Bloodmoon Inc.

Now

Howl woke up and rolled over to look at Hobbes to remind her self that she did what she was going to do today for a good reason. A really good reason. Hobbes woke and grinned at her. “Ready, honey?” She smiled at him. “It’s not like I would rather be beheaded or anything.” She sighed at she sat up with her keens pulled up. “They won’t bite....I think.” Howl looked at Hobbes. “You’re the only thing I really care about and what if....”

“No, what if it’s going to be fine, my family will love you just like I do.” She rolled her eyes.
“Now get up, we need to get the bags together.” Howl looked outside the day matched her mood iron grey sky. She got up and went to shower reminding herself that these people were good people. They wouldn’t hate her or anything. Right? She asked herself out loud.

Right. She answered. After the hassle of the airport were Hobbes almost killed someone at least twice, they got on the plane to Hobbes’s parent’s ranch, tucked away in the plains in some tiny town were almost everyone was a Were of some kind or other. Hobbes was groaning about the tiny seats, flinging peanuts at small children who giggled and tossed them back most of the time, and whining about have to play the part of Zeldin’ren the ancestor of Hobbes’s family in their yearly half play half dance they did at big get to-togethers to tell the story of his family clan.

“What’s wrong with your part it’s a big role, right?” Hobbes grimaced “That’s kinda the point, until now I’ve always done the role of some cousin who died young or somebody who got kicked out of the family for eating humans and then become some big rock hero and died young, almost always someone who died young for some reason but now I’m playing the man and if I fuck it up....” “You won’t.” “I just want it to go well.” “So do I.” The rest of the flight was quiet. Howl dozed a bit. At last they touched down. Hobbes wondered off to get the luggage and rent the car.

They still had a few hours drive to his parents place.
Howl stared out the window as they went father and father from the cities as they went deeper and deeper into the hills. Hobbes told her about how he had come from a Were-family that lived in a town with nothing but Weres in it.

Most never left home or at least came back often. Hobbes had not been home in about ten years. He was the middle of thirteen children. His was the only single birth a rare thing being as all his other brothers and sisters were born in just two other births, six in one six in the other. He had four older brothers and two older sisters, three younger sisters and three younger brothers. “You should meet about half of them over the weekend.”

“I know Rowan she’s one of my older sisters is in town.” “I think Storm might be he’s younger and Kriya she’s younger too.”
“So few in town why not more?” Howl asked. Hobbes shrugged.
“I think most of them are coming in later for New Year’s but we be gone by then.” “We can’t stay too long or Shadow will rape half the staff and Wolf will spend the acquisitions budget on shoes.” “Boy does love his Prada.”
Hobbes glanced at her. “You know....I’m showing you where I came from and...”
“I hope to ready soon Hobbes.”
He sighed. They pulled up to the house a cozy but roomy ranch house at about four the sun was nearly setting. Hobbes grabbed the bags to bring inside. Hobbes’s mom rushed out and tackled him he dropped the bags laughing. She picked him up and spun him around.

”My baby!” Hobbes’s dad walked out from behind her smiling and shaking his head. “Let the poor boy get some air Zal.” She grinned at him. The three of them hugged. Howl feeling left out stood there.
They turned to her “Oh hello there dear sorry, it’s just that someone thinks he’s too good for us now that he works for you now.” “Not true mom.”
Hobbes parents walked over to Howl. “Hi I’m Zal’tona but most call me Zal.” Hobbes’s dad held out a hand. “I’m Lee.” Howl shook his hand. They all went inside where she met Rowan Hobbes’s older sister a cool eyed black haired beauty who looked like Zal’tona at thirty.

Although at about fifty or so Howl knew that most she knew would hit on her. Storm openly ogled her and then hugged her a little too long. “Be good a frat-boy or I make you a eunuch.” Howl hissed and he let go quickly. He smiled at her. “No hard feelings huh?”
He seemed to think he could get by on his charm and good looks he reminded her of Shadow. She smiled at bit at him. “Where’s Kriya?” asked Hobbes.

Zal called from the kitchen. “Out back, someone go get her ok?” Hobbes glanced at Howl. “You mind?” “No, it’s fine.” He pointed down the hallway. “Out the back door she should be on the porch.” Howl walked out and found a girl with orange hair sitting on the back porch swing smoking a blunt. “Hey, you the one my mom hates so much?” She asked without any preamble. “Your mom hates me?” asked Howl shocked.

“If you’re Howl then oh, yeah.....if you’re just something Strom dug up from under a rock she doesn’t think you will around long enough to hate.” The girl smiled. “Yes I am Howl.” “I’m Kriya by the way and I like you.”
“Or what I heard of you anyway.” “My cousin Amelia liked you a lot.”
Howl blinked rapidly “Why does your mom hate me?” she asked again
“She thinks you lured her favorite into a life of naughtiness and spankings over at and I quote ‘that heathen sinkhole of a city, where my poor baby is surrounded by incubi, vampires and every kind of perversion you can image.’ “

“How you get any work done if you do nothing but spank each other all day I don’t know but she seems to think that’s all you do.” “Oh yeah and kill things.”
“Great, this weekend is going to suck.” Howl muttered. “And for the record I only spanked Hobbes at work the once because he lost a bet and we only have the one Incubus and he’s a boss.” “Wait there is Jerry in bookkeeping...”

Howl irrupted herself. “But that’s not the point!” “I love your brother and I would do anything for him!”
“I think you’re telling me the truth but she thinks you’re the devil, and you’re going to have to something big to make her change her mind.” Kriya smiled sadly.

Howl walked way from her and into the house. She looked around her eyes sweeping the room. She walked over to Zal. “Is there anyway we can talk?” She asked quietly. Zal nodded. “Let’s go upstairs.” Howl walked after her.
They came to her room. Zal sat down on the bed. “Yes?”
“Well....I has come to my attention that you don’t like me dating your son.”

“You’re to the point did Kriya tell you this?” “Yes, she did.”
“I care for Hobbes.” “I don’t doubt that you do but whether you can give him what he wants is something else all together.” Howl tucked her hair behind an ear and sat down. “I am really going to have to do this aren’t I?” she muttered to herself. “I want to tell you…. where I came from something I have never even told Hobbes much about.”




Rome, two thousand years before now….

Nero lay on his bed muttering to himself. He jumped up and paced madly back and forth, back and forth. He flung his windows open and stood on his balcony as if looking for something. He cursed the sun shining brightly over Rome’s marble streets. “Damm this sun!!” “Lucius!!” Nero called his steward. “Do something about this sun!!!’ The man rushed in when he heard his Emperor bellowing.
“The sun, Sire?” “I don’t think I grasp what you mean…” Nero spun around to face the man.
“I mean that oversized ball of light in the sky!” He shouted pointing up at it.
“Romulus won’t come and visit with it out….” He grabbed Lucius by the arms, with a dreamy look on his face. “Do you think he was at the play other night?”
“I was wonderful….wasn’t I?’ Nero frowned. “You do think he was there don’t you?” Lucius nodded. “Yes…I do.” Nero ran out to the balcony again, leaving Lucius to fret. He loved his Lord but …something needed to change, the nobles hated that the Emperor acted on stage and played in concerts. It had gotten so much worse when his Lord had begun his romance with this Romulus who he seemed to believe was the Romulus of the myths. Lucius knew his Lord was not mad….just whimsical. He knew that the others did not see it that way.
“Do you think if I asked Selena nicely she would keep it night forever?”

Nero called. “I don’t think so, my Lord.” “Shit.” “Indeed, Sir.”
“What if I built her a new temple?” “Maybe....but I still doubt it, Sir.”
“We’ll do that tomorrow…..see what happens.” “But, Sir we need to meet in the morning with the Athenians to talk about defenses …the Spartans …”
“Oh, them…bunch of xenophobic were-whatevers.” “Everyone makes such a big Hera-loveing deal out of them…it is sooo boring.” “Cancel the meeting!”

Lucius wondered how he was going to explain this one to the Athenians, the nobles, the Senate…the list went on and on. He decided to go to temple of Athena to pray for wisdom, the only thing that could help them all at this point was divine intervention. The Emperor began to sing a love song just then. Lucius sighed When the revolt comes I’m going to the wall first he tought He shook his head and made up his mind to pick up a whole bushel of olives to give to Athena, Lucius was not above bribery.

As he walked the winding streets he thought on the state of things.
The Spartans were up to no good and everyone knew it, the Athenians were willing to talk deal, but he had to get the Emperor focused long enough to get the deal made. There was the tricky part. The three Embassies were fine men, but if they saw how……unusual Nero could be they just might make a deal with the Persians….or maybe the Goths everyone knew that those savages with deals with anyone. Lucius snorted.
Finding himself at his designation Lucius walked in to pray harder then he ever had, the next day would be trying.


Heaven, two thousand years before now….

The day dawned bright as always in Heaven, always perfect, always bright, always. Shadow fucking hated it, every day perfect and lovely but everything in Heaven was that way. He rolled over to look at the only thing that kept him from ripping his wings off. His twin brother Hikari slept next to him.

Hikari was not the name that he had been saddled with from God, Shadow wasn’t Shadow. They had come up with the nicknames forever ago it seemed the joke going that Shadow had always trailed his brother around like his shadow but Shadow had just pointed out there could be no shadows without light and began to call his brother light or Hikari. Shadow had no way of knowing how old he was, how much time had passed since they begun called each other by their new names. One more reason he hated it here.

He traced his fingers over his brother’s face. Shadow knew that he was unworthy to be an angel and most of the time he was perfectly fine with it. He knew that something was wrong with him, the thoughts he had….but the only time he felt bad about all of it, hating Heaven, longing for…the only time he cared was when his brother looked at him with his eyes filled with sadness.

That was enough to make him stop whatever rant or rave he was on and be good…for a while. Hikari really felt it, the love of God, the burning righteousness, all that. Shadow just got by spending his time avoiding everything and everyone and reading in the great library. Shadow knew that, if he was wrong then the whole set-up was wrong because God had made a mistake, hence why he was so jaded.

Shadow felt it like he did every day when he woke up, he wanted to lean over and kiss his brother awake, he wanted to tell him they could run away; he wanted to act on what burned him alive with fear, longing, love…and hate. Hate because he knew it would never happen, as much as he loved his brother his brother loved God, perhaps in the way Shadow loved his brother, maybe not…it didn’t matter what was fact was his brother would never leave with him, never love him.
Shadow sighed like he did every day, kissed his brother’s cheek like he did every day, and shook him awake. Hikari opened his eyes and smiled. “You wake up so early Shadow.” “Hmmm.” “What now?” “Nothing.” “Tell me.”

“I don’t get up early. I don’t go to bed.” “Ah.” Shadow cuddled as close as he dared to Hikari. “Doing anything big and warrior like today?” Hikari asked him.
“Warrior hah, most of my missions involve scaring some moron, looking after a shmuck so they don’t die before they do the only thing that gives their worthless life a little meaning or babysitting the border between Heaven and Hell. “

Hikari frowned. “Do you really dislike your job that much?” Shadow rubbed his cheek on his brother’s shoulder. “It’s all right.” “I love my job, sending mortals inspiration….I have a new favorite his name is Virgil.” Shadow’s mind was not on his brother’s words suddenly he was pulled back as Hikari said his name. “What?” “I said that we have a new Vengeance of the Gods but if He heard me call the boy that He would be unhappy with me.” “It’s sad the last one got ripped apart by a pack of weres who had joined up with some really old vampires.” Hikari got out of bed and pulled off his long shirt that he had slept in.

Shadow had to remind himself not to stare at his naked brother, who was looking in a chest for his clothes. “You know you’re beautiful, Hikari….”
Hikari laughed “I’m not beautiful at all.” “I’m too skinny, too pale, my wings are too small, and my eyes are a funny color.” “Your not too skinny, I like pale, your wings are lovely I love how they start how dark purple then shade to light on the tips, and as for your eyes I think it’s cool how they match your wings” Shadow winced hoping he had not let his brother know how much he thought about this.
Hikri just smiled. “Thanks.” Hikari touched Shadow’s nose lightly. “Or are you just saying that because we’re twins?” “Maybe… but we don’t look alike.” “True.” Shadow got up and grabbed a robe like all the other angels wore.

“Don’t you think it’s kind of cult-like to have us all wear the same thing?” he asked his brother. “Shadow, you have some odd ideas sometimes.” Hikari goggled at him.
“Maybe you shouldn’t read so much; it puts thoughts in your head.” Hikari looked at Shadow sideways. “Maybe I should talk to Him about.”
Shadow sighed. “Yes, slaves shouldn’t think too much after all?” “They might get ideas or some thing.”
Hikari shook his head.

“We are not slaves Shadow.” “He loves us.”
Shadow bowed his head so his hair covered his face. Bullshit, He loves us I love you, He just likes to hear us singing his glory. Shadow thought. Hikari ruffled Shadow’s hair. “Got to go.” He left. Shadow buried his face in his hands.
Oh God let me not feel this way. His prayer went unanswered one more reason to believe that no one cared.


Ireland in the Realm of Farie, two thousand years before now….

Maeve Nightstar woke and looked out her window; she knew that her father the King of the Un-Seelie might want her at court that day. She was his daughter from a first marriage, when his wife who was a Countess had died when Maeve was young he had mourned for years until the Queen, Selina had begun to come to call on him and in due time they married.

Maeve liked her step-mother just fine. What she really hated was the court, hated every simpering fop who thought he could gain favor by writing increasingly over-blown poems and songs about her. If she has to hear one more person call her hair “liquid sliver” or her eyes “flashing violets” she might impale someone. So should she just go wondering the forest like she loved to with her wild-cat Jal, or should she try to go to court and not hurl rotten fish at her latest ‘suitor’? She thought on it then decided to go out after all the new one, what was his name? She only remembered what she called him behind his back, Slobber because when he sang he drooled sometimes.
She dressed quickly in plain robes, and called Jal from his big pillow in the corner of her sitting room. “Come on let’s to go put the fear of God in those woods rabbits if we don’t walk at least once a week they get uppity.”

Jal yawned hugely showing his pointed teeth as if to say “Who wants to scare rabbits half to death when one can sit in the sun all day?’ Maeve poked the cat with her toe. ”Come on don’t act like you don’t want to.” Jal got up. Maeve begun to walk with him trailing after her. She was almost out of the castle when she was spied by Slobber. “Princess Maeve!” He called. She turned and tried to smile. “Hello, what a nice surprise!” what in the blue hell is his name!? She thought.

Slobber grinned. “Your father told me you rise early so I got up to catch you.”
“Well how nice.” “Where are you off to Lady?” “Well my father may have told you that I have some small knowledge of herb lore for healing.” “He said more then that he said that you are a notable mistress of healing and that when your half-sister had eaten some poison last year you saved her life.”

“Many may have let the child die to have the rule, My Lady; you are truly a rare personage.” He addressed the kind words to her bosom. “My thanks…but my mission is different today…I am looking for an herb….Ladymoon.” His eyes grew wide. It was widely know what that herb was for ridding one of a disease gotten from bed-sport. She smiled sweetly in his stricken face and walked out the door.


As she walked to woods she reflected on the strange life of the Farie.
It was true they didn’t age really after a point, however they didn’t breed often maybe in balance.
They could die but in certain ways sickness was one but only to the young most of the time.
Poison, violence but over all they were nigh immortal.
Violence was something that felled them more often then anything else when it came to dying out of turn.

The Un-Seelie was at war with the Seelie everyone knew it.
The story went that there were once two sisters. One was light one dark they loved each other and ruled one at night over the dark Farie who loved the night, one over the day. However things became harder and harder for them. They talked less and less yelled more and more. One day they spilt the realm in two.

The Un-Seelie and Seelie were born. All was well for some time. Until a Prince from a far-away place came he was lovely his face one that angel would have given their wings for. He sang like the voice of your lover after you have been traveling for too long and now you’re home. He married the Seelie Queen.

All was well. Then one day he walked in these very woods the story went, and he saw the Un-Seelie Queen at her bath. He was overcome with mad passion to have her.
He sang to her of love forbidden, of love lost. He played his fingers bloody on his harp.
She told him she could not do that to her sister, for she knew him how could she not? Who else could he be but the Seelie King? She told him no. He went home and his love festered, his love for his Queen soured, one day he came on how he could have his love. He made his Queen a feast sprinkled with poison. She died.

He had the cook killed for a fool. Before the Seelie Queen was cold he rushed to the Un-Seelie Queen begging for her love. In horror that he cared so little for her sister she turned him away. He declared war on the Un-Seelie said that the Un-Seelie Queen had killed her sister. That King was long dead; he had been reviled to be a madman but the hatred remained.

The King and Queen of the realms had warred for so long now no one she knew even knew of anything else. Her step-mother had over and over said that she would love to have peace. But every time she had any talks about it, it always went badly.

The Seelie Queen hated them single-mindedly; even so open warfare was rare most of it was just that the two kingdoms had little to do with the one other. Maeve had heard that over there it meant death to anyone who even saw one of her kind and did not kill them. What nonsense! She shook her head.

At last she came to her favorite spot, by the lake this was were the wicked King first saw the Un-Seelie Queen there-for it was called the Lake of Tears. The Lake Of Tears and the woods around it was one of the few places that was considered to be a place of truce no one Kingdom ruled it. She saw a horse and some hounds tied to a tree. On a rock on the middle of the lake sat the most perfect man she had ever seen, he sang in a voice like her greatest hopes.

Her heart stopped beating because she knew two things just then, this was the man she would love and this was the son of that long-ago King, the Seelie Prince, Adamon. Maeve stared at him feeling heart-broken, and then she shut her eyes and began to walk away. As she did he called out. “Hello?” “Is someone there?”
“Yes, I’m sorry I walked in on you…bathing.” He plunged into the water and swam closer to where she was standing. “Sorry I’m naked.” Adamon looked at her.

“Are you from Seelie?” “No…” “Surely you’re not human?” “No…”
“You are Un-Seelie, then?” She didn’t say anything just looked away. “No, it’s fine I didn’t mean to…I don’t care about that.” He studied her face “So…who are you?’ “Well I could tell you a name but that would not tell you anything but what some call me, I could tell you things that have happened to me but that would not tell you anything but what happened in the past, I could tell you what I think I will be someday but no one really knows that for sure.” He smiled. “Good answer.” “I have a smart tongue my Step-mother says she thinks I will never get anyone to marry me because of it.”

“Mind if I get out of the water and get dressed?” “No...of course not I can leave.” “No don’t go.” She stood looking at him. “Aren’t you going to get out?” “Are you going to turn around?” She nodded hastily and did. “I’m sorry...the Un-Seelie are rather free with nakedness.” “So I see.” “You can around turn now.” He walked over to her fully dressed.

Jal growled a bit at the new comer. “Is he friendly?” Adamon asked Maeve tought. “I don’t think he would bite you.” She patted Jal’s head, he took it with grace.
“Would you like to talk more?”
“Yes.” They sat down next to each other.


Rome 1,995 years before now to Briton 1645

Nero looked down at the man he just killed. “Does he really look like me Romulus?”
He fretfully asked his lover. “He will when I put the glamour stone on him and then we can go away together my love.” “They will think you died, and you longer have to worry about anything.” Nero smiled. “I can’t wait.” “Nor can I.” Romulus answered. So they went together and for a time it was wonderful but Romulus was obsessed with Rome and over and over they wound back there.

Nero had taken to calling himself Wolf at this point. He wondered far and wide leaving Romulus to look after Rome as he liked to do. Wolf had just come from Egypt and had gifts for Romulus but he found the city had been sacked and that Romulus was not quite right anymore.

He ranted and raved about revenge and even left Wolf abruptly by himself to go look for the Seven Weapons of The Gods. He even found some way to turn a prophecy holder into a vampire and made the first Free Being. Wolf dejected had traveled to Transylvania and kept the company of a certain count for some time. Restless and bored he at last came to Asia were he stayed for a time until restless again he traveled back to Europe and slept for a time.

One day his lonely resting place was used to imprison a young woman. He heard her from under the floor where he had awoken. He saw her in his mind painting an image from her voice.
She was lovely with red-gold hair and fire in her eyes.
She banged on the door with both fists. “Let me out!” “You can not do this!”

“Mary is mad!” “She will bring us all to ruin!” He dug his way up and out of his grave and walked down the steps of the house that had been built around him as he slumbered. He knew he must look a horror his clothes who knew how many years out of date, his face and hair covered in mud deathly pale from lack of blood and did he mention the clothes? She drew back when she saw him unable to speak. He moved slowly as not to scare her more, taking her in as he moved closer she did not disappoint. “Who’s Mary my dear and who would lock a lovely young girl of your obvious baring and breeding up for no reason?” She firmed her lips. “I am Elizabeth crown Princess of Briton. “ “I have been unfairly ordered here by my sister, Mary.”
”She says it’s to keep me safe for I am next in line to rule.”
“I say I am in no danger but from her.”

“But who are you Sir and where did you come form and why are you dressed so oddly?” “I come from far away in a place that no longer is and I would like to help you my help you become a Queen that everyone will talk of for a very, very long time.” She frowned. “Do you really have a choice?” She shook her head.
She took his hand when he held it out. “Now let’s talk...what is the height of fashion right now dear?”

Heaven 1,960 years before now to Hell 1,700 years before now to earth

Shadow shut his eyes tight trying to deny what he saw. But he could not there was no way to not see this. He knew what was lying at his feet. He knew what he was going to do now it was simple really. He just had to take the first step.

Turning from his brother’s dead body he walked to the border of Heaven and Hell and looked down. He felt the wind blow his hair whipping it around. He heard a shout behind him. “Zamianl, don’t!” But the voice and the name meant nothing to him he was Shadow and there could be no shadows without the light.

He leapt form the edge falling throwing himself down, knowing that his quest had begun. He would start this now and see it to the end. That was his last tought until he awoke. “We don’t get many this way anymore now do we, Béchamel?” asked a deep voice. Shadow could hardly see his eyes were gummed shut with blood. “No great lord we do not.” Said a whiney cowering voice.

“Now who was it that stopped that attempt on my life last week?” “Beazel, Sir.” ”Yes Beazel very good.” Satan walked over to Shadow his face was long he looked almost forgettable then if you looked another way he was so perfect you might cry. Shadow moved his cracked lips slowly. “Where- am...” He couldn’t speak any more. “You’re in Hell child just like you wanted to be right?” “After all you fell.” “Quite literally I am to understand, you threw yourself over the edge.”

“I-hurt...” Shadow whispered. “As well you might...you fell who know how far.”
“Some die.” “But no matter my child you will given a new body to serve me with.” “It will hurt like nothing you have never felt and then there will a few weeks of healing time, but when we are done you will the most heart-breaking Incubus I have ever made I feel like there is something special about you.”
“Do you have a name?” “S-shadow....” “Lovely.” Satan stroked Shadow’s hair.
Pain blinded him and he passed out again.

Shadow woke in his master’s bed.
Hell in its own was just like Heaven everything the same over and over. He had been serving Beazel for a few years now he was unsure of how long exactly.

He was just as much a slave here as he had been before but now he had a goal. Beazel rolled over. “Are you going up tonight?” “Yes, master I have to feed and there are only dammed souls here and they taste yucky.” ”There are the natives.” Beazel pointed out, “I guess I just have a taste for human may I go please?” Shadow pouted prettily. Beazel laughed indulgently. How I hate being a whore. Shadow tought furiously as he smiled outwardly.

Beazel got up and stretched. “So today my dear I need you to draft those letters to the army, there are rumblings of an uprising again.” Shadow nodded.
Hell was vaster and complex then most even dreamed. Yes it was a prison for dammed souls but before that there had been natives and there still were.

There were a few great cities even, and the natives had there own rulers and there own laws. Shadow didn’t know why they kept trying to fight the fallen angels that lived there maybe they just wanted what they tought was their’s back.
“Oh, and would you dash over to the slave market and buy a new female?”

“But be careful if the Rebels knew that the favorite of a High Lord was running around....” “They would kidnap and torture me just like last time.” Shadow said indifferently. “How can you be so causal about that?” “Maybe you Fallen are different from us.” “You almost died it took me begging the Lord Satan on hands and keens to replace your eyes, fingers, toes, tongue and manhood.”

“It was a long time ago and I didn’t fall to Hell to have everyone love me.” And when I get what I want everyone is going to pay I can wait Shadow tought. He almost shuddered remembering that helpless feeling, choking on his own blood. He shoved it from his mind with effort.
Shadow pouted prettily as he lay back on the bed and looked tempting. It wasn’t hard.
“Come on let’s think better thoughts.” “Well I guess everything can wait ten more minutes.” Beazel said grinning.

Later that day Shadow had wondered down to the salve market on his last errand of the day. He stood with the rest of the crowd waiting looking bored.
He sighed and decided to just go right to one of the dealer’s tents looking for what he needed. He walked over to one and stepped inside to wait. The dealer was no where to be found. He glanced into one of the cages and then stared.

There sitting in a filthy cage was someone he knew someone from Heaven.
“Xemi?” he asked. She looked up at him warily. “Do…I..?” “My Brother was called Kanial.” Her eyes widened.” Yes I remember the two of you, your brother was so sweet always a kind word.”

“When he died…you fell…” “I jumped.” Shadow said a little sourly. The slave dealer walked in then. “Oh, Master Shadow how good to see you, how is Master Beazel?” “He is well; I wish to buy this female.” “A wise choice Master Shadow….very wise, as she is one of the Fallen I must ask a high price. “ Shadow snorted. “Fallen yes, however she is dirty and underfed and has who knows what kind of sickness.” “I will give you, 3000 for her.” The dealer gaped. “Master Shadow she is wroth at least 5000 to the brothels.” “Do you even think I care?” “Fine 4000, not a dura more.” The dealer nodded his defeat. Shadow smiled his most dazzling smile at the man.
“Thank you kind sir, I will remember you when next I shop for slaves, your fee will be brought to you shortly.”

He took the leash being offered to him and begun to walk back to his master’s estate. Xemi spoke up. “Why did you-“ Shadow whiled around and pressed a hand to her mouth. “I will explain everything shortly but for now hold your tongue!” he hissed. She bowed her head and nodded, he took his hand away and went back to walking in front of her. They got back to the estate and Shadow turned her over to the other female slaves to be washed fed and giving better dress. Afterwards he had her brought to him in his chambers. She cleaned up well. Shadow beckoned her over to him.

“You where always tagging along after me…” he murmured. “Why did you act like you barely knew me?” She looked down. He probed her mind a little just around the borders so she wouldn’t know. Oh priceless she’s in love with me…perfect this is what I’ve been waiting for.
Shadow smiled to himself, Xemi thought he was smiling at her.



The Fey Country in Ireland 1,960 years before now

Maeve sat with her head in Adamon’s lap with Jal sitting next to her.
They had been meeting by the Lake of Tears for some time now.
It is hard to tell the passing of time in the Fey land and harder to know time when you are as happy as they were. They had in secret taken vows to each other and Adamon talked often of the time when he would take the throne and tell all of their love but for now they were content to wait.

Maeve stirred and looked up. “Did you hear-“ her voice was cut off as a tall handsome stepped out of the woods. Adamon jumped up. “Rell, what are you doing here?’ ”So this is what you have been doing brother?” “If my eyes do not trick me I think that would be Maeve the Un-Seelie princess?”
“You know what we do to traitors’ brother…” Rell’s voice was soft.
Adamon moved closer to his brother and fell to his keens. “Don’t tell anyone I beg you.” Rell looked down at his brother. “I won’t….” He murmured. Adamon sighed with relief. “And you never will ether.” Rell snarled and slashed his brother’s throat open with his knife.
Maeve screamed and Jal jumped at Rell who blasted the cat with fire who fell to the ground burned to the bone.

Maeve went to keens by her lover holding his hand. “Hold on.” She whispered. But he was gone.
Maeve’s eyes went wide and she screamed over and over. The last thing she remembered was running to get away from Rell who walked lowly after her as if he knew she would not get away. She fell over and over sobbing in the mud.

She almost wished he would find her but she managed to get away to the border of Un-Seelie land. He gave up the chase there knowing that if he pursed her he would not have an leg to stand on. She wondered in a daze to the castle, a plan forming her in mind she went into her room to get some herbs and found herself in the temple of Media the Goddess of spell work and scorned women.

“Oh Great Goddess, my love has been taken from me…give me the power to take my vengeance.” She prayed as she cut her arm and tossed the herbs on the fire.
In the smoke a lovely woman’s face appeared in the smoke. Her voice was sorrow and rage all in one. “You know my child that taking on my power will almost surely kill you?” “Yes, Great one.” “Are you willing then?” “Yes, Great one.” “One more thing…..if you live you must kill the last son of Jason.” “Yes, Great one.” Maeve’s voice shook. “Deal stuck Maeve Nightstar.” Media laughed.
Maeve felt like fire was running in her veins and she began to walk to the Seelie castle.

The land behind her burned with a fire that was not put out for days.
When the guards of the castle tried to stop her she waved and hand at them and they all fell down dead to a man. She walked calmly slowly into the Throne Room where Rell sat with his parents. His eyes widened. “It’s the Un-Seelie that killed Adamon.” He shirked.

“You lie.” Maeve’s voice sounded like thunder as the Goddess spoke with her. He pulled his scimitar and ran at her howling a battle cry. She caught it in her hands and twisted breaking it, and took the blade and drove it into his eye. He screamed and blasted a wall of fire at her she waved a hand and it sizzled out harmlessly.

She garbed him by the neck while holding a wall of fire around them that none could get penetrate and hope to live, however to merciful she cast a sleep spell on the castle as she striped every inch of his skin off his body and it took hours. When she was done she dropped the body and went to get a horse to ride at a gallop back to her own kingdom even as she did again things caught fire cows gave birth to two head claves and the water in lakes boiled out for no reason.
She could feel the Goddess still in her, she would feel her own body ripping apart from the sheer power of the Goddess.

As she neared the castle of her father and step-mother she stopped for a moment by the lake where she had met Adamon. “Oh Great One, my task is done…” she panted slightly. “I ask you humble that you leave my body but your will be done Great One.”

Maeve slumped as the Goddess left. She heard the sounds of the Seelie coming for her and she put the heels to her horse she raced into the place gates with twenty very enraged soldiers behind her. They were stopped by the Un-Seelie guards and she jumped off her horse and ran to the throne room as fast as she could. She had known she was dead for what she had done but all she wanted as for her Step-Mother and Father for know why and for them to be the ones who killed her.

She skidded in and fell to her keens, explaining the whole tale in a rush. Her Father spoke at last when she was done. “My Daughter you married in secret, used dark magic to call a Goddess and killed the Crown Prince of the Seelie in a very nasty manner, most likely sparking a war!” She nodded looking down.

Her Step-Mother spoke next.
“Maeve I strip your name and title, I should by rights strip you of your Fey blood rights but I am not that cruel to cut you off from what you are, however my daughter….”

The Queen moved to an archway in the back of the room she pulled a key from around her neck. “You are banished on pain of death never set foot in the Fey lands again.” The doorway shimmered and became an opening. The fey once known as Maeve stood and moved to the doorway. Before she left she thought she heard her father say “I would have done the same…”

She blinked back the tears and left all she had ever known behind her.
As she fell to her knees on the soft grasses of the mortal world a howl of pain ripped from her throat, she rose after sobbing there for a time. Fine maeve is dead and I name myself after the first thing I did in this blasted place I am Howl from now on…
She got up sighing wondering what was next. It sacred her to realize she dint much care anymore.


Gettysburg pennsliva 1784

Wolf cursed again under his breathe he had the bad luck to overstay his welcome in the aermaicas he had planed to get to a ship but this blasted war had made things harder. Fuck. He had no idea why some where getting all up in arms about the whole dammed thing anyone with eyeballs could tell that the southern way of life was going to die crushed under the machine age soon so why where these morons killing each other over it?

Mortals…more fools then….moon-mad weres! Moreover he could tell something was coming something big he might not be able to use magic but he could fell change in the air and this was big bloody change.
He lay down to try and get some rest but was woken by the sounds of death and the smells of blood. It was night and the battle was over for a time he was peckish so he went for a walk to the battlefield to get something to eat.

Shadow smiled to himself snuggled into a tree he grinned sweetly as he looked over all the dying men all dying for nothing. In the years that had passed since he had talked Xemi into poisoning his master giving him time to run he had done more nasty things then he could easily remember but few things had trilled him like this war maybe it was the brother killing brother thing.

After all if I can’t have my beloved brother back then why should anyone have theirs?
He twisted his lips into a grimace. A young woman with sliver hair dressed as a nurse was walking the battlefield tending the injured and dying. She froze when she got close to Shadow and looked right at him. She should not be able to see me! He thought. Must be my mind playing tricks on me…I’m shielded she can’t see a thing.
“What are you doing here?” she asked calmly. He dint answer there was no way she was talking to….

“I mean you’re not human that much is for sure I’m just not sure of what you are or why you are here.” “Or why you are dressed like that… what happened to the bugle boy?”
“He met with a ...sad accident….and I look cute in the outfit.” Shadow replied smiling sweetly. She shook her head. “Petty demons like you piss me off, I’m leaving now.” He jumped down.
“Petty?” “Fuck you lady I’m a fallen angel!” “So?” Howl asked bluntly. “I used to be a princess you don’t hear me bragging about it.”

Shadow smirked. “But that doesn’t stop you from talking about it does it?” he pointed out with a grin. “Well, well a fight between something other then humans on this battlefield, I knew there was a reason I came here.” A voice came from behind them.
Wolf stood staring at them grinning easily with his arms folded.
“A Un-Seelie and an Incubus very interesting, what are you two doing here?”
Shadow sneered at Wolf. “What are you doing here and why do you ask about us?” “Us?” Howl asked incredulously