”

“Nyte, I can’t. I don’t have the right personality. Everyone sees me as a revolutionary, and a savior. I’m neither. I just wanted you free. If it meant a few slavers died in the process, then so be it.”

“Well, I don’t think that’s true, but if you feel that way, I can’t really change your mind. I’ll go get Hunter,” she said before trotting out of the room.

After she’d left, Snowhawk turned to Jerome. “How has my son been?”

“Growing like a weed and into everything he can be, like a young healthy Delphin should be.”

“Good.”

“Do you regret leaving him?”

“No. I don’t have time to regret anymore. If he’s happy and healthy, that’s all I can ask for. I think everything would have been too stressful at the estate.”

“So is Adian now–”

“Adian is my protector,” Snowhawk quickly said. “Nothing more.”

“I see,” Jerome replied. “His choice or yours?”

“His.”

“That seems out of character.”

“He apparently got the shit kicked out of him one night, as he was stalking Nytehawk. By the very Delphin that he would later work with to try and free me from Kione.”

“That must have been awkward.”

“Not really. I think Lupino like when they know a potential rival is an ally. And that happened before he became a vampire anyway, so Adian apparently forgot how to hold a grudge.”

“Who was the Delphin?”

“Onyx.”

Jerome looked surprised. “So that’s where he went to. Did the old man survive the fight with the vampire?”

Snowhawk nodded. “He did. Then he left soon after to find Janus.”

“I thought he died too.”

“Not according to the Avizon who killed Legacy and I thought killed him. And Kione wanted her dead, so thinking Janus was gone, I went for revenge…”

“That doesn’t seem like you, Snowhawk.”

“It wasn’t just me. Do you remember the stories of Emerald?”

“Yes.”

“She’s an ancestor of mine. We basically share the same soul.”

“So she tried to take you over to come back to life.”

Snowhawk nodded another affirmative. “And she was Kione’s mate during her time as a vampire.”

“And that explains so much about why a vampire would only turn someone half way.”

“Right. If she can slowly take over, she’ll be stronger for it.”

Jerome sighed again. “Things are needlessly complex.”

“Tell me about it.”

*********

Within in the hour, Hunter left for the Southern city of Juv. Unlike the haven to slavery that was Di’aru, Juv was mostly populated by Delphin, and they were incredibly unsure of outsiders. Most Delphin in Juv settled there after Ametition fell into quiet chaos during the so-called slave revolution. Others, like Hunter’s family, had escaped the slaver’s chains and simply lived there, untouched by the slavers thanks to the city’s high, well-maintained walls. A handful of Feln and even fewer Lupino lived in the city, and no humans dared set foot inside. Due to the higher number of horned Delphin living there than anywhere else on the continent, and their closeness with the healing arts, most medical advances originated from Juv. Since the disease that causes vampirism originated from Delphin, a cure for it had been the top priority of the various medical colleges and associations in the city. However, the near xenophobic nature of the Delphin within the city led to advancements leaving the city walls slowly.

“I know he was born there, but I still worry about him going back,” Nytehawk sighed, watching the car carrying her mate pull away into the dark night.

“Considering what they did just to let him leave when he was younger, I’d be worried too,” Snowhawk replied.

“I should have gone with him.”

“What, so they could trap you there and you leave all this shit you’ve stirred in my hands? I don’t think so,” she snarked, looking away, then catching the faint outline of someone, apparently a short-tailed Feln, climbing down the side of the estate. “The hell is that?”

“Hmm?” Nytehawk responded, looking in the same direction as her cousin. “I don’t see anything.”

“Oh, shit, of course you wouldn’t. You don’t have a vampire’s eyes.” Snowhawk said, trotting off to catch whoever was climbing down the side of the building. Moments later, she was under the figure, and realized it was no adult Feln, but a young Delphin. She climbed up and grabbed a small leg, then saying in a fairly intimidating voice as the smaller Delphin looked down at her, “And just where do you think you’re going, young man?”

“Aw, shit,” Valerian sighed. “Caught.” He apparently didn’t recognize his mother, or her voice, “How did you see me?”

Snowhawk, toying with the child, simply smirked. “Come on down.”

By this point, Nytehawk had walked to the wall and joined the two as Snowhawk plucked Valerian off the trellis he’d been climbing down. “Where were you off to?”

“I saw Hunter leaving so I wanted to follow him for a while.”

“That would not be prudent, Valerian,” Snowhawk replied, “His home is a dangerous place.”

“Your voice,” the child commented, “sounds really familiar.”

Snowhawk looked at Nytehawk, then back to the boy. “Valerian, it’s me. Your mother.”

“M– Mom?!” Valerian said, at first shocked at her appearance, then he embraced her in as much of a bear hug as his small frame could manage. “But, what happened to you?”

Snowhawk sighed, wrapping her arms around him as well. “It’s a long, complicated story.”

“Snow,” Nytehawk began, sighing a bit, “why don’t you call your wolf here. Then you can your son can catch up, and you don’t have miss any of your… treatments.”

Snowhawk remembered the few times her and Adian had previously interacted. “Are you certain?”

“Yes. I’m sure. Especially if he’s changed as you have said.”

*********

Nearly three days later, Hunter arrived just outside of Juv. He hadn’t been back to the city in nearly a decade, but he had sent word ahead to his parents that he would be visiting. He missed their reply saying if he was asking for money, to not bother coming back.

As per their usual operating procedures, Hunter was forced to leave his vehicle before being allowed inside the first wall. Juv was a city filled with paranoia and distrust of anything from the outside. After being searched no less than three times for any sort of weapon, he was allowed into a waiting room inside the main city wall to wait on his parents. His mother arrived shortly after to pick him up.

“So why have you come back to our city?” his mother sternly asked.

“I need to speak to your doctors. Any of them, all of them. Someone close to me has contracted vampirism and we need to know if they’ve found a cure.”

“Who would be close to you?”

Hunter sighed. His mother was as aggravating as ever. “You do realize I’m mated to the leader of the new Delphin Society, right?”

The older female laughed a bit. “Tell me another one, Hunter.”

“Since I knew you wouldn’t believe me, here,” he said, pulling out a photograph of himself and Nytehawk.

His mother shrugged. “So she’s a vampire now. Why should Juv care?”

“She’s not, her cousin is. You know, the whole reason half this damn city is free now?”

The old mare’s eyes widened, remembering how the uprising saved many of her friends and some of her extended family. “Why didn’t you say that in the first place?! Your father is at the car, let’s go!”

Hunter sighed again and trotted after his mother. “Nothing changes.”

“He’ll be pissed, you know,” Onyx commented after a pause to the chocolate wolf, “once he finds out.”

“And so will Emerald, I’m sure.”

“Aye. Snowhawk, you may not be able to contact us for a while, so please let Adian and I work out the details”

“But I can’t just sit back and let her take over!” the Delphin protested.

“Then fight her,” Adian replied.

“Its not that easy, Adi–”

“Snow, you’ll be fine. We don’t know how long she’ll take over, or if there’s someway to reduce her power so you can keep her back–“

“Your bite,” Snowhawk began, perking up a bit. “Kione turning me as he did brought her out like this. Yours should reverse it.”

“Its worth a shot, Adian,” Onyx shrugged.

Adian sighed. The collar Kione placed on her was wide enough to keep him from easily biting her on the neck. “I’ll have to bite you somewhere other than your neck, which could be more painful.”

Snowhawk offered her arm to the wolf. “This is the least, after the neck, for me at least.” The vampiric wolf took her arm gently in his hands, trying not to think of how she learned that, kneeling before her as she looked away. “Sorry, I just can’t stand to watch.”

“Understandable,” he said just before biting down on her arm.

He took no blood, but instead just injected his vampiric toxin into her. She closed her eyes as he bit into her flesh, but never made any vocalization about the pain she felt. It was soon after that the wolf drew his head back, quickly placing his hand over the fresh wound on her forearm and healing it closed. “Are you okay, Snowhawk?” Onyx asked.

“Yes,” she replied after a moment of silence. “My head feels clearer too.”

“Good, that means his grip on you did loosen. It’s not perfect, but until we can either kill him or find the proverbial cure, it’ll be the best we can do.

After a few more moments of silence, Snowhawk quickly looked at Onyx. “Were the Royal Guards trained better than the Guardians?”

“I don’t know if ‘better’ is the appropriate term, but more thoroughly, yes,” the Guard replied.

“Legacy could mask his scent for a short period of time, were you trained for that as well?”

“Are you thinking we should hide him someway, and then he can sneak in easier?”

“Yes.”

Onyx nodded. “That would be better than just distracting him. Or making long enough of some kind of noise to get past any guards or workers.”

“He doesn’t have many workers on site and no real guards to speak of. The fewer that know the better, I guess,” she mentioned.

“Makes sense,” the Guard continued.

“Or,” Adian began, “Anya killed them all. He wasn’t so bare-bones with his outfit or concerned with keeping himself a secret a few years ago.”

Snowhawk shuddered. “I don’t know why I killed her. I was angry, yes, but more sad than anything. Now I’m just lost again. And if what she said is true, it doesn’t matter because I could never face Janus again,” she rambled.

Onyx gently touched Snowhawk’s shoulder. “That would most likely be Emerald’s influence. She did the same to the ones that killed her mate–”

“Wait, what did Anya say?” Adian interrupted, realizing what Snowhawk has said.

“That your brother is still alive. She said he was in the forest. But that’s not like him. That’s me. He was only ever out there for my sake. But,” she paused, “she said he changed. I don’t know how, Emerald took over. I didn’t believe her. I saw him die.”

“And I saw Legacy die, but I was wrong. Snowhawk, you can’t just ignore the possibility–”

“Yes, I can, Adian!” she exclaimed, tears welling up in her eyes. “I can’t go through it again. I can’t go through him dying on me again. I shouldn’t even be here. I appreciate you want to help me. But, I don’t even want to be here.”

“Snow…”

“I just– I can’t even think about it right now,” she whispered, doubling over and sobbing.

“No one will ask you to then,” Onyx said, trying to mitigate the situation, “but understand once we get the vampire out of the way, I’m duty-bound to go find him. Your mate, even though he’s a Lupino, is your family and falls under my protection. And I will try to help with this problem of any early death on his part.”

She couldn’t respond other than nodding her head slightly.

*********

Over a day later, the trio neared Kione’s sea side castle. Adian stopped his vehicle, figuring it better to walk the last few miles, and at least keep the vampire from stealing his truck. Onyx drew a cloak about himself as he slipped from the vehicle first, followed by Snowhawk, then Adian on the driver’s side. Snowhawk made sure the dark silver locket and necklace was well hidden under her dress collar, then paused a moment before following the chocolate wolf. “Onyx, follow behind us for a while, then once they’re busy watching us, you can sneak in easier,” Adian instructed.

“Certainly. And if there’s trouble, I can jump in quicker.”

The wolf nodded, then extended his hand to Snowhawk. “Are you ready?”

She drew a deep breath and sighed. “Yes. But I don’t look forward to how angry he’ll be.”

“I know,” Adian replied. “I’ll try to protect you.”

“And I’ll be waiting back too,” the Guard reminded.

“Thank you, both.”

The trio trotted to the estate before them, Snowhawk growing ever more nervous with each step. Adian and Snowhawk walked into the grounds, unhindered, not seeing a single other soul. They walked through the front doors into the entrance way, the steel of her shod hooves echoing through the large, cold, stone room.

“So they both return,” Kione’s voice growled as the vampire appeared behind Snowhawk, grabbing a handful of her hair near the base of her skull and pulling her to his side.

“Let her go, Kione,” Adian warned.

“What did you do to Emerald, you little bitch?” he commanded, ignoring Adian.

“Nothing!” she cried as the vampire bent her back, examining her.

“Bullshit,” he growled again, then seemed delighted once he saw the outline of the locket through her dress and realized what had happened. “So you did find some dark silver, and I guess the Avizon is dead. You’re not completely useless!”

Adian made a move as if to punch the vampire, but Kione simply side stepped away. “I said let her go! It wasn’t her doing!”

“Then it was yours? How would you know if would break the hold I have on her?”

“I didn’t, you dick. Let her go and I’ll explain.”

Curious to the wolf’s tale, he indeed released her, half throwing her at Adian. “Now get to talking.”

Adian protectively cradled Snowhawk away from the elder vampire. “I was trying to just block Emerald. She was making Snowhawk too violent.”

“Oh, like she wasn’t before. How many people did she kill for your uncle?”

“That was different!”

“Oh, right, she had to do those, she just wanted revenge this time.”

Adian growled. “No, that was Emerald. Even after she was nearly killed by him, Snowhawk never wished such harm on Legacy.”

“You can’t keep pretending, wolf. It is in her nature, and has been long before she was even alive.”

“That was Emerald. Not Snowhawk.”

Kione shrugged. “Take that necklace off her and see.”

Through out this exchange, Onyx had been sneaking through a side room of the building, making his way to the main hall. With his scent hidden, he neared a door that seemed to be leading to the grand entrance way, where he heard Kione and Adian’s voices arguing. He’d borrowed Snowhawk’s daggers, and pulled them from the sheaths he’d strapped to his belt as he silenced the door and slowly pushed it open.

Indeed the two vampires were arguing, and were just ahead of the Royal Guard. He cast the same silencing spell on his own hooves and quickly crept toward the group before him. The elder vampire began to turn just as one of the dark silver daggers sunk into his chest.

The vampire’s flesh hissed as it contacted the dagger. “You fuck!” Kione growled spinning toward the black-furred Guard. He immediately looked as if he’d seen a ghost. “You should be dead!”

“So should you,” Onyx quipped.

Adian took the time to move Snowhawk away from the other two males. “Please, stay back, I don’t want you getting hurt.”

“No, this will just drag him away from your fight,” she said as she looked toward the others, now engaged in battle.

The old Royal Guard was surprisingly agile for his extended age, and was holding his own well against the vampire he fought. But holding his own and defeating the vampire would require more hands. “Just stay here for now,” he begged. “We’ll cross that bridge if we get to it.” And with that he sprinted to the fight.

Snowhawk fidgeted where she was, stamping one steel shod hoof on the stone floor below her. Maybe, she thought, finally alone in her own head, I can shift into my feline form and help. Knowing Kione would never kill her, as that would also kill Emerald, she figured it was worth a shot. As she began to change, her fur lengthening, she felt the wall put up by the dark silver jewelery growling thinner, but once fully changed, she realized it was thankfully still there. She unsheathed her feline claws and silently charged at Kione. Though she was now barely five feet tall, when she pounced on him, she managed to bring him to the ground.

“Little bitch!” he growled, reaching to toss her aside, but her agility was better as a Feln and she managed to roll out of the way. The distraction of the light lavender feline was enough to allow Onyx to cut at the elder vampire again, and sink one of Snowhawk’s daggers deep into him once more.

The battle would continue like this for another fifteen minutes, until Snowhawk grabbed Kione from behind, her claws digging into his chest, sharp kitty fangs sinking into the back of his neck, and rear claws braced into has back. Onyx again lunged at him, sinking both daggers deeply into his body, and the elder vampire collapsed to the floor, assisted by Snowhawk half pushing him down as she lept from his back. “So you’ve won,” he panted, then grinned. “How are you going to kill me?”

Snowhawk paused for a moment, then an icy sword appeared in her hand. “The blood magic is sealed with Emerald, but I can still finish your sorry ass off.”

“I told you wolf. She’s no different,” Kione said, giving Adian a pained grin.

“This is different, Kione,” she responded. “I will never be able to rest with you alive.”

“Then why don’t I let you rest for a while?” he again grinned, then vanished before them. He appeared a moment later, one of his arms around Snowhawk,and using the other hand to hold the back of her neck, then he whispered in her ear, “Don’t worry, relax for a few years. Once you’re ready, I’ll be back.” Then he vanished again, and the steel collar he’d placed on her fell to the floor.

Snowhawk collapsed to her knees, staring at the collar. Adian and Onyx both rushed to her side. “Don’t worry, he’s gone. Actually gone. I don’t know where to, but he’s not in my head anymore,” she told them both.

“What about Emerald?” Onyx asked.

“I think she’s gone for now as well. But I don’t know for certain, I guess because of the jewelery.”

“What did he say to you? Just before vanishing.”

“That I should rest for a few years, then he’d come back when I was ‘ready.’”

“Ready?” Adian asked.

“That’s all he said. Then he was gone.” She shook her head quickly, then looked at them both, and the numerous small wounds covering them. “And you both got hurt for me. For nothing.”

“No, he’s gone. We accomplished something,” Onyx mentioned.

She sighed. “You’re right. And thank you both for helping me.”

Snowhawk simply lay where she had been left. Her only movement had been blinking tears away, and breathing. She simply hoped the latter would be done with soon. It had been several hours since the vampire left her, presumably to prepare to bring Emerald back for good.

It will be good to touch him again, permanently, Emerald’s voice began in Snowhawk’s mind. Sorry you won’t get to again.

Now I can’t even be alone in my own head. Snowhawk thought.

Nope, stuck with me until you’re gone and I’m all that’s left.

Then take over, I have nothing left.

Oh no, not until you fix what broke when I died the first time.

Snowhawk’s tears welled up further. I can’t fix anything. I’ve killed two men I loved.

No, you can’t when you think like that, Emerald chided. Now snap out of it before I force you to do this.

“Whatever,” Snowhawk openly said, finally moving her aching body to curl up on the bed.

———

Having moved into the darkened doorway, watching the lavender Delphin on his bed, the silken halter still tied tightly on her face, Kione grinned. It had been a thousand years since he last saw Emerald, but she kept appearing to him tonight. And Snowhawk, though a larger creature, was very similar. Perhaps, he thought with a grin, there is a way to combine the two, then stepped into the room. He quickly reached the bed, and grabbed the free end of the sash, using it to pull Snowhawk’s head up to look at him. “Aren’t you glad to soon be free of this?”

She halfheartedly tried to pull her head free, and being unsuccessful, she simply looked away from him. “Why are you drawing it out? Just get it over with.”

“It’s not that simple. Emerald isn’t strong enough yet.”

“Then make her strong enough and get rid of me.”

“I have a better idea. Why don’t I keep you around and bring her back?”

Snowhawk tried to pull her head away again, once more unable to. “Just kill me, please. I can’t stand this.”

“That would ruin all my plans. She can’t come back until she has the strength, and you can’t die until then. But if I find a way for you both to live…”

I’m willing if you are, Emerald’s voice began in Snowhawk’s head, unless you’re going to throw you’re life away over a man.

They were my life. My lives. What am I supposed to do now?

The grey Delphin would have shrugged if she had shoulders of her own. Outside of taking care of what you are responsible for taking care of, I don’t care. Do what I did, find their killer and murder her.

It won’t bring them back.

So? You might feel better. Put that dark silver sword your Guardian left behind before he died to use.

I can’t face Adian again.

Stop it. You can face him. You can do whatever with him. Bring him back here, then we both get our men.

“Well?” Kione said, somewhat impatient with waiting out her answer.

Snowhawk closed her eyes. “Goddamn you both. Fine. Whatever.”

“Just remember you will be mine. You will have your freedom, but I will know what you do at any moment I so choose.”

“With her in there, my head is no longer mine anyway.”

“So be it. Delphin, you are mine now,” the vampire said, leaning down to bite her.

“You could at least use my name…”

Just before biting down, he whispered to her. “I will when you earn it.”

********

Half-vampirism is rare even by vampiric standards. The condition is hit or miss. One can get all the benefits of being a vampire, or some of them, or simply get all the bad. Half-vampires can be born or created, usually the latter. If the condition is not reversed, or kept in check, by a vampire other than the sire, eventually a half-vampire will become a full vampire. The only way for Emerald to regain the ability to speak on her own without great concentration would be for her host to become at least half of what she was in life. Together the two could be a nearly unstoppable force, but eventually, unless a second vampire offered to keep the process in check, Emerald would take over, and Snowhawk would vanish.

It would be several days later when a car pulled in front of the Sininensusi estate. A darkly cloaked, hooded figure stepped from the car. Barely purple legs with shined, shod hooves could be seen peeking out from under the cloak. A smooth, slightly curved horn, and a short-furred muzzle of the same color could be seen from under the hood. The figure walked directly into the estate, no questions from any workers, and into the gardens.

The cloak wearer found a particular bench under a trellis that once held morning glories, and sat, and waited. Through slits in the cloak, pale arms stuck through, and the delicate feminine hands were folded in the female Delphin’s lap. She sat with her legs crossed at the hocks, and her head slightly down.

She wouldn’t have to wait long. The now-ever present Adian soon found her in the garden, and angrily confronted this intruder. “Who the fuck are y–”

“Adian,” Snowhawk’s voice began, “I need help.”

“Sn– Snowhawk! Where have you been?! What’s happened?!”

“I’m only allowed to say so much,” she said, looking up and revealing deep pink eyes instead of her usual green. “Once this is done, I can tell you everything.”

“Shit. He has you, doesn’t he?”

She paused for a moment, dropping her head again, then looked back up at him. “Yes.”

“I’ll do whatever I can.”

“I need to find Anya. And I need Legacy’s sword.”

“He’s sending you to kill her?”

“No, I’m doing this on my own– with his consent. She’s a liability to him, and I want my revenge.”

“You have to tell me everything when you get back. This isn’t like you.”

“I will, Adian.”

“I no longer have Legacy’s sword, I had it fashioned into a pair of daggers for you. I knew you would come back.”

“Adi– How did you know?”

“Because I know you. Come inside, tell me what you can, and I’ll give you the information while you do.”

“Thank you, Adian.”

She stood and walked to him, and followed him back into the estate. He heard both the steel of her shoes and a small metallic jingle he didn’t recognize as she walked. “What is that?” he asked soon after getting inside. Rather than tell him, she reached up and unbuttoned, then removed her cloak. She showed not only a newly regrown mane, but also a wide band of steel, with a ring in front and riveted together, now graced her neck. “Oh Snow,” Adian sighed.

She dropped her head. “I didn’t have much of a choice.”

“I know, dear,” he said as he gathered her into his arms and hugged her.

“So are you–”

“Half,” she quickly replied, “for whatever good that term is. But I’m being warned to say no more about this. Not right now.”

“I see,” Adian said, releasing her so they could continue on their way, taking note of the dampness left on his shirt by her tears. He could only hope that whatever communication line was connecting her to the vampire would be broken when he gave her the necklace he’d also had fashioned from the sword, as well as preventing any reversions to Emerald. “Can you speak of your phase shift?”

She was quiet for a moment, then nodded her head. “Some, yes.”

“Is this a Phase 3 or something else?”

“I’m not even sure. Emerald has told me it’s not, but is more of a result from,” she trailed off, and paused for a moment. “From what happened. From losing Legacy and Janus, then being made what I am now. And, there’s this,” she said, stopping in the middle of the hallway and holding her left arm away from her.

Adian felt the air around him grow colder and it crackled with static as he watched a long blade of apparently ice form from her hand. The blade was surrounded by electricity, and seemed to be cored with something resembling blood.

“And yet, as strong as this magic is, it’s not enough to kill an Avizon,” Emerald’s voice said through Snowhawk. “We don’t have enough time to hone it. Anya is a liability.”

The Lupino was unnerved by hearing a different voice than Snowhawk’s speaking through her. “Is this your magic?”

“Partially, in the electricity and the blood. The ice is all hers. Were Anya not what she is, or time not an issue, we wouldn’t have had to come back.”

“You’re both immortal, now. What time could you possibly need?”

“You know as well as I do, wolf, what happens after so long with a half vampire.”

“One can hope. So this– arrangement allows you to control her body more than just laying around?”

“Oh much more than that, wolf. But you’ll find out soon enough,” she grinned, then the grin faded to Snowhawk’s former, sad expression, as the icy sword in her hand vanished.

“Does she do that often?” Adian asked.

“Yes, and more.”

Adian sighed again, thinking this may be more complex than he originally intended, or perhaps the necklace would work better than expected. Either way, he needed to get it on her soon.

After a short time, they reached Adian’s room. Inside, he presented Snowhawk with a small box. Inside were two dark silver replicas of the daggers of her past life.

“Adian, these are–” she began, reaching in to pick one of them up.

“Everything but the blades are yours. I made sure the craftsman balanced them as closely as possible, accounting for the blades now being slightly heavier. You should have no trouble using them.”

Her hand shook as she held the dagger, not having touched the grip since she nearly lost her life on her final mission for Janus’ uncle. “Thank you, Adian.”

“Now, let’s find the bitch that killed my brother.”

*********

Several hours later, the darkly cloaked figure of Snowhawk left the Sininensusi estate, having found where Anya may be hiding. Adian watched her trot away, the sound of her steel shoes echoing back to his ears through the otherwise silent night. He honestly wasn’t sure if he’d see her again. Emerald had warned him against following them, and Avizon were no push overs.

He now had to think of ways to get her away from both Emerald and Kione’s influence. The necklace might be a start, but the elder vampire really needed to be taken out of the picture. Emerald might leave Snowhawk as well then.

“But how do I kill an elder vampire?” the wolf said aloud and to no one.

Or so he thought. “Might I be of assistance?” a black-furred, silver-maned, silver-muzzled Delphin offered.

Adian jumped at seeing the other Delphin behind him. “Who are you?!”

“My apologies. My name is Onyx. I’m a Royal Guard, and a remnant from Emerald’s time.”

Adian paused. “That was more than two thousand years ago.”

The black-furred Guard shrugged. “I was one of the lucky ones.”

“Why are you here now?”

“Do you know the duty of a Royal Guard? We don’t protect just one Delphin, but the whole family line. I unfortunately have been so busy with her son and cousin’s protection that I couldn’t watch over her as well. The Royal Guards are gone, except for me, for a reason.”

“I’m sure it was somewhat easier before the slavers came.”

“Incredibly. I may be an old Del, but I haven’t forgotten my duties. You are a better protector than my old self could ever be, so I wanted to help you with your vampire problem.”

“What will you do?”

“Help you kill him, of course. It’s been a mission of mine for years, since he took Emerald. The manipulative son of a bitch has had it coming for a while. And then maybe I can rest.”

The old Delphin needed it, it was obvious even if one didn’t know his age. “Very well, sir. Let’s go get a vampire.”

*********

Snowhawk trotted through the city’s outskirts hours later, searching for the elusive Avizon. Anya was one of the best shape shifters alive, and like most of her species, was an expert at hiding. But they’re not good enough to avoid me, Emerald had said, when Adian asked her about tracking Anya.

Emerald’s words were not empty threats. She’s here, the grey Delphin’s voice calmly stated as she nearly passed an unassuming, run down apartment building, like so many others around the edges of town. Snowhawk quickly turned and ran into the building. Slow down, dammit! She’ll hear those shoes of yours.

She doesn’t know it’s me. And I’ll stomp the life out of her with these shoes if I don’t slit her throat first, Snowhawk growled at the other female.

Don’t you dare lose her, was the only reply Emerald could manage.

Anya did indeed hear the loud, quick clip clop of shod hooves running though the apartment’s building. Were the building otherwise occupied, she wouldn’t have been suspicious as many Delphin still wore steel shoes. But the building was supposed to be empty, and had been for the past week or so she’d been here. As the noise grew ever closer she cautiously stuck her head out of the room she was holed up in. She nearly then lost her head as she barely saw and dodged an icy sword swung at her, and felt the tingle of the electricity as it missed her. “What the fuck?!”

The ice sword was dropped and vanished where it fell as Snowhawk simply pulled her cloak off and unsheathed the two dark silver daggers from her thigh sheaths. Her eyes almost glowed red as she then lunged at the Avizon, swiftly catching her and pinning her down. “Where is he?!” Snowhawk yelled.

“Where is wh–” Anya began, but was soon cut off by a dagger to her throat.

“You know who, you bitch! Where is Janus?!”

“He’s gone!”

“You fucking killed him, I know he’s gone. Where is his body?!”

“No, he’s not dead! But he escaped from me!”

“You’re lying,” she growled, pressing the dagger closer to the Avizon’s throat.

“Gah! No! He’s really alive. But he’s not the sa–”

“I will slit your fucking throat right here unless you tell me where he is.”

Snowhawk! She is telling the truth! Emerald’s voice rang out in Snow’s head.

No, she’s not. I saw him die. I’m not going to live with false hope he’s alive!

But–!

Emerald’s words were interrupted as Anya took a moment to regroup and push Snowhawk off her. “No, you aren’t getting away!” Snowhawk yelled as she quickly formed and threw a spike of ice at the still trying to stand Anya. The ice spike couldn’t completely pierce the Avizon’s leg thanks to her thick skin, but it did enough damage to seriously wound her. Snowhawk lunged at her again from the floor, sinking one dark silver dagger into her other leg and pulling her back to the ground.

“But he’s alive! He’s in the forest! That’s all I know!”

“So is that where you left the corpse? The forest? How could you?!”

“Goddammit, listen to me, there is no corpse unless he’s gotten himself killed!”

Snowhawk grabbed a handful of the Anya’s short hair, and pulled her head back. “Lying or not,” Emerald’s voice now said through Snowhawk’s body, “Kione wills you dead, and I will not disappoint him.”

“What did I do?!”

“You lost the wolf. That’s what.”

“He escaped!”

“You still lost him. And you’re lucky that I’m the one killing you instead of Snowhawk. She’d planned to drag it out and make you suffer.” And with that, Emerald, controlling Snowhawk’s body, slit the Avizon’s throat.

She remained in control of Snowhawk long enough to be sure Anya actually was dead, a far too uncommon occurrence it seemed.

How could you kill her so fast? Snowhawk questioned once she was finally able to take control of her body again.

Because making her suffer was not part of the plan. We don’t have time for that.

What’s next? Making me go kill Adian now?

Emerald sighed. You know Kione would never allow that.

Then what time are we lacking?

Yours.

Do I at least have time to finish my conversation with him?

I see no harm in it.

*********

The following day, Snowhawk slowly trotted through the gate of the Sininensusi estate. Adian greeted her at the door. “Is she gone?”

“Anya? Yes, she’s dead.”

Adian could still faintly smell the blood on her. “Come on, we can’t have you smelling like a killer.”

“Adi, I don’t have much time. We should talk first.”

He hadn’t realized how far over “half” she was. “I’ll meet you in the garden then. I need to take care of something first.”

Snowhawk gave a small nod and the two parted ways. She was a little confused at the chocolate wolf’s behavior. He normally would not be so secretive. Still, she went to the garden, sitting on the same bench as yesterday to wait on him. When he returned, he was holding a small, flat rectangular box.

“I had another gift for you, but I decided wait until you returned to give it to you. Close your eyes for a moment.”

She canted her head to the side, but soon complied, closing her eyes and holding her head up to wait.

She felt a bracelet soon close around her right wrist, then soon after felt a pendant press against her chest, and a necklace clasp was heard clicking closing behind her. Then she heard only silence in her head. “They’re gone!” she gasped, opening her eyes.

A black Delphin stepped from behind a hedge. “Excellent.”

Snowhawk looked at him, startled, then to Adian. “Don’t worry, dear, he’s here to help,” the Lupino reassured her.

“Indeed. My name is Onyx, I am your family’s Royal Guard, and I am here to finish what I should have finished when Kione took Emerald.”

“But, wait, how did they get out of my head?”

“Your wolf here had a necklace and locket fashioned of the dark silver from your Guardian’s sword. But that wouldn’t be quite enough, so I provided him with a bracelet made from it.”

“That makes no sense.”

“Originally, we planned to use it to prevent you reverting back to Emerald. Then Onyx informed me that I could use it to prevent Kione from controlling you. I know it doesn’t make a lick of sense. But the important thing is that it works.”

“For how long?”

“Until you take those off,” the Guard chimed in. “Or until we take care of the Vampire.”

Snowhawk looked down for a moment, thinking, “If you need a way in, he asked if you would come back, Adian.”

The wolf thought for a moment. “That could be an excellent idea, Snowhawk.”

“Indeed. If we could get in easier, with him not expecting us, that would certainly make our job easier,” the black Delphin replied.

“How are you going to get in, Onyx?” Adian asked.

“Make a distraction. I’ll find my way.”

Snowhawk paused for a moment. “If they can’t keep track of me, that will be a pretty big distraction on it’s own.”

“Leave the jewelery on then. And don’t worry about the vampire. He wouldn’t dare try anything to the host of his beloved Emerald.”

“Nothing he hasn’t already,” Snowhawk replied, seeming to shrink in size as she restrained herself from curling into a little ball.

Adian gently touched her shoulder, “I won’t let him.”

“Just keep those daggers handy, we don’t know if you’ll need them,” Onyx said, nodding to the sheathed weapons strapped to her thighs.

“Nothing could stop her from going,” Janus worriedly stated to his brother as the two spoke in the library.

“Reversions don’t usually occur this many years later. It’s very odd,” the vampiric brother replied. “But that’s not to say it doesn’t happen. If their old bond was strong enough, then time wouldn’t matter.”

“Is there anyway to stop it?”

“The best way would be to kill Kione, but that’s no easy task. I’d have to do some research, but I believe the silver Guardian swords are made from can be fashioned into jewelery and used to prevent it.”

Janus nodded, looking at his brother. “Thank you, brother.”

“You’re wanting to know something else, or you wouldn’t be so polite.”

“Yes,” the older wolf sighed. “Can he control you, like he does her?”

“He prefers females. He doesn’t want to control me.”

“That’s not an answer, Adian.”

“Brother, that vampire is so old and so powerful that he can control anyone he wants, thrall or not.”

Janus sighed again, frustrated at the indirect “Yes” answer. A moment asked he asked “Do you know what kind of bond was between them?”

“Are you really that dense, Janus?”

“No, but I was hoping I’d be wrong.”

“It does explain a few things, though.”

“Such as?”

Adian paused for a moment to find his words. “Such as how, ahem, ‘good’ she is, or so I hear. And how she never failed to seduce someone when needed.”

Not comfortable with the subject, Janus attempted to move on. “Anything else?”

“Emerald was a master of blades, especially small ones, like daggers. Where has her proficiency always been?”

“Small blades.” The older brother sighed yet again. “This shall be difficult.”

Adian nodded in agreement. “Yes, but right now, you need to concentrate on her. I don’t mean watching her like a hawk, but you need to be there for her more than ever.”

“What of Kione?”

“I’ll deal with him. If he was to get the idea in his head to get you out of the way first– Shit.”

“What?” Janus asked at his brother’s pause.

“He’s already got the idea in his head. That’s why Anya was here.”

“Do you think he’ll try it again?”

“Most certainly, though he wouldn’t go the same route. It would most likely be something more permanent.”

“I see. Thank you, Adian. I have some thinking to do.” Janus turned and left the small library, headed to his love’s room.

A feline formed Snowhawk met him halfway there. “Janus, what’s going on?”

she asked, concerned over the secretive nature of both her love and his brother the past few days.

Janus just wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. “Don’t worry, love. We’ll protect you.”

“’We?’” she asked, not exactly pleased with his non-answer.

“Yes, Adian and me.”

She’d not really had a chance to just talk to him lately, and most conversations led her far away from something that had been weighing on her mind. “Adi– Janus,” she began, pulling away from his slightly, “I think there’s something you need to know.”

Janus sighed and pulled her back to him. “If it’s about the other night, I know. Don’t worry, love. I may not understand completely, but I understand enough. And I’ve already kicked my brother’s ass for taking advantage of you.”

Snowhawk chuckled a little at that. “I’m sure,” she replied, resting her head on him.

Janus scooped her slight feline form up, then carried her into their room. “I thought we knew everything about you, love,” the wolf sighed.

“I guess it’s hard to know everything about someone, even if that someone is yourself,” she responded as he placed her on the bed’s edge. “What did you find out?”

“We think we can stop the reversions from happening again, but we need to find a Guardian’s sword.”

“Wh– Why one of those?” she stuttered, nervous about any kind of silver with that kind of potential to harm near her flesh again.

“If we fashion some form of jewelery for you to wear from it, it may work to keep you as you are.”

The question had to come out. “But who is the other Delphin?!”

Janus sighed, knowing the information should be given to her, but still hesitating to say it. “She was Kione’s mate. And an ancestor of yours.”

“Oh shit.”

Janus had to chuckle at her reaction. “That’s what I said.” He stopped once he realized she was staring nervously at the door. “What’s wrong?”

“Someone’s here,” she whispered, backing her way across the bed. She suddenly stopped and dug her claws into the bedspread as she felt someone’s hand on the back of her neck. “Janus, who’s behind me?” she whimpered.

“No one, love,” he replied, “that I can see anyway.”

She leaned down as the hand pressed forward on her, then rolled to her side as it forced her over. “Please, stop,” she softly cried.

Janus again felt utterly helpless. “Goddamned vampire.”

A nearly inaudible chuckle was heard, then Snowhawk felt herself released from the invisible force pressing her into the bed.

“What the fuck was that?!” she exclaimed, crawling back to Janus and holding him tightly.

********

Adian sighed as he stared at the book in front of him. The list of known Guardian swords was short, most having been reclaimed for their metal during the slave uprising. The only ones he could find belonged to Jerome, and the other to Legacy, who he now knew as Quillen. “This shall be difficult. I lost that damn sword in the forest and the son of a bitch still managed to find it. And he almost killed her with it.” He scratched through his short, red hair. “Now what.”

At the bottom of the page, one more weapon was listed as known to exist, written in almost as an afterthought, but the location was in a fuzzy range of coordinates. “I guess that’s as good of a lead as any,” the dark wolf grumbled. “At least it’s possibly close, and in the city. At– Bryce’s old estate,” he realized, checking his map.

He sighed and scribbled the range on his map, then folded it and placed it into his back pocket as he stood. “Then if I can find this damn thing, I need to find someone to work the metal.” He turned from his desk and walked out of his room to try and find the elusive Guardian sword.

*********

Kione chuckled as he watched Snowhawk through a viewing orb. He could still be near her without placing himself in danger. He scowled as he saw her cuddle close to Janus. “Soon, wolf, you will be the one watching, and you’ll never be able to get her back.”

He could just end this all now, Adian had failed to prevent her from being controlled by him. But he was not the type to just take a prize without toying with the rest of the game. He loved to gamble, and he loved a challenge, both of which he could find here.

“So when are you going after her again?” Anya’s voice asked.

Kione turned and glared at the female, for once in her true, dragon-like form. “Three days,” he said to the Avizon, “but why would you care?”

“So I’ll know when I’ll have my wolf! Duh.”

“You’re confident you can take control of him this time?”

“Of course. Once he thinks she’s dead, he’ll be like putty to me,” she said as she flopped across a couch in a very non-ladylike fashion. “So what will you do with her? Keep her as is, or turn her back into Emerald?”

“As interesting as Snowhawk is, Emerald was the only being I ever cared for. It isn’t even a real question at this point. The wolf has no claim to her, past or present self.”

“So how do we do this?”

“I assume you’re still proficient with that crossbow of yours?”

“Of course.”

“You lure Legacy, Quillen, whatever he’s calling himself these days, to Janus’ estate. Make sure he can get in, so keep Adian distracted on this hunt for a Guardian sword. Once there, where ever they have their confrontation, be ready.”

“I get to kill the asshole?”

“Yes.”

“Sweet!”

Kione sighed at her. “Poison the bolts. We don’t want him coming back again. Once he’s down, take Janus out however you choose. I’ll be visible by that point.”

“She’ll have to give in to you once she thinks they’re both dead, as much as she might hate Quillen.”

“She doesn’t hate him, actually. Don’t forget, I’ve been in her head.”

“Oh?”

“She feels pity for him, and is terrified of him at the same time. But there’s no hate for him.”

“Oh that’s even better, seeing him die, knowing he’ll never be redeemed,” she grinned.

“Precisely. Now prepare yourself. You may actually be useful for once.”

Anya grinned at Kione. “I’m always useful, dear vampire, but think of it as a birthday gift.”

*********

Three nights later, Snowhawk slept in Janus’ arms as usual, but their peace was not to last. Janus was awoken by a violent shiver going through Snowhawk’s body, and quickly noticed the look of pain on her equine face. Through the darkness, he could see a sword pointed at the two of them, and he smelled her blood.

“Hand her over, you bastard,” Quillen’s voice commanded.

“Never,” the wolf growled. “What did you do to her?” he continued to growl, noticing her to still be asleep.

“I should be asking you, you manipulative prick. Now back away from her.”

Janus sat up, pulling Snowhawk further away from Quillen. “What part of ‘never’ did you not understand?”

“Back. Away,” warned the former Guardian, advancing toward the two of them, until he was blocked by an invisible wall.

“The fuck?”

“Neither of us belong to you, Quillen,” said Snowhawk’s voice, accompanied by another, unknown female.

“Who the hell–”

The latter voice continued. “I am Emerald, the heiress to the Delphin Empire, and the first Royal Delphin to be killed by the slavers. The battle began with me, and it will end with her, my descendant. You have no business here.”

“I think I do,” he growled. “He stole my mate.”

“Then you were a weak fool. You have no business here, now, leave!”

“She is the mother of my son!”

“You treat her like a toy. An object. Not a mate or mother,” she glared.

Quillen had nothing to say to that. “Hand her over, wolf.”

“You will do no such thing, Lupino,” Emerald’s voice commanded.

Janus was utterly confused. Not about the decision to turn Snowhawk over to the angered, former Guardian, but over how a long dead Delphin could be controlling Snowhawk’s actions, without changing back into her old form. Her eyes were again, half open and dull, as they had been a few nights ago. How can they inhabit the same body?

“I don’t have time for this,” Quillen growled. “I will have what is mine!” He quickly lifted and swung the heavy sword in his hands toward Snowhawk. As expected, Janus, not knowing the strength of the shield, pulled her back onto the bed and out of the way. This broke Emerald’s hold over Snowhawk, dropping the shield, and allowing Quillen to quickly pull Snowhawk away from the Lupino, dropping his sword in the process. It was left behind as he ran from the room.

The male Delphin sprinted into the courtyard in front of the estate, grinning. “Finally, after so long, you are mine again and no one can stop me this time.”

But, he would be stopped by a crossbow bolt to the thigh. He screamed in pain, falling to his knees, then screamed again as another smooth, poisoned bolt embedded itself into his shoulder, missing Snowhawk by a hair’s breadth. He glared in the direction the bolts came from, as Anya’s draconic silhouette could be seen loading another bolt into the crossbow. Unable to hold on anymore, he finally let Snowhawk fall from his grasp, only to have her vanish before his eyes. She reappeared a moment later, in the arms of a man he didn’t recognize. One of his arms was around her waist, the other across her chest, and his hand was high on her throat, pointing her head toward him. “And just who are you?!” he panted, the poison beginning to take effect.

“It makes no difference, you’ll be dead soon enough,” Kione grinned. “Wake up, dear,” he told Snowhawk, who lightly shook her head and began to take in what was going on around her, from the site of a bloodied Quillen struggling to stand before her, and the hand of the vampire on her neck.

“Let me go!” she pleaded, struggling against the vampire’s grasp.

Ignoring her pleas, Kione kept his attention on the Guardian before him, who had finally managed to stand back up. “Don’t like pain so much now, do you?”

“Hand her over.”

“You just don’t get it do you? You aren’t meant to win. You’re just a pawn. She,” Kione said, referring to the struggling female in his arms, “was never meant to be yours.” Anya fired a third bolt toward Quillen, this one finding it’s home in his neck. “And now, you will die. For good this time.”

“No!” Snowhawk cried out, now struggling more. “He could have been saved!” she exclaimed as Quillen crumpled to the ground.

“There was no saving that one, dear Delphin.” She slumped a little his his arms, her legs going weak and tears beginning to fall over what she had just witnessed. “This shall be over soon, we’re just waiting on the next player.”

Soon after, Janus finally ran into the courtyard, limping, and having injured himself in trying to save Snowhawk earlier. He stopped several yards from them and immediately saw the vampire holding her, and the lifeless body of her former Guardian on the ground. He took only a few steps before a bolt from Anya’s crossbow found it’s mark in his side.

Struggling again, terrified of what would happen to Janus, she cried out to him though her tears. “Stop! They’ll kill you too!”

“Hush now,” the vampire said to her, tightening his grip on her throat. Then he looked at the light-furred wolf before him. “Do you want the same to happen to you as him? Will you keep trying to hang onto what is not yours?”

Janus took another step toward them, but soon found himself with a fresh bolt in his shoulder.

“Stop, now, before you are the second person she’s loved to die in front of her tonight.”

“You won’t keep me from her,” Janus growled. “She made that decision months ago.”

“And things have changed since then. I would suggest not moving again.”

“I said you won’t keep me from her, and I mean it!”

“Janus, no!” she quietly pleaded. She was terrified as he took another step toward them.

Soon another cross bow bolt found it’s place in his back. Janus just glared at the vampire. Another step toward them, and another bolt soon found it’s home in his back as well. With this, Janus fell to his knees, and Kione loosened his grip on the Delphin in his arms.

She broke free and ran to Janus, reaching him in time to have him quite literally fall into her lap. She leaned over him, sobbing, as he gently touched her arm, then fell limp under her, his ice blue eyes closing. “No– no, no, no, no. You can’t be gone!” she cried.

Not a moment later, Anya grabbed her horn, pulling her away from his body. “Come on you, I have plans for him.” She half-drug Snowhawk back to Kione, who nearly gleefully took her from the Avizon.

Snowhawk was numb. She couldn’t stand, and was honestly almost grateful for what she knew would come next. “That went well,” Kione grinned as Anya handed the Delphin to him.

“For once. Now, if you’ll excuse me,” she grinned, grabbing Janus’ body and vanishing into the night.

As soon as Anya had vanished with Janus, Adian ran into the courtyard. He bristled at the smell of blood “What the fuck?!” he growled, seeing Kione picking up Snowhawk. “Dammit! Let her go, Kione!” he yelled, running at the elder vampire.

“Wolf, you are as much of a pest as your dead brother.”

Adian stopped in his tracks. “Dead?”

“As is the former guardian. Too bad, you missed the fun. Anya just left with his corpse.”

“You son of a bit–”

“Adi, stop! Just– forget me,” Snowhawk said through her tears. “This is all my fault. Let me go.”

“On my brother’s memory, I can’t allow that.”

“Too bad,” Kione said, vanishing with the Delphin in his arms.

“Goddammit!” Adian howled. He was at a loss. He knelt next to the pool of blood where his brother had died. Snowhawk had been covered in it. “I swear on my life, my new life, that I will not let him win. He will not take her from this world.”

But he would need weapons now, and a quick look showed the former Guardian’s sword to be missing, so Adian hurried inside to find where he felt it may have been left.

*********

Hours later, at Kione’s sea side castle, Snowhawk stood in a darkened room in front of a mirror, apparently alone. She wore only a robe similar to the one she wore when she was first here. I should have stopped him then, she thought to herself, a tears welling up in her eyes. No, I should have given in. Then they would both be alive.

Her legs wobbled slightly as she stood, and her whole body wavered, and once she finally began to collapse, an arm caught her around the waist. She was stood back up, and the other arm again went around her arm and it’s hand held her throat lightly. The hand remained there for only a moment then dropped to the sash around her waist, untying it.

She made no attempt to resist him. The feeling of numbness wouldn’t leave her, and then she heard Adian’s voice in her head. I would do anything to make you happy. “Just forget about me…” she whispered.

The vampire ignored her talking to herself, simply pulling the robe open and off her shoulder, then sinking his teeth into her flesh. He fed on her only for a moment, then released her, never closing the now bleeding wound. He pulled the robe from her body, and removed the sash from it, then fashioned said sash into a halter around her equine head. It was not an unknown look. She often wore a silken halter when she was out with Janus. This brought more tears.

He left her alone for a moment, then a pair of unrecognized white furred hands turned her around. She gasped as she saw a red and white painted Delphin before her, with a long, silvery mane and tail, and glowing golden eyes. “I think we have some unfinished business,” Kione said, pulling her to the bed.

Shielding her against the cold, Kione grinned at the lavender feline in his arms. It has been far too easy to find her, but that only meant Anya’s plan worked better than she thought it would. The feline he held was damp and shivered, but made no other movement. He could feel his sleeves becoming wet with melted snow, and the warmth in the area where her head was told of tears being shed. “Poor thing,” he whispered. “But soon, you won’t hurt anymore. Don’t be afraid. There is a world on the other side that you can’t imagine, but your soul has seen it. I was the one to take you then, and I shall be the one to bring you back again.”

Snowhawk was numb. Not so much from the cold, but from everything that had occurred over the past few months. She cried softly, burying her face into the arms of the man that held her. She knew who held her, though to say she cared was a long stretch of the imagination. Still, Adian’s warning rang through her mind. “Adian… Janus,” she whimpered, “What have I done?” She clenched her tiny paws in anger, inadvertently sinking her own claws into her arm.

Kione had heard her cries, and her question, but it was the scent of blood that made him stop. He moved his cloak aside to see the feline’s arm streaked with her own blood, as was the bottom of the opposing paw. “It is not your time yet, dear Delphin,” he sighed and carefully grasped her wounded leg. A moment later, he moved his hand, and the wound had been healed. She blinked and looked up at him in slight confusion, to which he returned a small smile, after which she looked down again. “You don’t deserve pain, little one, just gentleness,” he said, stroking her fur.

Gentleness, she thought, he said nothing of kindness. But I guess I don’t deserve that either. She clinched her eyes shut and cried again. This time the vampire reached up and gently stroked her head.

“Soon, dear Delphin, you won’t hurt like this anymore. You’ll be free from them,” he said as he turned down a darkened path. His hand moved to the longer, blue fur on the back of her neck and he gently scratched there.

Some time later, the vampire still soothingly scratching her fur, she thought, This place seems warmer, and it smells of salt. Are we really near Dia’ru? How is that possible? She grew a little nervous. Dia’ru, unlike her city of Ametition and the southern Delphin city of Juv, was a haven for open slavery.

“We’re almost home, dear little cat, but don’t fear, we’re not going into that slum of a city,” Kione replied, almost as if he could read her mind.

“How did we get so far so quickly?” she asked, her voice just above a whisper.

“Vampires can travel fast, dear.”

It wasn’t long after that they were stopped by a man who stepped from the shadows. The man was tall, well-muscled, and his expression did not make him an inviting figure. Kione stopped, half-grinning, half-glaring at the figure. He’d sensed him miles ago.

“Lovely Feln you’ve got there. Or Delphin. Can’t tell which. Hand her over and neither of you will get hurt.”

“Are you serious? You don’t even know what species she is, yet you want to sell her in that shit-hole of a city? I think not.”

The man was taken aback. He had not said anything about selling her, which was the intention, yet this man somehow knew. He growled and shook the thought away. “You don’t scare me.”

“Then you do not know what I am, so I suggest you leave before I rend you limb from limb.” Kione may have been smaller than the man, but Snowhawk knew this was no empty threat.

The man was growing ever nervous. “Look, man, I just want that cat.”

The vampire grinned wider. “She’s not for sale, nor will she ever be. I suggest you leave now if you like your head where it is.”

The other man chuckled nervously. “I was told to find a cat, now I’ve found one, and I just need to bring her back.”

“She is no cat, you fool!” Kione hissed, baring his fangs at the man.

“Oh shit!” he exclaimed, as the vampire set the feline-formed Snowhawk under a very nearby bush.

“Stay here, dear,” he told her, gently petting her head. “Now,” he said straightening and removing his cloak to hang over the bush to shield the small feline’s view, “where were we?”

“Shit, man, what are you?!”

“Hungry,” the vampire simply replied, then lunged at the man.

A few moments later, Snowhawk heard the bushes near her crumple with the weight of a body being tossed on them. “Find me later if you don’t die a slow, painful death first. You may be useful,” she heard the vampire say. She still flinched as he pulled his cloak from the bush, dropping a few dried leaves on her fur. “Good, you’re still here,” he grinned, brushing the leaves from her, then loosely wrapping her in his cloak, and continued his journey to his sea-side home.

As she was carried the last few miles, Snowhawk silently thought of the scene a few moments earlier. That was certainly quiet and completely contrary to the old stories about vampires. But I guess somewhere in my soul I always knew.”

It was another half hour before, Kione’s estate could be seen. Once she saw the stone work, Snowhawk felt a rush of comforting familiarity. They had reached the sea by this point, and were walking along the coast toward his home. Snowhawk had nearly drifted to sleep after that point, strangely comforted by seeing some place she felt was her home, even though she only ever remembered being there once. Kione gently scratching her shoulders didn’t help relieve the sleepiness any.

Soon after they passed through the gates of the estate, and Kione carried the feline to what he’d called her room. He carefully placed her on the bed, still wrapped in his cloak. “Why don’t you shift into your human form for me?” he grinned as he walked to a closet, and pulled open the wooden doors. “I’m afraid we don’t have much in the room for you to wear, but there are plenty of clothes left from your past life in the castle. But for now,” he said as he pulled out a mid-thigh length, dark, silvery grey silken robe, and removed it from it’s hanger, “this should suffice.” He placed the soft, thin robe next to her on the bed, and then turned around to step a few paces away.

Snowhawk hesitated for a moment, then crawled out of his cloak, quickly shifting into her human form and pulling the robe around her body, cinching the sash tight, closing the robe’s front. She guessed her past self must have been smaller than her, as the robe wasn’t well fitted to her current size. She paused as she thought to herself. She couldn’t explain why she was following his directions, other than she knew the fate she had waiting for her was deserved. “O– Okay,” she quietly began, “I’ve changed.”

The vampire turned to look at her, smiling upon seeing her human form. “Excellent,” he grinned, stepping toward her and then reaching out to stroke her cheek with his thumb as his palm hand cradled her chin. Her eyes were clenched shut in fear, and she kept twitching as if she’d pull away any time, but still she couldn’t bring herself to. “Don’t be scared, dear one. Everything will be fine.” The hand on her face gently tilted her head to the side and he leaned toward her.

As she thought of everything over the past few hours, before she was carried so far, a single tear rolled down her cheek. How could I have done that? How could I have not trusted Janus?

The vampire stopped, and leaned back, not having bitten her yet, but having felt the tear on his own face. “Let’s make this a little more gentle,” he said as he pulled her toward him. “Perhaps a little easier to forget,” he continued as he leaned her back on the bed, then took one of her hands in his. “Don’t be afraid,” he repeated. He brought his free hand behind her head, lifting it and tilting it back, exposing her long neck. He paused for a moment to admire her smooth flesh, but as well note the long scar that still refused to fade. Then he gently bit down, sending both his vampiric toxin into her blood, and draining her at the same time. He remained at her neck, sucking her life away until he saw he’d fully passed out. He stopped then, licking the wounds on her neck to close them as he pulled away from her. “Sleep well, my dear. You shall awake to a new world.”

********

Roughly an hour later, a very angry Adian stormed through the gates of the sea-side castle. As he was well known here, no one stopped him or questioned him, even if he hadn’t been seen in a while. He followed Snowhawk’s faint scent into the upper levels of the castle, and to a well recognized room. He’d learned this once belonged to Kione’s dead companion. Stopping only to check and see if the door was unlocked, and finding it not, he soon began kicking at the heavy oak door, knocking it in and nearly off its iron hinges. “Real funny, you bastard,” the wolf growled as he stalked into the room.

As the wolf entered, Kione sat up from the bed with Snowhawk resting in his arms. “You’re too late, Adian. She doesn’t have much time left,” he grinned, gently stroking her arm through the silken fabric of the robe.

“It’s never too late as long as she’s still mortal,” Adian growled again, narrowing his eyes at the vampire. “Now hand her over.”

Kione thought for a moment, then carefully stood and placed the still sleeping Snowhawk back on the bed. “Take her back, if you will. Try to ‘save’ her now, if you must. But,” he grinned, “just remember that one day you’ll be doing this anyway if she doesn’t come back to me first.”

“Only once she asks. Without being coerced into it, or simply preyed upon,” he said as he closed the gap to the bed to pick the sleeping Delphin up.

“You know, it may be sooner rather than later,” the vampire grinned.

Adian simply scowled at him as he picked the equine up, and then turned and ran from the estate. “I don’t know how much time you have left,” he told her, placing her into his vehicle, “but I will not allow him to take you away yet.” He gently stroked her hair for a moment, then leaned over and bit into her neck.

*******

“What connection,” Janus openly mused as he waited in Snowhawk’s room for his brother to return, “does this damned vampire have to my bird?” He sat down on the edge of the bed, looking out the window. “What indeed?”

He thoughts were interrupted seconds later as the door to the room opened. “Just in time,” Adian stated, carrying the still unconscious Snowhawk to the bed.

“What happened?!” Janus asked, noticeably concerned, as his brother placed his love on the bed.

“He bit her. I had to try and save her.”

“You had to what?” the older wolf asked, confused.

“I had to try and save her. I don’t know if I accomplished anything, or if it was too much–”

“To much what?”

“Too much toxin. Two vampires can’t sire a single vampire. So if one ever bites you, trying to turn you, another one can try and save you by biting you as well.”

“And what if you did?” Janus questioned, trying to get his brother to actually tell him something.

“Either way, unless I did it just right, she’ll gain some vampiric powers. And one of us, who ever has the most toxin in her system, may be able to control her.” He looked at his now very concerned, somewhat angry brother, and continued. “Just hope it’s me.”

“Wh– Why?” Janus started, his voice cracking as he sat down next to Snowhawk.

“Why what?”

“Why did you come back?!”

“For you, you idiot. You can’t run this place on your own, especially with her and all her damn problems distracting you. Now you have a vampire after her, and you may as well have one on your side.”

“Did you know? That he was after her?”

“I thought I told you, no, not in the least. But he knew I was angry, and jealous, and somehow he found out about who she was in the past. I’m sure she’s told you.”

“The grey Delphin…”

“Yes. That was his mate. He wants her back.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

The chocolate wolf paused and dropped his head. “Yes. Hold her, be there for her. Be here when she wakes up, and look very carefully at her eyes. If they’re not hers, we have a problem.”

“What do you mean if they’re not hers?”

“You’ll know it if you see it. I have to go study somethings now that there’s a little bit of a break.”

Janus was still confused. It was like his brother learned how to not say everything on his mind after he became a vampire, when before every perverted thought in that red-head of his would come out whenever he felt the need to say it. But he wouldn’t argue with him for now. He still felt lost at what to do, wishing he could do more than just hold her.

********

Hours later, things did not seem to be going well at the Sininensusi estate. Janus felt a bulging in his love’s back, a short warning that her wings were going to be exposed. When they did appear, tearing through the silk robe, they did not belong to Snowhawk. The feathers were pitch black. Janus leaned back as he realized she was changing her form as well. First she looked like her normal Delphin self, then seemed to shrink back down, past the size of her human form. Once the change had finished, he realized the extent of how much the Delphin next to him was not Snowhawk. Her fur was steel grey, and her arms, legs, and ear tips were black, her mane and tail sapphire blue, and a spiraled emerald horn was in place of the silver-spiraled, amethyst horn that should be on her head. He also realized her mane and tail had increased dramatically in length.

Her eyes fluttered half open, revealing cold blue, instead of the kind green of Snowhawk’s.

The Delphin silently removed herself from Janus’ arms and stood from the bed, and for the first time, through the hole torn in the robe, Janus saw the black dorsal stripe running along her back. Oh shit…

Both mane and tail, and her wings drug behind her as she walked from the bed to a darkened corner of the room. Janus stood as she walked away from him, and saw a pair of hands reach out from the darkness, with a black leather halter between them. Glowing golden eyes opened as the halter was slipped over her head, as Kione’s voice taunted from the shadow. “I told you I would have her, wolf.”

“You just don’t know when to quit, do you?!” Janus growled. “You could have at least allowed her to recover.”

“I’m not as kind as you then, wolf,” he stated, finishing buckling the halter he’d placed on the grey Delphin. “Why don’t you go see what Anya has to offer and forget about this one?”

“Never. Why do you want her so badly anyway?”

“Look at her, Janus, can’t you tell who she is?”

‘I remember my past life. Things I was never told. I never understood it until now,’ rang Snowhawk’s voice through Janus’ head. “But that Delphin died!”

“Twice, if you want to get technical. But I saved her the first time. I couldn’t the second. She was powerful, beautiful. I couldn’t let that go to waste. But you know her heart, and how it can melt any ice around a heart.”

Janus did indeed know, and had learned about it many years ago.

“She was mine long before she was yours, wolf,” Kione glared as the other Delphin knelt before him, her head still held.

“So you’ll manipulate her to bring back the dead?”

“No, I just reveal what’s already there.”

Janus growled as he strode to the changed Snowhawk and knelt next to her. “Love, please, wake up,” he begged.

“This will be much easier once you realize she’s almost back to who she was. She’s no longer yours wolf.”

“No.”

“Suit yourself,” the vampire shrugged as he looked down at the Delphin in his hand. “Stand,” he commanded. Her sapphire eyes half-opened again, and she did as he told her. “Change,” he then directed, after unbuckling the front of her halter and slipping it around her neck. Again, she did as she was told, shifting to her human form. Her skin was paler than normal and she was much shorter, her hair still insanely long though now deep blue like the equine form. “So lovely.”

Janus stood and gritted his teeth. The mind control he was seeing was far, far to invasive for even his old self to care for. He hadn’t known what his brother meant by control before, but he was well aware now. He had the lingering question if he brother could be so controlled as well. With another growl, he batted the vampire’s hand away from the halter around her neck and pulled her to him. “She is no longer yours, Kione.”

The vampire just grinned. “Time will tell. She will come to me soon enough. And when she does, you won’t be able to stop her.” He faded back into the shadows and vanished.

Once he was gone, Snowhawk’s form began to shift back to normal. “Snowhawk, love, wake up. Please, look at me,” Janus pleaded.

Her green eyes slowly opened to meet his. “Wh– What happened?” She asked, reaching up and to the halter around her neck.

Janus squeezed her tightly. “Welcome back, love.”

“How did I get back?”

“Adian found you and brought you back.”

“How noble of him,” she trailed off.

“It was, and I am grateful to him for it.”

“But, what happened?”

“What do you mean?”

“Everything’s so fuzzy. The past few hours especially.”

“Do you remember Kione biting you?”

She held her head, and whined softly. “Vaguely. It didn’t hurt, and I don’t remember much after that.”

He hugged her tightly again, deciding not to say anything about the moments prior until he better understood what had occurred. “You’ll never leave me, will you?”

“Love, no, never,” she sighed, nuzzling him softly, then she flinched in pain. “Why do I hurt so much?”

Janus gave a somewhat relieved sigh then brought her to the bed and lay down with her. “Then we’ll rest together.” Janus closed his eyes and held her tightly as she cuddled close to him. He knew she wouldn’t leave, but what if that silver Delphin were to return? He knew if she did decide to leave, he couldn’t stop her.

“Fea– feathers,” Snowhawk gasped. A moment later, she wavered a bit, then fainted.

Janus quickly caught her before she fell off the bed. “Love, wake up,” he said quietly, gently stroking her face.

She was out for only a moment before she came to. “What–”

“Shh, don’t speak right now. We’ll learn why later,” Janus smiled. “They are very beautiful, though,” he said, gently stroking low on her back. She leaned against him and soon had drifted to sleep. “You put yourself through too much, love,” he whispered.

*********

Elsewhere in the city, Quillen paced in his room. Nytehawk had not been pleased about Snowhawk’s escape, nor was she pleased about the rumors she had heard about him raping and nearly killing Snowhawk. After almost a month, he finally managed to convince Nytehawk that the rumors held no truth.

He felt no remorse for what he had done. He planned on using any means necessary to take her back. After all, Snowhawk was his. She had given herself to him. They had a child. There were ways in which he knew her that the wolf could never hope to know. He grinned, knowing that somewhere in her, Snowhawk would forever hold a loyalty to him. That was such a wonderful thing. She was marked as his now. The scars added so much to her beauty. His grin grew as he thought of her small wrists in his hand. She was such a tiny thing, smaller than he remembered, and that made her all the more desirable. And to hear her cries of pain, he thought, his grin growing more devious. She would certainly be a joy to have around once more. And this time, he would make sure that damned wolf didn’t interfere. Janus had found him far to easily.

*********

Miles away from the city, on the far side of the forest and closer to the sea, a silvery haired vampire grinned in the comforts of his estate as he watched an image of his feathery winged interest sleep in a large viewing orb. “So peaceful,” he grinned. “Just as I remembered. And soon I will hold her again. That idiot Quillen aided me so greatly last time, though he’d never know it. Maybe he will again… or maybe it will be Adian this time,” Kione nearly purred as he touched the image of her on the orb. She moved in response. “Oh, excellent. That little bit of toxin I got into her still remains.” He again grinned as he touched her throat, leading to her leaning her head back. “Adian will never fully break her of this. She shall still remain vulnerable as she sleeps.” He ran his hand along her form, causing her to move as if she were trying to escape. “I’m sure I could find a use for that currently mortal wolf as well,” he chuckled, watching as Janus awoke, confused as to why his love was so restless. “This is almost too perfect.”He watched her for a moment longer, then jumped as the orb in front of him shattered. The soft chuckles of a female was heard directly after.

“Dammit, not you…” Kione growled as he turned around.

“Aww, Kione, don’t sound so upset,” the woman said, grinning.

“What do you want, Anya?”

She gave a childish giggle. “So you do remember my name after all these years.” She smirked and ran her hand through her short, dark blonde hair. “I figured you could use a bit of help.”

“You? Willingly giving me help?” Kione scoffed, folding his arms across his chest. “What’s the catch?”

“I want the wolves.”

“Both of them?”

“Yes.”

“Sorry. Adian has far too much potential.”

“Aww, I can train him.”

“No.”

“You never were any fun.”

“One wolf or no deal.”

“Fine. I like the older one more anyway.”

Kione shook his head. “Such a fickle thing.”

“My sex life is none of your business. I’ll screw who I want to screw.”

“That’s really more than I care to know.”

“Say, what are you gonna do about the rest of that Delphin’s family? That cousin of her’s is quite– appealing.”

“You can deal with the lot of them.”

Anya grinned. “You’re too kind, Kione.”

Kione rolled his eyes at her. “I take it you have a least an inkling of a plan.”

“Indeed, I do,” she purred.

“Then tell.”

“Our young wolf is more than marginally attracted to the Delphin with feline tendencies.”

“This I’ve known.”

“If we can get her into Adian’s grasp, then you’ll ultimately receive her. After all, if Adian were to be, say, manipulated into handing her to you, wouldn’t that be so much easier than taking her by force?”

“So you do have a brain in that sex-crazed head of yours.”

“Don’t start and don’t question the powers of seduction. Once she sees her love with another, she’ll run.”

“I don’t see Janus as the type to cheat, though.”

“No man can resist me. Even you know that.”

“I hadn’t fed and you sure as hell appeared human.”

Anya grinned. “You can’t deny it though.”

“No, I can’t. But you that isn’t the issue now. We have work to do.”

*********

Ten weeks later, the feline formed Snowhawk padded down one of the hallways of the estate. She noticed one of the room doors partially open. Being curious as usual, she walked to the door and stopped outside to listen. She heard Janus and an unfamiliar female inside, talking. Her curiosity growing, she peeked inside, and immediately wished she hadn’t. She felt like she had been hit by a truck when she saw Janus and the woman engaged in a passionate kiss. Her legs grew weak and she stumbled backwards across the hallway, hitting the stone wall on the opposite side somewhat forcefully. Her small frame crumpled to the floor and she sat there for a moment, numb, until she saw a shadow in the room moving to the door. She quickly composed herself enough to stand and run away.

She half ran, half stumbled down a flight of stairs. She slammed into a human formed Adian as she turned the corner at the bottom and was knocked onto her rear. “What’s wrong, Snowhawk?” he asked her.

She stood slowly, her head lowered. “N– Nothing.”

“Snowhawk–”

“Really, nothing,” she said, cutting him off and closing her eyes as she tried to blink back the tears forming. She began to move away, intent on running, but he caught a hold of her arm. “Adian!”

“That’s bullshit, Snowhawk, something is up. Now, what is it?”

“I was walking around upstairs and noticed one of the doors open a bit. I should have never looked in,” she softly cried as she sank to her knees.

Adian sighed, stooped over, and picked her up. “Let’s go somewhere else to talk. Someplace private.” She just sniffled, shifting to her human form, and drawing her arms up under her chin. Adian carried her to his room, then carefully set her on the bed. He sat down beside her and wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders. “Now, what did you see?”

“Some short blond haired chick, and Janus. They were–”

“What?”

“Kissing. Very passionately.” She drew her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them and burying her face as the tears began again. “I should have known,” she whispered. “I can’t keep anything.”

The vampiric Lupino was somewhat confused. Janus wasn’t the type to cheat on her, especially someplace she would so readily find out. However, regardless of the circumstances, his brother had done the unforgivable by hurting her. “Snowhawk, look at me.” She shook her head, refusing. Adian sighed and gently took her cheek in his hand, carefully pulling her face up. He smiled and leaned down to her, then with out a word, he kissed her softly, but quite passionately. Snowhawk didn’t fight him. Her arms and legs uncurled as he pulled her a little deeper into the kiss. His free hand ran across her stomach as he pulled away a moment later. “There, now you’re even.”

She lowered her head, looking away. A few more tears fell from her eyes and she hid her face in her hands. “Why would he?! Why the hell can’t I hang onto anything?!”

“Snowhawk,” Adian began, pulling her into his arms and holding her, “there’s no excuse for what he’s done. But please, don’t give up on everything.”

“I don’t deserve this,” she quietly said, pushing herself away from him and beginning to stand.

“Where are you going?”

“Off to find Kione and let him turn me. I won’t hurt then.”

Adian grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “You most certainly are not. You don’t know what he’s capable of.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“Yes, it does,” he said, the concern in his voice quite clear. “Especially when there’s someone in this room that would do anything to make you happy.”

“What?” she replied, blinking.

“You heard me, dear. I would do anything to make you happy,” he stated as he moved behind her and began to massage her shoulders.

“Adian…”

*********

To go back in time, a little after Snowhawk had seen Janus and the short haired blond female engaged in a kiss, Janus pushed the woman away from him, having heard a soft thud outside. He never made it to the door since the woman grabbed him before he reached it. She was surprisingly strong. She purred as she wrapped herself around him. “Don’t be so jumpy. There’s still so much I want to do to you.”

“And you won’t get the chance. Now, unhand me.”

“Not a chance in hell,” she grinned, then bit him high on his neck and released a toxin into him. “That was nothing vampiric, but you’re my toy now.”

“What?!”

“I like you, wolf. And besides, you wouldn’t have had that Delphin forever. Kione would have taken her from you eventually.”

“Let me go, woman. I have no interest in you.”

“You will soon enough,” she purred.

*********

Adian massaged Snowhawk’s shoulders and back until she was nearly asleep. “Hey, you can’t fall asleep yet,” he said tickling her side gently. She responded with a soft, half smile. Adian smiled at this and tickled her more. Within a few moments of her wriggling and trying to get away, she wound up laying on her back on the bed, her knees drawn up to her chest in an attempt to offer a little protection. Adian, laying beside her on his left side laughed quietly at her and slid his right arm across her stomach. They fell silent for a moment, looking at each other, then Adian leaned over to her and kissed her again. She uncurled her legs as he moved over her and leaned into the kiss, gently pushing her back into the bed. He moved over her and straddled her then his hands drifted down her sides and under her top. They moved back up, pulling her shirt with them, stopping at her breasts and gently massaging them.

Snowhawk pulled her head away, looking off. “I shouldn’t,” she whispered.

“You’re not,” he responded. “Please, just go with it.” The Delphin still looked unsure, and worried. Adian sighed, then gave her a gentle nuzzle. “You don’t think like me. Doing the same thing that’s been done to you isn’t your way of getting even. Deep in your heart, you don’t want to because of how you feel for him. It was truly wrong of me to go this far. I just want you happy. That is what you deserve.”

“Adi,” She sighed and returned the nuzzle. “Thank you.”

“Shall I return you to your room?”

“Doesn’t matter. I just don’t want to be alone.”

Adian nodded. “I understand,” he replied. “I’ll return you to your room. But I will stay with you.” She blushed and smiled softly. “So adorable,” he said as he picked her up and carried her off.

Once to her room and at her bed, he pulled the sheets down, then placed her on the bed and pulled the sheets up to her waist. He then lay down beside her, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tightly. Snowhawk soon drifted to sleep in his arms. Adian smiled and gently kissed the top of her head.

*********

Back upstairs, a very unclothed Janus lay on his back, restrained by the equally unclothed Anya’s mind control. She was straddling him, doing everything she knew to do to get him to show some interest in her. She finally growled and sat down on his stomach. “What’s wrong, wolf? Having some– personal problems?”

“You do absolutely nothing for me. I care for my bird too much.”

“Do you now? Well, I believe your brother is doing a fine job of ‘caring’ for her now.”

“He’s what?” Janus growled.

She pulled a small viewing orb from the air. “Look here.”

Janus saw the scene from a few moments earlier, of Adian kissing Snowhawk. “Well, he certainly wasted no time.”

“No, he didn’t,” she grinned, waving her hand and making the orb vanish. “I can make you forget about them.”

“Release me, woman. I have business to talk with Adian.”

“First of all, I do have a name. It’s Anya. Secondly, I can’t let you go, Janus.”

“For the last fucking time, woman. Let. Me. Go.”

“No.”

Janus growled and shifted forms. He knocked Anya aside and into the wall. “I warned you.”

“How did you–?!”

“Love is too strong to be held back forever.”

She slowly stood, wincing in pain. “Running to take your little slut away from someone that may just care for her more than you?”

“If Snowhawk is a slut because she truly loves more than one, then I wouldn’t take her any other way,” he growled. “How she loves my brother and me is something you couldn’t begin to understand. I know her too well.”

“Certainly didn’t seem any different.”

“Because of you, my bird has been hurt. You won’t succeed in making me blame her.”

“Then you don’t blame him either?”

“I never said that. Now. Leave. I don’t have time for you.”

Anya grinned. “I’ll get you yet, wolf.”

“Only in whatever perverted dreams you may have.”

“Dammit! Why does everyone assume that!?” Janus rolled his eyes at her and walked away. “Well, fuck,” she scowled, then vanished.

*********

A naked Anya reappeared in Kione’s study, directly in front of said vampire’s chair. “That damn wolf will be harder to get than I thought.”

Kione looked up from the neck of the young woman he’d been feeding on. He pulled away and dropped her limp, nearly lifeless form. “Must you interrupt me while I’m feeding?”

“You didn’t warn me he’d be that loyal to her.”

“And you didn’t expect it. And put some clothes on, woman.”

“Most everyone shows some interest. There was nothing!”

“Then it appears that you’ll have to find a new way of capturing him.”

She rolled her eyes, then pointed to the girl on the floor. “You gonna finish that?”

“By all means take it. I’ll find something else.”

Anya grinned, grabbed the girl, and vanished.

*********

Back at Janus’ estate, Adian held the sleeping Snowhawk. She slept facing him, her back to the door. The room was dark and very peaceful.

At least, it was until Janus burst into the room. “You have a hell of a lot of explaining to do, brother.”

“Do I now?”

“Yes.”

“Why should I be the one explaining. I wasn’t the one to hurt her.”

“Do you really think I was a willing participant?”

“Snowhawk,” Adian began, having noticed she’d awakened, gently lifting her chin up, “what did you see?”

“I– ” she started, then the tears returned to her eyes. She looked away, closing her eyes. A half moment later, she shifted to full feline form and wiggled away from Adian, jumped from the bed, and ran out of the room before either of the Lupino could catch her. They ran after her, but she was already quite far ahead.

*********

At some point earlier that night, an early, heavy, snow had begun to fall. The small lavender feline didn’t mind though. This would only hide her tracks, as it fell heavy and fast. For even thinking Janus would cheat on her proved, to her at least, that she didn’t deserve him. And she’d almost allowed Adian to take her. “Why?” she cried as the bounded through the ever deepening snow falling on the city streets. “I don’t deserve either of them.” She finally grew tired and fell into a snow drift forming on the side of the road.

A moment later, Kione appeared near her small form. He smiled softly and knelt next to her, then brushed the snow from her fur and picked her up. “Hello, dear.” He gently stroked her fur and turned to walk away, wrapping his dark cloak around the two of them and shielding her from the night air. “That certainly went well,” he grinned.

*********

Only a few more moments passed before Janus and Adian found where she had been. Kione’s footprints were already well covered and him hiding her in his cloak masked her scent. “Someone has picked her up,” Janus silently said.

“I think I may know who.”

“How so?”

“She was weakened, mentally. We’re both to blame, really. But there is an opportunistic hunter waiting for just such a time.”

“You’ve lost me.”

“Kione. I’d even go so far as the say he planned all this. Did that woman say her name?”

“Yes. Anya.”

“Should have known. She was apparently once very close to Kione, but is now an annoyance to him. I never met her myself.”

“Then why is she here?”

“Hell if I know exactly,” Adian sighed. “But she’s not really the problem. If Kione bites her, we’ll have twelve hours, at the most, depending on his intentions.”

“Then?”

“I really don’t think you’re that dense, Janus.”

“Where is he?”

“His home, most likely. Or on his way to it.” I don’t think he’ll try to turn her for a while. He’ll spend some time wearing her down further. That will offer us some time. However, you don’t need to go anywhere near either of them.”

“Why?”

“That little slut bit you. Whatever she used to control you–”

“You knew?”

“Of course. In any case, what ever she did to you most likely has a residual effect.” Janus said nothing in response, but the feeling of helplessness he had showed in his eyes. “You can’t protect her all the time, Janus. You’re mortal. You have to rest. And you’ll make mistakes. And so, I’ll give you a second chance. Especially considering you were being controlled. Now, you should go back and wait.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to talk with Kione,” the younger Lupino stated, then stalked away.

“I can’t believe I’m trusting him him of all people,” Janus said as he turned and walked back toward his estate. But he had to trust Adian. The younger Lupino was his only his only hope for getting her back.

It had not taken long for Snowhawk’s physical wounds to heal, thanks to Dr. Lisa, but the scars left on her mind and body were still quite obvious. She would often wander aimlessly about the estate, doing her best to avoid everyone. She looked lost, as if something important was missing, and perhaps there was. Quillen had stolen nearly the last shred of sanity she had left and she seemed to grow ever more distant with each passing day. Janus was greatly pained to see her in this state. It had been almost six months and she’d not allowed him to touch her. She would never answer his questions when asked what was wrong, only running away from him to hide.

He finally managed to track her to her room one night. She was laying on her bed, her back to the door as she usually would be. Janus sat down on the edge of the bed, between her and the door. He reached to touch her on her shoulder and she coiled into a ball when he did. “Love, please tell me what’s wrong,” he whispered.

Some five minutes later, she finally, quietly answered, “I failed you. I betrayed you.”

“You did nothing of the sort, Snowhawk.”

“I did. I don’t deserve you anymore.”

“You know that’s not true.”

“And why not? I couldn’t fight. I’m weak.”

He realized she’d been mentally beating herself up the past months. “In that case, I’m the one that failed. I failed to protect you.”

She shook her head. “I wandered off. I let my guard down. I set myself up for it.”

“Love, please stop blaming yourself.” Snowhawk refused to answer him. “You can’t ultimately blame anyone but me.”

“Why?”

“I took you from him. I know how he must have felt. We just handled our frustrations differently. He became violent. And I waited too long. I just wanted to be certain of where you were.” He sighed. “But that’s just an excuse. That’s why I should be blamed for this.”

She curled up tighter and cried. “So broken,” she whispered.

Janus wrapped his arms around her. “Then let me help you, love. Please. I never want to lose you again.”

She uncurled and turned around, then buried her face in his chest and cried. “I’m sorry,” she whispered several minutes later, “I’m just not– not myself any more.”

“It’s alright,” he assured her, stroking her back. “You’ve been through a lot. Just, please, don’t hide from me.”

She nodded slowly, then gently nuzzled him and cuddled closer. He held her tighter, then lifted her head slightly and kissed her on the forehead. She gave a long, slow sigh, then snaked her arms around him and wrapped one of her legs around his. “I’ve missed you,” she whispered.

He answered her by tilting her head back a bit further and giving her a long, slow kiss. He had been so afraid he would lose her over the past weeks. There had been more thoughts of worry going through his mind than he would ever admit. Between her habit of running from everyone when she was hurt, the vampire Kione, that bastard Quillen, and even his own brother, he was almost certain he would lose her. He shook away the thought, now reassured that she would not run this time. A gentle nuzzle from her got him to look down to see she had fallen asleep in his arms. “I love you, Snowhawk,” he whispered. “More than you could ever know.”

*********

The following day, as Snowhawk half lazed on the long bench on her balcony, enjoying the sight of late summer’s colors. Janus wandered out to see her. He greeted her with a kiss, then sat down next to her. She smiled softly and leaned against him, wrapping her arms around him. A moment later, she crawled into his lap, having turned to face him, sitting on her knees and straddling him. She nuzzled him softly, then kissed him on his cheek several times, each kiss moving closer to his mouth. As their lips met, he pulled her closer to him, holding her tightly. Once that kiss broke, he picked her up and carried her inside. She had definitively reassured him that she was not leaving him anytime soon and it would now be up to him to make sure she knew that he would not leave her.

*********

Adian switched off a monitor as he saw his brother carry Snowhawk inside. Things finally appeared to be getting back on track between them, he thought as he leaned back in his chair, but nothing ever stayed peaceful for long when it involved her. She seemed to attract trouble. While this brought out a strong urge to protect her, it also tended to make her feel like she was little more than an annoyance. He tapped a pen on the desk as he thought. She used to be very proficient with a dagger, and she had some skill with a sword. “It wouldn’t take much to get her back to where she was, ” he mused. “But we would have to get her out of that neck sensitivity, or at least lessen it so she’s not paralyzed.” Though, even he had to admit that was an interesting prospect. But, it would turn out better for them all if she were rid of it.

So, with that in mind, he just needed to wait until their little cuddle session was finished. He wouldn’t interrupt them. After all, God only knew how many his brother had left.

*********

Late that evening, Snowhawk awoke in Janus’ arms. She looked to to see that he was still asleep. She already felt much better, and even a little mischievous. She carefully slipped away from Janus and wandered into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She remembered that, along with her appearance changing as she aged, she also gained the ability to shift into forms other than Delphin and human. She stood in front of the mirror for a moment, leaning on the bathroom counter, her head lowered and her eyes closed, searching for any signs of a new form. She smiled as she found what she was looking for, then her form began to glow as if she were shifting into her Delphin form. However, instead of growing in size, she began to shrink. The shift stopped when she was some five feet tall and she opened her eyes. Her reflection revealed a long pale lavender furred, dark amethyst striped feline morph. She giggled and brushed her light blue bangs from her eyes. “Oh the possibilities,” she giggled.

As she opened the door, the stopped for a moment, having felt this form had more to offer. She removed her hand from the door knob and closed her eyes again. She began to glow once more and her form further shrunk. Once she was done, she hopped up on the counter, now seeing full feline reflected back at her, slightly larger than a normal house cat. She gave an approving nod, another giggle, then pawed the door further open, hopped down from the counter and padded toward the bed.

*********

Janus felt something on him. He could feel it’s paws on his shoulder and it’s fur brushing along his back as it tugged on his loosened hair ribbon, then felt the satiny ribbon being drug across him. He wasn’t really concerned for himself as much as he was for Snowhawk.

It was at this point he realized that Snowhawk was no longer asleep beside him. He waited until the creature moved away before he opened his eyes.

*********

As the feline formed Snowhawk chewed on the distractingly shiny ribbon she’d pulled from Janus’ hair, she never noticed him wake up. She did, however, notice when she was grabbed from behind and spun around. She could do only the first thing that came to her kitty mind: look cute and hope it got her out of trouble. “Nya?” she went, dropping the ribbon.

Janus blinked at the feline he held at arms length from him. “A cat?” He thought for a moment. “How in the world did a cat get in here? Especially a purple one… with blue hair…” He again blinked as she desperately tried to grab his bangs. “Snowhawk?!”

“Mya?” the feline went, looking even cuter.

“How did you–”

She gave a small feline grin and began to shift her form again as he held her. Janus looked away, the light of the glow seeming brighter than usual in the darkness of the room. Once in her morphic form, she gave him a small nuzzle. “Just a new trick, love,” she informed him with a small giggle.

“Should have known,” he smirked, pulling her into a hug. “I take it you’re feeling better then?”

She nodded. “Yeah, Just needed a little reassurance.”

He gave her a small squeeze. “I think we all do sometimes, love.”

They lay in bed together for another fifteen minutes until a knock was heard on the door. “Who in the hell?” Snowhawk mumbled as Janus stood, pulling on a pair of pants.

“This had better be good,” he yelled to whoever was beyond the door.

“Better than you’d know, brother,” Adian’s voice returned.

Janus opened the door, revealing his brother’s lupine form leaning against the wall opposite the door way. “What do you want, Adian?”

“There is a problem.”

“What?”

“Her,” the younger Lupino returned, pointing to Snowhawk. At this point, his mind registered that Snowhawk was a feline. “What the hell?”

“New trick. Now, what’s the problem?”

“Would you prefer being shown or told?” he asked, moving toward the door.

“It really depends on what you’re planning to do, Adian.”

“She has a very strong weakness, brother. But it’s something that can be changed.”

“What weakness?”

“You haven’t noticed how sensitive her neck is?”

“Well, not really.”

“Snowhawk,” Adian began, “would you care to come here for a moment?”

“Mrh?” she mewed, then crawled from the bed and padded toward the two.

Adian stepped toward her once she neared him, then reached out and gently touched her face. With one sudden, swift movement he grabbed her throat with the hand that had been gently caressing her face a half second earlier. She immediately froze, clenching her eyes shut. “This is the problem, brother.

Janus stepped in and batted Adian’s hand away from her. “Leave her alone, Adian,” he said as he pulled her to him.

“We need to rid her of that, Janus,” Adian said as he crossed his arms across his chest. “Otherwise, she’ll continue to be at a high risk.”

Janus gently stroked Snowhawk a few times as he thought. “What would you need?”

“Her, time– and you willing to leave us alone for a while.”

The older brother gently pulled Snowhawk’s chin up. “Love, would you be willing to do that?”

She thought for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, this is a weakness I’ve been needing to overcome.”

Unwillingly, Janus released Snowhawk, his vampiric brother gathering her small frame into his arms. “Don’t look so worried, brother. She’s in good hands,” he grinned, then led her away.

*********

The younger Lupino led the small, feline formed Delphin to his room. Holding her delicate little paw, he gently brought her inside. She was obviously nervous at being in unfamiliar surroundings. This was multiplied by the fact she was alone in a darkened room with a vampire. “Here,” Adian said, bringing her a long, dark green dress, “I’ll be needing you in your human form.” He turned away, shifting forms himself, as she pulled the dress on. The glow she gave off while shifting forms illuminated the darkness, then as it died, he turned back to her. The dress hung perfectly on her, and covered all but the scar on her neck. She held one hand up to the base of her neck to try and hide this scar, still missing her velvet choker. “Shall we begin?

She gave a small nod, closing her eyes and ducking her head slightly. “Yes.” She jumped and spun around as the door of the room fully closed and locked.

Adian moved behind her, wrapping his hands around her shoulders. “Please understand that what I do will be only to help you, dear Snowhawk.” She gave a small, unsure but affirmative whimper. “Now,” he began, gently pulling her hand away from her neck, “I’m going to start slow. All you need to do is move away when I touch your neck. I know that sounds a little silly, but we need to start somewhere.” Adian’s right hand moved to the back of her neck and gently took hold. She froze for a moment, then slowly stepped to the left. “Good,” he complemented, “That’s a start.” He repeated the process over the next several hours, alternating which hand he grabbed her with. After this, Adian changed things. When she tried to step away, he grabbed a hold of the back of her dress and pulled her to him. His arm went across her chest and his hand reached to her throat. “Now, I will make things more complicated, dear bird. You have to discover how to break away on your own, now.” She had frozen again, clinching her eyes closed in fear. Adian released her throat and gently touched her chin with the backs of his knuckles. “I’m sorry, I went too fast.”

“No,” she whispered, “I need to get over this.”

“Truly sorry,” he said, gently pulling her chin around. He leaned down as he pulled her chin up, as if to kiss her, but she instead pulled her head away. “Very good,” he grinned, removing his hand from her neck. She had never felt him touch her.

“How did you–”

“Snowhawk, if you can resist a vampire, then Quillen will be no problem. You’re making progress, dear, but I believe we shall have to continue this tomorrow night, if you don’t mind?”

“Ok,” she nodded.

Adian led her back to his brother. Once there, Janus gathered Snowhawk into his arms and held her tightly. She nuzzled him softly, but was soon nearly asleep as she was held. “Accomplish anything?” Janus asked his brother.

“Yes, we did. But I am going to need more time. This is very deeply ingrained.”

“Indeed?”

“Yes. Don’t act so suspicious. I’m not trying anything.”

“Your little speech at the hospital would lead me to believe differently, Adian.”

“Huh?” Snowhawk sleepily asked.

“Nothing, love,” Janus replied, gently stroking her arm. “She seems awfully tired, Adian.”

“I’m sure you would be as well if you’d just spent several hours fighting your biggest fear.”

Janus glared at him for a moment, then scooped her up. “You’re not going to win, Adian.”

“But you’re not the immortal one, brother,” the younger grinned. “Don’t forget she’ll naturally outlive you several times over.”

“– the hell are you talkin’ about?” Snowhawk sleepily queried again.

“You’ll know when the time is right, dear Snowhawk,” Adian replied.

Janus again glared at Adian, then carried off his nearly asleep love. “I have mixed feelings about this, bird,” he whispered.

“Adian’s not trying anything,” she groggily returned. “His intentions are honest. Promise. Not leaving my wuff,” she continued, nuzzling him gently.

Janus sighed and smiled, then turned into their room. “I didn’t think you would, love.” As he placed her on their bed, she wrapped her arms around him, then pulled him down to her. She cuddled close to him and he, in turn, wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. She sighed quietly and contentedly, then had soon fallen asleep in his embrace.

*********

Several days later, the again feline formed Snowhawk trained outside in the gardens one night, relearning and remembering her strength with a dagger and her gymnastic skills. Janus and Adian were off to the side watching her with Adian said, “She’s almost back to the form she was in at eighteen.”

“Yes, when I lost her the first time,” Janus paused. “I just pray that history won’t repeat itself.”

“Watch what you say and do then, brother. I won’t take her from you without a reason.”

“I was young and stupid back then. Hopefully, age has given me better judgment.”

“I hope so as well. For her sake.” Adian paused. “Well, I guess it is time for us to continue our training. I’m sure you’ll be pleased to know she’s advancing wonderfully.”

“I’d rather hear that she was over it.”

“Time, brother. We just need time,” Adian grinned and walked toward Snowhawk. He nearly found himself at the wrong end of her blade, but a quick grab of her small wrist stopped her dagger inches from his face. “Careful, dear. Though, it’s not like you could do much damage,” he smiled. “Now, shall we continue your training?” She nodded slowly and he wrapped one arm around her shoulder and led her back inside.

To say Janus was a little jealous would be a gross understatement. The same could be said about his annoyance at Adian. Still, he had to step carefully. One wrong move and he would lose his bird forever. That was something he never wished to happen.

*********

Once in Adian’s room, the door again closed behind them. Snowhawk’s feline ears pricked up, listening to every sound around her. Her eyes were not quite adjusted to the darkness. A light brush against her fur was the only sign and warning anyone was near her. A half second later, a pair of arms snatched her up. She was cradled in one arm as the other trailed up her between her breasts, the hand grabbing her throat. “Surprise you?” Adian chuckled. “Now, how will you escape?”

Snowhawk moved her leg closest to him, hooking her paw behind his knee. “Like this, “she said, then quickly pulled her other leg around the on one already hooked behind his knee and used her arms to push off him. She managed to pull his leg out from under him, sending him collapsing backwards. He released her as he fell, and she jumped away from him but a slight hesitation on her part left her legs entangled with his. “Em–” she blinked.

“Very good, dear,” he complimented. “But,” he began, sitting up and grabbing hold of her ankles, “you hesitated.” He turned her so she was sitting on her rear, facing him, then slowly began to pull her to him, her legs on either side of him. “You enemy will take advantage of that,” he stated, grabbing her waist and pressing her small form against him. One of his hands remained on her waist as the other reached up and grabbed a hold of her throat. “Now what?”

She closed her eyes, thinking for a moment, then grabbed a hold of the wrist of the hand on her neck. She slowly, yet forcefully began to pull it away.

Adian could see the battle against her fear on her face. But she was winning. She had begun to pull his hand away. As a test, he tightened his grip on her. She whimpered and froze for a moment, then began pulling his hand away again. “Such determination,” he grinned.

She held his hand away from her neck with one of her own and batted the hand from her waist, then sprung backwards and away from him. She panted a few times, and a few seconds later collapsed to her knees.

“You are doing wonderfully, Snowhawk.”

She was silent for a moment, then asked quietly, “You’re not trying anything… are you Adian?”

“Snowhawk,” he sighed, “as much as I would love to have my brother’s place in your heart, I shall not attempt to take you from him. The only way I would is if you told me differently.” He paused, looking away for a moment, then back at her. “Or if he were to ever harm you. Be that in the physical or the mental sense. I don’t think he ever would, but if he does…”

She nodded and closed her eyes. “I understand.”

Someday, though, Adian thought.

“What now?” she asked.

“We need to work on your speed. You will have to react as quickly as you can.” She nodded in agreement. “So, if I okay this with my brother, what if I were to give you a small bite each time you hesitated?”

“I suppose…”

Adian grinned. “Good. I’ll discuss that with him.”

“Now?”

“Of course now. I’ll need you in your human form when I return, regardless.”

“Okay,” she nodded.

The door unlocked and opened, then Adian quickly walked out. A moment later, Snowhawk left the room and walked toward hers. Once there, she grabbed the first dress she saw and had no high collar. It was the long green dress Adian had given her. She shifted forms then pulled the dress on. She tied a ribbon of the same color around her neck to hide the scar, then fastened two close fitting bracelets to each wrist to hide those scars. She pulled her hair up and looked at herself in the mirror, sighing quietly, but never noticed the man sneaking up behind her.

*********

“You want to try what?” Janus growled.

“To bite her each time she hesitates. Think of it as an incentive program.”

“I’m concerned she may find being bitten the incentive…”

Adian quirked an eyebrow. “Know something about that, then?” he smirked.

“What I may or may not know about her is my knowledge.”

“I could really care less what you two do in bed. That’s not my concern. What is my concern it that she–”

“What?” Janus said at his brother’s abrupt stop.

“I think we may have an uninvited visitor,” he simply said, then turned and walked out of the room, Janus soon following after. The younger Lupino stalked toward Snowhawk’s room.

*********

A pair of arms slipped across Snowhawk’s chest and held her tightly. “Hello, dear…” Kione’s voice soothingly said.

“K– Kione.”

“Correct, love. Don’t act so scared. I’m here to talk.”

“About what?”

“Do you remember what you were in your past?”

“What”

“That silver Delphin, do you know what she became?”

“Considering who’s asking I have an idea.”

“I was the one who turned her. She was such a beauty. I couldn’t just let that go to waste. Her horn eventually regrew, but those beautiful wings never did.” He turned her around, tightly hanging onto her small waist with one hand, his other forcefully grabbing a hold of her jaw and pulling her head up. “I wonder, have you looked at your wings lately?”

“Why would I need to?”

Kione grinned, moving the hand on her back up to the zipper of her dress. “Just take a look,” he told her, slowly drawing the pull down.

Snowhawk held her breath for a moment, then jerked her head free of his hand and quickly stepped away from him. “No free shows for you.”

“How intriguing. The wolf’s training actually worked,” Kione said, grinning again. “But that is of no concern. I will have what I want. And I do enjoy a challenge.” The vampire advanced toward her, soon backing her into the wall. “You won’t be able to fight me forever.”

As Kione placed his hand gently on her neck, lifting her chin up with his thumb, the door to the room was kicked open. “Should have known it was you,” Adian growled.

“It’s a pleasure to see you, too, Adian. You seem to have overlooked something in her training.”

“And what’s that?”

“Just this lovely timidness of hers.”

“You just haven’t pissed her off yet,” Janus said, shifting forms. “Now release her, Kione.”

“Take her, wolf. I just wished to speak with her,” Kione grinned and let go of her.

Not needing to be told, Snowhawk half stumbled, half ran to Janus. He gathered her in his arms and glared at Kione. “Since when does ‘talking’ involve her clothes coming off?”

“I just intended for her to see something. Get her to show her wings.” Kione looked directly at Snowhawk, and said, “You’ll understand soon, dear Delphin.” With a slight bow, the elder vampire vanished.

“What was he talking about, love?”

Snowhawk looked away, not responding for a moment. “Nothing.”

“Do you still wish to continue your training?” Adian asked.

“Yes. I’ve gotten this far. I’m not gonna let some idiot vampire beat me.”

Adian nodded. “I do believe you’ve had your share of excitement for the night, though. I’ll leave you two for now.” He slightly bowed his head to them, then turned and left the room.

“Now, what was this about your wings, love?”

“I can’t really say, I’ve not looked at them since my change. No need to.”

“Well, let’s see what he was talking about,” Janus said, leading her to the bed. He unzipped her dress the rest of the way and slid it forward and off her torso, then sat off to her side. She closed her eyes and exposed her wings.

She gasped when she looked back. Instead of her dragon wings were a pair of dark amethyst hued feathered wings. “What the hell…”

Crying softly in pain, Snowhawk could feel herself growing weaker as her life bled away. She heard fabric ripping as Janus tore the sheets on the bed into temporary bandages. She could barely feel his touch as he bandaged her wounds. Her cries grew softer and as her eyes closed, she realized she might not make it through this. She felt Janus put his arms around her and hold her tightly. She mentally smiled at the fact that, if she were to die now, in his arms, she would go peacefully. Her eyes fully closed and she entered darkness.

“Snowhawk! Snowhawk, open your eyes! Love, please, don’t leave me!” Janus cried as her eyes slipped shut and her breathing further slowed. “Don’t leave me, love, please…” he told her, squeezing her gently as if trying to keep her spirit from leaving.

Nearly two minutes later, Nyx and several of the men under her command entered the room. “My God, Janus! What the hell happened?!” she exclaimed.

“I’ll explain on the way to the hospital. We need to get her down stairs as quickly and carefully as possible. Can’t risk letting the wounds tear more.”

The men quickly loaded her into a makeshift stretcher, created from another blanket. They carried her down the steps, then sped to the hospital. As Janus comfortingly stroked his bird’s face, Nyx again asked, “What happened back there?”

“Quillen raped her. He beat her and cut her hair. Then he cut her legs, arm, and back as I watched. I couldn’t do anything to help her.”

“Who the fuck is this guy anyway? He must have some pretty big balls to pull this.”

“He was her mate. That is, before my brother broke his horn and tried to kill him.”

“Tried to?” she said, almost sounding shocked.

“Almost did. I don’t know the details. We left as the two were fighting.” The lighter wolf paused, looking down and burying his face in his hands. “I can’t live without her again,” Janus almost whispered.

“She seems strong enough, Janus. I’m sure she can pull through.”

Janus nodded in reply. “I hope so…”

Even if she doesn’t, Nyx thought, there’s still a way.

Just as her name implied, Nyx was a creature of the night, and in more ways than one. That was not her only secret as in all truths, Nyx was actually male, using a new gift to disguise himself. To add to all this, this particular male was none other than Janus’ younger brother Adian. Sophie had almost killed him two years prior, but a vampire appeared that night as Adian lay dying. He called himself Kione and offered to “save” Adian on the single condition that Adian would complete one mission for him someday in the future. Adian agreed to the eternity of endless nights, be it from the loss of blood and lack of oxygen to his brain, or that he simply felt this was not his time to die, so their deal was sealed with Kione’s gentle bite. Some months later, Adian returned to his brother’s estate under his female identity.

He was shaken from his thoughts by his brother calling to Snowhawk. “Snowhawk! Love, keep breathing! You can’t leave me!”

Adian could hear the almost hysterical despair in his brother’s voice, and Snowhawk’s shallow, labored breaths were not a good sign. He turned to the driver and simply said, “Pull it over, we’re never gonna make it at this pace.” The driver complied and pulled the vehicle over. Adian moved into the driver’s seat as the driver left, and left the poor Feln on the side of the road to either find his way home on his own, or to be picked up by one of the other team members.

Janus blinked at Nyx and her insistence to get Snowhawk to the hospital. As the vehicle accelerated, Janus held Snowhawk tightly and whispered to her, “Soon, love, we’ll be there soon. Just hold on,” She was growing cooler by the minute and each breath was shallower than the last.

Another five minutes passed before they reached the hospital. Once there, Janus carried Snowhawk inside while Nyx tracked down the doctor that had treated Snowhawk twice before. “Great Orion!” the doctor exclaimed when she saw Snow’s ashen hued skin. “Bring her in here quickly!” she directed, opening a door to a nearby, empty room. Not needing to be told twice, Janus quickly carried her in then him and Nyx situated her on the bed, stomach down. “What happened, Janus?” the doctor asked, her ruby horn beginning to glow softly.

“She was raped. He cut her legs, arm, and back as I watched. I couldn’t do anything to help her…” Janus trailed off.

“Okay, I’ll do everything I can,” she said, gently putting a red-furred hand on his shoulder.

Janus nodded, then gently kissed Snowhawk. “I won’t be far, love,” he whispered. Reluctantly, he left the room. Nyx stayed behind, the doctor having asked her to. He flopped down in a chair in the nearby lobby, then placed his head in his hands, elbows on his knees. Tears fell from his eyes as the full magnitude of what happened hit him. “Snowhawk…”

*********

Back in the room as she sewed up the wound on Snowhawk’s arm, the doctor calmly stated to Nyx, “I know your secret.”

“Do you now?”

“Yes. I know what and who you are. If you think helping her is going to atone for your past, you’re wrong.”

“Nothing can make up for what I’ve done, dear Doctor. Or what I am.”

The doctor nodded as she finished, never having looked up. “That’s all I can do. She’ll be on her own now.” She sighed quietly as the glow faded from her horn. “She needs blood, but we have no Delphin blood to match her’s here. The only city that might is Juv, but that’s too far to go,”

“Don’t–!” softly cried the now sleeping Snowhawk. She was so weak it was difficult for her to whisper even this.

Adian knelt next to her, then gently brushed her bangs from her eyes. “You didn’t deserve this,” he whispered. “Maybe I acted wrongly two years ago.”

“Adian, two years ago, did you have the faintest clue this would happen?”

“No.”

“Then you have no reason to feel guilty. Though how the hell you figure yourself into this, I don’t know.”

“You’ll understand when you find out who Quillen truly is.”

The doctor gave a small nod, then called Janus in. Adian stood before his brother entered. “The next hours will be crucial. I wish I could say something more, but it’s all a matter of waiting now.”

Nyx looked at Snowhawk for a moment, then to Janus. “What now?”

“I’m staying here to keep an eye on her, and so she’ll know she’s not alone.” He paused for a couple moments, then continued, “Then I will find this son of a bitch and rend him limb from limb.”

“If you can find him. I would guess he knows he’s in for it and will sneak off into hiding for a while. Not to mention what he may tell the Society leaders.”

“The man who did this had ties to the Society?” the doctor asked.

“Yeah. He’s the head of security.”

“That Quillen?!”

“Yes.”

“I knew he wasn’t all there, but I never imagined he’d be capable of this. But, why her?”

Nyx looked at Janus as he looked at her, then Nyx dropped her head and turned to the side, leaving Janus to answer. “… Because Quillen is Legacy. And he’s pretty pissed off that Snowhawk wouldn’t willingly go back to him.”

The doctor stood in a shocked silence for a moment. “Should have realized when he tried to kill her two years ago.”

“How did you know about that?”

“I work here. I hear things. And for now, I shall leave you with her.” The doctor turned and left the room.

“Do you want to know how close she was?” Nyx quietly asked a moment later.

“How close?”

“Another five minutes. Probably less.”

“She would have been gone,” He knelt next to the bed and gently stroked her face.

“Not forever,” Nyx whispered.

“What?” Janus asked, looking up.

“Nothing.” She leaned against the wall; all they could do was wait. Once she realized the time, she quickly excused herself. She wanted to stay, but the sun that would soon rise had other plans.

Within eleven hours, Snowhawk had improved more than they could have imagined. Nyx returned just after the sun set some thirteen and a half hours after she’d left.

Janus glanced to her as she entered, “You certainly live up to your name.”

“Me and the sun don’t mix,” she replied. “How is she?”

“Much better, but still not out of the woods,” Janus answered, gently stroking his bird’s hair.

Nyx nodded. Her mind was elsewhere though. She needed to tell her secret, but she didn’t know how to begin, or how he would react. The last thing she wanted right now was to be pushed away. She had this driving urge to protect Snowhawk. As much as it probably didn’t need to come out now, fate decided to throw her hand in and force it out. The room seemed to grow darker, colder. Janus looked up and Nyx moved from where she had been leaning against the wall toward the bed. In the short hallway from the room to the hospital’s main hallway, a man appeared. He was ghost white in complexion and had long, dark silver hair that hung to his mid thigh.

“Who are you!?” Janus demanded.

Nyx hissed, “Kione. What the hell do you want?”

The stranger grinned, opening almost glowing gold eyes. “You inadvertently completed your half of out bargain. I’m simply here to collect her.”

“She’s been through enough. Leave her be.”

“So harsh, Adian.”

Janus blinked. “Adian?”

“Janus,” the younger Lupino replied, his faux exterior melting away to reveal the same wolf Janus had grown up with.

“I’m sure you to have some catching up to do. Now let me have what I want and I’ll leave you.”

“Not today, or ever, Kione.”

“Why do you protect the one that forced you to be what you are? After all, you once threatened to do the same to her.”

“Feelings change.”

Kione’s grin still had not lessened. “I’m sure. In any case, why don’t you ask her what she wants?”

Adian looked back to the bed where Snowhawk was slowly sitting up. Her dulled, half closed eyes told him the story. “Because you’re controlling her.”

“Not completely. Merely telling her what she could have if she came with me.”

“What? The endless nights? The constant bloodlust?”

“We’ll see,” Kione smirked. “Besides, that’s only a problem the first few years. You should be over the sun’s burn soon.”

The groggy woman was now standing beside her bed. At least, she appeared to be standing, but was actually floating. She began to drift toward the long-haired stranger and Janus jumped in front of her, grabbing hold of her arms. “Snowhawk, love, wake up!”

“She can’t hear you, Janus. Only me,” he informed them. Janus held onto her tightly, but she managed to break away. She floated to Kione and he took her into his arms, falling limp at his touch. “What a pity that your world has to lose such a beauty,” he said, his grin never lessening.

“I will take her from you, Kione,” Adian growled, “before you turn her.”

“Good luck, young wolf,” he said with a final grin, then vanished with Snowhawk.

“Dammit!” Adian growled.

“… Dare I ask what you became to still be here?”

“I don’t think you’re that dense, dear brother. In any case, that’s not the issue here.”

“Why do you want to help her, Adian?”

“Because I owe the both of you that much. The wounds stopped hurting and I’ve accepted that I deserved this, especially now.” Adian paused for a moment, then headed toward the door. “I’m going after her. I’ll contact you when I find her.”

*********

Snowhawk awoke in a darkened room, someone gingerly holding her in their arms. She at first assumed this to be Janus and so, thought nothing of it. Her eyes focused on her surroundings and she found herself in what appeared to be a room of a castle, decorated in deep, rich colors. “Where am I?” she asked, still not fully awake.

The one holding her pulled her now short hair back and away from her neck as he sat her up. He leaned in toward her neck, wrapping one arm across her chest, and whispered, “Someplace safe.”

As soon as he heard the voice, she knew this man, who ever he was, was not Janus. She tried to break away from him, but found herself to still be too weak. “Who are you?!”

“Think back to just a few hours ago. Well, about a day now,” he said as he nuzzled her neck. “The name’s Kione, dear.”

“What are you doing?” she asked as he moved further back on her neck.

“I told you earlier I was going to help you. And I shall.” She cried out softly as he lightly nipped her neck, breaking the skin and drawing blood. “Such delicate skin… And sweet blood too,” he commented as he licked her neck. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to take you where you won’t hurt anymore.”

“I like the pain. It lets me know I’m alive.”

“But is it really all it’s cracked up to be?” he asked as he turned her around to face him. His left hand sat in the small of her back; his right was at the base of her skull. He smiled seductively and pulled her to him. She again tried to break away, but he only pulled her closer. “You have nothing to fear,” he told her, then leaned down to her neck.

“N– No, please…” she whimpered.

Just as he bit down, the door of the room burst open. “Let her go, Kione,” Adian warned.

“Meddling wolf,” Kione growled as he pulled away from her neck. “Do you really think you can stop me?”

“All I have to do is get her away from you.”

“Easier said then done, I should think,” the vampire grinned.

“Not necessarily,” Adian returned, then quickly lunged at Kione.

The vampire twisted out of the way, pulling Snowhawk with him. She cried out in pain as the wound on her back was nearly pulled open again. “Be careful, Adian. It wouldn’t take much to reopen her wounds.”

“Using her as a shield won’t help your position any, Kione.”

“She’ll thank me for it after I turn her.”

“I won’t give you the chance.”

“But I shall, dear wolf.”

“Only in your dreams.”

Kione grinned. “So you say.”

Adian again lunged at the other vampire, but found himself stopped by Kione’s booted foot in his chest. “Hand her over, Kione.”

“No. You can’t stop what is meant to be, wolf.”

“And this isn’t,” he growled, knocking Kione’s leg aside then grabbing Snowhawk. He quickly moved away from the still grinning vampire.

“She’s mine now, Adian, and you can’t keep her from me.”

“Snowhawk belongs to no one but herself. She is my brother’s by her own choice,” he told Kione as he protectively clutched Snowhawk. She was trembling in both fear and pain.

“And just what are you going to do once you return her? Become their protector? You’ll always be a fifth wheel to them, Adian, unless you claim what’s in your arms as your own.”

While Adian could admit he found this to be a very tempting proposition, he had to decline. “No. I think not. Especially if that’s how you intend to eventually get her to become yours.”

“And who ever said I did?”

“I’m not as stupid as everyone makes me out to be.”

“Maybe you won’t be a failure as a vampire yet,” he grinned. “Now, take the prize that is in your arms. You don’t want her in pain anymore, do you?”

“The only way I would is if she told me to turn her, Kione.”

“But can you not see it? The pleading look in her eyes. The trembling of pain.”

“Only if she says it.”

The older vampire smirked. “Ah well. It’s of no concern to me. I’ll come back for her at my leisure.”

“We’ll be waiting,” Adian growled.

“Good,” Kione replied, then vanished.

Adian growled again, then looked to his right hand as he felt a warm liquid oozing over it. The hand he had on her back was covered in her blood. The wound on her back had begun to split open again. She cried softly in pain as he tried to pick her up without further injury, finally managing to do so after having to hear several of her half-neighs of pain, something carried over from her Delphin form, he guessed. She continued to cry, burying her face in his chest as he carried her out.

He reached the vehicle he had brought and carefully positioned her inside on her stomach. He half ran to the driver’s side and slid in, picking up the cell phone and calling his brother as he pulled away. “She’s safe and I’m on my way back now.”

“Adian– thank you.”

“We’ll be a few hours. You may want to keep that doctor handy. The wound on her back has begun to reopen and she has a couple bites on her neck.”

“Care to tell me who this guy is when you get back?”

“I’ll tell you what I know when I return,” Adian replied, then hung up.

Over the past year and a half, Adian has found that being a protector was more rewarding than just taking what he wanted. He enjoyed helping Snowhawk, and his brother, but he had said that he would see that she was never by hurt by Janus again. She didn’t deserve to be hurt, and if Janus could do nothing but use her, then his brother would lose that which he held so dear. The younger Lupino knew he had the power to take her from him with a quick, painless bite. But he would wait and see; bide his time and keep a close eye on them. There was no point in taking her away from him now that she was happy. “Or would be if she hadn’t been cut to shreds,” he mumbled. “Besides, barring any serious accidents, a Delphin will outlive a normal Lupino at least twice over. And I am far from normal.”

*********

After returning to the hospital and the wound on Snowhawk’s back being sewn closed again, Janus and Adian sat in her darkened room and Adian relayed his story. “Just after sunset the evening following Sophie trying to kill me, at which point, yes, I was still alive, a man emerged from the shadows. He called himself Kione and offered to help me on the condition that I would one day help him. Not knowing this was his intention and not caring of the consequences, I agreed. He turned me there, then took me somewhere to heal. The rest, as they say, is history.”

“Yes, but who is he?”

Adian shrugged. “Not a clue, other than the fact he’s a very old vampire. He taught me a few things, but only stayed around for a few nights.”

“Which leaves you unaccounted for for several months.”

“I was strengthening myself.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. Why are you do damn curious all the sudden? You think I wanted this to happen?

Janus sighed. “Sorry, Adian. Maybe I’m being too protective of her right now.”

“It’s understandable, brother. But I have changed quite a bit over the past two years. Gave up a lot of things. Stopped acting like such an ass.”

“Took up cross dressing,” they heard Snowhawk say.

The older Lupino jumped up and ran to the bed. “Love, you’re awake. How are you feeling?”

“Like shit…” she grumbled.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t find you sooner, love.”

“I should have fought him off.”

“There’s no way you could have, Snowhawk,” Adian began. “Quillen is a hell of a lot stronger than you. Plus, add in the fact the bastard knows you almost as well as my brother and I’m sure you get the idea.”

“Love, his human form is stronger than my Lupino form. Please don’t blame yourself. This is in no way your fault.” He reached out to touch her face, but she shied away from him. “Love–”

“Please, I just– I need to be alone.”

“But do you think–”

“She’ll be ok, Janus. Neither of them would try anything this soon. Come on, we’ll find you some decent food and I’ll find a place to rest for the day.”

Janus nodded. “Very well.” He gave Snowhawk a gentle kiss on her cheek, then the two of them left the room. “Dammit, I feel so helpless.”

“There’s nothing you can do, Janus. Or could have done. Quillen is too strong, just as you said, and truthfully you would have had a snowball’s chance in hell against Kione.”

“And you?”

“Brother, I’m basically immortal. It may take a few nights, but Quillen would be no real problem. Kione– that’s another story. He’s a much stronger vampire than me.”

“Why do you feel you owe us this?”

“If I hadn’t broken Legacy’s horn, this wouldn’t have happened. He wouldn’t have snapped like he did and she wouldn’t have been raped. More than likely, I wouldn’t be a vampire because Sophie probably wouldn’t have tried to kill me. That is why I owe you this.”

“Thank you, brother.”

“But,” he began, “let me tell you one thing, Janus. If I ever see her cry because you have hurt her, I will take her from you. I will protect her from everyone because the last thing she needs is more pain.”

“Why would I ever hurt her?”

“You have been known to in the past, brother. So this is the only warning you’ll receive.”

“Adian…”

“Just remember, Janus. If I see one tear because of you, then you will lose her forever.” The younger Lupino turned and stalked off.

“What the hell was that about?” Janus asked to no one in particular.

“I do believe your brother may like your bird,” stated the Doctor, popping out of no where.

Janus jumped and spun around. “Where the hell did you come from!?”

“I’m always around. I work here. By the way, next time you’re looking for me, just ask for Lisa.”

“Very well,” Janus sighed, then shook his head. “I think everything just got several times more complicated.”

“Maybe,” she replied, “but you have to realize he feels a lot of guilt for what happened.”

Janus nodded, but really had nothing else to say. What could he say? His own brother was threatening to take away the very thing he had missed for so many years. Not to mention the issues with Kione and Quillen. He would have to be more careful than ever with her now.