Angel jumps in place when Julian slams his door open suddenly giving him a fright. Julian gives Angel a questioning look seeing as he's clutching his chest.

"I want to train. Now. Where should we go?" Julian asks him. Angel straightens himself then looks at him.

"Outside." Angel informs him. They reach large doors leading to the back and once Angel opens them, Julian's chin drops. All the Lords and their Elites are outside. Lord Second and Third watch from their seats while every other Lord fights the other alongside their Elites. Beast, a large boy only in his white uniform pants, falls to his hands and knees and rips apart until he forms a beast. He runs for a girl with red curly hair and dark eyes. As soon as she sees him, she makes a large gash across her palm. A red rose blooms out of the blood gushing from the wound, and Beast slows down into a stop. His eyes lose focus and it's obvious that Rose has him in one of her illusions. A few meters behind Rose stands a girl also dressed in a white uniform. Her black boy-cut hair tucked into her colorful hat. She smiles broadly and colorful diamonds appear at the corners of her eyes. She pulls a card out of pocket and begins to run around Rose. She tosses the card in between Beast and Rose and immediately it forms a wall of cards blocking Beast from the view of the rose so that he's no longer in a trance. As soon as Rose aims her attention towards the girl, her body turns to water, letting her disappear. Behind Rose appears Tucker and near Joker appear Allen. The two brothers run at each other with battle cries.

"Is this some sort of civil war?" Julian asks with wide eyes. Angel shakes his head.

"Training." He says. Julian looks at him then at Lord Second.

"Shouldn't you be with them?" Angel ignores him. "Oh I see, you're still on bad terms with the Lords, now are you? I never quite got around too knowing why." Julian looks at Angel expectantly, as if he were to explain everything to him.

"Major Blay Julian, do you or do you not wish to train outside?" Angel says solemnly. Julian sighs but nods nonetheless.

***

As the Lords all head away from the center of the green field, leaving behind bloody and tired mortal Elites, Allen stays to watch them struggle with the pain. More specifically to watch Rose struggle to stand when her whole body is covered in bleeding wounds with red petals falling off of them. He watches her for a few minutes until she notices him doing so.

"You're jealous of Niklaus?" He asks her suddenly. Rose's black eyes widen then she smiles.

"Of course not. I don't even know the lad." She says dismissively. Allen moves his legs, stalking towards her slowly. Once he reaches her, he wraps a hand around her throat, pulling her closer to him.

"Why did you join Angel and the rest when they were hurting him then?" He asks quietly. She moves her free hand slowly, carrying her sharp wand and makes a long gash across Allen's cheek. Blood gushes out until the skin regenerates. With a loud chuckle, he releases her.

"I knew we'd get caught." She states. Allen studies her scarred face.

"You knew you'd get punished." He corrects. When he notices her smile he laughs heartily.

"It backfired, didn't it?" He says. Rose scowls at him. "You truly thought Tucker would punish you in any possible way you'd enjoy? He's no fool, my brother. Silly girl." Allen says with a shake of his head. He reaches out for a bleeding cut across her palm and swipes some blood onto his finger.

Six months after the arrival of the first Elite to Esdith, Rose, many more had come. As soon as they arrived, their training had begun with their sires. So six months in to their training with their Elites, Allen and Tucker were arguing as to whose Elites where better trained. Colton, innocently trying to shut them up, suggested that their Elites battle so that they can settle their argument. He truly didn't believe that at such a vulnerable time for the Elites his brothers would actually do it. The first year or so into training the Elites is just about activating and unleashing their power to the fullest. They don't know any limits or control.

Knowing this, Allen and Tucker chose to hold the battle in the farthest field of Esdith the city where land turns into cliff that looks onto water. Allen and Tucker both make an appearance in their large Esdithian cloaks. Slowly, they remove the hood then the cloak all together. Allen wears his button up shirt rushed up above his elbows so that his metal whip is the only brightness in the cold dark night. Tucker pulls his golden hair back and ties it tightly.

"Rules?" Tucker asks his brother as their Elites timidly face each other.

"None." He says with a grin that devours his face whole. Rose shuts her eyes as the cool breeze pulls her curly hair into her face. When she opens them, she finds a boy and a girl facing her. The girl wears a black homburg hat over her boy-cut hair. The boy is large and much taller than the girl, his hair cut just above his scalp. She finds herself shaking in fear. Two against one? She looks at Allen then at Tucker, but goes back to Allen.

"Lord Tucker, I- I don't think-." She begins speaking until a figure appears out of nowhere directly in front of her. In shock, she trips backwards, until Allen grabs her chin and forces her in places. His fingers are rough and calloused. They're cold and long.

"You don't think?" He asks. Rose looks at him intently then pulls away.

"Never mind." She mumbles. Allen smiles then looks at Tucker with excitement filling his eyes. Tucker shakes his head with a sigh.

"Let us begin, shall we? Joker, you go first." Rose almost moans in relief. Joker steps forward with a grin almost like Allen's. She takes off her hat and holds it out in front of her.

"Begin!" Rose takes her wand out of her pocket while joker bows with her hat in her hand. Then when she straightens, she throws her hat towards Rose. It circles her and immediately, Rose makes a slash in her palm, letting a rose emerge. When it does, she shuts her hand. The hat circles around her and when it comes in front of her, Rose hurls the petals in her hands at it as the Joker emerges from the hat. Joker falters as she's momentarily lost in an illusion, but then her figure disappears back into the hat. She reappears where she first began. Quickly, she throws a card in Rose' direction. It replicates into dozens of decks as it zips through the air. Each and every sharp card lands in Rose's skin. Rose's lips twitch, forming a small smile. The cards all fall out of her skin, their tips tinged with scarlet. The wounds covering her body bleed and bleed. A puddle of blood forms around her. Then the blood turns into dozens and dozens of roses. For a moment, nothing happens, then from somewhere in the trees, a blood gurgling scream is heard. The joker that was standing with them explodes into dozens of cards. Rose strategically blew out her illusions into that many roses so that the real Joker will fall into her illusions. Tucker grins at Allen, whom calls Beast's name. Her drops to his hands and knees and his bones begin to crack and break into place until he becomes a Beast.

"Go get her." Allen tells him. A minute later, Beast returns with Joker in his mouth, he drops her at Allen's feet. Allen then looks at Rose, still concentrating with all her might on the roses floating on her blood he nods at her and she lets go, the roses melting into petals. Allen picks Joker up by her hair, forcing her to her feet. Her face stained with tears and her mouth into a pained frown. Tucker meets Rose's eyes, silently questioning the illusion she placed Joker in. Rose only sets her mouth into a grim line. It was nothing but the same world she lives in, just without the hysteria that keeps her going. Allen reaches for a knife in his pocket and pulls it out. Solemnly, he rests the tip on Joker's cheek. Tucker watches Allen carve up his Elite's face then rolls his eyes. He looks at Rose, breathing heavily and now sitting on the ground in her own blood. She watches Allen intently, not in fear, but in admiration. Allen drops Joker and the knife then steps over her. She touches the cut starting at her cheek and going down to the tip of her lips. It starts again from the other end of her lip and up to her other cheek.

"Jokers always smile. They always laugh. Laugh Joker." Is all Allen says. He then looks at Rose again.

"Beast." He calls. The snarling, growling Beast at his side runs at Rose. Her eyes widen considerably and she quickly turns around and crawls away, trying to push herself up to her feet. When she does, she runs and runs. She looks behind her and finds Beast just on her tail. Tucker gasps and quickly disappears, reappearing just on the tip of the cliff with his hand extended out, but he fails. Rose slips out of her fingers and falls into the water below. Tucker whips his head around and glares at Allen.

"She better be alive." He threatens. Tucker waits for Allen's response but gets none. His brother just gazes at the ground. Tucker narrows his eyes as Allen's grin grows smaller and becomes just like a flickering flame, almost burnt out. Allen disappears and reappears by Tucker's side, looking down at the ripping water.

"Brother?" Tucker calls carefully. Allen shuts his eyes then reopens them only for Tucker to find them completely black. He uncoils the whip on his arm then pulls off his shirt. Tucker takes a few steps back, seeing the black crack forming on Allen' back. Wings explode from his shoulders and immediately, he leaps off the edge.

Rose struggles as she swims to shore, her wounds burning so badly and her head spinning from blood loss. She steps out of the water just as a creature lands in front of her, his weight shaking the ground beneath her feet. Silently, his wings retract into his body and his eyes become normal again. Rose gulps as he approaches her with nothing but a small grin.

"You ran away." He states. "You were afraid and instead of fighting or just taking on the pain of the attack, you ran away. Rose, you disappointed me so much." He says. Rose finds her heart hammering against her chest, anxious that she disappointed him rather than afraid of the Lord. She shuts her eyes and hugs her chest, still dripping wet and cold. Allen watches a drop of pink blood sail down her arm.

"But I will forgive you. Do you know why?" Rose looks up at him, wind making it appear as if his curly black locks were lazily dancing. His eyes focus on her face, while her eyes focus on his chest, just were his heart would have been if he had one. There, rests his Major Gemind inscription.

"Why?" She asks, looking up at his face. His lips stretch into his regular smile as he reaches out for her cut forehead. His large silver ring shines with the reflection of the moonlight while his black nails contrast with her blood.

"Because you have the most beautiful blood I have ever seen."

"I almost forgot how your blood is beautiful, Rose." He says with a wide grin.

"I tell you, with that as his idea of flirting, he's getting nowhere." A confused voice sounds.

"Leave him be Tucker." Another sounds. Colton and Tucker appear in clean clothes.

"Hello Allen, Rose." Tucker greets. "We've announcement to make, so if you could get the Elites' attention-." Tucker begins. Without even casting a glance at the scattered Elites, Allen raises his silver metal whip and snaps it into the air. All the Elites turn their heads towards them. Tucker, whose mouth remains open, shuts it, ceasing his talking.

"Elites of Esdith; in a time soon enough we are to hold a grand ball. It is a tradition we hold every century. You are expected to attend for security measures. You are to guide and watch over the servants as they plan the event. That is all." Colton announces loudly.

Julian and Angel overhear this as they pass a few meters away from the Lords.

"A ball? Doesn't there have to be a lot of people at a ball? Who's going to want to come to Esdith?" Scoffs Julian. Angel gives him a stiff look then returns his gaze to the front.

"Everyone." Whispers Angel. "Many marked children will try to take this to their advantage and come running to Esdith like as if it were a beacon." Julian snorts loudly then jumps in front of Angel, stopping him.

"And will any them be allowed in?" Julian challenges. Angel narrows his eyes then looks away. "Ah, I thought so. Anybody else?"

"Esdith has tons of allies, Major Blay Julian. In fact, there will be a large group of Major Blays coming." Angel says thoughtfully. Julian scrunches his face up in disgust.

"Who?" Angel's lips twitch as he finds himself amused with Julian's reaction towards his kind.

"The council of Esdith is composed of many major Blays. They remain up this mountain that Esdith rests on. They watch for danger in exchange for an alliance with the world's strongest center. The council also has Elder vampires and Alphas." Julian zones out before Angel finishes talking, he finds himself studying Angel's strings. He was amused and relaxed for a second.

"You don't have to hold back a smile when I can see your emotions anyways, you know." Julian pipes in. Angel grinds his teeth together and before he can say anything, Julian speaks again. "A ball isn't meant to be composed of just the host's employees-."

"The city of Esdith has an open invitation for whomever wishes to come." Angel says finally. "Some families in Rusvaria are welcome too. Esdith isn't evil." Julian scowls at this.

"Of course. You are not a slave to them and my whole life hasn't been wiped away by them. So not evil." Julian says sourly. Suddenly, Angel whips around and shoots his hand to the side. Pure white feathers zip out of his hand and pierce the center of some cards that were flying towards them. Julian turns to look at the commotion and finds the Elite, Joker, with Angel's feathers piercing through the center of cards and into her chest. Blood gurgles out of her mouth and Julian's eyes turn wide, but suddenly, her figure explodes into a deck's worth of cards turned upside down. All except for the joker card. The sound of clapping flows into their ears and they turn again, finding Allen with Joker and Beast to his sides.

"Bravo." Is all he says. Julian gives Allen a bitter look while Angel tenses beside him.

"You missed training." Allen points out, speaking to Angel. He inclines his head and rests his hands behind his back, trying to show respect without kneeling. Seeing this, Allen bursts into a fit of laughter.

"Not good enough." He announces. The deck of cards that remains behind them rises into Joker's figure again. She runs at Angel stealthily and slam her hands down onto his shoulders and forces him to his knees. The impact on his bad knee forces a vibration of pain to begin at the tip and then resonate throughout his whole body. Involuntarily, he screams. Julian immediately, eases his pain by pulling at his strings.

"Ah, much better." Allen says, soaking in the sight of Angel's pain. Angel clamps his mouth shut, but sweat continues to stream down his face.

"I-I have orders to remain- remain with the Major Blay." He croaks. Allen nods then waves Joker over. The one that forced Angel to his knees turns into a puddle of water while the one that was standing by his side turns into an explosion of cards. The real Joker begins to appear beside Beast.

"Correct answer. I'm sure my brother will be pleased." Allen says then begins to walk off, but stops suddenly. Very slowly, he turns his head to the side to look at Julian lazily.

"You made the correct decision by not interfering. How I wish you didn't." He says the disappears with his Elites. Julian ignores him and continues to hold off the pain from Angel.

"Let it go." Angel says hoarsely, remaining on his knees. He looks up at the sky and observes the limit mankind has created for themselves.

"Let what go?" Julian asks dumbly. Angel slowly turns his head to look at him.

"The pain. Let go of my pain." He says clearly. Julian laughs.

"You agreed to let me practice and here I am, I'm practicing-." Angel shakes his head.

"I get to choose what you take away and what you give me." He argues. Julian walks to where he kneels and stands behind him directly. Slowly, he lets go of the strings of his pain. Angel bites his lip with so much force, it begins to bleed. He clamps his eyes shut and his hands form fists.

"Well; tell me. What do you want?" Julian asks quietly. Angel takes a deep breath, remembering something. He had been given a special order for today. By Lord Third. By his father. Only one thing comes to mind.

"Pain." Julian's eyebrows dip.

"I just let go, I gave back your pain." He says, confused. Angel remains quiet until it clicks. "Good lord, is everyone in Esdith either a God damned masochist or sadist?!" He yells out, running a hand through his silver hair.

"I killed your pair, you fool. I killed so many of Center Coast, I was going to kill you." Angel breathes weakly. Julian gulps, trying not to think of Florence.

"Fine." He says simply. He focuses and slowly his pupils extend into lines. They begin to spin insanely fast in his purple irises. Then, in his left eyes, the lines extend into the whites of his eyes, covering them completely. Black cracks form down his left cheek and in a matter of seconds, Angel falls forward, collapsing. Julian breathes heavily, gazing down at Angel's body. Suddenly, he too falls to the ground.

Zachariah looks down at Beauty, Tristan's Elite, with so much concentration she begins to feel lightheaded.

"My humblest and sincerest apologies milord, b-but I-I-." She pauses and takes a breath remembering how much her Sire, Tristan disliked stuttering and all the lessons he would give his Elites in order not forget it. "-I have come to beg for your mercy." Zachariah looks at her kneeling figure one last time then begins to absorb the scenery of Esdith's fields around him.

"Mercy pointed not towards you, I gather, but rather at my own Elite." Zachariah speaks icily.

"That's right, milord." She says with a nod.

"And why is it that you are doing so?" He asks her, shifting in his seat.

"Milord, Angel may die at this rate. As you commanded, I did not heal his chest fully from where you punctured right into his heart. And his knee has been shattered into particles! There are many more injuries that I cannot understand and he has been weak although I cannot figure out why-." As Beauty continues her rant, Zachariah narrows his eyes. That is true, he has been weak. Although he should have been weaker. He has been depriving Angel of his blood for days, he should have gone mad by now. Suddenly, it clicks. Zachariah's lips form a taught line.

"You may heal him Beauty. He has a long way to earn a slight fraction of my forgiveness however. Let him never forget that." He says, dismissing her.

Half an hour later, Beauty finds Angel in Julian's chambers. He lies on Julian's bed with his eyes closed.

"He's sleeping in your bed?" Beauty deadpans. Julian shakes his head.

"He's not asleep." He says simply. Beauty's eyes widen so much Julian thinks her eyeballs will fall out. "He's not dead either, relax. He's unconscious." Beauty doesn't ask why, she runs over to her fellow Elite and begins to heal him. When she finishes, she awkwardly shuffles out. Julian sits on a chair in the corner and hugs his knees. He begins to think. Of Florence, his sister and pair, of Anthony, the Major Blay whose powers he now bears, of Center Coast, of his lying manipulating gifts, of Xavier, and last of all but not least of how alone he is. Angel's eyes flutter open and his strings of emotion return to normal, letting Julian know he's awake, but he doesn't look at him.

"Why am I in your chambers?" He asks Julian coolly.

"Doesn't matter. Get out." Julian grumbles, burying his head into his hugged knees. Gracefully, Angel stands up, noticing that Beauty healed him and the only way she could've is with Lord Second's permission. Then, silently, he leaves.