'Oh that is so gross Lucian.'

His eyes sprung open to the sound of his youngest sister, standing at the foot of his bed. Then he saw the rest of them.

'No one invited you in here.' he rubbed his tired eyes.

Danika was still in his arms which he found surprising. She was so calm and contented with him that she found deep sleep, never moving from his embrace.

'At least the sheet is still covering them.' Nicoleta muttered rather dryly.

'Do we really need to be in here?'

By this stage the voices had roused Danika, she gasped at all of the people standing there looking at them. All of them had those stunning blue eyes, some had black hair, some had brown. All of them were beautiful in their own way.

'You guys are so rude, really, can I not have some privacy in my own bedroom?' Lucian groaned.

'No. We came to check her out.'

Lucian huffed at Grigore and sat up in the bed, leaning on the head board.

'Danika, my siblings... in their correct order of birth...' he huffed as he gestured to them. 'Nicoleta, Grigore, the twins Mary and Camille, Stefania and the triplets, Dale, Eugen and of course you know Marinya.'

'Wow you certainly have a lot of siblings.'

'Yes and hopefully they will stop breeding soon, they are going to run out of names.'

Danika grinned as she frowned. 'How so?'

'Oh, we are all named for our grandparents. It's just lucky that mum has two sets of parents or some of us would be named hey you.' Dale chuckled.

'Ok Dale, his crap humour and the rest of you, out.'

They all filed out having thoroughly embarrassed Lucian, they thought their work was done for the day.

'Sorry.' he murmured as he pulled her to his body for a hug.

'It's alright, I know the joy of siblings.'

'How many do you have?'

'Brendan and an older sister Louise.'

'She didn't want to be in the band?'

Danika snorted with laughter.

'Louise doesn't have a single musical bone in her body. She was a nurse for a while but then when we started the band she offered to help us, to watch over us. Mum and dad were worried about people using us, ripping us off, so when she offered they were over the moon. They didn't stress about us going on tour, they knew that she would look after us.'

'Is she here?'

'Yeah.' she scoffed as she looked at Lucian's perplexed face. 'Ok so I guess she doesn't look like us then, she would be the nurse that attended to me yesterday.'

'Oh.' he said dryly 'And what did she say about the way that you were sitting on my lap yesterday?'

'She didn't, but it would probably be the same thing she would say if she found out I didn't spend the night in my own bed.' Danika shrugged. 'She doesn't really care about that sort of thing, just so long as we are safe she's ok with it.'

Lucian remembered the nurse, now seeing the similarity between her and Brendan, the flaxen blonde hair, the jade green eyes. But Danika was different with her jet black hair.

'Do you colour your hair?'

'Oh god is it showing already?' she pulled at her hair trying to see.

'No I was just thinking of the similarities between your siblings and noted that you had a different hair colour.'

'Yeah. Something different I s'pose.'

Lucian nodded quietly as he pressed his lips together.

**************************

Lucian would have liked to spend the morning in bed, in between her legs, but he knew better. He was hungry and Danika needed to have breakfast. Neither wanted a repeat performance of yesterday. A whole day of shooting was lost, or at least that's what they thought. Bill had actually set about doing some band scenes in the parlour, filming the boys as they played their instruments in varying locations. All that was left for that particular scene was Danika's solo shoot and the band as a whole. That was Bill's intention for the morning, in the afternoon they would do a second try of the scene they were trying to do yesterday and then hopefully, if the night was clear, he wanted to do the night shoot.

Lucian had found a new zest for his life, he didn't know if it was giving up the vices or if it was Danika but either way he felt good. He no longer wanted to pass out of the lounge, his hunger for food was returning and he found his mood was generally pleasant. The grump that was Lucian was gone and in his place was one very happy soul. Whilst the morning filming was going on, Lucian found himself in the garden, wandering around the paths, taking his time to admire its beauty. The gravel crunched under his shoes as he languidly made his way to the gate. The plants on this path were a little less maintained. The gardener was superstitious of what laid beyond the brick wall and the iron gate. Treachery.

'I love the smell of this plant.'

Lucian spun around at the sound of the soft feminine voice behind him.

'Do you know what it is?'

'Lavender. How did I not hear you?'

'Soft on my feet. Your mother didn't show us this path the other day.'

'That's because my family doesn't like what lies down this path.'

'But you were going that way.'

'I do from time to time, to remind myself to be mindful of others, of myself. No one wants history to repeat itself.'

Danika knew this was delicate territory, the pain in his face said it all.

'If you are brave to venture forward, I will show you beyond the gate and regale you with why the staff will not venture past the fountain.'

She looked at the grand fountain behind her, a ghoulish beast sat astride of the pillar, it's tongue poked out at no one.

'Sure.'

Lucian held out his hand for her to take, Danika quickly caught up to him and took his hand.

'You know the story of my grandparent's death, my mother's disappearance. What do you know of the time prior to that?'

'Very little.'

'That is because it has been requested that it not be covered by the education system. It pains my family to think that there could be such bad blood running through our veins.'

He let go of her hand to open the gate and then took it again, helping her over the broken bricks.

'My grandfather ascended to the throne of the realm much earlier than expected. His father had decided to abdicate to spend time with his wife. As the next in line my grandfather was the first choice for the new king. He saw a great leader in my grandfather, he had a beautiful wife that was very active in the vampiric community and they were soon blessed a daughter. My great grandfather knew everything would be fine with his first born taking over as ruler, the people already loved him.'

The garden path was very unkempt, the trees hung over the path, and it got a whole lot scarier. This place had a dark creepy forest vibe to it.

'So my grandparents took to the throne of the realm, the kings and queens of the various kingdoms adored their new king. He was valiant and caring, he adored his wife and child and everything seemed perfect.'

At the end of the path was a long brick wall, another gate sat at the end of the path.

'This is where the tour stops, I don't ever venture past here. This could be described as the home of my demons.'

Lucian ran his thumb over her knuckles as he tried to reign in the emotions.

'After my grandparents were murdered and my mother was placed into hiding everyone searched for my great grandparents, assuming that they would return to the throne. No one could find them. It was like they had disappeared of the face of the earth. They even looked in the wolf realm, thinking they might have fled in fear.'

'Did they know that the uncle did it?'

'Miranda and Josie were the ones that put my mother into the care of the humans, they were there when he went to the house where the kidnappers had her. They couldn't prove it but they were pretty sure that he was involved. Really, who goes to a random house and then flees like he's seen a ghost?'

Lucian chuckled.

'Well a dead vampire and a dead werewolf. Don't mess with Josie, she is one mean woman when she wants to be.'

Danika grinned remembering Josie from the council meeting. She looked so sweet and innocent, but knew that appearances can be deceptive.

'They obviously found out that the uncle was involved, he turned up at my parent's secret wedding trying to stop it, if he had, he would have ascended to the throne. But of course there was protection there, again in the form of that one mean woman, Josie.'

Lucian kicked a few stones as he collected his thoughts.

'So when everything was sorted and they came here, they finally had a chance to search the castle. Prior to this no one was allowed in, the uncle had ordered the guards to clamp down on the security, to not allow anyone in. He had claimed it was to protect the castle for the missing princess but the reality was he was hiding a dark secret.'

Lucian gestured to the wall and the gate in a grand sweeping fashion.

'Behold, the final resting place of my great grandparents, forced into coffins, alive.'

Danika gasped as she looked at it, her eyes wide brimming with tears.

'The uncle saw it as a fitting death, a punishment for not considering him for the throne. It didn't matter that ascension is based on order of birth, all he saw was that he wasn't good enough in his father's eyes. That and the fact that he didn't want the crown to revert to his father.'

He sadly sighed.

'If they had been found within the first couple of weeks, they could have survived. Maybe a month if they were lucky. That is why no one comes down here, those that have, have said that they can hear their cries for help, begging to be freed, then the sounds of their agonizing death. They claim that their ghosts walk this path, trying to return to the castle to save their son, his wife and their granddaughter.'

'You are not like him.' she whispered to him as she wiped the tear. 'The uncle was one bad egg among dozens of good ones.'

'His blood flows through my veins, he is my blood, my kin, of course I am like him.'

'No you are not. Would you kill your father or your mother out of spite? Would you kill your siblings, kidnap an innocent baby to get to the throne?'

'No.'

'Then you are not like him. Sure his blood flows through your veins, but so does your grandfather and your great grandfather, two great men who died at the hands of an ungrateful spoiled brat. The blood of your grandparents, your great grandparents, that also flows through you, four noble people that would have given anything to stop this awful act.'

She lifted his chin, making him look at her.

'You know I'm right.'

He solemnly nodded.

'I know that no one likes this place, I know that they are scared of it, but your great grandparents would not mean them harm and I think you should repair and restore this area as a shrine to their undying love.'

Lucian couldn't understand her words.

'Not even death could stop them from trying to save your grandparents or your mother. I think that if you embrace this area and make it a loving tribute to them, they might see it.'

'See it?'

'Yes, if it is true what you say, that they walk this area trying to get back to the castle, don't you think they might rest easier if they knew that everything was right again, that your mother is safe. I think they are haunted souls that are desperately trying to make things right, they walk this path night after night but cannot find rest. Maybe they need to know that they can rest now.'

Lucian hugged her hard. Her words were crazy but they were right. It was obvious now that he thought about it, they were lost souls and could not find rest until things were set right in their mind. And because no one ever ventured here, they knew nothing of what happened. Now he was desperate to give his great grandparents peace.

'Where are your grandparents buried?'

Lucian pulled her out from the hug and looked at her.

'There's a mausoleum in a graveyard, they are in there.'

'Do you think they might find peace too if they were returned here, make this into a mausoleum for your family, then they can rest with your great grandparents.'

Lucian wiped the tears, knowing that their souls probably roamed the cemetery too.

'This place is a family home and you should have your family with you. You should talk to your mother about bringing them back.'

Danika took his hand to lead him back down the path.

'She should find peace with this area too, it might be a horrid past, but it is her past. No one can ever escape their past, no matter how much they try to run.'

Lucian stopped in the path, pulling her into his arms.

'What did I do to deserve you? You are amazing.' he kissed her on the corner of her lips making her smile. 'You are so accepting of this world.' he kissed the other side. 'You do not fear this path, yet there are so many that tremble at the thought of it.'

'A ghost cannot hurt you and this is just a path, sure the grounds are unkempt and in need of attention but it isn't that bad. It would actually make for a great scene in the clip.'

She cringed as the words blurted from her mouth.

'Sorry, forget I said that.'

Lucian smiled softly, taking her hand and kissing the palm.

'I will consider the first third of the path as acceptable past that I wouldn't want anyone venturing to it. Not because I find it sacred, I ask it for my mother's sake. To have this for the world to see, for her to see it and be reminded of it every time the video was played, I know it would cause pain.'

'Of course.'

'There is another path that I ask you to consider taking.'

'Oh?'

He took a deep breath; this was the most difficult thing he had ever done.

'I would like you to consider a life with me, by my side forever.'

Danika was stunned, she hadn't thought that was what he meant, she thought there was another garden path they were going to walk down.

'I understand if you would need time to consider it, I know you have your career and your music and I do not wish to take those things from you. If you are unsure of these things when considering this, maybe you should refer to Scarlett and how she has managed to maintain her music career and have a family.'

Lucian laced his fingers into Danika's and pulled her back down the path.

'It isn't the easiest of decisions, it would mean that you would have to join me in all things.'

'As in?'

'As in becoming a vampire.'

'Oh.' she said quietly.

They reached the gate to the main gardens, stopping at the fallen brickwork.

'I will give you my world, my love, everything that is mine will be yours too.'

'Why me? Why not some chick that's already a vamp?'

'Because you are amazing, beautiful, you have so much interest in my world, in the politics of my world, you soak the information and then look for more. You don't care that there is more than one type of being, you embraced them openly. And look at before, you made me see the good in my family, for so long I thought it was all bad. You have seen me at my worst and yet you are still here. You want me to feel better, to get rid of the negative things in my life. I have demons, bad ones yet you put my mind to rest. I feared my past, my family's past, but you made me see the light, the goodness. I owe that to you, I know if you hadn't said those things, I would still be haunted by the memory of what Gavril did. That night at the concert, you knew what I was, didn't you?'

Danika nodded.

'And yet you weren't scared, you didn't care, in fact I do remember you blatantly ignoring me, which drove me crazy.'

She giggled, happy that her efforts had worked.

'And all those nights when you were sitting in my chair, you were toying with me but all I wanted to do was kiss you. You drive me crazy and I love it.'

Her eyes widened.

'You don't have to decide straight away, the heads of council will be returning on Friday to discuss my future, so you have until then to decide.'

'Your future?'

'Yes, they are eager to see my future move into a more positive phase.'

'Does that include me?'

'It doesn't have to if you don't want me in your life.'

'But?'

'But I would like it to include you.'

They started down the garden path toward the fountain.

'When you said Friday, did you mean next Friday or today?'

Lucian stopped and looked at her rather shocked.

'Is today Friday?'

'Yes.'

'Shit.'

He ran his hands through his hair as he paced back and forth, the gravel crunching under his shoes.

'Sorry, I can't make you decide on such short notice.'

Lucian had momentarily stopped pacing then returned to it.

'I will put them off for a while, how long would you like?'

Danika stopped him in his path.

'How about I speak with them when they arrive, when will that be?'

'Council meetings are usually at eight pm.'

'Very well then, if you can stand to give me until then I would appreciate it.'

'Of course.'

'There you are!' Bill called out from a path in the near distance. 'Come on, we are going to try that scene again.'

'Bill, come here, we want to show you something.'

He quickly walked over, to see the area that they had thought would be ideal for the night shoot.

'Wow.' he gasped. 'This is fantastic.'

'You are permitted up to the tree.' Lucian gestured to the dead, scary looking tree. 'Beyond that I ask you do not venture.'

'Of course. This is amazing, it is going to look so scary tonight. Wow, just wow.'

He looked around.

'Can I get the team in here, set up a fog machine maybe? Is there anything sentimental?'

'Probably not, but who would know what lies below the overgrown gardens, if they take care and test the ground before they step they should be fine. As for sentimental, so long as they stay in this area they will be fine.'

'Ok, uh, maybe they could start after the shoot, then you can stay with them to keep an eye on them.'

'Of course.'

Lucian smiled as he watched Bill make his way through the gate and back through the formal garden, telling the world how freaking great it was.