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The days had steadily marched on.

It seemed that every time the Disciple blinked Vadoma and Kieran had grown. One minute they were learning to walk the next how to speak. They were curious and intelligent. And Ravnos found great joy in watching them grow. It even instilled in him more fondness in the rest of his family. His children and grand children from before he and his love had ever come to be.

There were. Exceptions. Of course.

Grendel had been away most of the day and the two children pretty much had free reign to go anywhere on the temple grounds. Save for a few places. But they had been itching to go outside so he had brought them out to one of the more private courtyards. Watching them run and play. He was lucky. For the most part they stayed out of mischief. Today at least. Vadoma had a bad habit of wrapping Kieran up in her mischief. And usually it wasn’t hard to find the pair up to their armpits in trouble.

But today. Today something felt different. He wasn’t sure what exactly but there was this gnawing itch at the back of his brain.

“Kieran don’t throw rocks at your sister. Because you might hurt her that’s why.”

“Vadoma you are going to poke your brother’s eye out with that stick.”

Ok. Sometimes he was just there to make sure they didn’t hurt each other. They could be a little rambunctious at times and either one or both would end up with scrapes and tears.

Green eyes lidded as he glanced off into the distance for only a moment when a high pitched squeal had drawn his attention back to them. They were playing near one of the fountains and he could see Kieran standing there but not Vadoma. Ravnos stood from his seat and it felt like time had slowed.

He’d been here before.

As he closed the distance between him and them there was this hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Vadoma had been playing with Kieran around the fountain when by either clumsiness or her brother’s hand she soon found herself under water. It was such a shock to her system that for a moment she just floated then quickly jolted upright. Coughing and sputtering. Red eyes darting about until they landed on Ravnos who was approaching at a rapid pace. Dark hair plastered to her face. “Papa! Brother pushed me into the fountain!” She coughed again scrambling to the edge of the basin and reaching out for him to pluck her out. Ravnos scooped her up and settled her on her feet, squeeZing the water out of her clothes and hair.

“Kieran, did you push Vadoma into the fountain?” He voice was even as he spoke to his son. An almost carbon copy of Grendel, the look on the boy’s face endearing.

“He’s lying, Papa. Kieran pushed me.” Vadoma wrinkled her nose, red eyes glaring at her brother. Water dripping and pooling ah her feet as Ravnos continued to squeeE water out of her hair and clothes.

He hadn’t seen Kieran push her. Ravnos had looked away for only a moment but that was always when something happen. When he was distracted. But such as it was he wouldn’t scold him for it. “Maybe we should go inside now. You two can have lunch. Hm?”

No. That was wrong. Ravnos searched his memories, reaching back to that dream. The one he had buried but haunted his every step since the children had been born. It weighed heavily on him and Grendel both. Ravnos was no seer, no. He had magic and knew magic. That came with age and knowledge. He was no Tremere no, but prophetic dreams were a very rare occurrence for him. But gifts like that were not uncommon among the Romani. They just had a really odd way of dealing with it. They recognized it and even celebrated it in ways but most would cross themselves and spin in circles to keep such things at bay. But that was just the way it had always been.

The air around them seemed to shimmer and grow warmer as the light around them turned a brilliant red. A sense of dread settled deep within the pit of his stomach and he knew what came next. Grabbing both children by the upper arm he turned them away from the light and then the world went black.

From the red light stepped a pale white figure cloaked in red and gold. Eyes glittered as they swept across the scene in front of her. Landing in the three figures that were standing there. A smirk pulling the corners of her painted red lips up. It seemed her presence hadn’t alerted anyone yet. With a snap of her fingers there was an explosion that sent the three flying. The taller, dark haired one had taken the brunt of the force but no matter.

She hadn’t come for him.

As the dust settled from the air her gaze fell upon brilliant red hair and she zeroed in on it. “Boy, oh boy!” Her voiced called out to him. “Your father looks awe fully hurt come with me and we can go get him some help.” Red eyes glowed, a burning light flared from behind her as the chi around her tails swirled and burned.

Vadoma had been knocked almost senseless by whatever it was that Ravnos had tried to shield them from. Her body ached as red eyes slipped open. The sound of muffled voices that seemed very very far away caused her little ears to twitch. She softly groaned as she felt a weight over top of her and realized it was her father’s arm.

He wasn’t moving at all and that realization scared her. Was that Kieran’s voice she heard?

Scarlet Queen forced as warm a smile to her lips as she could muster. Staring at this young boy, so like his Deity father, made her stomach clench and not in a good way. Grendel stood in the way of her kind flourishing in this world and anything she could do to hurt him brought her great joy.

And even if it didn’t hurt his directly if she could cause pain to his love that might just be enough.

“A very good friend of your father’s. There was an attack by some really bad people and I came as fast as I could to stop it but clearly I was too late.” She took a couple steps closer to the young Vampire. Her voice dropped sickly sweet. If he didn’t believe her that was fine. She could still get in close enough to grab him. “Hurry! If we don’t go get help now who knows how long your Papa has.” She held out a pale hand to him, claws long and sharp. Threatening to slice his skin if he was not careful.

She had a fifty-fifty chance at this working and if she took too much longer to grab him Grendel would probably show up and that was not a risk she was wanting to take. Pointing behind her a portal cleaved the air in two. Darkness swirling in a torrent in the air as she tried to be on him closer. “If we go through here we can get help and come back to help him but you have to come with me.”

Slowly she had begun to come around. The voices becoming clearer as she shook her head. Kieran was talking with someone and Vadoma lifted her head. Her gaze fuzzy at first until it locked in the source of the other voice.

I’m an instant the young vampire did not like what she saw.

This woman was scary. Startling to her and she shrunk back against Ravnos’s. A small hand shaking him, trying to stir the Disciple back into the waking world. “Papa.” She whispered. “Papa there is a scary lady and…” she watched as her brother reached for the woman’s hand. “Papa Kieran is going with her.” Her voice sounded more urgent. More desperate. Ravnos had always been there and to see him laying unconscious like this frightened her immensely.

———

The Scarlet Queen grinned wide as he reached for her hand and as soon as he was close enough she snatched it and quickly pulled him towards the portal. Now she just had to get the best through. And then her plans would all start falling into place. “Yes let’s go find your Papa.”

She hadn’t even glanced back to see if the other two were stirring. Her objective was clear and she had completed it. Grab the boy and she could use him against the Kindred for her own people’s gain. Without a second glance she slipped through tugging him along at a quick pace.

———

A ringing in his ear muffled the small voice that had been calling to him. But slowly Ravnos had begun to regain consciousness. His head throbbed and his body ached. It was Vadoma who was talking and he could barely make out what she was saying. But in his heart of hearts he knew.

He knew.

Where was Kieran? The Discipe sat straight up and his body twisted in the direction of the portal in which he had barely caught a glimpse of Kieran being my pulled through.

“No.” His voice was hoarse as he spoke the word. He had seen this and yet he had been unable to prevent it and now his world felt as if it was falling apart. Slipping through his fingers. The shaking form of his daughter hadn’t even registered yet as his mind flooded with panic and thoughts. He hadn’t seen what came after this but he knew deep down in his gut that nothing good would come of this.

Ravnos pushed himself to his feet. He had to do something. He wouldn’t allow this woman to take their son. The Disciple could do something and so he did the only thing that his brain at the time could piece together. The portal had begun to shrink in size and he ran for it. He had to get there. He had to reach Kieran or he might loose him forever and he could not live with himself if he didn’t try. But as soon as he entered it closed behind him. A torrent of energy pushing and pulling him through the ether of time and space until he landed hard against a solid surface. The aches in his bones more evident as he felt he had been smashed against a wall of stone.

But it was a floor. The floor inside a room that was ornately decorated. The scent of blood filling his nose as his face scrunched up in pain.

———

He had finally begun to move. Vadoma felt a sense of relief as Ravnos finally lifted himself from the ground. He was alive and he was awake and her Papa would set things right. He would get Kieran away from that scary lady and they could all go have lunch.

But to her horror that just didn’t seem to be the case.

The scary lady had pulled Kieran through a doorway of energy that she couldn’t comprehend and Ravnos had run after them. She had clambered to her feet and run after him but the portal had closed before she could reach it and she pulled up short. Red eyes darting around in a panic.

“Papa? Kieran?’” She ran back and forth. Trying to see if the portal would open once more. Her chest heaving as she crouched in place and curled her fists in her dark hair. “PAPA!!” Vadoma cried out as tears welled in her eyes. Her entire small body shaking. They were gone. They were both gone and for the first time in her short life she was alone.

Small white creatures began to gather at her feet as she sobbed.

When the world has stopped spinning Ravnos lifted his head. His green gaze sweeping around the room. Taking in the strange decorations and fixtures. Pinpointing the scent of blood coming from pools the bubbled and roiled. Blood sloshing against the sides of the basins that contained it. But rather quickly his gaze locked upon a pale figure sitting in a high backed chair. A throne. White fur a stark contrast to her red hair and eyes. A large figure lurked behind the throne. Shrouded in darkness that peered out at him with such disdain that it was almost palpable.

Standing next to the throne however was Kieran. And he could breath just a little easier knowing that he was relatively unharmed. For now.

This would be the second time he had to push himself to his feet in the span of minutes. Having been unprepared for what he would encounter on the other side of that portal. But he knew. He knew who he stood before now. Who had Kieran in her clutches.

It was the Kuei-Jin Goddess.

Ravnos had little experience with the Kuei-Jin and to be honest until recently he had little care to. They had been an entity outside his scope of focus but now. Now they were a threat to more than just himself and other Vampires. They were a threat to his family. To all of them. “Kieran come here.” Again his voice was even, however what he felt beneath the surface of his skin spoke otherwise. Fear? Dread? He could not place it but he would not feel any comfort here until the boy was returned to him.

The Scarlet Queen had released her grasp on Kieran’s wrist. Sitting with a smug look of satisfaction on her face. Her hand pressed against the side of her face as she watched the Disciple. She had not expected him to recover so quickly and follow but here he was. Her plan had been to take the boy alone but now…we’ll. She had a better prize now.

The Kindred God had so much and she wanted to burn it to the ground. To pave the way for the Kuei-Jin. These western Vampires threatened that. They were competition for food. And she would use whatever means to get a step above that she felt necessary.

The first step she had surmised, was to topple their God. An opportunity had presented itself when the new God had usurped the old. Caine would have been more of a challenge she was certain. But why waste the blood it would take to rip him from his throne when the son had done that for her. And now all it would take was to move her pieces into play and wait.

But Ravnos had thrown a wrench into that plan.

She watched as he called to the boy. A smirk dancing across her crimson lips. “Yes, go to your father.” Her eyes narrowed into slits as a threat hovered dark and ancient looked behind her. Eyes as dark as the void watching. Waiting for her word to spring into action.

———

And then he was there. An instant after her cry he had appeared but it was a moment too late. If he had been perhaps a breath faster he could have stopped them. If she had been bigger she could have stopped them.

Maybe.

Vadoma lept to her feet and raced to him. Wrapping her small arms around his waist as she sobbed. Eyes full of tears peered up at him as she sucked in short breaths trying to ge the words out.

“Th-the scary lady t-took Kieran a-and Papa tried to stop her but now they are both gone! Bring them back!” She wasn’t even mad at Kieran for pushing her into the fountain anymore. Vadoma felt a void from their absence that she just wanted them back so that she could feel at ease.

Ravnos’s gaze never wavered from his child. The terror in Kieran’s eyes nearly broke his heart. He was acting as brave as he could in this situation. Perhaps if the boy was a bit more wary of strangers things may have turned out different, but the Disciple didn’t want them to live that kind of life. Always afraid of who or what might be around the next corner.

But now was not a time for putting on airs and he had wished Kieran had walked a little faster.

The Vampire hadn’t taken in much of his surroundings. But he felt a bit of movement against his back as the scent of air flowed into the room. There was a door just behind him. He ignored the look the Goddrss was giving him. Focusing only on the right moment for him to jump into action. It was an agonizing wait but eventually his son was close enough that Ravnos could lay his hand on him and he did so with a quickness. Taking Kieran by the hand and in an instant they had vanished.

The large golden doors slammed shut and he stopped short. A mere breath away from being squashed between the two heavy doors. He didn’t think that would have worked but he had to at least try. He turned. Pulling the small boy behind him, putting himself between him and her.

“You know you cannot leave.” Her voice dripped venom. “You just got here and if you leave Ebon Dragon would be so sad.” Leaning back in her throne she flicked a finger at him.

It was an odd sensation. One moment it was just his body that ached from the impact of hitting the ground. The next it felt as if the muscles in his arms stopped working and he had to force himself to hold onto Kieran’s hand. Two gold spikes protruded from the door behind him and pierced his shoulders, dark blood seeped into his fur and ran down his arms. A force hit him from the front and knocked his head back against the door and he saw stars. The wind nearly knocked out of him as he couldn’t catch himself and dropped to a knee.

Still keeping Kieran behind him.

Laughter filled the room. Echoing off the walls and it was deafening. “My dear there is no where for you to go. Your God will come and he will see you broken and then he too will break. You are his greatest weakness after all. He could care less about the boy I see that now.” She twirled a strand of red hair around a claw, eyes lidded half way in what seemed to be almost boredom.

He couldn’t help the smirk that pulled at the corner of his mouth as he lifted his chin in defiance. Ravnos, even I’m the face of Gods, had never wavered in who he was. He did not grovel. He did not cower. No, he had stood for his convictions in the face of one God and he would do so again.

Green eyes locked with red as he laughed. “Weakness?” Rolling his shoulders, the wounds she had inflicted already healed, Ravnos braced himself on the door and stood for a third time. He was getting too old for all this up and down s**t.

Energy thrummed against the skin of his finger as he could feel the energy pulse through it. It was frantic and full of anxiety. That must of meant Grendel was now aware that something was wrong and probably had Vadoma with him. Good. His hand reached down to settle on top of the young vampire’s head. Hair as red as his fathers and he shot Kieran a reassuring smile before his gaze flicked back to the seated Goddess. “If you think I am his weakness then you do not know him at all. You are just the same as the others. You underestimate him and that will be your downfall.” He spit on the ground in front of him. “If anything I’m his greatest strength and he is coming for you.”

———

There was comfort him the God’s arms. When he picked her up she wrapped her arms so tight around his neck. Not wanting to let go. Her mind was racing but then it eased with his touch and she took small shuddering breaths.

When he leaned back to look at her she rubbed her eyes with small fists and ran the back of her arm along her nose with a long sniff. Listening to his words. She didn’t quite understand why he couldn’t just bring them back with a wave of his hand. He could make other things appear and disappear so why not Ravnos and Kieran? “But Papa…” Her voice was subdued. “…You can do anything….”

Red eyes locked with his as she listened and understood. The fear bubbling up inside her again but she tried her best to stamp it down. They were going to get Papa and Kieran and she had to stay close. She wanted to tell him that she was a big girl and could stay here until they came home but she didn’t feel that way. “I understand.”

Laughter again at the boy’s defiance.l echoed through the room.

Ravnos had felt something shift in his child. Something dark bled at the edges of Kieran’s very being. A darkness that was all too familiar to him. The boy was terrified but even so he was being so strong and pride shon I the Vampire’s eyes as he knelt next to his son and taking Kieran by the shoulders turned him to face him. “Don’t ever be sorry for following your heart, Kieran. It may be scary but it can lead you to good things too.”

They would all have to sit down and have a serious talk about stranger danger someday. To make both him and Vadoma aware that they should be cautious but not afraid. Not everyone in this world had the best of intentions and the Goddess had used that to trick Kieran and Ravnos could only hope that both him and Vadoma would eventually understand.

Because of what they were and who they were there would always be threats. Always be enemies. But Ravnos knew all these things. He loved Grendel too much to live on fear of whoever’s opinion about them. Their opinions didn’t matter. They never had. Love was love and he couldn’t help that who he loved just happened to be a God. Perhaps if they had been born another time as other people their lives would be less hectic, less fraught with waiting for the next shoe to drop. But that life didn’t sound very fun.

He leaned into kiss Kieran’s forehead.

Ravnos could feel a shift in the space behind him. A familiar and welcome presence in this place. He felt as ease knowing that Grendel was close. So very close. On the other side of the door in fact, be he hadn’t appeared like the Disciple thought he would. There must have been something keeping him out, but for what purpose? She wanted him to come didn’t she?

Grendel’s voice rumbled in his head and a soft smile came to his lips. It was in that moment that Ravnos realized that that was exactly what she wanted. She wanted him to see.

Before Grendel could reach the doors they began to open. Ravnos bolted upright at the sound. She wasn’t just…..letting him go was she? No, that did not seem to be something this woman would do. She wanted the God to suffer that much was evident. And she had made it very clear that she had every intention of using him to accomplish that goal.

He could see through the now growing crack between the doors a figure coming straight for them. A welcome sight indeed and he felt a sense of relief wash over him. Ravnos wanted to run to him, to take Kieran and find comfort in his love’s arms but he dared not move.

In an instant, however, that relief was replaced by pain. A searing hot pain in his chest that puzzled him. It radiated out until pain was soon replaced by numbness. A numbness so thick that his knees buckled and the Disciple slumped to the floor once more. His grip on Kieran going slack as he lost all control of his body. His hand coming up to grasp at the piece of wood that protruded from his chest.

The b***h had staked him.

It wouldn’t kill him but it was a great inconvenience in that it would immobilize him until it was removed. ’Gre….’ Ravnos couldn’t speak. His throat felt tight and his mind was a blank while his system was shutting down. Dark hair spilt over his shoulders as his head lolled forward and his eyes closed.

“Welcome God of Vampires.” The voice greeted Grendel. Full or arrogance and bile. “Have you come to collect that which I stole from right beneath your nose?” Scarlet Queen wanted him to know. To see. That she had come in like a thief in the night to his home and stolen away not only his child but his love as well. Although the aim had only been the child. He was the easier of targets.

She sat and waited in anticipation. Yes, let him see. His resolve would faulter.l soon enough.

They were going to get Kieran and Papa back. That was all she wanted and was happy to do whatever it took to make that happen. Swinging onto Grendel’s back, Vadoma held tight as the air around them shimmered and throbbed it felt like static running through her pale fur and sent a little tingle up her spine.

When they had appeared at the temple her head turned this way and that. Eyes large and round as she took in everything around them. It was so different and strange. Never in her wildest imaginings could she had ever thought up a place that looked like this.

They were in and out of the shadows in an instant but she was puzzled as they were on the outside of a door but Ravnos and Kieran were no where to be seen. She could feel the strength and power beneath her small hands that her father put off and it scared her. But only for a moment. As the doors swung open she peered over his shoulder to try and see what was happening. Red eyes locking at the two figures that stood directly on the other side. One big one small. “Papa! Kieran!” She called out but something was wrong. Papa was kneeling on the floor not moving. Slumped where he sat. She could smell his blood above the rest and panic began to set it.

Why wasn’t he moving? He always welcomed her with smiles and now he was so still.

Vadoma had dropped from Grendel’s back as soon as they were close. She ran to Ravnos and Kieran, attempting to wrap her arms around them both. “It’s ok Kieran I’m not mad anymore. Papa is going to take us home and we can have lunch all of us together.” She clung to them both as tightly as she could, his smile a little bit reassuring.

She just had to hold onto them so that they could not be taken away again.

As the stake was removed from his chest Ravnos gasped. Coughing. The smallest trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth.His eyes snapped back open and both hands came up to rest on the backs of each child who was clinging to him. The numbness was chases away and he was able to stand on his own once more.

The Disciple had never been drakes before so he had had no drake of reference to compare that experience to. It was a horrible feeling. To be immobile while the rest of the world continued on around you.

Glancing up at Grendel’s back he let out a small sigh. It was a sigh of relief. One that knew this would all be over soon enough and they would return home. ‘Dragul meu.’ He reached out to him with his mind. ‘The children…’ Ravnos didn’t want them to be there any longer than they had to.

There would be time to deal with this Goddess another time. ‘Take us home, please.’ He gazed at the creature over the God’s shoulder. Eyes narrowing just a hair as he held the two young vampires right against him.

She lifted two fingers with barely any effort and the wooden stake melted away in mid air. He was still in her temple.

Leaning a chin in her hand she merely smiled. The twin Phoenix tails at her back flickered and flowed with energy as she leaned forward. Studying Grendel closely before she leaned all the way back in her throne. Perhaps he thought to try and intimidate her.

Scarlet Queen was not impressed.

But perhaps she had made the smallest of errors in her plot to move against him. She could be rash and impatient at times and as the Vampire God had stated their numbers were small. “Information. That is all. But I think I’ve seen enough here.”