Re: The Alternative Truth (extreme violence and graphic sexual scenes included)

[questor]

I chuckled at the reaction of the Pope to Mac's entrance. "Please, do not hurt me. I was only doing what I thought was best for the Order and the elimination of the abominations that seek to destroy our world." Oh I had heard that shit before, and not only from him but others. Abominations. Only to those that did not understand them. I now realized that if Cain and Elana had not been seperated in the Great Flood, they propbably would have kept order amongest the other originals and there would not have been the decline of the race and the terror and killings that had occured through out history.

As I had stated before, I believe that Cain was changed for a reason. The beginning of perhaps a better race, that were imune to the various diseases that ravaged mankind. I could only imagine, for the grand scheme of things was not privy to me. "Now what are we to do with him?" I asked Mac.

[LadyRaven]

I stared at Dimitri for a while longer and then cocked my head to one side, "Oh, I dinna kin." I said with mirth, "But I like what you're doing so far. What exactly are you doing so far? I'd like to see." Of course, this made the old man squeel in fear and panic and he crawled to me. His chains clinked and clanked as he reached to grab at my feet and beg for mercy, but I wasn't willing to listen. I stepped back as he tried to touch my toes and when he crawled forward again, his chains tensed and prevented him from reaching me a second time.
"Oh please!" he begged, "Please Mackenzie, have mercy on me? I beg of you, please!"
I firmed my jaw and stepped back once more, "You have no right to beg my mercy." I told him, "After what you've done, you don't deserve an ounce of it. Not ever."
"Mackenzie, please!" He begged again, getting to his knees. He put his palms together and bobbed them at me, "Mackenzie!"
"And you will not call me by that name again." I said firmly, "Or haven't you heard yet?" He stopped his begging and stared at me. Obviously not. I grinned and crouched down, though it was hard and painful for me to. "My name is Santaroi now, didn't you know?" I was playing him and I just hoped Quinn would follow me on it. "These last weeks, we've got married, didn't you know.".....

[questor]

"Oh yes indeed, old man." I said as I stepped forward and puled his shirt up so Mac could see the unhealed, half healed, and healed cut. "Not quite a thousand yet. Just taking my time and making him suffer." I then stepped back as he continued to plead. "Well we can't let him return to Rome. He would be a worse bastard then before. I thought of a good way to be rid of him once and for all."

I put an arm around Mac and grinned. "Put out the word that his holiness here is all nice and well now and returning to Rome. But his motorcade is attacked by Anubis and he is bitten by the old boy, infected. I am sure one of our friends would be more then willing to do the job. Then send his ass out there alone and wait for the hunters to start hunting. Of course the Cardinals will have to elect a new Pope. Most think he is here because of his health. They have no idea of what really happened. The Order had that all cleaned up and hushed up." I chuckled. "I had Gabe put it out that Eland tried to posion the Pope and we defended him, but the poison was such it has taken a toll on the Pope and only some specialists here have been able to help him recover."

Oh the Pope backed into a corner pleading and crying. "No, no, no, do not turn me into one of those, I beg you."

[LadyRaven]

I cocked my head to one side as I considered the idea, but then I shook my head. "No." I said, "Don't turn him. He's not worth the effort."
Still backed into his corner, Dimitri cried with relief and offered his hands in praise at me, "Oh thank you!" He cried, "Thank you, Mrs Santaroi!" Clearly, he'd taken the lie as truth.
"I have a much better idea." I said as I leaned more heavily on Quinn. I made it look like I was cuddling into him, but in truth, I was ready to sit down at the very least and catch my breath. "He's going to renounce his papacy." I smiled at the shock on Dimitri's face. There hadn't been a pope that had done that for more than four centuries. "He's going to announce that he is no longer able to carry the mantel and he is going to resign." Oh, the shame of it, I thought, how fitting.....

[questor]

Though I would have loved to see him run, beg and plead as the hunters came after him, she had a good idea. He would renounce his role as the Pope, he would then say he is going into seclusion because of what the poison had done to him. He would agree to that or I would have it my way. I could see that perhaps it had been to soon for Mac. I had to get her out of the room so he told the Pope. "It is either her way, or my way. You had best decide quickly."

I then got her out of the room and to a chair so she could sit down. "You alright?" I asked, taking a knee beside her. She may have been healed but her body was still trying to accept her moving about now after three weeks.

[LadyRaven]

The old man began to shake and sudder with fear again. Either he was turned, or he took on the shame of resignation. Obviously, he wanted neither and he let his head drop down as Quinn took my weight and quickly led me from the room. After sitting down to catch my breath, I leaned over as Quinn got to one knee besides me and I rested my head against him. I shook my head against him, "No love, I'm not alright." I said, "This whole thing has knackered me out." I shook my head again, "I don't know why either." I lifted my head again and sat back in the chair.

"I never thought I could heal from those kind of injuries in just a few weeks." I said, "And be asleep for those weeks as well?" I let my head drop back, "I think they call it atrophy. When all your muscles sieze up. It feels like that and I can still feel the broken bones, even though I know they've healed. It's weird. I've never healed this quick." I lifted my hands and put them over my face for a minute. Even that took some effort and I felt exhausted. "He seemed to buy it though." I said after some time and I smiled, "Thanks for playing along with it. Had the old bastard really shitting himself.".....

[questor]

Well we had things they had to prepare for. I could not have her feeling or looking like she was. I picked her up in my arms and carried her back up the stairs, but not to the medical room. He took her to the rooms that had been given over to him for his stay, but had not used. There he lay her on a comfortable King Size bed. Looking around he saw that all his things were there.

"Now you get yourself comfortable, and I'll see about scrounging up something to eat." I leaned down and kissed her as one hand caressed her face. "Damn it is good to have you back." I told her. She could do what some would call physical therapy while she was in bed. Moving her arms and legs and what ever other movements that could get her body back in tune with itself. They could discuss what needed to be done and get it set up.

I left her there and headed to where I thought might be a kitchen on this level. Here I found fruits, and some sandwiches all ready made. I put a pot of tea on as well so that she would have something to wash it all down with. When it was all loaded up and the tea was brewed, I put it on a cart and rolled it down the hallway to my rooms and pushed it inside up to the bed.

[LadyRaven]

I smiled and then groaned softly as Quinn piced me up and carried me upstairs. To be honest, by the time he reached our rooms, I had very nearly fallen asleep on him. I only woke again fully when he put me doen and began talking to me. I smiled softly as he mentioned food and then sighed as he kissed my forehead. I didn't open my eyes, but my smile said it all. It was good to be back. And then, when he left me to go and grab that food, I fell back to sleep in a heartbeat.

I wasn't sure at first, but after a few minutes, I realised I was dreaming. I was flying over somewhere and it felt really good. I flew over mountains and huge lakes and then it hit me. I was flying over the highlands and the lochs of Scotland. I was home! I felt at peace with myself and when I heard something else, I felt even more happy. I heard a small voice from beside me. "Mam!" It said, "Mammy look!" I turned my head and smiled as I watched my daughter next to me. Suddenly, I wasn't flying anymore, but sat on the floor in a cosy parlour. She was drawing a picture for me. It had three stick people in it. Two with strong red hair and one with black hair. I smiled lovingly and pulled the girl into my lap, but there wasn't much room there. She couldn't have been more than three or four years old, but I could tell she had smarts. "That's great, chicken." I said to her as I kissed her temple. Then I heard squeaking behind me and I saw Quinn come into the room. I smiled broadly as the girl jumped from me and ran to him. "Daddy!" She called. I got to my feet and realised that I was pregnant.

My eyes snapped open and I took a deep breath as I woke with a start. That squeaking! I turned my head on the bed, realising I was still in exactly the same position he had left me in, and looked to the noise. He was wheeling in a trolley and I could smell food and hot tea. I licked my lips and slowly sat up with a smile.....

[questor]

As I got up to the bed, I could see the broad smile on he lips and from the way she was breathing she was asleep. But she woke up and looked at me with another smile. "Ah You fell asleep and from the smile I saw on your lips you must have been having a good dream. What was it about?"

I sat on the edge of the bed and grabbed a sandwich and began eating, and poured her a nice mug of tea to go with what ever she wanted. I had to admit that this bed was alot more comfortable then the medical one, and the chair by the bed. He was going to enjoy a nice comfortable night in bed, with the woman he loved at his side. It is always the small things that one enjoys the most.

[LadyRaven]

My smile returned as he came to the bed and poured me a cuppa. What had I been dreaming about? I remembered every detail of it perfectly. "I was flying." I said, "Over the hills and lochs. I was home." I propped myself up a little and leaned against the headboard at an angle. "And then I really was home. I was sat on the floor of a parlour watching our daughter drawing a picture of us and you came in. And I was pregnant again. We were happy Quinn, so yes, it was a very good dream." I smiled again as I drank more of the tea and then reached over for a sandwich.

After I swallowed the bite, I looked at him again, "She had my hair and your eyes." I said, "She was wearing a blue dress and her hair was loose around her shoulder, all the way down her little back. Quinn, she was beautiful." I smiled almost whistfully, "And when you came in, she called for you and ran to you and you looked so proud of her. You looked so content and happy." That was definitely one hell of a nice dream, I thought....

[questor]

"Well now a daughter. I bet she will be a fiesty one along with being beautiful. Woe on to the poor little boys that tease her." I chuckled. At her discription I stared off into nothing and imagined what she would look like. "She had best have your looks and not mine." I chuckled as I came back to the present. "And pregnant again? Now that would of course be Quinn Jr."

He had been to Scotland and the highland in his travels. He nodded as he thought of having a place there. "Now the highlands would be a grand place for the little one. I would not mind living there." I told her. "You think any of the clan is still there? If they are I wonder what they will think of us?"

[LadyRaven]

I smiled distantly as I watched him try to imagine the daughter I had described and his wish for her to look like me and not him and of course, the baby due as well. I laughed and shrugged one shoulder, "Maybe." I told him. When he said he wouldn't mind a home in Scotland, well, that did it for me. I smiled fully and settled back to finish my sandwich and tea.

After putting the mug down carefully on the nightstand, I considered his thoughts on the clan and shrugged my shoulder again, "I don't know, maybe." I said, "Some of the old diehards maybe, out in the sticks. The house I saw us in, it didn't look or feel like a townshouse. It felt like it was out in the hills. What will they think of us?" I lifted my brow, "I have no idea. When they hear me, they'll know I was born there, but you, that's another story." I laughed quietly, "And you hardly look local either. But Scots are friendly people, that much I can promise. Give them a few years and you'll be as local as they are, especially if we're in a small village or hamlet. Preferably a hamlet." A hamlet meant no church and that was a good thing for us.....

[questor]

Oh he would not want nothing around a city, though have one close enough to go to. The need for some things that could not be bought at the market of a hamlet. Especially if they were going to continue the type of work they were doing, but for her it would be private contracting. The jobs would be what we chose and not told what to do. There would always be the bad ones, and there would always be work for us.

"Well I will have to see how much money I have stashed around. I have a few other places scattered about the United States. Guess I will have to go by them and pick up what is there. Maybe sell a couple of them and have a couple for us to come back here and visit. He really had no idea how much he had save up. There had been many jobs and good pay. "I think I have a couple mill stached away. Think that will by a nice place in the highlands. Oh and what ever is left of the million we got for Seth."

[LadyRaven]

At that point, I was glad I had finished my sandwich and tea. I would have spat it out in shock. "A couple of mill?" I asked as I lifted my brow high, "That's one comfy life, Quinn." I then smiled, "And some very spoiled bairns." I slid down the bed again somewhat and though my stomach growled a little for more food, I didn't want to overdo it. I would eat again in a few hours.

As I made myself comfortable, I reached out sluggishly and pulled on Quinn to join me in the bed. I may have told the wyrm that I didn't want to go back to Quinn, but actually having him there again, I couldn't fathom why I'd said that. I wanted him close to me and I had missed him so much since that day. I settled down again then and closed my eyes.....

[questor]

I chuckled at her reaction to the amount I probably had saved up. I really didn't use that much of it. Just needed food, gas for the chopper, special ammo made and the like. I was usually traveling alot and found places to crash and rest. So she thought that would be a comfy life and we would be able to spoil the kids. Well I was going to make sure that we were indeed comfy and she was well taken care of.

At her invitation I kicked off my boots and crawled onto the bed and laid down next to her. Now that was getting comfy. It felt real good to have her at my side again. I drew her to me and got nice and comfortable as she seemed to be once again falling asleep.

[LadyRaven]

The moment Quinn cuddled up to me, I was truly comfortable and in seconds, I fell back into a deep sleep. I let my dreams carry me off again and I smiled in my sleep as I felt myself flying again over the distant hills before my imagination took me back to that little house, only this time, it wasn't so little anymore. It reminded me of the large manors of the Lairds and it was full of life and happy children. I laughed in my dream, wondering just how much Quinn could take of that kind of life. For me, I didn't mind it so much now. I saw Cain and Elana as they visited us with their own hoard of kids and it all looked idyllic, but I felt there was something missing. Quinn had his new family and his parents in Cain and Elana, but mine weren't there. I was missing my own family coming to visit and pandering over the latest new arrival. My own father sat with Cain and Quinn sharing a bottle of his favourite Jim Beam. My own father. Anubis. My dreams took a darker turn then as I remember the point in my life where everything suddenly fell apart.

I turned over slowly and groaned as I began to remember everything in perfect detail. I remembered the silk and the fur on Anubis' throne and how it felt against my skin. I remembered how he had looked at me as though I truly belonged there, how it was somehow mine to share with him. I turned my head into the pillow and cuddled back deeper into Quinn. At least he had been born of Cain's blood, whereas Anubis had only been turned by it. That was a good thing. I remembered how I had felt when I had learned the real truth. It had made me feel sick to my soul to think I had come from such evil as Anubis. On the other foot, knowing what I knew and doing what I had done, something in me told me I deserved it. Then I felt Quinn move behind me and I felt his arm over me and I began to settle once more.

I began to remember something the wyrm had told me. During our last moments together, he had told me there was another that protected the clans now. I began to wonder who that might be, if it was a person at all, or a reincarnation of him. I then remembered how he had carried me from my broken body and took me far away into the deep hills and lochs of the western coastline. I remembered walking the ancient landscape with him, learning about my true blood family, their lives and what they meant. He was proud of me and my respect for him in the image I carried of him on my back, calling it his link with me.

I remembered that we had spoken at length about the old legends and myths surrounding the origins of the clans and the mix between the Vikingar (Viking plural actual term) that had conquered the northern lands and the local born peoples that they eventually settled with. I had learned so much from him and when the conversation had finally come to matters of the heart, I learned about Christine. By then, the wyrm had taken his human form and went by the name of Drago. He told me of how he had seen her in the fields as she tended her father's crops and of how she had captured his heart with a mere look from strong green eyes under autumn coloured hair.

Her father was a local Laird, a powerful noble of the time and a supporter of the Vikingar that were still settling in parts of his land. He told me of how he had gone to the Laird and begged him to court Christine, offered him his own weight in gold and jewels for the privilege. I remembered that I'd smiled and laughed at him almost for his desperation to be with the mortal woman, but he had told me that deep down, I knew exactly how he had felt because I had seen that same devotion in Quinn's eyes. I remembered that I had stopped laughing then and actually listened to him.

Drago had told me then how he had married Christine later that year, in the autumn when the trees were crowned with their deep red and gold colours. They had married in the forest over an altar to the old gods as was the custom back then. It had been a grand affair with many Lairds and their land tenants attending. He told me of how I reminded him of her. He then went on to tell me how he had built their house in the forest near her father's lands and how she had blossomed with the spring. He had been so happy, so content and I could feel it emanating from him as he recalled watching his first son being born later that spring. Christine had named him Duncan. In all, Drago and Christine had nine children before they died. He then moved down the bloodlines finally to my mother and that was when the tone had changed, darkened.

I remembered in detail the conversation we had about her. She wasn't the last of the bloodline, but she was the last direct descendant. Morgana was a strong and proud woman and he compared her strongly to what he saw in me. All the women of his bloodline had been this way thanks to Christine and her determination and strength and her passion for life. And then, of course, it had to end. I watched her die at Cain's hand, understanding now as I slept, the reason why.

Everything Drago had told me in that dreamstate now made sense to me. The why's and wherefores that had brought about the events in Rome and in Central City. The betrayal of Anubis and Dimitri and Elland. It all made sense now and I understood. Anubis was never the reason I was immune to the bite of a vampire or a lycan. It was all Morgana. My blood, her blood, Drago's blood. Then it hit me as the dream and the memories ended. Drago's blood could have made Cain human again, mortal. His blood was my blood. Could it actually be done? All it would take would be one bite from Anubis. Just one single drop of my blood and he'd be mortal again, but wait. If my blood could make a vampire mortal again, what did that mean for Quinn? He carried Elana's blood. Would he be mortal now too? My eyes opened and I felt instantly awake.

As I looked at the nightstand and the clock sat on it, I realised I'd only been asleep for a little over four hours, but it felt like a lifetime. I felt much better, full of energy again and all the pain had gone. I took a long deep breath and let it out again slowly as I smiled, still feeling Quinn cuddled tight to my back. My dream had been my epiphany so to speak and I knew what I had to do. I knew that I could finally succeed and bring Anubis to book. And something else I knew then too. After three weeks of bed baths, I desperately needed a shower!

Moving as carefully as I could so as not to disturb my sleeping lover, I slipped from the bed and carefully put my feet on the floor. No more pain, no more dizziness. I felt good. I felt better than good. I felt great. Moving towards the en-suite bathroom, I shed my clothes and turned the shower on. It didn't take long to get hot and I stepped in with a sigh of relief and pleasure. I washed away all the staleness of the last weeks and then stood with my head under the powerful jets and one hand resting on the wall. The other, I placed neatly just below my navel and I smiled. I couldn't help it. Morgana knew she wouldn't be the last daughter of the dragons and now I knew it too. I wasn't sure how exactly, but I just felt it. "You grow strong, chicken." I said to the invisible growth within me. "You are so very precious already, do you know that?" I stroked the flesh tenderly and smiled as I felt the filth and damage wash away down the basin. Yes, I definitely felt great right then and not even God himself could take that way from me. And beyond that, the plan forming for Anubis was already well under way. Justice and good old fashioned revenge, I liked it.....

[LadyRaven]

I fell asleep, a sleep that was deeper then I had had in three weeks. The stress was gone the worry as well. I began to dream, and I heard laughter. Good nature laughter as i walked through the hills of the Highlands. Below in a valley I could see a house, more of a manor house of a lord then a small one of one of the locals. Horses ran in a feld near by and I could see people below. I saw Gabe and Marla with three young ones of various ages and then I saw Mac emerge from the house with a beautiful daughter and a straping young lad. Both had the deep red hair that she had.
I felt the air move about me and I looked around and saw nothing, but the laughter continued. Then something took shape, the form of a great dragon and then it changed again into a human male form. "So you are the one Mac has talked about."
"Aye ladie. That I am. You have drawn me to you with the power of the love you have for her. Such it was with the woman I loved. You are a strange one Quinn Santaroi. Immortal but yet not one of those that made you that way." he looked down at the house and the people. "That be my old place, one I built for my love and raised a brood of fine young ones. One that founded the line that Mac came from." then he pointed to another hill over looking the manor house. "See that man. He is the Highlander. Much like you."
"Time for you to awaken. She be awake and much you must plan." The man disapeared before my eyes in wisps of smoky air. Then my eyes opened and I heard the shower going.

I remained where I was for a while longer as I bonded with what would be my baby and let the water relax me and cleanse me of Anubis' evil stink and Akasha's stench. It felt wonderful to have my body back, well, almost, but under my control again at least and without pain. Sure, it had only been that way for a day, but it had been one hell of a day! In the back of my mind, something began to prickle at me and I turned my head under the jets somewhat and narrowed my eyes against the steaming hot water. "I'm awake, Drago." I whispered, "And I remember. I know what I need to do." I let my head drop back down again as the prickling stopped, but something told me it wasn't over yet. Over the water, I heard movement, but this time, I knew who it was and I smiled again. "Morning love." I said, "I think.".....

It was morning, early before the sun had risen but it was morning. I moved to the shower and leaned against part of it as she showered. "Yes it is, but the sun is not up yet." I told her. "I think I have the perfect place for our home. I just got to figure out where that place is. I would regonize it if I see it, but where it is I don't know yet."

I smiled with my head still under the jets. "It's called Loch Loman." I said quietly and then laughed, "You had that dream too, I guess." I pulled me head from under the jets and squeezed the water from my eyes before I poked my head around the divider. "You want this?" I asked....

"Yes I do." I told her and waited for her to get out. "Loch Loman eh?" I smiled, "Ok, he said it was his home, the one he built." I then paused a moment, "Who is the Highlander?"

I stepped back entirely from the jets then and turned to get out, but when he mentioned someone called the Highlander, I lifted my head and looked at him. I nodded, remembering we had talked about such a man, a protector of sorts that could go where the wyrm coulnd't and watch over those of his clan. "He doesn't have a name per say." I told him, "But he's had many over the years. He's an immortal like you, but he's not like you, if that makes any sense." I then smiled, "You want to buy Drago's home." My smile widenned and I shook my head slightly, "By all means, love, if you can prise it from the Laird's cold dead fingers, then go for it. That place is famous, you know. It's where they filmed the Braveheart story.".....

"Another immortal? Not a vampire but a man?" Now that was something. "You have heard of him in tales of legend and myth?" Like me but not like me. I shook my head as i entered the shower and let the hot water wash over me. "Oh i think we might be able to pursade the owner to part with it. I have a feeling that it has already been arranged." Yes indeed i had a feeling the foundation of the buy was already being laid. Why else show him the place.

I smiled as I dried off and then wrapped the towel around my hair to rub out some of the water. Slowly, I began to nod, "I think you're right there." I said, "And I bet you a golden guinnee Dragos is behind it somehow." I laughed quietly and then my stomach rumble loudly and I blushed....

It only took me a few minutes in the shower and when I got out and dried off, I looked back into the bedroom and said with a grin, "The tea is cold, but so are the sandwiches. Remember you are feeding for two now."

"I'm sure we can call down for another pot." I replied smoothly as I looked into the bedroom at he leftovers. There was quite a bit, but then, I was quite hungry. Taking the towel with me, I continued to dry my hair as I checked the sandwiches. The bread was a little dry now, but it didn't matter and I quickly picked one up and took a bite as I rubed more water from my hair.....

I moved into the bedroom and gave her a friendly smack on her ass. "Now leave a crumb or two for me." I chuckled and snached a sandwich and began eating it. Not a proper breakfest but it would do until they could make themselves presentable and leave their rooms.

I gave a small yelp as I felt him slap my backside and in return, I narrowed my eyes at him as I grined and quickly twisted up the towel betwen my hands. In a flash, I snapped it across his rather noble looking bum and winked at him playfully. Oh, I was definitely feeling much better now....

I jumped as I felt the towel hit my backside and then I laughed. I moved to her and put an arm around her and pulled her naked body close. "Have I told you lately, I love you?" I asked her.

I laughed as he laughed and then sighed softly as he took me in his arms. I dropped the towel and put both my hands behind his neck as I cocked my head to one side, "Not in the last few weeks, I don't think." I said with mirth, but no malice, "At least, not that I heard." I stroked the back of his head as I stared into those grogeous blue eyes of his.....

I kissed her then deep and passionate. Oh it felt so good to hold hr like that again. But it was but for a few moments. A knock on the door followed by Gabes voice ended the moment. I signed deeply. He had to get his timeing alot better. I looked down into her eyes, "Guess we will have to continue this a bit later." I smiled.

"Oh, absolutely." I sighed and then moved back to him. I picked the towel up and took it back into the bathroom just as Gabe opened the door and stepped in. He grinned as he looked around, knowing full well he'd interrupted something. Or at least, he hoped he had. "Everyone alright in here?" He asked. He was fishing for news about me....

"She is in the bathroom." I told him, as I started getting dressed. "She is alot better now and is moving about as if nothing happened. Now what is it that has you knocking on the door this early in the morning?"

"Got a report in that Anubis is heading here." He said. That made me jerk my head around.

"Why would he be coming here?" then it hit me. Cain was here or was, if him and Elana had not left yet. He had the artifact and Anubis wanted it. He probably figured out that Cain had it with him.

Quinn's head wasn't the only one to snap around. I leaned back to snap mine with the toothbrush still shoved in my mouth, "What?!" I yelped. I ducked back briefly to spit and rinse and then came back into the bedroom quickly. Gabe side stepped and nodded in approval that I was back on form again. "The wee bastard!" I said as I began to rummage for some clothes, "I bet you a tenner, he's here for that rock around cain's neck. The meteor thing." I looked to Quinn and then smiled, "But don't worry, I think I have a plan."
Gabe stood with his masive arms folded and he looked at me, "Ya think so?" he said, "You ain't goin' nowhere, homegirl."
"What?" I said, then shook my head at him, "Donna be so daft." Gabe lifted an eyebrow at Quinn....

"I think I know where she is going with this. She is the only one that can do it and if it works out right, Anubis will no longer be a threat. Also you know her, that stubron streak will over ride a no from me in a heartbeat." I smiled at her.

Gabe firmed his jaw, "You could at least try." He said with some disappointment. "I mean, hell, I ain't letting my pregnant woman nowhere near this. She's too important to me."
"Aye well, Gabe." I said back with a smile, "She isna me, now, is she." It wasn't said in a nasty way or meant to make Marla seem the lesser person, it was just he way I was and that was that. I watched him shake his head and I smiled, "Besides, Quinn knows what I'm talking about and so will you very soon. Yis all will, I promise." I finished getting dressed and smiled again as I pulled the mass of damp curls through the neckhole of the tee. I then picked up my twins and made for the door. I'd grab some more food downstairs and another pot of tea. I blew a kiss at Gabe as I passed him and then moved down the corridor. Gabe shook his head again and glared at Quinn once more, "You could at least try?"......

I chuckled. "I would if I knew I had a chance of winning. Besides like I said I know what she wants to do and she is the onely one that can do it. It has to do with her bloodline. You will love it when you hear what I think she has planned."

Gabe lifted an eyebrow and then followed Quinn out of the bedroom, "Love it, ya say?" He asked with mirth, then nodded, "She's got five minutes before I pull rank."....

I coulod not help but laugh. "Want to fill him in on what Cain told us." I asked Mac.

I half turned my head and grinned as we walked, "Did you know that dragon's blood can turn a vampire back into a mortal?" I asked.
Gabe furrowed his brow, "In fairytales." He said.
I laughed, "So what if I told you it isna a fairytale?"
"I'd call you a liar." Gabe said without hesitation.
My grin widenned, "Ok then, catch this one. Cain killed my blood mother because she was descended from dragons, from the great wyrm of the Highland clans." I turned and started walking backwards with that same grin on my face. At this point, Marla joined us and we smiled to each other. "Cain has actually met the wyrm, spoke to him."
"Liar." Gabe said without hesitation again, "That's bull."
"Really." I said, "I'll let him tell you himself then." And I turned back around to cvarry on walking.
Gabe half turned his head to Quinn, "She is joking, right?"....

"Nope. I was there when Cain told her. I was talking to Mac when it seems Elana read my mind again. She was pissed at Cain for killing Mac's mother and she told Cain to tell Mac why he did. Seems the old dragon and Cain meet along time ago. Told him he could change him back to a human with his blood. So It seems Mac's blood will do the same to any vampire."

Gabe's jaw literally hit the deck and he stopped midstep for a second. "Now that's fucked up!" he said, but his voice sounded pleased, "So you're telling me her blood can kill a vamp?"
"Not kill exactly." I said over my shoulder, "But according to Drago himself, it can make a vampire mortal again. If his blood could make the original father of vampires a mortal, mine should at least be strong enough to deal with Anubis. Just one bite, just one single drop of blood and he's human again." I turned again as we reached the main stairwell, but my eyes fell on Quinn, wondering if that had happened with him. Would he want to give up his immortality for me like Drago had done for Christine? I didn't know, but it bothered me a little.....

"So what is your plan?" I asked her. "How you going to get him to bite you without getting yourself back in the medical room?" I saw her look at me with a strange look on her face.

I snapped out of the daze quickly and put the smile back on my face. "There could be a couple of ways it could be done." I said, "We could coat our bullets and blades with my blood and get it into him that way, or I could let him bite me and take it in through his fangs. He'd only be abl to take a mouthful at most before the change hits him.".....

"Now that is the trick, to get that close to let him bite you. Knowing him he will shift all over the place to prevent from being shot." Also he didn't like the idea of Anubis getting that close to her. "Tranq darts filled with your blood?" I asked.

I nodded, "Possible." I said, "If you can fire quick enough before he jumps?" I knew he could, but I just wanted to make sure. At least one thing I did know, my blood hadn't weakened him any, but would it be the same for Anubis too? "Look, Anubis has two targets here, Cain and me and he doesna care anout anything else. So that's what we'll give him. Not like before obviously, he's no dumb enough to fall for that twice, but the wee brain between his legs won't let me go just yet." I grinned then.....

I shook my head. Oh he was not going to have her go through that again. "I think we need to plan a little bit more on the how at the moment." I said. "How long do we have before he arrives. Did the report say anything about that."

Gabe nodded, "The reoport said he would be city bound by tomorrow morning." he said, "But we all know what a sneaky fucker he is, so I'd skip that up a few hours and expect him by tonight."....

"Yeah I would not put it past him." i told him. "So now we have to bait the trap and make it look as if it is not one." he was looking for Cain and the artifact sooooooooo they had to make it look like Cain was somewhere with it. But where?

I smiled at that, "Hence why we are now going to ask the Prince to set up a meeting with Cain and Elana to discuss it." I said as I went down the stairs. Oddly enough and quite by chance, Katarina was swaying across the foyer with yet another new friend. "Kitten!" I called as I danced down the last few steps. She glared at me and I stopped, "Ok, nevermind." i said and turned to Quinn with a smile. I had the feeling she would rather claw my eyes out than talk to me....

Kat sure did not look as if she was in a good mood. I had a feeling I knew why. The way the prince had been acting with Selina before we left for Rome, I was sure she was now his favorite and she was satisfying his every desire. "I don't think we need to have the prince set up any meeting. I am sure that they already know. "I must have someone teach me how to put up mental blocks." I nodded down the hallway where Elana and Cain was approaching.

Ahh, of course, I thought. Elana and her little mind tricks. I firmed my jaw and let Kat pass me by with a small hiss on her part and then made my way to Quinn's so called parents. "I take it you've heard." I said to them, "You know ye canny deny i've got a point about this.".....

"Yes I agree." Elana said. "It will be a fitting end to him, "and my husband will gladly help in any way he can. Perhaps it will help make up for what he has done." Cain took a deep breath and nodded his head. "Perhaps the Airport where we will be going to tonight. I am sure that he will show up there." he said,

I nodded my head in thanks at the offer to help but as for making up for what he did to my mother, "Oh, not by a long chalk, Cain." I said, "You've a long way to go to work that off, trust me." I then started down the hall and found the Prince happily pleasing his new toy, Seline. It was to be expected. I entered the room and coughed into my hand to be polite, but not that polite. I had a reputation with this vampire of being difficult. Just because I was Quinn's lover, it didn't mean I was about to change everything just to be nice. "Am I interrupting?".....

Seline looked at Mac a big smile on her lips. "Not at all honey." she said. "Unlike some I don't worry abuot such things and continued to please the prince. He of course was a bit shocked but seemed to get over it and asked. "What can I do for you."

I grinned at Seline and shook my head at her as I laughed. As brazen as ever, I thought, then turned my attention to the Prince himself. "We're about to have some company in Central City." I told him, "And we need your help.".....

"Company?" he asked. "Who?"

I folded my arms and leaned on the door frame. "Anubis." I said plainly. "He's coming here after Cain and me and you know I canny allow that. Will you help me?" I then swallowed hard and nodded my head, "Please?"....

His eyes went wide at the mention of Anubis' name. he knew that was trouble. Then he looked hard at Mac. She asked him for help and said "Please." He smiled and said, "What do you need."

I thought at first he was going to refuse me, but the 'please' tipped the scales. I'd never said please to him yet, so it must have been a shock to him my being so polite all of a sudden. I smiled and nodded in thanks anyway though and stepped a little further into the room. "Gabe reckons he'll be here by nightfall, so we have some time, but I know your vampires can't go out during the day." I took a deep breath, "I need them for a distraction." I said, "To lead Anubis to Cain and me. Cain has something he wants and his pride won't let what happened in Rome slide. He doesna care who he hurts, but it takes more a kill a vampire than it does a human."....

"Ah lead him to Cain, but not in a direct manner. I think I can have some of them scout out the city and drop some hints here and there. You have the whole day right, so you will be ready for him?"

I nodded and smiled, "Thankee Sy." I said with respect and then nodded, "We should be, but I wouldna say no to some back-up, if you wouldna mind?"...

"I'll have a security team at your service. Lycans, and the best I have. They are tough and they love what Quinn here has been doing to the source of alot of their misery in the past."

I nodded again, "Thankee Sy." I said again, "That means more than you know." I looked at him then, "Hopefully, after tonight, Anubis won't be a threat to anyone ever again. With a little luck, he'll be dead. If it doesn't go to plan, he'll be dead in about twenty years, maybe a little longer if he can keep avoiding me."....

The prince had no idea what she was talking about, and didn't care. He knew she would rid his city of Anubis and keep trouble from poping up. Also with Gabe as the Commander of the Hunters, he had kept every one of them from the city and his people. He owed the big man alot. The city had not had such peace as they had for the last three weeks. "Ok." I said. "Now to set up the trap." That meant a trip to the airport and the hanger. Preplan the spots for the security team, and them of course."

I looked to Quinn as he came to my side and then back at the Prince again, "I'd rather do this with as little damage to the locals as possible." I said, "And it's a weekend, Quinn, so there's gonna be lots of people coming and going into the night. I'd like to draw him out of the airport, or better yet, keep it in the hanger. No doubt he'll fly private like we do. I canny imagine his big backside trying to squeeze into a commercial seat. Imagine Gabe?" I had to laugh at that nd the big man himself got the joke also and nodded as he laughed. I moved off the door frame and into the room proper, "The hanger would be best. Easier to surround and easier to control the environment." I then looked to Seline, who seemed truly intent on listening to all this with vigour....

She smiled back at Mac, "Offer still stands honey." she said to Mac.

I cocked an eyebrow at the vampiress and for the first time, I actually took her request into serious consideration. After some thought, I smiled, "Alright hen, you're on." I said, but then turned my eyes to the Prince, "But only if he agrees with it. Last thing I want is him pissed at me for getting his new pet killed." Not that Kat would mind much, I thought...

Seline looked down at the Prince and smiled. "Oh I don't intend to get killed. Not now that i have everything I will ever need." The Prince shugged his shoulders. "I am good with it. I know she can take care of her self."

I nodded to both of them and smiled. "Perhaps a familiar face might shock him into another mistake." I said to her and then to the Prince I said, "I never did thankee for everything you did for me, did I?"....

"What are friends for?" he asked. "We are friends are we not." Three Order Huners in his place, and not one incident, and of course having them help his people. Now that was more then he could ever have hoped for. "So no worries."

[questor]

It seemed the Prince had taken a liking to the three. He could see them down the road when the three of them was gone from the order and perhaps taking up with me. Ah the possibilities. As long as the Prince was in power, he would keep the city safe from all his non normal subjects. There were those in other cities however that were not doing what he was and that is where I always came in. Rid the city of the the trouble makers and make it safe for awhile, until the next upstart made waves.

"I think what he is trying to say is that his house is your house. You are welcome any time. Or Welcome to the family as it were." I then turned to the Prince. "Have things going by nightfall and have the detail at the Hanger shortly after dark." I then took Mac by the arm and lead her out so the two could enjoy themselves in private.

"You know you have a bad habit of interupting people enjoying themselves." I chuckled. "That might get you into trouble one day."

[LadyRaven]

Friends?  Now there was a thought!  My smile widened and I nodded in true gratitude.  "Aye, we are that."  I said, though no worries might be stretching things depending on how well my plan worked.  At that point, Quinn took me by the arm and started leading me out of the room. I understood what the Prince had meant without Quinn having to explain it to me, but it was nice to hear in a more liberal term.  I did stop at the door though and turned about again on my toes, "Thankee."  I said and turned about a third time before linking my arm back into Quinn's.  Perhaps, I thought, this whole being polite and friendly thing wasn't so hard after all.  And I couldn't be a hard-nut all my life, right? As for interrupting people at such inopportune moments, I grinned and then laughed with a light shrug of my shoulders, "I'm know." I said, "Terrible, isna it." I laughed again, but nodded and conceded the point, "I'll try and not be so bad in the future."

With that smile still lingering on my lips, I made my way downstairs with Quinn to find the kitchens.  All I had to do was follow my nose and I almost drifted with the smells into the large room.  "Oh, that smells good!"  I sighed.  The resident cook turned about to face me and he growled.  A Lycan and one that clearly knew who I was.  "Ok."  I said as I offered him a nervous grin.  "If I promise to be nice, will you wait til later to kill me?"  He growled again and turned back to what he was doing.  I smiled again proper and moved into the room.  I could smell all manner of meals and even blood being kept warm.  I steered clear of that, but I couldn't help but hover around the stove and lick my lips.  Bacon, sausage, eggs and pancakes.  The coffee pot smelled good too and I thought I might break a habit and have some with my breakfast for a change.  The cook growled at me again and I backed off.

Taking a seat at a long table, I waited patiently and it paid off.  The platters were laid out with enough places for all of us to sit down together and I tucked in quickly before Gabe got his forks in.  I also made sure to snatch enough away so that Quinn could have a decent breakfast too.  I would wait until everyone was sat and eating before I put my plan up for discussion......

[questor]

The cook did not seem to be very happy serving three Hunters from the Order. But they were the guests of the Prince so he did as he was told. He evidently had not gotten the word of what Gabe had been doing to secure the safety of everyone like him in the city. But of course one could not blame him. He probably had been hunted and may have had those he knew killed by them.

Most lived in the skyscaper that the Prince lived in, but there were some that liked living out in the city, blending in with everyone else. When he served up breakfast, I could see the look in Gabe's eyes and saw that Mac had also seen it and got enough for us before the big man began. Of course Marla smacked his wrist saying, "You don't need it all." and took some for herself.

"OK so we lay the bait out there with some of the vampires at the clubs and such to lure him to the hanger. I am sure he will not be alone, so the Prince's detail will take care of his guards." I turned to Cain. "That means you are going to have to be there in the open to lure him in." then I turned to Mac. How are you going to get him to bite you?"

[LadyRaven]

I began eating as everyone was finally sat down and I laughed as Marla took charge of Gabe's appetite and made him share. Now that was something to see! Soon enough though, things got down to business and I listened as Quinn put his ideas forward. I agreed with them pretty much all the way. I couldn't see many problems with the plan and we all knew that Anubis was gunning for his once father in a very bad way. "Don't be over the top about it though." I offered up after swallowing a forkful of eggs. "Anything too specific and Anubis will smell a rat." Gabe and Marla nodded in agreement with me and so I carried on. How was I going to get him to attack me and bite? I thought on it for a minute as I chewed on half a sausage. Swallowing it down, I found my answer. "I'll be there as his body guard." I said.

Putting my fork down and nodding to the cook with a smile to let him know the food was great, I started laying down my ideas to connect with Quinn's. "Ok, so we get the word out that Cain is making a run for it and he's taking his new family with him." That put Quinn into the scene without any trouble and me for the most part. "And because of what I did in Rome, Cain was impressed enough that not only is he happy to accept me and Quinn as a pair, but he's employed me as his new personal body guard."
"Where do we fit in?" Marla asked.
"You guys are still my team. You go where I go and vice versa, right?" I said. Both of them nodded at me. I looked them to Cain and Elana. "So Mammy and Daddy will be in the private hanger with me, Quinn and you two. Almost just like it was in Rome, but with the Prince's Lycans placed around the hanger at all possible exits. The bastard isna getting away a second time. Cain, you'll have that rock thing on show so he can see it when he arrives."
"So who's gonna be the lure?" Gabe asked.
At this, I couldn't help but smile, "Someone familiar." I said as I picked up my tea mug. "Someone he would have known personally way back when and all that."
"Selina?" Gabe asked, "Can you trust her?"
It took me a few seconds, but I nodded. "After Seth, it would have been understandable that she would have gone to ground. The dens and clubs here in Central would have been the perfect place for her to hide." And that was the truth to be honest. "She can use her wiles to make him notice and listen. She wants to help us and you all heard her say how much she likes her life. With Anubis gone, she gets to keep it. It's a win, win for her. She can lead him to the hanger where he will find us all getting ready to leave on the private jet."

I took a drink of my tea and nodded with approval. "Are ye Inglish?" I said to the cook. He growled back at me, but nodded and I nodded back with a cheers to the tea, "Finally, someone that can make a decent cuppa!" I nodded again, "Anyways, to get back on point here, the bite. I might no have te make him bite me. I could just pick a fight with him. He's got plenty of reason and so have I ta be honest with ye. All I'll need is a fight-bite ta get ma blood in his mooth. I'll just have ta be careful he don't hit me below ma ribs is all and him being as big as he is, I doot he could reach that far doon." My accent was really coming out now as I got excited about the plan. It was only when Gabe started laughing and shaking his head at me that I realised and I chewed my tongue a little, "Ah kin, ah kin." I said, flipping him the bird before correcting my language a little. "I just have ta get him in reach to smack him one in the mouth and open ma knuckles a little. Understand me now, Gabriel?" He nodded and stuck his thumb up at me as he continued to laugh.....

[questor]

The plan was a good one. I would be there with her just in case things didn't go as planned. But we didn't want Gabe and Marla on the ground. That would be a bit to much I thought. Might make him hesitate. They could be on the jet and ready to move at a moment notice. Same would go with Elana. It would be Cain, Mac and me on the ground. and everyone else out of sight.

After breakfast the hours seemed to pass quickly as we prepared. Getting all geared up again and looking around at the four of us, it seemed like we had done it a million times as a team. I had my ideas about what was going to be after we did our jobs, but I still had no idea of what Marla and Gabe was going to do after they left the Order.

"Well beg guy, what are your plans after we deal with Anubis?" I asked him. I plan on doing what I have been doing and enjoying the pay that comes with it now. Got one hell of a reason to enjoy it and have a comfortable life."

[LadyRaven]

The adjustments in my connected ideas were made and Gabe, Marla and Elana agreed to be on the plane rather than outside. I agreed that maybe seeing all of us might just be too much and might make Anubis too nervous to take a second shot at all of us again. As if it hadn't gone bad enough for us and him the first time around. Once it was all agreed, we finished breakfast together and I had to admit, it was nice. Perhaps my first real foray into the idea of real family rather than soldiers sat at long tables and eating in silence being watched over by our handlers. Yes, this was nice, I thought.

The day wore on and I soon found myself rifling through what was left of my gear. I had certainly lost a fair amount of it over the last mission, not to mention clothes as well. I felt quite ashamed of myself to be honest that I cold lose that amount of kit and not be bothered by it. Though, to be fair, I had spent most of that time in a coma, but that didn't mean I could blame anyone else for the losses. My kit was my responsibility and I hadn't looked after it, it really was that simple. Still, what I did find happened to be the most important items and I could live with that. Marla arrived later into the afternoon and we settled down to discuss oddly enough, very similar things that as it happened, turned out to be what Gabe and Quinn were talking about.

Gabe had made himself comfortable in a cosy as the Prince called it. The room was small, but it was comfortable and he sat with a glass of Jim Beam as he considered his options. When Quinn came to him, he cracked the bottle again and the pair sat down to talk. Gabe thought carefully over Quinn's questions. "Don't know really." He said as he stared into his glass. "Dimitri already signed the pardons and my resignation won't be denied when I send it in." He turned the glass in his thick fingers and smiled some. "I might take Marla home to meet the folks." He said, then laughed, "My mom will fall over in pieces about her. She was already on about grandbabies long before I left the Marines, so she'll probably be over the moon about it. Could settle down I guess, but..." he held his glass up to Quinn, "Like you said, the money's good and I gotta do something with my life. No doubt you could set me up with some wet-work when you come up Starling City way and you know I'd be grateful. You said it, man, you got one hell of a reason to enjoy it. Same goes for me now." He finished the glass and sat it down carefully on a low table between them. "Mom will demand I get the gold on her finger and make it all legal like." He laughed quietly, "Don't know if she wants that yet, but I'll ask after all this is done, see what she says." He looked up then at Quinn. "What about you and Kenzie?" He asked, "You gonna do right by her? Make her a Santaroi? I think she'll like it. She always hated the name they gave her, figured it was just a couple of names picked from a hat when she was born. I mean, who the hell gives a kid Trydant for their last name?" He laughed and shook his head again before nodding, "Yeah, I think she'll like it. Marla's just gonna have to put up with Harris. Ain't nothing too special.".....

[questor]

When he said he wanted to keep his hands in the buisness I already was thinking. Probably would have to work something out with the Prince and all, to keep our names and where we lived out of it. But we could work as a team on some things and separate on others. There would be a fair amount of trave involved as well, See the world and all. "Well I think I can do that. Hell with as there seems to be no short supply of stupid out there, work will be fairly good."

When he asked about making it all legal between me and Mac. I chuckled. "Like you I will ask her and see what she says. Especially since our child needs a good name. But we have talked on some of it and we will be setting up a home in the Highlands in Scotland. I'll work out of there." Oh if the dream I had came true, I was going to be one happy father and I would have to keep an eye on the two. Oh they would be taugjht everything that Mac and I knew and then some, and they would be told of their linage on both sides.

It was almost time for us to leave. "Time to saddle up and make our play." I told him. I stood up and opened the door. Coming down the hall was Seline, dressed to kill one might say. Oh she would get Anubis' attention. She was all prepared for her part. She smiled sweetly at us and said. "I am off to the club where the others have put out the word someone knew where Cain would be. See you boys at the Party." she chuckled and moved down the hall swaying her hips.

[LadyRaven]

Gabe lifted an eyebrow at Quinn's choice of home and wondered what the hell the man was thinking. "Scotland?" He asked, "The Highlands? Man, you guy like isolated, don't ya." Gabe was a city boy through the through, born and raised in the glades of Starling City. He figured it had a lot to do with my heritage that he wanted us to settle there. "S'pose it'd be good for the tykes though, all that space and the like." He nodded in as though in approval and then grinned, "Make sure you gets a place big enough, 'cause you know we're gonna visit. Marla would have my ass if we didn't." He laughed then and got to his feet with a nod. It was time to go.

Moving to the door as Quinn opened it, Gabe had to stop and stared around the frame as Selina swayed by. "Damn!" He said quietly and began to lean as he watched her move down the hall. See him at the party? If he didn't know what sat just under her lip and of course, if Marla wasn't the love of his life, the term Hell Yeah! would have been the first thing out of his mouth. Gabe shuddered quickly and shook his head, "Vamp, vamp, vamp!" He then laughed and left the cosy.

Upstairs, Marla and I had finished checking and rechecking our kits. "You're gonna settle in Scotland?" Marla asked.
I laughed as I nodded, "It's my home, Marla." I said, "It's where I belong."
"What about Quinn?" Marla asked me.
I smiled again, "It was his idea." I said, "He said it first, so that makes it his idea. Besides, we had a little outside help with the decision."
"Your dragon thing." Marla said and shook her head, "You know, I still don't get that."
I laughed as I zipped up the bag and sat it on the bed, "One of those believe when you see it type things." I said.
Marla nodded and laughed, "Yeah." She said, "Something like that." She finished with her bag and cocked her head at me.
"Aye?"
"You know Gabe's mother is Catholic, right?" She said to me in a more statement tone than question.
"Aye."
"Well, do you think he'll...?"
I laughed and shook my head, "He'd be a wet haggis if he doesna." I chortled, "He'll ask, I know he will, hen. You know Gabe almost as well as I do, he's a good lad. He'll make yis a honest lass, I've no doubt of it."
"Thanks." Marla said and then looked at me again, tilting her head the other way.
I laughed and shook my head again, "Don't even think aboot it." I said, "Quinn and me will get to that when we get to that and not a minute before, ok?" I grabbed up my kit bag and slung it over my shoulder. "Crack on, we gots lots to do."
Marla laughed again and grabbed her bag. She was still laughing when we left the room.

We arrived downstairs just in time to see Quinn and Gabe retrieve their kits and Marla went to Gabe with a wide smile. I watched as he smiled back at her and slid his hand around her back to steal a kiss. I cocked my head to one side and smiled at the pair. They were a good match and I just knew Genie would love her to bits. I'd met Gabe's mother a few times over the years and she was a force of nature that was for sure, but she had a heart and it made her somewhat endearing. I could see lots of fights in the future as they both had quite a dominant personality, and lots of headaches for Gabe, but I imagined them happy in their chaos. My eyes turned to Quinn and my smile changed to something more loving. Chaos would be abound with all of us, I thought, especially when Cain and I finally got around to that chat about my mother, but it would definitely be fun. Moving to him, I tilted my head and leaned up to kiss him tenderly. "Ready to play?" I asked him.....