It's alright, really. Annika said softly and then looked at the door when a knock sounded. She stood up and opened the door. She smiled when she saw Raine standing there.
"Hey." Raine said meekly. She still felt bad, but she had to save them from dying.
Pierce thanked the healer and then looked at the guard.
Vandros got up and smiled at Raine.
"Good day, Princess." he said in a formal, but friendly way. "To what do we owe the honour?"
Damian, you better get your butt out here! he called the young vampire lordling. This may be your last chance.
The guard lead Pierce towards the library when he met the second leading Tallulah away from it. The second guard quickly explained where the princess was, then looked over Pierce and Tallulah.
"We'd better get their new clothes first..."
"Funny you should mention that." a young slave girl said, walking up to them with a new tunic for both Tallulah and Pierce. "'ve been looking fir you."
The guard thanked the girl for the clothes, then lead the two slaves to a room near where Raines guests were, so they could change.
"Please, it's just Raine." Raine said as she looked at them sadly.
"Are you alright?" Annika asked worriedly as she let Raine into the room.
Pierce put on his new clothing and waited for Tallulah.
Vandros smiled at Raine.
"I'm afraid you'll never be 'just Raine' again." he said, his smile a little sad. "Besides..."
"It's what she wants to be called, and you should respect that." A sullen voice said behind them.
Vandros turned to see a sulky looking Damian leanng against the door frame leading to the room he had just vacated.
"Remember the temper tantrums I used to throw when ever you and Lukas called me Milord or master Damian?"
Vandros smiled wryly.
"Vividly."
Damian frowned darkly.
"Funny." he said. "The point is, it's Raines decision. And you should respect her new rank enough to accept that she wants you to call her by her name. A high rank is a lonely place- I should know."
Damian locked gaze with Raine for the first time since Annika let her into the room. His gaze held a sympathy for Raine's new role and an understanding, as well as guilt, before it turned sullen again.
Tallulah came out in her new tunic as well and smiled slightly at Pierce. The two guards then lead them to the room Raine was in, where her friends were staying.
Raine looked at Damian and hid the hurt she felt as best she could. "I had to do something to keep you all alive. If I hadn't of accepted Markus would have destroyed you all. I know you hate me for it, but I didn't do it for myself."
Annika looked from Raine to Damian and back. She then grabbed Vandros's hand and pulled him into another room. "You two seem to have some things to work out." She said then shut the door behind her and Vandros.
Pierce smiled at Tallulah and then followed the guards.
Kole looked at Ivory to see if she was alright.
Vandros smiled as Annika lead him away. The electric current from before shot up his arm again, emanating from Annika's hand. He turned to the female lycan as he closed the door behind them.
"And now we wait."
Damian blinked.
"You think... I hate you...?" he asked Raine, more than a little surprised. "Raine... I'm scared sh!tless for you! Angry, yes. Frustrated, absolutely. Helpless, most assuredly. But no- I don't hate you"
He drew a deep breath.
"I-I..." he sighed at his own stuttering and ran his hand through his hair before looking at Raine. "I know you won't believe me... especially with the way I've acted. But I could never hate you, Raine. If anything... I love you."
Caius wondered through the hall, checking on the werewolves and his coven, getting updates from the various healers.
One of the guards knocked on the door, then lead Tallulah and Pierce in so they could officially meet their new mistress.
Annika nodded and looked at him. "Yep." She said as she sat on the bed.
Raine was about to tell him how she felt, but stopped when the gaurd brought Pierce and Tallulah in. "Really Roman, you couldn't have brought them to me later?" She gave the gaurd a icy look. She then sighed and looked at Pierce and Tallulah. "I'm glad to see that they didn't hurt you too bad."
Eli sighed and said, "We didn't lose to many."
Ivory was sunbathing
Vandros smiled at the younger female.
"Well then.... I hope all goes well."
He leaned up against the wall opposite Annika.
Damian bit back a chuckle. Raine was a Gregori alright. Roman blinked at the somewhat miffed Raine.
"U-um... pardon our intrusion, Princess." he said. "But Raymond and I thought it best they were brought straight to you."
Tallulah smiled at Raine.
"No, they didn't really harm us, Princess." she said softly. "So, please don't be too hard on them."
"Me too." Annika said as she looked around the room.
Raine looked at Roman and sighed. "Would you be so kind as to get them settled in their new rooms." She said and then looked at Tallulah. Her eyes fell on the cut which marred her cheek. "I believe you. I just don't like the way my grandfather treats his men and his slaves." She glanced at Damian and sighed inwardly.
Pierce looked to the guard and said, "I think we should give the Princess a little privacy with her guest."
Kole joined Ivory.
She curled up around him
bump
She curled up around him
Vandros nodded and smiled as Annika agreed with him, then quietly watched her as she looked around the room. He wracked his brain for something to say, but every time Annika moved, his thoughts scattered. He found her distracting... in a good way. He wondered what it was about her that drew him so.
Both Roman and Raymond bowed and lead the slaves to their new quarters. As she left, Tallulah tilted her head quizzically at the two adults still standing in the middle of the room, before following the others. Damian waited until he was sure that the guards were gone.
"Don't be so hard on the men, Raine..." he said softly. "They're just following orders."
He knew she hadn't answered him on his feelings and he was actually trying to steer them out of those waters. It would hurt less to not know how Raine felt, especially since they were now essentially enemies.
"Do you think Raine will be alright here?" Annika asked as she looked back at Vandros. She wanted to tell him how she felt, but didn't know how.
Pierce looked at the guards as he followed them. "What do you make of the princess?" He asked them.
Raine watched them go then looked at Damian. "I wasn't nearly as hard on them as Markus would be." She said and then paused for a moment. She took a deep breath then added. "Damian, I really am thankful that you saved me. I'm also very sorry that things turned out this way."
Kole smiled and gave a sigh.
Eli looked at Caius and said, "Caius there's something you should know about my daughter and son."
Ivory smiled back at him
Vandros sighed, then shrugged lightly.
"In all honesty, I don't know." he replied. "But I have faith in her. If there's one vampire who can save this coven... save Markus... then it's the little Princess. I'm sure she'll be fine..."
"She's a strong girl, I'll give her that." Raymond said.
"She has a bit of bite to her temperament too." Roman agreed. "She'll do well here. But she has a good heart... a kind heart... That may be a problem."
Tallulah tilted her head.
"Why?" she asked.
The guards looked at each other.
"Let's just say any and all light- love, hope, kindness- is smothered in this coven... after awhile." Roman answered.
Damian gave Raine a sad half-smile, his green eyes warm, if still guarded.
"I'm glad I got to save your life- even if I was supposed to end it." he said softly. "I got to meet you, get to know you a bit, and I'm thankful that I did. And it's not your fault things ended up like this... it's fate. My mother always used to say nothing happens by accident and everything for a reason. So I was supposed to save you... so you could take up the mantle you were supposed to... and perhaps turn this coven around...?"
He sighed, then looked away, before looking back at Raine.
"In any case... When we leave tonight... even if I don't look back... I want you to know I'm glad to have met you.... So thank you, I guess... for saving me... in a way."
Caius looked at Eli. He had a feeling he knew what the hybrid was about to tell him.
"What of your children?" he asked the hybrid.
Annika nodded and said, "I hope so. I think Markus had forgotten how to love that's why the coven turned out like this."
Pierce smiled slightly and said, "Or her goodness just might turn this coven around. I have a feeling her spirit will never be broken."
"I'm allowed to see my brother, so I won't be cut off from everyone." Raine said quietly. She wanted to hug him close and tell him how she felt, but knew that it was forbidden now that she had taken her place as Markus's heir. She smiled sadly and said softly, "I-I should go check on Markus." She started for the door slowly.
"Their mother was Markus's daughter. And now that Raine is a vampire, she is the rightful heir to the Gregori coven." Eli said as he watched Caius warily.
Kole looked up at the sky and said sadly, I'm worried about my sister. I hope she's alright.
Vandros nodded.
"I can't argue with that assessment." he said. "But a lot happened to make that old man forget how to love... I guess he just became bitter, in the end. A victim of his own circumstances."
Raymond nodded slightly, while Roman sighed.
"I pray you're right." he said.
Damian had smiled as Raine said she was still allowed to see her brother. He was glad Markus wasn't going to keep them apart, even if he was sure the old man wasn't happy about it. He nodded as Raine said she was going to check on her grandfather and bit his lip as she slowly walked to the door.
Stop her, you damned coward! he snarled at himself.
Raine had almost reached the door, when Damina's body seemed to spring into action of its own accord.
"Raine, wait!" he said, grabbing her arm lightly, not really sure what to do or say now that he had stopped her.
Caius sighed softly.
"I thought as much." he said softly. "There is a slight scent to Raine's blood that marks her as a Gregori... just as Damian and Ihave a scent to mark us as true Grimmaldis. And I remember what type of persone Maria Gregori was. Raine... is a lot like her... even if she's the splitting image of Liza."