Rayne POV

The gate was sealed but the rebel army was pounding the gates and walls trying to break through. Matthias and Dalton battled to keep the gate shut while I sneaked through and followed the cries of a newborn baby coming from the inside of a tumbled down castle…

Sklyer POV

Loki opened the portal and we heard the thousand angry cries of angry demons trying to break their way into our world.

“Beyond the gate is one of the few permanent portals into our world. These lowly demons do not possess the power or skill to manifest their own portals. They need to break through the gate to gain access into your world.” Loki said nonchalantly.

All of us with great hesitation stepped through Loki’s portal into the realm of Hell. There was no fire or unbearable heat. Instead it was cool lifeless sort of wasteland with a great wall that ran around it with a giant black gate that I could see was being defended by Matthias and Dalton.

“The rest is up to you now,” Loki said sealing his portal shut, “I’d help but I don’t really have anything worth dying for. Good luck.” He disappeared leaving us completely alone.

Sophie hesistated as she suddenly spotted Casper swinging a sword at a demon twice his height. In a blur of speed I watch her move to where Casper stood, seize Casper’s sword and chop off the demon’s head in one swoop. Casper looked at her in amazement.

We all ran to the gate and heard Casper yelling at Sophie. Matthias and Dalton were overwhelmed with demons, Bea immediately rushed to their aid and lobbed a couple of mandrake roots into the crowd of demons. Quickly they retreated covering their noses gasping for air. Dalton and Matthias stopped and stared at Bea who was continuing to pelt mandrake roots into the crowd.

“It’s like a demon stink bomb.” Bea explained to the boys.

Mean while Casper was busy yelling at Sophie when he noticed Jacques, “YOU!” he yelled at Jacques. Jacques had been Casper’s best friend but Jacques had done something extremely naughty. He had ran off with a vampire named Christy who happened to be under Casper’s protection. Since then there had been a warrant for Jacques arrest.

“Don’t say it like that,” Jacques whined, “I know you missed me.”

“I’m going to have you thrown in the dungeons after this!” Casper roared.

Jacques grabbed my arm, “Okay I think it’s time for us to go.” He hissed in my ear.

“Jacques, come back here!” Casper yelled.

“Be a good vampire King and defend the fort for me cupcake.” Jacques called back grabbing my arm and dragging me away from the fight. We left the rest of them to defend the gate and ran long the wall of hell.

“So how are we going to slip past the thousands of soldiers.” He asked me.

“No idea but give me a few minutes.” I said thinking.

“How about this.” Jacques said lifting me off my feet and effortlessly jumping on to the top of the high wall. He ran fast along the wall until we had past the army and then jumped down.

“I like your thinking.” I said as we made our way to the castle in the distance.

The castle was completely unguarded and we could hear a baby crying from within. Looking at Jacques I shrugged,

“Guess we follow the sound of the baby cries.”

We entered the castle and found it derelict and abandoned. Gwendolyn had left herself completely opened for attack. The noise of the baby seemed to radiate above us so we followed the baby’s cries up the stairs. Jacques stayed very close to me through out. I kept thinking this should be Rayne next to me, not Jacques. Passing through dilapidated halls and grand rooms we came to the entrance of one tower.

“I guess this is it.” I said staring up the staircase.

Jacques didn’t reply he was across the room examining something else..

“I wondered why Gwendolyn left herself so open.” I said.

There was a low growl and I spun around. Walking towards me was the monster from dreams, the same monster that had attacked me before. The cosodirake.

Jacques POV

The giant mutated chicken will killer claws bristled its mane as it stalked towards Skyler. I pinched the bridge of my nose wondering what the hell to do. Skyler was a demigod, she could handle this I thought but when I saw the look of terror and panic in her eyes I knew she could not do this. Crap. What choice did I have. As it walked towards Skyler and raised its lethal looking claw I came up behind it and saw amongst its great rear plumage a magnificent feather. Using all the strength I possessed I grabbed the demonic chicken’s ass feather and pulled it out. The creature roared in pain whirling around to slice the air where I had been standing seconds ago. Skyler looked stunned, but feigning confidence I smiled,

“I’ll teach this over grown farm animal whose boss! Come to Daddy chicky!” I said blindly leaping on its back and riding it like a bull at a rodeo. Skyler used the opportunity to ran up the stairs out of sight leaving me alone with the killer hen. I had no idea how I was going to kill it. The only weapons I possessed were my own two hands. The demon bucked around as I held on for precious life. There were so many things I wanted to do before I died. The chicken threw me off and I rolled across the floor and on to my feet. I couldn’t give up just yet.

“Okay,” I said out loud to it, “I’m just going to work on the hunch that if I cut off your head, you’ll die. All I need now is an axe or a sword. A chainsaw would be nice.”

The chicken demon lunged at me and I side stepped out of the way. At least I was nimble on my feet one small mercy for being a dancer. The chicken lunged at me again and I spiralled to the side. The chicken roared in anger and stalked slowly towards me like a cat about to pounce. I looked behind me an noticed I was standing behind the window- great the old Hollywood trick, trick the beastie into jumping out of the window. I stood in front of the window and watched it charge at the last minute I side stepped out the way. The chicken roared and I stepped out the way. Glass shattered and there was a loud heavy thud a few seconds later as the chicken fell to its death.

Skyler POV

I ascended the tower and opened the door. Gwendolyn was stood dressed in black leaning over crib. I could hear the soft snuffling’s of the demonic child from the basket and heard Gwendolyn proudly cooing over her son- the one who would wipe out all of humanity. Holding the grimoire I ventured into the room. Gwendolyn made a soft sighing noise,

“So this is it- judgment day. The end of man.”

“No, I won’t let you kill millions of people.” I said.

“Witch, you came! I was expecting to see your lover.”

“The prophecy says-”

“Yes we all know what the prophecy says.” Gwendolyn replied acidicly.

“I must kill you and that monster you gave birth too.” I said.

Gwendolyn nodded,

“That’s the idea sugar, although I plan on killing you first little witch, just like I killed your grandmother.”

My breathe caught in my throat as rage slowly filled me. Gwendolyn turned to face me and looked down at the grimoire that was clutched in my hands. A smile curved across her face.

“Death’s grimoire- how charming pity you won’t understand a single word that is written in it. The language of the gods was lost long ago.”

I opened the book and found it was like reading a foreign text book. I couldn’t even understand the alphabet it was written in. Panicking I staggered back flicking through the pages trying to see if there was one spell in English. Gwendolyn sighed,

“I’ll make this quick.” She said.

I glanced up and Gwendolyn was inches away from me her hand reached out and wrapped her icy cold fingers around my neck. I dropped the grimoire and began to choke. Gwendolyn lifted me off my feet and watched me struggle for breathe. Her face twisted into a smile and she threw me suddenly against the wall. I crumpled up into a heap on the floor as pain exploded through my body. Gwendolyn stood over me laughing,

“I’m sorry, but killing you quickly would be such a waste. I want to savour each and every one of your last dying breathes.” She said grabbing my arm and throwing me to the other side of the room. White light burst in front of my eyes as I slammed against the opposite wall. I heard Gwendolyn talking but I couldn’t focus I felt myself losing conciseness.

‘Skyler, I’ll help you.’ I heard my Grandmother’s voice say.

“Grandma?” I whispered.

‘Open the grimoire to the page which feels right and I’ll reveal the text to you.’

“Thanks.” I murmured.

Opening my eyes I pulled myself up and staggered over to the grimoire, Gwendolyn watched me with a sick expression of pleasure on her face.

“Go on sweetie, I’ll give this one to you. I guess you could hit me with the book.” She laughed.

I grabbed the book and opened it turning my back towards Gwendolyn. Flicking to a random page and I found the words had had changed to the English alphabet and the chant was now phonetically spelt out so I could follow it. Unfortunatly there was no English description so I had no idea what this spell would actually do. Still I had no choice but to muttered the chant under my breathe so Gwendolyn couldn’t hear and pray that it would work. As I finished the spell the air around me crackled. Gwendolyn had no idea that my spell had worked. She stood behind me mocking my inability at being a witch.

“I can’t believe you wasted your talent on hedge magic,” she snorted. “Making a cinnamon broom is not going to save you from my army of demons.”

A wisp of smoke danced in front of me then shimmered a beautifully engraved scythe similar to the one that the grim reaper was depicted with materialized in front of me. I dropped the grimoire and grabbed it’s handles. Gwendolyn behind me said,

“Have you give up already?” Her hand clutched my shoulder and spun me around and as she did I raised the scythe and slashed her.

“A scythe?” Gwendolyn asked staggering back clutching her chest.

Horrified I dropped the scythe and watched Gwendolyn double over in pain. Black blood seaped out between her fingers dripping onto the floor as she hit the wall. She was mortally wounded. Looking up at me she said,

“You couldn’t read the text, how is this possible.”

“I had a little help from my grandma.” I said dryly.

Gwendolyn shook her head in disbelief. Ignoring her I picked up the scythe and walked towards the monster in the crib. Time to end this once and for all I said raising the scythe up and peering into the cot. Immeadiatly the scythe dropped to my side. There was no monster in the cot, there was only a tiny helpless baby. The tiny baby stared up at me and its little arms wiggled and kicked out just like a normal baby.

“Are you going to kill him?” Gwendolyn croaked from across the room.

I staggered away from the crib. This wan’t me, I wasn’t a killer but I had killed her, I was responsible for her death. The euphoria of victory was absent and I dropped the scythe and ran over to her.

“I’m sorry.” I croaked.

She looked up at me sympathetically and shrugged,

“Only one of us could live.”

But I hadn’t the conscience of a killer. I wasn’t like Rayne or Gwendolyn who could dispose of life so easily. Gwendolyn looked across the room at the crib, and mouthed, ‘my baby’. Turning my head I saw Rayne walking towards the crib, his sword drawn. He looked tired and his clothes were bloody, he entered the room so quietly I hadn’t even noticed.

“Rayne,” I said weakly, “What are you doing?”

“Ending this.” He said.

“What do you mean?” I know it was a stupid question to ask, the plan had always been to kill Gwendolyn and the baby but I couldn’t bring myself to kill an innocent child.

Rayne paused for a moment and looked back at me, he pulled out a dagger and walked toward me,

“Mortal weapons will not kill the child,” He said snatching my hand and slicing through the flesh, “But your blood will kill it.”

The cut wasn’t deep but it stung like hell, Gwendolyn grabbed my wrist and pleaded,

“Don’t let him kill my baby.”

“Rayne-” I called out after him.

Rayne made a very irrated sigh and swung round he put the dagger down and picked up his sword,

“I’m sorry Skyler.” He said walking towards me.

It was like watching him in slow motion as he raised the blade and drove it deep into Gwendolyn’s chest. She screamed and gripped my arm gasping for breath. Rayne left the sword buried in her chest and walked away. I sat on the floor covered in blood staring at the now lifeless body of Gwendolyn.

“You’re too god damn human for your own good,” Rayne said picking up the bloody dagger once again, “This baby is innocent now, but in twenty years he will come for the one who murdered his mother. Then what? He’s no oridinary baby, Skyler, he may one day become more powerful than me. I don’t know if I can protect you, so that’s why we have to kill it now rather than regretted in twenty years.”

“Rayne we don’t know that he’ll turn out bad, I’m sure if we put him with a loving family-”

“He’s not human. He is a demon- they don’t understand the concept of love or forgiveness.”

“But you do.”

“Only because I have a soul mate. Before you there was nothing good in me.”

Rayne stood over the crib with his dagger poised.

“Rayne I order you not to harm that child.” I said.

“Skyler you once ordered me to never listen to you again- don’t you remember. I understand that you are not strong enough to do this and that is why I’m doing it for you.” He said.

Panic swept through me and I grabbed the grimoire and chanted the first spell I landed on. A line of fire swept in front of Rayne and the crib creating an impassable barrier. Rayne swung round furious at my defiance. Picking up my scythe I pointed it at him.

“I will not let you kill the child.” I said.

Rayne’s eyes blackened,

“I don’t want to fight you baby, but I will if you do not stand down.”

“Rayne, there is no way in hell I’m going to let you kill an innocent life.”

“Pity.” He sighed.

He moved across the room in a blur and grabbed me from behind, he was gentle but firm and softly whispered in my ear,

“Put down the scythe.”

I chanted the fire spell again and flames burst beween us, Rayne let go and I sprinted towards the crib. A hand reached out and grabbed me throwing me to the side of the room. My scythe dropped to the floor with a loud metal thud that echoed about the room. I looked up from the floor to see Rayne pick up the bloody dagger. I tried to move but an excruciating bolt of pain ricocheted up my arm. I screamed in pain, my arm was broken. Sucking in the pain I crawled across the floor towards my grimoire. Rayne stood over me thinking I was trying to reach for my scythe and kicked the scythe across the room,

“After this is finished I’m taking you to the hospital.” He said gently.

After this I was going to hand him over to Piggy and let him dance the light fantastic for her in the nude for breaking my arm- I thought to myself. He walked away leaving me to drag my body across the floor to the fallen book. The pain in my arm was agony as broken bones rubbed against each other. I reached out and with my good hand took the grimoire.

“This is for you Skyler like everything else I do.” I heard Rayne whisper.

I threw the book open and read the first spell I saw. Thorny briars shot up between the floor boards and caught Rayne’s wrists. The dagger dropped from his hand and landed in the crib. The briars encircled his arms and legs pinning him down. Struggling in vain he yelled at me to release him. I stood up and limped past him to the baby’s crib. The dagger had landed softly next to the child.

“Skyler you can’t hold me forever. These briars will not last long.” Rayne warned.

Just at that moment Jacques burst into the door. A smile lit up across my face. He had survived the sharp talons of the demon bird downstairs. Jacques beamed at me then looked up at Rayne in confusion.

“Why is Rayne tied up and why is that brat still alive.” He asked.

But before I could answer Rayne said,

“Skyler’s lost it, Gwendolyn cast a spell on her. She is trying to protect the baby.”

“That’s not true!” I yelled.

“Then kill the baby!” Rayne yelled.

“No I won’t!” I said.

Jacques looked at Rayne and they both exchanged knowing glances as if I was actually enchanted. Jacques walked towards the crib and Rayne said,

“You have to cut the child with the dagger, it’s coated with Skyler’s blood and only her blood can kill it.”

“Jacques don’t listen to him, he is lying. The baby is innocent; I don’t want it to be punished for the crimes of its mother. ” I said.

Jacques now looked confused at both of us. He picked up the dagger and looked down at the baby. He hesitated.

“Kill it!” Rayne ordered.

“No don’t, please.” I begged Jacques.

Jacques looked at both of us and said,

“A long time ago Mia once warned me that this would happen,” he said quietly, “Someone will ask you to commit a terrible crime but you must listen to the girl.”

Jacques walked over to me,

“Do you have a plan?” he asked.

“Give me a few minutes and I’ll have one.” I said.

Jacques rolled his eyes,

“I can’t believe I’m doing this.” He said walking back over to the crib and lifting out the baby.

Rayne roared in anger, “What are you doing!”

“Mia is a brilliant oracle and if she says I should listen to Skyler then I will no matter how crazy it seems I will listen to her- and so should you.” Jacques replied.

Rayne began to frantically struggle against the briars.

“We need to go.” I said knowing that the thorns would not hold Rayne long. Jacques nodded but paused when he saw the way I was holding my arm.

“What happened?” he said pointing at my arm.

“Rayne and I had a little struggle earlier on.” I confessed.

Jacques put the baby down and then went back to the crib and took a blanket out, he then walked over to me and made a make shift sling.

“This will make it easier for you until we can get you to a hospital.” He said.

“Thanks Jacques.” I smiled.

“Don’t sweat it, I’m usually the one who rescues the girl from their psychopathic boyfriend.” He said.

Going back to the crib he went to pick the baby up.

“Jacques you’re being a fool.” Rayne yelled.

Jacques paused and turned to face Rayne he lifted up his fist and smacked Rayne right on the chin.

“That’s for breaking Skyler’s arm asshole.” Jacques snapped picking up the baby and opening the door for me.

Rayne laughed,

“Call that a punch!” he said.

Suddenly he tore his wrist free from the thorns and then his ankles. The thorns seemed to wither away and die as Rayne broke free. Jacques stood protectively in front of me with the baby.

“If you want a fight little vampire then I’ll give you a fight.” Rayne said.

“Leave him alone!” I yelled at Rayne.

Rayne shifted his attention onto me and snapped, “I’ve had enough of you defiance Skyler. If Jacques gets hurt- and he will- it will be your fault.”

I swallowed hard and tried to think of what to do.

“I could take you on,” Jacques said, “You demonic princes are nothing more than talentless glory boys that enjoy nothing but then posing and letting off hot air.”

“Jacques!” I gasped.

Rayne smiled cruelly, “I’ll show you the power of a demon scrawny vampire.”

Approaching Jacques Rayne suddenly paused. A loud thud behind him caught his attention.

“Really Rayne, fighting a vampire- what would the boss say? Demon on demon would be a much better match. I could never say no to wrestle with you Ra-Ra.” Loki said.

Before Rayne could react Loki grabbed him and threw him out the tower window. Turning to us Loki bowed slightly and said,

“I’ll distract.” He then jumped out the window too following Rayne.

Jacques and I stood speechless for a few moments and listened to the enormous bangs and explosions that followed Loki’s and Rayne fight. Taking my scythe and book I led Jacques out of the tower.

“What are we going to do?” He asked me looking at the baby.

“I don’t know.” I said thinking about what Rayne had said earlier.

The baby was a demon, it did not share the same emotional spectrum as a human. Rayne was cold as ice until I accidentally bound myself to him. It was only then that he learned what love was. Demons cannot love until they are given a soul mate. So what if I gave the baby a soul mate. But where would I find one- it had to be a new soul, a baby that was not suppose to exist but came into existence…

“Dahlia.” I said outloud.

Jacques jumped, “What did you say.”

“I was so stupid, the answer was staring me right in the face. Dahlia is the answer, Stephanie’s baby. Stephanie was supposed to die but Rayne saved her. So Dahlia shouldn’t exist either- Dahlia is a new soul. I got a plan! We need to get back to the vampire castle.”

“But an angry army of demons stands between us and the portal.” Jacques said.

“Maybe we could use the grimoire and make another portal.” I said flicking through the pages.

The page stopped and I read the chant aloud and castle dissolved around us and we faded into the familiar gloomily corridor of death’s castle- this wasn’t where I wanted to be.

“This isn’t the castle.” Jacques pointed out.

“This is Death’s palace.” I replied.

“I’m sure your dad would help us out.” Jacques whined.

“He’s not my dad. He’s my father. There’s a difference.” I said coolly.

“This isn’t a time to be dwelling on your daddy issues, Sky. We are kinda up shit creek here.” Jacques said.

My mother and father stood waiting at the bottom of the corridor. Jacques nervously glanced towards me as my father, Death himself walked towards us.

“I see the grimoire came in handy after all.” He smiled.

“Yeah, thanks.” I said flatly.

“And the child is still alive.”

“He won’t be for much longer if we do not get back to the vampire court. So we can’t hang around.”

My father edged towards me lowering his voice,

“I know you are still mad at me and your mother , but for what it’s worth we are both very proud of you.” He said.

I didn’t reply. After everything I had been through I really couldn’t muster the strength to put on a display of civility towards my estranged parents. My father patted my broken arm then tore off the sling.

“Your arm is fixed.” He said.

Once again I thanked him politely.

“Well, Skyler, I think it’s time you left. The grimoire and the scythe are yours. Please tell your brother he is welcomed back anytime he likes. Until next time daughter.” He said waving his hand.

The corridor faded and we were back in the castle corridor just outside Mia’s room. The door was ajar and we could see a distraught Luc holding Mia’s hand watching her face for the tiniest sign of life. Our presence caused him to stir, Luc looked at us and then to the baby.

“Is that Dahlia?” he asked.

Luc used to be really handsome but worry and sadness had really sucked all the life out of Luc. He rose to his feet and whispered,

“That’s not Dahlia is it.”

Jacques handed me the baby and stood in front of me. Luc’s eyes widened,

“You brought that abomination into my house. It must die, yes it must die if Mia is to awaken again.” Luc said dramatically.

Jacques turned to me and said,

“Go find Stephanie, I’ll keep Luc here busy, but hurry Luc is really strong.”

With that I bolted up the corridor to Stephanie’s room. I burst open through the doors and found Stephanie sound asleep with Dahlia in a moses basket next to her bed. Quietly I crept across the room and lay Gwendolyn’s baby next to Dahlia. Opening the grimoire I found the text that I had once read aloud in my Grandmother’s kitchen. The same text that bound my soul to Rayne’s.

I read the text aloud and watched in fascination as Gwendolyn’s son went rigid. Dahlia carried on peacefully sleeping. As I said the last word, the baby boy made a funny cry and then fell asleep. I paused- was that it? At that point Luc burst through the doors with Jacques clinging on to his leg.

“Where is it? Where is he!” Luc yelled.

Stephanie sat bolt upright in bed and stared at all of us in amazement. Sleepily she mummered,

“Cheese does this, mom always said don’t eat cheese before you go to bed. I should have listened to her.” She lay back down to go to sleep but I jabbed her,

“This isn’t a dream.” I snapped.

“What-huh?” Stephanie looked up to see Luc lumbering towards the Moses basket dragging Jacques with him.

“Which one is it?!” Luc demanded.

Stephanie looked inside the basket and saw two babies.

“Holy crap! Did I have twins! I don’t remember having twins.”

“Shut up you silly girl!” Luc yelled.

“Excuse me!” Stephanie snapped.

“Tell me which one is Gwendolyn’s son or I will kill them both.” He yelled.

Threatening a mother’s new born baby was the worst mistake Luc had ever made. Even though Stephanie was tiny and had as much strength as the normal human being she lunged herself off the bed onto Luc’s face like a rabid cat. Luc staggered back in a mixture of horror and surprise. Jacques took the opportunity to restrain him but Stephanie was still clinging on to him refusing to let go. A weird scuffle ensued with Luc walking blindly into random objects trying to shake Stephanie and Jacques off of him.

At that point I heard the bedroom door squeak. I turned my head and saw in the door way a very confused and tired Mia who was watching her husband stumbling around the bedroom with Jacques and Stephanie attached to him. Irritably she snapped,

“Luc stop dancing about with Jacques.”

Luc’s whole body froze, Stephanie and Jacques let go of Luc. Luc’s face almost burst into tears when he saw Mia standing in front of him. He burst across the room and dragged her into his arms repeating her name running his hands over her. Mia smiled softly,

“I missed you too.” She said hugging him back.

“How, why, who,” Luc mumbled incoherently at Mia who pulled away from him for a brief moment to say,

“Skyler made the right choice by saving this little one and Jacques made the right choice by listening to me.” Mia looked at Jacques and warmly said, “I’m so glad you remembered what I said. You always pull through for me Jacques.”

“What about me?” Luc snapped indignantly.

Mia raised a sceptical eye brow, “You always end up going on a homicidal rampage.” She said.

“But I never left your side once.” Luc replied.

“Great, so who has been looking after our kids?” Mia snapped.

Luc’s face went blank.

“Typical.” Mia sighed.

Collapsing down on to the floor I smiled at the nameless little baby boy. I had saved him and given Dahlia a soul mate. I hope in time she will come to thank me for that. It was over. Finally it had ended. Now there was only one last thing to do standing up I said,

“I have to go and get Rayne.”

“What about the baby? Who’s going to look after him?” asked Stephanie.

Jacques wandered over to the baby and picked him up,

“I’ll look after him, Christie would love to have a baby- she can’t have children,” He said sadly. “But she would love him- we both would.”

“Thank you Jacques,” Mia smiled. “I know you’ll be a great dad.”

“What are you going to call him?” Stephanie asked.

“Hmm.. something theatrical but not too over the top,” Jaques paused, “Orlando.”

Luc raised his eyebrow, “Orlando?” he repeated.

“Yes, Orlando, after Shakespeare.” Jacques said.

Luc groaned and sighed, “Well he’s your son.”

Mia nudged Luc and snapped, “Orlando is a lovely name.”

“Yeah, all fear the anti-christ like demon, Orlando.” Luc sighed.

A week later…

Rayne stood in a white toga stiffly holding a bunch of grapes while Francois cowered in the corner. A mixture of laughter and horror overcame me as Piggy snapped her fat fingers at Rayne who robotically lowered a grape into her gaping mouth.

“Lovely darling!” She said petting Rayne’s hand.

“I wondered why you never showed up at my house again.” I said to Piggy.

“Well darling, Loki told me not to come, I would have sent a message but Francois,” she said staring daggers at the tiny scrap of a man in the corner, “Broke his ankle carry my sedan chair. I haven’t left the house for days darling or I would have claimed by Heracles sooner.” She smiled at Rayne who could only scream ‘HELP ME’ with his eyes.

“Well I fulfilled my end of the bargain.” I said.

“Yes, yes, I release him back into your care.” Replied Piggy who snapped her fingers and Rayne was no longer dressed in a toga but was back in his usual tight jeans and t-shirt.

After the fight I discharged Rayne straight into Piggy’s care. I hadn’t spoken a word to him since the tower incident. Rayne followed me out of Piggy’s palace and then shimmered us back to our apartment.

“Why?” he asked.

“You locked me in a dungeon and you were the only chip I had to bargain with.” I replied.

“But why did you leave me with her for almost a week. Do you realize how hungry I am?”

“You can starve a little longer Rayne. You almost ended up destroying the world.”

“I was trying to protect you.”

“You should have trusted me.” I snapped.

“Baby I’m sorry. Love drives us to do crazy things.” He replied reaching out for me. I pulled away from him.

“This is going to take some time to forgive you.” I said.

“I understand.” Rayne said softly looking the picture of dejetion. My heart gave sigh and I couldn’t help but quickly brush my lips over his just as he was about to walk away. He paused and stared at me hope flickering in his eyes.

“That was for trying- but I swear there will be no sex for at least a month after this.” I said firmly.

“Sure thing.” He taking off his shirt.

“What are you doing?” I asked trying not to smile.

“Disobeying you.” He said pulling me against him and lacing his fingers through my hair.

I opened my mouth to protest but he quickly silenced it with his. My whole body filled up with desire and I couldn’t focus on anything but him. Wrapping my legs around his waist he carried me along the corridor. I had missed him so much and just wanted to melt into him but-

“DUDE! That’s my sister!” Matthias yelled.

Rayne groaned, and dropped me gently to the ground. Awkwardly I stared past Rayne at Matthias who was staring at the pair of us in disgrace in his boxer shorts. Disgustedly he snapped at Rayne,

“Put your shirt back on.”

Catching my breathe I calmly said to my brother,

“You know, you could go back home Matthias. Mother and Father said you go back.”

“Nah I like it here now.” He said.

Rayne grabbed my arm and lowered his voice, “I really need you now.” He said to me.

“Matthias, shouldn’t you be at work.” I said.

Matthias looked at the clock.

“Shit! Dalton we got to get a move on!” He yelled.

Matthias disappeared back into the lounge. Rayne smiled at me and bent down to pick up where we left off but then the front door opened. Bea, Greg and Kai wandered in with bowls of popcorn and DVDs.

“Movie night.” Bea yelled excitedly.

Rayne gritted his teeth and I smiled weakly at him,

“I did say we would watch the new bear movie Bea brought.”

Rayne nodded and put his shirt back on. The doorbell went again and half the royal vampire family including Stephanie showed up. Sophie stepped inside the corridor and said,

“We brought soda and pizza!” Flashing a couple of carrier bags filled with goodies.

Jacques followed behind with Christie who was holding little Orlando closely to her,

“Do you think this film is really appropriate for a baby?” She asked Jacques.

“He’s a baby darling, he won’t know.” Jacques replied.

Mia and Luc followed, they had left their twins in the care of Nico the head guard and were arguing about some brand of toy Luc didn’t approve of. Casper followed after that with Stephanie and Dahlia. We all went into the lounge after Dalton and Matthias left and celebrated our new life with popcorn and a homicidal bear movie. Snuggled up to Rayne on the couch I looked around me at the room full of people all chatting and laughing.

‘Look Grandma,’ I thought, ‘I’m never going to be alone again.’