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That was the day when everything changed. Two more Leaders had yet to be awakened and Ashra's curse was still going strong. That damned curse...to release all inhibitions from the body and mind, bring it to madness under Moneko's orders... If that order had never been given, if we had been allowed to control our actions for just one more night, maybe what had happen next would never have happened...

- Excerpt from Lina Sec's Diary
Head of Soul Transfers
Year 3050

Signet City, the starting point of the Great Vampire and Lycan War, was now one again the capitol of the Ten beings, the very same beings that had left this world to its own devices. No one but the four organizations (Lotus, Rajen, Blaydon and Bastet) formerly ruling Signet City before knew how they returned and at what cost the loyal and rebellious alike had to pay to bring them back.

Ashra's curse was the last test given to these organizations as well the entire city for the sole purpose of seeing how far others would go to see the rest of the Ten Awakened..and the results of what others would do to stop them. The result was unfortunately a tie. The inner thoughts of the Lotus second-in-command and a few others took over because of the curse and they attempted to rid the world of the Ten completely, thanks to an ancient book of dark arts they had acquired. They were stopped just in time for the spell to be incomeplete, but the damage was done. The The Ten were weakened, but back then no one knew just how badly weak meant.

Their bodies, which had so long been preserved over the years had been damaged to the point that they could not remain intact and hold the Ten;s power. For them to ever survive in this world, they needed new bodies, but those can hold their power had to be perfect incarnations to even be used and as for the former souls within said bodies...they would pass on.

But there are those who wish to stop the Ten from ever ruling, even if they wish to make the world as it once was. Some of them are people who care about their place of power and which to stay there, while others wish to create their own ruling party within the world or even just to continue having freedom. All of these are allies or serve under the former Rajen Leader and apprentice Troden Sulla. He was part of the reason the Ten were weakened and a major part of why a few of them were delayed in their Awakening.

It is now 3050, fifty years since that awful moment and the chosen bodies have been found. Which side will you choose? Those who wish to aid the Ten and bring the world to its former glory, or will you side with those who wish to bring a new era of rule into this world? The choice is yours.

Merlin had been acting evasive for the last month. Her emotions were erratic and sometimes dangerous. Fortunately for Vincent, sex had been in bountiful supply but when he asked about the cause of her odd behavior, she either thought up imaginary errands to run or distracted him. She'd also been disappearing regularly, gone for an hour or so before reappearing, flushed and happy. It appeared she'd simply left to feed well.

At the moment, the woman in question was sitting in her office going over paperwork. Bills were easy, she didn't mind paying them, enough money was rolling in from the Club, which had expanded, and the contributions from wealthy meals that it was no problem at all. The internet was proving a very helpful resource for paying bills easily and quickly. There wa the rapid succesion of clacking keys before silence reigned again, interrupted by the soft rustling of paper.

Obsidian had finally broken down and bought a house with Seth....well, it was actually a surprise to him as well. She'd had a long long argument with her father about it. Her mother didn't mind as long as there was a strong link between home and the house so that they could be there in the blink of an eye if there was trouble. Winistruya had pinned her husband down with an icy glare, warning him not to abuse the portal.

"Surprise!" She cried, uncovering Seth's eyes. The house had victorian influence in it's architecture. Two stories, a front porch, eve, with a porch swing to the left of the door. The paint job looked fresh Cream with Green trimming, "If you don't like the paint job, that can be fixed. I really wanted to paint it black but that might freak out the neighbors..." She commented, "Well? Don't just stand there, and close your mouth before something flies in, do you like it?"

A sudden storm moved sluggishly over Signet City. The clouds flashed and grumbled with thunder and lightning and abruptly it released it's rainful on the city, driving those walking on the streets inside. That included Obsidian and the shocked Seth, driving them under the eve of their new house. The rain was icy cold and it came down mercilessly upon the street and rooftops. Forks of lighting shuddered out of the clouds and into the sky. A few larger forks struck the ground, or trees, one struck a electric pole, making the transformer explode, sending sparks everywhere. In the park, one particularly large lightning bolt slammed into the ground near the lake. When it disappeared, a figures tood in it's place.

Tall and willowy, wearing what looked like a white dress, marking the figure as feminine. Impossibly long black hair was done up in a plait and coiled loosely around her neck. She tilted her head towards the sky and, pale green eyes that looked distant and unresponsive flashed brielfy and the storm started to calm. A cold wind blew, pushing the clouds on and as the clouds mobilized so did the woman, long, silent, graceful stridse carrying her away from the lake and the park and onto the wet street. She paused on the sidewalk and tilted her head, appearing to be listening for something.

Images flashed into her head, the only images she'd ever be able to see were always in her head, she saw him again, clean of blood this time. She jerked and hesitation kept her still for a few beats. Then she blinked sightless eyes and started walking again.

A dense fog hid another man who simply stared into the distance, only perking his ears at a noise here and there. Arcturus liked the fog that usually seemed to accompany him now. It made things easier when he wanted to get something to eat.

After a few minutes he started twirling his slightly overlarge cane in quick, precise, jerking strokes. Even though his manner was unwieldy to any onlookers, it was extremely effective due to its unpredictability. Another reason he liked the fog was to have it obscure anyone watching should he "revisit" some of his past memories like he was doing now.

"Latimer, I'm kind of dreading when Mother will let us train with Father." Ripley said, watching his older siblings leave the training area.

His twin glanced over at his brother, "Why? We'll do just fine."

"Well, look at 'em, they're all bloody and tattered, that's how they always look when they're finished and Mother coos and fusses over them....okay, well that part doesn't seem so bad." Ripley chuckled.

Latimer did as well, throwing an arm over his twin's shoulders and trailing after Tyran and Kari, "Mother said she wanted to make brownies, do you think she'll let us lick the bowl, Latimer asked, changing the subject. Ripley, out of the two of them was probably the most sensitive, though it was hard even for their family to tell (except their mother) which one was which, they behaved so identically to each other.

"Probably not. What, you want to ask anyway?" Ripley asked, giving his brother a sidelong glance.

"Why not. she'd grow suspicious if we didn't try something like that. It's tradition!"

"Alright, then."

Magnolia was indeed in the kitchen making brownies. She also had water and small sandwiches for Kari and Tyran to mucnh on. They needed to refuel and hydrate after their tussel with their father, he was always very vigorous with them, everytime she thought about the twins or her baby Marguerite, her chest squeezed with aprehension. He wouldn't be any softer on them because they were the younger siblings. She knew he meant them no harm, not really, she supposed it was just mother instincts. She sighed, mixing the chocolate mix. They had staff to cook but she couldn't seem to shake the habit, kicking out some of the kitchen staff so she could have room to work. She almost always made Kari and Tyran's aftertraining snack, having them take their baths and mend before coming down to the kitchen where she could talk with them.

She looked down when she felt someone grab her legs and she smiled fondly down at her youngest daugther, What are you up to, Miss Margo? She asked indulgently.

Marguerite bit her bottom lip, green eyes glittering with laughter, "Nothin'" She replied to her mother.

Really? Are you sure? Magnolia asked.

Marguerite nodded vigorously, "Can I have a sandwich, Mama?"

You may have one. Your brother and sister need to eat when they are cleaned up.

"Was Papa throwing them around again?" Margo asked.

Magnolia laughed, Yes, I expect so. She replied.

"I'm going to see what Papa is doing." Margo informed her, obviously not hungry enough not to be distracted. She scampered off before Magnolia could tell her that maybe she should wait for her father to settle down a bit. She supposed it wouldn't have mattered, Marguerite idolized her father to the extreme.

"Dearest mother." Came a smooth young voice behind her. Magnolia blinked and glanced back to see her twins. She raised a dark brow and eyed the two fo them.

"No."

She surpprsssed laughter when she saw them deflate.

"We haven't even told you--"

"--what we wanted!" They said.

"You will eat lunch and then you may have brownies. The bowl if for your father." She replied.

"Awwwww...." The twins moaned together.


Merlin blinked and looked up and around just in time to see Vincent disappear into one of the shadows of her office. She blinked and tilted her head. She returned her attention to the bills, she was almost finished, just....a few....last....touches, there! One side of her mouth curled up in satsifaction and she shut down the system, filing the hard copies away and turning to return to their rooms. She moved to the closet, going straight for her new dress. She smiled as she slipped it on, having taken a shower about an hour before returning from one of her absences. The dress was long, black, and asian style. The buttons were dark red along with the generous, billowy sleeves.

The dress was fitted, showing off her curves, and had a long split up the side. She chose fishnet stockings just to drive Vincent up the wall during the meeting and shiney black eff-me pumps. She ran the comb through her hair, lettting it fall loose and painted her lips a dark lucious red. A little eyeshadow and she was all set, her long dark lashes, not needing any mascara. As a last touch, Merlin snapped on a gold anklet making sure it was on the ankle that was exposed by the split of her dress. She gave herself a look in the mirror, satsified she turned and entered her office, instead of going out the door, she turned into the shadow she'd seen Vincent exit through and followed suit.

Tyran slowly moved out of the bathroom and lightly knocked upon his sister's room, "Come in brother." the door slowly opened and closed with barely a click and hid the elf's footsteps comepletely. He watched as his sister finished cleaning her wounds and added bandages to her arm instead of a torn sleeve.

Silence filled the room for a moment before Tyran opened his mouth to speak since the elder sibling was preoccupied at the moment, "He trains us so hard and fights so fiercely...is because of before?"

The movements stopped as Kari turned around and looked at her brother, a small grin playing across her lips, "I was wondering if you remembered the past...yes I believe that is part of it, but we are his children reguardless of the past. He wants us to be strong, to be true rulers of our kind. Remember that Tyran and the past will mean nothing." she then sat upon the nearby table, wincing slightly as she accidentally put more weight upon her injured arm than she should have, "Needless to say, his training is painful, but effective."

He smirked slightly, his long brown locks (a trait from his mother) falling across his face, but as the memories came back, the smirk became a grin, "We truly got on his nerves in the realm of Signet didn't we..." a small bit of laughter was her reply, "I still wish to go back there. I have a promise to fufill."

"What's stopping you?"

"Our father's anger."

"Talk to mother about it. She'll calm him down enough to let you go."

Tyran looked at his sister for a long time before standing up and moving towards the door, a small wave his only thnak you before leaving.

Meanwhile, a very unreproachable looking elf walked into the palace, his blades fading away as he watched his youngest child run towards him, the usual frosty glare given to everyone melting slightly in response, Stop running Marguerite; there is no need to do so within your own home. he greeted, an eyebrow arching, Where is your mother? I need to speak with her before I go...

--

"Where are they?" an annoyed Vincent asked as he waited quietly within one of the many meeting rooms in City Hall. Only two of the other Leaders were there as well as a good bit of the human leaders who were either nervously eating all the snacks there or sitting down, "Should be here by now..."

Yes, he was notoriously known for being late, but the few times he was actually early he expected the same from his comrades not matter how hypocritical those thoughts were. But when Merlin appeared, all of those thoughts made a temporary detour. Ignoring the others, he moved towards her and lightly kissed her hand before pulling her close to him, "Do you want me to cut this meeting short before it even begins?" he murmured, the amusement hiding his desire cleverly, "You look simply ravishing my dear."

Seth chuckled lightly, but it was short lived as his curiousity shown through, "Although I would love to hear all about your mother's famous death gares turned on your dear old dad, I am more curious about that you had just now. Care to open up your thoughts?" Ah yes, he still was acutely aware of things even in his excitement. There wasn't much that slipped by him...not counting this surprise.

--

"A little you say? If this counts as a little, then this meeting would never start if you went all out..." he answered, tightening his grip only slighlty before he had the good sense to back away before did indeed cut the meeting short. That was certainly a low blow Merlin... he murmured as he led her towards the nearest leaders.

--

That is the point Marguerite... Dorien answered, slowing to a stop as she wrapped her arms around his legs. He was so used her actions that he didn't even tense up as he usually did when touched, and with the statement of Tyran and Kari literally thrown into her information, it made things easier, Throwing them around is useless for training, but cutting them to shreds is a different matter. said the Leader, comepletely disreguarding te fact that is was most likely said as a joke and talking about cutting someone to shreds with a ten year old was not exactly a wise choice of parenting. If your mother has once again decided to cook, then you probably haven't eaten. Let go and get moving. he finished, the smallest of smirks appearing upon his face.

And as father and daughter were on their way to the kitchen, Tyran had already entered the area, his wounds bandaged and still healing since Dorien decided to put extra emphasis on how he needed to speed up today, "Hello mother," he said as he walked in, eyeing the twin suspicioiusly before settling beside her, "I need to speak with you for a moment. Are you almost done?" It was strange for him to be speaking with Magnolia after all they had been through, the memories of the past were already strong in his heart and he saw her as his mother and close friend and respected her for the patience of actually keeping Dorien without dying. He was the Leader's own son and was nearly killed on multpile occasions in the past and now.

Kari sauntered in soon after sporting her own bandages and a rather revealing outfit (in picture) that she only got away with because she was older and the various cuts on her legs wouldn't stand for much fabric upon them. She smirked slightly as she saw Tyran near their mother, but only lanced their way before ruffling up both of the twin's heads in passing, "How fast did she shoot you down when you asked about the bowl?" she asked as she sat down, crossing her legs and waiting for their answer, "In five or ten seconds?"