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Oriana turned from the balcony and smiled, "Well i'm glad you're staying," she whispered as she draped her arms over his shoulder. she kissed his cheek softly and smiled, "Would you like to go home, or stick around?"

"Just close your eyes and move to the tempo... if you want I can lead till you remember..." Oriana whispered as she lay in his arms.

Hali noticed the couple out on the floor and smiled knowing they got things worked out. She walked over to the violinist and asked them to play something a bit slower.

They honored it and when the music shifted the floor cleared, all but a few couples. Oriana took Auren and began.

Oriana smiled and closed her eyes, letting him lead. It was so nice to be in his arms; it was almost as though this nightmare never happened. though right when she had gotten to a place where everything was right again, she was suddenly awoken by that woman's appearance.

She froze completely, letting Auren drift from her arms. Oriana's eyes were fixed on Auren's feet, and she shuttered, "She's....... Still here?" she mumbled through her confusion.

It was happening again, the feeling of being under water, the voices, the giggling, the incredibly warm embrace, "You really thought you could chase me off that easily. as far as i can see... I'm not finished yet."

Oriana tightened her fists and clenched her jaw. a single tear fell from her eye, and she took Auren's hand, making a break for the door, "We have to go. I'm sorry, I'll make it up to you some how."

Oriana tried to grab his hand again, but it was too late. she closed her eyes, trying not to cry, and followed him back inside. One way or another she was going to make sure he didn't get hurt again.

Damir swirled Vienna out on the wide balcony just off the ballroom, and smiled, "Well, despite the gloom of the night, things seemed to have brightened."

She kissed him and laid her head on his shoulder, "Well, when are you ever wrong love. You said things would be alright."

He nodded and held her close as he swayed with the music. it was a beautiful night on Aquious, but something still wasn't right. he could still feel his Daughter's cold rage pulsing through the room, and was kind of concerned, 'Good god, what happened this time.' he rotated them slightly so he could see in the large glass doors to see, what appeared to be a normal ball... then he saw a silky red dress and tightened his grip, "I thought you said Savanna left."

"She.... Did," Vienna assured as she looked over her shoulder to get a glimpse of her sister swirling by with another man, "Hell, Damir... Auren will take care of her. Let him do as he pleases..."

Damir smirked, "And what happened..."

"No. That wasn't what he pleased." Vienna interrupted as she pushed away from Damir to look into his eyes, "He loves her, and if this hurt him as bad as i believe it did, He'll take care of it." she said with such power behind her that Damir dare not press his luck.

"alright honey. I'm sorry... Let's just enjoy the night." he kissed her hand and pulled her back into his cool embrace, continuing to sway with the music, "We can deal with the blood in the morning."

Savanna smiled and slid her hand down the side of his face, as she moved into his arms, "Of course, I'd love to dance..." she took this glorious opportunity to begin to weave her magic through his body again. the phantom hands drifting around his body, the lips kissing and licking, the voices whispering.

Oriana stayed ever vigilant, her eyes never leaving the two. one of the butlers came over, handing her a glass and filling it with wine. he smiled and bent down to whisper in her ear, "Don't worry... I won't let what happened to dad happen to him... I don't want to see you hurt."

she shuttered and turned toward the butler to see the man she once loved twenty years ago next to her. she gasped and stepped back, "she got.... pregnant..."

The man nodded and looked back at the dance floor, "Most of these butlers and maids are actually the children of her victims... she tries to steal taken men, so when she kills them and gets pregnant; their spouses will have to deal with the fact that, sometimes their only offspring will be forced into slavery..."

Oriana touched the side of the young man's face and smiled, "When this is all said and done you'll be free... and I'm so sorry you've had to go through this." she slid into his arms and gave him a gentle hug.

The man went back to his duties, and Oriana returned her attention to Auren. 'What the hell is he doing... is he mad!' she thought as she swirled and sipped her wine.

"Silly Ploys? Honey, this is how i live, but i have considered marrying... someday." she felt her magic getting nowhere with him and stopped trying. 'what have i gotten myself into this time.' she thought as she began ignoring what he was saying and waiting for the dance to end so she could go about her business.

Hali noticed Auren dancing with Savanna and immediately searched out her sister, "What the hell is he doing?!"

Oriana swirled her wine and mumbled," i don't know, but he's up to something..." she noticed something that foreshadowed Savanna's ending, and smiled at her sister, "Why don't you go see what mom and dad are up to... they're just out that door there..."

Hali looked back at her sister a bit worried, "Are you going to be alright?"

Oriana smiled and waved her sister on, "I'm fine... Tell them Auren and I will be leaving soon."

Hali smiled and hugged her sister, "Thank you for coming with me." she quickly added as she scurried off to the balcony.

'alright Auren...' she thought as she sipped her wine, 'if you're going to put on a show... now's the time.'

Oriana smiled and walked up to Auren, "Are you ready to return home?" she wrapped her arms around his and glanced back to see her old lover's son. she smiled and looked back at Auren, "Mind if we have a guest for a little while?"

Hali jumped out on the deck and quickly interrupted Her parent's make up kissing. her mother launched across the bench as though she had just been discovered by her mother, and messed with her hair, "What's the matter sweetheart?"

"Oriana and Auren are leaving soon, you two should go say goodbye." Hali sighed as she sat between her parents."

Damir smiled and ran his fingers through his hair, attempting to straighten it, "well, we were just thinking of leaving ourselves... Maybe we could stay at a lovely inn or at my "Summer home." for the night." he added, glancing over at Vienna.

They stood from the seat and joined hands to leave, both glancing back at Hail who slid right between the two.

The trio walked back into the ballroom to find Chaos, and Savanna right in the middle of it all. Hali stepped forward and tried to shout over the crowd to figure out what was going on, but she was too soft spoken. ashamed by her attempt she lowered her head and walked back to her father, whom met her part of the way and shouted, "Silence! Everyone, Please!"

The crowd shifted their attention to Damir who was sitting there with an arm around his daughter and his wife just a few steps behind him. they parted and there was a torn up Savanna trembling and begging for his mercy.

Hali looked around and asked, "What have i missed?"

The crowd instantly started shouting and ranting things about Savanna, and Damir laughed, "What did you expect... It's her nature. Granted, she took it to an extreme, and definitely fed into the horrible stereotype that shadows the succubi. however all we can do tonight is arrest her and pass judgment, legally, tomorrow."

Hali smiled as the royal guards rushed in and took Savanna away. She looked around at the maids and butlers and bowed, "I am terribly sorry about what happened to you, and i wish you all the best. Though i find it fair that you be paid for your services, so I wish to give you all a home of your own, to give a start to your new lives."

She smirked slightly at his comment, but waved it past her, "The young man with the sandy brown hair, and slightly tan skin with the bottle of wine." she pointed in his direction and smiled, "That's the one i want to come with us."


The man noticed he was being addressed and came over, "You were speaking of me Lady Oriana?"

"Yes," she smiled as she hugged the young man, "I want you to come home with us... Would you mind?"

He looked shocked at first, then a bit paranoid as he glanced at Auren, "If it's alright with... your husband." he timidly backed away from her and awaited Auren's response.