Re: Hunter and The Thief

[questor]

The man looked at the E-mail and chuckled. "So you have taken an intrest in this case have you." Well he would observe them. He already had paid informants scouring the city to find their base of operations. He knew enough to know that Anubis loved to have comfortable surroundings, as had Cain. He had been reading up on the fiasco that the Order had back east when the e-mail had arrived.

He had learned that Cain was dead and that the one called Dante had been the one that killed him with a weapon that he knew had been lost to the Brotherhood a very long time ago. "Well done Mr. Dante. You have done what the Order and the Brotherhood could not do in centuries." he removed his long coat and let it fall back over the back of the chair. "Now just what are you and how could you kill the father of all vampires where trained hunters could not? Perhaps we should see if you would like to become part of the Brotherhood. I think our leader would make an exception to the rule of having a non man of the cloth as a member." he chuckled.

In the Atlantic Ocean a ship found a man floating in lift raft. The man could not remember his name or where he had come from. But one thing he did know was that he was not human. His thirst for blood showed that. But the time that they reached port, two crew members had disapeared. The crew had no idea what had happened to them. The man went ashore with the crew and disapeared into the city.

[LadyRaven]

After the conversation that night, the subject of the Brotherhood and the hunter on their trail remained a touchy subject. Gabe and Marla were told everything, but Gabe didn't believe it. It just sounded far too incredible to be true. However, the look Casha gave him was more than enough to make his hair stand on end and she wouldn't say such a thing without just cause or reasoning. The entire family then were on the lookout for anyone resembling Frenchy's description. It bred paranoia something awful for the first few days, but after a week and nothing happening, things began to settle once more.

After two weeks, the majority of them had all but passed the strange hunter off as passing through. That wasn't the case for Casha. She remained paranoid about it and watched every shadow as carefully as though she were hunting. She made sure the guard had been doubled and any passing car or walker was checked and then rechecked against the various databases available to a decently skilled hacker. Nothing had come up, but Casha knew he was out there somewhere, biding his time.

Kat had returned to her usual, self absorbed nature and had quickly kitted Marla out with the latest fashions, though it took several very loud arguments and something close to a fist fight, though Kat knew she wouldn't have a chance if she fought fair. Casha stayed out of that affair, remembering that Marla's fists actually hurt. Beyond that, the new moon had brought Dante the challenge Kat had given him before the hunt. The feline wasted no time in exacting every last ounce of seed and energy from her lover, determined to make the magik happen. Besides, it had been his idea, so turning back now would mean the tantrum of a century in Kat. Beyond that for her, it was taking Casha and Marla shopping, socialising or showing off their collective beauty to the undeserving masses.

Gabe and Marla remained as they were and made no plans beyond having fun and getting to know each other better. At least, that was what Gabe had planned. When he wasn't rolling around in bed with her of an afternoon or evening, he was training in or around the pool. He'd set up several targets at the bottom of the garden so he could practice his shot. Generally, he did this when Marla wasn't around as he found her too distracting. The main competition? Casha.

Casha remained in her seeming odd ways. She would drift off into memory for a while and then come back to reality, generally whilever Kat was harping on about trends and the latest accessories; or when she was being shown off to some megre mortal that she would rather eat than talk to. She came to relish the target practice and sparring with Gabe. he gave her chance to wind down and rid her mind of the constant ramblings of Kat and her desires. There was no sign of a pregnancy yet, much to Anubis' frustration, but Casha simply smiled and offered the line, "Maybe next time." She hadn't taken up using precautions, that would hurt him beyond belief, but she managed to time things so either she or he would be distracted or too tired to do anything more than fall asleep on each other.

After a month, there was huge news that had the household in near panic. Well, it wasn't huge news per say, everyone knew what had been going on, but for Kat, they made it a big deal. She would be expecting kitten by the end of the year. Casha managed to stifle her laughter at the sheer panic on Dante's face at the idea of being surrounding by not one mountain of baby things, but multiple mountains of baby things. He was congratulated by the staff and all seemed well. Kat was in her element and started pestering even more when Casha would become pregnant. "Sisters having babies together." She would say. Casha would look at Anubis and see the jealousy in his eyes, but again, she would say the same thing to him. Marla was the next target, though Kat found it hard to pin her down long enough to pester. Casha envied that in her friend and wished often that she could disappear with her.

"So come on then, any signs yet?" Kat pestered for the dozenth time.
Casha sighed and rolled her eyes, "Would you like me to do a test and prove it?"
Kat pouted, "But I had plans for us. Matching maternity outfits and everything!"
Casha sighed into her gut and closed her eyes, "Do we really have to talk about this now? Can't you see I'm trying to do something?"
"Trying to avoid me." Kat hissed, "That's what you're trying to do. I wanna see you happy again, smiling like you used to."
"And throwing up every morning is supposed to make that happen?" Casha asked, "I am not pregnant yet."
"Anubis wants you to be." The feline cooed, "He'd love you all glowing and rounded. I think he's getting jealous."
Casha growled in her throat and closed the folder she was reading. "Well, he's just gonna have to be jealous a bit longer then, ain't he!" She snapped and quickly slid off the stool. No sooner had she walked away from the kitchen, she slammed right into him, "Oh!" She said in shock, then quickly looked behind her. She tried to smile, "Anything interesting happening in the city?"

[questor]

A month had passed since they had set the stage for the church to think Casha and Anubis was dead. Morgan's body had been retreived by the hunters and sent back to Rome for a proper and honorable burial. Every one thought that Dante had returned for his friend's body and had taken her somewhere to be buried. Dante kept a low profile and basicly fell of the grid of the Church's searches. He had managed to get in contact with the old priest they had left behind to help with the orphanage. He had the priest let his friends know that he was alright and just keep a low profile until things settled down. He also was able to send money to the priest to give to them to help out with the orphanage.

All the children missed him and he had to promise that he would make a visit soon. As he thought of the children he began trying to think of names for those of his own that would be coming. This was going to be an interesting batch of little ones. The servents had already set up a nursery and were preparing for their arrival. He was nervous about the whole thing as both him and Kat were not your normal parents. She was a cat like person and he had the genetic make up of a vampire and something else it seemed. He wondered what they were going to look like or be.

Marla would disapear here and there just to get away from Kat mostly who kept wanting to drag her off shopping all the time. She had come to like the Cat Lady but she did get on her nerves at times. She no longer wore the clothing of a hunter, as it would give her away if seen in them. But she could not come to wear what Casha began wearing, except on occasion to drive Gabe nuts with desire. When she was out and about she wore some stylish clothing, but she always had her gun and some knives about her.

But the end of the month there were several more vampires and lycans in the city. They had been placed in safe houses about the city. Anubis had kept himself busy with the organizing of the new underground empire. He divided up the city into sections and certain ones of the vampires and lycans were given control over these areas. These leaders and those under them would slowly begin to infiltrate the infastructure of the city's government, and out lying suburbs. They would use humans as their puppet leaders. His plan was to basicly take over the city and make it a haven for his kind and others. They would be protected by government officials in ways that were not really legal but not illegal either.

He took the news of Kat's pregnantancy a bit hard. He wondered if Casha was really wanting children. He had dreamed of having children of his own. He knew he could have them. Cain had Enoch by his human wife, so why could he not. When he returned to the mansion after talking to the new leaders he had appointed, he almost ran into her. "Everything is going according to plan so far." he caressed her face with a hand.

In that month the Man had sent out a number of paid informants and they came back with the location of the mansion that they all were staying at. He sat up a point some distance from the mansion and kept an eye on them, marking their coming and going and at times sending people to be near them when they went out. One of the women was particularly talkative when around Casha and the former hunter Marla. He had to laugh at times about the way she acted and carried on. But he found out from the informants and reading other reports that she was a Changeling. A Cat Woman. It seemed that her and Dante were a thing together and he learned that she had become pregnant.

A bit more snooping but this time in the ranks of the Order, he found out a bit about Dante. From what they knew he was a thief and a good one, and had become an abnormal through an accident involving a powerful vampire some years back. "Ah the mystery is solved." the man said as he read the report. "Cain had no idea of what you were and capable of. He underestimated you and paid the price for it." After a month he had found out what Anubis was up to so when his superior arrived he was ready to make his report.

When the car pulled up he was there to great his guest, in his long black robes and read cap of a cardinal of the church.

[LadyRaven]

Casha gave her lover a warm smile and nodded, "Perfect." She said, "Now all we need is time." She gave him a soft kiss on her cheek before heading upstairs for some peace and silence. She shut the bedroom door behind her and sighed in relief. "Peace at last." She murmered and then took her folder to the dressing table. She pushed aside the mountain of cosmetics Kat had bought her and opened it up to read through it again. It was everything she had written down from memory regarding the shadow man.

Kat grinned cheerfully at Anubis, "So what do you want to be called?" She asked him with a giggle, "I like the idea of you being an uncle. It suits you. Sorry if you overheard me and Casha, but I can't help it. I'm so excited!" She danced up to him, but then her smile faded. "It'll happen eventually." She offered, "She can't avoid it forever." She then grinned wider, "Besides, she's been off her blood now for a whole week. I say get in there quick while she's distracted with whatever's in that bloody folder she keeps reading."

At the ranch, the car pulled up and the driver opened the door. He stood to attention so to speak as a long ebony cane emerged from the shadowed vehicle. Then a large foot and finally, a tall, wide set man emerged. He nodded to the driver and then made his way to the hunter. He gave a nod of his head again, "And what do I call you?" He asked carefully. His deep green eyes regarded the man closely. The wrinkles around his eyes and the soft silver hair showed his age. The man was easily in his sixties. He was dressed like a monk, but the tailoring and quality of the cloth showed he was anything but penniless. Around his neck, he wore a large blood stone wrapped in silver......

[questor]

"Cardinal Rushmond." the man said to the old man. This was his superior from up the chain of command to their leader in Rome. "Come in sir and have some refreshments. I am sure you have had a long and tiring trip here." He lead the way back inside to the study where there was chilled wine, water, and an assortment of fruits and small sandwiches. He motioned for his superior to sit behind the large wooden desk and at the folder on the desk.

"As you requested, I have observed the group for a month now. There is information on each and everyone of them. If I may I will go over some of what I have observed and found out."

As the old man seated himself Rushford continued. "I will begin with the Vampire Anubis. As you know he is the one called Anubis of the Nile. He was created by Cain along with four others. He was Cains general until the great flood destroyed Cains empire. He along with his borthers and Akasha escaped to what is now Egypt and began the civilization there. After Akashas death at the hands of the people he began a campain of death and destruction that has lasted for millinums. It seems the two were very much in love and he took her death very hard.

He has eluded us and the Order all this time. When any has gotten close, he has disappeared, only to reappear years later somewhere else. But now it seems that he has changed to some degree, which I think has to do with the one that was once called Mackenzie Trydant. She now calls herself Casha. She from what I have found out is a direct decendent of the line that Akasha came from. The Church and the Order had her ancestors brought in and trained as hunters. Perhaps hoping one day that one like her would be born that looked like Akasha to lure Anubis in and kill him. But if what my informants have discovered, this one is the reincarnated Akasha. She seems to have calmed the savage beast within Anubis.

The others are Marla and Gabe, former hunters of the Order. Gabe was one of Mackenzie's/Casha's team. He and Marla seem to have left the Order and have sided with Casha and Anubis.

The other two are Kat and Dante. Kat seems to be a changeling, of the cat variety, and Dante through an accident became like a vampire but not one. He has their abilities but not the ability or desire to drink blood. All the benifits but not the curse. Perhaps that is why the Pope wishes him in Rome. He carries the Demon Sword, that was lost many centuries ago. He was able to kill Cain with it in that fiasco of the Order back east. He is a remarkable individual and I have recommended that we try to recruit him. I think he would be a valuable asset."

Back at the mansion, Anubis went back up to their room and opened the door quietly. Casha had been intent on something all month and he wanted to know what was distracting her, besides trying to avoid him for obvious reasons. He had a feeling she was not ready just yet to have a child, even though that was something he was wanting with her so much.

Marla had been going into the city to find out what she could about the man in black. She had her own way of doing things especially when she spotted someone following her everywhere. She finally laid a trap for the man and with the barrel of her gun under his chin and his back up against the wall in an ally, he spilled his guts to her. With a stern warning not to let it be known that he talked, one with the over tone of his very painful and extended death she let him go and continued to do some more research and had their hacker find out where the cellphone number she got from the man was and who it belonged to.

When she got this last piece of information she was ready to talk to Casha and Anubis.

[LadyRaven]

Anubis could have been as silent as death when he entered that bedroom and Casha would still have heard him. "Don't you ever get bored trying to sneak up on me?" She asked quietly as she turned the page and made some notes on a small pad. The silent response made her put the pen down and she turned on the stool to face him. His eyes spoke more than any word he could come up with and Casha chewed her lip. He knew she was trying to avoid him. Lowering her head slightly, she looked at the folder and then her pen. "Kat got to you, didn't she." She offered quietly, then looked back up at him again. "Look, I can explain. I..."

The old man sat in the chair and looked around the study before his eyes went to the open folder and all the information Rushmond had gathered. he perused it as the younger man explained and then closed the folder. "Something to parch an old man, before we begin." He said quietly. His got his drink and he sat back in the chair to sip at it for a moment. His eyes said he had much to say on the matter that was not in the folder, but that he was chosing his next words incredibly carefully. He had to explain this without giving away information that Rushmond was not entitled to. After several moments, he could find no way of doing this and finished his drink.

"Sit down, Rushmond." He offered quietly, "And let me tell you some secrets that will turn your world upside down." He sat leaned back further and turned the chair to look at the younger man side on. "Let me begin by saying that although your reasoning over Dante is sound, it is doubtful he would consent to joining our Brotherhood. His actions and those of the female hunter have proven to me that his loyalty to her is assured. And those of the feline creature, who from what I've read here, shares his loyalty with a passion. You have put here that they are rarely seen without each other. We have no concern for the feline, she poses no threat beyond the management of the rodent population. Something we should all be grateful for, do you not agree?" He took another long sip of his drink before he continued.

"The two other hunters, I will not touch. The one named Marla. I have gone through her file in detail. She was born into the Order, as have so many others. The one named Gabriel is another matter. He is a former Marine of the US Naval Army. They are both recorded within families outside the Order. We cannot get involved with civilians. And from what I already know, Gabriel and Trydant, or Casha, have been loyal team mates for more than 12 years. These people, we need to tread very carefully with." Another long sip.

"If it can be proven that Anubis of the Nile has changed his ways, then perhaps we could afford him a longer leash. Trydant, on the other hand, we cannot." He looked at the younger man carefully. "Where she goes, you can be sure, the rest of them will never be far behind. And she doesn't miss a trick. Casha is a rare treat for us, my young Cardinal. A unique glimspe into the way Angel blood works. Oh, she is definitely the reincarnation of Akasha, we have known since her birth, but to actually see it come about, is something we couldn't afford to miss." He turned to Rushmond. "You look shocked, my boy. Did you really think something as valuable and dangerous as MacKensie Trydant would have escaped our attention?"

[questor]

Rushford sat there and listened to his superior. Most of what he said he already knew and he might be right about Dante, but the offer could still be made. He had a feeling that Dante was not done following in the footsteps of Casha. He may have been a born hunter. "So the Brotherhood has had an interest in Casha since her birth?" he nodded and poured himself some wine. "The Order has had an interest in her because of her ancestry and desire to catch Anubis and kill him. What is our intrest in her?"

"And to keep her from us." The old man continued. "Our interest is purely selfish." He held out his glass to Rushmond for more and then put his fingers under his chin. "For centuries, the Order has beaten us to the punch, taken Akasha's ancestors before we could get to them. All but one. Her grandmother, Heather Dean."......

Rushford poured him some chilled wine and sipped his. "So we were able to get her grandmother. But what is our interest in her. you said it was purely selfish."

The old man considered his next words very carefully. "Yes." he said, "Our interest is selfish." He sucked his cheek for a moment. "She's not just he most dangerous hunter we;ve ever seen, she's also family." He looked carefully at Rushmond. "The Oracle saw her coming fifty years ago, when I first came to the Brotherhood. she spans both our bloodline and that of the Order.".....

He leaned back in the leather chair raising a brow. "Family?" he had to think on that one. The Order had taken her ancestors into their program and matched them up with those in the Order, so they could claim her as family in a sence. "Who in the Brotherhood is related to her?" he asked. It was not possible for those of the Church to marry. Celebacy was the order."

Old green eyes stared at Rushmond with mirth, "Take a wild guess." He offered.....

The Cardinal smiled and shook his head. "So trying to protect family? But now she has changed and it seems is differnt then when she was a part of the Order. She was dangerous then but is more dangerous as a vampire." He thought a moment. "I have found out what they are up to in the City and surrounding areas." he took one of the small sandwiches from the platter and bit into it. "Anubis has been gathering forces from all over the world. Vampires and lycans have been arriving daily. He is setting them up in some sort of organized organization. Already some minor polictical leaders have been bribed to look the other way and help keep their presence quite. It looks as if he might be trying to influence the city government."

The old man nodded, "I shouldn't be suprised really, but I am." He offered, "A new age demands a new tactic. He can't just go out and cause a few nightmares and legends anymore. Even he, the king of Vampires, must move with the times." He levelled his gaze on his glass then, "My granddaughter is far more dangerous than you nor I could imagine. The Brotherhood spent years trying to find her an failed. We nearly had her mother, but she was snatched back and executed shortly after MacKensie was born. Even then, I knew how she wold turn out." He looked at Rushmond squarely, "You were what, 15, 16 when you killed your first immortal?".....

I was fourteen when I killed a demon." he told the old man. "That was when I began to learn about demons and angels. The Brotherhood found me and brought me in."

The old man nodded, "MacKensie was nine." He said flatly. "The church covered it up, told the girl she had made a mistake and got someone hurt, but I think they realized then what a true prize they had. She killed her first vampire outright when she was eleven, unnarmed, undefended and on her own." He casta sideways glance at him to guage his reaction....

Rushford grinned. "Impressive. Her old self was asserting itself even then. Records from the Chroniclors have reported that she was quite the fighter back when they were building the Egyptian Empire. Can you imagine what it would have been like if there was not the rebellion against them?" he shook his head. Even though he hunted their kind, mainly demons and angels he had a grudenly deep respect for Anubis and Casha. Bringing primative man out of the stoneage that lead to one of the most advanced empires ever made.

The old man nodded with half a smile, "Yes she was." He admitted, "But now. You combine that ancient knowledge and design with modern hunting techniques and weaponry, that woman is the most dangerous thing alive. Now she has the fangs and blood to match, she could be unstoppable." He put the glass down and turned back to Rushmond, "This is why we need to tread carefully, Rushmond. One wrong step before and she could have killed us without breaking a sweat. Now, she could wipe us out entirely with so much a blink."....

He leaned forward. "We have eliminated those that have been less a threat. Are you saying they are not to be touched?" If she was that dangerous then it was the business of the Brotherhood to eliminate her and Anubis as soon as possible.

"There is only one that holds the grace to kill such a creature." He told the younger man, "And it is no mortal man."....

"Lucifer." The fallen angel that had sided with the humans and the Chruch had turned into the evil one. That had been their mistake. He was the one that had lead some of the angels to teach mankind what they needed to know to survive. "But why would he agree to do that, if he could be found. Like Anubis he has a knack of disapearing and blending into the human populas."

The old man shook his head again. "The oracle was very clear in what she told my mentor." He said quietly, "The only one that could kill her could only be he whom she belongs to." he levelled his gaze again, "You can see where I'm going with this, yes?".....

He understood what was being said. "And why would he do that?"

The old man grinned, "Now there's a condundrum if there ever could be." He said with a smile. "Hence your orders to stay away from them. He can't kill her. His soul wouldn't allow it. He's been waiting for her for millenia and she has been waiting for him. It's why she never paired off like our lesser brethren. She couldn't physically tolerate anyone but him, though she didn't know it at the time. Had we managed to find her in time, things might have been very different.".....

"So what are we going to do about them. They may bring about something that is very dangerous for the population of Los Angeles and its surrounding areas. We protect the people. That is why the Brotherhood was formed, even way before the formation of the Church." he looked at his superior. What was their leader's decision on the matter.

The old man leaned back in the chair, "Had things gone as the Oracle had originally seen, MacKensie would have been led to Anubis when she came of age. She would have discovered her true self a lot sooner. The message stated that she was to be the calming force to Anubis and bring about the balance of life and death as it had once been." He looked at Rushmond steadily. "The brotherhood was created merely to protect the human race, but to protect life in the midst of the demonic war. Protecting life is not a purely human endevour, Rushmond. If you are to help in this case, you must first understand the grounds on which it stands."....

He raised a brow, "Not purely a human endevour? How are they to protect life when they must take life to live? With the influx of lycan and vampire in the city, there will be more death."

The old man shook his head, "No." He said flatly, "The human race is not the only life on this planet, though it likes to think it is. T'is true that more and more lycans and vampires have entered this city, but how many cases of death have been reported since it's happening? Certainly, the attacks have continued, but the death toll is suprisingly low. In fact, over this last year, vampires are responsible for only 1% of the total death toll. Humans on the other hand are responsbile for at least 85%. Think on that before you begin citing scripture."....

"Ah but we are not allowed to interfer with what mankind does. If we were, then many things would never have happen in the past." Was his superior saying that they were now going to begin policing the human race?"

"And there lies our next conundrum." he told the younger man, "Although, had we not interfered in the first place, mankind would never have been such a large issue, but I digress." He finished his drink and sat the glass on the table. "The Oracle in her infinite wisdom has requested Casha and her lover not be harmed for now. She would not tell me why as I am not yet meant to know or understand. However, her words have once again presented an opportunity to both myself and the Brotherhood. Hence, my presence instead of that of someone your own rank. I am to wait with you until it is time. For what, I don't know yet."....

He had never seen the Oracle. She was hidden away in a very secret location, known only by the Leader. She had extrodianary preception of the future. "She would not say why, or the Leader would not say?"

"She would not say." He said, "As much as our Leader might try and sway her favours, he may as well plait fog. She says we are to wait and so we must wait." He studied Rushmond carefully, "You like this as much as our Leader, don't you."....

[questor]

He had never seen the Oracle only been told of her messages. No one in the Brotherhood, except their Leader knew where she was. This was to protect her and keep her safe. But it had been said that she had come from a long line of those that could see the future. "So we again wait and see what comes of this."

Back at the mansion Anubis stood there over Casha as she sat. Kat's constant going on about having children had only made his desire for one even more. He was a bit jelous of Dante but also happy for him. He looked down at Casha as she said she could explain. He waited to hear what she had to say.

[LadyRaven]

Casha chewed her lip as he waited for her to speak. "I..." She shut her mouth again, trying to find the words....

He loved her with all his heart and did not want to press the issue, but in the past they had talked about it and were planning for it when the rebellion happened. He had hoped with the return of her memories she would wish to continue on with their plans. But the other part of her, the other life she had lived in this time still held sway over her in many things.

Casha stared at him for a minute as her mouth opened and then closed again. The memories of the time past when she had been eager to start a family with Anubis. She had been more than happy to try, despite the dangers it presented back then. Of course, things had changed greatly in the modern world, but this life had presented its own challenges. Her mouth opened and closed again and her eyes drifted about the room as she battled to find the words. "In our past lives." She offered finally, "We had been together for centuries when you brought up the idea of children. In this one......." She shut her mouth again and chewed her lip a third time.....

"In this one you have lived a complete different life, one where children was something you didn't want." he interjected. Being of the Order and subject to their breeding program it would have been something she had not wanted. Now even though with her memories of the past intact she still seemed to find it hard to come to grips with it all and especially having children. He had hoped her memories would over come all of that. But it looked as if he would have to wait again. Perhaps a long time."

Casha quickly shook her head, "No." She said, "I did want children. I wanted to settle down, get married, have a family of my own. It was one of the many things on my list when I looked in the mirror. Something that would take me away from the life I had." She looked down then and then turned around, "I just couldn't tolerate the man they paired me with."....

"And now? He is dead and you no longer belong to the Order." he added.

Casha looked at him in the reflection and offered half a smile. "And now....." She looked down again, "Now I know why I would never have laid with him. I didn't belong to him, I never belonged to him. I belonged to you. My soul waited thousands of years to be born again so I could come home to you. And now that I am, I ache for things to be as they once were, but......" She looked back at him in the mirror once more, "Would you, could you understand that I'm actually terrified of the idea?".....

That was something that Akasha had never been. She had been looking forward to it. At least then she was. Again he felt her new life had something to do with her fear. He moved from her to the balcony and looked out at the stars. "Long ago you were ready for it and wanted it. Today though your present life has made you afraid of it." he shook his head. It seemed Gabes assessment of her hadbeen totally wrong about wanting to have children.

Casha watched him as he watched the stars and then left the dressing table to join him. "When we began this," She said quietly, "I told you that I may not always do things the way I used to." She moved to his side, "Back then, yes, I was ready, I was eager to have children with you. An army of them if possible and today, I still do. I want children, I'd love to have them. It just scares me that I might fail. To be responsible for someone like that." She shook her head and laughed, "I know it sounds stupid. I've been responsible for thousands of lives, millions if you include my time as Akasha, but at the end of a spear, or a bow, a gun. This is different. A baby is not an enemy, or a subject of our empire. It is a piece of us that is far more precious and...."....

He turned and placed his hands on her upper arms. "But you will not be alone in it. I am here with you, and then there is Kat and Dante. You will not fail as a mother. You are to stubron to let that happen."

Casha looked up at her lover and offered a small smile, "Thank you." She said quietly, then shook her head slightly, "Damned that woman and her pestering." She said with a small laugh....

He moved his arms around her and pulled her to him, holding her tight to him. "She can be quite annoying can't she."

Casha wrapped her arms around his thick back, "Only quite annoying?" She asked...

"But she is also a very loveable person." he told her, "So what do you say my love. Shall we try to start a true family?"

Casha gave a small nod into his chest, "Yes." She agreed, "But I don't want you getting upset again if it doesn't happen right away."......

"If it is ment to be it will happen." he told her. "I have waited an eternity, a bit longer will not hurt."

Casha nodded again and looked up at him with a smile, "Are you gonna tell Kat?" She asked, "She's pestered me for too long."....

"I don't know if I could take it. You know she will be up here going on and on about....... matching maternity clothes." He leaned in and kissed her deeply.

"She already is." Casha sighed, "But I've made plans for us." She mimicked Kat's tone and accent, "Matching maternity outfits and everything!" She couldn't help but laugh then. "That woman is unstppable. I feel sorry for Dante sometimes, having to put up with that."....

"I think he likes it. He has put up with it for a while now." Anubis told her.

Casha laughed and nodded, "True." She said, "Though I doubt you'd agree if you'd seen his face last week when she announced the kittens. I've never seen a man truly frightened. Do you think he understands the idea of a litter of kittens?"....

Anubis had to laugh. "Probably but he never thought he would have one. But he has seemed to have adjusted to it."

Casha nodded and laughed again, "I doubt he thought he'd ever have kids." She chortled, then let the laughter die down, "If he can get over the idea, then so can I."....

Well Kat would have to wait until later to find out what had happened. He lead her over to the bed and smiled.
In Germany, the man that had been picked up at sea wandered the city of Bemahaven. He still could not remember who he was or why he was out in the middle of the ocean. The only thing he found on him had been sewn into the lining of his pants. It was a bank book that had a photo ID in it. The Bank was in England and the account had quite a bit of money in it. The ID said that he was a Victor Laslow. But for some reason he had a feeling that was not his name.

Casha smiled and curled her hand into his as he led her to the bed. The folder and her notes would be forgotten for the time being, though the contents still prayed somewhat on her mind. For now though, she would enjoy her lover and then sleep in peace.....

Marla went up to their room and began changing into something a bit more comfortable. She had to admit that Kat had good taste and the clothes were comfortable. She found Gabe there and after changing put her arms about him from behind. "Well now, guess I will let you know what I have found out about our mystrey man."

Gabe grinned as he felt arms around his waist. He turned in their circle and looked down at her with a wide grin. He loved what she was wearing and as he ran his fingers over the fine silk, he hoped she would wear this kind of thing more often. The smile faded somewhat when she spoke, but he didn't mind. She was after all, a good hunter. He nodded, "Shoot." He said, then led her to a long sofa by the balcony doors, "I wanna hear all about it."....

She sat down on the couch and turned slightly towards him. "Our mystery man is Cardinal Rushford, very high up in the chain of the hiarchy of the Church. Not part of the Order and there is no record or any thing on this Brotherhood. It seems it is an ultra secret organization within the church. Go figure. It seems that he has been spying on all of us with various informants, and has a Ranch about 50 miles from here."

Gabe sat and listened and then nodded in understanding, "Sounds about right." He said, "Casha's been going over her memories like an obsession to find out who this guy is and where he's been hiding. We should let them know first thing in the morning."....

Marla cuddled up next to him on the couch. "Wonder what they are up to." she grinned.

Gabe put her arms around her and leaned back on the sofa, "I think they're rockin' the kasbah." He said with a laugh, "Kat's been pesterin' like hell these last couple of weeks and I think she finally got to them.".....

Dante walked about the nursery picking up things and looking at them. Baby toys, clothing and the like. There was different color clothing, for boys and girls. "If Mary and John could see me now." he chuckled. "They would be loving this." he mumbled.

Kat stood in the doorway and grinned, "You miss them." She offered as her tail swished around her leg, "You could always invite them and the kids here for a short break. They'd all love it, not to mention it might inspire Anubis and Casha to make one of their own.".....

He turned smiling. "I don't want to put them in jepordy. Especially with someone out there that knows of us. Best that they stay there and when we can the two of us can go visit, maybe with the kids."

Kat smiled again and nodded, "Absolutely." She said, "Maybe the gang might tag along? Take seperate routes obviously." She moved fully into the room and started sorting through a box of clothes. The items were tiny and she smiled at them with pride.....

He moved up behind her and put his arms around her, moving a hand down to her belly that was beinging to get big. "So how many do you think. I know normal cats have several, but you are not that. Safely how many do you think you will have."

Kat looked down at the small bump growing. It had only been a couple of weeks so far, but she knew things were fine down there. "Three." She said, "Maybe four in there. I won't know until next week. I've arranged for a private doctor to come and check us over."......

"Good. Have you had security check him out?" he asked. The way things were they needed any one from the outside checked out. Especially when they found out that they were not quite human. The majority of humanity had no idea that they existed. Therefore they had to be careful of who found out about them, and then keep them quiet about it.

Kat smiled again and turned her head about. She licked his nose with a giggle. "He's a lycan." She said, "One of the guards told me about him. He has a practice soewhere in the city that deals only with lycans and other changelings.".....

He nodded and laughed as she licked his nose. At least she would have a doctor about for the birth. That was something that had worried him. "Well then it seems everything is going well." he kissed her neck. This was going to be a first, well that he knew of. From what he gathered from Frenchy, abnormals usually mated with their own kind. Kat and him were the first that would have hybyrids. He hoped everything would work out and there would be no complications because of it.

Kat nodded. "Hopefully, I won't be the only one the doctor looks at." She mused, then grinned....

"Now don't keep at them. Remember what he said he would do to you the last time you bugged him." He didn't think Kat would like being thrown in to the pool. "I think he would have done it."

Kat lifted an eyebrow, "He wouldn't touch a pregnant woman." She replied matter of factly, "Not now he has Casha watching over him. She'd rip his nuts off if he even tried it." she grinned again, "But it would be nice though. I have the perfect wardrobe planned for us both. Marla too.".....

Dante Laughed. "I think Marla and Gabe will wait a while. They still have to live together for awhile to get to know each other better. Though I think that they will eventually have a child it will be sometime after ours and Anubis and Cashas."

"We've only met two months ago." She mused, "And look at us now. Besides, Marlas already moved all her stuff into his room. And I think she'll look cute pregnant."....

"Ahhhhh you are wanting all these little ones around. Are you ready to be a mother and Aunt. Isn't this your first?" he asked her.

Kat held up a tiny sleep suit and grinned, "I've been ready for this my whole life." She said, the nodded, "Well of course this will be my first litter. I'm only 8 Dante.".....

He raised a brow at that, "Eight?"

Kat nodded as though it meant nothing to her. "My sister Misha had her first litter when she was 5, the tart." She said, "My mother was six when she had us.".....

"You mean you have only lived 8 years. How long do you live for?" he asked worried.

Kat furrowed her brow and put the sleepsuit down. She was confused. "Why would I say I was eight, if I wasn't?" She asked, then looked at the worried look on his face. She didn't quite understand why. "You look like you could faint, Dante. What's wrong?".....

"Normal cats only life a short number of years. You are eight years old but look to be in your late twenties in human years." he told her, "My life expenctency is infinate that I know of."

Kat nodded and lifted her brow, "And?" She asked, then the penny dropped and she looked down at the floor, "Oh." She said, but then tried to ligthen the moment again, "Well, my Uncle Felix made it into his early 30's, my dad made it into his mid 20's. He was a lot older than Mum."....

He looked at her and held her tighter. She had a shorter life span then humans. That ment their children would probably have the same unless his genitics changed all that.

Kat cuddled him back, but then furrowed her brow, "Honestly Dante, what's the joke?" She asked, "You look like you've just lost the cream."....

He didn't want to lose her is such a short time but he could not tell her that. He would enjoy what time they had together. He didn't say any more just kissed her neck and the side of her face.

Kat kissed him back lovingly, but she knew he was hiding something. Still, she wouldn't dwell on it for now. She had plans to make. She backed off slightly and grinned, "Do you think we should paint the room blue or pink, or both?" she asked, "There's bound to be at least one of each, right? Oo, maybe we could paint the room yellow. I like yellow and according to Vogue magazine, that Madonna woman painted her nursery yellow and her kids are real smart now."....

He grinned and shugged his shoulders. "Well that I am going to leave up to you." he told her. In a short time the little ones would be born and the place would be a changed place, that was for sure. Everyone was looking forward to it.

Kat grinned and then slunk away into the wardrobe. She ermgered a few minutes later wearing an almost invisble nightgown and crawled into the bed. "Are you coming?"....

He laughed and joined her in bed. He brought her to him and held her close.

[LadyRaven]

Over the course of the next couple of months, Dr Finche became a recognized member of the household. He would come once a week and check in on Kat. The news was good so far. There were four kittens that he could see on the ultrasound, though he didn't really need to count them. "A feline will expand the same number of milk ducts as the kittens she's carrying." He explained to Dante. Apart from her regular two breasts, two of the redundant nipples underneath had swollen up to match. All the kittens were doing really well and were growing without any problem. All ten fingers and toes and three of them with a visible tail already. There was one female that he could make out and at least two males, the fourth kitten was a mystery and most likely to be "The Runt." Kat was quick to hiss at the man, stating she was incapable of having one, but nonetheless, he would keep an eye on the mystery kitten to make sure it survived.

Kat had grown considerably, but that was to be expected. She had perhaps another four months to go at the most and Dr Finche had taken into account Dante's genetics. The kittens had developed so now it was just a matter of maturing. Kat of course, was in full bloom and showing off her bump to anyone that would take notice. The biggest joke and trick now was watching them kick off whatever Kat sat on them, usually Dante's head or the TV remote. The nursery was finished and decked out with all the fineries their babies would need. Four moses baskets were lined up beside the bed in their own rockers and in the nest room, four of everything else had been set up. The room had been painted yellow, but there were splashes of pink and blue dotted around too. Soft toys, cushions and bright pictures finished the room. Everything was ready. At least, they tought everything was ready.

In the third month, Kat became somewhat ill. She was off her food and even a treat of fried mouse sent the feline running for the bathroom. She was half way through her pregnancy now and quite large, but she retained her agility without much problem. Dr Finche was called back, but found nothing physically wrong with her. He checked the kittens and they were fine too, growing and quite active still. The fourth was still rather small and as yet, remained a mystery. It kept hiding behind its siblings. The doctor put her sickness down to the movement of the kittens and her changing hormones. He gave her something to ease her stomach and told the household to make sure she got plenty of rest and plenty of sun. After a week of sunbathing by the pool and being waited on hand and foot by the servants, she was back to her old self. And up to her old tricks.

While Marla and Gabe had taken a short break from the chaos, she had gone into their rooms and gone rooting around again. Of course, she got caught, but not before she found a receipt from a premier jewellers in the city. She wondered how much Gabe would be nice to her to keep that secret.

Then, at the end of the third month, more changes happened. Gabe and Marla had returned, Kat instantly pouncing on the man to blackmail him about the jeweller's receipt. He just laughed it off and flashed a gold chain at her that he said Marla had bought him since it had been his birthday while they had been away. Deflated, Kat went back to annoy someone else.

After settling back in, Gabe went out to see what had survived of his little target area. Everywhere he looked these days, he saw baby things and it was starting to unnerve him. By the pool, he spotted Casha soaking up some sun. He smiled and cast his shadow over her and then grinned when she smiled back at him. His grin didn't last long though. "You don't look right." He said.
Casha sat up on her recliner and offered him a small smile, "I'm tired." She told him, "We haven't been getting much sleep with Kat on overdrive."
Gabe laughed and pulled her up to stand, "Why do you think me and Marla disappeared for a few?"
Casha laughed and gave him a small hug before she removed her sarong and went to the edge of the pool. "Well, it shouldn't last much longer." She said, "And then we can enjoy screaming babies instead."
Gabe laughed and moved to her. He put his arms around her from behind and gave her a small squeeze. "Is it getting to you?" He asked.
Casha patted his arms and put her head back on his shoulder. "Not really." She admitted, "But Anubis might be another story. We've been trying, but nothing seems to have happened yet. And with Kat getting along so quickly, I think he's starting to get anxious."
Gabe laughed quietly and gave her another squeeze, "I wouldn't worry." He offered, then let her go and turned her around. "You guys have all of eternity to make it happen."
Casha smiled and kissed his cheek tenderly, and then watched him go back into the house. As she turned around again to jump into the water, she felt a sudden wave of nausea hit her. "Oh, that was weird." She breathed, but then felt she was losing balance. The last thing she remembered was knees giving out. Casha passed out cold and fallen in the pool.

Gabe and Kat both were there immediately and Gabe jumped in the pool to get Casha. He threw her out of the water and then kneeled over her to check she was still breathing. A small gargling sound worried him and he quickly turned her on her front. "Someone get some help!" Kat screamed as she knelt beside Gabe. For once she didn't care that she was getting wet. Kneeling over Casha, Gabe slowly pressed down under her shoulder blades to force the water out of her lungs. "Come on Babe." He pleaded, "Breathe me for." He repeated the pressure several time and each time, she brought up more water. "Where the hell is the help?" He asked Kat, "And where's Anubis?" he looked up to spy Marla. "See if you can find him, will you Love?" He asked, "And some warm towels."
"I don't know." Kat said as she wiped Casha's mouth and nose after each ejection of water. "Why won't she wake up?"
Gabe shook his head, "I have no idea." He grunted as he pushed down on her back yet again. More water spurted from Casha's mouth and then she suddenly coughed up the last of it on her own. Gabe flipped her over again quickly and lifted her head and shoulders up enough that she could cough it up without choking. "There ya are, Honey." He cooed, "I gotcha, I gotcha. You cough it all up. I gotcha." He looked around to find Anubis coming in a hurry with Marla. "Finally!" He said. "A good welcome back this is."

[questor]

Dante watched Kat grow during the next few months. The Doctor came and went, and all was well. When she got somewhat sick, he could only atribute it to morning sickness, or at least a form of it for her kind. The Doctor said all was well and he had a nagging feeling about the fourth kitten. The Doc called it the runt of the litter, but he had a feeling that the little one was not going to be like his siblings. He would be more like Dante. He only hoped that he was not a vampire.

Gabe and Marla had taken off somewhere together, using some fake ID's that Anubis obtained for them. His underground or underworld empire was gathering more and more power. The Mayor and District Attorney were in their pay now, with the promise that they would remain in their positions for a very long time. Where the two went no one knew. But they came back a bit tanned and looking quite refreshed.

Kat had been a whirlwind, even though she was carring four little ones in her. She had everyone hopping and most of the servents enjoyed it. Gave them something to do then cleaning up the place or nothing at all. Anubis and Casha didn't need much and usually did things themselves. So when the two came back Dante was wanting to know all about their trip. He himself was planing a return to the East Coast to see Mary and John along with all the kids.

He was coming down to talk to Gabe when he heard the commotion outside by the pool. He was almost ran over by Anubis as he rushed out. As soon as he saw that Casha was down on the ground and Gabe using some CPR on her he had his phone in hand and called the Doc. He had him on speed dial. He told him something had happened to Casha and needed him immediately.

Anubis was there and holding her as he asked what had happened. His face was ashen as he looked down at her.

The Doc was there within minutes of the Call, having been out on another call. He was immediately taken to Casha. He opened his black bag and then began to check her out. Listening to her heart, her breathing and then he had one of the servents go out into the car and bring in another bag. He opened it up and rubbed some jell over her stomach and lower area then put the ultrasound device on her and began moving it about as he observed the screen. He turned it so Casha could see what he was doing.

[LadyRaven]

By the time the doctor had arrived, Gabe had carried Casha inside and had laid her down on a long sofa. Everyone was now rubbernecking to see what was going on and when the doctor pulled out an ultrasound machine, the penny dropped. The heartbeat was as clear as any bell and it echoed around in Casha's mind as he turned the small screen for her to see what he was doing. It was a suprise to everyone, though it shouldn't have been. Kat had been taking so much of the attention in the house, even Casha had forgotten that she'd missed her periods.

The doctor moved the scanner further around and then moved it higher to get a look down at the featus. Yes, it was a featus. Finche smiled up at Anubis, "Congratulations!" He said happily. Gabe was the first to pat the vampire on the back. "Nice one, Boss." He offered.
"How far along am I?" Casha asked.
The doctor fiddled around with the scanner a bit more and took a few measurements. "At first guess, I'd say you were 13 weeks." He said, then put the scanner down. He gave Casha a tissue to wipe the gel off and then pulled out a cardboard disc. "When did you last bleed?"
Casha closed her eyes as she wiped the fluid off her belly and thought for a moment, "Just after Kat fell pregnant." She said, "I think." She nodded, "Yes. She fell pregnant on the new moon that month, so it would have been then." Her eyes snapped open again, "I didn't realize it had been that long ago!"
Finche smiled and rotated the top piece of the disc, then nodded, "Between 13 and 14 weeks then." He offered.
Behind them all, Kat could have jumped for joy, "Yayy!" She cried, "Another baby in the house!" She then shimmied up to Marla, "Your turn next." She said with a grin.
Casha closed her eyes again and put her arm over her eyes. She gave a small cough and then shivvered. Gabe was quick with a towel over her and he grinned broadly, "Well done, Honey." He said quietly. Casha laughed again and lifted her head up.
"This is your fault." She said to Kat in sarcasm, "Pestering like you did. Hope you're happy now."
"Perfectly." Kat replied and patted her bump.
Casha looked up at Anubis and offered him a loving smile, "Suprise?"

[questor]

You could have pushed Anubis over with the slightest touch. His face was a mixture of Surprise, Astonishment, Pride, Worry, and just simple Awe. Dante was the first to see it and grinned from ear to ear as Kat was jumping up and down, well almost, with excitement. He quickly took out his cell phone that had a camera in it and took a picture. He wanted that for the books.

Marla looked at Kat. "Not for a while, honey. Gabe and I have already discussed it. We are giving things at least a year before we even think about starting. By then, hopefully things will be settled down and safer." She told Kat, "Besides, this way I get to get alot of practice taking care of babies before I have any." she smiled at Kat.

Anubis finally was able to move and he knelt down by the couch and took one of Casha's hands and held it. He smiled down at her with love and admiration. "Thank you. He whispered." he bent down and kissed her lips gently.

Dante moved over to Gabe, "Well I guess this proves that those two are capable of having children." he grinned. "A year Marla says." he shugged his shoulders, then went back to Kat. "Guess another crib is in order. Though she will take alot more time then you to have hers."

[LadyRaven]

Finche looked at Anubis carefully and started packing his thigns away. "Time for some privacy." Gabe said as he noticed the silence. It was uncomfortable. He pulled Marla back with a smile and then put his finger and thumb under Kat's chin, "That means Anubis and Casha alone, on their own, without company. Got it?" Kat sulked, but moved away nonetheless. Casha sat up a little on the sofa and pulled the towel up. She waited until everyone had gone and then looked at Anubis carefully, "I thought you'd be happy." She said after a while. "You look like you could keel over.".....

He smiled and caressed her face. "I was so afraid something bad had happened to you. Now.......I am the happiest man on this world." Dante pulled Kat away and Marla went with Gabe. The servents pulled back but stayed within ear shot incase Anubis or Casha needed anything. He looked down at her loveingly and took a deep breath. "This took you by surpirse as well."

Casha laughed and nodded, "Just a little." She said honestly, "With Kat taking up so much of everyone's time just lately, I guess I just never noticed." She leaned back again and put her arm over her face again, "It's a good job Gabe was so close by." She offered, "One minute he's giving me a hug to say 'hi', next thing I know, I'm coughing up water everywhere."....

Anubis shook his head. Gabe and Marla were now apart of their tight nit family as was Dante and Kat. Even though they were human they had stood by him and Casha, even the lycans and the vampires that they once hunted looked upon them in a differnt light. He nodded and said, "Going to be keeping a close eye on you now." he told her. He licked his lips, then chuckled, "Perhaps you need to have one of the servents close at hand at all times."

Casha lifted her arm and stared out at Anubis from under her elbow, "Pull the other one." She told him, "I'm pregnant, Anubis, not an invalid. The day I'm waited on hand and foot is the day I'm dead.".....

He knew that would get a response out of her. He chuckled again, then asked, "You able to stand and make it up stairs. You will be more comfortable there I think." The couch was nice but the bed was better if she was going to rest. He offered her his hand, then asked, "Or do you wish me to carry you up."

Casha sat up, "I'm fully capable of anything you are." She told him and stood up. Her head still felt a little fuzzy, but instead of making her way to the stairs as his suggestion, she went back out towards her recliner.....

Anubis when with her, not wanting a repeat of her falling into the water. "Do you need anything to eat or drink?" he asked her. She would now need more blood he was sure.

Just as she nodded, a servants arrived with some iced tea and a selection of fruit. Another behind the first brought out some fresh towels. "Right on cue." She laughed, then looked at Anubis. "Are you joining me, or are you just gonna stand there on guard for the rest of the day?"....

He pulled up another recliner and laid down next to her. "Now Kat is going to be going nuts on the whole wardrobe thing you know." he mentioned to her. "Until she has her own at least."

Casha laughed and sipped at a glass of iced tea, "I know." She replied and laid back to enjoy the sun. She'd had enough of the pool for one day. "And if I'm already 13 or 14 weeks like Finche thinks, I'll be showing very soon and she'll have me down the malls faster than you can blink."....

"How much longer does she have before she has hers." he asked Casha.

"Three months at most, I think." She replied. She then opened her eyes again and looked around. Just a single servant stood within earshot, but it was one she trusted to keep his mouth closed, "Finche is worried about the fourth kitten and Kat, I think is worried about Dante."....

"What does Finche think about the fourth?" Anubis asked.

"He thinks it's a runt and won't survive. It's not maturing as fast as the others and it's not showing any signs of growth. Kat's in denial about the whole thing, but then, since when does perfection every admit imperfection?".....

"Has he considered that the kitten is more like Dante then Kat?" he asked. "He is unique you know. Perhaps she will be carrying that one longer then the others."

Casha looked over at him and shrugged her shoulders, "It's possible." She said, "Finche can't find anything more than a stump for a tail, so it could be more like Dante than her, but it'll still be born at the same time, I think." She looked out over the gardens, "If it more like Dante, we could be looking at a SCBU unit being installed until it can mature enough.".....

Anubis nodded. "I'll have one brought in. Best be prepared for anything."

Casha nodded and closed her eyes again.....

Time seemed to go fairly fast over the next three months. Dante had become more and more nervious as the time drew near for Kat to give birth. Finche was there more often checking on her and on Casha. On the day it happened, Dante was pacing the floor in the bed room.

Time indeed went quickly after that day and Kat progressed as well as could be expected. On the day she went into labor, it was clear she wanted to be left alone. She even went so far as to bite a servant that tried to interfered. After a few hours of pacing the floor to ease her pains, Kat took herself off to bed and began to crawl around it. Nature then kicked in and after nearly five hours, the kittens cam one by one. The first was a speckled grey and ginger colour. They wouldn't have their more human features for a week or so. It was born blind as any kitten would be and Kat was quick to put it to a nipple. Thirty minutes later, the second arrived. This one was a dark tan colour. The third was a snowy white with a black malon streak. The fourth one took a while to turn up and even Kat began to panic somewhat, finally believing that Finche might jyst have been right. Finally though, after an hour of the third, the fourth finally appeared. It was tiny by comparison, barely half the size of its siblings an the staff were quickly readying the special incubator just in case. Kat was quick to start rubbing and moving the kitten to make it move and it took a good ten minutes before there were any signs of life. Finally though, it cried and what was first thought to be a rather stumpish tail, began to unfurl. It was longer than any of the others and a deep honey in colour. Kat went about nestling the kittens before Dante was allowed anywhere near them, but eventually, she invited him to the bed to look. They were all gorgeous, even the runt. "We have three boys and a girl." She said softly....

Dante sighed in releif as he moved onto the bed and looked at the newborn. They were beautiful and he leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Now we must name them." he whispered.

Kat smiled and nuzzled him back before looking down at her new kittens. "The smallest is the girl." She said to him and then carefully detatched the newborn so he could hold her. She weighed barely more than a bag of sugar and fit almost entirely into his large hand.....

He held his daughter in both hands, not wanting to drop her. The girl was the smallest of the four and the last to come. "Just like a girl, wanting to be late." he chuckled, "and make an entrance."

In response, the tiny female screamed and then cried, so Kat took her back and put her back to a nipple. The three boys remained oblivious and pawed at their mother for more milk. "Well, this one." She said, pointing to the ginger speckled one and stroking his head softly, "Should be Dante Junior."....

Dante chuckled at that. "Junior. I like that." he said. "And this one he pointed to the next one.

"Hmm, I'm not sure." She said, "He's quite a dark colour, but.... Why don't you name him?".....

"Hmmmmmm now that will be a tough one." he said, "Wonder how Uncle Anubis would like a boy named after him. Of course he will probably call his son Junior as well." He really had alot of boys names going through his head but none seemed to fit. "Ryan." he said fianlly. From what he knew that was his grandfather's name.

Kat smiled and looked at the third. The malon streak down his back looked like a lightening bolt and she laughed quietly, "I could be cruel and call this one Zeus." She chortled, "But I don't think he would like it much."....

"He might like it though." Dante chuckled. "If not Zeus then what." As they were deciding on the third male's name, Finche came in smiling. "Ahhhhhh I see all is well."

Kat smiled to Finche, "Of course." She said proudly, then looked back down at the small white male. "Steven." She said eventually, "And this little princess will be Amy. That was my grnadmother's name."....

"Steven and Amy." Dante repeated. "I like that." Finche, looked at the little girl. "So that is the little one that was hidding." He looked her over and smiled. She seems fine, just a bit small."

Kat nodded, "I told you I wouldn't have a runt." She said with mirth, "And just look at her tail. So much for the stump you said she'd have." And indeed, Amy's tail was much longer than her brothers'. It looked out of place compared to the rest of her. Finche laughed quietly and nodded in agreement. He brought in smoe scales and carefully weighed in each one. Dante Jr came in at 4lbs9oz. Ryan, 4lbs6oz. Steven, 4lbs7oz and finally, Amy came in at a tiny 2lbs2oz. He wrote it all down and then left them alone again. Shortly after, Kat was cleaned up and the bed changed, the kittens suitably fed and sleeping in a basket by the bed. For now, they would share one and they all curled up with each other. Once the house knew things were settled, Gabe came in with Marla, "Are we ok to visit?" He asked quietly....

Dante waved them in as he sat on the bed with Kat laying there recovering. Marla looked down at the four and smiled. "They are adorable." she said.

Kat beamed with pride, "Thank you." She replied. The big ones are the boys, Dante Jr, Ryan and Steven. The little girl is Amy." Gabe stared in the basket with a raised eyebrow, but he still smiled, "They look like their mother."....

Dante chuckled. "Of course they do." he turned to Kat. "When will they be able to do what you can. Shift to a human form." It would be interesting what they would look like then as well. See which one of them they looked like then.

"About a week." Kat replied smoothly. "It'll happen around the same time their eyes open. I bet then they'll look like their father." Gabe nodded and smiled as he reached out and carefully touched Amy. Her tail curled around his hand and he laughed quietly, "Cute."....

Marla laughed, and then Anubis and Casha showed up. "Well Uncle Anubis what do you think of the little ones." Anubis looked at the four and grinned. Then he looked at Kat. "She is going to have a tough time with three brothers."
Dante laughed, "You forget who her mother is. She will probably be chasing them around the house."

Casha stayed back for a moment and let Anubis coo over the kittens before she moved forward. She had grown considerably now and sported a perfectly rounded bump of her own. Dressed in a soft green tunic and leggings, she leaned over and kissed Dante on the cheek before looking in the basket. "They're gorgeous." She cooed, "Well done, you two.".....

"Well Kat did most of the work." he chuckled and kissed Kat's cheek. Fourteen weeks plus the three months put Casha at around six months and two weeks. About two and a half months more for her. "Now for the sleepless nightsof changing diapers and feeding the little ones."

Casha laughed, as did Gabe. "Good luck with that." he said. Casha nodded and laughed again before giving Dante a light squeeze. "I'm heading into the city." She said, "I've got some keepsakes on order for them so they'll need picking up." She looked at Anubis, "Don't panic, I'm taking a few guard with me... and Marla, if you want to come too?".....

Marla nodded. She was now dressed simalar to Casha excpet not a maternity outfit. Stylish but not really revealing.
At a good distance away through a powerful telescope Rushford and his superior watched the mansion. They could tell by the furry of activity that something important was happening. They saw the one they learned was called Finche, a doctor, leaving the mansion. "The feline has had her litter it seems." Rushford said. His superior nodded and kept watch. There had been no more word from the oracale or the Leader in the last three months.

Thirty minutes later, Casha left the mansion with Marla and the two took their limo into the city. The old man took note of this and got up from his chair. "Leave these two to me." He ordered. An hour after that, Casha had picked up her keepsakes. Four small boxes covered in velvet; three blue and one pink. Inside were four silver bangles with each kitten's name and birth date on them. After they had done at the jewellers, they went to an upmarket bistro where they were given a private booth and whatever they liked from the menu. Casha sat with a latte and a small plate of carbonara. She had a fancy for smoked ham. She looked across the table at Marla and smiled, "Everything ok?" She asked, "You look a little pale."....

Marla shugged her shoulder. "Not been feeling to good the last day or so. Probably just ate something that has not agreed with me." She sipped her coffee

Casha nodded, then smiled, "All this upheaval and everything must be getting to you." She laughed quietly, "But at least it's over now for a couple of months. Then it's my turn." She laughed again quietly and then finished her small meal. "So how's things been going with you and Gabe? You've kept to yourselves pretty much."....

She smiled, "Things are going good. He is a good man and very thoughtful. Oh we have our disagreements on things but........" she smiled even more, "Making up is so much fun."

Casha smiled back, "I know the feeling." She offered...

Marla looked around and spotted an old man in a monks outfit. He was buying a latte. She stopped smiling as she watched him and caught him looking over in their direction.

Casha noted the fading smile and then followed Marla's gaze. In a flash, she pulled a small calibre pistol from her bag and slid it under the table cloth. The old monk came their way with a smile. One that Casha recognized in a very odd way. He stood by their table and leaned on his cane. "Would you give a seat to an old man?" He asked politely. "This is a private table." Casha said, then looked to Marla for back-up....

Marla looked up at the man, priest, or monk. He seemed out of place and sure did not seem to be like any Monk she had ever saw. "Thats right this is a private table." From her handbag on the seat she had taken out her gun and had it under the table in one hand as she used the other to bring the cup of coffee to her lips.

The old man smiled, "But you'll let me sit here anyway." He said, "I mean you no harm, so you can put your weapons away." Casha lifted her brow. "You do realize, we have more security than Fort Knox." She said coldly, "I can have you removed just by snapping my fingers." The old man put his cup down and eased himself with a grunt into the comfortable chair. "I know." He said, "But would you really want that much attention? Having one of your big burly lycans throw an old crippled man into the street?"....

Marla didn't like it. He knew to much about them and about the lycans that were here and there in the bistrol. She saw them looking over at them just waiting for a sign. "What do you want?" Marla asked.

"To make the best of an unmissable opportunity." The old man replied smoothly and then flashed that familiar smile at Casha again. "To be in the presence of the two greatest hunters the Order has to offer and not be killed? I'd say that was a rare treat, wouldn't you?" He removed his cloak to reveal the Brotherhood amulet and Casha quickly cocked the gun under the table. "What the hell do you want, Monk?" she asked coldly. The old man offered another smile, "To share a coffee with two beautiful women and possibly keep my legs intact." He smiled to Marla, his deep green eyes flashing with something rather familiar.....

"Your not with the Order, that is a big plus for you. But you are of another blasted organization of the church called the Brotherhood. What makes you any different then them and give me one good reason not to put one in you."

The old man's smile faded somewhat. "I am unnarmed, save for a small rapier in my cane." He offered, "Which I am happy to leave out of reach. I have made no effort to intimidate or threaten you. The least you could do is be polite." Casha scowled slightly, "You're still a hunter." She spat. "I am also an old man." The monk replied quickly, "Who has been retired from action since you were a baby, MacKensie." Casha's brow went right up...

He knew who she was which didn't surpise Marla. She had been able to find out about Rushford easy enough. It probably would not be hard to find out about them. "So you know who she is. And you still have not told me a good reason not to shoot you. Being an old man and retired is no excuse. You know to much and I value my neck and that of Casha."

The old monk laughed quietly and sipped at his latte, "I'm no threat to either of you." He said, then looked to Marla, "You could put a bullet in me faster than I could blink. And you... Casha." He looked to Casha, "...Could rip me apart even quicker. Besides, the Cardinal and I have been given strict instructions not to harm or hinder you until further orders are received." Casha put her gun back in her purse and then picked up her keepsake bag. "We're leaving." She said sternly. The old man looked up with those familiar eyes. "Don't you even want to know who I am?"...

"Marla put her gun back in her large purse and began to slide around to get out of the booth. To Marla it wasn't necessary for them to know who he was. "I don't." Marla said.

"But I wasn't asking you." The old man said. As Marla shifted around and stood up, Casha followed suit. The monk's face suddenly turned turned to shock when he saw her full body and he almost dropped his coffee, "Is that....?" He asked. Casha put a protective hand on her bump. "This is none of your business." She said sharply. His face softened then and he seemed to turn all gooey eyed and mushy. He then smiled in an almost tender fashion before giving a small nod. "You've made an old man very happy." He offered, "So very happy and content."....

"Now what does that mean?" Marla asked. He was looking all strange, almost like Anubis had when he found out Casha was pregnant. "What does it matter to you."

The old monk took up his cane and slowly got to his feet. It seemed to take much effort and just for a split second, Casha almost felt sorry for the old hunter. Once up and stable on his cane, he looked at Casha with that same familiar smile. "You look just like your mother did when she was pregnant with you." He said, "She would be proud of you as would your grandmother, Heather." Casha stepped back quickly, suddenly very worried. "How do you know about my mother and grandmother?" She asked quickly. The monk bowed his head slightly. "Mary looked a lot like her mother, but she always had my eyes." He bowed a little lower and then slowly sauntered away on his cane. Casha grabbed at the table to keep herself upright....

"What the hell?" Marla mumbled.

[questor]

The two lycan guards in human form stood up as the old man got up and they saw Casa almost faint. If anything happened to her it would be their heads, litterly. They stood there baring the path of the old man their hands in side their coats on their guns. One had a snarl on his lips. The other patrons of the Bristol quickly moved out of the way and outside. To them this was something that had to do with the Mob, or some sort of turf war. They wanted no part of it nor be in the line of fire.

Marla went to Casha and put a supporting arm around her. "Are you alright. Do I need to call Doctor Finche?" she asked.


"The Mistress is not done with you I think." the one that had a snarl on his face said. "You are not going anywhere, till she says so. If you have done anything to her, you will not be leaving here alive."

There was an audioable click from behind the old man, as Marla drew her gun and pointed it at the man's back and cocked it. "Like he said, and I bet you know just how good a shot I am."

[LadyRaven]

Casha put her hand on Marla's shoulder and leaned against her slightly. "No." She said quietly, "I just want to go home." She stared at the old man's back and felt a sliver of ice go down her spine. In response, her baby started moving about which caused some pain and Casha leaned over again slightly. "I just want to go home." The woman was clearly shaken badly.

With two of the largest lycans he had ever seen blocking his way, the old monk simpy stood there and leaned on his cane. "Your mistress has received some shocking news." He offered politely, "Apart from that, I have not touched a hair on her royal head, I promise." It was true. When he heard the familiar click of a gun being cocked, he half turned and put both hands on his cane. He leaned on it heavily and then smiled at Marla. "Yes, I know how good a shot you are, Miss Marla." He said to her in a kindly tone. "But I also know that I am expected back at my Cardinal's ranch house. If I don't return, he and our superiors may not be so understanding." He turned his eyes to Casha and smiled almost lovingly, "And I am sure in your present condition, you would rather not have bullets being fired at you or your home. That being the case, I will politely bid you all a good day." He turned back to face the lycans.

Casha stayed leaning against the table and Marla for a moment longer and then shook her head, "Let him go." He ordered quietly, "I just want to go home and rest."

The old monk nodded and smiled to the lycans before half turning and standing up more on his cane, "Thank you." He offered, "And congratulations to your friends and the birth of their children. I wish them luck."

Casha growled, but said no more. The lycans parted company and let the old man leave the bistro. Once he was gone, Casha leaned right over and put her head on her arms on the table. "Somebody please take me home." She begged......

[questor]

The two lycan guards were immediately on either side of Casha and helped her to her feet and out to the limo that had been brought around. Once in the Limo the two lycans and Marla joined her in the back. "The mansion and as fast as possible." one of the lycans said tot he driver. The limo sped off and with in tollarence of the speed limit made for the mansion.

"Ok what the hell was that all about. He acted as if he knew you, and I mean personally." Marla asked as she felt Casha's fore head, looking worried.

Back at the Mansion, Dante had little Amy in his hands, rubbing his nose on her head. "You know you had your mother worried about you and the Doctor." he cooed and gently rocked her, "But you surprised everyone haven't you sweetheart." he chuckled and looked over at Kat and his three sons.

[LadyRaven]

Kat had decided to take a nap while she fed the newborns, so she didn't see what Dante was doing and didn't hear what he was saying either. And then, when the boys were done, they simply fell asleep curled up with her. In dante's arms, Amy gave a small fidget and wrapped her long tail around his hand and wrist. Not finding a teet, she put her hands up to her tiny face and then found her thumb. It went in her mouth and she curled her tiny legs up and fell asleep.

Casha turned to her side slightly and put her head on the headrest as the limo made for home. She heard Marla, but she didn't want to answer at first. It was only after more worried looks from the lycans and Marla's gentle prodding that she finally conceeded. "His name is Bernard Elland." She offered quietly, "And he would know me very well. Before my mother, Mary was married to my father, her maiden name was Elland. He's my grandfather." The baby turned in her belly again and Casha grunted in discomfort before shaking her head, "I was told he was dead." She said quietly as a single tear fell down her cheek.....

[questor]

As the Limo made its way to the Mansion one of the lycan guards made a report that made it to Anubis. Upon arrival at the Mansion, he was there opening the door of the limo and looking in with concern on his face. Being their first and of course both being vampires now, that was cause for some concern. He had no idea of what to expect. He helped her from the limo and then she was in his arms and he was caring her up to their room. "Are you alright? Do you need anything?" One could tell that she had him worried again.

Dante smiled at the little one and put her down next to her mother and gently undid the tail about his hand and wrist. She was close to one of Kat's teats in case she got hungry. He heard the commotion and shook his head. Guess Casha was making Anubis worried again. He was taking the pregnancy a lot worse then Dante had taken Kat's. As Kat slept he went out to see what was going on. He found Marla who told him what had happened. "Oh boy now that is not going to settle well with the big man.

Indeed it was not being taken well by Anubis. The Grandfather? He had upset Casha and caused her misery. That was not going to be let off lightly.

[LadyRaven]

Casha didn't have the want nor the energy to argue with Anubis and simply let him do his thing. When she made it to her bed, she simply pulled the pillows down from the headboard and curled up with her eyes closed. Marla had filled them all in on what had happened anyway, so she didn't need to say anything at all. Servants arrived to make her more comfortable and brought a hot decanter filled with blood for her, if she wanted it. Once alone again and with Anubis fully aware of what had happened, she cried quietly into her pillow. Once again, she knew the Order had lied to her. Her mother hadn't been born into it at all like they'd told her. She had been kidnapped, stolen away. They had told her that her grandmother had died giving birth to Mary. She hadn't. She had died trying to get her back! So many more lies, and it made her angry. All her life, she had been lied to about her family, about her past, about everything. And now, her grandfather was not only alive and well, and in LA, but a former hunter for the Brotherhood, probably sent to kill them all! Call it emotion, hormones, stress, Casha couldn't do more than cry into her pillow until she fell asleep.

Gabe stood with his mouth open as the events were explained to him. He felt his heart sink into his gut and was about to go and attempt to comfort his friend, but then decided it would be best to leave her alone for a while. He could only imagine the heartache she must have been going through. With his jaw firm and his eyes cold, he grabbed his jacket and made for the door. He was going to pay the old man a visit he'd never forget....

[questor]

Anubis was not in a very good mood after hearing what had gone on. He moved down stairs and out to the back of the mansion. Two other lycans fell in behind him. These were his personal body guards, even though he didn't need them they stuck with him. Especially when they saw the look on his face, they knew someone was in deep shit. Once in the back he transformed into his very large black wolf form. The two looked at each other and transformed into their lycan forms. it would be the only way they could keep up with their boss.

The three took off across the countryside. Anubis didn't take the city route but stayed to the unpopulated and rual route. It was a shorter route then by road, and he arrived at the edge of the ranch long before Gabe would have. Once there he went back into his human form. The clothing transformed as well from the black fur to his black clothing. They lycans however had the carry the clothing they removed before transforming into their lycan forms. They had learned to carry a pack like bag to stuff things into before changing, so when they returned to the human form they could have clothes to put on.

He looked around before moving through a wooded area and came to the back of the Ranch House, about a quarter of a mile from it. That is where he encountered the first guard. He was upon the man before he knew what was happening. He had him by the throat, lifting him up off the ground. He was about to break the mans neck, but then growled, "This is your lucky day human." he only made it so the man fell unconscience. He knew Casha probably would not want any of these humans killed, though he felt like slaughtering the whole bunch.

He gave orders to his two guards not to hurt any of the humans. They looked at him strangely but followed orders. By the time they were done, a dozen outlaying guards patrolling the Ranch had been delt with. They would wake up with a nice headach but that was about all. He finally made it to the Ranch House and had his two lycans stay outside, as he made his way in.

He found both the Cardinal and the old man in the living room talking. "You should not have made youself known to her." Rushford said. "We were only to observe."

Anubis used his ability to move about without being seen and there was a cling of glass as he poured himself some brandy and and a slight movement of air as he passed both of them as he sat himself down in a stuffed chair in the corner of the room.

[LadyRaven]

Within seconds of leaving the house, Gabe roared from the driveway in the fastest car Anubis had in the garage. A few minutes after that and he was bombing down the highway towards the ranch. He knew Anubis would make it there first, but he didn't care. Just so long as he left enough of the old man to deal with when he did get there.

The old monk had made it back in good time, but Rushford wasn't happy. He didn't care much what he younger man thought. They had received no orders from anyone and he had grown tired of watching from the sidelines. With his head still in the clouds, he simply smiled at Rushford and poured himself a small glass of brandy. He should not have made himself known. The old man agreed somewhat, but he didn't regret what he had done. Then he felt a swish of air around him and when he blinked, Anubis was sat with a matching glass of brandy, in a chair in the corner.

He offered the vampire a small smile and raised his glass. "You didn't need to sneak in, Anubis of the Nile." He offered warmly, "I would have invited you in regardless." He sipped his brandy and then eased back into his chair. He made no attempt for his cane and when some of the Cardinal's guards arrived, he waved them away again quickly. The old man could see Rushford fuming at the incompetancy of his people and the sheer arrogance of the older man, but he was waved away just as the others. "I apologize for giving your wife such a shock earlier." He offered, "But I simply couldn't sit back and watch any longer. To finally meet her and speak with her was an opportunity I couldn't miss."......

[questor]

Anubis eyed the old man and paid no attention to the extra couple of guards that must have been on the porch of the Ranch House. He sipped his brandy, and listened to the old man. He could tell that Rushford was not to happy about his ability to get past his guards and into the house. "Fear not holy man, and you can thank Casha for the lives of those guards we met on the way to the house. They will awaken with bad headacks and that is about it." his tone of voice was not to friendly.

Then he turned his attention to the old man. "Your appearance and talk with Casha has done more then upset her old man. Should something happen to our child because of it, I will make sure you suffer for a very long time before you die." There was the sound of two bodies falling to the porch up front and one of the lycans poked his head into the door. "Taken care of Boss."

Anubis looked up at Rushford. "Think you had best train your people a bit better. I have seen a lot better trained ones." he sipped his brandy. "Now explain yourself old man. I have been told that you told Casha you were here grandfather, that is the only reason you are still alive, for the moment."

[LadyRaven]

The old monk gave a look of sadness and sipped more of his brandy, "That wasn't my intention." He offered in apology. "I held no intention of hurting her, or her friend. Merely to sit and have coffee with her as the old man that I am. When I discovered she was actually pregnant, it changed the game entirely and I couldn't hold my tongue." He then offered a warm smile and got out of his chair. As before in the bistro, it took some effort and he had to lean on the chair substantially for a moment before he could move in a stable way. He went to the cabinet and poured himself some more brandy. Then oddly, he held out the decanter to Anubis. "Would you like another?"

After pouring two more small amounts, he retook his chair and grunted in relief to be sitting comfortably again. He took a long sip and then sat back in his chair. "You have been told correctly." He offered, "Casha is my granddaughter." He smiled distantly as he remembered his beloved's face. "She was so beautiful, you know. Her grandmother. Her name was Heather and she was as stunning as her namesake. Looking at her was like staring over the glens and valleys of her native home. I knew I loved her the moment I laid eyes on her." He levelled his gaze with Anubis, "I know you can understand that feeling." He sighed softly, "The Brotherhood forbade me from seeing her, but I couldn't stay away. When she smiled at you, it was like the dawn coming up over the mountains and her voice, my goodness. A chorus of Angels couldn't have matched her. She was 16 and I had turned 19 a few months before. I loved that woman her entire life, and when Mary was born, I couldn't have been a happier lad. She was so very beautiful. Perfect in every way." His face turned sadenned then and he stared into his glass.

"And then the Order came. Took my precious princess away. Heather spent months tracking her down, demanding the Brotherhood bring her back to us. They wouldn't help us. Even the great Oracle couldn't find her for us. It killed her in the end." A singel tear rolled down his cheek and he wiped it away quickly. "But then I was given hope again. You see, the Oracle had foreseen MacKensie's birth and what it would mean, so I knew my heart hadn't died with Heather." He smiled again distantly. "We tried to bring her back, you understand. MacKensie. I thought I'd found her once. Sent my best man to collect her, but the priest told him she wasn't there. Once again, she was lost to me. Then low and behold, 5 years later and I'm finally within reach. Akasha's bloodline had already taken hold by then. Just 9 years old and strong enough to kill a demon. Then a few years later, a vampire. On her own and without any weapons. Ripped the beast's head clean off with her bare hands." There was such pride in his eyes then, but the sadness returned soon after. "But the Order had tainted her, trained her to ignore her instincts and do only their bidding. By then, I knew I didn't have a chance to reclaim my lost treasure." He swirled the brandy around in the glass and then drank it down.

"And then suddenly, I hear news about the return of Akasha. I knew the Oracle had not been mistaken. Though by another route, her soul was awakened and it brought her to you." he smiled again, "My hope was restored. Of course, I'd been following her events the entire time, but it was only when I was sure she knew who she was that I knew I could find peace again. You see, fifty years ago, the Oracle had foreseen this. Her awakening, her connection to you and the consequences of it. She had seen what Akasha's death had done, what it had unleashed in you, so it was clear that her return, in whichever way that was to be, would become your balance once again. To know that the impossible could now be true; well, that was something truly magnificent. To see it happen with my own eyes. I couldn't have been more proud of her: And myself. To know I held a part in her, however small that part might be. You can understand this, surely.".....

[LadyRaven]

Anubis accepted the refill and watched the old man. He listened to what he had to say. So he had married one of Akashas decendents. That made him family for sure. A member of the church, and an order that hunted certain abnormals. Still a hunter, and that didn't set well with him but of course Gabe and Marla had been hunters and they were now like family. He looked over at Rushford. "You don't like have me here do you holy man?" he grinned. "You have been watching and poking your nose into what I have been doing. We have found that out. What is your opinon on everything?"

Rushford grunted his disdain for the vampire king, but before he could open his mouth, the old monk put his hand up. "His opinion is jaded." He said, "He has not seen what I have seen and he has not suffered what I have suffered." At this, Rushford got up and left the room. The old man shook his head, "Like so many of this generation, they believe the protection of life is purely for the human race. Long have they forgotten the old teachings, Anubis. Thankfully, some of us haven't. You see, we don't just hunt abnormals, or immortals, whichever you choose to call your race of beings. We hunt only those that chose to upset the balance between life and death. That is why the Brotherhood created the first church. It wasn't to claim dominion over the world and the life in it. It was created to give sanctuary to those that needed it." He shook his head again, "So much for that idea."...

"Balance? I don't care about the balance between life and death. I care about those that are the product of those I and the others created and down the line. You humans have hunted us because we are different, live longer then you, are better then you in so many ways. What has your Brotherhood done against those that have changed the balance of life and death of us?" he put his glass down. "Nothing. You have not eliminated a single human that has hunted and killed those of our kind that tried to live and not kill humans, that just because they were different, Changelings, or others abnormals. Where is your balance? Your Sanctuary for those that needed it?" About that time one of the lycans stuck his head in the door again. "Sorry sir, but thought you should know. Gabe is driving up. Let him in?" Anubis nodded and turned back to the old man. "Ah another that may want blood. I think you know of Gabe and the friendship between him and Casha."

The old monk sat silently through Anubis' outburst and then nodded when he was told Gabe would be arriving soon. "Yes, I know all about Gabriel." He offered, "The only Marine ever inducted into the Order and Casha's most trusted friend. I know him well." He finished his brandy, "And if I may answer your question, Anubis. Yes, we have hunted the hunters. Not in so much as we've hunted your kind, I'll admit, but we have been dealing with a war between two races of immortals for millenia. Even the Oracle can't keep track of every soul. The church wasn't just for the mortal, it was for the immortal as well. Only, they chose to ignore the old teachings and chose their own path. We had no choice but to fade into myth. Simple survival, my friend."....

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