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Review This Story || Author: Veronica Leigh Marquette

The Completion of a Circle - Dark Love 3

Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

The door in the silent chamber opened, soft light cut a path through the darkness. A figure moved across the carpet, slowly and quietly, to the table beside the bed. "Master?" A light click and the room was softly, lit, by lamplight. "Please, Master, you must wake up."

The figure on the bed moved slowly, reluctantly giving up the peace of slumber. Eyes the color of charcoal opened to focus on the agonized, frightened face before him. "Katherine?" The peaceful feeling that accompanied sleep fled.

"Please, Loki." A tremor passed through her body, as large brown eyes, set in a wide pale face, stared back at him, the fear and pain from her washing over him in waves.

All thoughts of sleep, of tranquillity, gone as the figure moved. "What is it? What has happened?" Questions poured from him as he took her into his arms, questions that needed no answer. He could feel the wrongness, the bitter scent of death on the woman's flesh. "So it begins," her pain, becoming, his. "It is sooner than I had hoped."

"I was afraid that you would say that." Katherine buried her face in his chest. The ending, she had been with her Master for a little over, a, hundred and forty-five years. She knew that soon her time would come. She had been there when Maggy began her end. But it was too soon. She couldn't die now. There was no replacement for her. No one to continue to care for her Master. "How long?"

"Is this the first time you've experienced this?" He ripped at his wrist, offering her his blood. What was he going to do? He couldn't lose her now; he wasn't ready to have to train another. He would be the death of yet another one of those in his care.

"Yes, when I woke, at first I thought I was hungry. It's been over a week since last I drank from you. But it felt wrong," she struggled to regain her composure, before looking up. "Loki, what are you going to do. We don't have anyone to take my place."

"We still have time." He tried to smile. His Katherine, always looking out for him. "If it is just beginning, it could be as long as a year or even two before it ends." Though he had never asked any of his loves to suffer through it. "I'll begin looking tonight. I'll find one."

"No," she touched his face, forcing his eyes to meet hers. "It's time you answered that summons. You've been alone for too long. You've not dealt with any Kin since before I came here. Maggy told me that she hadn't seen you with any Kin since old Rafiel died."

"Kin?" He laughed. "My love, what Kin would want to have anything to do with me? I have to have a keeper. I'm a disgrace to them. No Katherine, either I find another, or I muddle along without. But my Kin won't have me."

"Loki." She took his head between her hands. "You swore to me, that I had one wish, one favor, that when my time came I could ask for before I died. Well now I'm asking it. Loki, I'm dying, I know it and you know it. So it's time you tried, for me, try. What's the worst thing that could happen? They not want you? You're ready for that." She kissed him softly. "But what if it's not like you fear? What if there is a chance that you would find a place?"

Loki shook his head. She didn't understand, couldn't. He was a failure. The Gift hadn't taken well with him. He hadn't been overly bright as a mortal, and as Vampyr, he was just a breath above an imbecile. Rafiel, his Sire, had warned him. Prepared him to survive as best he could. But he was to avoid other Kin. A Rogue half-wit wouldn't stand a chance. "Very well, my dear, we'll go. Perhaps it's time." He was tired, he had lived over two thousand years, hiding from his own kind. At least if they rejected him, he could rest at last. "Rest against me, let me ease your pain for now, and later I promise I will answer the call."

* * *

Zephyr hung, sulking in the darkened room. Cerberus had punished him severely for running his mouth. And for the moment, he was in the, dog, house. 'One of these days, I'm going to learn to keep my mouth shut'.

Bad enough to be punished like some disobedient child, but to have to be Publicly humiliated by being stripped and beat in front of the entire Covenstead, and then chained to the wall in a dark corner of the basement. 'If I'm lucky, Eris will talk him into just ignoring me for a few days. If not, I can expect a repeat of last night'. And for what, because he didn't think it was terribly polite to, spit, at a Gift horse.

'Oh well, it could have been worse I suppose'. Last time he had questioned Cerberus's authority he had been sure that his Sire would beat him every night for the rest of his life. It felt that way. He had been battered and abused every night for almost a month. Fed only when he was near starving, and left without even, the, barest hints of affection. Had it not been for Eris, he might have still been being punished.

It was the one fault his Sire had, he could not stand to be argued with. And Eris, who's very nature made arguing as easy for him as feeding. Kept Cerberus so agitated, that if anyone else, most specifically one of his Brood, made the mistake of questioning him, he saw to it that they dare not make that mistake more than once every few years.

A light cut through the room as the door opened. "Zeph?" It was Eris. "Are you okay, honey?" Keys appeared in his hand and released the locks on the chains. "He's calmed down, I fought with him until neither of us could hold our eyes open another moment." A hand helped him down. "He has forgiven you this time, but if I were you, I would make myself scarce for the next few nights. Go somewhere and stay out of his way. "

This was new. Zephyr didn't know whether to be happy or worried. It just wasn't like his Sire to forgive him, and still want nothing to do with him. Before, once Cerberus felt he had paid for his wrong his Sire, personally, welcomed him back into the fold. "So," he ran a hand through his hair. "Where do you suggest I go hide?"

Eris chuckled. "Hide, yes that is a good word for it." He gently pulled the Childe to his throat. "Go on, I am sure you are hungry, and I want you out of here before your Father changes his mind, and decides I manipulated him again."

* You never answered me. Where should I go? * He drank hungrily, he had gone without last night, and after the blood loss he had suffered from the beating, the offer of blood was most welcome.

* It is better if I do not know, but I might suggest you go hide behind the Elder for now. Cerberus has made a pact with Azrael, so he can't take out his anger on you if you go and visit. * He snickered as Zephyr looked at him in shock

"You wanna get me killed? My sticking up for the Elders is what got me into this mess to begin with. I don't even want to think about what he'd do to me if he knew I went and hid at the one place that he wishes he had never learned of." He might be young, but he wasn't that young.

Eris shook his head, trying hard not to laugh at the youngster. "And what is he going to do? He agreed, as did the Elder that both Covensteads were open to the other. If you go, it is not as if Azrael were coming here. Besides, I think Cerberus is being a fool, and as his Childe, you appearing there will make it look like he isn't being as big a one as he is." A firm hand closed over Zephyr's mouth. "I mean what I say kiddo, you go and mind me. Keep in mind, I'm the reason you are getting to get out of this hole. So unless you want to be put right back where you were, go."

He shrugged, what else could he do. It looked like he was fucked, no matter what he did. He would piss someone off. If he went, Cerberus would be angry with him and use him for a punching bag. If he didn't, Eris would get bitchy on him, and next time he was stupid, would let Cerberus finish with him without saying a word. "Okay, I give. I just hope you know what you are doing."

"Go on, trust me. Nothing is going to happen. Other than you get a chance to see how the other side lives. By the time you get back, I will have your old man back to normal again, or be gone from here. Of that you can guarantee."

* * *

Michael greeted David as the younger Kin stumbled into the main room. "You look like hell my friend," was his observation.

David groaned sitting down beside him. "Between my Brood, and our pets, folks around here can just call me, 'Stubby', now. I have never in my life had anyone go at me like Christian did. I think he was tying for a record, and then Lilith and the boys got into the game." Tired blue eyes scowled at him as he broke into laughter. "Go on, laugh. You wait. One of these days, I'm going to turn those two little monsters loose on you and then we will see how funny you think it is."

But instead of showing pity, Michael just looked at the tired, worn Kin and laughed that much harder. "Forgive me cousin, but you're young, they're young, just you wait. It won't be much longer before you will be strong enough to exhaust every pet and Childe in this house and still not be called, 'Stubby'."

"Promises, promises." He sighed, sitting up. "So where is the old pervert anyway, Usually by the time I come alive, he's been up for hours. He still rewarding Mo?"

Michael eyed him. "My, my, you, are, feeling testy today aren't you." He did not have to correct David's tone or speech when it came to his Sire, his brief words alone got the desired results and the younger Kin dropped his head and mumbled an apology.

A sound at the door drew their attention. Michael smiled, as both Azrael and Morgan entered the room. "Good evening Azrael." Then to Morgan, "so, pet, did your Master keep his promise?"

Morgan grinned at him. "Oh yeah. I'm doing real good to walk today." She stopped, noticing Ben for the first time. "New one?" She knew that Michael had been considering taking on another pet, after all he was planning on making her brother his Childe in the real near future.

"Yes, and no, Morgan." Michael looked down at the youth who, sat, beside him, smiling. "He is new to the state of being a pet, but he has been in the house for about a year. He's been, up until last night, living on the Hall. He was one of our feeding stock." He knew how much Ben hated to be reminded of how close he was to what he had been. "I offered him a chance to live and prosper as my pet and love, and as you see. He chose the lesser of two evils."

"So, he gave you no problems?" Azrael moved to take up his seat.

Michael chuckled. "Not the least bit. Matter of fact, he rivaled Jason in his willingness to please me."

Azrael laughed. "Now that is something I would have loved to have seen. That Chosen of yours is a rarity." Then to David, "I must say Vincent, you are looking particularly haggard this evening."

"Just call him, ' Stubby ', Sire." He was amused to see the dark look David gave him. "He seems to have been on the losing end of his Brood's attention lost night."

Azrael went to make a comment, but was stopped by a nervous touch of a mind, as it rung through every other vampires in, the, room head's. * Knock, knock , * t he cheerful greeting startled him.

Azrael scowled. * What? *

*Pardon me Elder, but is the door still open to those of Cerberus's bunch? *

Azrael gave Morgan a martyred look . * If you must, you must. Come you are welcome here. * He turned to the others who were waiting for his response. "It would seem that I am not as finished with the Warlock's as I had thought. Already one of their gaggle is coming to visit. I can not help but wonder, where this next step will take us."

A flash of cold and the same young Kin who had braved Cerberus's anger strode into the room. "Greetings Elder." He zeroed in on Azrael, bowing quickly. "Sorry about the sudden visit, but Eris thought it best I hide here for a while." He turned to greet them all.

Azrael looked at him closely. "Why have you been sent here to ' hide' ?"

Zephyr grinned ducking his head. "I got into a smidgen of trouble last night. And well, my Master, and Sire, took my standing up to him for you rather badly. So after beating the shit out of me, he made me spend the day chained to a wall. It was Eris who talked my Sire into letting me go, but he's still pissed, so Eris thought it best that I stay out of Cerberus's sight for a while." He shrugged. "So he sent me here. There aren't many in our territory who would hide me from my Sire, other than perhaps you."

Azrael shook his head. "I am not going to hide you from Cerberus. If you knowingly behaved in a fashion that demands that you pay for your actions, do not ask me to protect you from your own foolishness."

Zephyr shook his head, violently, reaching out to lay a hand on Azrael's arm. "No, I'm not running from him. Eris would have never dared to send me from the house without my Sire's permission. I'm not on the lamb, just staying clear of him till his temper is a little less hot."

'Gods, why me'? "Very well. I will permit you to stay here for now, but." His tone was darkening. "If Cerberus takes offense to you being here, you must go. There is peace between our houses for now, and I will not allow the actions of an erring Childe to be the end of it."

"My word." Zephyr knelt there. After the beating and humiliation he suffered last night, the bowing to the elder Coven Masters will, wasn't hard. "Thank you."

Morgan smiled at the young Kin. "I remember you."

Zephyr grinned up at her and he pulled himself up to his feet. "Yeah, I remember you too. You're the little marker for Titania's safe return." He looked back to Azrael. "Just so you know. Tania thinks you and the other Elder that came back with her last night are better than hot blood and sex. My Sire is going to have to get a grip, sooner or later, and probably sooner if I know Eris. He will enlist not only Titania's help, but every other soul in the house who aren't afraid that you are going to turn on us tomorrow, and brow beat him into submission."

Azrael nodded. "Good. It is about time that healing took place. Do not get me wrong Childe. Your Sire and those in his home, they have real fears, that stem from crimes that were done against them. But it is far past time that these wounds were healed."

* * *

Katherine watched from the chair where she sat, huddled, as her Master paced the floor. He had sworn that he would answer the summons. That he would go to the Covenstead to seek aid. But she wondered if she had done the right thing, in forcing a promise from him. "Loki?" Her voice was tight. The pain came in waves, and for the moment she was riding through one.

The troubled Kin came to kneel beside her. "Is it getting bad, love?" He had seen this many times, over the last two thousand and forty-seven years, but he never stopped hurting when the time came again. "More blood? It will ease the pain."

She shook her head, "No, thank you, but not yet." She loved him. He had always been so kind to her. She could never understand why he believed the others wouldn't accept him. True, there were times when, for no apparent reason, he would suddenly become as helpless as a baby, but for the most part, she never saw what was supposed to be his great weakness. "Are we going?"

The question hung in the air between them. He had promised her, gave his word that now, after over two millennia of hiding, he would, seek, out the bloodlines. But he also knew that once he did, he would loose her. Either by the loss of his own life, or on the slim chance they accepted him, once she knew he was secure, she would ask for her rest.

Death didn't frighten him. After living as an outcast, an embarrassment for so long, he was ready for it, if it came. But he was afraid. Afraid of what would happen to her if they turned on him. She would die. Of course, he couldn't see anyone forcing her to suffer just for the fact that she was the pet of a mistake. But, would she die knowing her last request had cost him his life? "My love." He reached for her. "We will go. But first, I must extract a promise from you." He fought back tears. When she was gone, alive or no, he would be alone. "Should they refuse me, I will be killed, ssshh, no wait." He silenced her. "If I am refused, it's better that way. I have no desire to live as an outcast anymore. To take yet another love, knowing that they will leave me, even as I make them mine. I should have dared risked, what ever, fate would have dealt me, and made you my Childe. Now," he sighed sadly. "It's too late. So if I am to die with you, don't mourn my passing. I would really much rather leave this world with you than live alone, hurting again, one more time."

Katherine touched his cheek. She understood. The thought of him dying hurt her, but she understood. "Let's go Loki. I'm tired."

He held her to him, savoring the feel of her warm body against his. Knowing that all too soon the warmth would fade and she would be gone. "I love you."

She stroked his cheek. "I know, I have always known." She would not cry. She had had a full life, love, joy, and laughter had been hers. And now, with the end at hand, she couldn't think of a thing she would have changed.

"Here, before-" he tore at his wrist with his fangs. Offering her the one comfort he could offer her now. "Soon, baby, I will see the pain ends soon."

* * *

Azrael watched amused from his seat as the young Mages practiced. On one side of the room Zak worked with his husband, William, to overcome the block that had all but shut off the young mortal's power. And at the same time Zak was coming to realize that the pain he felt as he used his Mage Gift without his Sire to be there to guide him was slowly fading away. Azrael did note somewhat amused, and pleased, that the boy seemed to be doing a little better tonight. Gabriel must have reached a level with his young lover and student. That was good, it meant that soon, they both would be to a point that he could begin to train them in earnest.

On the other side of the room, Robyn and Torin worked on a much more advanced level, struggling with powers that they were yet to master. Lights flashed around them both, as powers wild and powerful were being called into order. They both were coming along much, better than he had dreamed.

Both Torin and Robyn raised their hands, as if working in concert to banish the powers, grounding them out into the earth beneath them. Then turned, together looking at Azrael their, Master, "well?"

He smiled nodding at them. "You are both coming along much better than I had first hoped. I can say with honesty, that the two of you are much quicker than any child I have ever seen; up to and including myself. It must be that you are bonded. I can think of no other reason why you work as well as you do."

They both glowed under his praise. "What do they say?" Torin looked at Robyn. "You know the line about how if a teacher is good, his students will be better than he is?"

She shrugged. "Dunno, but hold up bud, we have miles to go before we can even hope to be as good as he is, much less better."

Azrael laughed. "You are much too modest my dear. You are young, much younger in the powers than I was when I had reached this point." But even as he went to praise his two, he became aware of another.

A light, timid, almost frightened touch drew his attention. Azrael raised a hand for silence, as he turned his mind to it. * Yes? *

*I-the summons , * a , light faltering touch one full of fear and dread. * Seek-I need , * the thoughts fought to reach Azrael, * sanctuary. *

It didn't take a great amount of power for Azrael to reach out and touch the seeking mind, nor did it take him very long to understand the fear. A Gift taken wrong, isolation, years of isolation, fear of discovery, all flowed back to him in what felt like an endless tide. Loneliness and weariness, this one was desperate. His desperation had led him to take the final risk, acceptance or death.

The feel of age from this one was great. 'Gods, he is older than Megel, almost as old, as, I'. The very thought that any Kin, Rogue or Line, whole or wounded such as this one was, suffering total isolation sickened Azrael. This one had lived for so long in shame. * Brother, I have you. * He would have to choose his words wisely for now. He allowed himself to open, sending a solid wall of acceptance with it. * Come, I grant sanctuary, no harm. *

* Can't , * the shameful admission.

This one was on edge. Azrael felt his very sanity teetering. * Calmly Brother, I have you. I know where you are. Rest easy, I will come for you. Poor thing, your Sire was wrong. No one, here, will fault you for what was not your doing. If he chose to allow you your life, I will not let any take it. I will come. *

Azrael returned his attention to the silent room around him. All watched him, each holding their breaths waiting to hear what had happened.

He slid Morgan from his lap. "I must go, a Rogue has asked for and been given sanctuary."

Michael nodded, "To young to go the Dark Paths alone?"

A single shake of his head, "No Megel, this is no Childe, or mere adult, but an Elder Kin." He held up a hand to forestall the comments. "No, wait, Megel. Show pity. The Gift went wrong with him. He has hidden for so many bitter centuries, afraid that the Vampyr would seek his death. Luck and fortune was with him this day. He called me. Something has brought him out of his hiding now. He is afraid, yet desperate. He cannot travel the Paths alone, so I go to bring him here."

"Allow me to go with you." Michael did not like the sound of this one bit; there was something off about all of this. Not the request, which was only natural, solitaire as the Kin tended to be, eventually they must seek out their own kind. Even one as weak as this one must have contact every now and then, or go mad.

"No, Megel, this I do alone. He will be hard pressed to face just me. Stay, watch over my domain, protect it if need be. I too feel the, painful, wrongness in this." He pointed to Joseph and Jason. "Take your Brook and hold them close. I shall return."

Michael nodded, returning to his seat, and welcoming both Joseph and Jason into his arms. He understood what the Childe, 'no, no Childe, mustn't forget that', faced now, alone and crippled. He could be in danger, lost or in a trap. But he had faith in his Sire and oldest friend. What ever it was, Azrael would deal with it.

He then gave thought to the reality of the situation that this Rogue found himself in. It was rare, but once in a great while, the Gift passed wrong. Fortunately most died, but on occasion enough passed to allow the Childe to live, wounded, un-whole, but alive. The very fact that this one's Sire had let him live worried Michael. It was cruel to let those poor ones grow, to live what must be no more than a, half life, granted only a small portion of what should have been theirs, and usually mentally unable to use what they did have. But this one had lived, and if Azrael's words were any indication, would continue to do so.


Review This Story || Author: Veronica Leigh Marquette
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