EVABELLE

Evabelle didn't know how Gem did it. Being blind was awful. She had always figured it would be, but it was extra bad to be blind in a forest with large, jagged rocks and enormous, entangling, above-ground roots.

The elves that had taken her and Lucis had bound them and blindfolded them. Apparently they didn't want them getting too familiar with their territory. So now they were being lead through the over grown land. And their "guides" only mentioned something in their way about half of the time. So more than several times, Evabelle found herself face first in the dirt, spitting out leaves and spidery webs that made her inside writhe. Her knees and elbows were also in pretty bad shape, considering she couldn't really catch herself on the way down. And even Lucis, the man with perfect balance and skill fell quite a few times, as well. But the elves seemed to be enjoying all this. For some reason Evabelle, would have thought them to be kinder, considering they worked for the angels, but apparently that didn't apply to them if there were Anahalians involved or anyone who might be with them.

Evabelle heard another gasp as the angel man in front of her stumbled. "Are you alright?" She asked, unable to see, but it didn't sound like he had gone all the way down this time.

"Yeah, watch out there's another big root." Lucis replied. "And you know you don't have to ask me that every single time I trip."

"I could say the same to you." Evabelle replied. Her nose brushed against feathers as she nearly ran right into the angel man.

"How does it feel, guardian?" Derided one of the elves that Evabelle couldn't see, but she thought it was the one with the red flower in his hair. "To be stripped of your strength and magical ability. You are not so powerful now. The angel's firstborn's weaker than us." He gave a little laugh. "It feels rather satisfying for us. But they say your wings would be heavy and you muscles sore. You feel rather empty and naked without your normal capabilities."

As if on cue, Lucis gave a grunt staggering back, right into Evabelle again, almost making her fall for the hundredth time. This of course made all the elves chuckle. "I'm going to guess that that was a rhetorical question." Lucis mumbled, sounding oddly peeved. Normally, he was far more patient, but if he felt as the elf described then Evabelle could definitely understand where his annoyance came from. However, she herself, didn't feel any of that. Not just because, she lacked the wings.

Evabelle slowed a little in her march to wherever their captors were taking them, and thought about that. She didn't feel abnormally weak, or sore. She wondered if perhaps the barrier's magic hadn't actually worked on her and maybe, just maybe she could still do magic.

"Come on, get a move on, human." One of the other elves jabbed her with the side of his crossbow.

Evabelle almost snapped at him that she wasn't a human, but then bit her tongue and continued on.

The sound of running water and the hum of bell-like voices met Evabelle's ears as they were steered up a rather steep incline. At the peak of it, the cool wind blew through Evabelle's hair and the sweet smells of an assortment of flowery plants met Evabelle's nose. It reminded her of the smell of Calandra's garden. The rainbow of flowers that each had their own unique scent, but this was slightly different. While there were many smells, each one seemed to build off of the other. Each step they took lead to a smell the melted in with the last, but was still all its own. The calming sound of several small waterfall's, Evabelle suspected, also seemed to surround them now. And the voices of fairies, she recognized as well. Their beautiful songs actually managed to ease her anxious mind.

"Stop here." The leader's voice commanded. Then there was the sound of a strange whistling, and then the leader's voice spoke again, but this time, Evabelle had no idea what he was saying. It was obviously another language, and it just happened to be one of those chiming voices of the fairies that replied to him.

Evabelle leaned a little closer to the Anahalian. "Do you know what he's saying?"

Lucis's breath tickled her ear as he leaned down to reply. "Not much, but I think they're talking about lowering the gate, which means we're probably at the castle."

"Well that's good." Evabelle said. "I just wish we could see. It sounds and smells amazing."

Lucis grunted in agreement, before one of their guards shoved them forward onto what sounded and felt like a wooden bridge. They all crossed in silence, except for the beautiful sounds that encompassed them all, and that Evabelle continued to cling to as they passed indoors, shutting out the peaceful resonance. Then the two captives were lead down several hallways until finally they passed through another doorway and were stopped again. Surprisingly, the ropes around Evabelle's wrists and the blindfold were removed, allowing Evabelle to take in their new environment.

It was still fairly dark, although through the great big windows on one side of the forever long hallway they were in, the sky seemed to have a paler purple tinge to it. The ceiling was tall and came to several peaks, reminding Evabelle a little of Calandra's gothic architecture, however this place was quite a bit lighter. Both the walls and ceiling of the building were made of a crystalline, white wood, bound in a braided form overall creating a pattern and material that Evabelle had never seen before. Wood that looked like jewels couldn't actually exist, but perhaps it was just stone somehow shaping itself in a branch-like formation. Brushing her fingers across it, revealed that it was indeed wood, a living gem creating the elven castle. Now she really wished she could go outside and see it as a whole.

The lead elf that had guided them through the woods, cleared his throat. Lucis and Evabelle turned to him. He was the only one left with them. "This is the Hall of Honor. On this side here," he gestured to the wall opposite to the windows where hundreds of frames with gorgeous paintings hung. "It is where we have those who have honored the elven name with their great deeds. As well as holding each of our royal families and so on. We will be leaving you here for now, until another issue is dealt with. Don't destroy anything, or you will be insured a place in our prison." Then he turned and left the hall, slamming the door behind him.

Evabelle glanced at Lucis, who returned it. "So, they're just going to leave us here?" Evabelle murmured.

Lucis shrugged and winced. "That's what he said."

Evabelle walked over to him. "Stop hurting yourself. Why don't you sit down?"

Lucis opened his mouth, but Evabelle grabbed his wrist and pulled him over to the wall and guided him down under one of the windows. She plucked one of his feathers, not his munera, just one of the others. "You can't do magi—"

Evabelle ignored him, pulling back the collar of his shirt, revealing his well-muscled shoulder, where she pressed the feather and began to chant. "Je lucerna mea va zoivis tu Lucis Mendax." She repeated that three times and completed it with an amen. It was the longest spell that the Anahalians had and Evabelle had never used it before, but she closed her eyes and poured out the light that she had found after her confrontation with Averno that burned in her heart like a golden flame. She pushed the power from her center, up through her arms, to her finger tips, and to the feather in her hands causing it to glow and turn gold, but just for moment before the glow turned white just as the feather disappeared into his arm.

Evabelle opened her mouth and grinned at Lucis's look of shock. "How did you do that?"

"I guess the barrier's magic didn't work on me." She replied, straightening up. "Now, I'm going to command you to stay here and rest. And as your princess I expect you to follow it."

Lucis blinked several times. "But what about your injuries?"

Evabelle glanced down at her torn pants, and her scraped elbows, then at her wrists which had a bit of rope burn. She shook her head. "Can't do anything about it. You can't do magic and I don't think there's a way to heal myself. But don't worry," She smiled at him, feeling oddly satisfied that it worked out this way, rather than the other way around, which was how it always was it seemed. "I'll be fine."

Those sapphire eyes looked up at her sadly. "But—"

Evabelle put up a hand. "Nope. They said what you were feeling, and just because I sped up your healing, doesn't mean you don't need any rest. I'll stay awake for when they come back, but you need to get some sleep. So I'm sorry, but I'm not apologizing for this command."

"But you just did." Lucis argued.

Evabelle gave a start. "Dang it!" She gave a little stomp. "I'm trying to be a good firm leader."

Lucis finally gave a little smile. "Alright, you win."

Evabelle sighed and turned away, fairly certain, she was still being patronized. She walked over to the paintings on the wall and decided to learn about what the elves considered honorable. Each of the paintings had a plaque underneath that described them. The first one she saw was what appeared to be a ruined beach front with tons of injured humans and a whole bunch of others helping and assisting those who were hurt. The description stated that it was a picture of a healing troop that had gone to help heal and be there for those who had suffered in hurricane Katrina back in 2005. Evabelle couldn't tell which of the helpers were elves and which were humans. It was just a crowd of them all working together. It made Evabelle think about the Anahalians and their Earth houses so they could keep an eye on the humans and help from a distance. It just wasn't the same as being truly there, though. Something Shaundee, Calandra's mother, had said stung Evabelle once again. "They say the Anahalians abandoned the world for the rest of the angel children and those who cared, to pick up the pieces." As much as Evabelle hated to think it. There was truth in that statement, and that only made Averno's words mean something as well, which only made Evabelle feel worse. Maybe the elves did have the right to be angry with them.

There were several pictures that were about elves going out and helping humans during natural disasters, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, and so on. Evabelle also found a few pictures of single elves with descriptions such as; Jacque Eban, leader of the elves that courageously discovered and turned in the traitorous clan of vampires, lead by Noble Tor Kires, who was unlawfully killing and allowing his clan to freely hunt humans in New Orleans. There weren't as many as that kind. And Evabelle turned her head and asked Lucis if he knew why.

Lucis yawned. "Elves are more peaceful. They're less likely to go and confront anyone. They're made to help and heal, not to fight and protect as much."

Evabelle turned back to the paintings. No, that's the duty of the Anahalian. She sighed and moved on to a painting of one of the elves's past king and queen.

The sun began to peak out over the horizon, giving the dark hall a bit more light, and letting Evabelle stop squinting at the artwork and their plaques. She turned and watched the yellow and orange paint the trees and valleys, reflecting off of several lakes and streams that created a living paradise right outside the window.

Evabelle glanced back at Lucis to tell him to look at this stunning view, but his head was resting on his chest, his blonde hair falling in front of him as his slow breathing brought it closer as he inhaled then blew forward as he exhaled. Evabelle smiled at his sleeping form. She knew he had needed it. Although the sight of him, made her feel a little sleepy herself. She gave a large yawn right as the door at the end of the hall where Lucis and she had come through was swung open.

A dark battered angel was shoved into the hall with them, and the door was slammed again. Evabelle ran over to the stumbling, swearing, Anahalian. "Del!" She exclaimed, her eyes roved over the blood stain that had dripped from the corner of his swollen mouth, down over a nasty slash across his chest, and over the awful looking rash around his wrists and arms and legs, where his pants were in near tatters along with the rest of his clothes. "What happened?" She clapped her hands over her mouth.

Del hitched himself up against the wall, his hand pressed against his side. His breathing sounded a little strained. "Don't ask." He snapped.

Evabelle reached back and plucked one of his dark feathers. "Oi!" He exclaimed. "What are you—?"

Evabelle pushed Del's hand from where it was pressed and a little embarrassedly lifted his shirt, forcibly ignored the sharply defined six-pack to place his feather against the large dark bruise that might possibly lead to a few broken ribs underneath from the way that he was breathing. And once again she chanted the healing spell, shoving her golden aura forward into the feather, once again changing it to gold, before it turned purple and seeped into the injured man. Almost immediately, Del's breathing eased. "How are you able to do magic?" He stared at her with a nearly identical expression as his brother had had, when she had healed him.

Evabelle shrugged and pulled out another feather. "Where do you need it most?" She asked.

Del shook his head and snatched the feather from her. "Don't use too much magic. Healing requires your own energy. Even you can use too much of it."

"But you're really beat up." Evabelle tried to grab the feather back, but he held it above his head.

Del rolled his eyes. "Don't remind me. I wouldn't be like this if it weren't for that stupid wall. But I'll be fine. The one healing spell works on the entire body, it just mainly focuses on the spot where you placed it. So don't act like my brother, and give more than you have, Maus."

Evabelle stopped, something about that name stirred something in her mind. "What did you call me?"

Del gave a start, just realizing what he had said as well. "Nothing. It wasn't anything." He pushed off the wall and caught sight of Lucis, who gave a yawn and stretched. All the noise, obviously had woken him.

"What happened to you?" Lucis asked, seeing Del's injuries as well. He started to rise.

Del shook his head. "Oh, just shut up. I'm not freaking dying." Then he marched away further down the hall. "So where are we?" He called behind him.

Evabelle ran over to him and explained what the elf had told them.

The darker Anahalian's eyes narrowed. "They're dealing with another issue, you say." He wiped his hand across his mouth where the dried blood remained. "There's someone out there in those woods." He murmured.

"What do you mean?" Lucis asked, slowly rising to his feet.

Del turned to him. "It's an elf that definitely goes against the books. It threatens to kill and protect the race. They're not a slayer. Slayers aren't allowed on the islands, but maybe this shadow thing isn't really supposed to be here either. I don't know, but I think it went after Kai."

"What?" Evabelle gasped. "Do you think it will kill him?"

Del shrugged. "I don't know, but I'm thinking either it or our vampire friend is the issue that their dealing with."

Lucis sighed. "This is continuing to get complicated." He glanced outside at the beautiful land, but didn't seem to see it. "Do you think this shadow as you say, could possibly have any relationship to the traitor rumor?"

"I don't know. Maybe." Del replied.

Evabelle turned away from the brothers and went back to the paintings on the wall. What could all this mean? She tried to focus on the things in the descriptions instead, but her mind kept wandering back to the vampire. She feared what any elf or creepy shadow thing might do to him, but at the same time, she hoped he had been found or else he would be dead since the sun had officially risen.

Near the end of the hall, Evabelle saw a beautiful elven woman with long strawberry blonde curls. The plaque stated that her name was Cordula Indes and that she had saved the life of Prince Lir, before he had become King, and later she would become his queen. There was something a little familiar about her creamy face and glowing sea green eyes. On the far wall, kitty-corner to her picture, hung the largest painting in the entire hall. It was a portrait of the current royal family.

Evabelle looked at the King of the elves, standing tall. Long blond hair fell far past his shoulders. He had a calm, steady expression. His eyes were a pale blue and his mouth was curved upward into a small smile. Even though it was just a painting, Evabelle felt that she could trust this man. Maybe it had been her father's words that reassured her. Zion said that he was a rather quiet man and a firm believer in peace, but he was very kind and temperate and he was sure that the elven king would help in any way that he could.

Next to the King, stood the queen, who was the same woman that was in the other painting just as it said. Cordula with her strawberry curls, hung loose around her waist. It was quite impressive hair. Her smile was a little bigger than her husband's. A strong light glimmered in eyes, and Evabelle suspected that she had a bit of a bigger personality.

In the Queen's arms, she held a little baby with golden hair and adorable pudgy cheeks along with those trademark ears that Evabelle couldn't resist the urge to grin at. In between the King and Queen stood a youth, standing proud as the King's hand rested on his shoulder, but it was the boy's face that made her heart skip.

"G-guys!" Evabelle cried, her voice abnormally high. "Guys, I think you should see this."

The brothers, who were still discussing the shadow and the elf traitor turned and jogged over to her. "What's wrong? Evabelle, are you okay?" Lucis asked.

Evabelle pointed to the painting. The Anahalians followed her direction and each of them made their own expressions of surprise. Lucis shook his head, unable to believe it. Del, on the other hand, crossed his arms and gave an annoyed huff. "You've got to be kidding me."

There was no need to look at the painting's description. They all knew exactly who they were looking at.

KAI

Kai distantly registered that his arms hurt from the bruising grip that the scouts held on him. They had practically dragged the weak vampire through the woods that he had once known back to the castle he had resigned to never see again. Not only was he blindfolded and tied now. He also had a stinking cloth practically gagging him not with the material shoved so far back, but it was soaked in something that had his head spinning from its fumes. It didn't knock him out, but he wasn't quite sure how conscious he was anymore, either from the rag or from his lack of blood. They weren't taking any chances with him.

The elves suddenly came to a stop and Kai swayed between them. "Do you think he's really in a fit state to see his Majesty?"

"We're following Commander Baldwyn's orders." And they moved forward again.

Kai was fairly certain they were inside now. But his ears pounded with the heart beats of all the prey that surrounded him. Their scents were swirled together with the noxious smell of whatever that filthy rag was covered in making him want to puke, but maybe that was just from the prospect of facing the King after all this.

He was lead down hallways that Kai's feet could practically remember tracing from when he had been a child. He was lead up a staircase and down the final hall and stopped again. "Open your mouth and don't you dare bite me, vampire." Yasir snarled from some distant part of Kai's mind. He did as he was told and the rag was removed allowing Kai to let out a weak cough just as the blindfold was removed as well. The fallen elf blinked several times in the dim castle and stared up at the large doors that lead to the throne room. "Things have been arranged so that you may meet with the King, but just know that injuring the King it a heinous crime. You dare to cross the line and you had better pray that we let you live. And yes, an elf will kill if we must." Yasir threatened.

"Yeah, we'll hand you over to The Shadow." Delvo said, one of the elves that kept that rough grip on his upper arms.

Yasir a gangly elf, with his pale brown hair tied back in a long pony tail whacked Delvo, a short surprisingly plump elf with shoulder length blue tinged hair, on the back of the head. "The Shadow works against our laws. We'd never use him to assist us, you idiot." He scolded.

"But you'd never kill another elf, would you Yasir?" Delvo asked.

Yasir gave Kai a cold hard stare, his quickened heart giving him away. "Never another elf, but a vampire is a different story."

"Yeah, it would be way too sad if the King were to die." Siika spoke up, having being shaken awake by his comrades. He was a short elf, with fuzzy orange hair, that was oddly short for an elf working on the First Isle. "He's already so sad after the queen and his heir's deaths."

"Yeah," Yasir's voice shook a little as he glared at Kai. "And it was your kind that took them from us!" He snarled, jabbing Kai hard in the chest.

Kai tried to push those words out of his head and keep his mouth shut, not trusting himself to speak.

A beautiful silvery haired fairy with golden eyes fluttered through the crystal walls' branches from inside the room and over to Yasir. "Sounds like the King is ready to see you, vampire." Yasir turned away and put his hands on the rosewood handles to the room where the King waited for them.

If Kai's heart still beat, then it would have been pounding more painfully than it felt now that it did not. He thought his mouth had been dry before, but he couldn't even manage to swallow. Luckily, his hands were tied behind his back, or else the elves would most certainly see them shaking. When he had volunteered to guide the Anahalians across the Isles, he had known it would be impossible to avoid this. He knew that he would have to face him eventually, so he had done his best to mentally prepare himself for this very moment, but his mind was awash with fear and that constant shame that never left him since he had made that stupid decision.

The doors were pushed open to a curtained off room that was normally filled with glorious sunlight. Kai tried not to do it, but he just couldn't look at him, so he let his head fall forward to watch his wobbly feet make their way forward across the glass floors that he had walked on an eternity ago as the elves, Delvo and Rajin dragged him forward. The three of them stopped in the center of the room, and Kai was easily forced into a kneeling position.

"King Lir," Yasir began. He was just a few feet in front of the others, kneeling before his king as well. "We have brought you this vampire, a fallen elf that claims the right of vie paix. We know the code states it to be a private peaceful meeting, but we must suggest against it, considering that this beast is in no fit state."

"No fit state." A low, solemn voice repeated, that made Kai close his eyes tight. That voice had always been soft and kind, but the sad brokenness etched into each syllable was something Kai could never be prepared for. "He needs blood."

"Yes Sire." Yasir replied.

"Vampire," The King addressed Kai, whose screaming insides clenched even more. "Vie paix normally calls for a private meeting amongst us, however I cannot have you losing control and leave my people with no King. Will you be alright for us to meet without that happening?"

On either side, of Kai, he could sense Delvo and Rajin glancing at each other. He could almost hear the silent conversation between them. The King was actually considering being alone with this creature? He even speaks to this thing so directly. What could he possibly thinking? Perhaps some of those things were just running through Kai's head, but he wouldn't blame the elves for thinking that way.

However, Kai could not respond to the question. His lips trembled, but no he just couldn't!

"The King has asked you a direct question, vampire," Rajin hissed, giving him a little shake. "Speak."

But Kai kept his head down, staring at his knees. Occasionally, he glanced through his ragged white hair, but was only able to see the bottom steps that lead to the pedestal where the King sat.

It was then, though that the King must have stood and began to descend from his throne. "Vampire, you were once one of us, so I understand that this must be extremely difficult for you to come to me, therefore I know it must be very important. Please speak to me."

Kai could not contain his shock at hearing those warm understanding words to him and not only that, but he had asked him kindly as if he weren't a monster but still the elf he once was. A faint gasp escaped him, but he quickly bit his lip before the King could hear him.

"Please," King Lir repeated, breaking the already shattered vampire.

Both the elves' grip tightened again as they each gave him another shove. A King begging to a vampire was unacceptable, Kai knew that. "Your Majesty," Kai pushed the words past his lips, but still they were nearly inaudible.

It was enough, though. It was enough to bring the King, who had just reached the bottom of the stairs, to an abrupt halt. Kai discovered that as tense as he was, he could become more so. He ducked his head further and shut his eyes again, right as the King's voice, no longer steady, said. "Look at me, vampire."

But that was something Kai could not do. He curled forward upon himself, but the elves kept him from going too far.

"I command you to look at me." The always calm, slow voice, was no longer there. Fast, tumbling words, matched the pounding heart in the elven king as he no longer asked kindly, but went directly for the command.

The word tore at Kai. For so long, he had been trained under what that word meant, especially with his high status. Granted Kai's honor was already in pieces, but he could not disobey this man. The one time he had, he had ruined his life.

Slowly, Kai opened his eyes, loosened the stiffness that had locked his neck in his bow, and pushed himself upward to look through the choppy veil of white strands to a tall man, with long hair of a color that matched his own. Once they had both had the color of the sun in them, but it appeared to have drained from both.

Starving red eyes met light blue aged ones. And Kai watched those eyes, surrounded by wrinkles that had not been there before, shatter through another layer of already broken glass. The King swayed where he stood causing Yasir to rise and almost run to his side, but the King raised a hand and spoke with a hoarse voice. "Get out."

"What?" Yasir wavered.

"Unbind the vampire and leave him with me, and you and your men will leave us." The King could not tear his gaze away from Kai, who had let his own fall back to the floor in front of him, unable to keep eye-contact with the great man.

"B-but..." Yasir began. "He's—"

"You will do as I say, Lieutenant." The King never got angry, but it was the closest Kai had ever heard the man's voice to it.

Yasir hesitated for a moment more before gesturing to the two elves that kept Kai down. Nervously, they cut the ropes, letting Kai's hand fall forward to press against the cold hard ground, where he could see his own veins spidering up his arms, abnormally dark as they cried out for replenishment. Rajin and Delvo rose and followed Yasir and Siika out of the room, the large door closing firmly behind them.

There was a moment of silence before, Kai allowed his eyes to stray upward once more, to see the High King of the elves run toward him, fall to his knees, and wrap his arms around Kai.

The vampire's vision turned red as tears that had been suppressed for so long reach the surface. "Y-your M-majest—"

"Stop that, Kairi. Do not dare call me that." King Lir's voice was gruff as he buried his face against Kai's back.

Kai nearly choked on every emotion and physical pain that plagued him in that moment as his hands rose and returned the man's embrace, his fingers curling into the pale blue satin fabric of the King's robes, as the blood rolled down his cheeks. "Father, forgive me."

The King shook with silent sobs against his son's thin frame. He raised his own slender hand up onto Kai's head and pressed him closer. "My boy, you have come home. You are alive. That is what I have dreamed of for so long."

Kai's blood continued to stain his father's clothes and his grip continued to tighten as he held to the man whom he had betrayed and had been terrified to ever face again. His scent of the sweet, salty sea just like his mother, washed over Kai and made him realize just how much he had missed it. How much he had missed those blue eyes, and soft, gentle voice. His touch was strong and comforting. He was just as forgiving as he had been when Kai had told him that he didn't want to be the prince of the elves and wanted to be free to roam with his friends. And all of this broke Kai and healed him all at once.

Kai pressed his face against his father's shoulder, the King's heart pounding in Kai's ears, as the smell of the sea began to drown under the salty tang of blood that rushed through his system. Kai's grip tightened to a painful point as his fangs snapped out, unable to hold them back at all. He opened his mouth ready to sink them into the neck just beyond this stupid material. He released with one hand to tear it aside, but then froze.

The vampire's eyes widened, and he shoved himself away from his father's hold. "No!" He shouted. "I won't do it!"

King Lir blinked at Kai, but then he gave a nod of understanding. "You need blood, that is right."

"No!" Kai yelled again, powerless against the fangs that would not go away, no matter how hard he tried to restrain them. He scrambled backward, away from the man and that intoxicating smell of life that flowed off of him. "I-I—"

"Will drink my blood." The King said as he pulled back the collar of his robes.

Kai tensed and shook his head, biting his own lip and tasting flat dead blood as the deadly incisors sliced right through it. "I will not drink the King's blood." Kai grunted through clenched teeth. "I will not shame myself more than I alre—" Another violent fit of coughs had him doubling over as he sent a spray of his blood across the pristine floor.

King Lir rose and approached his dying son again. He grabbed Kai's shoulders and forced him to look into his eyes. "You will do as I say, Kai. If you honestly believe that I will sit and watch this, then you are sorely mistaken."

The vision of his father, blurred as Kai's sanity began to shift. Again he shook his head. NO! He could not lose himself, but he was too weak to push away, but enough of himself remained to not tear the elf king's throat wide open. "I...I...p-please don't...d-do this... to me..." Kai rasped.

"Kai, I will not allow you to take my son from me again. Do you hear me?"

Kai turned his head away squeezing his eyes shut and surprisingly the King released him. Distantly, he was aware of the elf rummaging in his robes, then there was a faint snick sound. A moment later, a piercing jolt passed through Kai's entire body. He gasped and turned to stare at his father, whose upper clothes were pulled aside, where the fresh cut across his neck dripped blood down his collar bone.

King Lir lowered the knife and held out his hand to the vampire. But Kai miraculously found the strength to pull back further and shout with his screaming throat, a guttural cry. "NOOO! I WILL NOT! I WILL NOT!" But the King reached out and caught each of Kai's wrists and held on as he feebly struggled, staring at him patiently as if he were a squalling child that just needed a moment to cry.

Kai's voice died, his fight slowed, and he bowed his head forward, staring at the stained floor as his father held his wrists. "I c-could kill y-you." He whispered.

"With every fiber of my being, Kairi, I trust you." Said that patient loving voice, as he released Kai's wrist and slid a finger under his chin and lifted his face toward his. "Now you will do as I say," With that he guided his son up to his exposed neck. "And drink."

Millimeters away, the compulsion was inescapable. The King's pulse was visible in the vein, not only just pounding in Kai's head. The life billowed off of him and enlaced itself around Kai just as the scent of theopen wound leaked out the blood, calling to him, but still the vampire managed to hold himself back.

Once again the King's hand reached up and rested itself on Kai's head. "The only shame you could ever bring to me is if you think that your life is worth any less now than what you thought it did before."

Kai's eyes burned as his mouth opened wide and his fangs pierced the warm flesh of his own blood, and finally he drank.

~(A/N: GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! I have no idea how you guys will take this chapter, but I will tell you that I literally starting tearing up writing this stupid chapter, and I will tell you that it is really hard to make me physically cry!!  For me, this chapter was such an emotional ride, but I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. Maybe it was just 'meh' for you - I'd love to hear why you think that, so I can make it really heart wrenching for you in the future.  Also, please let me know if you felt like this was too much info and I need to cut back.  (Seriously, my chapters are getting longer and longer...I don't know what to do!) I also am pretty concerned on whether or not this was way too much of a focus shift. This story is not primarily about Kai, but he sort of took over this chapter.  If you didn't understand anything PLEASE TELL ME!!! Any concerns, personal opinions, I want to know! I want to know! I WANT TO KNOW!!! (I can't make that clear enough)

So Evabelle's not the only royal. Did anyone see it coming?

What did you think of all the people that recognized Kai and their responses?

What are your thoughts on The Shadow? 

Are you guys freaking ready to find out what happened to Aza?  (I'm so sorry, I promise the next chapter we will be getting back to the captain of the Unique Freaks Club! XD)

Lastly, I have to ask how are you guys with all the perspective shifts and each of the side story lines?  Are they hard to keep up with? Is it too confusing? Do you prefer if I just keep it to the main people? I really need to know this! I know there is a lot of people your flashing around to. We've got Aza being kidnapped, Calandra and Faux trying to rescue her, Evabelle and Lucis crashed on the Isles (with Del joining them later), and then Kai with his whole caboodle.  It's a lot, but are you okay with that?  I promise the entire book isn't like this! It's mainly just these few chapters. The next one will probably have it too with Aza, Callie, and maybe Evabelle's.  Just let me know! That's all I can really say

Anyway thank you so much!!! I love you guys!! You guys are AMAZING!!!!! ☺❤ )~