Claudia slept in the lower bed of the trailer, Merideth not far to her side and little Alaric asleep as well, music softly playing. She was dreaming. They were halted in some highly disputed area of land with armies all around and Peacekeeperes on constant watch, but she had been told to sleep. Now, Claudia saw a full moon and dark trees, and, somehow at the same time, ancient stone monuments belonging to Salibury plain, Harappa, or Paris all in the night around her.

      Voices were whispering to her on the wind, calling to her, "Claudia, come to us...Claudia."

      And then David was there. He stood still, seemed calm, this dream David. He wore green now, clothes made of silk and the very cutting edge of fashion. As she remembered, the handsome, pale man was compact in build, not so tall or wiry as John, just very solid. David was a thing coiled and prepared to move suddenly and strike anywhere. He saw her, over the strange, moonlit green field. She saw the dark hood slip from his red hair. He somehow looked more boyish with that hair.

      "You've missed me?" he asked. Smooth deep voice carried on the wind, or just soundless to begin with, though still accented by Scotland and Pakistan both.

      "Oh, yes, David, very much," Claudia said.

      In that instant he was at her side, seeming so calm, as if he had not moved at all. One hand rose to touch her face. "You knew I would come for you," David said.

      Claudia nodded. Her heart sped. David was with her...and she wanted just a taste of blood. He would allow her that. "I felt you always," Claudia breathed anxiously."

      David smiled, eyes seeming to glimmer with gold though they were always really green, she thought, they had to be. "Be mine always."

      "Yes," Claudia said.

      "Give your life for mine."

      "Oui, David." Claudia froze still. How had David learned that trick?  Time seemed to slow as David bent forward at the hips until his lips brushed Claudia's throat. Some whisper came to her but it could not have been spoken. "Oui," she said. The fangs pressed against her skin and then in audible crunch broke through with sharp pain and heat. David was drinking the blood that flowed from within Claudia, taking her life. "Oui," Claudia whispered.

                      †               †               †

      John trained the goggles on another section of dark horizon, saw patches of motion. The SB were positioned all along the west. They knew the position of the Goth, clearly they did, and were ready to move with them wherever they went. "We are still a few miles from the current border, just inside Old France," Justin whispered at his side. The Peacekeeper's General had a GPS link and map on the ground between them.

      John lowered the goggles. Sascha was just the other side of him, spying through goggle of a slightly different model. They had Peacekeepers out further ahead, scouting, and more scouting the other directions. Most of the camp were sleeping, fires all out and lights as well.  Sascha made a whistle and then a whistle came from the moonlit ground before them. John's eyes registered movement near a tree and then faint sounds, very faint, as two Guardmaidens, now Peacekeepers, materialized before them, still crouched low.

      John recognized Ceci and Joyce clearly then as Joyce spoke. "They found us before we could get really close. I think they do have talents scanning."

      Justin nodded.

      "Justin," John whispered, "when all this is over, or even before, I want all Goth Peacekeepers and Guard trained to block their minds from talents. We might try to get some talents of our own."

      "Germans were already working on that, but not so far as training all troops to block. I'll get on it."

      "There's got to be a way through, or around."

      "If we had a balloon," Ceci began.

      "They'd shoot it down," Justin said, "but good thought, keep at it."

      Ceci snapped a hasty salute by showing the palm of her hand.

      Sasha sat up rather suddenly and as Ceci quickly turned John looked to his side. "All right?" he asked. Sascha looked rather distant, perhaps ill.

      "I am all right, it's just I thought I sensed...but forget it, I couldn't have. Maybe I just need sleep."

      "It's no good staying on watch if you are tired," Justin grumbled.

      "You'll be too jumpy to do us good," Joyce finished for him.

      "I'm fine," Sascha insisted but really looked puzzled.

      Someone walked less carefully behind them, quiet but untrained. John sat up slowly and turned about. It was Erik. At least they all wore dark enough colors to blend at night, if they would all cover their hair and keep their face low. "I brought a message," he said. "The Gaul—"

      A scream came from within the camp and Sascha was up and running. "Justin, stay, take care of this," John snapped and scampered to his feet and ran after Sascha. It was then, following her, he realized Sascha was running toward his own trailer.

      She was inside only just before him, Jayne and Karina and others coming out from their trailers. John found Sascha inside the trailer, searching. He saw nothing. Alaric still slept.  It was quite dark but for moonlight from the windows. John rushed to the bed, "Claudia," he called as he moved.

      "John," a voice called weakly but John knew immediately it was Merideth. He opened the curtains. Merideth was frozen still as if with fear, sitting up with arms shielding her. And Claudia...there was blood everywhere, all over the sheets and Claudia, waxen and pale in complexion panted rapidly in her sleep.

      "Claudia," John called.

      Merideth called again. John thought she might be unable to move. Climbing onto the bed he shook her and she collapsed. "There was someone here with her," Merideth cried softly.

      John could only look at Claudia. "I don't...the baby? It wasn't the baby? What happened" John was really confused. Whose blood was this? Why did Claudia not wake. He touched her face and it was ice cold. "God! Claudia." And then he saw the blood on her throat.

      Two small holes that were healing as he watched and stain of blood that was fading, as if...it was being drawn into the skin. No, impossible.

      "You!" Sascha called and as John turned Sascha tried to get out a warning. John watched as a figure brought its head through the curtain. It was David.

      He'd turned her! Claudia was dying, not really asleep, in a trance as she changed from human to the spawn of this Vampyre. John threw himself forward and knocked David back to the floor beyond the bed. There were knocks at the door and Sascha stood near it, staring down at David.

      "What have you done?" John demanded, "Do you know what you've done? Turning her now! Bastard!"

      David didn't struggle and that made John mad. He just lay on the floor looking an innocent fool, sometimes at John, then at Sascha. He stopped on John. "I didn't know she was pregnant. John, I swear to you, I didn't know."

      John struck David across the face and absolutely nothing happened.  "Didn't know? Didn't share her thoughts! Didn't look at her body! Liar!"

      David shook his head as much as John's grasp would allow. "I wanted her too much."

      John hated him. He struck the Vampyre in the chest with both hands, saw the tiniest bit of blood come up from his mouth. "Bastard! She was having our baby! She was happy with me, David! You couldn't just stay away? She was going to come back to you...I knew she was." John climbed to his feet, knew his anger had given way to grief and he was nearly blinded by tears. His baby! John backed up until he felt the curtain. "I hate you," he hissed at David, "I'll never forgive you!"

      A hand touched him but it was Merideth. "I don't think she lost it," Merideth said quietly.

      John smeared tears away from his eyes to better glare at David. He was standing already and looked too well. He looked again at Sascha. "Lady Merideth, if you would go to the door and tell the crowd to leave we would all be most grateful. You won't speak of these recent events to them." David was too much the gentleman, and very much a Vampyre. Merideth went as he said without question.

"Don't put my people in thrall!"

      David brushed John aside with such force John clutched his stomach. As soon as he could straighten, John pulled the curtain aside entirely. David was kneeling on the soiled bed, pulling cloth and clothing from Claudia. He touched the stain between her legs. All of Claudia's skin had an ungly filthy sheen, like a newborn creature.

      "She hasn't miscarried," David said calmly. He bent and placed his ear to Claudia's belly. "Another heartbeat," he said.

      "Is our child going to live in her unborn forever?" John demanded.

      "I don't know," David said. He was too calm. John hated it. "Wake Claudia," he called and her eyes snapped open at David's command.

      Claudia sat slowly. Her eyes found David. "Oh, you're really here," she said sweetly. And then she looked at her pale hands. Claudia pressed her belly, then briefly touched her breasts. She looked at the blood and filth around her. "You really did it, I wasn't dreaming." She looked up at John. "Oh," she said.

      "He let you think it was a dream so you wouldn't fight it," John said.

      Claudia spoke in a whisper, her head bowed. Again she had her hands on her belly. "He meant it to be romantic. John, Merideth wants her baby. Please take Alaric out to her. And David, you should really not have brought the others, go talk to them, make them know the Goth are under my protection though we are in a disputed area. I can't speak to either of you now, not yet. Sascha will help me. It's really questionable the state you left me in."

      John stared at her. She was so calm. How could she be so calm? But in his mind he heard her pleading. She needed to deal with this alone first. He turned and walked to the small bed Alaric slept in. He was angry, devastated, he should have thought about her as if he were in her place, not thought of her as something that was his. That had been his one sin. Later he could deal with David.

                      †               †               †

      She felt they had gone. Sascha was near, and further away there were others. There was a sense of distance in the thoughts that came to her. Thankfully, she had learned control of this ability in a reduced form and was able to shut out the voices. "Is there water enough in the shower?" Claudia asked aloud.

      Sascha moved silently into the tiny curtained bathroom. "Seems to be."

      "I must wash. I seem to have rather soiled the bed with dying. That's understandable? I've died after all."

      "Yes," Sascha said hesitantly. Claudia knew it was hesitant. She knew Sascha thought her rather cold considering the situation.

      "Perhaps I do seem cold," Claudia said, "Yes, I know you didn't mean it. I'll wash the bed myself after I am clean."

      "David is Sidhe," Sascha said.

      "Yes, third generation I believe. His grandmother was Sidhe and Wolfbreed as well as Halfangel." Claudia found herself in the shower. She had wanted so much to be there it had happened. The water seemed to fall in slow motion as she loosed the cover on the hanging camp shower. Claudia tried to block the sensation. Truth told, everything she sensed seemed more, louder, softer, wetter, sweeter. A lot of superlatives at the moment, never had anything felt so...what it felt now. "I don't care if we are supposed to be hiding, tommorrow will be bath day. I don't know how every Vampyre is turned this way. It's so messy."

      "Do you really need me?" Sascha asked.

      Claudia frowned. She stopped the water and stepped to the mirror. She could not see obvious fangs, but her teeth did ache rather and the canines did seem slightly other than they had before. Later, she would read what had been written on Vampyres, or ask Estasi. David had managed to allow Daerick and his two children to follow after him. She pressed her hands to her belly again. That was what Sascha was needed for. Claudia could not research this herself. Could not dwell on it.

      "Bring my satchel, please," Claudia said and watched her face in the mirror. Her hair seemed too dry, though she had washed it. She could see veins in her skin, but it was possible they would not be so visible to human eyes. She did not remember noticing such on David...when she had been mortal.

      Sascha had the satchel with mobile inside. Claudia walked naked to the cabinet where her gowns were kept. Royal blue, she thought. Claudia dressed herself quickly. Her hair felt dry as she lifted it up from her neck to zip her dress.

      She turned to Sascha then. "I'm still me," Claudia said.

      "It's just very strange to actually see it. If I had realized I really sensed one of the Sidhe, rather than doubt myself..."

      "Don't," Claudia said firmly, "you are not to blame for anything." Claudia took the satchel. She felt into the bottom of one of the smaller pockets. She brought up a folded bit of paper and offered it to Sascha. "It may be that we will all be OK. I need you to read this. I need you to read it all, and then tell me if I will be all right with what will become of my child."

      "How?" Sascha asked.

      "Never mention this to John or anyone else, especially not David. I will make effort not to know your thoughts myself. It was given to me by a Dracul."

      "Draculs are myth."

      Claudia shook her head. "Please. I am still me, still your friend, and I suppose I look calm, but only because I am repressing all emotions rather than feel the horror of the situation."

      Sascha nodded. Close friends knew Claudia somehow did that from time to time, repressed all emotion. John found it spooky. But without doing so, there were times she did not know how she could live.

      Sascha went to sit among the cushions and began to read. Claudia set herself to stripping the bed. The actual mattress beneath had not soaked in the stains. It was waterproofed which seemed to be a common option in camping vehicles. Or maybe, it was somehow a way of keeping bugs from digging into the bedding. Claudia fetched the cleaner and a rag. She cleaned the entire bed as Sascha worked.

      She could still sense the others outside. John and David were near. John was full of hate for David. David was full of pity for John. She needed them both, and Claudia knew neither would understand.

      When the bed was clean and new sheets fitted Claudia lay down. She could feel her teeth had lengthened with her tongue. And now she was able to sense something within her more than a weight and second beating heart. It was not really a conscious thing, but it was a presence of some sort.

      "Sascha," Claudia called. "I need to know."

      Sascha came closer to the bed. "I can't say with certainty."

      "Then tell me what you do know," Claudia sighed.

      "Well, it is all written in broken English to begin and there are terms I do not recognize. They do tell of a woman being pregnant and being given the blood, but if the Draculs wrote this...they say something about Old Fathers not being able to do the trick."

      "Just tell me!"

      "Please, it's only my best guess, I can't say for sure, but I hope it is somehow true. There is something they call a Dhampir, and in the recipe for Dhampir - these are all recipes - the Dhampir is made when a Dracul some parts angel gives blood to a woman more than nine weeks pregnant. A Dhampir will live, be born and grow."

      "And if the recipe is not followed?"

      "They have many recipes. A few only include a woman being turned while pregnant. The large difference is what sort of Human and whose blood is given. Claudia, you are fully human, your only chance is that the blood was not given to you by a pure Vampyre, but a Dracul."

      Claudia sighed, "I told you, David is Sidhe, you sensed it yourself. He is not Dracul because he is not of their bloodline, but he is parts Angel and Wolfbreed as well as Vampyre. And that is exactly the recipe for Dracul, is it not?"

      "Yes, blood is given to the Wolves. Blood is given to those quarter angel or less. These in turn pass Dracul blood to humans as well as further Quatangels and Wolves."

      Claudia sighed to herself again. "Then my baby lives, is born, and grows, because Thierry Jewel's son took Orchid's blood and gave it to me." 

      "It's possible. But if it had not been him..."

      "It was, it's all I need to know."

      "Shall I go now?"

      "Yes. If you like. Send John to me, please. And do not let anyone know of that document I let you read."

      "Why? I mean, I wouldn't tell, but why do you want it to be secret?" Sascha asked.

      Claudia closed her eyes. "The Dracul wish to be left alone. When we were in Hungary some years ago, a pack of Vulkodlak mistook David for a Dracul. That was the only time. No Union Darkling made the mistake. Most don't believe in the Dracul. I'd just like my child to be my child. I don't wish to be thought of as making a political statement. One day I will have to make it known I have become a Vampyre. I hope my child will pass and do only what it chooses in life. It will be hard enough being known as the child of the founders of Goth."

      "I understand. I'll tell John you've asked for him."

      "Please. And assure the others I am well. I no longer have a choice, I must be this now, but I am still me, and they must know I am well."

      "I promise, Claudia, I will tell them."

                      †               †               †

      "Claudy," John called as he stepped into the trailer. It was dead silent now and smelled like vanilla. A candle flickered on the counter and John knew the scent came from its wax. He dared to look toward the bed. Claudia looked fine. The mess was gone. Claudia smiled, blue eyes shining in the candlelight. She was beautiful.

      "Here," she said, "Come here."

      John fell down to his knees before her and put his forehead to her lap. He didn't know what to say. She was his girl-wife and yet she was a Vampyre. She was beautiful as she had been before yet different. She was pregnant yet not human. He loved her and feared her.

      Claudia pet his hair. "Sshhh," she said though he had not spoken, "I know. Just listen."

      "I love you still, God help me," John cried into Claudia's dress.

      "Of course, I am still the same person. I still love you. Listen. I am going to have our baby. Please do not worry about that or blame David. I just know, don't ask me to explain. I will still have our baby, John, it will be all right."

      "You mean it?" John asked, "You are sure?" John looked up. Claudia smiled down at him. This color she wore looked gorgeous on her. Her hair glowed. Claudia glowed.

      "I said it," Claudia said, "I don't want to worry you, just understand; it is all strange for me too. My being pregnant now, I think it is only as risky as before, there can always be complications, but we have to hope and pray there won't be. You can do that, pray."

      John nodded. He lifted himself with a grasp on the edge of the bed and sat beside Claudia. "Are you really all right? Aren't you upset he wouldn't let you choose?"

      A tinkling laugh came from Claudia and it was purely Vampyric. John winced at the sound. Joy had laughed like that. He knew Claudia could never make love to him again. She could never be brought to orgasm and flush in his arms, never babble philosophy as he bathed her in kisses.

      "Stop!" Claudia cried out, "Please, don't!"

      He hadn't spoken, but Claudia being in his head was not entirely new. "I'm sorry."

      Bright red tears pooled in the bottom of her eyes, made them seem all the more blue. A cool hand caressed John's cheek. "I know, Lord, I know. Don't you think I would have chosen a way to say goodbye? I would have asked to be with you a last time? You must know, I would have. I'm not dead really, just a Vampyre, genetically altered, not dead."

      "I'm sorry."

      She was crying, "I still love you. You are still very beautiful." Claudia shivered. John felt the shiver move into him where she now touched his arm. Her voice went hoarse, "I wanted to be strong for you, but you are the very one who taught me passion. Everything feels so strange and different. I feel cold one moment and weepy the next, it's so much worse than just being pregnant."

      John lifted Claudia's hands in his. They were cold. She should eat, only it would have to be blood. He looked Claudia in the eyes again, she was weepy but the expression was more alike to lust. He was nearly scared to death, but this was still Claudia. John pressed his lips to Claudia's tenderly. Slightest change in taste and the cruel scrape of fangs along the inside of his lower lip but otherwise gorgeous. Of course the scrape of teeth wasn't so bad, cruelty did give one an acute appreciation for pleasure when it came.

      Minutes and Claudia had climbed into his lap, kissed John thoroughly and opened his shirt to caress his body with cool pale fingers. Her lips hovered at his neck. Several times he thought she would do it, just bite, but she never did. "I don't really need it," she said. A hand took John's and led him to Claudia's rounded belly. "Can you feel it?" she asked breathily, "my body keeps our baby warm, makes the heat all go there. My hands are cold, but I feel fine."

      "I would let you."

      She filled his mouth again. Her voice was in his head, "You make me feel good to offer it, but not now." Her kiss became small and then Claudia sat back completely. She licked at her lips. "I need to talk."

      "No. I'm sure I don't want to know."

      "I have to. John, I will speak to David soon. You need to do your best to get along with him. He loves me and I need him right now. I know what you think of him and what he has done, but it can't be changed now. I will tell him I must stay with you. He will have to understand my bond with you as much as you must understand my bond with him. I will tell David I mean to continue my work and life with the Goth. I still have plans with us. I'll make him understand, I won't leave. But I need there to be a way for him to stay. He's brought Daerick and the others, John."

      "They'll cause trouble."

      "I won't let them. Listen. I am your wife, but I am married to David by blood. I can't choose, not really. If either of you cannot get along with the other I would want you to leave, whoever it was."

      "Claudy, he let you think it was a dream. And he could have come to you earlier if he really wanted, or let you choose the time."

      "I am not happy about the timing," Claudia snapped, "but that is between David and I and not for you to worry over. I will only be hurt if either of you continues to attack the other. I mean it. I will tell him the same. You must trust me to be strong enough. There is one other thing."

      "I won't like it."

      Claudia shrugged. Her lips were tight and John was sure he wouldn't like it. "John, it's because you were a better lover than David when I was human that I have to say this. I could go through the motions, but after making love to you as a Human I know it just wouldn't be fair. I love you, but I fear I cannot be what you deserve."

      "I don't care! I loved you when you wouldn't be my lover. I loved you when you were emotionless. I love you still."

      "You loved me still when you had sex with Alaric!  It isn't love I'm talking about. John, if you want a woman to be your lover I am asking you to do so, to take one. I can't stand her, but Elonwey would be a perfect choice. She would be quite willing and would even agree to be second wife. Whatsmore it's logical. You are the Leader of Goth, marriages to two women at one time are legal. You can marry Elonwey and then it would be well understood why you were not with me constantly, why you went to her some nights. And you can have a child. You can have a Human child."

      "You can't really want me to?" but Claudia was forcing her emotions down again. She would stick to this story. "You really think it somehow logical I marry Elonwey, that I make love to her rather than you? That I father her children?"

      "I won't take your chance at having the life you deserve. I will not stop loving you, but I really would feel wrong about making love, completely at least, knowing how it is between Humans and Vampyres. If you were a Vampyre it would be different, we could share completely."

      "Then turn me."

      Claudia shook her head. "I don't think I can while I carry the baby. And asking one of the others to do it would just be plain unfaithful to me. I hope you can love me enough to let me turn you one day."

      "I would only do it for you anyway," John said defensively. "You think I want to be another of Daerick's children? I don't care if he is third generation and you only fifth. I'd rather just grow old and die if I couldn't be with you."

      "Lord, I love you."

      John swallowed. "If you tell me to do it, I'll ask Elonwey to marry me. I'll try to have a child with her. You said it's good for people to grow old enough and to have loves and children before they are turned. Maybe you won't turn me, but if you ask, I'll marry her. I'm sure she'll agree. Only I know you won't like it. Being able to read minds and all. She's sure to keep me on her mind all the time."

      Claudia threw up her hands. "You can be so evil, John. Well, cruel anyway. As if it doesn't hurt to say it? You know I don't like the thought of you being with anyone, especially her, but it makes sense. It's logical. I will have to live with it."

      "I'll love you more."

      "Don't hurt her."

      "Of course I wouldn't! I'll do it right. But I will still be your husband as well, she'll know that. And you better remember."

      "John," Claudia pleaded, "I'm doing all this because I intend to put off revealing to all the world I am a Vampyre until this is done. I don't want history to write us as being suddenly estranged by an interfering Vampyre. I am Lady Claudia of the Goth and Elonwey will soon be your second wife so you may have another child and someone to take some attention from me right now. I'm not suggesting using Elonwey, only timing things to be of use. I have to learn from David. I need to have our baby. Then when I see how things are...you understand?"

      "I do. I quite understand sacrifice," John sighed.

      "I'll leave the trailer with you. Explain to them what you wish. I will seek out David."

      John made a slight nod and stood. Claudia blew out the candle before rising. John closed his shirt and then walked out before Claudia so he could take her hand to help her down the step. As she touched the ground Claudia stepped up and kissed his cheek, as if to show onlookers.

      Sascha was toward the front. She stepped up to John. "We've told everyone who questioned that David startled Merideth and Claudia with his visit and that he is indeed a Vampyre and knew Claudia from before the tribe even began. And we told some that Claudia needed to be alone to decide how to tell you that she wanted this old friend to stay with us."

      John smirked. The Goth could be gossipy. He looked for Justin. "Have you seen Justin? When I left him Erik had brought news about Gaul."

      "I've seen Erik," Sascha said, "he said there are Gaul soldiers behind us, but they are also camped for the night."

      "I'm sure our Peacekeepers will formulate a plan. I will if they don't."

      "I'll get back to the machines then, see what I can find."

      "Thank you, Sascha, for everything."

      She smiled.

                      †               †               †

      John found Elonwey's RV unlocked and let himself in. Elonwey was asleep on the bed that converted from a pair of bench seats. It seemed from the clutter about it that it was always the bed and not used otherwise. The windows were all curtained and the front seats curtained off as well overnight. He called to her softly, seated at the edge of her bed and weight resting on an arm placed just the other side of her hips.

      Elonwey's eyes opened slowly. She looked up at John for a long moment. "Are you drunk?" she asked bitterly.

      John shook his head. "I am not drunk. I came to see you. I had to, even so late. I care about you still, and Claudia has finally realized her jealousy was wrong. I love her, I won't lie about that. But I love you Elonwey and if you can bring yourself to love me I would be honored if you would be my second wife."

      She blinked up at John. Then she smiled. "You are asking me to marry you?"

      "Yes, Elonwey, if you would."

      "I'm afraid I'm dreaming. If you still can say you want to marry me in the morning I will give you an answer."

      "You want me to go?" John asked. He had been so sure Elonwey would agree. Maybe he had been too sure.

      "No, I want you to stay so you will still be here in the morning for me to see. I should think I'm dreaming otherwise."

      John smiled. She was always coy. But he did like her. He lifted his hand and lay beside Elonwey. She turned onto her side to see him. A moment and then she touched his lips with her fingers. John swallowed the fingers. He kissed the underside of Elonwey's wrist. John pressed his lips into the crook of her arms. He slipped the strap of her nightgown from her shoulder then touched his lips to the smooth skin there. By the time he was biting her earlobe Elonwey was asking him to make love to her and promising to marry him if he would. "Help me out of my clothes," John said and sat up without making another move to undress.

                      †               †               †

      Claudia ducked back into the trailer just a moment, long enough to at just a touch of makeup to her face, to powder it down. And she fit her silver Crown of thorns to her head. She would look lady-like and impressive, especially so in the deep shade of blue and by moonlight, and she calculated this.  She loved David, had loved him as much as she loved John, and maybe still did just as much, but John was correct, even if Claudia had not admitted it fully in front of him. David's choice of timing was lacking and Claudia, however bound to him, was not the little girl given over to the mysterious Vampyre she had been. She was Lady Claudia Von Goth, First Lady of Goth, and whatsmore a powerful businesswoman, politician and heroine to her nation, and no man or woman could be allowed to control her, and Darkling laws would probably agree.

      She found the rather beaten German make hovervan easily. It had the look of being stolen, its identifying tags and decals were Old French but from that part that was now Gaul and under the same layers of road dirt as the dulled black finish. Claudia could sense them, it was new but instinctively recognized, this tingling within the mind. Somehow she felt four though she could have guessed their number. Daerick came from the back of the van and around the side. His face betrayed some admiration.

      Daerick looked as Claudia recalled, though she had never known him well. He was Pale, but as with Vampyres of the Azyurian bloodline, which all present were, there was a slight variation in pigment, opposed to Salamielite or Asbeelian Vampyres who all went completely white. Daerick had been brown, and though she knew him to be thoroughly American, his ancestry looked to have some Asian and Carribean mix, though the black color of his hair came from dye. Claudia was rather pleased, she did not think she would have picked this up a day ago, but her "Vampyre eyes" seemed to see such things easily.

      "I would like to see David," Cladia announced and then noticed something about Daerick that was entirely mental or ubermental in its sensing: he was amused and had recently been mocking David for not being able to control his spawn.

      Claudia frowned slightly to show her disapproval. It wasn't very mature of the hundred (or so) year old to mock anyone, even if it was true he'd turned two humans already and both still followed him everywhere and obeyed his every request. Claudia was fairly sure it was Daerick who was the fortunate exception and David was not lacking in comparison to all of Vampyre kind.

      Daerick rolled his eyes to show he disagreed. It was new, this communicating with speech, gesture and telepathy all at once. Humans did it, but the degree to which they carried it off was just so slight in relation.

      Claudia walked around to the back of the van. It was cluttered inside and not prepared to house four persons of any race as the vans among the Goth often were. No bedding, just litter of clothing and smell of old blood. Angelo and Estasi were like male and female version of the same person as far as looks, both dark of hair and eye and though pale still evidently Mediterranean in complexion. Both must have come from families that remained in Italy for ages. That was all they were alike, except both being Daerick's children-in-blood and former prostitutes of some kind. Estasi had a certain amount of grace and aire of breeding and made no obvious judgement of Claudia or David but to seem welcoming. Angelo, on the other hand, was giddy and more demonic than his name suggested, having sharpened his front teeth to points when he already possesed a rather funtional and elegant pair of fangs. He grinned more hungrily than anything and only left when Daerick beconed.

      "We didn't realize you two had done so much until now, we have been in Gaul and they don't know of your deeds," Estasi said quickly as she left.

      Claudia was as alone with David as she could get. He was in the same clothing, but she had hardly noticed before, unlike the dream of him, David wore a black cloak and grey scarf both seeming better placed in some country of the Arab League and rather nodescript black shirt and pants of the current clingy style and fabric. He had a gray choker made only of satin ribbon around his throat, it was the token of his maker on him.

      David frowned silently and Claudia bowed her head slightly. She had taken the two tokens on her and stored them away. She recalled the emerald set in a gold ring where she now wore her simple silver wedding band and there had been a locket, gold, heart-shaped and intricately engraved which the Vampyre Athen had given to her. David had approved of the wearing of the locket, it was once the token worn by David's own maker.

      Claudia looked up and smiled. The wearing of tokens was a romantic but rather new tradition and most useful in populations where many Vampyres and their intended children lived together. There was no real reason to wear one after turning other than to be sentimental, the blood identified them well enough to others. "I wish you to stay with us," Claudia said.

      "It was my intention, though I suggest returning into Goth." The hesitation on the last word was apparent. David was quite unused to the term or using it to describe any lands.

      Claudia shook her head. "Clearly, there is much you did not understand about me when you came. I can instruct you if you wish, but we will not be turned from our course."

      "You must know the Sacred Battalion is going to stop you," David said quickly. His accent still was charming.

      "We will not let them. Maybe they can keep us from moving through them with force, but there are other ways."

      "You think this inexplicable charisma your tribe believe John has will convince them to allow you into Gaul? I've learned enough from the minds of those in your camp, Quickening." David smiled openly as he used the name he had chosen for her. It was meant to be her taken name, the name she used to hide her own from mortals. But such traditions were just as pointless as tokens now. Even the immortal had legally issued IDs, and her face would be known to history now along with all the names she used. "I don't believe you will win them over. But I can see you won't leave, and so I will stay. I won't appologize, but I will stay with you here."

      "Pointless to argue now, I have been turned, the change is near complete, I can feel it. But, I feel I must say this aloud for you to be sure: I was going to come to you. I wanted to be with John and with all these people. I still planned on seeking you out, on being yours. It was not necessary to come here."

      David shrugged. "If I had not, Daerick would have come without me. He imagined himself a secret agent, but when I found them, they were murdering Humans in Gaul, saying it being war time and the Union order not being upheld there they can't really be criminals for it.

      "It's still murder," Claudia said, "It's murder when the Darkling are killed and murder when Humans are killed and I'll tell Daerick my thoughts on the vicious harm he has done the cause of peace. Still, I might have handled him. I can't change what has happened between us, David, I wouldn't. I'm only hurt that you didn't trust my timing. And besides that, I am not the girl who left Rome, I'm older in many ways. I'm married. You don't think much of him, but I really do love John and meant to keep my vows. You hurt him very much by risking the life of our child, you hurt us all."

      "I never meant that!" David gasped. He seemed shocked that Claudia could think it. Truly, she never thought it had been other than an accident.

      "I know," Claudia said calmly. "If you care to know, our child will live and be born, but I believe it may be what folklore describes as a Dhampir. Since I've never heard of a real one, I suppose there had not been one in ages and not even Shade may know the true nature of such people. I'll tell you this, if you were not Sidhe besides Vampyre it might have simply died, or lived always unformed inside me. I would certainly have come to hate you. It is the main reason your timing offends me, David."

      "I really never meant it. I have never tried to share my blood with another, Claudia! And you know how it was given to me. I had no benefit of beginning my Vampyre life with a teacher, and I had to stay away from the others until after we met."

      "It's a reason, a decent one, but no excuse. But let's not fight; I know. I can sense the truth in your words, the intentions were not evil. I only ask you to be considerate now, to consider what you might have done even worse, and what you have done. I love you still, David, I want you with me, but I have other things besides your satisfaction in my life now. I demand respect toward them."

      His look was beautiful and pleading, "I always intended that, I wanted to give you time to grow. I suppose, I am sorry."

      Claudia smiled. He had apologized after all. "My people will wake soon. I will introduce you to them. Most likely we will have to attend a wedding this morning as well. I have told some of them about my relationship with you, still it maybe be difficult for them to see you in person."

      "Yes, you and John are like saints to the Goth."

      "There is nothing amusing about it," Claudia said sensing laughter being suppresed, "We have sacrificed and worked for these people and done it wholly out of love. It would really be best for you to at least pretend resepect. You will only offend them and their choice to follow us as well as all the nation of Goth John now leads."

      David stepped out from the interior of the van, no taller than Claudia. "I will try, Claudia. I have suffered my own hardships, but I cannot pretend you are not very aware of my past, my suffering was all personal, and I have been otherwise rather spoiled and never made to work. I am used to going my own way."

      "I respect our blood bond, and I love you, but yes, you are spoiled. I have a nation to lead as well as a child to raise. Responsibility would be of help to me."

      "I'll try," David insisted. Claudia attempted to cloak her disapproaval that he was not very Goth in his ways. She imagined she was activating code for a virtual cloak and David gave no show of noticing any new disapproval.

                      †               †               †

      When a man of Goth took his second wife while still having a first there was no need for a best man, he had a wife. So Claudia stood as she had been dressed very late the night before, at John's back as he said his vows to Elonwey. They were not the exact vows he and Claudia had made, and she appreciated that. There was no intimation of eternity or after-death for the marriage. It was only, "Until death us do part."

      Claudia made efforts to not read minds. She considered it rude to do so unannounced, at least among friends. Most did not have the benefit of having yet learned to block, which even the majority of humans were able to master. But, with Elonwey and John, Claudia could not resist. For Elonwey she harbored suspicion and though the jealousy had suddenly faded to nothingness there was a certain desire to know she considered John in acceptable manner and meant him no harm.

      Elonwey did seem to love John, at least she loved what she believed him to be, which was just a little less the man that the saintly hero he'd been portrayed as. She had every intention of being ever faithful and she intended to bear his children. Elonwey did not entirely like the fact that she was the second wife and Claudia was still around. They were not good friends, as Merideth and Louisa were. When she looked at John, she trembled very slightly recalling how he had made love to her very early that morning. It rather made Claudia cringe, but knowledge was good. It was good to know it was not a fluke that John managed to please Claudia, it would seem he had ability to please women in general, after all Joy had also liked him very much and she'd had some large number of lovers over the centuries. Therefore Claudia was not unusual and had good taste.

      It made Claudia tremble rather to know John's thoughts, though she'd heard the conscious ones before. Lord, she wanted to hold him and be given permission to telepathically hack at his mind. John was so beautiful on the inside, somehow more sincere and loving than she had believed. He cared for Elonwey very much and wanted to protect and love her. He would be dutiful as a husband if he ever failed to be religiously devoted. He would have to arrange some sort of honeymoon, some time period alone with Elonwey.

      When Alaric had married Louisa they had included Merideth, but Claudia was fairly certain that was an example of the most ideal relationship of three, and that usually in regions where some form of polygamy was allowed every one of the wives did not love the others.  It must be rare that each of a group of three people could love both others and also be lovers. Certainly families loved each other, but it was surely rare in peers who shared sexual acts.

      Claudia would have to wait for John. Besides, if he did the right thing and forgot everything for his honeymoon, someone would have to decided what to do about the encroching armies about them. But, when he was free, she was going to ask to go as deep as possible into his mind. The thought came to her suddenly that she wanted to taste his blood.

      That was new, actual bloodlust. Sure she had felt similar longing during all those months she had been mostly human and rather addicted to David's blood, all other blood had just been a replacement for the blood she wanted. But now, it was the particular unknown taste of one person's blood she wanted. It was rather interesting. Claudia really felt a Vampyre. Her teeth ached. Claudia licked her two newly grown fangs. They felt longer, but perhaps they were still growing.

      John kissed his bride, lingered in Claudia's eyes. As they parted the cheers and congratulations only grew louder. Their smaller group had decided the other armies knew their position and they would not bother to hide. Today they would have music and rest. Gerhard would take footage to send back to the broadcasters and Merideth the wedding Photos. 

      Claudia kept to her girl friends as much as possible, not wishing to look like she needed to take John from Elonwey nor to seem she was on the same day dishonoring John by taking up with another man because he took a second wife. So Claudia did not seem these things. She stood with Jayne or Merideth, with Sascha or Elzbieta. In fact, as soon as it was time John and Elonwey went off on their own, Claudia meant to announce Bath Day. There was a stream nearby with enough water runnng by that they could fill the large pots and heat them at fires.

      Claudia saw John dancing with Elonwey and when David whispered at her ear and offered to dance Claudia thought it would be an acceptable thing to do. She took David's hand and danced where he led for a song. She was preoccupied by John, by the change, but Claudia knew she loved David. He was after all quite attractive and kind to her. He was a photographer by trade, most of the time, but unlike Merideth his photos seemed to capture more abstract objects, or the composition an object or scene took was strange and abstract.

      "Do you have a camera?" Claudia asked him.

      He shook his head, watching elsewhere as they danced, which struck Claudia as improper. Dancers should watch each other's eyes. "I left quickly. I was worried for you."

      "Perhaps Merideth will loan you one of hers. It would be good to see you taking photos again. Perhaps a series on us?"

      "Sure," David said. He was really thinking that Claudia was beautiful and his.