Dinnertime came and went with the same pattern of discussion: what to do. Running was dismissed before it was even suggested as Demetrious had a reach that encompassed most of the continents in some form or other. As it stood, only he and Morag knew of Callie's existence and if they made a run for it then he would involve his allies in his search for her and the news would spread. Their only choices were to either deny everything or fight him.

By 9pm, the flaming sky had lost its streaks of orange and red, gradually fading to violet, and further blending into velvety inky blackness. Only the occasional cloud remained to mar the otherwise perfect view of the Earth's diamond-encrusted blanket. Callie lay in the crook of Sam's arm on the sun lounge he dragged from the conservatory and placed in the middle of the front lawn - away from the lights of the house. They gazed at each of the constellations, Sam pointing out several obvious clusters like Orion and Taurus.

All Callie wanted was an hour where she didn't have to think about anything. An hour without demons or witches. No wolves or lions. But most of all, no impending doom. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a shooting star, its tail lingering for a second after she focused on it. The rhyme she used to say as a child sprang immediately to her thoughts and she chanted it in her mind.

Star light, star bright,

Hear the wish I make tonight

I wish I may, I wish I might

Grant me strength to end this fight

Blindingly bright car lights sweeping through the open gates disturbed her reverie. Their reprieve was over. The approaching car carried three replacement shifters and the time to set up the rouse had arrived. Unwinding herself from Sam's arms, she stood, her gaze following the lights as they made their journey up the sweeping lane, stopping only when they reached the garage at the side of the house. Lights blinked out and doors slammed a second later. Sam took her hand, and together they made their way across the damp grass to greet their guests.

"Sir," A tall blonde man said, shaking Sam's hand. "Leo, the lion shifter." At Callie's escaped snort of laughter, he sheepishly added, "Me Mam was a huge fan of Leonardo De Caprio and me Da had a very cruel sense of humour." He shrugged. "These two are Tristan and Ash, wolf and puma."

Sam shook both their hands. "Thank you all for coming at such short notice. You understand the situation is extremely dangerous for all of us and the less you know about it, the safer you will be when Demetrious gets here. I'll fill you in on what I can once you're settled in," he said in welcome. "Brian," he turned to the approaching man. "This is Leo, Tristan, and Ash. Would you mind showing them to their rooms? Then join us in the kitchen in say... an hour?"

"Sure thing boss. Guys, grab your bags and follow me." He led them through the back door, through the hall and into the main kitchen. "Do not under any circumstance touch anything in this room. Cook will skin you alive if you so much as move a pan without his say so," he warned. "Through here is our kitchen space. The fridge and cupboards are well stocked with snacks and soft drinks. Anytime you fancy it just help yourself. Cook will regularly leave us pastries and it's first come first served. But be warned, if you eat mine you'll lose a hand." The three visibly relaxed with their shared laughter. "I'm not kidding," he added with a stern look.

Leading the way up the back stairs to the first floor, he pointed out each door as they passed. "These first five rooms are empty at the moment. This is Sidney's room - you'll meet her shortly. This is Stephan and Liz's room - guests who you'll also meet soon. The next two rooms are ours. We share both a bedroom and a living room, well more of a recreation room. It has a pool table, 50" plasma TV and possibly every game console and game on the market," he boasted. "And finally, through here are the beds, pick any except that one - it's mine. Bathroom is through that door. Oh! End of the hall is Callie, the chick from downstairs and Sam is right above on the upper floor...Any questions?"

"The boss mentioned a guy called Demetrious," Tristan began, dumping his bag on the bed nearest the door. "Would that be the same Demetrious who tried to take over Gerard's turf in Paris about two years ago?"

"Yes, there is only one Demetrious, one too many if you ask me. Now, if there's nothing else?" The three shook their heads. "Then I'll see you in our kitchen in exactly," he glanced at his watch, "fifty-five minutes."

*****

Sidney was the last to arrive. She caught the kitchen door as it swung closed behind Stephan and took her seat at Sam's right, gratefully accepting the tall frosted glass Callie passed to her.

Sam made the introductions to the three new arrivals. "Now that everyone knows everyone, let's get this show started. First things first, Ash, Leo, Tristan, we have a problem with the vampire master of the Philippines. You all know how power-hungry Demetrious is and he will stop at nothing to further his territory boundaries. He will be here tomorrow to try to take Callie and use her unusual powers to control anyone who disagrees with him, and that includes your people whose land surrounds his controlled area."

Leo raised his hand slightly, interrupting Sam. "What kind of power does she have that makes him think he can take those areas?"

"That is one of the things you are better off not knowing. Suffice to say that we have to make him believe that she doesn't have that kind of power over you. He will probably try to make her control your forms or read your minds, which she can't do." He turned to Brian but spoke to everyone. "His companion has already met Brian in animal form and knows that the three other shifters are his friends, so in order to keep up that part of the ruse I must compel him to think that you three are those friends and ask you let me do the same with you. In order for it to look convincing, I'll have to read your memories and intermingle some of them. There is a chance that it will not be reversible and a few of your memories will be forever changed."

"I'm okay with that as long as it's nothing important you change," Tristan agreed with ease, closely followed by agreement from the other two. "I'm a firm believer that you can never have too many friends."

Sam set to work reading each of their minds in turn. He then duplicated and planted some of those in the other three's memories. He worked for hours after the other vampires had left the room, arranging and re-arranging their memories until they coincided with one another. Finally, exhausted, he sent them all to bed and collapsed into his own a few minutes later.

*****

Sidney paced the floor of the sitting room and tried to think of a way to help while Callie dozed in the chair. If things turned bad and Demetrious got wind of their deception, they were dead. It was as simple as that. He was too powerful to take on.

As a vampire aged they became more powerful and their ability to control other vampires and shifters grew every century. Most of the master vampires gained one animal to call and command by the fifth century and Demetrious already had three breeds to do his bidding. Thankfully none of the four shifters in the house were one of those he had control over.

Sidney heard a faint echo of Callie's name being called. As she slept, a small gap had formed in Callie's shield, so Sidney slipped in to eavesdrop.

Callie stood on a narrow ledge on the edge of a great echoing cavern beside Lucien. She looked down and could see nothing. There was nothing but endless blackness. Her foot knocked a rock off the ledge and she waited for it to hit the bottom. No noise returned to signify the depth of the pit. She backed up as far as she could against the jagged wall. "Where are we?" she demanded.

"The Chamber of Lost Souls," Lucien answered, leaning over the edge and looking down. "Somewhere in here, my soul is just floating around. I didn't die when I was banished here, so my soul hasn't been recycled. I feel it call for me sometimes and its sorrow is so overwhelming." He sighed. "I'm sorry soul, today I have things I must attend to." He grabbed Callie's arm and dragged her back through the opening in the rock face. "Now tell me about these vamps you said were coming for you. I was a little distracted earlier and wasn't paying attention."

Callie huffed out a breath of relief at leaving the bottomless cavern. "Okay, I'll start at the beginning but you better pay attention this time." She reminded him of her heritage, the control she gained over the shifters, the reason for the visit by Morag and the impending visit by Demetrious.

"Hmm," he considered, "does this Demetrious know that it's your bite that gives you control over the animals?"

Sidney spoke into Callie's mind, I think he's on to something here.

"Sidney?" Callie exclaimed, jumping at the unexpected intrusion in her mind. "You can hear him?"

Lucien quickly glanced around the hall and saw no-one. "Who are you talking to?"

"Sidney. She's listening in through my thoughts."

"Well bring her here. I would like to hear what she has to say." He smiled when she didn't immediately comply. "The same way you called the symbols."

Do you want to come? Callie asked Sidney through thought.

Can you bring me back?

I think so.

Then sure, why not.

Callie closed her eyes and visualized Sidney standing beside her in the cold carved-stone hallway in the underworld, willing her to be there. She opened them again and a faint ghost-like figure stood beside her. It gradually gathered form, solidifying until eventually becoming substantial enough to touch.

"Could we maybe go somewhere other than a public hallway to discuss this?" Sidney suggested, glancing up and down the deserted hall. "I'd hate for a demon to stumble on us or something."

Lucien laughed and led the way to his chambers. "Right where were we?" he asked, after closing the door.

"Callie's blood... No, I don't think they know about the bite and I see where you're going with this. The problem is going to be persuading him to let Callie bite him."

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