Finally "home"

[Dane]

Her question was one that he had already given much thought to. The simple and truest answer, was no, he did not trust Ahmad, but to be fair he trusted no one. To Dane, the true question was whether he could control Ahmad or not. Whether he could influence him the way he though he influenced Lucia. "For the time being yes." He said as his hand rummaged through his pocket. "I haven't much said much of him, have I?" The vampire pulled his pockets inside out, clearly searching for something and failing. "He's older than me, nearly twice as much, but he has only spent a nigh of a percentage of his vampiric life awake. I woke him from his slumber earning his gratitude for the time being." He stepped towards the front door of the apartment building they were perched upon only moments ago. "He is not nearly as strong as he should be, but is fairly competent and appears to grow more powerful everyday. At times he resents me for commanding him, he is also quick to second guess his king. I believe once his full power is restored he may not be satisfied with his position." He paused, glancing at Lucia and then at the door in front of him. "This is my home away from home. I had keys at some point." The vampire said with a smirk. His pants were shred to mostly bits to the point they appeared to be ragged shorts. "I seemed to have misplaced them." He casually shoved the door with a hand, breaking it off its hinges and sending it flying into his home. "Please." He half bowed, motioning Lucia into his two story apartment before following her. His appeared to be little more than a wealthy man's bachelor pad. A large flat tv sat mounted on the wall, across it a leather couch, a few framed paintings of portraits and landscapes decorated the wall, but there was truly nothing of interest, at least nothing that suggested an ancient being lived. By the entrance sat a counter top, on it a cell phone and a photo of a man who appeared to be Dane. At second glance, anyone familiar with the vampire would it was not.

He grabbed the phone and scrolled through it while still speaking with Lucia. "Ahmad for now is not a threat. He won't be for quite a bit." His eyes lit up, he looked away from the phone up to Lucia. A smile slowly creased his lips. "In fact, he may be more your problem than mine." Dane placed his hand on the hybrid's arm. "Oslo is ours, victory is nigh and you will soon be Queen. We will fly there first thing come nightfall first, but first we must celebrate." He grabbed her arm, almost excitedly leading her down the hallway. A trait he rarely felt or even faked. "I told the fool not to send vital information via text, but he may never learn." He tossed the phone aside. "This is my guest room. Inside you'll find a bathroom and maybe even clothes that fit you if you so require them. I for one am in need of a change. Please make yourself at home." The vampire disappeared up the stairs. He reappeared in a few minutes, almost a new man. All the blood and dirt washed off his skin, his clothes freshly replaced, his freshly dried hair combed to the side, and in his hands a bottle of 'wine' and two glasses. He sat legs crossed on the black leather couch, pouring a glass for both Lucia and himself. For bottled blood it smelt remarkably fresh.

[Lucia Drusa Severa]

Listening as Dane spoke about Ahmad, the girl considered his words. That would explain why she couldn't recall ever meeting him before. So, he was somewhere in the vicinity of her mother's age, but hadn't grown into his strength yet? For the brief moment Lucia was in his presence last night, he seemed powerful, but the way Dane was describing him, she wasn't sure how seriously she should consider him a problem. She supposed she'd keep an eye on him.

Dane's apartment was spacious, if not a little professional. In fact, the only personal touches to the place appeared to be the framed photograph of Dane on the nightstand by the door. Or... was it Dane? The resemblance was striking, but Lucia didn't think the Vampire would have a picture of himself in his own apartment. Anyway, she wasn't even sure if Dane could have a photograph taken of him. Many Vampires, especially those of an older generation, did not seem to have reflections. The little the Hybrid knew of photography suggested that therefore he would not be visible in a picture.

Though these thoughts were going on in the back of her mind, and she was listening to Dane speak, Lucia felt they were taking up more of her attention than they had any right to. As Dane placed his hand on her arm, Lucia looked up into his eyes, which seemed to light up as he spoke to her. His smile must have been contagious, cause the girl couldn't help but return the feeling as he told her she would soon be Queen and that they should celebrate.

"Thank you, Dane." Closing the door to the guest room behind her, the Hybrid looked around. The room had been up-kept pristinely. It looked like no one had stayed in the guest room in quite some time, yet there was a distinct lack of dust present. Opening the closet, Lucia found a variety of clothes hanging up, from tailored suits to fancy dinner dresses, to more relaxed garments for nearly any occasion. Sifting through the rack, she picked out a plain red summer dress.

Moving quickly, the girl stripped and ran the shower to its hottest point. Scrubbing herself clean, she took a moment to inspect the wound in her gut. It had closed up remarkably since it happened, and appeared to be nothing more than a silver line. Tracing the scar, she wondered if it would last. There was some tenderness beneath the mark, like it hadn't healed all the way through yet, but it felt worlds better than earlier.

Drying off, Lucia opened the bathroom door to air the room out. The heat of the water had created a thin mist throughout the bathroom. Blow-drying her hair, she combed it out, carefully working through the knots, deciding to leave her hair down and loose. Pulling the dress over her head, the girl adjusted until it fit nicely. The waist of the outfit had a thick elastic around it that cinched nicely to her slender waist, and the dress flowed beautifully down to just above her knees. The only thing to suggest that this dress was not fit just for Lucia was the portion covering her chest: it was just a touch too big to accommodate her breasts. The covered covered them perfectly, but because of the little bit of extra fabric, the straps fell down her shoulders almost immediately. Fixing the straps, Lucia gazed at herself in the full length mirror on the bathroom door; she looked as if nothing stressful had happened at all tonight. As if she hadn't witnessed the death of her caretaker and the destruction of her childhood home just hours ago. She looked composed; she looked good, she thought. The red of the dress complimented her eyes and the soft quality of the fabric felt silky smooth over her body.

Looking at the clothes she'd left in the corner of the room, Lucia made a mental note to scrub Dane's sleeve of her blood later, not that it mattered too much. Stooping by the pile of folded clothes, the girl picked up the golden chain with the skeleton key to the cell in her father's room, her only relic from her home, and clasped it around her neck.

Walking barefoot out of the guest room and down the hall, the Hybrid swept her long, auburn hair over her shoulder, adjusting, once more, one of the straps of her dress as she entered the living area where Dane waited. The Vampire looked good as new; it was a wonder what feeding could do for their kind. Smiling bright, Lucia stepped into the living room, toward the couch where Dane sat comfortably. He did look quite comfortable amid this luxury. Although, truth be told, Dane seemed to make many things look as if they came easily to him. Lucia had thought that perhaps that was what came of being a favored retainer of the King, but the Vampire seemed to be enjoying himself far more now, than he had then.

The smell of blood hit her awareness immediately upon entering the room, and her eyes lit up as she watched the Vampire pour the decadent drink into two glasses. Lucia curtsied to Dane; so this was how he wished to celebrate. The Hybrid would definitely not complain about getting more blood, she had still felt a little unsatisfied by the Human's blood moments earlier. "You're an excellent host, Dane." Her smile was wide and genuine, four fangs creeping out from her grin. She waited for the Vampire King to offer her a glass and a place to sit.

[Dane]

The vampire's eyes flickered over to Lucia as she stepped into his living room. All things considered she seemed well. It was curious, he knew Lucia and her mother were never close, but the same could not be said about her former caretaker. Perhaps he applied his nature onto her, but Dane expected some resentment from the hybrid. By chance maybe he was wrong, if she felt resentment she did well to hide it. He never thought of Lucia as a clever girl, usually her expressions betrayed her thoughts. "Only to deserving guest." He stood, and lowered his head returning her curtsy. An outstretched hand offered the hybrid a glass of wine. "The dress suits you." He looked at her head to toe. "You wear it better than its previous owner." He smiled, seemingly bemused at the thought of its last owner. There was a guest who would not describe him as an excellent host. At least not after the night was over. He sat back down, gesturing Lucia to sit besides him. "She and I shared an entire bottle. I told her it was vintage. The foolish woman claimed she had never tasted wine so rich." Dane sipped from his glass, though the blood lacked warmth it tasted fresh. It had not been bottled long, less than a days time at the most.

"I apologize for the loss of your home. I expected many losses, but my fight with your mother was never meant to extend beyond the doorsteps." The vampire eyed her closely as he spoke, searching for glimpses of what lied within her mind. Though some would say Dane had safely secured her loyalty and trust the vampire was not certain. He was careful and methodical in nearly all his actions. It was why he lived a thousand years and planned to live at least a thousand more. He did not think she was playing him for a fool, but he knew how deceitful one could be. Any of trust or faith Lucia seemingly had in him was for naught. Every kind word he uttered to her was empty, every act for his own good. What he intended for the hybrid was far from honorable. He held no actual resentment towards her person. The wolf blood was of putting to him, but aside from that she was nothing more than a means to an end. "Once you're Queen you can rebuild it as it was. I have the blue prints. If you wish we may even begin construction now, and if there is anything else you may ask of me do not hesitate. In less than a weeks time you should be Queen. At this point I am only King in name. If I am to serve you then, I may as well begin now. Once your reign begins I wish to leave you well prepared."

[Lucia Drusa Severa]

Sweeping the tails of the dress under her as she sat down with her drink, Lucia smiled softly at Dane's compliment. Bringing her free hand up to cover her mouth, the girl giggled a little as the Vampire told her of feeding blood to a Human, convincing her it was wine. Taking a careful sup of the blood, the Hybrid could feel her fangs grow at the taste, wanting to bite into something, as what typically happened when she tasted blood. It had become an instinct now, as if she'd conditioned herself somehow, that the taste of blood would bring upon her fangs and the urge, no, need, to bite into something, preferably flesh. She reveled in the freshness of the drink, and eyed the bottle momentarily to see if there was a label that would provide any information as to the 'donor'. Lucia felt she could take some guesses as to who the Human was, and because there was no proof to say otherwise, just assumed she was correct. Not that it was important anyway, she only cared to satisfy her own curiosity.

As Dane started out with his apology, Lucia's gaze fixed on something across the room, giving it the thousand-yard stare. She heard what he was saying, though wasn't particularly happy with the subject matter. Suddenly, she was acutely aware of the situation: where she was, what she was wearing, who she was with and her proximity to him. The leather couch felt cool on her bare legs, and the carpet soft to her toes. Holding the wine glass with both hands in her lap, Lucia looked down at the blood in her glass. She sat close to Dane, but not close enough that their legs touched when they sat relaxed. The only thing stopping her from digging her fingernails in to her palms was the presence of the glass in her hands. It was only slightly, but she visibly tensed as Dane offered to start reconstructing the mansion exactly as it had been. Forcing a smile to her face, Lucia tried to brush aside the emotions climbing up from her insides. She turned, facing Dane now, her voice came out soft and weak at first, but she managed to fix it quickly, "No, I don't want it rebuilt as it was. It would never be the same." In truth, she didn't blame Dane for the destruction of her home; that was her mother's fault. "To try to reconstruct it as it was would only make a mockery of my father's legacy. A new Home should be built for a new legacy." No, she didn't blame Dane for her father's mansion, but she was having trouble coming to terms with Szandor's death.

The Lycan had been the only one at the Den to be considerate of Lucia. (Would that she had met Pablo sooner, perhaps this mess wouldn't have happened...) After the murder of Raven, Szandor was the closest thing to a father she'd known the last six years. The girl had always questioned his motives; surely Alena had put him up to looking after her, and out of some strong, yet peculiar sense of duty, he'd taken to her. Yet there were certain interactions between them that Lucia swore couldn't simply have been out of duty. The way Szandor held her at the news of her father's death; how he's stopped in on a nightly basis to check in on her. Sure, he could seem cold at times, and confusing at others, but he always listened if the Hybrid had a problem, and he never discouraged her more reserved, polite manners. Szandor had been good to her; real good.

"Dane, I am sorry if I seem... prickly. Surely, this is a time for celebration, yet slowing down has allowed the night to catch up to me. I begrudge you nothing; you've been very generous and understanding as I adjust to being among my father's kind once more. I can't seem to..." The girl wiped at her eye, but there was nothing there. She decided to dispense with the sugarcoating and just say what was on her mind. "Szandor was kind to me. His death... hurts." She shifted uncomfortably on the couch, "It hurts different than when Father was murdered, but, mmm, I..." Trailing off, Lucia sighed softly. She didn't think she was conveying herself too well. "What I mean to say is, I'm having trouble grasping what I witnessed: Szandor's death. However, I am relieved to see that you are well; I know you were acting in self defense. I don't know what I would have done if you'd been killed."

Taking a larger drink of the blood, Lucia swallowed her emotions, feeling that she'd handled things in a very adult way.

[Dane]

Dane noticed as Lucia gazed by him, her stare never met his eyes. It was a look that he was familiar with. One seen on the faces of many of his brother-in-arms; after the hard fought battles to free and defend his home land from Moor invaders. Perhaps even he bore the stare at one point, but that was long ago. He was naive then, much like Lucia now; foolish and yet to be hardened against the pains of war. The events that transpired just hours ago had finally caught up to her. Did his words trigger this response? She seemed annoyed and on edge. Though it was his intention he could not place what she resented. Him or her circumstances. Circumstances that he was largely responsible for. He placed his glass down on the coffee table. "If that is what you wish." He would not say more on the subject. She did not act her usual self; chatty, eager to please and beaming at any attention he showed her way.

It did not take long for his guest to speak her mind. She claimed to hold no resentment towards him, but he remained unconvinced. As she spoke he considered if he would have to end her life much sooner than intended. "Once again I must apologize. It was wrong of me to see this is as a night worth celebrating." He paused, and turned away momentarily. "I see you one of us. At times it's far too easy to forget you have a stake in both sides of this war. I know now why your father never wished for you to fight..." The vampire turned his head to look at her again. His brow had lowered, his lips now curled downwards into the slightest of frowns. "I did not know he was so important to you. Perhaps it was foolish to think otherwise of your caretaker. I would have strived for a less fatal blow" Dane was very much a heartless being, he felt no sympathy for her loss. Yet he remembered a time in which he felt pain like hers. He remembered what he required then. Showing little hesitation he wrapped his arm around Lucia, resting the very hand that tore Szandor's heart out on her shoulder, caressing it chastely. He leaned against her, resting the side of his head on hers. If she recoiled from his touch he would move away. "You do not need to accompany me to Oslo if you wish not to, and if you require more space from me there is more than one room in my home. I have grown taken to you, and it pains me to see you in sorrow. In a day's time the war will be at an end. Your mother shall be spared, and there will be no more needless death among your kinds. I promise this to you."

[Lucia Drusa Severa]

"I did not know he was so important to you..."

"You couldn't know." Lucia spoke in response to Dane's expression of sympathy about Szandor. Taking another sip of her drink, the girl watched as Dane set his glass down. He seemed to move in slow motion as he placed an arm around her and leaned in close. The weight of his head resting against hers felt strange, but welcome. This was a gesture Lucia was unfamiliar with after having lived with her mother through adolescence. The closeness of his face to hers took the breath and words right out of her. This expression of concern and consideration was just what the Hybrid needed.

Reaching passed Dane to set her own glass on the coffee table, Lucia wrapped her arms around the Vampire's waist. Nuzzling her forehead into Dane's shoulder and chest, Lucia took comfort in the fact that he was reaching out to help her. This was her second hug tonight and the most contact with another Being she'd had in damn near six years. This must be her lucky night. Her fingers gripped Dane's shirt tightly for the briefest moment, relishing the contact as she shifted a little closer to make it more comfortable for herself. There was no warmth to his body, as was certainly the case with Pablo; she counted no heartbeats in the Vampire's chest. There was just the quiet, cold mass of his body in her arms, just as her own body must feel quiet and cold in return. Just as Raven's embrace had felt.

Holding on to Dane, the girl listened to what he said, considering his offer. She blushed visibly as he said he'd grown fond of her, but she felt her hair covered enough of her reaction that she was safe from judgement. "I want to stay with you." She was adamant, but had to bite her tongue to keep from continuing the thought: You're all I have left anymore... she wanted to say.

Relaxing into Dane's arms, Lucia couldn't help but feel she should be crying. Surely, she was bereaved at Szandor's passing; and a little at the slaughter of all those Vampires, she supposed. Yet not a tear came to her eyes. Far more strange and concerning to her was the confusion she felt at what she'd witnessed tonight. Had it not been Szandor that was murdered tonight; had it not been her father's mansion torn apart tonight, Lucia would have had no qualms about jumping in to get a piece of the action. The only thing holding her back from truly celebrating the night with Dane were her connections. The Hybrid wanted to be in the fray, fighting. She'd always considered herself cold; had this inborn need to destroy and reek havoc, but for these sudden feelings of duty. Lucia's initial reaction upon walking downstairs was excitement. A deep, dark excitement.

Thinking more on this, it started to make some sort of sense. She was after all, a child of Raven, the true King of Vampires, a spawn of Hell itself. That her mother was the Queen was Werewolves did not explain where this odd sense of duty came from, she thought. Her mother had often talked about a Wolf's loyalty to his pack and mate, but it wasn't until Lucia remembered that her mother had once been Human. THAT'S where the light dawned on her, why she felt so conflicted about what had happened. Resentment rose in her, but her thoughts quickly returned to Szandor....

"I think he loved me," Lucia spoke. She felt she should say something to remember Szandor by, "As a daughter. He never told me much about his family Before. He always insisted that We, my mother and I - and the Pack, I suppose - were his family. I found some old correspondence of his, however, that mentioned a family prior to his becoming a Werewolf." Dane perhaps did not care, but Lucia had taken such care sneaking into Szandor's room all those years ago to find out anything about her guardian. When she finally did come upon the decrepit letter, she thanked Hell her father had taken the time to teach her the ancient languages of Greece and Italy. "He had a life Before. A wife and kids as a Human. I cannot even fathom being ripped from that life and being expected to fall in line and give fealty to those who took everything away." As the words came out, Lucia realized the irony in what she said, and actually laughed. "I take that back, I suppose. That's what Alena did when she took me from Father's side. Hell, that woman has some nerve.... Poor Szandor."

That reminded her of something Pablo had mentioned earlier, back in the cell. Slowly, Lucia pulled away from the Vampire's embrace, looking at him thoughtfully. "You knew my father pretty well, I believe. Did he speak of me much while the two of you were away on missions? Did he speak much of his intentions for me?" Lucia tried to keep her expression impartial, but she hoped to hear that Raven had spoken often and well of her. Though her relationship with her father had always been far better than her relationship with her mother, she wanted to hear she mattered. Something that she wasn't likely to hear from Alena.

[Dane]

The vampire glanced down at the top of Lucia's head as she nuzzled against him. In a thousand years of existence he had never foreseen his life leading here. Life times spent climbing the ranks of vampire society to become its king. This is where life had led him, alone in a room with a mourning teenage girl; with no choice but to comfort her. Though in truth there was always a choice, a limitless amount. At any moment he could grab the girl by the throat and snap her neck, and be done with her nearly pitiful show of emotion. He nearly grinned, imagining the face of terror and shock she would make if her were to. Unfortunately that would get him nowhere. After what felt like an eternity of life a golden opportunity to achieve his life's goal had fallen into his lap. Unfortunately Lucia was the central figure in that opportunity. As much as she tested his patience at times he needed her, not only alive, but to be well and trusting of him. Again he nearly smirked. In some way she was important to him, and in that light suddenly the circumstances became tolerable. Not that it changed much. At this point he was fully committed. He was going for the gold as some might say, and at this point he would earn it or die trying.


She spoke again, her words breaking Dane's train of thought. She wanted to stay with him. Yes, that was more or less what he wanted to hear from her. "It delights me to hear you say that." He feigned a smile, in case she looked. "There's nothing I want more than to see this to an end with you." He slipped his hand away from her shoulder and began to gently stroke the hybrids hair. He could not help but wonder how or why the daughter of Raven, a spawn of the devil himself could be so emotional, so human. Even if her mother was once human, Alena was hardly an emotional being. Years of immortality changed all of them, but he could not believe Lucia was a splitting image of a young mother of lycanthropy. Though that night he did see weakness in Alena. After many years the woman seemed to still mourn for the loss of her lover. It surprised him. She truly loved his former king. What did that say of Raven? Dane doubted Raven was any more capable of compassion than he.


No, he did not care to hear of Szandor, but still he listened. Unsurprisingly he found it nearly impossible to chime in on a man he knew nothing of and had killed. Her words though stirred memories of his family, if only for a moment. He had never married nor had children, though he was betrothed and the oldest sibling of four brothers. Through their lives he protected them until time took its toll. He was present at all their funerals. At those moments it had never been more clear that vampirism was a curse. No doubt Szandor saw lycanthropy in the same light. They both could have granted their families the gift of immortality. Lucia proved her nativity. Nearly all lycans and vampires were torn away from their lives. Dane had killed the vampire who turned him, he could imagine the resentment he would feel towards Raven if it had been him. In Viktor he saw what his life would have been. Years of pent up animosity resulting in a grand betrayal. They were all fools to have not foreseen that. "Do not fret. Certainly his loved ones were awaiting him on the other side."


As she moved away he turned to Lucia and looked her in the eye. . "I believe I did. He was one of few I have ever called friend." He lifted his hand and with his thumb brushed a loose strand of hair away from Lucia's face. " Often, and in truth more than I would have liked, but he was my king so I listened." The vampire grinned. "Always on about your curiosity and how he yearned to see you as the woman you would grow to be." He paused for a moment as he considered his next words. "He wished for you to inherit your birthright... from both sides of your family." The vampire believed Lucia would know his meaning.

[Lucia Drusa Severa]

His touch had the strangest effect on her, calming her easily, making her feel safe and secure. Like everything would work out; like she could survive far worse than what tonight had offered. She relaxed fully in Dane's arms and when she pulled away, she felt better. He may not have known what to say in regards to Szandor, but that was alright. Dane was there with her; he was listening and he was going to help her.

Lucia smiled modestly as Dane brushed away stray hair from her face, but the grin grew as he answered her query. She'd hoped he'd say something to that affect. His last statement caught her attention right away, but it didn't fully sink in right away, "Mother would never allow... that." It hit her suddenly, and Lucia felt briefly embarrassed for speaking without thinking the statement through.

Her gaze faltered and Lucia looked away from the Vampire for a moment, "I couldn't... I mean, I don't think the Werewolves would accept me as one of them, much less their... They only respect strength, and M... Alena is..." Lucia realized she was just speaking her thoughts off the top of her head and paused. It felt like she was making excuses, but how in Hell would she be able to rally the Werewolves under her name?

Leaning passed Dane, Lucia grabbed her 'wine' once more, taking a sip. She needed to think. The more she dwelt on it, the more the idea grew on her. Dane had said it himself, this was what her father wanted for her. Raven had always taught her to be proud and strong; that she would go far and was destined for much in life. "I wish to see this to an end with you as well, Dane. I feel you've done so much for me already, yet still, I will require your aid for this."

[Dane]

Dane smiled slightly as Lucia failed to instantly grasp his statement. It was fine, simply a little amusing to him. She was slow at times, and he patient enough to let her sort through her thoughts. "Of course it won't be easy, but when we remove your mother from the picture it will be a much smoother process than you believe." He paused and rested his hand again on her shoulder. He knew she would have some trouble accepting this. She was only a teenage girl, hardly suitable for any throne, let alone two. He looked her in the eyes as she spoke. "Nothing easy is worth having. They'll resist, certainly, but we'll force them to respect you. After your mother is gone there will be infighting among the elders to claim their right as pack leader. As you say the only respect strength. Then we'll strike, again and again, until we force them into submission. As a condition of their surrender you must be named the new pack mother." He smiled darkly. "You'll be their saving grace."

The Vampire King shook his head laughing softly. "I'm come too far to not see this through." She seemed keen on the idea. Good, more than anything Dane needed Lucia to be cooperative. He needed only her name and heritage, she would be little more than a puppet for him to manipulate. "Besides, you've followed me this far, you've trusted me. I would not be much of a friend if I were to abandon you." Again he smiled. "And of course there's the matter of glory. I can't let you have it all." He jested, and then continued more seriously. " We would be ending a war that's spanned centuries. A rather pointless war. There is and will always be love loss among the two species, but it should not solved with bloodshed. Why spend your life fighting the only enemy that will ever be a threat to you when you can rule besides them. Perhaps not together, but separate. There is enough space on this planet. Eventually the masses will see that, and they'll know us as heralds of a new age."

[Lucia Drusa Severa]

Dane's enthusiasm and conviction felt contagious and did wonders to lighten the girl's mood; almost like flicking a switch. She listened to what he said with interest, picturing it all easily. "Yes, that's perfect." In truth, Lucia had some reservations about the likelihood of Vampires and Werewolves living in relative peace. Sure, in a way, she was proof that relationships could be formed between the two mighty races; but her parents were also the catalysts of this war in the first place. Or so she'd heard. Lucia, in her young age, had never known a time when her parent's were at peace with each other. If two individuals from each race could not make things work, how would millions of members of each race be able to tolerate each other?

Despite her doubts, she wanted to try. It was true that glory and power were big motivators for her participation in this plan; but there were also two other big factors pushing her involvement. First, she felt some loyalty to Dane, after all, he was the single being closest to her father, whom she loved dearly, in the years before his murder. He'd also come for her personally in Rome; these things were the source of much adoration toward the Vampire. The second reason was a little personal. While her stay with Raven when she was younger had been pleasant and easier to hide her maternal lineage, her stay in Sweden had been a little slice of Hell. Never had she felt so ostracized in the presence of what could have been considered family. In fact, it was only in the last few nights that Lucia began to truly feel that she belonged somewhere again. It was her hope that in unity the two ancient races, at last she would have a Home. Maybe even friends.

As Dane called himself her friend, Lucia smiled wide, throwing her arms around the Vampire King once more. She was careful not to spill the drink in her hand, but her gesture was quite sudden. Reigning in her feelings, she made the hug brief. The future was suddenly looking bright. "Together we will end this war." Saying it out loud made it seem official; somehow, giving voice to the thought gave it power, and Lucia liked the sound.