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Realms Converge	By : Candice Category: +G through L > Legacy of Kain Views: 3562 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Legacy of Kain, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.Don't get to Nosgoth itself til chap 5

Chapter List
- 47
- 48
- 49
A/N: Below are descriptions on how to find to the masks chosen for Kat and Kain.
Katrina's Mask: Venetian Colombina Barocco Grifone And Silver Burnished Masquerade Prom Costume Ball Mask. It will be the one on the left in the image online, only the center piece is a griffon couchant with wings furled up and over in an arch. 'Couchant' means the griffon is lying down, but with it's head raised.
Something simple and tasteful for her. ^.^
Kain's Mask: Search for Phantom of the Opera (2004 movie), Phantom's Skull Mask on google. Something simple that plays on the fact that they both like the Phantom of the Opera in my story and because it's one of the Phantom's scarier masks.
-Kain leans over author's shoulder with a growling thrum.- It is... passable.
-Author meeps and jumps away- Would you stop with the sneaking up on me thing!?
-Kain smirks-...no
Chapter Forty-Eight: Masquerade Part 1
The day of the planned event was upon us and my unease had only grown stronger over the past several days. I was careful not to show my concern on my face, yet remained tense. We had poured over the plans and backup plans again and again in an attempt to ferret out the reason behind my misgivings. Everything seemed to be sound based on the information available to us, yet I had advised Brice to be prepared for our plans to turn to dust in the wind.
"I know lass, been at this for a bit now," Brice had said softly, his tone equally serious and wry. "Like we said before though, he wont be takin' ya from us again."
"Hnn," I growled out softly and I set aside the tablet that I had been perusing. "Well then. We need to get ready..."
Kain and I had then gone back to our room to get changed into some of our finest ceremonial armor that we had packed away. Neither of us had been certain that we would even need the armor, yet we had packed the sets away regardless. Kain did prefer to be prepared and, considering that our plans had always accounted for the potentiality of meeting up with my Birth Clan, he had wanted to be certain that we would be seen with respect.
Kain's ceremonial outfit was a darker version of his noble-styled set. Instead of a charcoal grey tunic with a red trim and several gold-plated armor pads at the joints, the tunic was a black silk tunic with silver runes carefully sewn in and hidden amongst the red trim for protection. The runes that were sewn into the tunic made the silk strong enough to resist even an Eldar's cutting talons, for a time. Likewise his leather pants were black with silver runes that offered him the same protection.
The gold-plated armor pads of the other armor had been replaced with a burnished silver set that had an angry looking skull design on the low shoulder pauldrons and a matching skull design on the upper part of his greaves. In contrast, Kain's vambraces had no real decoration upon them save for further rune-work that was designed to help protect him from both water and fire, of which he was still vulnerable to. All in all it was an outfit that I enjoyed seeing him in. Regal and refined. Removing the outfit would be a treat in and of itself later on...
I smiled to myself as he slipped his mask into place. It was the Phantom's Skull mask. The bone mask had a black base with silver highlights along the bony ridges to accent the rough edges of the skull design. The mask drew attention both to the brilliance of his blue-gold eyes and also accentuated his rugged jawline. It suited him very nicely. He turned to look me over and a smirk curled his lips upwards even as a flash of hunger filled his eyes. I knew that his own thoughts had turned lewd and I chuckled. I looked into the mirror that I was standing next to in order to look myself over and nodded to myself at my appearance.
My own outfit was also quite different from my usual armor. Another design courtesy of Vorador, but thankfully it was a tasteful design and not as revealing as the initial sketch that the Eldar had shown me. Dark leathers stained a royal purple cover my legs and I had a matching purple tunic with wide sleeves that flowed over my forearms. My black leather boots, again only with an inch high heel as I had never gotten comfortable with anything more than that, were thigh-highs and had an intricate boot-string weave design up along the outer sides.
Covering the boots were a set of burnished silver greaves that were intricately laced with protection runes hidden amongst a feathered pattern. A single cuisses was wrapped around my right thigh and bore the same design. The vambraces upon my forearms were also burnished silver in coloration. The feathered design upon them ended with a design of layered and flexible seeming 'feathers' that curled over the backs of my hands and moved with my hands rather than impede them.
I wore a leather, armored vest over the purple tunic that had a single burnished silver button fastened over my chest. The armored vest covered my back as well, since I would not have my wings out, and the vest protected that vulnerable pressure point along my spine. Attached to the vest were a set of low to the shoulder pauldrons that lay like wings half-furled over my upper arms. Again the 'feathers' had been done in an intricate design that allowed them to move with me when I shifted my arms about instead of hampering my movements. Lastly, a leather belt was wrapped around my waist and attached to it was a cloth that curled around my left thigh and the cloth hung loose down to my shin. The cloth was also a darkened, royal purple. It had both my Symbol and Kain's intricately joined together in silver and red thread.
Kain let out a satisfied hum of breath and he walked over to trail his fingers down my side. He reached over to the table next to the large mirror and picked up the mask that I had decided upon. I had finally opted for a simplistic Colombina Barocco Grifone style mask. The markings upon the mask were simplistic with little wing-like whorls over the cheeks and had a single, intricate feather spread out over each brow. What had truly caught my eye about the mask though, was the center piece. It was a griffon couchant, or lying down, and the griffon's head was raised up with a proud, watchful air. Its' front paws seemed to be pushed against the 'ground' of the mask and the muscles of its' limbs were bunched up as if it were prepared to leap forward at a moments notice despite the relaxed seeming posture. The griffon's wings were extended up in a flowing arch with the very tips of the wings brushing against the griffon's feathered ears in a kind of crescent shape.
Kain shifted to where he was standing behind me and he gently settled the mask into place upon my face. His taloned fingers deftly tied the mask into place for me. I smiled at him and his taloned hands moved to rest lightly upon my armored shoulders. I reached up to rest my smaller hands over his own and let out a soft sigh.
"You are ready, mine own?" he asked in a soft yet serious tone.
"Yes," I said and I leaned my head back against his chest. "I am still uncertain what it is that is making me so uneasy but..."
I shook my head and turned away from the mirror in order to face him. I needlessly straightened the collar of Kain's tunic to busy my hands and his own hands closed around mine moments later to still them. He then caught my chin lightly in one hand and leaned down to catch my lips in a gentle kiss. I let out a soft purr of pleasure at the kiss and trailed my hands down his chest to rest upon his hips. He pulled back a moment later with a soft chuckle and bumped his masked forehead lightly against my own before he pulled back.
"Whatever has you concerned will be dealt with in time," he rumbled soothingly, "if it even becomes an issue. Come, let us introduce you to your Birth Clan my Dear Katrina. It is time for your debut."
"Yes, it is," I responded with a nod and we started for the door.
We left our rooms and moved down the halls toward the main doors of the mansion. Sigrun and Lucius met us at the large double-doors, both dressed in semi-formal outfits. Lucius wore a golden fox mask and his outfit seemed very Japanese inspired. The top that he wore was loose fitting and seemed more like a haori then anything else and instead of a hakama he wore a set of baggy pants. A ninja of some sort perhaps? Sigrun's outfit was Nordic based and seemed a modern take on the Valkyrie that she was named for. Instead of a mask, she wore the winged helm that most people associated with the battle-maidens and the armor that she wore was plain, yet functional. From the scent of it, the fur skirt wrapped around her waist was real, old and well tended.
We met Brice at the limo that had been prepared for us and I had to stifle a small chuckle behind one hand. He was dressed like an old fashioned, seventeen-hundred's Scottish Highlander, which included leather studded armor, a bit of face paint and a good ol' kilt to complete the look. He raised a brow at me at the chuckle and I found that I suddenly could not help myself.
"You a true Scotsman under that kilt?" I asked as I waved a hand at his outfit.
"Aye lass," Brice responded with a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Though I'm doubtin' that your King would want ya checkin' my 'authenticity'."
Lucius let out a nervous chuckle whilst Sigrun burst into outright laughter. Kain looked at me with a raised brow and I blushed even as I flashed him a small, fang-less smile.
~'True Scotsmen' don't wear anything under the kilt,~ I explained with a mental laugh.
I reached out to tug at the edge of his own leathers that fit him like a second layer of skin. Kain let out a snort of amusement at the tug as neither of us wore anything under our leather pants. I still wore bras or breast bands, as I needed the support, but I tended to avoid any kind of undies. As lace was expensive on Nosgoth, not to mention scratchy and uncomfortable, I hardly ever bothered with such items. Being back on Gaia though, meant I would be able to invest in a few softer 'dedicates' to wear later upon my return to Nosgoth. Kain looked at Brice and flashed a fanged smile at the male. A small warning was hidden in that smile.
"You would be wise to assume such a thing," Kain purred out in a dark, yet bemused, tone. "Though I imagine such an outfit can be a bit... drafty."
"Aye, it can be when it's cold out," Brice answered with a laugh as he opened the limo doors. "Good thing we live in warm climes, aye?"
"Well," Sigurn started with a smirk on her lips. She moved past Brice and started into the limo. "Kanskje hvis ting går bra, kan jeg sjekke din 'autentisitet'. Det har gått en stund, har det ikke ? Du har aldri beenone å skuffe."
Brice's eyes darkened hungrily for a moment and he shook his head in amusement barely a second later.
"Behave yourself Sig," he said in a bland tone, though his smile hinted at other things.
"Oppfør deg? I suppose I shall... for now," she responded with a laugh as she took her seat inside the limo.
Kain let out a snort at the byplay and we shared a bemused look. While we could not understand Sigrun whenever she spoke her native tongue, the interactions between herself and Brice over the past several days had made it plain that the pair were, or had been at one point, lovers. Perhaps more in the category of 'Friends with Benefits' than anything else from the way they acted around each other. I shook my head and let out a bemused sigh as Kain and I slipped into the limo. I sat down on the seat next to Sigrun whilst Kain sat on my other side. Lucius and Brice sat across from us and we settled in for the drive to the MGM. Sigrun, Brice and Lucius started to go over the details of those that were to meet us outside of the casino; Altair, his son, their personal guards... and my the rest of my Turned siblings.
Benedict; six hundred and fifty-two and the eldest male. Born in the year fifteen-oh-nine, Benedict had been one of the few survivors of a small, nameless village that had been wiped out during the War of the League of Cambrai, or the 'War of the Holy League'. My Father had taken Benedict in as a babe and had raised the young human himself before Turning him in his twenties when Benedict had contracted the plague in the year fifteen thirty-one. Sigrun and Brice both explained that Benedict was a gifted healer and scientist, had a kind heart and was very much an atheist after having witnessed first hand some of the atrocities committed in the name of religion over the years. Still, having survived such things he was still an open book with the same amount of patience with politics as Sigrun...
That is to say, next to none...
Cuthbert; five hundred and twenty-two. Born in Russia during the year fifteen ninety-eight to an English father and a Russian mother the same year that Boris Godunov seized the throne of Russia after the death of his brother-in-law, Cuthbert was raised during the start of what history had named 'the Time of Troubles'. Another human who had been taken in by my Father at a young age. Cuthbert's parents were murdered in their sleep for what little money and food that they'd had in their small hovel. Father had found Cuthbert tucked behind a broken cupboard during his hunt for said thief, a man who had made the mistake of attacking another family that had been under my Father's protection. Cuthbert, or Cu as Sigrun called him, was a mage and had long focused on studying souls and the power held within a soul as it moved from life to life versus the power that could be found within a physical bloodline. I had been surprised by Cu's focus of studies, but Sigrun was swift to point out that he had a long standing rule that all of his studies would be ethical in nature.
This meant that he never killed a subject to force them on to the next life and instead spent years... people watching for lack of a better term...
It's not like he did not have the time to do so.
Joan; five hundred and twenty. Born in Ireland in the year sixteen forty-one and named for Jeanne d'Arc, or 'Joan of Arc, The Maid of Orléans' and... that name had not served her well. Joan's mother had been born in France and had been... Devout in the worst translation of the word. Due to either mental illness or just being that fucked up of a person, Joan's mother literally believed her daughter to be Jeanne d'Arc reborn and had somehow decided that such a thing meant that it was 'acceptable' to force a number of torments, similar to what the famed woman had gone through when she had been captured, upon my Turned sibling all before she had even turned five. Joan had been saved by my Father when he had raided the woman's castle-like home due to rumors of the woman holding a child captive.
The rumors hadn't been wrong... just that the woman who dared to call herself a mother hadn't had to kidnap a child to carry out her depravity...
Joan was a quiet and somehow open girl despite all the pain she had been put through, though Sigrun and Brice both told us that she had not acclimated well to technological advancements over the years and preferred a more Spartan kind of life-style.
Elijah; three hundred and nine. Born in Australia in eighteen fifty-two. Out of all of my siblings, he, Sigrun and Benedict had the best personal histories, though Sigrun refused to speak of her own past when pressed. She instead continued to tell me that Elijah had been born during the earlier years of Australia's Gold Rush. Elijah had also been a bit of a dare-devil before the term had even truly become popular. By the time he was in his mid-teens, he would often go out into the wilds of Australia not only to try his luck and find gold like many other prospectors, but also to test himself against the many dangerous and deadly animals that inhabited the land. Suffice to say, he was careless one day and had slipped while climbing and had ended up trapped on a cliff edge with no way down. With he having been the middle of summer, he would have died from the heat and from lack of water. Father had been flying in the area that day and had saved him when he had seen the young man.
Being both stubborn and loyal, Elijah had sworn himself into Father's service upon his recovery and had eventually been Turned before his mid-twenties.
Father had been known for a 'saving people thing' from the sound of it.
It was interesting to learn about the various histories of my siblings, many of whom were now younger than myself. Counting my time on Nosgoth, I was now five hundred and seventy years old. Of the six of us, I was actually the third eldest with only Benedict and Sigrun being older than I. Cuthbert, Joan and Elijah were all younger than I was, though I would have to appear to be the youngest and pretend that I was still one-hundred and sixty-eight... and thus 'babyen', or 'the baby' as Sigurn put it. She had started calling me 'lillesøster' or 'babyen' shortly after her arrival and the fight with Kain.
"I know you have been through much, but you are still youngest despite this, ja?" she had said in explanation when I expressed my annoyance at the nickname whilst we were driving toward the hotel casino. Kain had simply been amused by it all. "We are all lykkelig, happy, to have you back with us. You are strong and you are Alpha, is true, but allow us this small thing, even if you do not feel you are so young? Babyen should be treasured and protected. We... we all feel that we failed you. I... I should have pushed to be your watcher. Would not have let you be taken like that verdiløs dritt did."
I frowned at her words and then shook my head. I reached over and placed my hand upon her shoulder. I gave her a small squeeze when she looked away from me with a guilty expression writ plain upon her face.
"Sigrun, you could not have known what was to happen," I said to her in a soft, yet firm tone. "None of you could have been prepared for it. Do not blame yourself."
"I am eldest," Sigrun said after a few silent moments. She shrugged one shoulder and her wings fluffed up with her unease. "Is my duty to protect Siblings when there is call for it."
"Again, I say you did not, and could not, have known that there would be such a need," I told her and my voice turned stern. "Leave be Sister. I find no fault with you or and of my other Turned siblings for what happened to me."
She looked away from me at that point and focused her attention on the scenery outside. Lucius had started to say something and Brice signaled for the younger vampire to remain silent. The youth glanced helplessly at each of us and, but for a faint sigh, he kept his own council on the matter. The rest of the drive was spent in a subdued silence and I leaned back against my seat. Kain's taloned hand settled against the base of my back and I shifted to subtly lean against him in order to take comfort in his presence as I closed my eyes to enjoy the quiet of the drive. At the least, this mode of travel was a vast improvement over horse-drawn carriages and the rocking that accompanied such mode of travel when we deigned to use it back home.
I tensed when I felt the vehicle slow a half an hour later and I straightened in my seat. The others had all grown alert as well and I turned my attention toward the large resort casino. I frowned at the sight of the large crowd outside and let out a faint sigh. I glanced at Kain out of the corner of my eye and flashed him a slightly pained smile. He chuckled and gave the base of my back a small pat as the limo came to a halt. Game faces on and all that.
Brice slipped from the limo and I had to appear to fight back a frown at a sudden series of flashes when I started for the door. I pulled back, as if shy. Lucius and Sigrun slipped out of the limo a heartbeat later and a number of dangerous growls filled the air. Some paparazzi had slipped through to try to get photos of me. I glanced at Kain and he nodded his head. We had planned for this, something small to help lure Auron in. If paparazzi could slip into the crowd when I had 'specifically requested' that there be no cameras, then it would show that those guarding me were being lax in their duties due to a sense of apparent 'over-confidence' in their ability to keep me safe. Indeed, there would be a number of carefully orchestrated movements on my part over the night. Kain slipped past me and out of the limo when Brice indicated that it was clear. My King took a brief moment to glare at the crowd before he turned back to hold a hand out to me. I put my hand in his and gracefully slipped out of the limo.
What surprised me was not the shear numbers, but the energy of the crowd. In a way, I had been expecting those gathered out front to be more boisterous in their talking. No, what was truly 'loud' was the press of everyone's Aura's, the massive amount of energy that screamed 'Clan' in my skull. I slipped my hand into the bend of Kain's arm and lightly pressed two fingers against my temple with a small wince. A small bit of acting on my part to make it seem that I had been slightly overwhelmed by the amount of power around me due to the 'head injury' that I had supposedly sustained upon our arrival. If Auron believed the information that had been passed amongst the lower level guards regarding the false trap, then he would believe any reaction from me if he tried to mess with my mind, especially if he thought that I had been injured.
Once I had 'steadied myself', we moved along the red carpet up toward the main entrance with Brice and Lucius on either side of us and Sigrun at the rear. Altair stood at the top of the steps with his own guards, his son Armon and his guards and a group of vampires that had to be my Siblings. A startled flash of amusement flickered through me when one of them suddenly yanked up his mask and let out a squawking, choked sound of surprise.
"That sheila and the white haired bloke?!" cried a familiar voice.
I looked the male over with a blink and then let out a faint laugh as I looked at Kain. We shared a bemused look before we looked back to the male. This had to be Elijah... and also the young Australian vampire that had been with the human with the Texas drawl. His outburst caught the attention of the others and various expressions of shock and annoyance were writ plain on their faces. Sigrun's Aura had gone cold behind me and I spoke before she could snap at him for not having realized just who I was when we had crossed paths on the day of my arrival.
"Did that 'daft dingo' of yours ever successfully pick up a date?" I asked him with a small grin.
"I... no... he," Elijah let out a weak laugh and rubbed at the back of his neck.
His own wings had pulled in close to his shoulders both due to his embarrassment and the continued, angry, pressure from Sigrun. It was obviously not a good idea to have ones wings out when riding a motorcycle, the drag of the wings would have severely hampered movement, so I had not been able to recognize him as a Clan-mate. Nor had the scents of the city at the time helped, else I might have been able to scent the echo of my Father's scent upon him. Not that I would have been looking for such a thing, but it still might have been an odd enough thing for me to have taken note of it. I smiled faintly at his unease and gave him an encouraging wave of my hand when he fell silent.
"Ah..." he shifted uneasily. "The dingo had no luck and his idiocy actually cost me my own date later on that evening..."
"Hmph," Kain snorted beside me. "Perhaps the young fool would have been best suited to obtain lessons on decorum and tact."
"Bloody oath!" Elijah responded with a nod. "Thinkin' about havin' him do just that actually."
Elijah looked back at me and shifted uncomfortably.
"I... ah... I apologize..." he started and he had to clear his throat. "I didn't recognize you... I mean... you look a... a bit different than the old photos and... well it... it's..."
"Not like you expected to idly run across me in the middle of a busy street?" I shook my head in bemusement. "That's alright. I have... grown older and do not look quite the same. Besides which, I was yet getting my bearings and the many scents in the area clouded my own senses. Else I might have been able to recognize Father's scent mixed in with your own."
"He should have recognized you," Sigrun growled at my back.
I turned to face her with a stern frown and flared my Aura at her. I allowed a small, subtle shakiness to the Aura, just a little twinge. The pulse of my Aura seemed to startle my Siblings and more than a few close enough to sense it. More than one person shot me a re-evaluating look and I took subtle note of those who did so. It was plain that they were not expecting my Aura to be so strong. Nor had they expected the tremble within it.
"Enough Sister," I said firmly. "I imagine that he was enjoying a night off with his friend. He was not expecting to have stumbled across me in such a way and I do not look as... gentle... as I did before I was taken by mine enemy."
"I..." Sigrun let out a heavy sigh. "I will only let this drop because you wish it lillesøster."
"Thank you, Eldar Sister," I responded with a gracious smile.
I felt a small twinge of amusement from Kain as I turned back to the others. My siblings all crowded carefully close as they introduced themselves. The tallest male at roughly six and a half feet with black hair and blue eyes wearing a fox mask was Benedict. The blonde haired, green eyed male that stood at about six feet and had a raven mask was Cuthbert. Elijah himself was blonde with blue eyes and was my height, counting the inch of height my boots gave me. Joan was the smallest with black hair and brown eyes. She wore a delicate little butterfly mask and easily fit under my chin when she hugged me. The push of her Aura against my own was... as tiny and sweet as she looked... and I started in surprise when my own Aura automatically settled around hers protectively in response to that light touch.
An Omega...!? I thought in surprise.
"I'm glad," she said in a voice that was practically a whisper. "I am so glad you stayed strong..."
I shot a surprised look Kain's way and I knew that, while my face remained polite beneath my mask, my eyes showed my shock. His own Aura reach out to settle across myself and my Turned Sister. He also seemed shocked at the feel of Joan's Aura. Vampires were predators. Even the weakest Beta was still a Beta and strong enough to survive on their own once they were old enough. An Omega was rare and from what we knew from Janos, they lived for the Alpha's and Beta's of their Clan. They were rare enough that there had not been a known Omega on Nosgoth since Janos' youth. This...!
I shot a wordless glance at Altair. He and his son had been hanging back to allow us our public reunion and I felt my lips curl downwards in a small frown. He had been so certain that my Siblings would be able to protect me. For them to act as an effective guard force, even with how open they were supposed to be and... actually were from how they acted. Joan alone would put herself before me and harm without hesitation or forethought because of her nature if Janos had the right of it. And yet... perhaps Omega's were more common a creature here on Gaia? I glanced around me at Brice and Sigrun and even Lucius. They were... confused... by my sudden, contained upset. Even my Turned siblings had started to share confused glances. I let out a small sigh and shook my head as I returned Joan's hug. Kain's mind brushed against my own a moment later.
~I wonder if they are even aware of the depths of her nature?~ he rumbled thoughtfully to me.
~That, or this is one of those things that differ between Gaian and Nosgothian vampires,~ I hummed thoughtfully. ~Still... it changes nothing in the end for our plans. I will simply question Brice later on the subject to find out more. It's not like we thought to ask about such a subject.~
~A sound plan mine own and your words are true enough,~ Kain's eyes flashed with amusement a moment later. ~Am I to introduce myself then?~
I let out a mental snort and eased Joan back. She easily slid into line next to my other Siblings. I slipped my hand back into the bend of Kain's arm and brought the attention of the others to my Mate. The others looked Kain over warily and Elijah offered my silver-haired Mate a fang-less smirk.
"This is my Lord. His name is Kain," I told them in a proud, but gentle voice.
Right now, in the public eye, he would play the simple Lord and not the King that he was.
"It is a pleasure to meet the Turned Siblings of my Mate-Marked Lady," Kain said smoothly to the others.
That one sentence alone helped to calm the tension that had been budding amongst my Siblings due to his presence at my side. Joan merely smiled though and nodded her head in a respective manner to Kain. She issued a proper little curtsy to Kain and I contained a small shudder. In all my years, I have never even remotely felt comfortable curtsying and had only ever bowed to Kain as another warrior might. Alma had both despaired over, and been amused by, my refusal to focus on the more 'lady-like' aspects of my tutelage over the years. As it was, Joan's action helped to make the other three relax further still and I tilted my head thoughtfully at their reaction to her ready acceptance of Kain's presence at my side.
"Do we have you to thank for our Sister's safe return?" Benedict asked as he stepped forward and held out his taloned hand.
"She escaped her captor under her own power," Kain answered smoothly and he flexed his arm enough to give my hand a small squeeze where it rested even as he reached out to shake Benedict's hand. "I merely tended to her wounds and offered her a safe Haven as she healed."
I had allowed myself to visibly tense at Benedict's words, hence the small squeeze. More subtle acting on my part. True, the assumption that I had needed to be rescued annoyed me, but normally I would have contained my upset when in a widely public setting such as this. We had decided that the more it looked like I was subtly dependent on direction from Kain, the more likely Auron was to take the bait. In seeing me yield so to Kain, Auron's sense of possessiveness should lead him to act blindly under the assumption that he had bypassed our 'false trap' as if it were the only trap in place. For all that I had proved my strength over the years, my tormentor had firmly believed that I had willingly allowed Kain to Mark me not because I, subconscious though it was at the time, trusted Kain and was in turn trusted and treated as an equal, but that I had accepted Kain as my Master as a slave might.
To Auron I was just that; a Slave, a Pet and, since he found out about my being Marked, a Whore. Auron had repeatedly shown that he believed me to be as such and that he believed Kain to have usurped Auron's place as my 'Master'. In that final battle with the Sarafan Bastard, Auron had even blathered on about not 'allowing' Kain to 'keep me' and that he would 'have me returned to him' as if I were a piece of property or an errant animal.
I would take great satisfaction in teaching the son-of-a-bitch his place...
"Then you have my thanks for tending to her and helping her recover after she escaped her tormentor," Benedict said smoothly and he released Kain's hand. "I only hope that we are able to find and slay him as well."
"Agreed," Kain responded and the two males shared a vicious, hunter's smile.
Benedict stepped back and Cuthbert moved forward next and held out his own hand to Kain. Kain took his hand and Cuthbert looked down at Kain's hand with a small frown.
"Odd... you feel," he started to mutter softly. He shook his head a moment later and offered Kain a faint smile. "Excuse me for allowing my mind to wander. Your energy is... unique and took me by surprise. I am highly attuned to such things when it comes to magic energies and allowed myself to be distracted."
"I do believe I shall take that as a complement," Kain said in a dry tone.
"Please do, as I meant no offense by my words," Cuthbert said with a dry laugh. "And call me Cu if you would be so kind. 'Cuthbert' is a bit of a mouthful."
"Not 'Bert' then?" I piped up in a sudden fit of playfulness.
"Certainly not," Cu responded with a snort and he turned back to me as he let go of Kain's hand. "Though do feel free to call Benedict, 'Ben' and Elijah, 'Eli'."
"Don't you dare Sheila," Elijah said and he glared at Cuthbert.
"Indeed," Benedict said and he gave an imperious sniff as he, too, glared at Cuthbert. "You are not too old to be bent over my knee for correction Brother."
"You would have to catch me first, Brother mine," Cu responded with a small baring of fang.
My brows flew up at the byplay and I blinked when I realized that each of my Brother's were Alpha's in their own right and had likely not been around each other for years now considering the way they were acting around each other. This was something I had seen amongst many of Vorador's Childe when a previously established hierarchy suddenly came into question amongst Siblings, either due to them being a century away from each other or after at least one sibling had gone through a Torpor. Joan stepped forward between the males with a gentle smile upon her lips.
"Please don't fight Brother's," she said in a soft voice. "This is a happy day."
My Brother's relaxed immediately and I realized that Joan's Aura had somehow calmed their budding, confrontational instincts that demanded that they test each other.
"My apologies Sister, you are right. This is a happy day that should not be spoiled by ranking disputes," Benedict said with a gentle smile. "We will behave ourselves for the time being."
"Thank you Bene," Joan responded with a gentle smile and Benedict's face seemed to soften further under his mask.
"Yea, she can get away with callin' ya Bene..." Elijah snorted softly in amusement and then held his hands up when a glare was shot his way. "Hey, hey easy drongo. Ya don't need to chuck a spaz attack. Anyway, we should get inside, yeah? Would rather be flat out like a lizard drinking, but we got some schmoozin' to do inside and have to deal with people pissing in our pockets. Least the camera's got dealt with."
Kain and I shared a confused look before we turned back to look at Elijah with equally flabbergasted expressions. Joan giggled at our expressions and shook her head. Brice coughed into his hand and let out a soft, bemused sigh as he stepped forward into my line of sight.
"To translate that mess lass," Brice started with a smile. "'Drongo' means either dumb-ass or idiot. 'Chuck a spaz attack' means losin' one's temper. 'Flat out like a lizard drinking' means he'd rather be doing nothing or more that he doesn't want to be stuck amongst such a large crowd and 'people pissing in our pockets' means people who are suckin' up to you or want somethin' from ya."
"Is what I said innit?" Elijah asked as his feathers bristled and fluffed up.
"Not quite lillebror," Sigrun said with a laugh. "You need to work on your speech patterns."
"Uh huh," Elijah grumbled. "You're one t' talk Sister."
"If you could but work on improving your speech patterns," Benedict started in a droll tone. "Perhaps your Mate would allow you out of the house more often."
"Ya wanker! Want to repeat that?" Elijah snarled as he bristled further still.
I looked at Joan and we both burst into laughter at the same time. Kain chuckled beside me and shook his head as he glanced down at me.
"I do believe I am quite content being the only Childe created by my Sire before his abrupt death," Kain said in a dry tone. "Siblings seem to be too much of a hassle if this is to be any indication of the norm."
Elijah threw up his hands at that and turned away to give the appearance of someone sulking, though if one looked close, one could see the smile upon his lips. We all shared another laugh and when Benedict waved his hand to the side, our group moved closer to Altair and his son Armon. Altair took my hand in his and offered a polite kiss to the back of my hand before he let go and shook Kain's arm, hand to wrist. Armon stiffly did the same, though I could see the strain in both his grasp and Kain's when they shook hands and the two males eyed each other warily. Still, they let go at the same time and, after a tense silence, Altair led us inside toward the main halls of the MGM without any further confrontation between the two.
The largest of the main halls was set up as a ballroom while the many connecting halls were set up as dining rooms. Altair led us up to the main podium and only then was the crowd that had been waiting outside let inside the building. Brice and Lucius tucked themselves into place to the side and slightly in front of Kain and myself whilst Sigrun remained at our backs. With Brice and Lucius standing where they were, Kain and I were mostly hidden from the sight of the crowd. My other Siblings spaced themselves around the two of us as they talked amongst themselves. For the most part they kept to playful, if somewhat sharp-edged, banter. I tucked myself a little closer to Kain's side and Joan tilted her head at me thoughtfully. I flashed her a small smile and she returned the grin before she turned to look out amongst the crowd as people slowly filled the room. Elijah suddenly nudged my arm with his wing and he leaned close to me.
"Why do I suddenly feel like the thunder's rolling in little blister?" he asked softly. The growing din of the crowd meant that only Kain and I hear his soft-spoken question.
"'Blister'?" I asked, rather than answer his question.
"Aussie slang for 'sister'," he clarified. "An' you didn't answer my question."
"Perhaps you should simply trust your instincts and stop asking questions," Kain rumbled softly. He continued to look over the crowd with his usual air of assurance. As if he owned the place.
"..." Elijah blinked at him and then let out a dry laugh. "Picked a hard tack, didn't ya blister?"
"If that phrase means the same thing as 'tough as nails'," I responded with a dry tone and smile. "Then yes, I did."
"Long as he makes you happy, then I ain't got a problem with 'im," Elijah said with a grin. "Sig give him the run down yet?"
"Do you mean; did she challenge him to a fight?" I asked.
He nodded.
"She did," I smiled, a small vicious little flash of fang. "She lost."
"Well, bugger me dead," Elijah laughed.
He glanced back at Sigrun briefly before he winced under the sudden glare that she sent his way. His wings ruffled briefly and he let out another, softer laugh.
"Have to give it a bit, but that'll make some great ammo later for teasin' big blister later," he said wryly and he winked.
"You're likely to get your ass handed to you," I responded with a grin. "Sig seems to have a little bit of a temper."
"Eh, she's prideful. Who isn't?" Elijah shrugged. "Me? I know I'm young, but she also knows I'm just ribbin' her, so she doesn't tan my hide too bad if I push too many buttons."
"Three broken ribs and a concussion doesn't count as 'tanning your hide too bad' for you lad?" Brice asked in a dry tone.
"Considering you broke six of his ribs and his left leg in three places the last time you fought during training lessons Brice, I think he considers her lessonings to be mild," Lucius piped up suddenly.
I raised a brow as I glanced between the three males. Kain let out another chuckle and he raised a brow as he turned his focus on Elijah.
"Six ribs and a leg broken in three places and still you persist in pushing anyone's patience?" Kain asked.
"Twas but a scratch," Elijah responded with a wide smirk.
I let out a soft snort.
"Really? A Monty Python quote?" I asked.
"Yup," he chuckled. "If you can't tell, I like to have fun and well, push buttons."
"Sigrun did mention you were a bit of a dare-devil," I said drily.
"Before it became popular too!" Elijah said with a grin.
"That is not something to be proud of," Benedict said and his hand closed on Elijah's shoulder. "Be silent now Brother. The crowd has almost filled the room and our King will start his speech soon."
"...wanker," Elijah muttered softly. He winked at me but fell silent as ordered.
I chuckled behind my hand and leaned against Kain. His mind brushed against my own and I could feel his amusement underneath the attentive, hunter's focus as he continued to eye the crowd warily.
~I do imagine that your Siblings will... take some getting used to,~ he murmured softly into my mind.
~It will be interesting, to say the least,~ I responded. ~Especially when they are all finally told how old I actually am.~
~Your youngest Sister, Joan,~ Kain thrummed thoughtfully. ~Her very presence seems to sooth and calm. Janos told us that the Omega's of Nosgoth were timid things, soft and quiet. In need of constant care and protection from the dangers around them that they seemed little more than the Breed of this world by his telling. Yet she seems to command them more than even the eldest of your siblings merely by asking something of them.~
~Again, perhaps a difference between the two worlds,~ I started and then I tilted my head with a frown. ~That or Janos and the others did not truly understand the nature of the Omega's that once existed on Nosgoth. Perhaps, since he only mentioned it in passing during his lessons, the Omega's that had existed only existed amongst the original Ancient's. Vorador was certain that none of those Turned as he was were Omega's even before the Sarafan's original purge. Still, she seems a calming force, a mediator... an entity that could help keep a pack made solely of Alpha's from tearing at each other's throats. Elijah feels more like a low level Alpha than anything else, whilst Benedict, Cuthbert and Sigrun are all very much Alpha's. Yet she calmed them instantly when it seemed like our Brother's were going to fight.~
~Methinks that you may be right mine own,~ Kain hummed in my mind. ~Janos and the others of his kith and kin may not have truly understood their nature. From what the Old One said of those early years, it was a struggle to even understand the basics of their new natures as predators. Hmm, we will speak more upon it later.~
His attention had turned toward Altair when the winged Eldar raised his arms and sent out a pulsing thrum of Aura to call the attention of those within the room. The crowd around us seemed to both perk up attentively and calm to that quiet stillness that only vampires could obtain.
"Friends and Clan-mates," Altair started with a small smile. "I have called you here to celebrate a momentous event. As you know, one-hundred and fifty-two years ago one of the daughters of the sky was stolen from us and fell magics were used to hide her from our sight. We could do nothing to aid her and could only monitor the status of her tracking crystal helplessly."
The crowd shifted, the rustling of wings and feather-tips filled the air with a soft whisper-like noise that was also somehow as loud as the ocean tide. I eyed the crowd warily and allowed my hand to tighten on Kain's arm. His taloned hand moved to subtly rest over my own.
"A hundred and fifty-two years of torture..." Altair said grimly as his smile fell away. "And yet our Clan-mate retained her mind and will. Sturdy as the oak grove her family was named for and pure as the day she was taken."
That last was a carefully worded and not-so-subtle barb meant for Auron as much as it was a statement designed to inform those here that I had not been raped during those years of captivity. Several faces had gone dark at Altair's initial mention of torture and then had filled with dark pride at the mention of my strength of will.
"She escaped, on her own no less," Altair continued, "and though she was badly wounded, she found safety amongst one who offered her aid, time and protection as she recovered. One who offered to find who had harmed her and even offered to assist her in slaying her tormentor. They were unable to locate the coward who took her from us and, once she had reclaimed her strength in full, she and her ally made their way back to the lands where she grew up and thus passed out of the shrouding darkness of the magic that kept her from our sight. Today, I call you here to welcome home our long-lost Clan-mate, Katrina Eklund and to welcome He Whom She Trusts, the Lord Kain, into the Clan with open arms and sheltering wings."
Kain and I stepped forward at that point in Altair's speech. Brice and Lucius moved enough to the side to reveal our until then, partially concealed forms. A ripple ran through the crowd and a heavy thrum of over a thousand Aura's reached out toward us all at once in a wave that was heavier than the subdued press that it had been outside. To have over a thousand individuals all tasting of Clan brush their power against my own so! It was wild and intense and normally I would have hidden how the sudden press of energy affected me, yet now... I allowed myself to wobble just a hair before I steadied myself. At Kain's seeming command, we both bowed our heads faintly to the crowd, though we did not look away from the crowd nor lower our gazes. We straightened and Altair smiled once more as he raised his hands.
"Tonight is a night to celebrate the strength and will of our Clan-mate. To celebrate her freedom and return to our side! Welcome home our daughter of the sky and let the festivities commence!"
The crowd cheered at that point and the sheer joy in the Aura's of those around us was a palatable thing indeed. From there, Altair and his son led Kain and I into the main throng in order to introduce us to many of those who were highly ranked amongst the Clan. Here was Yvonne, one of the Clan's five Generals. There was Lorenzo, one of the Head Healers. Then there was Rasputin, one of the Clan's Forge-smiths. Oh, and next was Wesker, the Clan's Spy-master and then Quentin and his three Daughters, Master artisans and story tellers.
Elijah provided colorful commentary after each introduction and, despite the danger that we were actually in, I couldn't help but laugh softly at his inane jokes. Kain hummed his amusement next to me when he was able to follow along with some of Elijah's random seeming comments. Armon let out a frustrated growl at one point when Elijah's joking insults got to be too much and separated from our group to go talk to one of Quentin's Daughters. Altair let out a small, bemused laugh and then waved his hand toward the musicians. He then turned towards Kain and I.
"If I may be allowed the honor to act in your Father's stead for the first dance?" Altair asked softly. "This is, after all, considered to be your debut party as well as a celebration of your return..."
I allowed myself to tense and glanced at Kain with a raised brow. In truth, I would rather have allowed Brice to have the first dance. I felt somehow closer to the memory of my Father through Brice and his stories as opposed to my Father's Liege Lord. I reached out mentally and conveyed my honest preference for the situation but knew that Kain would choose whatever path might further help in building the illusion that we wished to build regarding my 'dependence' upon him. Kain tilted his head at me in thought and then his lips quirked up in that little smirk of his that I enjoyed so much. He took my hand from his arm and placed it into Altair's.
"Brice is to have the second dance," Kain looked at Brice, who's wings had fanned out faintly in surprise. "You will then guide her back to me."
"I... as you will," Brice answered with a bow of his head. To be allowed the second dance at a debut event, especially when one already had been Mate-Marked, or at least Betrothed, was a momentous honor and Brice well knew it.
Altair smiled gently, a relieved look in his eyes beneath his regal, yet unmarked gold mask. He led me out onto the main floor as the music started. The crowd shifted as one to make room for us to dance. He led me around the floor in a graceful waltz for several long moments before he spoke.
"I wished to apologize again for my rudeness, daughter of my dearest friend," he said softly. His gaze was careful, both keeping watch of the crowd whilst seeming not to break from my own.
"As long as you can continue to remember that I am not the Childe in need that you expected to find, then I can forgive your actions and assumptions," I responded in a level, yet soft tone. "Brice has done much to explain your actions and has soothed both Kain's and my own growing temper."
Altair chuckled softly. "It seems I must thank him for playing peacemaker for me."
"You should indeed," I responded in a slightly more gentle tone. "He serves his King well, but perhaps if said King would actually listen to his council he would not need to play the peacemaker so..."
"I find myself suitably chastised," Altair said a self-effacing chuckle. "And I do hope that we can build a more amicable relationship whilst you are here. I do not wish to push you away from the sheltering wings of the Clan."
Ah, I thought to myself, so Brice warned him of my intent to break from the Clan in full if there proved a need.
I shot a small glance Brice's way. Really, he was easy to spot in his Scotsman garb amongst the crowd. I smiled faintly at the other male and then turned back to Altair.
"I dislike being lied to," I said honestly, though I continued to keep my voice soft. "Even if it is by omission. I would have appreciated being told about my Siblings and I would have understood your desire for me to refrain from contacting them. I do hold a portion of Kain's army under my command after all and understand the need for times of secrecy."
"I allowed my over-protectiveness to cloud my mind," Altair admitted as he guided me through a spin and back to his side for us to move side-by-side for several steps. "I can only promise that I will attempt to refrain from such actions in the future."
Hmm, not a promise that it would not happen again, I thought. But at least an acknowledgement of a revealed flaw.
I allowed him to guide me back to him as we continued to move and I nodded my head in response to his words. He continued to lead me for the remainder of the melody and I took note of the open pain in his eyes, though the rest of his face remained a polite facade beneath his mask. A showing of weakness that would have otherwise remained hidden were I anyone else. Only when the music stopped and we had bowed to each other, even now I refused to curtsy, did I speak again amidst the sounds of clapping.
"I accept your promise," I murmured to him.
"I am grateful for your kindness," he responded with a small smile.
Altair kissed the back of my hand and led me back toward where Kain, Brice, Lucius and my siblings all stood. Rather than guide my hand toward Kain's as the crowd seemed to expect, Altair placed my hand in Brice's tri-taloned grasp. A small buzz passed through the crowd at that and Brice glanced at Kain to be certain that this would yet be acceptable. Kain nodded his head and indicated for Brice to lead me out to the floor. Brice nodded his head and led me back out as the music started up again at Altair's signal.
"This... is quite the honor lass," Brice said honestly as he moved me about like a delicate flower.
"Were it not for necessities sake and to sooth Altair's worry," I started quietly. "Kain and I would have allowed you the first dance. This was the compromise."
"I..." his voice broke off in a choked sound.
Wonder of wonders, the Eldar male's steps faltered and for a moment I thought he might freeze up completely. A deft shift of my hand helped to guide him past the shock my words had caused and he resumed the waltz easily enough. I saw the same pain in his eyes that had been in Altair's and I gave his larger hand a small squeeze as I smiled at him. He returned the smile and the pain seemed to lessen somewhat as spun me about with a little more levity in his gait.
The melody shifted smoothly into another song as Kain stepped forward to claim his own dance. Brice passed my hand into my King's and the look he shot Kain was plain enough to read. Take care of me, always, that gaze said. Kain smirked into that gaze and his own look was easy enough for me to read as well. I would take care of myself, that gaze said, but if my steps faltered, he would be there to steady me when he was able. Brice nodded his head once in acceptance and moved from the main floor as Kain began to lead me about the room. I let out a contented sound as we fell into a long familiar rhythm.
"There has been no sign of our prey as yet," he said softly as he leaned close to mouth his lips over mine in a light, yet proprietary kiss.
"Keep up with such displays and he will likely make a move," I murmured back in response.
Kain hummed his agreement and we continued to move together in well coordinated movements. As the melody shifted once more I found myself being handed off to a stiff Armon and I had to stifle a sigh. His obvious tetchiness made it a difficult dance compared to the smooth movements of the others. Half the time I was leading him about the floor! It was with no small measure of relief, on either of our parts I believe, that he passed me to the next dancer. The crowd had started to join us in dancing now that the Price had his allowed dance. I spun and danced with dozens from the crowd. I kept up a gentle smile and spoke charmingly to those whom I danced with. Oft times, I separated from male and female alike and left them with smiles and a ready story of my gentleness upon their lips. I felt a soft haze settle across my mind as the music continued to flow around us and I shot off a quick, tightly beamed warning to Kain.
~My mind feels fuzzy,~ I said to him.
~I am here,~ came the firm response.
A quick, idle seeming glance to the side revealed that Kain was not five steps from me, dancing with Sigrun. Indeed, each of my Siblings had carefully arranged themselves close by with their own dancing partners. I allowed a happy-seeming laugh to escape me when my current partner spun me about before she passed me to the next eager seeming dancer with a falcon-like mask. Dark, deep forest green eyes met mine and the odd haze settled a little more firmly over my thoughts, though I was careful to keep myself on guard against the mental magic lest it slip over me completely. I was pulled in close to my newest dance partner and he swung me in a waltzing circle. Smooth lips brushed against my left ear.
"So many here to welcome you home my pet. My petite l'ange," a long familiar, sweet-poisoned voice purred into my ear. "What carnal delights did you promise to them to make them smile so at you, petite pute?"
I froze.
Chap done. Please enjoy!
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