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Always

The voice came to her as though carried on the wind, though mere moments after they arrived so did Grendel. He materialized from the shadows on Artemis's balcony, stepping from them as one might step out of a cloak, and shrugged them off as if to free himself of them.

To the Disciple, he may have looked quite different from the last time they had been face-to-face. He had grown, matured, and his hair was longer, tied in a long, if somewhat dishveled braid. Of course, those were normal things to expect. But at his back, where tentacles like Caine's had once sprouted, there were instead 4 writhing shadow tendrils, which seemed to be in constant flux, solid and then not, but then solid again.

He was also wearing pants. If that meant anything at all. And a golden ring on the finger of each hand.

"So long as you make it quick." He said.

He may have just left someone tied up in his bed.

"I have always been a God, Artemis; it's just that now I have finally been able to step out of his shadow." He smiled a wicked smile, fangs peeking out over his bottom lip as he did so. Brushing his hair back from his face, he regarded her not just as an old friend, but as someone with new knowledge, and raw power that he was still learning to control.

The way she flicked her gaze down to the rings that adorned his fingers was not lost on him, and while he had not made his relationship with Ravnos public knowledge, he was sure it would only be a matter of time before that particular bit of gossip spread throughout the vampiric world. He was sure Artemis herself was already putting two and two together. Or, perhaps, she already had.

"My plans have not changed. I will do as I have always done, and do my best to look after the vampires and keep them safe from harm. I am sure you are aware we have many, many enemies." He paused, before continuing on.

"Suppose, however, that I would be willing to share in some of my 'new strength', as you put it. Your attachment to my father has been severed, yes?" He smiled because he knew it had been, and he was quite pleased with that fact. "And now you feel...not quite so powerful?"

Amusement seemed to glimmer in his eyes as he teased her. Clearly, someone was being a bad influence on him.

He eyed that extended hand. He had known, instinctively, that Artemis would be the first of the Disciples to offer her allegiance to him. Ravnos did not quite count, as the God had done it to save him and bring him back from the other plane of existence. But he'd had to recreate him, from the essence up.

What he would be doing with Artemis would be only slightly different, he supposed. It would be like a recreation, of sorts, though he would not need to strip away her physical form to do it.

Just her metaphyisical one. No big deal.

He grasped her hand in his, "If you are sure...?" He asked, eyes still gleaming bright.

"Very well." He nodded, his grin widening.

It wouldn't actually be that bad. The groundwork was already placed when Caine had been ousted from his position as God of all vampires, and Grendel had replaced him. The experience would be different for everyone, depending on how well they accepted the new bond. With his power, he weaved a new connection, a stronger tether between the Disciple and himself.

And through that tether, he shared with her some of his power, filling the void of what had been lost. For a moment, it may have all felt overwhelming, painfully so, but that would soon ease.

Artemis would feel any of her lost power returned, and possibly even a little bit more than that. A gift, for being the first (well, second), and for being such a willing recipiant at that.

"And now you are the second." He said, his voice gone low and quiet, a much more serious look on his face than what had been offered before. It was strange to him, to feel those new connections. Each one made him feel more whole like this is how it was meant to be all along.

He removed his hand from hers and took a step back.

"I would stay and chat, Artemis, but I am called elsewhere." The smile returned, and for a moment it almost seemed Grendel was looking at something else entirely, his eyes not quite in focus.

He chuckled a little, once again looking far too pleased with himself. "Or I might have a few more minutes to spare after all, if there was anything else I could do for you?"

"Hmmm." He mused when she said she could likely guess who the first Disciple had been. "While I do not doubt that you could, there is a story there that I might have liked to tell you, had I more time." Indeed, he and Ravnos had not been keeping their relationship very private, though Grendel did tend to wander the mortal realm under a mortal guise. Those who knew him would undoubtably recognize him either way.

As if reading her thoughts, he also said "I do not know fully what you will be capable of now, I only know that you will be stronger than you have ever been." A smile. "Enjoy."

It seemed like their time had run out, and Artemis did not seem to have any questions for him, so he turned to go.

"I will let you know." He said, and then paused one last time. "We have many enemies, Artemis." A repeat of what he said earlier. "I may be calling upon you and the other Disciples soon. I hope you will be ready to answer. No more sleeping."