So how have you been Neo?" Eric asked as he strolled casually, his arms crossed behind his head while he stared up at the sky.

"Decent."

Neo wasn't in the mood for chit chatting, in fact he was slightly pissed off that Jacquelyn had let him go so easily. He was even more pissed off that Eric had interrupted them, although now that he thought about it, Eric used to piss him off all the time so that alone could have been the reason why he wasn't so surprised about that.

"So, who's that half-breed you got chained to you? She seems pretty wild for you," Eric asked, his body language giving off a vibe that made Neo sick.

"Don't call her that. She has a name, and she's none of your business," Neo hissed. Why am I even here?

"Whoa, chill man. I was only asking. You're normally into smaller, timid girls. At least you were."

That was when Neo realized that something seemed off.

Eric in the past had been a care free type of guy, and once in a blue moon, actually pleasant to be around. He was smart enough to know what buttons to press if he wanted to get under someone's skin, and he knew when to back off. Neo had only tolerated the kid because of his sister who he used to be with. Or, in more accurate terms: was betrothed to.

Yuria Winter, his wife to be. Or at least was.

She was a nice girl, small, timid. Just like Eric described. But the problem with the whole ordeal was that Neo and her had been childhood friends. He never saw her in that way, but she did. She went to her parents and because they were leeches always hungry for more power, they agreed and made the arrangements.

When he found out about it, it was almost as if water had been splashed into his face. The once kind and caring Yuri he knew turned out to be no better than the rest of her family. He had felt betrayed, abused. Once the wedding was locked he had no choice but to run. Yuri had become a complete different person. She showed her true colors once she thought he would be hers, none of which were beautiful like she used to be. She became vile, wicked. She was almost an exact replica of her mother and her father in one small body.

But that was the past.

Neo stopped walking and turned to face Eric head on. "What's the real reason you wanted to talk to me? You're not like I remember."

Eric scoffed, his green eyes turning cold and hard. "Me? I'm not how you remember? That's real cheap coming from you."

Neo frowned, his jaw clenching as he tried to keep his cool. "If you're going to just stand there and brood, I'm going back to Jacquelyn." Neo had turned to walk away when Eric grabbed his arm to stop him.

"You're not going to at least visit my sister after what you did?" Eric's grasp on Neo tightened, making Neo speak through clenched teeth.

"If she wants to see me that bad she can come and visit me herself." Neo ripped his arm out of Eric's hand and tried to make an escape once more.

"It'll be hard for to do that seeing how she's dead."

Neo froze in his tracks. What did he mean by that? He couldn't actually be serious...

Spinning on his heel, Neo turned to face Eric once more only to be greeted by a bony hand turned into a fist.

Eric's punch landed with a hard thud, making Neo see white for only a second. "Of fucking course she's dead and it's because of you!"

Neo fell to the ground, his hand over his nose which he was sure was bleeding by the way copper filled his sense of smell. Apparently he must have spoken aloud, unless Eric gained some sort of mental powers while he was gone. At least Eric was kind enough to allow him time to recover.

"She died waiting for you.. She even died in you're own fucking house! You were her fucking mate and you abandoned her!"

"You're sister was not my mate!" Neo hissed. "I didn't even know she was dead!"

"And why the fuck not? Why'd you run Neo? Huh? Did you enjoy putting her through that pain?" Eric got closer and grabbed Neo by his collar although it didn't do much considering Neo was a lot taller than him.

"She changed, she wasn't herself." Neo tried to push him off but to no avail.

"No! You're the one who changed! My sister wasn't good enough for you, is that it? Not like that whore half-breed you were just with?!"

Okay. That did it.

With a quickness, that surprised even Neo himself, his fist shot out and met Eric's jaw, his knee quickly following after it. Within seconds, Neo had Eric pinned to the grassy ground beneath them, his own voice a tone he had heard his father use only once in his life when he was a child.

"If you ever talk about my mate like that again, I will gladly help you in joining your sister. Now if you'll shut up for one fucking second maybe I can help shed light as to why I left her sorry ass behind.

She was vile. Wicked. Cruel. Just like the bitch who shit you out. A leech. She wasn't herself after she thought she could have me. She changed. Do you understand? I was not her mate, I am not her mate, and I will never be her mate. I left to find mine and I did." Neo spat every word with a venom he hadn't realized he had been nurturing for so long. He had to remember he had been holding the poor kid's throat in a grip like a vice and with a sigh he let go. "I loved your sister as if she was my own sister. Nothing more."

Eric was silent for a while, tears streaked down across his temples and disappeared into his hairline. He was still, his eyes staring up above as if he wasn't sure how to move on. "You really weren't mates."

He hadn't asked it as if he truly wanted someone to answer, but as if he finally understood some truth that had been hidden from him. As if he had to declare it for himself before he could finally move on.

"We were not mates."

He was silent again, Neo watched with a curiosity as life began to flood back into his eyes. Eric raised his arm limply and pointed to a field of trees and statues. A Vaulkarian graveyard.

"She was buried there. The only tree with the flowers. Her tombstone is there." Eric's voice was quiet and sad.

Neo felt for the kid. He seemed like the only person in the Winter's family to at least have some grasp on their head. Swallowing down the mild temper that was still burning under the surface he offered Eric a hand up. He stared at it for a while before accepting it.

"Will you not go and at least see her?" Eric dropped his head, his shoulders sagged. Defeated was the best way to describe him.

Neo wanted to turn him down, but sympathy got the better of him. With a curt nod he agreed. "I guess, if it means that much to you."

Eric seemed to perk up at this, something flashing in his eyes as he did. "Maybe we can get a beer after?"

Neo laughed, "Whatever. So long as you don't punch me again."

Eric laughed with him and walked in front, leading Neo to Yuri's tomb.

The Vaulkarian graveyard was different from the graveyards he had seen on earth, where there were only statues and the occasional garden or bouquet of flowers, here there were trees. It was in all sense a forest that belonged to the dead. For each major family, a tree was planted over a tomb that would hold all the members of that family, each family had their own tree. Neo recognized many, the house of Emmerac, the house of Tsu, even the house of Trevanni. All had great trees that symbolized the purpose of their family. It always amazed Neo whenever he saw the place, although before now he had no real reason to enter, to see so many trees stand together. In a way, it seemed as if death was the only way to bring these families so close together. While these families were alive, they would die before they ever step foot on the same soil as another. It seemed as if death took them seriously and made them all slumber under the same soil.

"Do you hear the rumor that's been going around this place?" Eric suddenly asked.

"Rumor?" Neo was busy studying the surrounded tombs to really listen.

"They say when every important member of a family dies, the tree of their house dies with them."

Neo had been prepared to ask him what he had meant when he realized they had stopped in front of a tree that Neo had wished to have never seen.

Before him was the tree of the Adranni, tall and strong, it's endless golden leaves laid at the base of the tree, it's once dark and rustic bark was now a deadly grey. Only a single red leaf remained upon the branch of the tree, struggling to hang on against the wind that forced it to dance and sway.

Eric had walked over and crouched down in front of the tree and wiped away the leaves that had gathered there, revealing a metal plaque that listed all of the names that were within the tomb.

Freshly carved, a single name caught Neo's attention.

"Why'd you bring me here?" Neo forced himself to turn away from which only caused a sinister laugh to escape past Eric's lips.

"What do you mean? I thought you said you'd visit Yuria." Eric's voice had grown teasing and cold, reminding Neo of a killer who had finally caught his prey.

"This isn't her tomb." Neo tried to hold back the burning in his throat, tried to control the shaking os his voice. He had told himself he wouldn't come here, that he wasn't worthy of looking at his father's grave. Yet here he was. Because he trusted another Winter.

"But it is. See? Right below Malcom Adranni." Eric pet the carved name while he hummed. "Yuria Adranni."

"You're sick," Neo hissed.

"No... I'm not." When Eric stood up Neo finally realized that the look he had saw within Eric's face earlier wasn't that of joy. But insanity. "I'm just returning the favor."

Neo thought he had heard a shrill laughter from behind him, but before he had the chance to even look the world went dark.

Jacquelyn paced in the middle of the room while she waited for Darius to get off the via-comm. They had been discussing the best course of action to finding Malcom's killer when he left the room. That had been over three hours ago.

"How fucking long does it take to make a call?" She cursed under her breath. The truth was that she hadn't been feeling right since the moment she left Neo alone with that prick Eric. She hoped he'd be back soon, seeing how her little secret meeting had taken place within the palace. Although when she thought of that she hoped he'd take a little longer so she wouldn't get caught.

"Are you okay, Jacky?" A small voice came from the doorway, causing Jacquelyn to jump out of her pacing.

She turned to see Neo's youngest sister, Anise, standing in the doorway.

"Yeah!" Jacquelyn lied. "I'm just fine. What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you!" She chirped, allowing herself into the room.

"Me?" Jacquelyn was slightly appalled by the girls boldness while said girl wrapped her arms around Jacquelyn.

"Well, I figured that if you're going to be Neo's wife that I should get to know you!"

Jacquelyn would have choked if she had been doing anything other than breathing.

"His wife, huh?" She must not have been able to hide the skepticism in her voice because Anise frowned.

"He didn't ask you yet? I thought you were his other."

"I am." I think...

"But you don't think you'll be his wife?"

Jacquelyn had to take a deep breath. Jeez this kid doesn't hesitate to ask the hard stuff.

"Um, I think that's something he and I should talk about, don't you?" Jacquelyn gently patted her head, a weak attempt to try and make her feel better.

"I guess." Anise shrugged, her face thoughtful for a moment before she plastered on a giant smile. "Hey, do you want to play a game?"

"A game?" Jacquelyn was about to politely decline, Darius being just outside on the balcony being her main concern, when her via-comm buzzed against her wrist.

Something came up. We'll meet again later.

Sighing Jacquelyn forced her emotions down and returned her attention to Anise who was still waiting for her answer.

"I guess we could play a game. What do you want to do?"

Anise giggled. "How about hide and seek? But not here!"

"Where then?"

"Follow me."

Jacquelyn followed Anise who had been humming quietly to herself as she led her around the palace grounds.

"Where are you taking me?" Jacquelyn giggled when Anise twirled and skipped along.

"There's a small garden just nearby that I like to play in! I think you'd like it too!" Anise giggled again and darted off towards the direction of the said garden leaving Jacquelyn alone to follow the path.

Jacquelyn only smiled, shaking her head slightly. "Kids..."

She had reached the end of the path, but the garden still remained out of sight. "Where did she run off to?" Jacquelyn muttered to herself as she scanned the clearing.

A raven's call drew her attention upward towards the sky. Jacquelyn could only make out a black cloud floating towards her, it was only as it continued to get closer did she hear the cries of more ravens.

"Shit!" Jacquelyn cursed as she turned and broke into a sprint towards the cover of a nearby forest.

Her heart pounded against her rib cage, air struggling to enter her lungs as her feet pounded against the grassy field. The cries of the ravens got closer, increasing in volume and frequency. The first bird to make contact against her skin pulled and cut her arm as it dived into her. Then they all began their attack as they reached her, pulling her hair and ripping her clothes.

Pain rippled through her body as each feathery body smacked against her. She used her arms to protect her eyes, the world seeming as if it was spinning around her.

"Over here!" A voice called.

Jacquelyn tried running to it, the sounds of gun fire going off and making her ears ring.

"Come on, hurry up!" A strong arm wrapped around her arm and pulled her towards them, the smell of musk and pine filled her senses as she was dragged to safety. It wasn't until the cries of ravens dispersed and stopped completely did she dare to open her eyes.

"Are you okay?"

She looked up against a white sleeveless shirt, past a thin silver chain, past a dark complected neck that had a small emblem tattooed onto the skin, into the deep ocean blue eyes that were gently framed by sandy blonde hair.

"Darius?"

"You look like shit."

If she was in a better mood she might have laughed, instead she could only focus on the pain that made her body shake.

"Come on, let's get you out of here."

"There's a girl out here... Did you see her?" Jacquelyn almost couldn't hear her own voice as she spoke. It was only a flock of birds, what's wrong with me?

"You mean Anise?" Darius grunted with distaste. "She's fine."

"Good." Jacquelyn wasn't sure why she had been so weak, she only knew that as Darius hoisted her up in his arms that sleep had opened it's own arms and wrapped her in it's cool embrace.

When Jacquelyn finally came to, the moon shined brightly in the sky. She was laying in a simple twin sized bed inside a room she had never seen before. It was only by the sounds that came from downstairs that she realized she was in the tavern. Beside her a man sat, quietly reading a book of some sort. His soft laughter at whatever he was reading had awoken her from her dreamless sleep.

"I wouldn't sit up just yet, you went through a lot." The man, who Jacquelyn recognized to be Stephen, said without looking up from his book.

"Where's Neo?" was the first thing she asked despite the dryness she felt in her throat.

"You want the truth or do you want me to lie to you?"

"Why would I want you to lie to me?" Jacquelyn groaned as a headache quickly made itself known.

"Well. You know. Some women like happy endings."

"Is there a bad one?"

Before Stephen had the chance to even answer, Tamara came bursting through the door sobbing heavily as she rushed to Jacquelyn's side.

"Oh thank God you're okay!" She cried.

Despite her previous warning, Jacquelyn forced herself to sit up to meet Tamara half way in a hug. "After I heard about Neo I was so scared you would have... Well... How are you?" Tamara asked.

"What do you mean? What happened to Neo?" A stabbing pain filled Jacquelyn's heart as she tried to process the body language of those around her.

"Honey..." Tamara tried to speak past a shaky sob, Stephen placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

It was Darius who spoke next.

"Neo's gone