Running down the stairs two at a time, Sting found the front door knocked in and bodies in the entryway. Usher seemed to have fought much harder then they thought. The three ran to the door and looked out. The house was ablaze in moonlight. Angela had said that all they had to do was to get in the light and they would be safe. None of them understood what she meant, but they leaped out into the light anyway. Off in the shadows they saw the warriors running towards them. As they hit the moonlight they were all knocked back. It looked like they had just hit a wall. As they entered the light, magic flowed all around them as it lifted them and took them away to safety. Standing out on the balcony over looking the lake, Balthazar watch as his warriors departed for Tir Na. Yadessa was now in ruins so he needed a new place to make his base. Once he remove the werewolves, Tir Na would be perfect. He sent almost every warrior he made into Tir Na. A small army. They had done so well in retrieving Angela this morning. She was now waiting in the dungeon for him to do as wished with her. And after all that had happened, her death was what he wished. Balthazar turned and walked back into the castle. Different painful was to kill her was all he could think of at the moment. Typical vampire deaths were not good enough. It had to be a sacrificial death. Dismemberment on Muerte's altar he knew would please his goddess. But that wouldn't be enough. Athene had to die too. He knew he had to fulfill his original promise to Muerte and sacrifice her. But how would he get her here? Would she be stupid enough to try and save her mother? She tried once. He had no doubt Tanis and that lummox first experimental warrior would try. An evil grin spread across his face as he walked down the stairs towards the dungeon. It was time to see his dear wife. He knew he would enjoy this.
Arriving in a flash of moonlight, Athene, Tanis and Sting looked around to see where they where. Off in the distance Athene saw the dragons Manor. She knew where they were.
[ What is this place?] Sting asked.
" This is New Keanna." Tanis told him. " The dragons home."
" Come on." Athene pulled them toward the Manor. " We have to get mother help."
Sting changed his form back to Adam and ran after Athene and Tanis.
[ Jandar!] Athene sent out as she ran. [ Theres trouble in Prafa. We need your help!]
[ Where are you Athene?] He sent Back. [What happened?]
[ We're in the foyer heading up to your study.]
Jandar and Rage's study was on the second floor of the manor. It didn't take them long to reach it. Knocking at the door Jandar opened it and ushered them in. Sitting around the table they found Jandar and Rage dressed in the traveling clothes. Jax was there with Eheren.
Jandar looked at them standing in the doorway dressed in their sleeping clothes. Athene in a nightgown, Tanis in short pants and a grey blood stained shirt and Adam in just a loin cloth.
" My god!" He said. " What happened?"
" Prafa is no more." Tanis said hugging himself and shivering.
" Balthazar?" Rage asked.
" Yes." Adam said his face red in embarrassment. " They came just before dawn."
" Your freezing." Jandar waved his hand and clothing appeared on the table for each on them. Rage handed each of them something to put on.
" Tell us what happened." Jax said sitting up listening.
" We're not quite sure what really happened." Tanis pulled on a pair of leathers as he talked. " All I know is mother woke me and said we were under attack. I went to wake Adam and ran into nightwalkers on the way. How they got in we later learned was through the front. We found three dead ones Usher killed downstairs. I had no idea Usher was such a fierce warrior. He killed six before before then got him. He was truly amazing."
" He'll be honored in the underworld." Jax told him. " Go on."
" After we found Usher." Athene continued. " Mother insisted we leave. She refused any help from us. She told Adam to get us out into the moonlight. Why? Whats moonlight got to do with anything?"
Jandar, Rage and Jax looked at each other as if they shared a secret some of the others knew nothing about.
" Why didn't she come with you?" Jandar asked sitting down next to Rage.
" She had to get to get Uncle out." Athene said. " He was still upstairs. He's here right?"
" No he's not." Jandar gave it some thought. " Arturus has never been here. Neither has your mother. She would send him somewhere he feels comfortable. Like to my father. There close friends."
" We have to save her." Athene pleaded with them." Father will kill her. I know it."
Suddenly a bright flash of illuminating light filled the room and surprised them all. When it faded Alea was standing there among them. Jax climbed to his feet and held out his hand to her.
" Gentlemen. This is Alea, goddess of the moon."
Everyone stood and bowed to her showing their respect. Jandar and Rage stepped forward hands held out.
" We're all glad your free Lady."
" Thank you all." She said. She looked at Athene and Tanis, then back at Jandar and Rage. "But we have more important problems to handle."
" We know sister." Jax said. " What do you want to do?"
" Take my grandchildren and free my daughter." She walked over to Athene and Tanis and smiled at them.
" Us?" Tanis looked shocked. " Your grandchildren? Whats she talking about?"
" This is your grandmother." Jax came and stood with them. " There's a lot you should know. You mother just learned of this too. By its true."
" Its why he took your mother." Alea looked from one to the other. She could tell they still didn't believe her. " Listen to me. For years I've been watching you both. Helping out as much as I could from my ride across the sky. Athene, your dreams. Where did you think they were coming from? And Tanis. At night whenever you fought. Didn't you feel so much stronger at night then during the day? Did you think that was because you were a vampire? Your only half vampire. Neither of you every really needed blood to live. Your the grandchild of the goddess of the night and the moon. That's where your power really comes from. Adam, When Balthazar changed you, he tried to wipe your mind clean so only he could command you. Take away your will. Why do you think it didn't work? Why do you think you still had a connection to Angela? I interfered with his spells and kept your mind from being totally overwhelmed. Now its up to the three of you to trust me. Can you?"
Athene Tanis and Adam looked around the room for help. They weren't sure what they should do.
" Give her your hand." Jax told Athene.
" Why?"
" You'll see." He said. " Please."
Athene reached out and placed her hand in Alea's. As they touched she felt something familiar come over her. Visions began to run through her mind. She saw Alea curse Muerte and the birth of her daughter. She saw Alea and Nestor give the baby to someone to hide her. Then she saw her own birth and Alea looking down on her and uncle as he took her into hiding. It was all true she knew at that moment. This is her grandmother. Athene released her hand and through her arms around Alea.
" Its true!" She cried. " You are my grandmother. Tanis its all true."
Tanis walked and hugged them both rubbing Athenes back.
" This is all great and fine." Adam broke in. " But Lady Angela is still in Balthazar's dungeon waiting to be executed. How are we going to get her out?"
" Simple." Came a voice from no where. In a swirl of magic, Aramis appeared. " We give him what he really want."
" Aramis!!" Jax hugged his older brother and squeezed him tight."Where have you been?"
" I had a few errands to take care of." He smiled as Jax released him. " So things aren't going so well I see."
" Muerte is out there somewhere." Rage said. " And Shayn and Ono are missing."
" The prophesy." Aramis looked at Alea. She nodded her head. " I know about Muerte. I was with Nestor when she yield power to him in the underworld.
" He's safe?" Alea asked.
" He's in power and repairing the damage she did down there." Aramis went and sat with Jandar and Rage. " I'm sorry. Shayn and Ono, that's my fault. I should have woke you myself."
" Nonsense." Rage said. " They probably would have went anyway. Jax has an idea how to find. We're trusting him to find them."
" We'll talk about that later." Jax said. " What did you mean by giving him what he wants?"
" Whats he really want?" Aramis asked.
" Power." Tanis said.
" And who's he getting power from?"
Everyone looked at each other a little puzzled by the question he asked.
" From her." Alea said. " I think I know what you mean."
" What?" Jandar asked.
" She wants me." Alea told them. " She wants to be free of her curse and to kill me. Only I can free her. So I'll give myself to him for Angela."
" This will work." Eheren smiled. " He's so power mad he thinks she won't kill him if he gives her what she wants. But we know better."
" Yes we do." Aramis said. "She plans to kill us all."
" Does she have that much power?" Jandar asked.
" YES!!" Jax, Aramis and Alea said together.
" But I have a plan." Aramis smiled.
