Ali Vali

"Well that was certainly different," commented Piper. She could feel Kendal pressed up against her back trying to bring her breathing back to normal.

"I didn’t hurt you, did I?" With a small grunt, Kendal lifted some of her weight off the small woman.

"Hurt me? No I was thinking more along the lines of hoping you had plenty more stuff to show me, because if this is the result, I’m going to own more swords than you do," teased Piper. When she didn’t hear a laugh, she gently pushed on Kendal a little so she could turn around and lay on her back. "Honey, I’m glad that you want me as much as I want you. It would be really depressing to me if you didn’t. I want to see that hunger in you when it comes to wanting to be with me. Trust me enough to know that I’d tell you if you were hurting me."

"It’s just that I don’t know what came over me. I don’t ever want to scare you or overwhelm you in any way." Kendal straightened out making Piper smile when she got a good look at her. The expensive white shirt that Kendal seemed to own quite a few of and wore often was missing every button and her pants were now only around one ankle.

"I would have to say it was you who should be scared of me," she pointed to the state of Kendal’s clothes. "I’m not sure what came over me either, but with any luck, we’ll figure it out so it happens again."

This time Kendal did laugh as she kicked off the pants and shoes. She then bent and picked up the sword they had dropped on the floor and put it on top of the nearest case. For a moment she was curious to see if the same reaction would happen again and the same overwhelming sensation would rob her of thought. As it rested in her hand alone, it was no different than all the other times she had held the sword with the shiny green eyes.

"It was the sword wasn’t it?" Piper sat up studying the expression on Kendal’s face.

"As much as I would love to say I’ve had this experience, I can’t." She unbuttoned the shirt at the wrist and rolled the sleeves up as she thought about what had happened to them. "Want to try an experiment?"

"Is that a line I’m going to be hearing for years to come?" Piper was still sitting on the table but she crooked her finger in Kendal’s direction. "Cause God knows I’ve been falling for your lines since the day we met."

"Is that a complaint?"

With a coy look on her face, Piper fanned her fingers across her chest. "Who me, complain? Never, lover…I’m just making, as they say an observation. I just wonder now how I lasted as long as I did against that devastating charm of yours, but I’ve never been happier."

"Which brings me back to my question."

"Whatever you want, Asra, just ask me." Piper opened her arms in a request for Kendal to come and hold her. "Just ask me, baby."

"I have never in my life been one to pray to the gods, but after they sent you into my life I decided it may be time to start." She picked up the sword before moving closer and placed it next to Piper on the table. Before asking for anything she wanted to give Piper what she wanted so she held her against her chest.

The steady heartbeat beneath her ear assured Piper that Kendal wasn’t worked up about anything so whatever she had in mind wasn’t worrying her. "I love you and I think I know what you have in mind." She ran her hand under the open shirt liking the feel of muscle along Kendal’s back. "Only this time I can’t promise I won’t leave any hickeys if the same thing happens."

The blonde kissed the skin over Kendal’s heart before she leaned back and placed her hand over the sword next to her. "Maybe I should put my pants back on before we do this," suggested Kendal.

"Chicken," Piper teased.

They both laughed then took a deep breath. "Ready?" asked Kendal.

"I have you here with me, I’m ready for anything." With the words Piper had just said, Kendal placed her hand over Piper’s. They were looking at each other with a deep open intensity making them feel the difference the second their hands came together. Kendal saw Piper’s eyes become unfocused but she didn’t remove her hand from the sword hilt. The first time Kendal was unprepared for this new gift but from what Piper had said before they tried this, she knew the blonde figured out this could be a possibility. Now all Kendal had to do was stand and support her partner until whatever she was seeing in her mind’s eye was finished.

For the tall immortal it felt like an eternity, but she showed restraint and waited until Piper let go first. When she did, Piper sucked in a deep breath and closed her eyes as if whatever she’d seen had scared her. She pressed her cheek against Kendal’s chest again and held on for dear life.

"I saw a place with a lot of rooms that I sensed some of which belonged to you." She burrowed deeper into Kendal’s embrace when the tall woman started running her hands along her back. "It felt old and there were people there that are waiting for you to come back."

"It is the Order’s compound. As we are brought in for specific reasons, we are given a place. Mine isn’t very large compared to some, but it does hold for me some important things from my mortal existence." Trying to help, Kendal tried her best to fill in some of the gaps for her.

"I sensed a lot of anger there, some of it directed at you. They want you to come back so they can punish you for something, or at least that’s what they first wanted."

Kendal had her arms around the reason the Elders wanted to see her and perhaps punish her, but they would go into that later. The last thing Piper had said had riveted her attention. "What do you mean, that’s what they first wanted?"

"I saw a lot of confusion and fear in that place, love. Something has happened that they didn’t ever expect and they don’t know how to deal with it. The main thing is I felt that they don’t know how to ask you for help. The one thing I did get from all of it was that to go back would be walking into a trap for you. I take that back, it would be a trap for us because I’m not letting you go alone."

"Is it something you saw, or something you feel?" Kendal tipped the blonde head back wanting to see Piper’s face.

"I only saw the place but the rest was just a feeling." Piper pressed her palm to the side of Kendal’s face. "What are we going to do?"

"We have to take this one step at a time, so we begin with where we are and what we have." Kendal stopped and kissed Piper before she went on. "The other thing we have to do is collect more information."

The past week did feel like a puzzle missing pieces to Piper but she vowed silently to herself not to let fear hold her back. "Think the two with their ears probably pressed to the door know more than they’re telling us?"

"Only one way to find out," answered Kendal before she kissed Piper one more time then went to find the rest of her clothing. With her pants and shoes on, she picked Piper up from the table and moved to the other side of the room.

"If you think I’m going out there like this and taking the chance of running into my grandparents, then you’re insane," said Piper as she wrapped her hands around Kendal’s neck.

"Trust me, darlin’, your grandfather seems to have enough problems with me lately, I don’t want to add to that. I was just finding my shoes," she pressed down on the corner of one of the display cases and a small door slid open. "I hate stepping on any stray bugs."

Piper looked up to the hidden staircase and laughed. "You fight things that nightmares are made of and you’re afraid of stepping on a bug?"

"I didn’t say fear did I?" She started up the stairs that would lead them to the master suite. "They’re just kind of gross is all. Some hang-ups are a little tougher than others to overcome, no matter how many years you’re given. It’s one of the things I’m still working on, so leave me alone."

They took a shower together and went down to dinner. The staff served a great meal and afterward everyone retired to the library. Piper smiled as Kendal did her best to make her grandparents feel as if they were welcome and wanted in her home. When the older couple retired, Kendal sat across from Indigo and Lenore and gave them a smile that could only be described as mischievous.

"Is there something you two would like to get off your chest? Some burning piece of information that you just can’t wait to tell me," she crossed her legs and made room for Piper when she joined her by sitting on the arm of her chair.

Lenore closed the book she was reading and tried her best to look innocent. "There’s nothing off hand that comes to mind."

"How about you, blondie?" Piper asked Indigo.

"Excuse me?" responded Indigo with a touch of heat.

"Can it, old friend, you know what we’re both talking about," Kendal tried placating before things got out of hand. "Something happened to us this afternoon and I think you may know a little about that."

"What exactly?" Lenore seemed unconcerned since she really did think they had more time.

"I think we need to make a little deal here before we begin," said Piper, getting no argument from Kendal.

There was something about this petite woman that drove Indigo mad, and charmed the hell out of Lenore, if the big smile and corresponding frown were any indication. "What do you want?" asked Indigo.

"It’s not just what she wants, it’s what we both want," corrected Kendal. "We’ve been through a lot the three of us," the sentiment was meant for Lenore and Indigo. "You’ve never purposely kept me out of the loop of information before and I want to know why you’re doing it now?"

"Do you think that’s what we’re doing?" asked Lenore.

"Like Piper said, I think you know more than what you’ve told us, and I’m tired of fumbling around in the dark for answers. Is it because of Piper?"

Before Lenore could say anything, Indigo answered for both of them. "Asra, Lenore and I are happy for you, and the reason we’re here is to keep what you’ve found whole. Piper’s right, we have to make a pact between the four of us that we’re all on the same side, and we have to trust that no matter what we face."

The first one to put her hand out to the blonde was Piper. "I know that aside from me, you are the people who care about her the most. We don’t need a pact since we know we’re all on the same side."

Indigo took Piper’s hand and bowed her head. "Let’s be honest with each other then."

"This afternoon we went into the sword room so Piper could see the Sea Serpent," started Kendal.

"Did you have any kind of reaction when you were in there together?" asked Lenore.

"That might be putting it mildly," said Piper with a good deal of humor. Having to discuss her sex life with anyone was not something that she was comfortable with, but there was no way around explaining what had happened to them when they first touched the sword.

"Actually we had two quite different reactions," continued Kendal.

"Did it stir any passions as it were?" asked Lenore trying to be as delicate as possible.

"If it had gotten any more passionate I would’ve lost consciousness again," joked Piper. Both of the women they were talking to nodded their heads but said nothing.

"As good as that reaction was, there was something else." Kendal went on to tell them of the vision Piper had when they tried joining their hands for the second time while holding the Sea Serpent Sword.

"Bruik, as I told you, had a vision, that at that time, was for a future that would be a long way off. I believe that the time for what he predicted is upon us. Considering the stir among the Elders and some of the communication Indigo and I have gotten, I believe they’ve com to the same conclusion," started Lenore. She drummed her fingers on the book in her hand and sighed. "The one thing he didn’t see was the sword but I believe it definitely has something to do with whatever is going to happen."

"Let’s start with the story of that sword," requested Piper. "Every time we go to ask you about that something happens to make us forget, so before the sky starts falling, tell us."

Lenore held up the book and opened the cover to show them the picture inside. It was an excellent sketch of the sword, which now resided locked in the display room. "The legend of this weapon is that it is blessed by the gods," she put her hand up and shook it, "I take that back. It is blessed by one in particular."

"Which?" asked Kendal.

"Aphrodite or Venus depending on which set of gods you’re referring to. It was the only time she commissioned the making of something that could be used in war, but she had her reasons. What doesn’t make any sense to me is that in the one book I found on the subject, it mentions that the true owner is somehow marked by the goddess." Carefully she flipped through the pages of the old text trying to find where she had found that passage.

Kendal’s hand went to the spot close to her groin. "Marked how?"

"The weapon will someday awaken as it were, but to make it work the way it was intended, it has to be in the hands of the chosen one. What that power might be, I haven’t figured out yet." Lenore noticed where Kendal’s hand was but her student had never mentioned any markings on her body.

"And if it is used by someone who isn’t the true owner?" asked Piper, noticing too where Kendal’s hand was resting.

"When the sword was cast, Aphrodite made a pact with her brother since he felt she was meddling in things she didn’t understand. So as in all things in life, the sword is balanced," explained Indigo.

"Balanced how?" asked Piper.

"The one thing that has been drummed into my head is that life is a balance," Kendal tried to explain in the quickest way for Piper to understand. "Have you ever heard that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction? Like for every bit of good in the world there is something equally bad. We can not have one without the other, so my guess is if the sword was meant for something good, there is a chance it can be used for something just as bad if we allow it to fall into the wrong hands." When Piper nodded as a way of saying she didn’t need any other explanation, Kendal turned to Lenore and Indigo. "When?"

"To understand that, you have to know the legend behind the sword." Lenore opened the book to the part where the story was found. "In ancient Greece, according to the written history, lived a couple that fell in love. At first it didn’t sound very different from a million similar tales, then it touched on the fact their families were sworn enemies for generations, so any future they might have had together was forfeit."

"Sounds like Romeo and Juliet," interrupted Piper.

"Sometimes the best place for someone to find an idea for a classic is to read history. In this case, the legend was based on two very real people. They knew that they would never receive their families’ blessing for marriage so they ran off together one night in search of a place, or perhaps a time where what they shared would be accepted. After a few weeks of traveling they reached the sea along the mountainous part of the island. Feeling there was no other, way they decided they would end that existence so their spirits could have the opportunity to be together in another life. After consummating their love, they sacrificed their lives to Aphrodite."

A tear rolled down Piper’s cheek and she smiled when Kendal reached up and wiped it away. As sad as the story sounded, she could totally understand it after meeting her partner. "Thank God those days are over. As much as I love my family, I wouldn’t kill myself if they hadn’t accepted Kendal. That’s so sad they saw death as their only option."

"In this case the goddess felt the same way and decided to honor their ultimate sacrifice. With the lover’s consent from the afterlife, she bound both their spirits together and created, what up to then was a mythical creature. This creature supposedly lives ‘til this day in the sea close to where they died. The sea dragon dwells in Poseidon’s realm and comes forth when called to fight when love is in need. Eventually, because of the gods’ own predictions for the future, the power of the dragon was harnessed and put into the weapon that would protect all that the goddess Aphrodite stands for. The only thing though, is that the weapon can also be harnessed for all the things Ares stands for. If at the right time it is used by someone who wants nothing more than to conquer and destroy, they will be unstoppable."

"When is the right time?" asked Kendal.

"The lovers sacrificed their lives at the witching hour on what became known as All Hallows Eve. I don’t know if it was planned like that, but that’s the way it worked out, so my best estimate for when, is at the same time this year."

"For someone who isn’t familiar with these cryptic dates, when exactly is that?" With her hands up Piper asked the question wanting an answer before they moved on.

"Midnight on Halloween," answered Kendal.

"You’ve got to be kidding?" Piper looked at the group like they were mad. "Is this some elaborate joke or something? Cause that’s the corniest thing I’ve ever heard."

"Piper, you have to understand that sometimes fables and fiction arise from the truth," Lenore tried to explain, only to be interrupted.

"Kendal already told me that, but come on, this is a bit much."

"Honey, on certain days of the year, certain barriers are easier to breach," Kendal gave it her best shot at trying to explain this phenomenon.

"What’s that supposed to mean?" She laughed when Kendal tweaked her nose. "I know, I know….patience," she chuckled.

"Okay let’s try it this way. Have you ever been to the ruins in Mexico?"

"Which ones?"

"Any of them. They are all unique because the Mayans found a way, unlike a lot of cultures, to almost harness time. On one day of the year there is a pyramid at Chichen Itza that casts a shadow on the largest pyramid, making it appear as if a snake is descending from the temple. It was their way of marking the changing seasons. For example on the Fall Equinox, the day is equally balanced in that it’s twelve hours of dark and twelve of light."

"Okay I’m with you." Engrossed in the explanation they forgot Lenore and Indigo were in the room with them, but both women sat fascinated by the interaction.

"On the day we now call Halloween, at the stroke of midnight, the barriers between good and evil become non existent. It’s why some organized religions picked the following minute to usher in All Saints Day. Sort of like picking what side you want to fight for and standing your ground. It makes perfect sense that if the sword holds any power at all, that one moment in time will decide its fate."

Piper looked at her and nodded, then without saying anything bent down and kissed her teacher. "Thanks, love," making Kendal nod in return.

"Who else would know about the legend?" Kendal asked Lenore.

"We have eight months to find out, but the second vision Piper had is our first priority. We need to decipher what it is she saw exactly and what it means to us," explained Lenore. She closed her eyes trying to concentrate on the vision she had just heard about. "To be better prepared we need to figure out how to hone Piper’s gift so we can glean more information from the visions."

"It’s not exactly like I took ‘Seeing the Future 101’ in college so how do you plan to do that?" The edgy humor made Kendal laugh.

"Don’t worry, Piper, this won’t be too hard," answered Lenore. "I certainly hope not, anyway. Just like anything else, it takes concentration to expand on what your mind is showing you."

"When can we begin?" The blonde snaked her arm around Kendal’s shoulders and leaned further in as if seeking Kendal’s body warmth.

"The most important thing is not to start worrying about it," warned Indigo.

"She’s right. Don’t sound so worried, it’s not going to be anything hard I promise," Lenore smiled at her and reached out to touch Piper’s knee.

"Will we be okay?" Piper looked down into the blue eyes she adored and searched for some glimmer of hope. "I just found you and you promised me forever."

"Honey, I may be old but I’m not daft." She pulled the blonde off the arm of the chair and onto her lap, pressing her lips to a delicate ear when Piper was close. "I promise you it will be forever. I’m confident that with the people we have at our side we’ll be fine," promised Kendal.

************************************************************************

The next morning Piper looked out at the yard from an open patio on the second floor. On the grounds, in the center of a ring of trees, stood Kendal with Ming and two other people she had yet to meet. With the gray light of dawn outlining them, they went through the motions of morning exercises that looked more like a ballet than anything else. As interesting as the movements were, Piper couldn’t take her eyes off the woman at the center of the triangle the others had formed. Kendal was dressed in the large gi pants she was fond of when working out, but unlike the first time Piper had seen her dressed like this, she had only put on a sports bra before going down that morning. Her lover seemed oblivious to the cold damp air that morning as she gracefully moved with the others. On a stand near them sat the Sea Serpent Sword and three others.

They had spent the rest of the night after their conversation with Indigo and Lenore just relaxing in their room in comfortable silence. Despite Indigo’s warning, the eight months they had discussed earlier were starting to weigh on Piper’s mind and she hoped that whatever was expected of her, she would be able to carry it out.

"Look at her and clear your mind, Piper," said Lenore from behind her. "Clear your mind of worry and concentrate on what you feel for her."

"It’s that easy?"

"Each of us must find our center, a place where we feel nothing can harm us. For her," she pointed to Kendal, "It’s in her skills." Lenore saw the disappointment in Piper’s face. "Don’t read into that, that she doesn’t love you as much as you’ve come to care about her. Asra knows that she must be the best in any battle she faces because it’s the only way to protect the one thing she loves above all else in her life."

"So in a round about way, I’m her center like she is mine?"

"Exactly. Look at how she moves and tell me if you think there is anything in her mind at this moment that will keep her from performing her best?"

With her head cocked to one side, Piper studied her lover further and shook her head. "Not from what I’m looking at."

"Then look at her and learn. When you let go of what troubles you, your mind will open for you and give you the answers you seek."

The blonde laughed and tore her eyes from Kendal for only a minute. "Nothing like a little pressure huh?"

"Even if the time comes and we don’t have all the answers, we’ll be fine. You own her heart that’s true, but I have time spent with her on my side. I can promise you that Asra has an uncanny ability to pull out a victory long after everyone has written her off." Lenore pointed back to the practice field that had been used at the house for hundreds of years. "Look, and clear your mind."

She lost herself in the ripple of muscle and how the pants moved along with Kendal with every new position, making it appear as if she were gliding on a cloud. Before she thought she was ready for the exercises to end, Piper watched as Kendal moved to the weapons on the table. As soon as the large hand closed over the Sea Serpent Sword she closed her eyes and saw Kendal in another time and place. This time she had a feeling it wasn’t in the past but in their future. The stones in the dragon’s eyes glowed eerily green as something like an electric current ran through Kendal’s body. It was a moment of truth but before the sword could show it’s true power, someone came and took it away from her. When the man took hold of the sword the stones changed color and they now glowed a vibrant red.

With the power of a god now running through him, he looked to Piper to finish the ritual that had begun. As Piper turned to see why Kendal wasn’t coming to her aid, another two men came into view and held Kendal back. The only way they held her down was by weakening her. With a sense of agony, Piper watched as their swords were driven into her chest with cruel viciousness. Piper put her hands to her mouth to keep the scream in as she saw Kendal’s blood spill down the front of her chest, just like when Piper had witnessed her fight Ora and Henri.

When the man reached for her and ripped her shirt open, Piper’s eyes opened and she took deep gulping breaths in an effort to erase the feeling the vision had given her. "That’s it," said Lenore from what seemed like miles away. "Let it go but not to the point of trying to forget. Whatever you can tell me will help us."

"Are the things I see, things that are written in stone?"

"That’s a hard question to answer. The things you see are the future as it would happen if nothing comes about to change them. If one little thing happens to change fate, then you will begin to see the vision change along with that. Perhaps you will be different, but that’s been my experience with the seers the Order has in its ranks."

Piper told her the details of the vision and looked back to her lover who now was sparring with the three who faced off against her. The clank of metal on metal from the swords was in a way comforting to her. "Don’t ask me who the others are, I didn’t see their faces and I didn’t get any sense of who they are. The one thing I do know for sure is that they want to destroy her. If they succeed I’m not sure if we’ll ever be able to salvage what is left."

"Then we’ll work to change the vision until it falls in our favor."

Her head didn’t hurt, but Piper rubbed her temples like it did. "Do I tell her what I saw just now?"

"If it were her having the visions, would you want to know?"

"Silly question, I know." She laughed knowing there was no chance she’d keep this from Kendal. "Just one more thing; do you have any idea who would harbor such hate for her, to want to destroy who she is?"

"When it comes to evil there are plenty of choices, but at this moment none of them make sense. To exact that kind of revenge would mean something we thought we had defeated has found a way to regenerate itself. Since we’re talking about a span of over two thousand years, it’s going to take a little time to track down who or what that might be."

Piper sighed and stood. "I’m afraid time is something we don’t have an abundance of."

"Trust her and trust yourself, Piper. It’s the only way to win."

"My trust in us isn’t the problem, it’s just been my experience that sometimes, no matter how hard we try, the right side doesn’t always win out."

Both women were surprised to see Charlie enter the fray down in the circle. They had been awaiting his arrival but a few things had kept him in New Orleans longer than they expected. As he engaged his mentor, he made Kendal laugh.

"Look at how willing they all are to fight for her. I’m sure that having you in her life, combined with that kind of loyalty, will make this all okay."

************************************************************************

As she promised Kendal kept her date with Mac for breakfast as soon as she was finished with her workout. As she entered the room she was sharing with Piper, the tall fighter could see something was bothering the blonde, but there would be time enough later to find out what it was.

"Can we cut through the bullshit?" asked Mac when the servants put down their food. They were sitting in the estate’s sunroom and the old man felt they had a good deal of privacy when the door closed behind the maid.

"If you answer something for me first," responded Kendal. She had asked Piper to hang back and share some time with Molly so she could figure out what had changed Mac’s perspective of her.

"Like I said, no bullshit between us so shoot."

"Have I done something to offend you or make you think that I won’t be good to Piper?" She concentrated on buttering her bread as she asked the question, wanting Mac to let his guard down and be honest with her.

"It’s nothing you’ve done per se, but more like you’ve shown a different side of yourself. Because that’s happened, it’s made me think that all I knew about you isn’t right at all. Now I’m not sure if I trust what I do know about you."

"Things like what?"

"If I could hit just one nail on the head then this would be a short conversation, but I’ve been thinking on it and I can’t narrow it down to a specific thing. What you have to understand is that Piper is the only family, aside from Molly, I care about. When I step aside and give her well being to someone else, I want to be sure it’s the right person."

Kendal reached across the table and placed her hand over Mac’s. "It doesn’t matter what house I’m in or where you think I come from, sir, what matters is that you know how I feel about Piper. There will never be a day in our life together that I won’t take her welfare as seriously as you have. I love her and she will be safe with me. I give you my word I’ll never do anything to make you doubt that."

He put his other hand over hers again and laughed. "Why do I get the feeling you’ve never had to do the ‘in-law’ thing?"

"In the end, all we have is our families, so I’ll go through this with you as many times as it takes to convince you of my devotion to Piper, so don’t worry about it." She leaned back in her seat and looked across at him with the serious expression on her face. "Now I want you to make me a promise."

"If I can."

"If the day should ever come that something happens to me, in the physical sense I mean, I’d like your promise that you and Molly will do whatever you can to heal Piper’s soul."

"You’re a young woman, Kendal, nothing is going to happen to you. But that’s a promise you don’t need to ask my wife or me. Piper is the most important person in our lives, so it goes without saying we would do whatever it takes to make sure she’s happy." He leaned back and slowly stirred sugar into his coffee. "So long as we’re making promises, how about you make me one."

"If I can," Kendal nodded making sure to maintain eye contact with him.

"You take care of yourself and make sure nothing happens to you physically or otherwise. Like you said, in the end it won’t matter what I want or what I think, you’ll be a part of my family because that’s what Piper wants." He put his hand out expecting her to shake it to seal their deal.

"I’ll try my best, sir."

"Do you think you could do something about giving me a grandchild?"

The deep laugh his question caused made Mac join in. "I’ll have to run that one by Piper but I’m only so talented."

"Well I’d love to see a little Mackey running the shipyard one day."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," she answered with a smile. "Just so you know, my business here might take longer than I thought, but I want you and Molly to stay as long as we do. You are both welcome as long as you like. Piper tells me that you’ve left someone you trust in charge of the business so please, think of Farthington as your vacation home for as long as you wish."

Mac’s attitude changed along with the look on his face. The smile was now genuine, as was his deep laugh. Their time was well spent until Kendal excused herself to make a few phone calls. It was time to go about changing the fate Lenore had mentioned the night before. What she had in mind meant she was putting faith in Piper’s vision, but it was an easy decision for her. In her life Kendal had learned the most valuable lesson in order to fight another day, was to go with her gut. Her gut along with her heart told her to err on the side that would keep both Piper and herself safe.

In her office, she pulled out a fountain pen and started writing in ancient Greek, knowing it was still Rolla’s favorite language. At the bottom she signed her name and rolled the parchment closed. From the top drawer she pulled a stick of wax and the signet ring she’d worn when the world knew her simply as Asra of the House of Shahin. Her father’s name was one she had used in more than one lifetime, making her feel a connection to the man she still loved and missed.

The dark red wax dripped onto the parchment, sealing the message inside. To prove it was from Asra herself, she pressed her signet ring, embedded with her family crest firmly into the center of the small pool of wax before it cooled completely. Before calling in the messenger, Kendal leaned back in her chair and looked out at the gardens. She sighed as she tapped the parchment against her chin feeling a little sad for having to write this letter. Now it was just a question of waiting to see if Rolla would find her response to his request to meet with her as an act of defiance or some deeper betrayal.

"What matters most to me is that it starts to change the vision," she whispered.

"Pardon, sire?" asked Ming from the doorway. Ancient Egyptian was not a tongue he was familiar with.

"Nothing of importance now, old friend." She held the parchment out to him. "Please send Winston and tell him not to dally. I want him back in a couple of days, not because I want to ruin his fun but because I want him out of harms way. Your son is getting good with the sword but he’s no match for the Elders’ henchmen."

"I shall make it so."

"The message is for Rolla, and for his hands alone."

Ming bowed, the parchment pressed against his chest. "Winston will not fail you, sire."

Kendal stood and bowed back to him in respect. "I have every faith in your family, Ming. Please believe that. It’s the Elders who don’t hold my faith at the moment."

************************************************************************

After that morning, Mac and Molly made their decision to stay as long as the young couple would be in London, looking forward to spending time doing a little exploring and getting to know Kendal better. For the next week, Kendal continued her workouts with a variety of opponents, and Piper tried her best to sharpen her sight.

On the seventh day, from her usual seat on the second floor patio, Piper looked on as a man she had never seen entered the practice ring and handed Kendal what looked to be an old piece of parchment. He never took his eyes off the Sea Serpent Sword her lover had set on a bench as she broke the seal and read the message the paper contained. Kendal said something to the messenger, making him nod his head. Before he left he tried to reach out and touch the weapon Kendal had been using, only to be stopped by a vice like grip on his wrist. As soon as the man was out of sight, her lover looked up at her and started for the house.

"Trouble?" asked Piper when she heard the familiar footsteps behind her. She had been waiting for something to happen after she and Kendal decided their course of action in regards to Rolla’s invitation. The fact it only took a week surprised her, considering that Kendal and the Elders used some very archaic means of communications in the age of cell phones and email. It was like they had decided to keep some of the things from their very ancient pasts no matter what century they were in.

"Just another invitation, only this time," Kendal sat next to her and cracked open a bottle of juice, "I’ve been given a warning not to turn it down."

"Was it from Rolla and the others?" Piper accepted the bottle and took a long sip finding the mango and strawberry mix quite pleasing.

"Surprisingly it was from Rolla alone, but the old man never travels alone. I’m thinking an invitation from him means a meeting with him surrounded by two to three of the best fighters he can find."

"What do you want to do?" Not realizing her movements, Piper leaned over and started to run her hand along Kendal’s arm. It was something Lenore and Indigo were starting to notice more of, seeing that the love the two women had found not long before was growing deeper with each moment they spent together. For Asra, having Piper so close to her, was giving her an edge during their bouts in the morning that was making it impossible for them to keep their swords in their hands for very long.

It was a different feeling that overcame the ancient warrior. The question Piper had just asked summed up how Kendal’s life had changed in so little time. In all her battles, Kendal knew one thing for certain. The winning or the possibility of losing would always be faced alone. Never had anyone questioned their part in the outcome or claimed their right to share her life. Having that now made her kneel before Piper and take her hands in her own. Slowly she kissed the back of each one and smiled.

"We’re going to take him up on his offer since he’s coming to us."

"Is something wrong, baby?" Piper pulled one hand free so she could touch Kendal’s face. She started there then moved to her neck. With her other hand free, the blonde put her hand on the other side of her lover’s neck and pulled her closer. "I love you."

"After hearing that, how could anything be wrong?" Kendal pressed closer and wrapped her arms around the slim waist. With a gentleness she never showed on the practice field below them, Kendal kissed Piper in a way that made the blonde feel as if a blanket of adoration had covered her. "I was just thinking how different my life will be now that I have a partner who will be there to stand with me in any situation."

"And I sit up here looking at you every morning thinking the same thing. How can I love you so much so soon, and how can I not?" With just her fingertips, Piper massaged Kendal’s shoulders.

"Will you make a deal with me?"

"Now there’s my charmer. I’ll make you any deal you want, as soon as you give me what I want," Piper ran her finger along Kendal’s bottom lip. The kneeling woman laughed and with straight white teeth bit down on the tip of Piper’s finger. "I do believe you are the one who keeps telling me we have all the time in the world."

"That’s me, darlin’."

"Then take me inside before we start talking about Rolla and his collection of misfits." The description of Rolla’s helpers came out without prompting and Kendal did nothing to call Piper on it. Like the petite woman had said, they had all the time in the world. "Make love to me, baby."

No other words were needed for the moment.

************************************************************************

They lay in bed together a few hours later under the canopy of the antique bed fitted with crisp sheets, the two women just enjoyed the silence of the house. There were other people in the house and on the grounds, but here in this room, they were almost in a peaceful cocoon.

"Would you like to go on a date with me tonight?" asked Kendal. She ran her fingers through the pale blonde hair, enjoying the way the early afternoon light reflected off the shimmering soft strands.

Piper thought of some of the dates they’d shared already and took a quick mental inventory of what clothes she had brought with her. "I may have to go into the city early if you want to do something like the opera."

"Not quite what I have in mind, baby, but if you really want to go I’ll be happy to take you some other night."

"Are we talking jeans and a sweater?"

Through the window in the distance, Kendal could see the staff was busy polishing the vehicle she’d requested earlier for the night, making her smile. "Still a little off the mark, but don’t worry, I’ll help you dress appropriately for the evening."

Later that night, when Piper stepped out of the shower, the room was empty and there was an outfit lying on the bed. "She’s got to be kidding." The clothing Kendal had left behind was something out of the norm for her, and she had never imagined herself wearing.

"She isn’t kidding," said the low voice from inside the large closet. "But if you don’t feel comfortable with my choice I’ll leave you to pick something more appropriate."

Piper was thrilled to be an immortal, certain that any normal person would have passed out if they stopped breathing for as long as she just had. There was no other option though when she saw the tall woman step out of the closet, buckling up the thick black leather belt she was wearing. Green eyes began taking inventory, starting at the motorcycle boots, working their way up the black leather pants that appeared to make Kendal look taller, and ending up at the sleeveless black tight shirt that hid nothing of the body it covered. The Kendal Mackey she had known for months was gone and in her place stood a dangerous looking woman who simply oozed sexuality.

After studying her lover, Piper figured the outfit waiting for her on the bed made perfect sense if she wanted to look like Kendal’s date. "Why exactly is it that my pants have laces on the sides?" When she slipped them on a good portion of her skin was on display all the way to her hips.

"Because, short stuff, you have nicer legs than I do," teased Kendal. Along with a black leather jacket to finish off her outfit, she slid two daggers into the sides of the boots. "You know I think you’re the most important thing in the world, but if tonight Rolla walks away with the impression that you’re nothing but a piece of fluff, I won’t be complaining."

"Excuse me?" The hands at her hips were balled into fists and Piper looked anything but happy.

"If the man who can order a hundred people, with fighting ability that rival mine, to come after us thinks you’re my new play thing and not worthy of another thought, then I’ll be, as they say, a happy camper." When her wallet and keys were tucked into her pockets, Kendal came closer and put her arms around Piper. "The other thing is, if he’s looking at you in that light, then you’ll be free to study him and see if you pick up on what he’s hiding."

"This is going to cost you, Mackey." Piper slid her hands around the tall woman’s hips and into the very top of Kendal’s pants, then kissed the chin close to her lips.

"What’s it going to cost me?"

The blonde looked to the bed, then back at Kendal. Slowly she snaked her hands down from the trim waist and squeezed the tight butt her hands had wandered down to. "Oh, I’ll think of something," Piper assured her.

"Come on, vixen," Kendal kissed her one more time before moving to the closet again. She stepped out with a long black leather coat much like the one she wore when she hunted.

"Honey, you’re already wearing a coat," Piper pointed to the short but thick waist length coat Kendal was wearing.

"This is for you, Lady Dupont," she said as she held the coat up with a flourish for Piper to step into it. "It still chilly out and you might want to wear this for the ride in."

They came down the stairs together holding hands looking like the poster girls for leather. At the door Lenore and Indigo stood waiting for them, dressed a little more conservatively, but smiling at the couple who looked like night and day. The argument had been long and well fought in getting Kendal to agree they should come along just in case Rolla had brought more men with him than Kendal planned for.

"Remember, you stay in the office out of sight unless I call for you," the tall warrior warned as they made their way outside. From the inside pocket of the jacket Kendal pulled out a pair of clear glasses and put them on. Piper was about to ask why when she spotted the big BMW motorcycle gleaming in the drive. Behind it was parked a sleek black sports car, but she was guessing her date was going to drive them into town on the bike.

"We remember," said Lenore with a roll of her eyes.

It took them a couple of hours to make it into the heart of London to where the meeting was supposed to take place. When Kendal finally put her feet down on the asphalt and balanced their ride, Piper was surprised to find where they were. From what she had heard of Rolla, or the old man, as Kendal and the others called him, meeting him in the exclusive club Kabaret’s Prophecy wasn’t what she had in mind.

"Did you have a sudden urge to dance before we meet with this guy?" asked Piper. With a quick scan of the street she noticed the Porsche the girls had driven in was already parked and vacant.

"A wise woman told me that the meeting I was to have with Rolla was a trap," she kissed the seer on the forehead and took her hand. "So I thought if there were traps to set, why shouldn’t it be us setting them."

"Excuse me, hello….in terms I can understand," pleaded Piper.

"The club is one of the holdings in the Wallace portfolio. People think you put Lord in front of someone’s name and it equals stuffy. I may be many things…"

"But stuffy is definitely not one of them," Piper finished for her. She watched as Kendal slid a magnetic key card through the appropriate slot on the wall making the embellished glass doors open.

The pounding beat coming from the speakers was loud enough that Piper felt each note reverberating through her body. For once, she felt like the coolest kid in the place as she made her way in on Kendal’s arm. It was still early in terms of people starting their Friday evening but still there were more than plenty of people crowding the crystal lined bar and the dance floor. In an instant one of the waitresses came up and took both their coats smiling up at Kendal in a way that made Piper want to cock back her fist and hit her.

"Welcome back, Lord Wallace," she beamed at Kendal. She then turned to Piper and gave a slightly weaker courteous smile. "And, Lady Wallace, welcome as well and congratulations."

"Thank you," Piper raised her voice a little to be heard over the loud din, producing a smile of her own when the title the woman had addressed her by registered, as well as the feel of the large hand planted firmly on her backside.

"Dance with me?" offered Kendal.

The blonde head shook and Piper looked almost panicked. "I’m not really a good…" she never finished the sentence as Kendal pulled her gently into the group of dancers moving in sync with their partners.

Heated memories of the sword room came rushing back to Piper when Kendal turned her around and pressed their bodies front to back. When Piper felt the long fingers dance along the laces at the sides of her pants, and felt the body grinding into her, she almost forgot why they were there. It was the deep reassuring voice in her ear that pulled her back from her fantasies.

"See the kind of thick bodied guy sitting on the banquette toward the back of the room?" Piper nodded her head. "The great Rolla."

‘The old man,’ as they referred to him, was anything but. A thick shock of light brown hair hung down his forehead, almost into the familiar blue eyes, framing a strong face of a man who looked no older than perhaps thirty. His body was thick but it looked good on him, making him appear strong, not overweight, and his hands were lying flat on the table on the sides of one of the club’s cobalt blue glasses. He was watching them with interest, every so often picking up the glass and taking a sip.

"I thought you said he was old?"

"At over 3000 years old, he’s not young," teased Kendal. "Come on let’s get this over with. Keep an eye out for the idiot sitting about twenty feet from him."

"Which idiot exactly?"

"The guy in the velvet shirt," Kendal turned them slightly on the dance floor so Piper could get a good look at the blond eyeing them with his head cocked to one side. "We haven’t met yet but I’m guessing that would be Travis."

"Really, Asra, the least you can do is get rid of her," Rolla didn’t raise his voice to compete with the music knowing she would hear him just fine when they were about fifteen feet from his table. "You’ve already made your point, I’m here aren’t I?"

"The girl isn’t going anywhere to share our secrets, Rolla," Kendal shot back. She pulled a chair out for Piper and put her hand on the blonde’s shoulder possessively to guide her down onto it. "What’s so urgent after all? I did as you asked through Indigo and cleaned up the mess Ora made."

"It was what happened after that night that the others and I are concerned with." He picked the glass up and took another sip of his drink.

The tall woman took a seat next to Piper and draped her arm around Piper’s shoulders. "Happened? Do tell what you think the problem is, old wise one."

"I’ve punished people for less sarcasm than that, Asra, tread lightly. My time on this earth accords me some iota of respect."

The dark head bowed slightly in a gesture of respect and Kendal tried her best to look chastised. "My apologies, Rolla, you’re right of course. It’s just that I don’t understand why you’re here and why you’ve brought someone like that with you," she pointed to Travis.

"I never travel anywhere alone," he smiled at her and nodded back. "The world is a dangerous place. You, of all people, should know that."

"You’ve traveled all this way to make jokes?"

"I’ve traveled all this way to ask why you’ve defied the Order again?" He put up a finger like an angry parent stopping her from responding. "Don’t bother to deny it, I have my sources."

"I’ve given you centuries of devotion, so unless you intend to do something about whatever it is you think I’ve done, don’t bother. Go home to your books and your memories, Rolla, I have better things to do." Kendal went to stand up when Travis put his hands on her shoulders keeping her pinned to the chair.

"I believe the man isn’t finished talking to you," he said, gauging what kind of opponent she was going to be by what kind of fight she put up.

Before he could utter another word, she had pulled out one of the daggers in her boot turned her body to loosen his grip, stood and slammed his head on the table. The edge of Kendal’s blade went to Rolla’s throat though, having gotten a good grip on his bodyguard. "Call him off or I’m going to mess up that really ugly shirt he has on," warned Kendal.

"Travis, go back to your seat," ordered the Elder. "Now, Travis, before she makes good on her promise."

The man stood and brushed his hands along the front of his chest, glaring at Kendal the whole time. He had volunteered to come tonight wanting to see the great Asra in action, expecting he would be disappointed with all the hype. There was no mistaking the power in the woman who had planted his head on the table. If they were hoping to bring her down, it was going to take more than just himself and Bailey.

"Leave me in peace for awhile longer, Rolla. I deserve at least that much."

He sighed and looked at the pretty blonde still sitting quietly. If Asra had created another of their kind, Rolla was surprised they didn’t accompany the warrior that night. From the look of this attractive girl, she was just a bed warmer for now, if he knew Asra at all. "I can’t leave you be if my suspicions about something are correct."

"What?" Kendal’s temper was as short as the question.

"That’s the one thing I can’t tell you, but my purpose here is to ask if I can count on your help if it comes to that. Some of the others are afraid of what is coming but I’ve never been one to shake with fear on just rumors alone."

"You’ve always had my loyalty, you know that. It didn’t take a personal visit to confirm what you already know," she said taking her seat again. Her demeanor calmed somewhat when she felt the small hand move into her lap.

Rolla drained his glass and waved off the server, not wanting another. "These days I have learned not to take anything for granted, my friend. As for the other matter we discussed, it will have to wait for another time. I have more to attend to in London, so I really don’t have much time to worry about any digression on your part now."

The man looked emotionally weighed down by something, so Kendal reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder. "I am just a call away, Rolla, remember that as well."

"That’s comforting to know." With that said he was up and gone. From the other side of the room Julius looked on and fought the urge to make a stand that night. All those wasted years of darkness had done nothing but make his hate grow for the woman now guiding the petite blonde back to the dance floor.

"Our time is coming soon, Asra, and when I’m done, you’ll be begging for sleep."

************************************************************************

"I’ll be home in just a few minutes." The young woman juggled her phone as she put her briefcase in the trunk of her car. Trying to impress her boss, she had put in some overtime to finish a project a few days early. "I love you too, Anthony." As she pressed the button to end the call and looked up she was surprised to see that the woman standing in front of her had gotten so close.

"Excuse me," she tried going around her to get to the driver’s side door not liking the look of the stranger staring so intently at her. Super human strength pinned her to the car and in an instant she felt something sharp puncture her neck. It wasn’t long before the darkness of death enveloped her, the woman feeding at her neck disengaged just before that happened.

With a flick of her fingers, Artus wiped away the bit of blood that had dripped down her chin. The damp chill of the London night had become a bit more bearable now that the young woman’s blood coursed through her veins. A young fledging came closer, stepping over the dead woman to see if his mistress was ready to go.

"Are you sure about this, mistress?"

"Call the others and position them around the building," she ordered. With impatience she pulled her long red hair together and bound it with a leather cord. "He might be able to get to a few of us, but not all. This Julius doesn’t sound strong enough for that yet."

"But why go at all?" He had to quicken his pace to keep up with her.

"Because the offer sounded too intriguing to pass up. It’s not often that an Elder of the famed ‘Order’ comes calling with such enticements." She scaled the wall surrounding the Tower of London with little effort and jumped down onto the grounds. The place, considering its history, seemed perfect for their talk.

"And no other will ever call on you again with such an offer," Julius added. He was standing on the spot where Anne Bolin had lost her head to the executioners axe. "It’s true then, that you have managed to harness Ora’s power?"

"Tell me what you want, because I’m sure you’re not here to listen to how I came to be the Queen of the Vampires." Artus used the title seriously but her jeans and casual sweater made her look like anything but royalty.

From his hiding place, Bailey studied the woman who had a gift for magic, or so it was written. Before she had been given the dark gift by Ora herself, Artus had been a powerful witch revered by her tribe. With a few more centuries behind her, the young red head would become even more powerful than Ora.

"Actually, I am interested since it was Asra who made it possible for you to inherit the title in the first place. How do I know that won’t make you weak when it comes to the Slayer if you feel indebted to her." The beauty’s features changed a little when he took a step closer. These transformations had always fascinated Julius. "Calm down, I need you as much as you need me. I have no intention of harming you."

"Then how about you call your little friend out here where I can see him as well as I can smell him." She looked to where Bailey was leaning against one of the buildings and he could swear she was looking right through him.

Once Bailey was standing beside him, Julius started talking, laying out his plan as methodically as he could. Artus listened like someone who was in a hurry to be somewhere else. He finished, smiling because she was still standing in the courtyard with him and looking a little more interested.

"The problem with the Order is you all think you are the only ones who read and do research," she said. Her head cocked in the direction of the wall. The scraping sounded too methodical to be an animal or the wind. "If this is a trap…" she started as she turned toward the sound preparing herself to flee if it was necessary.

"Please, it’s just another of my associates." Julius pointed to the top of the wall where Travis was getting ready to climb down. "I would like your answer to my proposal before you go."

"It’s interesting, but tell me, Julius, what do I get in return?" His answer made her take a step closer to him, her features again contorting to better show the monster that lived inside. "Why would you do this?"

"The woman that stands between what we both want is a student of the great strategists in history, so wouldn’t it be ironic if she were to be brought down by the one of life’s greatest lessons?" In the pale moonlight he watched as her incisors elongated and her tongue came out to lick along the lips of a mouth that looked much to large.

"What lesson is that?"

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend." A cruel laugh escaped Julius, and Bailey looked at him as if his old friend had really died all those years ago and the man they had revived was some carbon copy gone mad. "If we combine our forces then we will both get what we want when those who would stand in our way are disposed of."

"You have a deal, but be warned that I will never stop hunting you if you turn on me," the beautiful visage of the woman he had first seen was back in place, and it was she who held out her hand to seal their pact. Once he took it there was no turning back.

"I could say the same to you."

"Yes you could, but you’ve shown that you’re weak by coming to me in the first place. Perhaps before you face off against Asra you should rethink things."

"No woman will…"

"Stand for your hollow threats," she finished the sentence a little differently than he would have. "Careful now, or I’ll leave and watch as you enter the dark grave again." She squeezed his hand to the point that he tried to pry it free. "Don’t threaten me again or…well…I don’t need to finish that. Do I?"

"I’ll send Travis for you when we’re ready."

"Be still my cold heart," she said with sarcasm. In three leaps she was on the top of the surrounding wall stopping only to snap her fingers. From their own hiding places twelve of her fledglings showed themselves surprising the three immortals. "Remember, Julius, someone like Asra might worry me, but you and your little puppets will not even cross my thoughts during my sleep."

************************************************************************

The summer came and went with really no change in Piper’s vision of All Hallows Eve. Kendal still lost the sword to her opponent, and the dragon’s eyes still became a dooming shade of red. Despite all her time working on her concentration to develop her gifts as seer, the only new bit of information she was able to sense came from the night they had gone to meet Rolla.

That night Piper had done as Kendal had asked of her and just observed their meeting. The whole time he and Kendal were talking the young blonde seer had sensed a black cloud of worry hanging over the man, feeling as if it was ready to swallow him whole. Whatever or whoever it was, was growing stronger, feeding on the hate that consumed them. The only problem in isolating that was, Rolla was even older than Kendal. Another thousand years was plenty of time to make numerous enemies.

At the end of September, the blonde was frantic, trying her best to see beyond the vision of Kendal on her knees. Watching helplessly as the blood loss from her wounds made Kendal weak enough to be brought down. When Piper added to her failure of no new visions, Lenore’s failure to find anymore information no matter how many books she researched – the blonde was starting to believe there would be no way to change the outcome of the vision.

Suddenly the scene in her mind changed a couple of weeks before their deadline revealing a new vision, but what she saw made no sense to her. Instead of the three men, her mind’s eye shifted to the creatures she had seen at Oakgrove the night she almost lost Kendal. It confused Piper since from the beginning she believed the threat of vampires was over once the battle that ended the life of Kendal’s brother’s and the dark mistress he served was won.

"It has nothing to do with the sword for now," whispered Piper as she opened her eyes and looked at Lenore. She told her the new glimpse into the future and waited while the librarian consulted with Indigo.

"Then we must do our best to prepare for this new development," said Indigo.

"Are there still vampires?" asked Piper.

Kendal’s watcher sighed in frustration. Working with no means of communication with the other Elders was a little like working blind in a heavy fog. The answers seemed like they were within reach but then faded just as quickly into mist. "There is no easy way of answering that since we don’t really know how many exist. I think the Order was making headway in bringing the numbers down when the oldest of them Ora was killed, but only she knew how many fledglings she created. Then add to that all they in turn created."

"Why would I be seeing them in my visions? They have to know, these fledglings I mean, that Kendal is rather fatal to their kind."

"I wish, more than anything, I could answer all that for you, Piper, I really do but I’m at a loss. It’s like for everything we find a clue to, there are a million more questions that spring from it." She reached out and placed her hand over Piper’s. "The one thing I’m sure of is you’re trying your best to see as much as you can."

Lenore smiled at her old friend and added her hand to theirs. "And I’ll do my best as well. There has to be some text explaining what this is all about and I’m determined to find it."

************************************************************************

From the trees at the southern end of the estate, Julius and Bailey watched as the chronicler and watcher talked with the blonde he had seen that night at Kabaret’s Prophecy. "Who is she?" he asked Bailey as he looked through his binoculars.

"Piper Dupont, she’s someone Asra recently did business with. That obviously turned into something else since she’s here with her grandparents as well."

"Is she important to Asra?"

"All I know is that she has spent time here and in New Orleans after they started their business relationship. From what Travis found in Rolla’s scrolls, the blonde could be the twin of someone from Asra’s past." Their companion had been absent for weeks, returning to his job with Rolla to keep the Order’s leader from growing suspicious. The good thing was that Rolla had chosen to stay in London so Travis was close enough to come for updates whenever he could.

"What is the old couple doing here?" The sun finally broke from the bank of clouds that hid it and Julius turned his face to welcome it. He opened his eyes again and put his hand on the back of Bailey’s neck. "I sense some reluctance in you lately, Bailey." Julius pulled the man’s hair so hard some of it came loose in his fist. "Tell me I’m just imagining it."

"Julius, you know me. I looked for you for hundreds of years until I found you and made you whole, because I love you." The answer was sufficient enough for the larger man to release him. "To answer your question, I can only speculate."

"Speculate?"

"I’ve seen her walking with both of the older Duponts, so I can only speculate that they’re here because Asra likes them. In all I’ve read about her, she seems to find people she comes to care about and admire and spends time with them accordingly. I think this is the case here."

"Then we have a starting point don’t we?" He looked towards Piper and the others again and then to the sun for the time. "Come, Bailey, it’s time to start taking away from Asra a thousand times what she stole from me."

The subject of his hatred stepped onto the practice field along with a tall African man holding a sword. Knowing her constant quest to be the best with the blade, Julius delayed their departure for a few minutes to see if Asra’s fighting style had improved any over the years. When she drew her weapon and faced off against Charlie, the interested watcher felt the air leave his body.

"It couldn’t be," whispered Julius.

"What?" asked Bailey in a voice just loud enough to be caught by the wind.

In the act of meeting one of Charlie’s strikes, Kendal put her hand up in a gesture for him to stop. She turned in the direction of where the two men were standing looking for anything out of place on the property. Bailey grabbed Julius and started running just barely avoiding Kendal as she started running to where they had been standing.

"What is it?" asked Charlie. He stood with his sword posed for danger as Kendal bent down and studied the ground.

"We’ve had visitors, my friend. Only thing is, we haven’t invited anyone over." They were faint, but there were tracks leading further into the woods. Anyone who could move that fast was long gone and not worth the effort chasing. "I believe that ‘something wicked this way comes’, and it’s getting closer by the day."

"We’ll be ready," said Charlie with conviction.

"We have to be," she stood up and slapped him on the back. "I promised Piper forever, and you know how I feel about breaking my word."

************************************************************************

"You want to do what?" asked Piper.

"Take your grandparents to a museum, sweetheart. What’s wrong with that?" Kendal continued getting dressed after Piper told her the new vision of vampires she had seen earlier and Kendal had filled her in on why she’d taken a quick run into the woods.

"You did hear me right? About what I saw today while I was meditating."

Once she buttoned her shirt, Kendal moved closer and pulled Piper into her arms. "I heard you and I want you to try and do something for me."

"If you tell me to relax like Lenore keeps telling me, I’m going to pinch you," the blonde threatened.

"Nothing like that, don’t worry. I want you to go somewhere with me as a change of pace. In the past I’ve found that it helps to look at beautiful things when it seems like the world is about to beat you down or turn ugly. I figure if it works for me, it might work for you as well."

Piper reached up and kissed Kendal’s neck. "Are you a little worried at least? It would make me feel better if you were somewhat concerned over all this. If I’m right I might lose you in a few days." A shiver ran down her spine as she thought of the visions that had plagued her mind for months.

"It’s going to take more than whoever you saw to take me away from you. Just believe in that." Kendal pulled her away just enough to see Piper’s green eyes.

"It’s just that the thought of never seeing you again, or that someone would put you somewhere that I’d never be able to find you…these are the things that terrify me the most."

Kendal bowed over the hands she held and kissed them reverently. "On my word, Piper, we will always walk together for the rest of time."

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On the drive into the city, Molly and Mac both smiled as they watched how peaceful Piper looked in Kendal’s arms. The young couple had a way of showing those around them how they felt about each other without words. In the months they had spent together, the Duponts had witnessed the young relationship grow deeper and stronger allaying any fears for Piper’s welfare and future.

The old masters hanging on the wall did brighten Piper’s outlook as she sat on one of the benches in the center of the room leaning on Kendal’s shoulder. Bright colors and the multitude of people dancing in the portrait made her temporarily forget her visions and anything bad that might happen to them.

"There’s one more painting in this room that I wanted you to see," said Kendal. She guided Piper to the next bench and directed the blonde’s attention to the picture of an old man fixing a tattered net as he sat next to a fishing boat. "I sat for more than one afternoon and watched as the artist worked on this. He had a good eye for detail didn’t he?"

As she stared at the painting, Piper developed a form of tunnel vision. One of the pieces she had fought so hard to find clicked into place. "Kendal…"

"Close your eyes and take deep breaths, baby. Let it come to you, don’t chase it."

"They want to harm Grand and Granddad." The fangs sinking into their necks were about to make her ill. "I’m not just going to lose you." She buried her face in Kendal’s neck and started to cry. The old man in the painting reminded her of Mac but the scene in her mind had been so real as he slumped lifeless to the floor.

"Piper, look at me, sweetheart." Kendal pulled her away just far enough to look in her eyes. "The only way you will lose Mac or Molly will be years from now after they have lived a long and peaceful life. The images you see, I’m convinced we can change."

"You don’t know that."

"Have you seen the Order’s compound again?" She ran her fingers along Piper’s cheeks to wipe away the tears.

"No, but what does that matter now?" Her mind was screaming at her to get up from there and run as far as she could with the people she loved to keep them safe.

"Because we altered the actions that were supposed to happen there because of what you saw. Because we did, the original vision altered as well didn’t it?"

The painting beckoned her again and Piper just stared at it. "He loved the sea didn’t he?"

"Who the painter or the old man?"

"The old man," answered Piper. As she relaxed, her mind seemed to widen its view and she saw something new. "He repaired his nets every afternoon after he finished working and selling his catch. It was like he was oblivious to the man who painted him every day when the light permitted it."

"Julio loved two things. He loved the sea and he loved that boat." Kendal’s voice softened and her mind flew back to where Piper’s was now concentrating.

"Three things….he loved three things, my darling, because he loved you as well, or at least who you were back then." She looked back to the strong profile and smiled. It was as if Kendal had left faint footsteps over the tapestry of time touching the lives of the sometimes forgotten. This man who loved his boat and the water it glided over had no family except for the young woman who helped him pull up his nets every day and helped him clean his catch in the afternoons.

"He lost his family to an outbreak of the plague. Three sons and his wife were all he had aside from his boat. When they lost their battle from the sickness, the sea was all he had left."

Piper could hear the sad affection in her lover’s voice for a broken soul she had cared for so long ago. She looked at the painting again and her mind flew back through time, her connection with the vision strengthening. The sun was warm on her face and she could hear the seagulls fighting over the scraps they had thrown in the water after cleaning the day’s catch. Julio’s fingers, though old, worked the nets like a fine weaver making a tapestry.

"Tell me, Mari, do you believe in God?" Piper heard the words in the Spanish he had spoken but she could understand him nonetheless.

"I’ve seen the devil too many times not to," answered the voice she knew so well. Piper’s head turned towards the end of the dock where a barefoot Kendal sat on a crate watching the young man put paint on the canvas in talented strokes. "Now smile pretty so you don’t look like a crab when he’s done," she teased.

Julio never looked up from his nets but he laughed at his young friend’s joke. Once he was done they would head to his small house for a plate of fish stew then a drink at the tavern near the dock. She never complained about the hard work and always paid for their drinks no matter how much he protested. His biggest fear was she would grow tired of his sadness and move on. In time Julio came to see his fear was unfounded. On the day he was buried next to his family, there was one mourner there who cried for him and it had been Kendal.

He worked the last knot into place and brought his knife out to cut the thread so they could get home to their meal. When his head finally came up he looked right at Piper and spoke to her. "Tell her thank you and that she was right. My family, they waited for me, and heaven is an endless sea of calm water and blue skies."

"I’ll tell her."

He nodded his understanding and stood to join the woman he knew as Mari. The artist was busy packing up his supplies and talking to the admirer of his work. Julio turned before he got too far away and put his finger up. "Can I ask just one more thing of you?"

"Anything."

"Tell her it’s Julius. He’s waiting for the right time, but he’ll stop at nothing to repay her for what wrongs he thinks she committed against him."

Piper felt like she couldn’t move from the spot or she would lose this connection. "Wait! How do you know all this?"

"God sent her to me, Piper, and this is my way of repaying her for what she did for an old man." He smiled and waved to her. "The dragon is about to awaken from his watery home and show its true power. Be ready and accept your part in her life."

Kendal held her and tried to decipher the mumblings as Piper looked at the painting. The blonde snapped out of her trance in a second and looked at Kendal with a glimmer of hope for finding another piece to the puzzle.

"Julius," was all she whispered.

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