NationStates Jolt Archive

For the first time in weeks, Leavitt Ulric had a chance to be alone in his office. He drew the windows closed, locked the door, and leaned back in his chair. The celebrations for his coronation had finally ended, and now that the event itself was over, he could finally get some rest. Well, at least from the parties. There were many other things that needed Leavitt's attention as King, and a few personal matters to attend to as well.

Intelligence had come in about The Golden Simatar's plans to have a vampire and Lycanthrope registration. As far as Leavitt knew, it was only to be within TGS, but it was still an item of concern. Who knew how long it would before the Simatarians came knocking on Rollinulf's gates demanding there numbers? Parliament had little information about this act, and everyone was beginning to feel a bit uneasy.

Leavitt remembered that when he was younger his godfather would give necessary information when he visited. Stephan Malone. Leavitt's mother, the Late Queen Xaria, had been friends with Stephan for almost 275 years before she'd been killed. Xaria had been quite close to Stephan. That was why the vampire was named young Leavitt's godfather, much to Prince Conor's discomfort. Leavitt had many good memories of the tall, blue eyed man. Though it bothered him deeply that he hadn't seen the man since he was eight years old.

He'd tried to find a way to contact Stephan and his wife so that they could attend his coronation, but he'd been unable to track them down. The whole event had been bittersweet for him. He missed his mother dearly. Though he knew she'd be proud of him. He sighed, fingering the huge X silver scarred into his left bicep. This was what he'd chosen as his change to mark the transition. A loving tribute to his mother.

He turned on the television to see if there was any news being reported other than his coronation. There didn't seem to be. He looked at the black haired young man kneeling as the crown was placed on his head. He just couldn't connect that refined, regal gentleman to himself. Though when the camera zoomed in, and he saw his grey-green eyes burning from that royal mask, he knew there was no denying it. He was King.

He sighed and looked at the picture frame on his desk. It was a three piece folding frame, that he usually kept on his person when he wasn't looking at it. In the left frame there was a photo of his mother and father at their wedding. His mother looked very beautiful in her gown and the crown jewels, he jade eyes sparkling. His father, Prince Consort Conor Ulric, looked like the perfect prince with his coal black hair and steel grey eyes. It had taken Leavitt years to notice the look beyond the mask of propriety. While his face and stature placed him as just another royal, there was a blush on his cheek and a light in his eyes that said he was the happiest man in the world. True mates were hard to find. Conor had been crushed when he's lost Xaria, but he still had a spirit in him to rival hers.

The centre photograph was from Leavitt's third birthday. It was just himself, Xaria, Conor, Stephan, and Stephan's wife, Nicole. Everyone looked so happy. Three Year old Leavitt sat in a huge chair, his face covered in frosting and his hands stuck in the cake. All the adults stood behind him laughing. The picture was supposed to be quite a perfect set up, but impatient lycan cubs were not the kind of creatures to wait.

Leavitt chuckled at the memories from many birthday's passed before turning his attention to the photo to the right.

This was the only none professional picture. It was simple, and perfect. Stephan Malone stood in black pants and a hunter green polo shirt. He was laughing so hard that you could see that light glinting off a fang. Xaria clung to his shoulders with one arm while making a peace sign with the other hand. Xaria had admitted to taking a running dive at the Vampire in order to get the picture just right. You couldn't see her body except her arms and head. She smiled was so huge, that she looked like a child with the last ice cream cone. It was silly, and happy. Leavitt smiled at the photograph. Xaria had been quite spirited in her late 200's when he was born, but there was something about seeing her at 25 that revealed a lot to the young King.

He tuned his gave back to the anchorwoman.
All our best wishes to King Leavitt in his future endeavours. We all hope....

Leavitt turned off the television.

"Now the reason you're going to Tarlachia is not only for vacation Amara, its also for facts. Find ample evidence of factions within Tarlachia who want to sever themselves from TGS because of the government's policies. Also find how..."

"...vampires, humans, and werewolves live side by side. I know mom." The green eyed girl said as she packed her bags. Amara Waggner Malone looked about nineteen, her auburn hair was cut halfway to her shoulders. She turned to the vampiress standing behind her. "Lorcan is gonna meet me at the airport and then we're gonna take off. But, I'm not planning on spending my whole vacation on interviewing people."

Nicole Malone smiled warmly at her 'daughter'. Amara had been an exchange student in Assington when she had been bitten by a werewolf, after her creator slaughtered her family; the Malones had taken her in. The lycanthrope had become the daughter they could never have. "I know, but it's very important that you find out as much as you can. Stephen can call Aeris as well if you two run into trouble."

"I know, calm down. I can handle myself."

Nicole looked over at the TV in Amara's bedroom. "What are you watching?"

Amara looked over at the TV. The images showed an elaborate coronation ceremony. "Dunno, some new king of a new nation. Tolkien stepped on the remote and landed on the Fatal Terrain News Network"

Nicole just nodded as she watched the proceedings. She watched as a young man was crowned by a brightly costumed official. As the man rose, the vampiress eyed him closely, there was something familiar about him. As the anchorwoman spoke the new King of Rollinulf's name, Nicole's mouth dropped. "Jesus..STEPHEN!"


Stephen Malone bounded into Amara's bedroom after he had heard his wife call for him. The vampire's hands were dirty, he'd just been cleaning some weaponry. He looked at Nicole. "What is it?"

"Look...look on the TV...my God..." Nicole was breathless as she sat at the end of Amara's four poster bed.

Stephen looked at the TV as he caught the ending of the coronation of King Leavitt Ulricof Rollinulf. Stephen blinked, small tears formed in his eyes. He couldn't believe it, yes...yes that was Xaria's boy..."My God he's grown..."

Amara sat confused on her bed. The werewolf looked between them. "What's going on?"

Stephen turned, a smiled on his face. "Quite a long time ago, before I settled down I wandered all around Fatal Terrain. During which time I ended up in a nation called Thrope...where I bumped, literally into a woman named Xaria, who would become queen...she and I were close, one of my best friends. Leavitt's her son...God...I haven't seen him since he was eight or so..."

"What happened?" Amara said. "You and her..."

"No, no no. Nothing like that." Stephen quickly said. "But, some years ago Xaria was assassinated and Thrope collapsed. I thought that he was gone too...oh my God...I need to...I need..."

Stephen promptly left the room, he ran into the bathroom and quickly washed his hands. He had to get into contact with Leavitt...somehow. Living secretly in the Golden Simatar under the protection of the government limited his options somewhat, but then again it did give him some advantage. He paced around the living room, butterflies in his chest.

He stopped, a slightly insane thought came into his head. On the wall were two secure line telephones, one regular and the other a satellite phone. He rarely used the latter, being as how he communicated to his friends mostly through telepathy. However, there was one number he did use, Xaria's. He'd spooked her enough with long-distance telepathy to where he had decided to get this installed. If the line configuration was still the same or close enough, it should lead straight to the royal office.

He turned around as Nicole appeared behind him, a nervous smile on her face. Stephen bit his lip, he felt the ooze of blood as the phone rang.

It was only a few minutes after he'd turned off the television when the phone rang. It startled him at first. Andreas and Leavitt's father were the only two people who knew the number to the phone in the young king's office. It was the same number that Xaria used to use. IT was hard making getting all the same codes worked out, but they'd accomplished it.

He stared at the phone as it rang a second time. Conor and Andreas were both in the middle of debate over the 7th Born Law. So it couldn't be them. However, Leavitt couldn't think of anyone else it could be. His mind raced as he tried to think of another option.

The phone rang a third time. He took a deep breath and picked up the receiver.

"Hello?" He hadn't meant for upward inflection on the word. However, his confusion was impossible to hide.

Stephen felt a thump in his long dead heart as he heard Leavitt's voice for the first time in ages. It was rare he'd get worked up like this over anything, but Xaria had been a near and dear friend and Leavitt was almost family.

He still remembered playing with him at the boy's eighth birthday. It reminded the vampire of the life he could have had before his wife had divorced him and taken their baby daughter away nearly thirteen hundred years before.

"You've certainly grown up squirt." Stephen said into the mouthpiece. He allowed for a few seconds of confusion to set in before he revealed himself. "Don't recognize my voice? It's Stephen...your Godfather."

Leavitt nearly dropped the phone when he heard Stephen's voice. He was in such shock. Joy, sadness, anger. So many conflicting emotions rushed through him that he wasn't sure what to do. He felt tears steam down his cheeks, but he wasn't sure which of the emotions they were attached to. He let out a shaky breath and spoke as calmly as possible.

"You missed my party." He laughed. All the emotions escaping in that sound.

"Yes well..." Stephen stopped himself. He didn't know what else to say. It had bee so long since he had seen Leavitt, the boy was now a man...a King, it was a strange, surreal moment. The vampire wiped his forehead as he turned in a circle, his eyes briefly meeting Nicole's. "Leavitt...I...I'm sorry, its been so long..."

Nicole ripped the phone from Stephen's hand, eager to listen to Leavitt's voice. "Leavitt...it's Nicole. Stephen's a little overwhelmed and so and I...but, I can speak for both of us when I say we're so proud of you. You've come a long way since a youngster burying his face into birthday cake."

Leavitt's heart constricted as he heard Stephan stumble. He didn't like hearing his godfather is such pain. He hadn't seen the man in 16 years, but he missed him like hell. He tried to think of something to say when Nicole took the phone. For the first time in the short conversation, he laughed honestly.

"Thank you Aunty Nikki." There was a teasing in Leavitt's voice, along with latent affection. He was silent for a moment. "How are you?"

Nicole chuckled. "Oh, we're doing very well. Still living in the Golden Simatar. Stephen and I adopted if you will...a young girl got bitten by a lycan, her family was murdered by the creator and we took her in. She's the daughter we could never have. We're also doing a bit of remodeling around here..."

The vampiress tried to think of something to say. It had been nearly twenty-years since they had seen the young boy. She wiped a tear from her eye, the joy of knowing Leavitt was safe had alleviated years of painful tension in the vampires.

Nicole put the phone on speaker so Stephen could hear as well. "So...how are you? I mean, how's your dad? Still a bit annoyed at Stephen? How did Rollin...I mean...well...how are you? Things going well over there?"

"You're still in TGS?"

Leavitt was aware that Nicole had said other things, but none of them really sunk in. He'd have to remember to ask for more information later. However, this was the most pressing thing.

"Dad isn't annoyed by Stephan. Actually, we tried contacting you both after....Well, when I was nine he thought it was best if I stay with you. But we couldn't...." He tried again. "We lost contact with you in all that happened, and we didn't know how to find you. But i guess it's good I didn't end up in TGS."

"Oh my God Leavitt..." Stephen blurted onto the phone. "We tried getting in touch...but the lines were down and the government here had no idea of a way to get in touch with you. But here we had the Demonic War and..."

Stephen stopped himself. In the weeks and months following Xaria's assassination he had exhausted every avenue to get into contact with Leavitt's father Conor. The line to the Thropian capital failed to go through, the Simatarian government didn't provide him with much of a chance of going there, the vampire had failed to hone in on either Leavitt or Conor for telepathy...

"Leavitt...you don't know...how happy I am to hear your voice...to hear you're safe." Stephen said after a long pause. "If we did get in contact, I would've been over there in a few hours to get you here. Your mother made me promise when she made me your Godfather to look after you like you were my own son. Leavitt I wish I could have..."

Stephen stopped again. Nicole put her hand on Stephen's shoulder. She took over for him.

"Leavitt...I can understand about how you feel about our government. They've changed so radically over the years. We're having a bit of a battle with them at the moment concerning the laws...but if you did come here, you wouldn't have anything to worry about. We love you very much, we wouldn't let anything happen to over here."

Leavitt sighed.

"I know. I know you would have been there if you'd have known. I can't imagine how you must have felt. I mean, we knew you were both alright, though we couldn't get a hold of you. I can't imagine what you must have thought. Dad sent me away very early in the conflict. But....I've seen and heard things about that time. If you saw any of that, I can't imagine what you might have thought."

Leavitt thought on Nicole's last words.

"Could you still promise that? That if I came there, I wouldn't get hurt."

Nicole thought on Leavitt's question. There wasn't much doubt in her mind they could keep him from being harmed, unless some human went off their rocker and opened up. The VIB's policy changes would be a bit of a problem to overcome though, however the Malone's did have a deal with the government. So that would count for something, as long as it was kept secret.

"Yeah Leavitt, we can make sure of that. You were too young to understand but Stephen and I live here under government protection, we track down rogue vampires and covens, then call in the location to the VIB. We help the government, they let us live here...classified of course. We know the people in the right places to make sure nothing would happen to you."

A broad smile filled up Leavitt's face.

"That's wonderful. It would be so great to actually get my hands on these documents. I mean, Andreas is already breathing down my neck about it. The whole of Parliament is up in arms about what little information and rumours we are getting."

He shook his head. "TGS is kind of the monster of the bedtime stories right now. The big bad wolf, if you will. So How long will it take?"

Leavitt spoke quickly, and excitedly. He didn't really take the time to explain what he said.

"At least being bedtime monsters is better than having several of the most powerful countries in the region dead set in breaking all ties and leaving you alone." Nicole said.

"Even so, you really weren't all that of a big, nor a bad wolf Leavitt." Stephen, finally composed, said. "Maybe a rambunctious, mischievous puppy...but not big or bad."

Nicole walked away from the phone and going through a bookcase, she found a thick ledger and brought it over. She flipped to the back of the ledger and removed several pages labeled Laws and Stipulations Governing Non-Humans in The Golden Simatar..

"We can fax it to you right away or have it sent by courier...which ever you prefer. Basically they're the laws detailing everything for vampires and werewolves. Heard rumors of possible amendments to them."

Leavitt laughed at Stephan's comment. He tried approaching the subject a different way.

"You don't need to fax the whole thing right now. I just need the information on visiting lycanthropes. It's a media circus in Rollinulf right now. I was kind of hoping to get away for a few weeks."

A grin crossed Stephen's face. "Of course....of course of course...you can come here...uh if your using the digits your mother used..."

Stephen took the paper's from Nicole's hands and rushed off out of the living room/kitchen area. She smiled and turned back to the phone. "I think he'd like you to come and stay with us Leavitt. One of the things that the law says is that you need to register a month in advance and provide a legitimate lycanthrope ID from your native country. But...since you're royalty and our Godchild...I see no reason why we couldn't...oil the gears of government and get you set up."

Stephen returned a few minutes later. "Leavitt, I've faxed out lycan laws to your mother's old secure number. Let me know the second you get them."

Leavitt laughed as he heard the smile in Stephan's voice.

"Well, I do hope you can oil the gears. We don't have lycan ID here. I don't think we ever will." The sound of the fax machine caught his attention. "The papers are arriving, I'm just going to read them over. Just hold for one second."

Leavitt put the receiver down walked over to the machine and picked up the papers. He read them quickly, but carefully. As he read his smile faded. He checked and double checked the registration information. His mood was definitely soured when he returned to the phone.

"Now I'm doubly sure you'll have to work some magic getting me over there. This registration act is a joke. Dental impressions and blood samples? A list of EVERY person turned? I don't like this. I don't like this at all."

Stephen nodded understandably to Leavitt's concern over the registration act. It had become a hot point in the region (and a small growing section of the Golden Simatar), many calling it discriminatory and 'Nazi-like'. However, Stephen personally supported the registration of citizens who turn into vampires or lycans.

"I can understand what you mean. However the dental impressions are more centered towards us vampires. Everyone has a different shaped mouth and fangs so should a corpse turn up with wounds that match that of a registered vampire, they can be tracked down. The blood issue I have no idea why thats in there...possibly to track down whoever turned someone if a newborn is found. The government says that a list of all those turned is for the census, keeping track of how much the population grows or falls."

"Don't worry," Nicole injected. "we can talk to the director of the VIB, uh the Vampire Investigation Bureau, and get her to look the other way while we bring you in. But she'd probably want at least some information about you. Simply evidence you are who you say you are...but we can show her a repeat of the news. If you want to fly in the normal way you can come by private plane and we can get you just off the runway. Or if you're a bit more daring, Cassandra or Darius can always bring you. But there's not much room for luggage with them."

Leavitt thought about what Nicole said. "I think i'll take my jet, but what do you mean about no room for luggage?"

"Oh I'm sorry I forgot. You were so young I don't think you ever met them. A long story short Cassandra is our ice dragon and Darius is her mate. Flying on their backs is how we've moved about the region for so many years. They've actually had a few broods as well, we adopted a runt from the first to be an indoor pet if you will. His name is Tolkien, you'll like him." Nicole smiled as she spoke.

Though she gave a look over her shoulder into the living room, the miniature dragon hadn't shown itself for a while now. Either he was nesting somewhere or the little bugger was up to something.

Stephen's grin was uncontrollable as he thought of finally seeing Leavitt again. "Sounds wonderful my boy. I call the VIB director and get her to give all the clearance you need. If she is a bit hard headed...well, a few taps of my vampire mind tricks will sort her out."

"That would be great. I mean, at the very least you could bribe her with a chance to get a hold of some information on lycanthrope genetics. I mean, the blood sample thing makes no sense considering the way the virus function." Leavitt laughed. "Honestly, I thought mom explained this to you once."

Leavitt laughed for another moment. "Tolk....Hey isn't that the tiny little lizardy thing that bit me that Christmas when I was five?"

"Bride her? Perish the thought. I can just blank her mind for a few minutes while I rummage through her office." Stephen said matter of factly. Despite the tone, the image on his face told otherwise. The vampire had temporarily sent VIB and IBI directors and agents into a state of suspension while he went through files before erasing memories of the ones he destroyed. Namely any that might implicate he, Nicole of any of their friends.

Stephen thought on Leavitt's comment about their dragon. He looked over at Nicole as she went into thought as well. It then hit Stephen. "Oh yes, your mother thought it would be a good idea to bring him along, thought you might like him. We warned you not to pull on his tail. You cried like a baby, blood wasn't even drawn. Don't worry, just don't go pulling the tail of his father....he'll just gulp you down."

"I liked tugging on tails," mumured Leavitt with a pout. "And I was an inquisitive 5 year old. I'm a kinesthetic learner. I learn by touch. And it did break the skin. My hand just healed before anyone helped me."

Leavitt enjoyed his pout for a moment. It felt safe. He'd needed to be tough growing up, it was nice to act spoiled for a moment. He relished for a moment then went back to his casual tone.

"So do you need to zap her brain now, or did you want to catch up via phone a bit longer?"

Stephen looked at his watch, the Director would probably be in her office now. Being as how the VIB operated at full staff day and night, her schedule was ever shifting. He'd give her a ring and set up a meeting.

"I'll get in touch with her now while there's plenty of night left, I don't dare go to the VIB HQ, too many thermal cameras lying about, not a single blind spot. I'm very excited about seeing you again Leavitt."

"I'm still not sure I understand why you're working with the VIB. It seems...." Leavitt searched for the word. "odd."

"Well if we didn't work for the VIB, we'd be kicked out of the country. I know its strange, but it is what it is." Nicole said. "They were not that bad in the beginning, but it began to shift to what it is now as encounters with vampires grew more violent. Those who wanted to live legally, they're too scared to come to the front. So, the Simatarian people believe there are no vampires who want to live normally and there are only violent vampires. Meet violence with violence. That's the opinion."

Stephen hung up his cell phone. "I got a meeting. I'm heading there now. Leavitt I'll speak to you later, hopefully when you arrive."

Stephen gave Nicole a peck on the cheek and disappeared out the front door. Nicole turned back to the phone. "Don't worry, there shouldn't be much of an issue. Stephen and I have written up and entire document detailing needed changes to the law to ensure peace in the country as well as repair relations with other countries. Amara is going to Tarlachia to do some research about their opinions about us."

"Well when you explain is like that, I suppose I would have to accept the VIB's position as valid. It makes me think of non-pack lycanthropes. They are such a problem. Especially when they have kids. No knowledge of the rules. No dicorum. Do you some of them only trust their instincts when they are shifted"

Leavitt sighed. "I think my problem is the fatalist, defeatist feeling I get off the treatus. It comes off as "We know that most of you are horrible, but if the rest of you act more ideal than most humans. We won't kill you."" A tiny growl escaped Leavitt's throat.

"I start to wonder how Mom would have treated this, or how I would react if I wasn't so worldly. You know, Thrope really was lycan paradise. Fatal Terrain is wonderful too. The world at large is so cruel, even compared to the things that happen here. Did you know there are nations selling lycan cubs as puppies?"

He shook his head. "Sorry if I'm rambling, Nicole. I'm just a little stressed. So Amara is going to Tarlachia?"

"It's alright Leavitt. You basically hit the situation right on the head here. As long as vampires and lycans act human, they don't get killed. I don't know what your mother would think, I think she would react the same way you are. A bit of confusion and some anger. Its completely understandable."

Nicole sighed. It was a sad fact that the Simatarians were the way they are considering nearly all of Fatal Terrain had sizeable non-human populations that lived side by side with humans and there being no issue. It made the vampiress somewhat ashamed of being a Simatarian. When she and Stephen had lived in Tarlachia, they encountered no problems, they walked on the street at night, no one seemed to take much notice. It was a simple fact of life.

"Yeah, Amara is heading to Tarlachia. Partly on vacation, but also for a bit of a research project. There are rumors of civilians making up petitions and forming groups to try and get the Tarlachian government to severe all ties with our country. She's not leaving just yet. If you land during the day, she can pick you up from the airport. I think you'd like her."

"Would severing ties be best? I mean, if Tarlachia severes ties that could cause Golden Simitar to become more sheltered wouldn't it? I mean, everyone kind of follows their lead."

Leavitt's nose crinkled at the last statement. "Like her how?"

"Is sex the only thing men think about?" Nicole said rather sarcastically. "Ever heard of a 'friend'? She already has a mate, they're quite happy together. But I think you'll like her from a friend standpoint. She can get you at the airport before she leaves for Tarlachia."

******

Two Days Later

It was midday at the Clarence International Airport. Amara stood next to a car parked next to a hanger in the private air section of the airport. A brown leather jacket protected her from a brisk wind, a pair of sleek black sunglasses rested on her face. She looked at her watch, waiting somewhat impatiently for the airplane carrying Leavitt to arrive. She wanted to get to Tarlachia and be in Lorcan's arms...but she'd pick up her vampire parent's godson.

Her eyes drifted up to the sky as she saw a jet airplane coming down for a landing. Must be him. Amara adjusted her jacket and waited for the plane to land and Leavitt to arrive.

Leavitt stretched as the jet came to a halt on the runway. The pilot turned back to ask a few questions apart picking Leavitt up, and other important information. Across from Leavitt sat, Joel Abbott. Joel was the head of Leavitt's personal guard. He'd argued with the young King until Leavitt had agreed to let Joel hand deliver him to Amara's vehicle. Though there was still contention about possibly following Leavitt all the way to Stephen and Nicole's place.

It would be very foolish to leave a King open like this.

Joel turned his attentions to the brunette leaning against a car near the runway.

"That the girl?"

Leavitt looked out the window. "Yeah that's her."

"Cute."

"She's mated Joel."

"Ain't they all?"

Joel chuckled a barking laugh. Finally the door to the jet was opened, and a set of stairs were run up to them.

Joel was about 6'5". He was a big as a bear, with sandy blond hair and chocolate eyes. He looked very professional in his buisness suit, armani shades, and black trench coat. He gave off the impression a body guard should, though Leavitt often joked he looked more like a 1920's gangster. Joel had shrugged and mentioned he's liked that decade.

Joel carried the Leavitt's suitcase as he lead the King off the jet and toward Amara.

Deep red streaks of natural color flashed in the sun from Leavitt's onyx hair. At 6'4 he was taller than most, but Joel's extra inch of height and substantial extra body mass somewhat hid the him. His eyes were covered by wraparound sunglasses. He was dressed casually. Black t-shirt, faded jeans, boots, and a soft suede coat. He smiled coridally as he approached Amara. He opened his mouth to speak, but Joel beat him to the bunch.

"Adopted lycan daughter of vampires in the nation of hatred, How do you survive?" He offered a smile that some might call charming.

Leavitt's smacked his own face with his right hand. This was not a good first impression.

Amara studied the pair as they approached from the plane. She quickly made out Leavitt from the pair and she walked over to them, a warm smile on her face. Leavitt was rather handsome, he struck a rather good form as well. She laughed inside as she thought if Lorcan was here, she might cuddle up to Leavitt just to piss him off.

Amara turned and looked at the taller man carrying the bags behind Leavitt. She removed her sunglasses, revealing a pair of emerald green eyes. Though she looked only nineteen, the aura she gave off was undeniable. She was an Alpha, powerful, well in control of herself. However the tone in which she spoke gave no sense of sarcasm, just a harsh coldness. "By eating over compensating men who think they're witty and charming."

Then switching on a dime, the warmth returned to her eyes. She gave a wide smile to Leavitt, a happiness in her voice. She offered her hand.

"Hey, I'm Amara. Dad's told me quite a bit about you, he's been running around cleaning up the house the past two days. Haven't seen him this excited in a long time. Have a nice flight?"

Leavitt laughed lightly.

"It was okay," he replied with a shrug, taking her hand. "My arrival was definitely entertaining. You know, now I can't get the image of Stephan in a pink apron with a feather duster out of my head."

Behind him, Joel was frowning. He took a moment to calm himself. "Sorry, Miss. Where can I put the bags?" At least now he knew he didn't have to worry about Leavitt getting into trouble.

Amara grinned at Leavitt. "I like you, but that is just an extremely disturbing picture."

Looking over at the bodyguard, Amara reached into her pocket and removed the keys. She pressed one of the buttons, the car's lights flashed and the trunk popped open. "Where do you usually stick bags?"

****

Amara looked over at Leavitt as they pulled up to three dilapidated looking barns at the edge of the Golden Horse Stables. Amara pulled up to the largest and closest. "Home sweet home. Don't let the look deceive you, very nice inside. This one is the main house, the second is part gym, gun range and armory. Final one is Cassandra and Darius' den. Wear a coat when you're in there, they've iced it to winter conditions."

Grabbing Leavitt's bags from the trunk Amara walked to the barn. She pushed her pointer finger into a wedge in the wood. There was a soft whirl and a hidden door slid open. She led Leavitt in, the door shutting behind him.

The floors and walls were rich hardwood, highly polished and decorative. Soft rugs were situated under the couch and chairs in the main seating area. Amara looked over at Leavitt.

"Catch ya later, gonna be late for my flight."

With that, the young lycan slipped out the door again. When it shut, Leavitt was left alone. But only briefly. Footsteps drew his attention, rounding the corner of a hallway, Nicole stood for several seconds, cupping her hand over her mouth. The vampiress walked over to Leavitt, tears dribbling from her eyes. She stood only a few feet away from him when she took him into her arms. She gave him a peck on the cheek.

"Oh God...oh God...its so good to see you're safe. Oh my God..."

Before Leavitt could respond, Nicole broke, turning around. Stephen appeared at the base of a wooden, spiral staircase. He smiled, barely able to contain himself. He walked forward, the grin broadening as he looked at him. The vampire gave Leavitt a brief, strong fatherly hug.

Stephen smiled as he looked Leavitt up and down. "My God you have changed."

Leavitt hugged back Stephan.

"So have you. You seem to have shrunk. " Leavitt looked honestly confused. His head tilted like a lost puppy.

Stephen smiled warmly. "Shrunk eh? I can knock you down to size if you want to."

The vampire's eyes flicked behind Leavitt, a squeal brought the lycan's attention behind him. Hovering just in front of his face, held there by an invisible force was a ice blue dragon about the size of a small dog. The dragon squirmed in air and gave another squeal.

Stephen smiled and mentally lifted Tolkien up over Leavitt's head and into Nicole's arm. Tolkien twisted in the vampiress' grasp, trying to escape and investigate this new person in it's realm.

Nicole looked at Leavitt. "I think you might remember little Tolkien."

"Vaguely," murmured Leavitt. He glared darkly at the small dragon.
-------
"And this is Tolkein," Stephan held a small thing in his arms that reminded Leavitt of a lizard.

"What is it?" The lycan cub held closely to his mother's pant leg as he examined the creature.

"It's a dragon sweetheard," explained Xaria soothingly. She ruffled his hair. "He's just small. Why don't you say hello. Just don't poke or pull at him too much."

"I won't," the comment sounded frustrated. Leavitt wasn't a little kid anymore. He was five, for goodness sakes.

Leavitt moved over slowly. He knew that you shouldn't spook animals you want to be friends with. When he was close enough he put out his hand for the dragon to smell. Once he and Tolkein seemed comfortable with each other he petted it. Leavitt had expected the small creature to feel slimy, but he felt cool and smooth. Leavitt giggled, and ran his hand along Tolkein's back. The tail felt different. He looked closer.

"Lev, careful don't pull his...", Stephan's warning came a moment too late. Leavitt tugged hard on Tolkein's tail. The shocked dragon retaliated by biting the boys nose. Leavitt screamed.

"MOMMY!" The black haired child ran back to his mother's leg bawling. "It's evil, Mummy!"

Xaria shook her head and shared a little look with Stephan and Nicole.

"You just frightened him, pet. Don't you want to say sorry to Tolkein for pulling his tail?"

"No," grumbled Leavitt sullenly, scrubbing his eyes. "Tolkein's mean. I'm gonna hate him forever."
----------
Leavitt growled a little in his throat.

Nicole sighed. "You remember. Just don't try that with his dad, Darius would freeze you like you were dipped in liquid nitrogen."

Setting Tolkien on the floor, the mini-dragon's ears went flat on his head as he scurried over to Leavitt, sniffing him, trying to show he was friendly. Though the dragon's memory wasn't long, the familiar lycan scent prompted images of Amara and her mate Lorcan into his mind, they were good...so this one must be the same.

Stephen smiled he motioned to the chairs and couches. "Come on, take a seat, update us on what has been going on. Being King and all. Would you care for something to drink? Because of Amara we have what you might consider "normal" food around."

Leavitt's jaw dropped at Nicole's statement. It was 33 years later, surely she'd realize he was mature enough now to know not to pull a dragon's tail. In the back of his mind he heard his mother's voice.

When you grow up I hope you won't still be holding this silly grudge.

Leavitt sighed. He reached down slowly, and rubbed the small dragon on the head.

"Hey Tolk, how have you been?"

He walked over to the chairs, and sat. "Um...sure a drink would be fine. And maybe something to eat. If you don't mind. What do you have?"

"As for an update, how much would you like to know? Do you want to know about the coronation, or were you hoping to get the past 24 years in Reader Digest Version?" He chuckled.

His eyes went back to the Tolkein. 'If he comes over, I'll pet him and we can be friends. If he doesn't, I'll just ignore him.'

"Well, since we have a pair of lycans usually living with us, we have meat. Buffalo, venison...we have soda, beer and juice for drinks." Nicole said as she went into the kitchen area, a bar separating the kitchen from the living room. Stephen followed to help her out.

Tolkien fluttered after Leavitt and plopped down on his lap. Sitting on the lap of the lycan, the small dragon stared at him through a pair of deep blue eyes. The dragon bent his head down and nuzzled it under Leavitt's hand, obviously wanting more attention.

Stephen looked at Leavitt and Tolkien, he chuckled slightlY. "Tell us everything, what happened when you were sent away, growing up, coming back...Reader's Digest version."

"Venison and Orange Soda would be nice." Leavitt chuckled. "I have odd tastes."

He absently scratched Tolkien's head and back.

"Alright so my life in Reader's Digest mode."

Leavitt took a minute took think about how to begin.

"It was really quiet in Thrope after mom died. It was odd. Everyone was very mournful and reserved. I think we, as a nation, were in shock. Dad was devastated, and I was angry. I was old enough to know what was happening, but too young to understand my own emotions. I screamed, howled, snarled. I demanded to know why they could all be so calm when she was gone. Yes they were mourning. But not the right way."

"It was almost two weeks before the other shoe dropped. The Funeral had been lovely, I wish you could have seen it. But since it was an outsider who...who..." The word assassinated would not come out of Leaviit's mouth. He took a breath. "Who caused everything, Thrope was on lock down. Which I suppose aggravated the situation. Outside forces might have been a help. Anyway, the murmur began about who would rule the country. I was FAR too young. Perhaps my father would be regent.... I don't think anyone was really expecting the revolution. We should have, though Everyone loved mom, but we all knew how she got the throne. Wiping out the royals hadn't been on anyone's mind for a while. But now was the chance. A new order among the nation of lycanthropes."

"Some wanted democracy. Others wanted to keep things as they were. Some wanted socialism. In the end, it was just a battle for Alpha. I was gone by this point."

Leavitt shook his head.

"Two months following mom's death, Dad contacted his parents. They had been on vacation when the nation had gone on lockdown, so they'd been unable to return. I hadn't understood what he was planning. We'd slipped off to the ocean. There were enough loyalists to protect us. I told my father he..." Leavitt took a shaky breath. "I called him a coward for running away. When we go to the coast he was crying. My grandfather was waiting. Dad had been dressed in only a robe. I remember that. He'd hugged me tightly, and told me he'd see me soon. He'd slipped off the robe the moment my grandfather had picked me up. He told me to be good. The he shifted and ran off."

"I didn't see my father for seven month. I thought he was dead. I thought i was alone. But he came back, and honestly I naively thought mom would too. Smoke out the conspirators. I was 15 when I knew I was wrong."

"When Father returned he told me that Andreas had sent an announcement of Thrope's fall. He'd also mentioned that father and I were missing. I suppose that must have frightened you. He tried a year to get a hold of you, but we had limited resources. He thought I would be happiest and safest with both of you. It might have been more stable at least."

"I grew up on my grandparents ship. The one they'd been sailing on for vacation when my mother had died. I was educated by various instructors who were hired to live on the ship on an annual basis. There were times when we'd dock. Never in Fatal Terrain. These were the only times I met people off the ship. I was Seath, then. Easiest way not to get spotted. Few people had actually ever seen me. Very few things were told to me as a boy. Dad and Andreas were slowly trying to rebuild Thrope, or something like it. But it was hard. We needed our land back, and we needed people we could trust. But as I said, I don't know much about these things."

"I didn't spend much time with people my own age until I went to University. It was an odd experience. I wasn't a normal young man. I knew that. No one knew I was former royalty. I use former because I didn't know that Rollinulf would come. I was annonymous at school, I made friends without people needing to know the truth. However, I'd lived such a strange life, and I was lycan. Most of the nations I'd visited didn't even know lycan were real. It was hard to keep it a secret. The only hinderance I had beyond my status as a royal lycan was that, as I said. I grew up on a boat, with very few people my own age, if any. My people skills were sorely lacking. In the end, I graduated from university top of my class. If only because i was so awkward in my first years that all I did was study."

"When I got my Masters, my father finally let me in completely to the plan's to create Rollinulf. I was 25 and I was both Wary and excited. I could finally go home, I could have a home. But we worried about our enemies. Andreas, my father and I returned to the site of our former home. The time had come for the final step. Rollinulf would be born. It was five years to rebuild. I was amazed a the speed. I remind myself that they'd been working at this for 15 years before I started helping."

"Four years ago, Rollinulf took it's place on the global stage. Looking back I suppose I'm shocked that it only took 20 years for all of that to happen. But honestly, it was almost my whole life. A month ago, I became the First King of Rollinulf. Today I'm sitting with my godfather and his wife petting a small dragon I'd vowed to hate as small child. Life is interesting."

While Leavitt had been quite emotional about the first year since his mother's death, he presented the rest of the information in a rather detached way. There was a few flickers around feeling outcasted, finding friends. But it wasn't until the spoke of his involvement in the rebirth of his home that he sounded....happy.

Stephen and Nicole listened quietly, not wanting to interrupt and break Leavitt's train of thought. Both of them wanted to hear it, during the time that Leavitt had been on the seas, the vampires tried to find a way to get ahold of the boy's father, but calls had failed to produce anything.

Nicole removed Leavitt's steak from the inside grill and slid it onto a plate. Taking a bottled soda from the fridge, she put it on a tray along with the plate and utensils and walked over to Leavitt. "Well, the key is that you're safe and sound."

Shooing Tolkien off Leavitt, the little dragon jumping to the couch, his eyes staring between the juicy meat and the lycan. He let out a little whimper, hoping for a pity slice. Nicole walked over and picked him up, sliding him under her arm like a football before sitting down on the couch, Stephen joined her.

"So now what will you do?" Stephen asked. "Being the King of a new nation composed of lycanthropes, what are your plans for the future?"

Leavitt chuckled as Tolkien whimpered for a bite of food. He slipped the little guy a morsel before Nicole picked him up. Leavitt had to agree that the small dragon was cute. He was happy for what appeared to be Tolkien's shorter long term memory. It's easier to forgive and forget when one literally forgets.

He chewed over Stephen's question as he took a bite of the venison. Medium rare, he mused. It was the perfect degree. He never understood blue or raw steaks, how could you enjoy cold meat.

Once he finished his first bite, and had a sip of soda, he answered Stephen's question.

"There are a lot of things going on right now. We've had numerous therianthropy groups contact our Parliment. Most of them want to know if it's a shapeshifters paradise, or is it just for werewolves. There are some smaller groups who want to know our "definition" of lycanthropy. Honestly, it's getting a bit difficult. The complexities of these situations is stifling at times."

"Our current stand is that therinathropy is defined as an individual with a genetic condition allowing them to shapeshift into one form or animal or another. Shapeshifters using spells will not be accepted under this term, however we are willing to allow them visas. If they like the country, we let them stay."

"We're trying to be as inclusive as possible. On top of that we are trying to reach the international community about lycan refuge programs in Rollinulf. Finally, we are trying to address the importance of understanding lycan child psychology. Lycan children have the tendency to bite and scratch as either play or due to growing pains. I remember biting everything that moved as a toddler. But most people aren't aware of that. Especially turned lycan. They don't realize how dangerous their children are to non-therianthropes."

"I mean, if a three year old girl bites her babysitter and turns her..." Leavitt paused. "How strict are your turning laws here?"

Stephen nodded as Leavitt talked, the things he was saying regarding 'magical' shapeshifting and regular therianthropy hadn't fully entered into the Simatarian law books. They were viewed under the same lens by most. Depending on what Rollinulf does, maybe take a page from their book for the Simatarian laws. A lycan refuge, the idea intrigued him, it'd be something for Amara to look into. Maybe get her elected as ambassador...na, she'd never go for it.

Nicole bit her lip as she rested in Stephen's arm when Leavitt asked about their turning laws. So far the Simatarian Laws concerning non-humans have come under harsh scrutiny and condemnation from other countries. Most calling highly draconian, a sentiment the Malone's fully agreed with.

"Our turning laws are fairly consistent between vampires and lycans and pretty much state the obvious. First off is that the legal age of the person to be sired, or turned must be at least twenty-one." Nicole said. "Secondly, probably something thats a little obvious...they say that the person to be sired must be willing. The sire and human register with the VIB and then after they have been turned, the fledgling registers as a full vampire...or werewolf. At the moment...failure to do register could result in incarceration.

"But...if someone sires a non-willing human, the sire could be incarcerated or...what would probably happen...extermination. Pure and simple...then again most of the end result of our laws is extermination. However, however they say just below that special circumstances were be reviewed on a case by case basis."

Nicole looked at Leavitt and shrugged. "But as how there are no legally registered vampires or lycans in the country...none of it as been put into practice. As far as we know most werewolves who might have lived here left sometime after the laws were passed or have gone very deep underground."

Leavitt frowned as Stephen explained the laws. The siring rules were similar to those in Rollinulf, but the punishments were much more severe. Plus he didn't like the registration thing.

He growled a little, and murmured something about fire and gold stars. He ate his venison silently for a moment before he turned to them.

"So, once again, three year old girl bites babysitter. What would happen?"

His eyes flashed angrily, not at them but at the question.

Stephen and Nicole looked at each other, both a little at a lost for words. They hadn't thought of such a situation ever arising, nor had anyone in the VIB. As parents it gave them slight pause, what if in the off chance Amara ever got pregnant with lycan offspring and she took her child off to the park to play?

"Uhh..." was the immediate response. Stephen shrugged. "I dunnno Leavitt. I think it would fall under the 'special circumstance'. Nothing regarding the well being of lycan children has been considered. Though, in the worst circumstance a trigger happy AEB trooper might kill the babysitter...or...in very worst....the child."

"I don't like it Stephen," stated Leavitt firmly. "I don't like it at all. I would honestly hope that nothing would happen to the child, but there seems no assurance."

Leavitt sighed as he finished his drink. "It all seems a bit, draconian."

Stephen nodded in agreement with Leavitt. "I completely agree with that. Nicole took a document detailing the way the law should be altered to the President a few nights ago...dunno if they will be changed though."

"What you must understand Leavitt," Nicole began, "that several years after Stephen was discovered and we fled to Tarlachia, a group of vampires attacked a small town up in the mountains. Before that happened, it appeared that the Golden Simatar might come off more open minded and stable than most. However several years after that, when we came back to Simatar, a small army of vampires out for revenge attacked the capital. Thousands of people were dead and maimed, it was that attack that prompted the whole 'draconian' system of laws. To prevent another Battle of Clarence. And so far it as worked."

"Forgive me, but what in the name of Lupa does that have to do with lycans?" Leavitt shook his head. "Sorry if that came out wrong, but honestly, I don't understand Golden Simitar's position."

Nicole shrugged. "Well, part of it maybe because when Amara came back to the Golden Simatar, the boy who bit her followed her and slaughtered her friends and family. But then again, they probably simply lumped vampires in with werewolves. Look at popular culture, vampires and werewolves eat humans in all kind of media...so it seems only fitting to lay down the law as it were."

Leavitt's anger drained a little. "I'm sorry....I didn't know that was Amara's story." He went to take another sip of his drink, forgetting it was empty. He sighed as he put it back down.

"I wish that humans understood lycans better. When I was little, before the revolts happened mom used to say she wished the world was like Thrope. It was so lovely, back then. Humans, lycans, and other creatures living together in peace. I mean, I realize that some of that was an illusion. But most of it was true."

He growled low in his throat, subconsciously. "If people continue to base their opinions of others on the nightmares they see on movie screens, then we are in for grim future."

Stephen mentally removed another drink for Leavitt from the refrigerator, the bottle floated over to the Lycan Ruler and sat down in front of him.

"I had hoped for the Golden Simatar to be different, more like Taralchia where there is more balance between the species. However, we got screwed because of outside influences. I highly doubt things here will ever change without something extreme happening. For the moment, all we can do is wait and see."

Leavitt nodded solemnly as he took a drink.

"I know there are many factors holding Golden Simitar back, but waiting to see has never been my style." Leavitt shrugged with mock calim. "I was an impatient child, and the past few decades have done nothing for it. My home crumpled and was reformed in twenty years. I mean, four years later we're almost back to where we started. I'm used to action and quick response."

He took a another sip of his drink.

"Waiting leaves a bad taste in my mouth."

"A quick response here would probably make things worse than they already are." Stephen said. "Then again waiting isn't doing much either. The AEB squads are killing several dozen and up to a hundred vampires a month and many Simatarians are happy with those numbers."

"However the werewolf population, if there ever was one, seems to have simply vanished, gone underground. Since werewolves don't need to feed on humans to survive, its much easier for them to disappear." Nicole said. "However one thing Amara is going to do for us in Taralchia is interview various people and ask them how they feel about what is going on here. Hopefully it will change people's minds on how things are preformed."

Leavitt nodded.

"She seems like a capable young woman. Very witty and determined. It must be nice to have such a lovely girl to call daughter and ally."

Leavitt smiled.

"Yesh she is." Nicole said with a smile. "Being vampires we can't have children of our own, but we've raised her in an adult sense like she was our own. Funny thing was originally the government wanted to take her away after the first few weeks she spent with us and put her into some program or something. But by that time we had grown so attached, she started calling us 'mom and dad'."

Stephen laughed and looked over at Leavitt. "Take it from me, I had a baby when I was human...they might be cute but all they do is eat, sleep and shit. Adopt my boy, adopt when they're past that age."

Leavitt shook his head. "I'm not allowed. I mean, I could if I wanted to," he shrugged. "But I need a viable heir eventually. A clear cut one too, I'd like to keep things peaceful for the next little while if I could."

"So what's Amara's mate like. You've mentioned she has one, but never told me what kind of man he is. I'm assuming he's a Betta. Amara is obviously an Alpha, so one of them would have to have stepped back into the Betta spot."

"Ah yes...Lorcan Tansho." Stephen said slowly. He shrugged and nodded. "Guess it wouldn't hurt. But what I'm about to say may shock you. Where to start...."

"Start with the Beast of Clarence." Nicole suggested. She knew Stephen didn't want to share Amara's full past, it was something that should be left there.

Stephen nodded. "Well, before she could control herself in full form, we had cordoned off about a ten square mile area for her to roam in the forests. Sadly a nature photographer set up camp in her area and she ended up killing and eating him. He got off one picture, showing her lycan outline. When the pictures were found, it was published as a Beast, a monster. Lorcan, being cousin of Rikan Tansho, was hired by a pair of rich businessmen, hoping to bag this infamous Beast.

"Amara ended up killing both of the businessmen, but only mauled Lorcan before her mind got full control over her body. She went back and picked him up in the morning and brought him back here, keeping him locked in the cellar. But...somehow it went from that to them being mates."

"Amara really needed a companion." Nicole picked up. "I guess she found something of a kindred spirit in Lorcan, someone she could grab onto. He's a wonderful person, if you ever met him I'd think you'd like him. Amara is the Alpha of the pair, but there are times where she becomes more the Beta, she's still a little emotional."

Stephen finished. "Yeah, Lorcan's there for her and she's there for him. An interesting couple to look at, but they are a match.

Leavitt smiled crookedly. "That is an oddly sweet story, though shocking at the beginning." He tried to supress a laugh. "Kept him in the cellar. Sorry it reminds me of the end of werewolf movie I saw in college."

"I hope that next time we have a get together, on more social terms, I can see Amara again and meet her Lorcan."

Leavitt tilted his head pensively. "I think I'll wait as long as mom did. 250 is the new 20 after all."

"Well Leavitt, when it comes to love, what matters is finding someone you want to spend the rest of eternity with..." Stephen said as he held Nicole close. He gave her a kiss on the cheek. "...and savor every second of it."

Nicole smiled and kissed Stephen back. She huddled up with her sire and husband. "Let me give you some advice Leavitt, when you do meet the girl of your dreams, never nibble on the first date."

Leavitt's shoulders shook with laughter.

"I'm sorry Nicole, but I think you'll have to explain your advice. I think I'm misunderstanding."

Nicole smiled as she turned to Stephen, a finger gently running down the side of his cheek. "Well maybe it's just something for vampires. Biting is a bit of a turn on, but for some, maybe not so much."

Stephen looked at her, giving a half questioning look. "I never bit you the first time we were together. I only bit you when you asked to be turned."

Nicole kissed him lightly. "Yes but you wanted to so badly when we met."

Stephen smiled, still remembering the first time he laid eyes on the human researcher. His original thought of her was a quick way to get a few sips of fresh blood from the packaged drek he was being fed. But, somehow, a bond grew between them that blossomed in a way they could never have imagined.

Turning to Leavitt, Stephen flashed a fanged grin. "What Nicole is getting at, I think, is that when courting your future spouse, biting is slightly discouraged. But, we're getting ahead of ourselves. Don't burden the boy's thoughts with marriage while he's still a bachelor. I am a bit curious, what's your father up to these days? Does he know of your little excursion out here?"

"Dad was Regent until I was crowned. He's just tying up a few loose ends on that." Leavitt shrugged. "I'm trying to get him to go on vacation. Mostly he just spends time with Andreas. Which concerns me, a little. Dad often claimed he could never love another woman after mom. Personally, I'm hoping he can find one eventually."

"I mean, he's only 61, I see no point in him making such a decision now. I mean, the media would have a field day and...."

Leavitt made a little face. "I really shouldn't be discussing that. But I will be sure to remember not to bite any non-lycan girls on the first date."

"Oh honey..." Nicole pulled herself away from Stephen and went to Leavitt. She sat herself down on the armrest of the chair he sat in and gently scratched the back of his head. "Don't worry about it. You know, when my mother passed away, my father told my brother and I the same thing. He had female friends, both of us feared that one of them would replace mom. But, none of them ever could."

Nicole smiled. "Your father loved your mother, if he finds a woman he enjoys spending time with, don't worry. His heart will always belong to Xaria, for all time. You will find a girl one day that you will give your heart to and it will always be hers."

Nicole kissed Leavitt on the forehead. "Alright? Everything will be okay."

Leavitt's nose crinkled when Nicole kissed his forehead. It made him look a little bit like a toddler. He smiled at her sweetly.

"Thanks Nicole."

He then paused for a moment. "It's not really mom being replaced that's concerning me. I know that there is part of Dad's heart that belongs to her and only her. My concern is that Dad and Andreas are....quite close. I'm not sure how the media will react to that if they find out."

"It would hurt them both if things got misinterpreted. Though, I will admit I don't know very much about their relationship. These are the men that raised me, I might be seeing more there than there might be."

Leavitt shrugged. "On the other hand," He looked pensive for a moment. He sighed. "I don't know. Can I play with the Tolk again? He's calming."

Nicole smiled. She looked over at Stephen, cocking her head towards the door that led to the tunnels which connected all three barns. An amused smile grew on his face, knowing what she was thinking.

"Well Leavitt, how'd you like meet Tokien's parents Cassandra and Darius? They're very friendly and very intelligent."

Leavitt watched uneasily as the amused smile spread on Stephan's face. He wasn't sure if he trusted the look.

"Are they as friendly like their son? Or friendly like a kitten with a mouse?" His eyes darted between Nicole and Stephan. He seemed nervous. "I don't want the dragons to eat me. Though I know you wouldn't allow that to happen..." he laughed nervously.

Apparently his fear of dragons wasn't totally gone.

"Dragons are as sentient as you or I. They have their own language and culture." Nicole said. "Though there are some who are feral or in the case of Tolkien, an extreme runt."

"They won't hurt you unless you make aggressive gestures towards them or their young. Actually quite a few of the dragons here in this country descend from Cassandra and Darius." Stephen said.

The vampires stood, grins on their faces that seemed very warm and welcoming, yet slightly mischievous. Nicole smiled and said with a laugh. "Leavitt, after all these years, do you think we'll let you become lunch for a dragon? I mean, no blood for us."

Leavitt grinned crookedly. "You know, Dad has this theory that Mom made a deal with you that required her giving her first born son to you for a snack, Stephan. I would be quite upset if you proved my mommy a liar."

He laughed and stood.

"Also, I hurt Tolk in the past. How do I know Darius and Cassandra aren't holding a grudge, hmm?"

Stephen grinned wickedly, his fangs visible. The vampire made a hiss and an overly dramatic display of his canines. "Well, your mother did allow me to bit her wrist once, very strong and very sweet."

Nicole sighed and punched Stephen in the arm. "Honestly, sometimes Stephen I think you're just a fledgling in an ancient's body. You won't have to worry too much about Darius and Cassandra, they're parents themselves and know children do what children do. Believe me, the games dragon pups play are a bit rougher than tail pulling."

Leavitt smiled at Nicole. "Thank you for telling me that. I feel much more at ease."

He turned to Stephan. "When I finally have cubs, I'm going to have so many and send them all here for your to babysit. But first I'll send Nicole on a lovely spa day so you can be left alone with the whole litter. I'll tell them scary stories about you, and you'll be left with half a dozen screaming, rowdy, scared lycan cubs. I will enact my vengeance for your teasing. One day. You'll see."

He laughed in a mock evil way for a second, before chuckling.

"So, Ancient Dragons who are your pets? Time to meet them?"

Stephen laughed at Leavitt's threat. "You forget, I'm a vampire and I can twist their little minds to be good lycan cubs. I can even get Amara to help out."

Nicole rolled her eyes again. "My God Stephen. We'll happily babysit your kids Leavitt, but I think I'll take a spa trip first. So, come along, time to meet them."

Nicole turned and the group went towards a door a the far back of the living room. When she opened it, a flight of stairs revealed itself, the vampiress flicked on the lights and down they went. She talked as they walked. "Underground corridors connected all of our buildings so we can travel in daylight. I wouldn't say that Darius and Cassandra are pets per say, we kinda inherited Cassandra from a friend when he passed away. Darius was a wild dragon you might say before he courted and mated with her. Their primary home is here, but they do travel a lot."

Reaching another flight of stairs, the trio went up. Nicole checked a digital readout on the wall. "Good, doors are closed."

Stephen opened the door and a blast of cold air hit them. Walking inside the massive, wide open building was like a winter wonderland. Snow and ice covered every inch of the interior, small mountains dotted the area, but one giant was in the middle of the structure.

"Darius, Cassandra!" Stephen called out as he walked towards the mound.

There was a rumbling and a great head emerged. From what was visible, the dragon looked to be about the size of a bus. The dark, ice blue scaled dragon turned and looked down at Stephen, a smile moved on it's lips. It spoke to the vampire in a foreign, guttural tongue, to which the vampire responded.

Seconds later, a smaller form appeared from the edge of the nest. This dragon appeared to be slightly larger than a full grown Clydesdale horse, its scales were a flawless snow white. It too smiled at Stephen and spoke to him.

Stephen turned to Leavitt. "Leavitt, meet Cassandra and Darius. Cassandra is the white one, Darius the blue. Come on man, step forward and say hello. They're very interested in meeting you."

Leavitt shivered a little against the cold. He was a little bit nervous about meeting the dragons. He knew they would be much larger than Tolk, but he wasn't sure by how much.

When Darius came into view, a whimper began in the back of Leavitt's throat. It was totally involuntary. He wasn't even aware he was doing it. He stared in fear and awe, until Cassandra's movement caught his attention.

The whimper eased slightly, but it grew a bit every time he looked toward Darius. The young lycan only half heard Stephan telling him to say hello. Had he been in wolf form, Leavitt's ears and tail would be pinned down.

He stayed where he was and murmured a gentle, "Pleased to meet you". He bowed graciously, but still whimpered.

Leavitt's situation didn't seem to get much better as one of Darius' massive paws emerged from the nest. The long talons sunk into the ice like it was butter, the dragon shifted itself, moving slightly closer to Leavitt. The dragon extended his neck, the great head coming with in a few inches of the nervous wolf. Darius drew in several deep sniffs, examining him.

Rearing his head back, he gave a respectful bow of his head to Leavitt. The dragon started to speak again in Draconian, Stephen translating. "A pleasure to meet you your Highness. I do hope that your stay here is pleasant, these moonwalkers are kind, which is a rarity their species. You do not have to be afraid of us, we do not wish harm upon friends and family of Stephen or Nicole."

Ice crunching announced Cassandra walking towards Leavitt. She leaned in and sniffed the wolf and gave a brief nuzzle before drawing back. When she spoke, Stephen again translated. "Your smell, has similarities to Amara, are you any more related than just by species?"

Leavitt let out a shaky breath. "Thank you, Darius. It's an honour to finally meet you and your mate. I'm aware that Nicole and Stephan are good people, though I admit my knowledge of their kind is reserved to stories. As is my knowledge on your kind. I will readily admit that you are much larger than I imagined you would be. So I apologize if my unease annoys you."

He reacted positively to Cassandra's brief nuzzle. It was cool and pleasant. Leavitt had always reacted well to affection, it was a calming force. He pondered her question.

"The possibility is there. As far as I know, I am not related to Amara. However, there could be a connection there somewhere. There is little known to my about my father's family at some point. Then again, it could just be Alpha scent. I've noticed it's similar."

"They probably also got the whiff of Amara from when you road in with her." Nicole said as she stood off to the side. The vampiress was more than amused by Leavitt's expressions of dread and possible borderline terror.

The building seemed to rumble with Darius' laughter as Stephen translated what Leavitt has said. The great dragon stared down at the man, it had always amazed him the varied reactions of people when they see his kind. Some are planted to the ground in awe while others in terror. Darius lowered himself closer to the ground.

"Your unease is understandable. As for my size, my cousin Kariel in Tarlachia is over two times the size I am, others reach the size of those large planes you people fly. But I assure you we do not capture village maidens nor horde vast wealths of gold and jewels." Darius spoke, Stephen translating. "There are probably still wild ones who do, but most dragons have cast aside those dark age practices. We are like others, we have our own language, culture and customs. Only those who try to cause us or our offspring harm ever feel our wrath."

Nicole's eyes flicked over to Leavitt as Darius spoke his last words and Stephen made the translation. "So Leavitt, you think we should tell dragon daddy a little story about a certain lycan pup and a certain dragon pup?"

Leavitt was beginning to feel at ease with Darius when Nicole made her comment. He shot her a look of annoyance and shock. The ease he was feeling slipped away. He looked at his feet and murmured,

"I pulled Tolkien's tail when I was a cub. He bit me. I think we are even." He didn't look up. "I was three."

Stephen translated for the dragons. There was a long pause, both dragons studied Leavitt.

The snow and ice around them shook as Cassandra and Darius began to laugh. They found the story amusing and even more so the lycan's manner in which he told it. The laughter was brief, but it sent a message.

Cassandra walked up to Leavitt, standing slightly over him. She nuzzled him and gave a friendly lick to the face. Nicole took over the translation. "Don't worry so much, when you and your mate have pups, you will understand they do silly things such as that. Tolkien was born a runt and was always the most rambunctious of my litters. He's tortured and pestered his sisters and brothers beyond believe and has gotten his fair share of nips. You don't need to be submissive, I'm not going to eat you."

Leavitt shifted. He felt more embarrassed now than scared. He really didn't enjoy Nicole teasing him like that. It was a bit mean spirited, even if she was just picking at him. He frowned a bit at the floor as Cassandra spoke, then smiled with mischief.

"I don't suppose I could ask you to eat Nicole." His eyes twinkled with dark humour. "Seeing as she is your friend, and I'm sure she tastes bad."

He chuckled a bit.

Nicole looked over at Leavitt, a look of humored shock on her face. "Oh you cheeky bastard."

Even so, she translated to Cassandra. The dragon looked somewhat confused, obviously not in tune with what was going on between the vampire and werewolf. Even so, she knew the Leavitt wasn't serious. She looked at the werewolf.

"I've eaten one vampire in my life, she had tried to hurt me before and was ready to kill Nicole. Vampire isn't very good meat, it's incredibly sickening to the stomach. It's cold and wretched in every way, like going back to a carcass a few days later. As a predator, I'm sure you can appreciate the quality of a fresh kill."

Leavitt nodded. "Yes, I can agree with on that. Fresh, warm meat is much better than old carrion any day. Especially if it is something you've caught yourself."

He smiled pleasantly. "So I was wondering, how many siblings does Tolk have? More specifically, does he have litter mates?"

Cassandra smiled, this man was incredibly intelligent and he was warming up just fine. Maybe she would talk to Stephen about getting this man lessons in Draconian, he might find it useful.

"Tolkien has two immediate brothers and four immediate sisters. They were my first, after Stephen and Nicole started living here, Darius and I moved the eggs here to hatch and raise our young. Our second litter of five left the nest a few moons ago. Most of them live here in Simatar. More of our dragon brethren have moved here from other parts of the region because it was unclaimed. Our daughter Ulli has her own mate and is raising her own young now."

Cassandra leaned in close, just a few inches from Leavitt's face. "Looking to adopt?"

Leavitt grinned handsomely. "Honestly, Cassandra, I can't tell if you're teasing. However, it would be interesting wouldn't it. I could converse with him or her in Draconian, and then next time I visited Stephen and Nicole I wouldn't need a translator."

He shrugged. "If you are kidding, then I still think it would be nice to learn more about your culture. And I stand firmly in my distaste for translators. While I trust Nicole and Stephen with my life, it's always my fear that something will get left out in the translation."

He sneezed. "Your breath make my nose tingle."

Nicole looked at Leavitt. "We learned Draconian while essentially living in exile in Tarlachia. We'll be able to get you the contact information of the elf who taught us. It's difficult to get into, but once you get the hang of it, it's not that hard."

Darius had been eyeing the conversation for a while. He found this new wolf-person interesting, then again it was always interesting meeting those of other races. It was time however, to show Leavitt what a full sized male was capable of.

Stephen looked over at Leaviit, the vampire knowing what the dragon had in mind. "Leavitt, don't get frightened but Darius is about to show you what he can do."

Letting out a low growl, Darius twisted and reared his head away from the group. Almost like it was a whip, Darius' head shot forwards and a blur was seen for only a brief second before it smacked into a pile of snow, a cloud of which burst several feet in the air. As the snow cleared, a lace of pure ice, several inches in diameter and nearly four feet in length was visible.

Turning his attention to the snow still in the air, Darius sprayed a dense white, blue cloud. Closing his mouth, the dragon turned to Leavitt. The snow that Darius had shot fell and shattered like glass upon the ground.

A smile went across the dragon's face. Stephen translated for the male. "I fought during the Demon War, I speared many and turned to ice many demons during the battle. Dragons can be excellent friend your Highness. We are also loyal allies in times of crisis. If there are no dragons in your land already, it wouldn't be a bad idea to open your land to my kind. We always do what we can to protect our home."

Leavitt's eyes widened with interest and surprise, however all his discomfort had faded. He felt certain that Darius and Cassandra would do him no harm.

"I probably should promote the lands of Rollinulf to Dragon Occupation. However, ice dragons would be uncomfortable, I think. Rollinulf is Forests and Volcanos."

Both dragons shuddered noticeably as the word "fire-mountain" hit their ears. Forests were no issue for ice dragons, they could resides in low warm to cool climates, though they were most comfortable in high mountain ranges. High heat however was bad for their health however.

Cassandra looked at Leavitt oddly. "How can you live in a land with the fire-mountains? There must be horrible heat and the rivers of fire must bake the land."

Leavitt laughed a little. "Perhaps I explained the badly. Rollinulf is almost all forest except some open land alond the West and South. Oh, and one tiny patch between the forest and one of the volcaones. We have a total of 8. Three are on the Western Coast, the very edge of the country. Four are on our border with Tarlachis, but they are blocked off by larger mountain range. They don't really affect us. The only one that is really a concern is Mt. Skoll. It's close to the interior, but surrounded by three rivers."

"There are many towns near Mt. Skoll. There are natural hot springs, so there are many resorts as well. The land is quite lush and green. All the volcanoes are rather dormant."

Leavitt smiled. "Census shows Rollinulf is among the nations with the nicest environments and best weather."

The dragons looked at each other as Leavitt went into a deeper explanation of what Rollinulf was like. Darius stared down at the small man, a scaled smile on his lips.

"It would be nice to have another nation open to my kind. After the Demonic War and these Earth tremors, many of my kind in other parts of the region are without permeant homes having lost their territory. There are more than ice dragons, the more well known fire dragons make up a sizeable part of the population of the region. However here there are only ice dragons."

Cassandra looked between Leavitt and the vampires. "Your nation, is it a land of moonwalkers and shape-shifters?"

Leavitt shook his head. "As of right now, there is not a single moonwalker in Rollinulf. Though, that may change someday. I'm sure even Thrope had them. Though I have little knowledge about the history of my birth country."

He sighed. It was a little frustrating to be without information in this way. Centuries of history, lost in war and fire. It was not fair. So much had been lost at that time.

"Mostly it's lycan, human, and fey."

"Well, we hope to visit your land someday your Highness." Darius said. The dragon looked at the werewolf, unsure of how much he really knew about what had been going on in the region during the last few years.

"Tell me, what plans do you have if the Demons rise again?"

"Honestly, we don't have a plan yet," admitted Leavitt."We aren't as close as the Wasteland. Though I suppose if something happened we would have help the other nations of the region."

He shifted. "There are still many issues I haven't considered yet. Is there signs of concern?"

"There might be now with Imitoria gone." Stephen said, taking a look over at Leavitt. "The region has put a no-go zone around the entire area until we actually know what exactly happened."

Stephen looked over to Darius, upon a closer inspection, one could see the dragon's armor was dented and there were still some visible scars on his body. The vampire continued. "Darius led his clan in the Demon War, many were killed, including his siblings. After the fall of Tarlchia, most migrated to other nations, some came here."

Stephen turned to Leavitt. "Speaking to the Tarlachian government would be a very smart move this early in your career. The Tanarans would also be a huge help."

Leavitt nodded. "I probably should move to better aquaintancies with both nations. I'm well aware they are the powerhouses of the region. I just need an in first. I don't have one as of yet."

"I'm a little concerned about Imitoria's land. If something bad were to happen there it could affect my nation negatively. I think I'll try to avoid populating the shore until I'm sure that it's safe to be that close to the area. "

"You know, I know so little about the Demon Wars. It was after the fall of Thrope, so I was very far away."