Valerie looked from the hotel window to the Moscow street below.  Rozz was here for the conferences on Darkling affairs, mainly to listen in, as the People of the Book seemed to be behind its organization and purpose.  But Valerie might share her opinion.  And besides that, Rozz was interested in talking with the Russian President, in making a more lasting peace between Goth and its Eastern neighbor.  Things had been especially tense since France and several small Eastern European republics had become Goth states. 

     Valerie lifted her long red hair from her shoulder and tossed it back behind her ear.  She turned as the door opened and her girls came in.  Eva was upset, Valerie knew that she was, she still looked so down.  And Teena Marie looked guilty.  "Can't you make up?" Valerie asked.  She'd almost left the girls at home over this.

     "Teena didn't have to steal my boyfriend, I loved Ethan!"

     "I told you I didn't steal him..."

     "Girls," Valerie cried, "Wouldn't it be better if neither of you were with this boy?"

     "No...he's happy with Teena, he should be happy."

     "Then let them be happy," Valerie laughed, "We'll find you another boy, one who will love you forever."

     "I won't find one," Eva whined. 

     Valerie smiled to herself.  She made a sigh and went to Eva, put her arms around the young woman.  "I know how it hurts.  It will get better."

     "You could be Ethan's other wife," Teena Marie whispered.  It only made Eva cry.  "Well, what about Azim, he likes you."

     "I like Azim and Sharif, but not in that way.  I'd rather have a goth boy...there's nothing wrong with that!"

     Valerie hugged her older daughter more tightly, "Oh, there's nothing wrong with you.  I like Goth boys.  We'll go to the games when we get home and you'll try to smile for Ethan so he'll win us a medal and then I'll take you to GothWorld.  Just you and me if you like."

     Eva moved herself a short distance from Valerie and wiped at her face.  "And all the bodyguards," she laughed.

     Valerie giggled.  "We'll make sure to bring the cutest ones, hmmmn?"

     Eva smiled, "Could we take Teena Marie and Brittany Leigh maybe?  You think Claudia would want to come?"

     "I'll tell ya what, we'll have another Beautiful Day.  All us girls dressed up and having so much fun dancing and riding the coasters."

     "Can I get some new boots?"

     "Sure," Valerie smiled.  "Think you're OK, I've got some work I can do."

     "Ja, Mom, go on."

†  †  †

Victoria nibbled on a bit of spiced meat on bread as she shuffled through the files on her mobile computer and the various ads printed on foil that lay all about the dim room at the back of the Villa.  She lifted a stack of small posters and raised them above her head as she licked the fingers of her left hand quickly before answering the incoming call on her computer.  "Sharif, take them," Victoria said. 

     Her husband's son took the stack of ads and turned to the doorway where Brittany Leigh waited.  Victoria glanced down at the screen, saw Valerie.  "Sharif! Wait.  You be careful driving out to the city."

     "I will be careful," Sharif said.

     "Sorry," said Victoria as she glanced down again, "we're very busy here.  You still in Moscow?"

     "Yes, just a little while longer."

     Victoria sensed in the way any human might that someone was silently trying to get her attention.  She looked up and across the room.  Monique was sitting in an overstuffed drab green velor chair writing something in a small paper book and David was sitting in a more elegant armed chair waving at Victoria, over the small table he had pulled in front of him, now littered with scraps of foil and paper and glossy photo prints.  "Ask how the conference is going," David said.

     "How's the conference going there?" Victoria asked.

     "More like a convention of the religious right.  They know the various Darkling are very real and will not be disappearing.  But their books tell them nothing about them.  Oh, they speak of unclean spirits and messengers from god, of demons and for the blood is the life...but none of the religious leaders know what to tell their people when asked if their children may marry slightly out of species or if they really should sell bottled blood in their family store.  And there is just so much confusion, so many people thinking religion should provide an answer.  So many of the Wolfbreed are devout to these religions and yet have conflict with certain of their teachings.  It's all a mess rather."

     "It's been building up a long time.  I think they expected they would win the war, and now time has passed and they don't know what to do."

     "A lot of people really seem to find it hard to accept the Darkling after being taught by their parents and religious leaders that the Darkling are evil.  There is a huge conflict over whether or not laws should be followed when the over government is lead by one they would call evil."

     "Ah, I know.  Would that we all had separation of church and state so that religion was kept personal and laws made to insure common morality and justice and equality were adhered to."

     "I wish I could consult Claudia on this.  Do you know where she is?"

     Victoria shook her head.  "They haven't told me.  A few people here know, but I don't bother to ask.  It's for their own safety that she went with her son's family and keeps their location secret."

     "They are mentioned often here.  I'm afraid certain of the underground anti-Union organizations have been making sure everyone hears the worst things about them, the Shiv they call them."

     "I'm afraid I've heard the word.  Orchid says it used to be used to describe, disparagingly I imagine, a particular segment of sadomasochist sub culture, and had a rather bad connotation."   

     Valerie sighed.  "Well, we're still trying to spread as many good things about them."

     "So are we.  Morpheus and Monique suggest you contact a friend of theirs.  He's the present leader of the Sidhe in Maeve's long absence; he lives in The Riviera near Monte Carlo now.  Also Claudia left word that you might try contacting Faye the Vampyre who keeps the Paris Haven.  Claudia sent word to her that you might call.  Both of them might be of a great help now that France is a Goth state."

     "Yes," said Valerie.  I seriously hope nothing goes wrong with the games.

     Victoria nodded.  The Olympic games had been focus for political protests and terrorist attacks in the past.  "How's that going?"

     "The committee has Alaric and Justin heading up security themselves.  Teena's boyfriend is on our swim team."

     "Watch out for the Americans, they've had Darkling on their teams for ages," Victoria laughed. 

     "We're Goths we don't need Darkling to win...but we've got a team full of Halfangels playing Basket Ball for us anyway."

     "Well we've got a couple local Wolfbreed on our team plus an adorable little girl of the Naphaim on our gymnastics team, she's very talented, might beat Goth, Russia and The States.  Plus we've got an excellent Psychic Events team put together.  Orchid's considering joining that team as Pyrokinetic for the Winter games in Riyadh."

†  †  †

Sadian felt that she could not be more safe.  They were staying in the house kept by Aje Morté in Paris, not only did this rather mysterious, not-completely-human man have bullet proof windows with bars outside, heavily reinforced brick walls, slate roof, and more than a few secret rooms and passages; he and four Vampyres were guarding her family. 

     Sadian shared a bedroom with her grandmother and her large collection of communication devices and spare bits of silicon, gold wiring and cable.  Sometimes Angel stayed in there with them.  Sadian knew her well from her visits to New Orleans to visit with Cat and his adopted Vampyre parents.  Sadi knew Cat was away at school in California, quite safe nearby San Francisco where a large number of Jewels and Darkling who might help him lived. 

     Astoric stayed in another room with their grandfather.  They called him Pop. 

     Two of Aje's loyal guards were always posted in the rooms below.  Aje himself had a room at the top of the house, almost an attic, and the other Vampyre, Faye, was often in there with him. 

     Mother and Father shared a room of course.  Father had said they would stay in Aje's house for a little while, they could watch the games via satellite video.  And then if they were very sneaky and well behaved he'd take them somewhere special before they went away.  They would be going to Africa, Sadian was fairly sure. 

     It just seemed to make sense to her, that they would hide out with Aje a while and go back to the Ranch where everything had started, with him their ever vigilant bodyguard.  He was a strange one, partangel obviously, but no one seemed to know just how old he was or where his blood came from exactly. 

     Sadian was sitting with Astoric, Father and Angel watching the Olympics on several monitors.  Angel seemed different now.  Sadian had always seen her moping about Theo's club and slipping grudgingly into back rooms.  And she had seen Angel play mother to Cat over the years, fix him meals in her insanely ordered kitchen and spot for him as he built muscles in her small private gym.  Now Angel was like a cartoon character, especially with Aje about. 

     Sadi knew things were serious, but they could be so funny, the way they constantly peered out windows and sat in very normal clothing amid very normal decor cleaning guns and counting grenades from one pile to another.  So much of what they said seemed in code.  This or That Jack was moving to or from this or that shop.  "Msr. Jacques  S. Cracker is coming from the school house." 

     And then someone might answer or pass on the message in different words, "Cracker Jack of the School...coming in."

     The talkie near Angel's thigh crackled  into function, "Door...M 'n F PC BR BR poss BlackJack..."

     Angel picked up the talkie and brought it to her mouth, "OK, it's just Devon, they're OK."

     Sadian knew of Devon, one of the local Vampyres.  Blackjack always meant Vampyre.  Sadian wasn't afraid, because Angel seemed calm.  She pointed to one monitor, "Look at that score from the Russian, what a crock!"

     "What do you expect from the Russian Gymnastics judge?" Father asked.  "I think things will average out fairly."

†  †  †

Devon came up the steps with Jean-Daniel at her side.  She nodded to Angel as they came into the room where she sat with her wards.  They were cute, the kids.  Devon didn't really see why there should be a big fuss over them, however.  "We're here to see Quick," Devon said.

     "They're upstairs," Trepidation said in answer.  

     Devon found Quick in an upstairs bedroom with Sweet.  Aje and Faye were with them.  Faye smiled, "Bonjour, Devon," she said.  Devon grimaced.  She wasn't too happy that Faye was here in Aje's house, sleeping with him, though she was supposed to be there because the others needed her great sense of hearing and telepathic power. 

     "I brought Jean-Daniel," Devon said. 

     The Faerie Prince was smiling down at Quick and Sweet who sat on the floor assembling devices or scanning the net for information.  "Ah, you two look just as beautiful as you did last I saw you, preserved forever, perfect...and that lovely silver hair..."

     "Thank You," said Quick in automatic response, she was quite busy working with a soldering tool under a magnifying glass.  She spoke again, "I'm going to be occupied quite a while and I need you to make yourself of use, Jean-Daniel, and Faye, when I've gone, and any others you can recruit, this is important."

     Devon remembered the girl Quick was in her breathing years, a little geeky, yes, but passionate, and very sexy, and affectionate.  Now she seemed nearly an android, and her child, Sweet, he always seemed a step away from Delirium. He'd been a bit zealous and almost possessed of visions as a mortal, and the blood had deepened this in him without really leaving him a cause or belief to be devoted to.  So strange how the blood affected some. 

     "Tell us what you wish us to do," Faye said kindly.

     Quick looked up from her work and suddenly showed at least a semblance of life and emotion, perhaps it was only that immortal life caused her to become withdrawn and contemplative for extraordinary periods of time.  "Sweet's been scanning for anti-Darkling activity.  If you contact Anne in Alexandria she can give you additional background information on these movements.  Presently there is some trouble for my son and his family, but ultimately all darkling will be threatened as long as these organizations can operate unknown to us.  Valerie Templeton and Victoria Jinnah and to some extent part of the San Francisco based Jewels have been, among humans, the leaders of this cause I'm speaking of.  Not only do we need to work within the system to gain darkling rights, but I really feel, as they do now, that we must work outside the organized law and government to fight these organizations."

     "The Abdals," Faye said.

     "Hmmn?" asked Claudia.

     "It was centuries ago now," Faye said, "When the humans in America formed such an organization, they were the first Redjacks, because they wore that color.  Steven Jewel, Old Steven,  and a number of humans and Darkling formed a counter organization.  They were called the Abdals.  It comes from Arab mythology, seventy spirits whose names are known only to God, and without whom the world would not work as it should."

     "What happened?" Quick asked.

     "Ah, Angel joined the Redjacks.  She hunted her own.  She's paid since.  But she led the Redjacks and that is why when she built her VC army she made them the Redjacks, as well.  In any case, the Abdals continued to fight until finally Shade and Athen came to their aid and those original Redjacks were wiped out."

     "That sounds like exactly what we need!" Quick said.  "We need to rebuild the Abdals so that they may keep watch over the organizations that we are enemies of.  They could devise ways to watch, or infiltrate from within.  They might even destroy some of these organizations.  But it must all be secret."

     Faye nodded, "The Abdals were secret, those who needed help could often find ways of   getting word to them but no one outside knew who they all were really."

     "That is what I need you to do.  It sounds like Angel would be the natural choice for leader, as Steven is so reclusive, and she owes a debt to them, and she is no longer general, but possesses knowledge and skills that would be an asset to such a team...only I need her right now."

     "I agree," Aje said.  "Angel should be persuaded to lead.  We can name her the leader, and while she and I are with you, we can also manage to stay in secure contact with others so that the Abdals may be set up.  I certainly mean to be among them."

     "All of us here may be involved.  I asked for Jean-Daniel because he is Prince of the Sidhe and thus quite knowledgeable about them and their needs, their particular enemies.  And because he is on the surface such a person one would never suspect as a secret agent.  And Faye, you are one of the oldest Vampyres, and yet you are not so well known to the masses of humans that you cannot operate secretly, plus your extraordinary sense of hearing sound and thought over distance is invaluable for collecting information. And Sweet and I will be among the Abdals because I'm already the one all the Darkling go to request secure communications or to hack systems and such. And Sweet is quite obedient and devoted, and he is something of a face man, quite persuasive. And of course, Aje has many skills, not all of which I am familiar with, but surely, Aje, you are ancient, and you have experience with the struggles between Darkling and their enemies here in Paris, and Thierry seems to have complete trust and respect for you, as does Shade."

     "You flatter me," Aje laughed.

     Quick shook her head, "No, if anyone is a mysterious spirit, you are.  And as I mentioned there should be humans in the organization as well, trusted humans.  Valerie and Victoria are public figures but they can help a great deal because they are in a unique position to see information others may not.  Also though I know he wouldn't want to lead, Steven Jewel should be told of this for obvious reasons."

     "I'll contact him," Faye promised, "My brood has always been close to him."

     "I will do my best to look unsuspecting and contact our pair of First Ladies," Jean-Daniel said.

     Quick nodded.  "I really think it would be worth approaching Orchid about this, and if not him definitely Morpheus and Opium."

     "If I am not mistaken, Opium and Morpheus refused to join the original Abdals, though they had intimate knowledge of the group," Faye said, "Perhaps, if they do refuse again, they will agree again to help in less official ways.

     "Aw, they'll all join up," Sweet said, "Orchid and Murph would love to play secret agent, and Orchid has been very seriously into Darkling rights activism for a long time.  Actually didn't I hear that they secretly swayed the election that got Ahmed Jinnah elected as Governor?  And now he's on the council that governs all the Arabian States."

     "I believe that's true," Aje said, "For his own safety Jinnah should not know of this all, but Victoria can be trusted.  Many of the Karachi Darkling may be useful, they have an interesting mix there and the Haven operates with a surplus of financial wealth.  And they definitely have experienced attacks from these anti-darkling organizations."

     "All right, we'll leave the recruiting in your hands, Jean, Faye, until we can meet again.  Devon, I'm sure Faye will find you useful to the group," Quick said.

     "How—" Devon was cut off by screaming from below.

     "Oh my Gawd!  My Gawd, the bastards, a bomb!"

†  †  †

     The fire spread from one monitor to three as if the fire were real and caught each screen with tongues of flame that leapt from the blaze on one to the glass and plastic monitor beside it.  Screams surrounded them as they cried from speakers throughout the room.  Angel was standing with her hands at her head screaming.  Trip reached back and touched Sadian's shoulder, "go wake your Mother," he said.

     Aje was there almost instantly.  "There was a bomb placed outside one of the arenas in the parking area...it went off just as people were leaving the arena after the Gymnastics," Angel told him.

     The others came down the stairs, Mara and Sadian the last.  In a glance, Trip told Mara what had happened.  He looked to the monitors again.  The announcers on the different channels were speaking different things in different languages but no one needed to be told what had happened.  Across the screens smoke billowed and where it cleared grey figures that had been people lay.  Those who had been slightly farther away writhed in pain and screamed as every move caused shrapnel to work it's way further into their flesh. 

     Already medical and rescue teams were on the scene, but they were at a loss trying to help the vast number that had been injured.  A horror overtook Trepidation.  He felt drawn right back into the moments of the war.  The cold  bitter air and water, smell of blood all around, hunger and sickness in the same breath.  The terrible noise of machines of war and the pitiful cries of the dying. 

     Someone had put their arms about him. "Mon Petit," Mother whispered, "I know just how you hurt."

     Trip couldn't bear to watch any longer.  Sadian turned off the monitors and all the system but Aje and Angel left to watch in another room.  "This has got to be horrible for Rozz," Trip said quietly.

†  †  †

They hadn't even been near the arena but watching the Equestrian events elsewhere when the bomb exploded, yet the bodyguards rushed them from the stands and into their large black car adorned with the Goth flags with gold eagle on bold black, white and red stripes.  In moments, Rozz, Valerie and Tris and their two daughters were speeding along with escort cycles either side of them, Rozz's head of security, Rory, explaining in brief their situation.

     "A car bomb?" Rozz asked.

     "Quite possible."

     "Casulaties?"

     "I only know so far that over one hundred people have been injured, can't say if some of those will die or if there are more dead yet to be accounted for"

      "We should go over there," Rozz said.

      Rory shook his head, "Out of the question."

      Rozz shook his head then, "We should be there, personally."

      "There could be a second bomb."

      "I know you only want to protect us, Rory, but tell the driver to get us over there.  The car's reasonably armored.  We'll only be dealing with a hideous smear to our public image if we don't show up and look grief stricken," Tris said.  Rory seemed shocked, as if he really believed the Leader's public image was the most important thing. 

      "C'mon, Rory, he only means that we may as well deal with it all now.  So what if they attack us?  Better they kill my whole family than five more innocent bystanders because we thought ourselves special enough to hide away somewhere!"

      "You're more stubborn that your father, Valerie," Rory said as respectfully as he could say such a thing. Rory had been an original member of the Guard, during the war. He turned around and called for the driver to change direction.

      †  †  †

Tris stepped from their car and was greeted by boom mikes and camera flashes as two of their guards stepped in to flank him.  Rozz and Val were walking just ahead.  Often when they made public appearances Rozz walked along with Val, the people expected that.  It didn't really bother Tris. 

     Tris stopped and looked over the cordoned off area where victims and rescuers all waded through the thin smoke and debris.  A large number of witnesses had been detained and police officers were questioning them as orderly as they could.  They all wanted to go home, to be safe, or to have had a chance to say goodbye.  Tris moved to the edge of the plastic barrier.  There were still so many people wanting help.  He ducked under the tape.  "Sir," called one of the guards.

     Tris felt so much wanting for peace and relief.  These people were so greatly troubled his usual influence did not effect them and make them lust for him.  Tris called to one of his guards, "hey, Fred."  Friedrich was a Vampyre as well as one of their bodyguards, often the one to follow Tris about incase he influenced people too much; Friedrich could block that. 

     "Yes, Sir?"

     "Go to the car and get some bottled water from the refrigerator, and see if we have any tissues or other handy things about.  And bring my Daughter to me please."   

     Friedrich went without word as the second guard stood silently watching.  Tris paid him little attention.  Instead he bent to a body and checked for signs of life.  Dead.  He spoke a blessing over the figure and moved on.  He felt sad, felt that the sadness was causing his wings to sprout.  So many years of living with fear of being hurt for what he was made him wary of letting them show, but today he didn't care.

     Tris removed his jacket and as he had all his shirts altered so that two slits were sewn neatly into the back his wings unfurled.  "Sir?" 

     And then: "Daddy?"

     Tris bent to the ground then reached back for his daughter's hand even as he touched one to the small figure twisted on the ground.  Tris noticed another figure struggling to move just the other side of the first.  The one who could still move was trying to stretch it's fingers to reach the other who lay face down on the asphalt.  That one, a girl wanted to touch this one, wanted to touch the young athlete so that she might give her life to the one who had so much talent to offer. 

     "No, take life from me," Tris said as he turned the small body onto it's back.  Something gold attached to ribbon fell from the charred hand.  Tris pressed his hands to the young one's peaceful face.  "No, don't be dead, live, take life from me."  Camera's flashed as a tear rolled down Tris' face, as he held the body of the beautiful little girl of the Naphaim who had won the gold for Arabia. 

     Tris lay the girl down gently and covered her with his jacket.  "Fred, find any of the Arabians or the Naphaim, I know they are very particular about the treatment of the dead," Tris said as he moved to the girl who yet lived.  He wished those photographers would put down their fancy video and digital equipment and each carry one of the dead or wounded to a place they could be cared for. 

     Teena Marie offered a bottle of water.  Tris took it as he carefully lifted the girl.  She was a human child, remnant of an autograph book clutched tightly in one hand.  She had burns all over one side of her body, and many cuts.  Tris poured a small amount of water over her lips.  She looked up at him with one brown eye.  "Sssh, you'll be OK.  They'll fix you up, make you pretty again.  It was good you tried to help her, our little star Jasmine, but it was too late for anyone to help."

     Friedrich was calling to the photographers, "Come one, come in here, help us find the wounded ones quickly so we can get them help as soon as possible.  Do you think I like the smell of death?  I can help also if you do."

     Friedrich picked up one of the larger wounded and Followed Tris to the emergency medical vehicles and tent.  Tris could hear Teena calling out, "I found one alive! He only needs a new leg."

     "No, I've got strong blood, take my daughter, she's only unconscious."

     Teena Marie must have lifted the unconscious woman, she came into the tent shortly after Tris.  When they walked out they saw one of the Naphaim was bent over the young gymnast.  It was the girl's mother.

     "A human girl was here trying to give life to your daughter but it was too late.  Neither of us could save her," Tris said softly.

     "I need to stay with my little Jasmine.  Please, take this to the girl, tell I thank her, tell her her heart is good."  The woman polished the singed gold metal with her sleeve then offered it up.

     "I'll make sure she gets it," Tris promised.     

†  †  †

Eva smiled in the dark window of a false English Victorian facade at her faint reflection and the touristy souvenirs beyond.  She did look good today, thin leggings and long sheer skirt passed down from father both that hung at her hips, chain of black beads doubled around her waist, small tank top and lightweight velvet coat.  Her hair was crimped and glossy, lips glossed, brand new heeled boots shining in sunlight that fell where her toes stood outside the protection of her parasol.  Eva was glad Father had decided they should go on with their plans to visit GothWorld, so as to show no fear or compromising to the terrorist groups that thought, if their homelands had been won by Goth against their will, they could try to force all of Goth to live as they would like to live: without Darkling.

     "Come on, Eva," Claudia called.  Claudia was too beautiful, Eva's aunt.  Claudia was like a Faerie tale Snow White, the snowflake skin, deep rose red lips and long raven locks of hair.  Even though she was surrounded by their plain clothed male and female guards today they seemed only her usual crowd of suitors.  Even the Prince of Greece, which had for a score of years since the war been an independent principality, courted her.  And there had been talk of Claudia marrying Ludwig, who was Eva's mother's half-brother and Prince of Italy.

     Eva rushed to follow, hobbled slightly as the pair of brand new boots she wore cut into her heels. 

     The Park was wonderful, false, but still magical.  Everywhere people parading about with souvenir parasols and somewhat overpriced Victorian costumes.  The facade's of every building copied after those in some horror story or other.  A bit of the park seemed London, another part New Orleans, some complete dark fantasy, or everyday America.  Eva followed Claudia, Brittany Leigh, Teena Marie and their mother through a street that Paris might have once looked like.  GothWorld employees costumed as Vampyres in 18th century garb danced about and tipped their hats at the ladies as they passed.  

     Mother turned around, stopped.  "Eva, why are you always so far behind, walk with us."

     "You walk too fast," Eva cried.  But it was the shoes.  Her shoes were beautiful but they bit at her and she felt they would kill her by the night's end.  How Gothic, Eva thought, amused with herself despite the pain. 

     They came to a bit of cobblestone street shaded by a bridge overhead, and so typically it seemed another group of theme park Vampyres must be here in cliché ambush.  But then Mother threw her arms about one's neck.  Sadian was there, smiling.  And Astoric was there.  And it was Trip Mother embraced.  Eva knew them all.

     They were stopped and so Eva caught up with the others.  "We came to say goodbye," Trip said to them.  He explained then that they were going into hiding for a long time as his daughter, Sadian, embraced the girls in turn. 

     "I'll miss you," Eva said, "I always liked you so much."

     "I know," said Sadian, "We got along well just like our fathers."  She laughed a little.

     They were walking again, mother speaking with Trip as they went and Astoric staring strangely at Claudia as she laughed with some of their guards.  Eva understood them to be laughing at the double takes strangers took.  Strangers often took a second look as Claudia passed.  She was named after the First Lady of Goth, she had been so beautiful too. 

     Eva wasn't so beautiful as Claudia, just small and plain.  Eva wasn't one quarter Angel like Teena Marie.  And she was falling behind again.  Her feet were just killing her. 

     Eva stopped at the side of a bridge they were crossing into another section of the park.  She leaned against the rail that kept people from being able to easily fall into the water below where guests floated by in canoes, paddle boats and the occasional murder mystery cruise, to take off her boots. 

     Carefully Eva peeled off her socks and suddenly her right heel stung as the air hit the raw skin beneath the blister that had popped.  She would never keep up with the other's now.

     "In distress?"

     "What?"  Eva looked up and for a few seconds felt annoyed that one of the park employees had chosen this moment to be entertaining but then she realized this was one of their guards, they never left her alone. "Oh, Freidrich.  It's just my shoes."

     "Nice boots..."  He said as he picked one up, looking her in the eyes, so dreamy like suddenly because he was a Vampyre.   "I could fix these for you with a hammer."

     "A hammer?"

     "It doesn't hurt them.  You hit the leather here at the heel with a hammer to soften it.  You have to beat shoes a bit to break them in."

     "Oh," Eva said.

     "I'll fix them for you later if you like, but we should catch up to the others before they worry now."

     "I can't walk," Eva whined.

     Freidrich seemed entranced by the beads at Eva's waist, almost touched them but decided against it and drew his fingers back.  "Sssh, don't whine.  Just ask and I'll carry you anywhere in the park you need to go for the rest of the night."

     "I don't want to bother you, but I really can't manage, would you please help me around?"

     "Of course," Freidrich said, "How could I be responsible for your safety otherwise."  He lifted Eva up into his arms and carried her as he walked. 

     "I'm sorry, I feel so stupid for wanting to wear those boots."

     "They're great boots, you don't have to be a fashion victim to look beautiful, if you think things through.  They need breaking in is all.  And don't let me hear you call yourself stupid again, it's not befitting such a lovely young lady."

     "I'm not so lovely, Freidrich."

     "Only because you let yourself be.  Don't fear your power.  Women who are strong like your mother can have whatever they want.  Don't you know all men secretly wish to be put in their place?"

     "Do they?" Eva laughed.

     Freidrich nodded.  "Never whine or put yourself down, even if you feel you are.  Act as if you are worthy of worship for that which you truly do posses and you will get anything you ask for or demand."

     "I don't believe you."

     "Ah, but does Claudia have someone to carry her about wherever she wants to go so that her delicate feet need never touch the ground?"

     "She hasn't asked yet, and I only have you because you told me I must ask you."

     "I offered some free advice because I thought you needed it.  From now on you will have to make your own requests and inspire obedience with your strength."

     Eva giggled, "I would like you to carry me to a first aid station where I can get a bandage for my foot and then I would like to get something cool to drink, would you do that for me?"

     "Yes, as you wish, Eva,"