New Empire

Mathaius lowered his head as Seth entered and then nodded in relief, "That is good news." He said. Argyle and Leanne agreed with smiles. The mention of the human saving him made Mathaius half grin, "The rumour is true then." He said, "He has been granted the skills of Genorran legend. I hope he can live up to his predecesors." He then looked between Argyle and Leanne before moving forward. "Male and females often cannot tolerate each other for very long." He said in whisper, "They are both dominant of their respective fleets, so the tension will be high between them.".....

Seth raised a brow and grinned. He looked between the two and understood. "I am on my way to the hospital." he told them and gave Argyle a slight nodd of his head as he made for the door. He turned to Leanne, "Are you going to escort him to the Border?"

Leanne growled low in her throat, "I'd rather not." She said, "And I have made plans elsewhere. May I accompany you to the hospital, Prince?"......

He ginned and said, "Of course." Argyle looked huge and probably would become a huge Griffin. He had lost his family in his fathers retribution and from what he knew of Leanne, she had no mate. Oh well he thought, perhaps another time. He then left, leaving the transportaion of Argyle to Mathiaus.

Leanne made a wide circle to follow Seth, glaring at Argyle briefly before she left the room with him, "Good riddence." She said under her breath....

"Now, now, Leanne. He is after all of your race. I think you don't like him because he has a very powerful presence, just as you do." For a boy his age, he seemed rather more mature, mentally. "We will probably be seeing more of him in the future, along with perhaps more of his flock. Being nice would be a big plus you know."

Leanne growled again, "I couldn't give a flying fuck what he is." She said flatly, "I don't want him near me, nor any male of his standing for that matter, or his fleet. Besides, he already stinks of some poor female he's overpowered.".....

"She is dead along with his children. They died in the nucular holocost that my father unleashed." he told her

Leanne's hard nosed facade faltered somewhat, "Oh." She said, "I didn't know that."....

"And yet he came here to surrender all the rest of the US to Anubis." Seth felt that spoke volumes of the man. They reached the car and the escort vehicles and he got into the back seat.

"Was she human?" She asked......

"I am not sure but I don't think so." he told her.

Leanne shrugged and got into the car, "So how's McDugal doing?".....

He looked at Leanne. "When I left last night, he didn't look to good. He had collasped and had to be put on an IV and some drugs.

"Will he be ok?" she asked, "That Genorra stuff is pretty potent.".....

He shugged his shoulders. "I can only hope so. I think mother and father will be wanting to make him a hero or something. I know I would for what he has done." he looked at her. "You like him don't you?"

"For a human, he's a good guy." She said, "And a loyal friend. People like that are getting thin on the ground these days.".....

He just smiled and wondered if there was more to it then that. He rode the rest of the way in silence and when they arrived hurried in and up to the room that both his mother and father had been put in. He saw his father's eyes were open and he smiled. He also had an arm about Evie, hugging her.

Leanne entered the room also and smiled at Anubis and Raven and then Evie, "How is everyone doing?" She asked happily. Raven looked up and smiled warmly, "I remember you." she said. Leanne laughed in response and moved over to Anubis. She bowed her head and smiled at him, "My name is Leanne." She offered, "It's nice to see you alive, Anubis of Nile."......

Anubis drew Seth to him and hugged his son. "It is good to be alive." he told her. He now had both his children near him and he was thankful that they were alive. Seth stepped back a step and then looked at his father and then his mother. "The new president of the United States has made a visit here. His name is Argyle, and he has surrendred the rest of the United States to you father."

Raven looked up with wide eyes. "Argyle?" She asked, "Argyle who? Is he human?"......

Seth looked at his mother. "No mother, he is like Leanne. But I don't think the rest of country knows that." Anubis to was surprised at the news. "He has told his military to stand down and I have done the same on that front. I still have our navy and air power keeping watch to the west and north." Anubis raised a brow and looked over at Raven. He had expected Mathaius to have taken control but it appeared that Seth had taken his training to heart and had filled the void. He Smiled at Seth and nodded.

"He is a Griffin?" Raven asked, then smiled, "Well now, that's a turn up for the books. I'd like to meet him." Leanne growled slightly and went back to the door. she grabbed the first passing doctor and asked where she could find Shamus McDugal.....

Seth went over to his mother and whispered, "She doesn't like him to well it seems." The doctor nodded and took Leanne to McDugals room. He still looked like hell but was breathing fairly good, with O2 being administered through small hoses hooked up to his nose. He too was hooked up to all sorts of monitors. In the other room Seth looked at Evie. Have you gotten any rest or sleep?"

Leanne leaned against the doorway and watched McDugal for a short while. He looked like death, but at least he still had a pulse. After that short time, she entered the room and sat backwards on a chair with her elbows on the back of it to wait for him to wake up. Evie turned to Seth and nodded, "I slept with Mum." She said, "So I'm fine. What about you?".....

He smiled. "I got some sleep last night." he turned to his father, "I will be glad when you are up and about to take control again." he grinned. "I have had a good sample of what you go through and don't envy you." he gave his father a big grin. Anubis chuckled and motioned for him to come back over to him. He again put an arm about Seth and hugged him. "I am proud of you son."

Evie nodded and crawled back onto the bed with eher mother. Raven put her good arm over and cuddled her up
....
Cain and Afrika had a hard day. They had to place all those of the flock that died in a room to prepare them for the funeral rite. The children were brought back home and those that had lost their parents wept and had to be consoled. Word was sent to them about Anubis which made Cain breath easier. He turned to Afrika and held her tightly to him. His two sons were there with them clinging to them. "What to do now?" he whispered.

Afrika looked over the dead and sighed sadly, "We need to send their souls home before we do anything else." She said, then looked at the bodies again, "I don't have enough Magik in me to send them all, but i'll do what I can."....

"We will all try to help you." he told her. He didn't know how much magik that the others had or could help with. His forces and those of his new allies were still on full alert. Cain was still weighing his options on if he should attack or not in retaliation. Back in LA, McDugal groaned and opened his eyes slightly.

Afrika nodded and then took the boys to their private nest. The other youngling survivors had been placed there for safe keeping until the healthy females could take them in.
Leanne lifted her head slightly and smiled, "Welcome back." She said quietly, "Hows the hero?"....

"Can you have who ever is beating me on the head stop doing that." he said in a low voice. His eyes were bloodshot and it with the pale skin made him look horrible. "How many were saved?" he asked.

Leanne laughed quietlly, but then her face turned sad, "You saved Anubis and a good few others, but I think most of them have died, or since died." She told him....

He closed his eyes a painful and sad look on his face. "Wasn't strong enough!"

Leanne shook her head, "You did the best you could." She said, "You can't expect to run a marathon when you've only just started crawling."....

He slowly shook his head. He blamed himself for not being stronger. More should have been saved. "What about Cain's flock?" he asked.

Leanne chewed her lip a little, "They lost a lot too." She said, "But thankfully, a lot of this seasons young weren't in the palace or the city, so I would imagine they're ok." She reached forward and touched his arm lightly, "Don't beat yourself up, Shamus." She told him, "You're not Merlin, not yet and even he couldn't have saved more than you did. Anubis and the Primus will be happy for the ones you did save. And that human girl, whats-her-name, she saved a few too."....

"Sophia." he nodded his head slowly. "She is good. she has studied the Angelus for the past ten years and knows them well." He opened his eyes again and looked at Leanne. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm fine." She said.....

"Thats good. Think I will go back to sleep." he said, "Feel so tired." and he slipped back to sleep.

Leanne smiled and nodded as she patted him lightly on the shoulder, "I'll be here when you wake up." She promised.....

Those that survived the attack were all taken to what had been a large lobby area of the new headquarters. Beds were brought in, curtins put up to give some privacy. Medical equipment had been brought in and set up to monitor their conditions. Most were awake and gaining their strength back, but were kept in bed by Sophia's orders. She had been traveling back and froth between the hospital and the new headquarters.

Her lycan mate had been traveling with her, not only for protection but to help her in any way that he could. She had been teaching him things that she had learned and it had paid off. Now the two made the survivors of the Angelus as comfortable as they could.

As the day went on, the color began to come back to Mcdugal, he was weak still as well and when he opened his eyes again he could barely move with out every nerve in his body complaining. "Still here? You need to get some rest." he told Leanne. "You had a very hard time of it carrying two of us."

Anubis' regenerative power made him heal better and faster, and the same went for those that he had changed. What ever was in the meteors that fell long ago gave him the regenerative power along with everything else. He was able to get rid of the IV, and the monitor hook ups and he prowled around the hospital a bit. He began getting reports on the clean up effort that Seth had ordered. More and more he could see his son was a born leader.

He came back to their room after talking with Seth and looked at Raven. "Now what is this I hear that I am in trouble with you?"

Leanne spent much of her time checking in with the others and introducing herself to the famous Sophie. She really rather liked the girl, even though she was human and she liked her intended too. She was back to McDugal's bedside though before he woke and when he finally did, she smiled and took her feet off the end of the bed. She smiled at his comment and poured him some water. "Welcome back to the land of the living." She told him as she helped him sip some water. She smiled again and shook her head, "I'm fine." She said, "I've been much longer than this without sleep, so don't you worry about me. Besides, Raven barely weighs anything at all, so I on;y felt your weight on me."

Across the hall, Raven was coming round a little more too. She was still incredibly sore, but her wounds were healing well and a nurse was coming and going regularly to clean and check it. She was told she would be heavily scarred because of the style of weapon and the drug that tipped it, but beyond cosmetics, she would be fine and Sophie had done her checks too and given the all clear. Raven would be airborne again within a few weeks. She was resting on her back when Anubis came to her and then the nurse came back again to change the dressing and clean it again.

Raven smiled when she saw Anubis, "I'm glad to see you're up and about." She told him and then laughed, "On any other day, you'd be in big trouble." She said, "I'd already told Seth he couldn't have a glider until he was old enough, but you went and got him one anways." The nurse came to the end of the bed and motioned for Raven to sit up. "But after what happened." She grunted as she pulled herself to sit uprifght, "I'm so very happy that you did." The action split open a couple of stitches as her wing dropped, but the seepage was very little and therefore, not dangerous. The nurse scooted past Anubis and went about removing the gauze and cleaning the leakage before putting on a fresh one. "Sophie says I should be able to fly again in a few weeks, so that's good." She said, but then her face dropped, "She reckons I'll be badly scarred and the nurse won't let me look at it yet. Is it really as bad as that?" She turned her shoulder out towards him and moved the wing joint slightly. The sight was horrendous to say the least and the overall scar would cover a lot of her left side back....

McDugal looked at her and wasn't to sure about it all. He didn't care if she was an abnormal, one that was powerful and all. Carrying his weight around for the time that she had still would have taxed her and then being up for who knows how long after, should have put her down for some time. "Now you are going to have to explain something to me. It took us hours to fly in a jet to get up north and then a long time on foot to the Sanctuary. How did you get us here in such a short time?"

Seth was checking in on the Angelus, letting them know that his mother and father were doing fine. One young Angelus girl that had lost her father he sat down next to. Her name was Ashla. He put a comforting arm about her shoulders. She leaned her head on his shoulder and cried some. Most of the adults were back on their feet but with Sophia around were shooed back to thier beds for at least another day or two. The children seemed to have recovered even quicker and as long as they rested, she let them stay together and comfort each other.

Anubis chuckled at her comment about the glider. "He felt so left out with the others learning to fly and will soon be flying all over the city. I had a feeling you would be angry but you know me, I can't say no to much to our children." It had been a good thing from what he had learned. He had saved his sister's life with the darying stunt he had pulled. He had only been up in it once with Anubis there to fly over him to insure his safety. "The boy is a natural flyer." he grinned. Once he gets his own wings, he will not take long to learn to use them."

He actually thought that she would be pissed at him for sending the team of lycans and humans to follow her and protect her if need be. Again from talking to Leanne it seemed they all gave their lives to do just that. Anubis looked at Raven's back. Indeed the scar was long but it would not be as bad as she though. "If McDugal was well enough, I would see if he could help with that. But he is still in bad shape after what he has done. What happened up there that gave him such an ability to heal.

Then he thought of the Elders at the Sanctuary. "What of the Elders up there. Did you see them?"

The rest of the country was stunned when Argyle made his announcement to the world that he was surrendering to Anubis. He explained it to them that it was to prevent more bloodshed, and show that it was not the United States that had been involved in the attack. Even though he knew elements of the governmen had supported it. But they were all dead, incenerated in an instant in the nucular hell that had decended on Washington D.C. Anubis now had access to the nucular arsenal of one of the most powerful nations on Earth.

Leanne couldn't help but scoff a little at McDugal's comment about her flight. She pulled out her cigarettes and lit one up before daring a nurse to order she put it out again. Her eyes glared at the human woman, willing her almost to say something, but it seemed the nurse knew better and simply walked away. Leanne got out of the seat and went to a window to open it and she blew the smoke outside. "It's not magik, if that's what you're getting at, Sweetheart." She told him flatly. "Your man made jet engines and aerodynamic doo-hickies couldn't possible match the speed of a griffin. How else do you think we've evaded you for as long as we have? Angelus can achieve the same speed in the air if they want to, they have the mjuscle power; they just choose not to use it." She flicked the cigarette end out of the window and turned back to him. "Besides, you needed to get back pdq." (pretty damn quick) She smiled and sat back in her chair before she put her feet up on the end of his bed. "You gonna eat that?" She asked, pointing to a small pot of lemon jelly on his lunch tray.

Raven nodded lightly and smiled, "Yes, he is." She replied, "And I know how left out he has been feeling, especially since Evie has fledged now, but he's still not mature enough to handle the change. It floored you and you were already half way there and remember how agonizing it was for some of the hybrids." She shook her head lightly, "Seth isn't half as strong physically yet as he needs to be. When he has passed puberty, then I will allow it."

For a short time, she considered using the Genorran gifts in McDugal to rid herself of the scar. She had always prided herself for having so few scars and keeping her scales and underlying skin so well maintained. She wanted to keep that. She called for a nurse to bring a mirror so she could see it for herself. What she saw upset her, but the longer she looked at it, the more she began to doubt wanting to be rid of it. After some time, she put the mirror down and moved her wing slightly. It as still painful. She thought about it some more and then took a deep breath. "No." She said eventually, "I don't want rid of it. It will remind me never to underestimate a human again. As long as it doesn't affect my flight, I'll keep the scar."

*******

Word began to spread across the nations of how many had been killed in Anubis' retaliation and the body count was still rising. The initial estimates had been around 30 million, but that had been confined to the blast area alone. By the end of the count, the number of dead would be over a billion. The weather quickly picked up the nulcear clouds and carried them world-wide. The only continents that would survive the travelling nulear dust would be Australia and Antarctica.

In the coming months, the cloud would become so widespread that it would partially block the sun. First, crops would either fail or take far longer to grow and livestock would begin to suffer the effects of irradiated water and food, humans would become far more suspebtable to aggressive cancers and the blast zones would show more of the damaging radiation that would leave the areas uninhabitable for millenia. The number of dead resulting in further poisoning, starvation and disease could possible rid the world of nearly half the human population when all was finished.

To Raven, a vision of this new world would be incredibly strange, but at the same time, something far closer to what she remembered it to be. It would take some getting used to and what life managed to survive and flourish again would have to be very carefully managed.....

A billion dead was the count after a few days of counting. After a few months that number increased by several million. It had been a costly mistake for those that had wanted to wipe out the Angelus. Those governments that survived the retribution of Anubis came to see that he was not one to be angered. Now with the surrender of the rest of the United States to his Empire he had control of even a larger arsenal of nuclear weapons. None wanted to chance being the next target. There were those that cried out for his destruction because of what he had done, but they were ignored or silenced, depending on what country they were from. Australia and the Antarctica was not effected by the radioactive cloud, nor was Africa and part of the Asia.

The deadly radiation cloud that formed over Europe had been the most devastating. It moved over europe and Russia and down into China where it took its most deadliest toll of human life. Once over the ocean it was swept north, missing Anubis' empire as if some unseen force was protecting it. Up through northren Canada and back down across europe again till it finally was cleared by the acid rain that fell from the radiated clouds. Some governments were quick to react and sheltered livestock of all kinds, brought in harvests and placed them in caverns or sealed buildings and the like to protect them. But that would not be enough to help the millions that soon found food shortages, and contaminated water sources. Many tried to escape it all by flocking to Africa, and the countries there. They were now the refugees.

Food shortages began riots of those that stayed. The military forces of the european countries collasped and Units began taking control of areas and food and resources. It was total Chaos. Russia and China began a conventional war for what good land remained, resources, food and clean water. The world was in turmoil and no one knew when things would once again calm down and return to some sort of normality. Over those months of turmoil more people died of starvation, radiation poisioning, being killed in fights over resources and the like made the death toll clime even higher. By the end of six months the death toll rose to 2 billion.

Once Anubis was able to resume command of his empire, he mobilized men and equipment and built a wall of dirt, stone and concret around the remains of Washington DC. It would take time to complete the 100 mile circumfrence wall but it would seal off the radioactive land for the next several thousand years.

McDugal when he was well enough went back north to the Sanctuary. He asked Leanne if she would be going back up with him. "Not sure of your plans and all but it would be nice to have a friend to talk to up there and one that knows a thing or two."

There Gabrial greeted him with a huge hug that nearly crushed his still healing body. The big Angelus was glad to see him, for after all he did save his life and that of Raven. But he did not go alone. Anubis was not letting him go alone, not the Hero of the Empire. He sent a complement of lycans and human soldiers with him. These Gabrial looked over and allowed in to the Sanctuary. He had seen the battle zone that those that had been sent to protect Raven had fought in and how they had died to the last man and lycan caring out their duty. This had impressed the large Angelus. Besides he was now the only one there. The elders were finally gone. He had given them the proper funeral that was befitting thier station. Between beginning to rummage through the archives and spending time at Pandora, he was able to formulate a vaccine against the radiation poisioning that even in the empire was begining to take its toll. He was amazed at the knowledge that the Angelus had accumulated and had not used, or had no need to use.

When he returned back to LA for a visit, he looked strong, healthy, and wiser.

During those Six Months, Anubis took Seth with him to most of the places he went. Where he could he let the boy take his glider and use it. For long distances he was in the planes but he was also being taught how to fly them. Anubis wanted those he dealt with to know who Seth was and that he would one day be the leader of a portion of the Empire. On many occasions Seth had asked for a young Angelus girl and her mother to come along. That made Anubis have a talk with Raven. "Seems our boy has taken a fancy to a young lady." he told her. Even though they were still children Anubis thought it was kind of nice. "Seems the two have been almost ever where together of late. The two have also been seen flying around the city together now that she has learned to fly."

Raven was able to return home shortly after Anubis, but it would be a while longer than planned to get airborne again. Still, Sophie wouldn't give up and neither would Raven. She spent much of her time following the world's events and writing in her thoughts in new journals. So many people had died as a result of Anubis, but that didn't bother her so much. The numbers left would easily repopulate, but the damage to the planet was immense. Vast areas were completely destroyed and what was left was quickly following suit. Anubis was doing what he could to limit the spread of the damage on the ground, but if the humans continued to fight over what was left, they would soon be left with nothing at all! These thoughts, she took to her husband and to Cain as well, for he would find much the same trouble.

In the blink of an eye, six months had passed. Leanne had gone with McDugal, happy to look after him so to speak and things were moving on. The walls were growing daily and those loyal to Anubis were starting to come through on their promises. When McDugal returned with his new knowledge and understanding, Raven spent much of her time with him, discussing what he had learned and answering what questions she could. His vaccine for the radiation poisoning, Raven thought was wonderful, but she warned him to use it wisely. The warring nations around them would take advantage if they could and sell it only to the highest bidder while they allowed the lesser folk to suffer. Raven made it clear she would not allow this. In fact, she told him it would be better to vaccinate everything but human first. That was just personal opinion though.

Other things happening didn't go unnoticed either. Anubis wasn't the only one to spot Seth's liking for a young fledgling, but she remained a few steps back. Males belonged with their own for that lesson. She would deal with Evie when it happened.......

McDugal took Raven's advice to some degree. First the people and animals of the Empire and Cain's empire were given the vaccine. But he was able to get more out to those in the war torn europe and Russia. Human and animals were given it, mostly the civilian population and those in the military groups that were trying to help the people. The damage to the world was quite a bit, but with the help of McDugal and Gennora over the next few years began healing the earth as well as the people. He was becoming quite the man in the news so to speak. Ten years finally past and the wars in Europe finally came to an end. The boundries had changed, as had the governments. Most of Europe was not small little kingdoms with dictators ruling them. Russia was still there, but not as large. China had suffered greatly and its vast population had dwindled to only ten million. But other things were happening as well. Seth and Ashla had become quite the couple. Seth was now twenty and of the age that he could receive the gift. Anubis looked at Raven. "It is time my love, to give our son his wings."

So many more things happened over the years that before Raven could blink barely, ten years had passed. The entire Northern hemisphere had been reshaped and remapped and it seemed very strange to her. It was like going back in time several thousand years! McDugal's dispersal of the vaccine didn't go down too well with her. She had preferred to see everything else restored first, but at least he didn't just hand it out to anyone. The biggest change though, was Seth. In ten short years, he had become a man and a strong, proud and loyal one. Evie was taking longer, but that was down to her blood. The ageing process started slowing during puberty in Angelus. While Seth was a proud 21yr old gentleman, Evie remained in her mid teens so to speak. Ashla grew a little quicker, both her parents being hybrids and looked to be in her late teens. It was Seth's birthday and Raven was as ever the proud mother. Evie stood by with her friends and sang their happiness as all females would, but Raven sat aside from them slightly. Seth was a man now and it was time for her to step back and let him be so. Then Anubis came to her and told her and she nodded, "I know." She said with some sadness. "How time flies." she got to her feet and just by chance, caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her skin looked paler than usual and her hair looked darker. Just then, her necklace shifted. It was a large piece, covering most of her neck, upper shoulders and down into her clevage. It was the top part of it that dropped slightly as she lifted her head and she saw that familiar sight. A slight colour of purple. Then she moved her wings just to make sure and it was there. The faint beginnings of that scent. Raven took a deep breath. "His timing is worse than the Elders." She said quietly and moved to Anubis.....

Anubis was proud of his son, even though he was not of his blood. The boy was now a man. Strong, muscular, handsome and a good leader. Anubis could not have asked for a better son then Seth. It was time for him to be given the gift that he had promised Seth so many years ago. It was his birthday and what better time for him to receive it. He seen how him and Ashla were together and it was only proper that he become like her and the others. He noticed Raven and the way she was acting. Then on the air he caught that scent and he looked at her, raising a brow. As she moved to him he looked at her. "What?" he grinned.

"I said." She said, "His timing is worse than the Elders." The grin on his face told her he knew exactly what was happening. "I feel sorry for him to go through this within such a short time of his birth. I was hoping to have a couple of years before this happened."......

"Well my love, he is strong and he has been waiting for this for such a long time." He kissed her and then moved up to Seth. He looked around the assemblage. "My son has awaited this day for a long time. So I will not make a long speach or anything." He turned to his son, "Are you ready?" Seth said, "Yes father." Anubis leaned in and sank his fangs into his sons neck. After a bit he stopped and cut his arm to let his son take his blood. He then laid him down on a couch that had been prepared for it. He watched as his son began his transformation into first a vampire that Anubis had once been. He had watched this before so many times. When Seth opened his eyes, Anubis turned to Raven, smiling. "Now it is up to you."

Raven watched with pride as Anubis turned their son. It was done with dignity and in silence. Once Seth was placed on the couch and Anubis invited her to them, she carefully moved forward and stood over Seth. His skin hadn't paled any like the lower vampires she was familiar with, but she could see the difference clearly in his eyes. She smiled down at him and carefully sat on the edge of the sofa. "Now you really do have your father's eyes." She said to him softly. "Are you ready?".....

He smiled up at his mother, "I have waited for this day for so long." he said happily. "I am ready to become like you and father." He now smelled the scent and he shook his head. He had been told by his father about it, and the change it brought.

Raven smiled and nodded, but her eyes were sad, "Then forgive me, Son, for the pain I'm about to put you through." She said quietly, "I was hoping for another year or two at least, give you time to adjust before you had to put up with what we can do to our males. You'd best take off your shirt. I know it's your favourite and I don't want it ruined." She looked at Anubis briefly as Seth removed the shirt and then she smiled back at him again. She opened her wings wide and bore her fangs at him, "Take a deep breath, my darling." She bit into his throat, but didn't take too much, salivating the rest back into the wound. She then opened her wrist and gave him her blood as well. She wanted his genes as close to her own as possible. "Keep breathing deep, Seth, no matter how much it hurts, keep breathing it in." She told him as she began wafting her scent over him......

"The pain will be worth it mother." he told her and felt her bite him and then give him some of her blood as she let the scent loose. He took in a deep breath, taking in the scent and then felt the change begin. He gritted his teeth as he stood up and then went to one knee, clenching his fists as the tell tale buldges formed on his back. He took in deep breaths like his mother told him. Cain and Africa stood there watching along with his flock. This was a big day and all had been invited. Cain put a hand on Anubis's shoulder. "A fine addition my son. Your son is a great leader already and now will be a full fleged Angelus." Anubis could only smile and look at his son with pride. Soon the wings began to emerge and Seth stood lifting his face to the sky. Ashla stood close bya proud look on her face as well. For so many years she had been going every where with Seth. He had showed an intrest in her then and she had taken one in him. Soon enough it was over and a slight trickle of blood ran down his back as the base of his wings sealed and closed the cut skin. He was breathing a bit heavily, but the look on his face was of satisfaction and contentment. He turned to Ashla and she ran to his opened arms. He looked at his mother and father a broad smile on his face. "Thank you." he said

Raven couldn't hold it back any longer and let a tear of happiness slide down her cheek. "Happy birthday." She said. Once Ashla moved away, Raven chanced a small cuddle with him, "Try not to breathe too deeply this time." She said with a small laugh.....

Seth kissed his mother's cheek, as a cheer went up from the rest of the Angelus. Seth flexed his wings and knew it was going to take a bit to get use to them, and fly with them. He looked over at Evie and grinned. He held his open arms out to her and she moved into them and hugged her brother. "Now we can race and see who is the better flyer." she snickered.

Raven stepped back again and laughed as Evie came to him and told him about the race. Judging by his wingspan, he might very well outpace her. That would not do him any favours as just lately, Evie was the fastest in the sky next to her mother. After watching the celebrations a while longer, Raven made her exit and went up to her garden. It had matured beautifully and now covered the entire roofspace of their palace and it was now completely quake proof too. She moved around the grass for a while and then removed all her outer clothing and jewelry.....

Evie had gown and was a spitting image of her mother. She was still young looking but she was filling out nicely and that had not gone unnoticed by one of the young males from Cain's flock. He had already excelled in his military training and was a leader amoung the young Angelus there. But he was arrogant and to full of himself. There was a second male Angelus that also took an intrest in herHe was not like Braun, he was more down to earth and thought to help others instead of doing things to make himself look good. His name was Darius. Both were handsome, strong and tall. Fine specimen of the Angelus. Braun moved forward and introduced himself. The way he looked at Evie was unmistakeable. Darius stood back a pace or two his eyes drinking in every inch of Evie, a slight smile onhis lips and a look in his eyes.

Evie smiled and laughed with her friends and her brother and was enjoying the party. Then a male approached her and she looked him over as any female would. Her mother had told her many times since she'd started puberty about males and now that she was grown enough to sttract their attention, she knew she had to be on guard around them. "Hello." She said to him. Her friends backed off a step, eyeing him the way he was eyeing her. "You're from Grandpa's flock, aren't you.".....

"Yes I am." he said. Anubis saw the young male and stepped forward a couple paces. Braun noticed and bowed his head in respect and took a step back. Darius grinned and moved forward, "An honor to meet you sir." he said to Anubis "I was but very young when you and Raven came to our nest. I am Darius, son of Tanis and Arlena." he looked at Evie a warm smile on his lips.
Anubis looked at the second Angelus male and raised a brow as he saw how he looked at Evie. It was not the raw desire that he saw in Braun's eyes. Anubis smiled and said, "Welcome to LA." then he looked at Braun. He was a fine speciman but had backed down when he had apporoached, while Darius had boldly introduced himself to him. He liked that. Then he looked at Evie. It looked as if she had two suitors. Now he wished Raven had not left. He could have used her advice.

Raven spent a short while longer on the roof and then decided it was best to get back before she was thought rude. She did however, leave her fancy dress and jewelry behind. She didn't feel as comfortable in them as she used to. She had a slave take them back to her nest and she returned to the party in a far more simpler gown without all the finery of before. She noticed something happening across the room and made her way there, smiling at Seth as she went. When she reached the happenings, she smiled at the males and Evie before moving to Anubis. "You're nervous." She said quietly, "I can smell it."....

He had begun talking to the two males and Cain joined him. Cain told him about both the males. Braun was a strong and upcoming leader amoung the Angelus. Darius had shown himself to be a capable leader and had already lead troops in to battle on boarder skirmishes with those not alined with them. It was then that Raven made her appearance again, dressed in a simpler gown. He looked at her andthen at Evie and then the two male Angelus. Yeah he was a bit nervous. It was his daughter after all that the two were evidently wanting.

Raven smiled and then nodded to Cain briefly, "Father." She said, then looked again at the two juvenile males. She smiled with knowing and then lifted her head up. She lifted an eyebrow at Braun, "Well now, who does that one remind you of?" She said with a laugh. Her eyes then fell on Darius and she considered him carefully. "He's different." She looked to Cain, "Are these both from your flock?".....

Cain chuckled and nodded. "Yes, and he does remind me of some one." he looked at Anubis. Anubis laughed as he understood. Yes indeed young Braun did remind him of himself. But that had been a very long time ago it seemed. Before Raven and the children. Seth, kissed Ashla on the cheek and whispered something to her. She chuckled and nodded and went to find her parents. Seth joined the group. Braun gave Seth a nodd of his head and Darius stuck out his hand to Seth who took it and shook it firmly. He then moved next to Evie, like a protector. This raised a brow on Braun but a smile on Darius' lips.

Raven laughed also and then smiled more when Seth came to join them. Evie seemed to be taking it in her stride and smiled equally at both males. She then grinned at Seth before excusing herself to go and find Afrika. She wanted the lowdown on them both. At that point, Matthaius came over with his wife and their daughter, Amber. Raven smiled and hugged them both before rubbing Amber's forehead with her thumb. "My, she's getting big!" She said. Matthaius grinned proudly and then lifted an eyebrow at Raven. "You smell gorgeous." He said with a grin, "What do you think, Anubis, ole boy?".....

Anubis chuckled and looked at Raven and then at Mathaius, a grinn on his lips. "Might have another little one running around here soon."

Raven lifted an eyebrow, "Oh thanks, guys!" She chortled, "Seth turns juvenile and you're already planning the new addition?" Matthaius laughed openly, "Well, that's the way it's done isn't it?" He asked. Raven laughed back, "Yeh, one at a time." She replied, "I had two." She looked at Anubis and half smiled, half scowled, "You wouldn't.".....

He grinned and took her into his arms and whispered, "Well only if you are in the mood." he kissed her cheek. He wouldn't mind another child. Yes it was something as they grew, but it was also fun and exciting. Braun and Darius excused themselves as they adults talked about things that one day they would be talking about. They both saw Evie talking to Afrika and she looked up at the two. Both turned away and made like they were doing something else. Seth looked on and chuckled. He knew that in the End it would be Evie that would make the choice. McDugal finally made his entrance. He had again but up north reading, studying and spending time with Gennora. He moved up to Seth and gave the young man a hugg. "Blast, I missed the whole thing." he said. He then took a step back and looked at Seth. "You look magnificent."

Raven lifted an eyebrow, but said nothing more on the matter. She knew very well by the new moon, she'd birth. She smiled then to see McDugal and began chatting with Matthaius's wife. Leanne also arrived with McDugal and began the rounds with the flocks. She was glad to see them. She looked different too, having lost a lot of the weight she once had. She spotted Seth and went to him with a wide grin and a whistle. "Hello Handsome!" She said openly, then handed over a small gift for him, "Happy birthday, Seth.".....

Seth hugged Leanne and took the gift. "Now what did you bring me?" he asked as he opened the package.

Leanne smiled as he opened the box to reveal a small, but beautiful silver medallion on a long silver chain. On one side of the coin, there was some finely engraved writing and on the other, a griffin. "Just a little something." She said....

He leaned over and kissed her on her cheek. "Thank you." he told her with a warm smile. He noticed that she had also lost weight and then looked over at McDugal. He raised a brow like his father often did when thinking of something. Her and McDugal had been spending alot of time together and basicly alone. A small base had been built up north to house the lycans and humans that were stationed there, but they left McDugal do what he wanted. They hunted with Gabriel and helped keep watch over the Sanctuary. He wondered about the two. He turned back to Leanne a questioning look on his face.

Leanne smiled as she took the medallion from him and then reached up on her tiptoes to put it around his thick neck. "Looks good on you." She said, then furrowed her brow and cocked her head to one side. "I know that look." She said, "Your dad gives me that look. What's up?"....

He grinned a lopsided grin and looked over at McDugal. "Been up north for a very long time." he looked at her again with a questioning look.

Leanne looked at McDugal briefly and then back at Seth. "Shamus?" She asked, "Shamus and me?" She choked into her hand lightly, trying to stifle the laughter so as not to embarrass herself too much. "Seth, you are such a sweetie and yes, we've been up there a long time alone, but trust me. It ain't gonna happen." She patted his shoulder lightly, "Shamus is fantastic for a human, don't get me wrong, but we're not a couple. Not like that. He's my best friend. I wouldn't fuck that up for all the life on the planet." She smiled again and made him turn around. "Now let me see those gorgeous wings of your's!"......

Seth chuckled. He still wondered. He had talked to other adult Angelus about Griffins and found that male and female Griffins didn't get along to well, except to mate and then seperate again. That was why he wondered about Leanne and McDugal. They had hit it off pretty good and she had lost weight. The only reason he could think of was that she was doing it for him. He turned around and let her inspect his new wings. Anubis also looked at her with a wondering look. Yes she said he was her best friend and all but...........one wondered. Shamus came and joined them again. It had been ten years but he didn't look any older. Anubis had a feeling that he had been blessed with a very long life from his new friend in the north.

Leanne shook her head and laughed as she ran her fingers through his feathers. "Laugh all you like." She told him, "And believe what you like. Shamus will tell you the same thing." She smiled to him then. "Pretty good, ain't he." She said.....

Shamus looked at them all, "Now what did I miss?" he asked.

Leanne grinned, "Handsome here thinks we're knocking boots." She said, "Ya know, being alone up there all that time. He reckons to us being a twosome."....

Shamus laughed at it, but he wondered himself. He liked Leanne, even though she was quite different. How she transformed in to human form from her Griffen form he had no idea, but he wondered if he would ever have had a chance with her. "Naw, we are just good friends." he said

"Told ya." She scoffed. "Besides, I wouldn't wanna fuck it up, what we got is special." Her voice took on a more serious note. "Mating with him would change how we are and I like how we are." She turned her head to him, "Don't we?"....

He nodded though he could not look her in the eye. Her tone told it all and he knew he was not the one for her. He just chuckled and said, "Besides I am not the marrying type. Guess it is a hold over from the old days when I was a priest." He turned to Seth, "Well my young friend, you had best be off over there and enjoy your party." he nodded to Ashla.

Leanne laughed at the joke, but the punchline wasn't as funny as he made it out to be. She waited until Seth went to Ashla and then turned to face him. "Ok, you convinced him." She said, "Now try convincing yourself. Or maybe we could take a moment and you could try and convince me instead?".....

He gave her a questioning look, "What?" he asked and shook his head then he greeted a couple that ten years ago he had saved. He smiled and gave both of them a hugg as they did the same to him. With them they had a young one that was a little younger then Seth and Evie had been at the time.

Leanne shook her head, but said nothing while he was talking with a couple and juvenile. She smiled and nodded to them and traded pleasantries and then tapped McDugal on the soulder. "When you're done with the bullshite, you'll find me on the roof." She said quietly, then smiled and traded more pleasantries before she waved to Raven and left. Raven nodded back and smiled....

He didn't want to talk about it with her. Like she said, they had a very good friendship and he didn't want to ruin that. From what she had said he already knew that there would be nothing he could say. He mingled with the others and tried to not think about it.

Leanne went up to the roof and sat herself near the edge so she could look out over the new city. It was so much cleaner than she remembered it to be. The air was clean, the ground was clean, the ocean behind them was clean. The world smelled like it should. Downstairs, Raven made her way over to McDugal. "Are you ok?" She asked softly. "I saw her leave."....

He put on his best smile and said, "Of course." Then shugged his shoulders. "I guess she wanted to get some air." he made up an excuse. He knew though that he would probably have to talk to Leanne about it though. He knew her all to well and how stubbron she could be and not forget anything.

Raven offered a smile, "You know me better than that." She told him, "Leanne doesn't walk off like that just for air."....

Well he knew he couldn't put anything over on Raven. "Just let it go." he told her. "Something I don't think would be good for the moment." He stuck his hands in his pockets and headed for the door. Anubis moved up to Raven putting his arms about her. "Problem?" he asked.

Raven put a hand on his shoulder and smiled softly, "Just have it out with her and see what happens. You'll regret it if you don't, I promise." He left and she felt Anubis put his arms around her from behind. "Only if he doesn't try." She said, then tilted her head back and smiled up at him. "Are things still going here, or are we winding down for the night?"....

"Oh probably going to go on for a while." he grinned. When she mentioned something about only if he doesn't try, he looked over at the door. "You talking about Shamus and Leanne? I thought they said they were not involved?"

Raven nodded, "She said it." She said, "But I think there's something more there that he's too scared to say and she's too stubborn to listen. They've been close for a long time."....

He sighed. "Yes a long time indeed. So you think that Shamus has some feelings for Leanne but she doesn't for him?" That would not be the first time a man or women felt something for the opposite sex and it was not returned. He felt sad for Shamus. Shamus knew no matter how long he prolonged it she would bring it up the next time they saw each other so he headed to the roof to get it over with.

Raven nodded, "I have no doubt about it." She said. Up on the roof, Leanne was still sat on the edge and watching the night go by. She'd all but given up on Shamus coming to try that punchline again....

He came up and leaned agains the door frame watching her. He shook his head and coughed.

Leanne half turned her head as she heard him cough. "Wanna try for that punchline again, Shamus?" She asked, "Or did I miss summats I wasn't supposed to?".....

He sighed and said, "I think you know." he looked at her and waited to see what she had to say.

Leanne turned around and leaned against the railings as she stared at him, "I think it's a bit of both, don't you?" She asked him back. "What is it exactly that you want from me, Shamus? I mean, we've always been good friends and I trust you with everything. What more can I give you?"....

"We have been together for a very long time." he began. "I know I am only a human, maybe that is the problem. We have a different outlook on some things. But I know your thoughs on the matter, you kind of made that clear, so there is no need to talk about it any further." he turned and began to walk back down the stairs.

Leanne lifted an eyebrow while he said his piece and when he left, she was quick to chase after him. "What the fucking hell is your malfunction!?" She yelled after him. "What under God does your race have to do with me and you being what we are? What do you want from me?! Answer me you kilt wearing, weird talking, bloody male!"....

He turned at her angry voice. He turned and walked back up to her, took hold of her and kissed her. When he broke the kiss, "I think you can figure it out form there." he told her

Leanne was literally robbed of her breath when McDugal kissed her. It wasn't entirely unpleasant. She had an incling he wanted something more than what they had, but she just wouldn't admit to it. When she caught her breath again, she opened her mouth, then closed it again before repeating a few more times. Eventually, she nodded and backed up. "We've been friends a long time, haven't we." She said, "And you've learned a lot about me and my kind, but...." She chewed her tongue, then her cheek before sucking her teeth. "Look Shamus, have you ever wondered why males and females ain't seen together? We can't stand to have them near us and they can't stand being around us. We get together maybe once or twice in a decade to mate and that's it, honey. Any male that sticks around too long and we rip them apart." She shook her head, "Don't you get it, Shamus? You're too important to me."....

"Well it seems like Argyle managed it from what I have been told." he told her, "We have been together quite some time now and have learned quite a bit about each other. But you have said nothing about relationships. I have a feeling that you don't want one or afraid to have one." he shook his head. He turned back to start down again. "You are important to me as well, more then you probably know."

"The only reason I didn't rip him apart was because Matthaius was between us!" She said quickly, "Would you wanna mess with that, would you?!" She shook her head, "I don't say anything about relationships because they don't exist in my world, never have. I could tolerate a male near me long enough to mate with me, but that's it. Wham, bam, thank you Ma'am, don't you get it? If we mate, that's it. Soon as you're done, I'll drive you off, or kill you and I don't wanna do that."...

"Then I guess there is no more to talk about." He continued down the stairs.

"I guess not!" She called after him, "You'll just sit in that damned archive and pretend I don't fucking exist anymore! Is that what you want? Huh?!" The anger in her boiled over and her skin began to shimmer brightly. "Well fuck you too Shamus!" She yelled as the shimmering grew until she seemed to explode out of her skin. It was like Cain's shed all over again and what was left was her griffin form roaring at him.....

He just kept going. It was no use to try and talk to her about it. He took out his cell phone and called for the chopper to pick him up on the helapad. "I'll be returning north immdiately. No I'll be going alone."

Raven heard the commotion and came running up the stairs, "What the hell is going on!?" She demanded. She saw Leanne roaring and throwing a real fit in her garden. McDugal was on the phone and she shoved past him, "My garden!" She yelled, chasing after Leanne.....

Shamus shook his head and continued down. He took the elevator down the rest of the way and crossed over to the helapad where the helecopter awaited. His heart was heavy and he felt very depressed. "Lets go." he told the pilot. It was not going to be the same at the Sanctuary. Anubis and Cain had heard the commotion as well and were not far behind Raven. They saw Shamus entering the elevator and Anubis knew things had not gone to well. When they got to the roof, Leanne had already changed into a griffin. Cain shook his head, "Oh that is not a good sign."

Raven went running up to the griffin and quickly made sure she got in the way. Leanne roared and ripped her way through the garden, destroying everything in her path and when Raven got in her way, she initially went to attack her, but Raven stood her ground. Angry griffins were no different than polar bears to her. Stand your ground, make as much noise as possible and stay where they can see you. Opening her mouth wide, Raven screeched at her friend at the top of her lungs, puffing out her wings and hair feathers to make herself looked far bigger and more intimidating than she was. Leanne roared in pain at the sound, but at least she had stopped her charge. Raven stood her ground and eventually, Leanne had calmed enough that she could approach. "Calm down." She said firmly, "Just knock it off." Leanne huffed and puffed, but then flopped on the ground and covered her head with her wings. She had debased herself and humiliated herself and she didn't need Raven to tell her the damage she had done to her precious garden either. Raven turned her head to Anubis, "Stop him leaving." She said firmly, "Do not let that helo take off, understood?" She then mvoed carefully to Leanne and began running her fingers through the thick fur and feathers. "Shhhh shhhh shhhh." She said, "It's ok.".....

Anubis got on the cellphone and made the call. The pilot had begun taking off but then set it down again. "Sorry sir, orders form Anubis." Up on the roof top, Anubis put his cell phone away and nodded to Raven.

Raven nodded back, "Bring him back up here." She said, "Quietly. Don't tell him why, just bring him." She then moved carefully around Leanne, stroking and petting her to keep her calm and making sure the griffin's attention was focused on her. In this state, she was little more than a wild animal, hurt and frightened so Raven treated her as such.....

Again Anubis called down his order and within a few minutes Shamus was again up on the roof. Being taken back up he knew it had to do with Leanne and he was not looking forward to a talk with Raven. There was nothing that really could be done. He had let Leanne know how he felt and she had told him why she couldn't. What more could be said. It was not meant to be.

Raven lifted her eyes as McDugal arrived back on the roof, but otherwise, she seemed to ignore him as she tenderly ran her finger through the fur and feathers. Leanne shuddered and trembled as Raven continued to coo at her and calm her and it was clear the griffin was heartbroken. "Do you see?" Raven asked quietly as her eyes lifted again to McDugal, "Do you see what you do to her? Don't you know just how much she cares for you?" She waved him forward carefully....

"Yes I know." he said, "As a friend." he continued. "But she can not it seems have anything else but friends." He sat down on a bench, "What you don't see is what it has done to me." he sighed. "For years I lead a life of celabacy because I was a priest. When I do finally meet some one that I found interest in, she is not human, but that didn't matter to me. The past few years have been hell, seeing her each day, wondering what it would be like......" he closed his eyes and shook his head again.

Raven shook her head gently as she kept soothing the griffin at her knees, "You're far more than just a friend to her, surely you can see that." she said quietly. "Many years ago, there was a term for what you are to her. The term is called Companion. Up until the last few centuries, being someone's companion meant you were paired for life. That's how much you mean to her. That's how important you are in her life." She motioned him to come closer, but to be careful. "You can feel it all over her, Shamus. She doesn't know what love is, or what to call it, but she knows that without you in her life, she's nothing. To mate with you would put you on the same field as any other griffin and I don't think she could do that to you. She would rather spend her life childless just to spend it with you." She took his hand and carefully put it into her fur and feathers....

He looked at Raven, "Could you and Anubis be that way? Together but yet not whole? You forget I think, that I am human and have a very different prespective and....... I can not live that way. I don't know how else to put it. It has been ten years of good times, but also hell on me. Perhaps it is best that we know and go our seperate ways. My feelings will only get in the way."

"That's different." She told him, "You and I know what love is and what role it plays in our lives. It's sometihng that's been ingrained into us from birth. Leanne has no concept of it at all except for what she feels for you." She shook her head slightly, "Whatever it has done to you, it's worse for her because she can't imagine living like that. You're demanding that she lives life with you on your terms, or you part ways. Have you considered life on her terms? In her heart, she's given you everything she possibly could and I think she'd be terrified to live on your terms because once you've mated, if that's even possible, there's every chance she will rip you to pieces. What would you choose, Shamus? A life with the one you love where you can share everything and he happy for all eternity, or a single romantic moment. Could you live without her?"....

"I don't know." he told her. "It is not a demand, but a desire to have what every other man and woman has had. That closeness that you and Anubis feel when you hold each other. Is it to much to ask for? The life you are talking about is not sharing everything. She doesn't know the meaning of love because she never experienced it. If she feels towards me like you say, then how could she turn on me. I don't know Raven. I have cherished every moment we have been together these last ten years. But I can not go on living like that.

Raven shook her head, "Centuries of seeing it happen." She said, "Or she might have actually done it, she might have killed a male trying to mate with her, I don't know." She then looked over Leanne's massive body, "And how would you propose to actually do it with her? Seriously, you'd need one hell of a reach ot hump this, wouldn't you agree?" Her voice still remained calm, but unknown to Leanne, she had backed off and McDugal was the one now comforting her. "She could rip me apart without a thought." She mused, "And yet there she is, all but putty in your hands. I wouldn't be surprised if she spends most of her time like this with you.".....

"I don't know." he told her. "In her human form it would be possible." he had no idea of what he should do. Raven had done all the talking, not Leanne. What was her thoughts on it all. What did she think they should do.

Raven smiled and then laughed quietly, "The human skin is just a covering." She offered, "It covers basic functions, but that's it. I thought you knew this, Shamus. Lesson one in griffin camoflage." She shook her head, "Anyway, it doesn't matter. If you can find this as beautiful as her mask, maybe you should just tell her what you see. Maybe then she might actually listen to you."....

Shamus still had no idea of what to do. Leanne was a griffin. Large, winged and fierce. But she was also a woman in his eyes. A shell, a cover Raven called her human form, to him that was her true self. But what was he to do. He looked down at her, he was human she was not.

Shamus stroked her head and just sat there. A shell, an illusion of a woman. He loved her no matter what, but what he wanted would never be. What a cruel turn of fate. "What ever are we to do?" he whispered to her.

Leanne's same honey coloured eyes stared up at him with such devotion, her answer was clear, "Whatever it takes." She gave a small whimper and nuzzled further into him. It put more weight on him, but not half as much as she would have done before she lost the extra half tonne......

"Lets go home." he said to her. He would just have to continue his life of celebacy it seemed. A live with love but not with any of the real closeness others had, that made a man and a woman one. He slowly got to his feet and looked down at Leanne.

Leanne got to her paws, standing level with his shoulder and looked over at him. "If you could be like me, how far would you go to have it?" She asked him.....

He shook his head, "Like you said that would be bad. For male and female Griffins don't stay together." He placed a hand on her face. "What we have is what we have. So we will have to live with that."

"That wasn't what I asked you." She said, licking his hand. "How far would you go to have me?"....

He looked at her, "As far as it would take." he said,

Leanne stopped and looked at him. "So you wouldn't stop until you found a way?" She asked him. At the door, Raven sent a slave down to fetch a robe for Leanne. The slave returned soon after and handed the clothing over to her mistress before leaving again.....

"That is right." he told her.

Leanne remained silent after that and returned her camoflage as she past Raven. She took the robe with a nod of thanks and then entered the building. Raven half turned and looked at the griffin carefully over her shoulder. "She's playing a dangerous game with him." She said quietly, but not to anyone in particular, "A very dangerous one."......

Anubis heard Raven's words, "Why do you say that?" he asked.

Raven snapped her head back round to Anubis and blinked a few times before shaking her head. "A bad feeling." She said honestly, "If Shamus is willing to do anything to have her, she'll do more to make it happen. I think she might go too far."....

"What would you have done if you were in her place?" he asked her. He took her into his arms. "She wishes to be with him and I think more then just a companion. She may not know love but I think she is learning fast." Yes it could be dangerous but then again it might be the only way.

Raven looked up at him, "I would probably do the self and same thing." She said, "But I have an advantage over her. I saw love between my parents so I had a basic understanding. She doesn't have the lsightest idea."....

Anubis smiled. "Her feelings for him, they way she acted here, I think she has started to understand. Besides she has seen us and how we act towards each other and that of Cain and Afrika and others around her. I think she is not with out some understanding." He then let her go and took her by the hand and followed them down the stairs. Soon they were on the ground floor and outside looking at Shamus and Leanne entering the chopper. "Have a little faith my love. Both Shamus and Leanne are intelligent and will take what precautions that need to be taken."

"I'm more concerned about precautions for him than her." She said with worry, but smiled and waved as the helicopter left. She went back inside and then up to the nest....

Anubis returned to the party and saw Evie still talking with Afrika. He would have to have a talk with Cain and get the full details on the two. He saw Braun move up to Afrika and Evie and begin talking to them. Afrika gave him a smile and moved off a bit. "Ah finally I get to talk to you alone." he told her.

Afrika smiled and sipped her drink. "Indeed." She said, "You want to talk about Darius and Braun, yes?".....

Before Braun came up to her, and while Anubis, Raven, Cain, Shamus and Leanne were up on the roof, Evie had some questions. "Yes she said. What do you know of them?"

Afrika half smiled and wrinkled her nose a little. "Chalk and cheese." She said, "They couldn't be more different. Braun is well, all braun. He's a first class general with all the skills and more you'd expect and he knows it. He can be arrogant and self absorbed, but sweet and romantic when it suits him. He doesn't like not getting his way, I can tell you that much. Darius on the other hand is totally different. They are both of general standard, but he keeps more to himself. He's polite to a fault, but he often seems nervous around females. Cain passed him over as Guardian General when he disappeared a few years ago. A female in his nest went into season and he vanished. Came back a month or so later, but by then, Cain had made his choices."....

Evie made one of those faces her mother did when pondering something. She was after all just like her mother in every respect. Even Cain had made a remark about it. She bit her lower lip as she glanced at one then the other.

Afrika smiled at Evie and touched her hair feathers lightly, "You've got millenia to decide what you want, Evie. You've no need to rush your thoughts on it." Evie smiled back and hugged her, "Thanks Grandma." She replied....

"So how do you like living here?" Braun asked her, "It is quite different here then in my part of the world."

Evie smiled honestly, "I love it here." She said, "Yeh, I guess it's very different from the desert."....

"Have you been to Cain's Empire?" he asked.

Evie nodded, "A few years back when Dad and Grandpa were doing something or other. Spent most of my time with Marcus."....

He recalled Anubis's visit back then but had not seen Evie there. Of course she would have been well guarded and kept out of the way. "Did you get to see much of the sights?"

Evie nodded, "A fair few. Went flying with Marcus over the gulf. It was nice, but the heat got to me a little.".....

"Oh you get use to it after awhile." he told her. "Are you planning on coming back over any time soon?"

Evie wrinkled her nose a little, "I might be later in the year when the heat goes. It depends on school really.".....

He grinned at that, "I have completed my schooling and have excelled in my military training. Cain himself has congradulated me on my endevors." he seemed very proud of that, his chest puffing out and he moved his wings. "Haven't you completed all the schooling that has been deemed necessary we attend?"

Evie lifted an eyebrow as he puffed himself out with pride and she could hear the females behind her all but swooning. She painted on a smile nontheless and remained polite about it. "Yeh, I heard Cain chose you to be Guardian General. That's impressive." She then shook her head, "I've completed the basic eds, but I want to study more. Dad's given me free reign at Harvard and MIT and then I might go up North with Shamus to study the old texts."....

"Why do you want to do that? There is such opportunities out there in the world." he had also heard the other young Angelus females behind them. This only made him try and make himself more impressive. "You should come earlier to my part of the world. I will be glad to show the sights more in depth."

Evie furrowed her brow a little, "Because I want to know as much as I can before I make any decisions and it will give me a better understanding when I do make them." She said matter of factly, "The world will still be there when I get back and I have all the time in the world."....

Braun waas about to speak again when Darius moved past them. Braun gave him a skowl. But Darius ignored him and just gave Evie a look, and then turned and asked her, "Would you care to dance?" The music was playing a slow tune.

Evie smiled as Darius came to her and asked for a dance. She smiled then at Braun and handed over her drink. "Would you hold this for me, please?" She took Darius' hand and moved onto the dancefloor. The song was slow, but she liked it....

The look that Braun gave Darius could have killed. It was very evident that he didn't like the idea of competition. Darius just smiled and lead Evie on to the dance floor where most of the other young Angelus were dancing. Most had come to take on the human customs of dance and such as they had friends among the humans and had attended school dances and such. Darius moved with the music, bringing Evie close to him but not to close as they were not an actual couple.

Evie was also considered a princess by old standards. Anubis and Raven were the rulers of the empire therefore Seth was a prince and Evie a Princess and the normal rules of the Angelus didn't apply to them. Eapecially with Evie. The Male was going to have to prove to her parents that he was a suitable mate for her. Braun had it over him in some ways on that account. Cain had already made him a Guardian General. That made a great difference. Though he was not in charge of an army the title spoke volumes. Darius was of the same caliber but had not been there when Cain made his choice. He might have had the title, had he been there, but when he got back it had been to late. Cain could not reverse his decision.

The Reason for his disapearance was only known to Cain and him, and one other. The mission he had been sent on had taken longer then expected, but it had succeeded.

While he danced he didn't talk much. Not like Braun who would have been talking about himself. "I have heard that you will be attending one of the human's collages and perhaps going up to the Santuary to study with McDugal. One day I hope to go up there, I would love to learn more about our history then from word of mouth."

Evie moved around the dancefloor gracefully under Darius' lead. She enjoyed dancing very much, especially the more formal styles. This particular one was a waltz and she loved them the most. He didn't speak much at first and she liked that, but eventually, she knew the silence would be broken. He spoke as he turned her under his arm and she replied as she turned back. "Yes." She said, "Father has given me free reign of Harvard and MIT, well, what remains of them to further my studies in modern human culture. The Sanctuary is a hope for the future." she turned again and smiled as she felt his hand slide up her back. He seemed a real gentleman compared with some of the similar males of the nests. she caught a quick glance to Braun, who didn't look at all happy. The male was green with envy. Evie liked that too.

"If I can get through Pandora, I'd love to study in the archive." She continued, "I want to learn about our history too. I've already read most of Mum's journals, but they only have the last ten thousand or so years. I want to read what the old Dowengers wrote and the Elders of the time." She looked over again at Braun and sighed lightly. "Maybe I should dance with him next." She said, "If his nose was any more out of joint, it'd be broken, I think." The music finished and she took a step back with a slight bow of her head.....

"Mother and Father has not been there and have talked about flying up there. " He moved him and her about the dance floor with grace and a bit of flare as well. The other couples formed a circle about them and gave them room to dance. Anubis looked on studying the young Angles Male and noting the look on Braun's face as well.

"A marvelelous dancer, your daughter." Cain told Anubis. "She seems like she is dancing on air."

Anubis nodded and wondered where Raven was. She was missing it and he wanted her opinion on the two young males. Afrika moved up to Cain and wrapped an arm about one of his and leaned on him. She had a grin on her face as she watched the dance.

Finally the dance ended and Darius took a step back from Evie and gave her a slight bow. "You dance as if you were born to it." he told her.

"Of course I do." She said quietly with a grin, "I learned from my mother." At that point, she looked to Braun and seemed to steel herself for the dance with him. She moved to him and lowered her head as the music began again. "Would you care to dance with me?" She asked politely.

Afrika watched with a smile as Evie danced around first with Darius and then offering the next to Braun. She then put her head on Cain's upper arm, "Why don't you dance with me like that?" She asked with a sigh.

Upstairs, Raven mooched round the nest. Her slaves went about with this, that and the other, Kaitlyn happily deligating what went where and how. Once she was done, she approached her mistress with a furrowed brow, "Ma'am?" She asked, "Are you alright?"
Raven half turned her head as she stared at herself in the mirror, "I think your talents will be required again very soon." She said, "My cycle has begun again."
Kaitlyn smiled as she always did, a few wrinkles beginning to show around her eyes, "I've missed having a baby around the place." She said.
Raven turned fully to her old friend, noting the difference in her once glamourous appearance. The woman was in her early forties now and those tell tale few grey hairs and crows feet around her eyes were showing. "Kaitlyn." She said, "Why did you never have any children of your own?"
Kaitlyn smiled, "The chance never came up." She said as she shrugged her shoulders, "And I was happy enough looking after Seth and Evie. With them, I had the next best thing. I wouldn't have traded that for the world, Ma'am."
Raven smiled, "I would guess it's too late for you now though anyway. It's a shame. You would have been a great mother, I think."
Kaitlyn smiled again and came to her mistress with a hug and a small kiss on her cheek. "I still wouln't trade what I had with Evie and Seth." She said. "What can I do to make you smile?"
Raven smiled just then and kissed the back of Kaitlyn's hand, "Let's start with a brush and a feather hook and go from there."
Kaitlyn smiled again and quiclky sorted out the dressing room.....

Braun gave a slight nod of his head when Evie asked him if he would like to dance with her. He put his arms around her and moved her out onto the dance floor. He was not as light handed as Darius, he was more possessive in his hold on her.

Cain grinned and made for the dance floor, bringing Afrika with him. "You wish to dance my love, then we will dance." he gave her a slight kiss on the lips and bowed to her before taking her into his arms and began moving with the music about the floor.

In the far north, in Russia, there was a small military base, burried under the ice and snow. Only the communications antenna was visable and those were camofluged to blend in with the ice and snow. Below the old advesary of the Angelus, the nameless man that had survived the battle in the north and had fled back south when it had failed to kill Raven, stood in an office looking at the new map of the world. It had not gone as they had planned. Anubis had fooled them into thinking he still had the nukes attached to the missiles. His placement of the warheads had wiped out the entire network of Hunters and his superiors.

Now his empire had enlarged greatly and so had the mans anger and hate for the Angelus. A man came into the room, "All is ready for Operation Snatch." the man said.

"Good. I will oversee it personally." he told the man. He was not going to let anything mess up his plans. Not this time. Prepare my plane for departure."

Evie tried to smile as Braun led her around the floor. His grasp was much tighter than Darius and he seemed to hold her in such a way she could barely move without him first moving. She felt rather uncomfortable. The final straw was him standing on her foot. Sucking in her breath, she gritted her teeth and smiled again, "I guess you don't dance that much." She said, trying her best to be polite about his abismal attempt.

Afrika moved around with Cain and smiled broadly. She moved gracefully, though not with as much skill as Evie. She stood on his feet once or twice and faltered on a turn, "We haven't done this in forever." She laughed, "Not since Marcus was a hatchling, I think." She looked across the room at Evie and almost sighed, "Raven must be feeling so lost now they're both juveniles. It will do her good to have another nestling to tend for.".....

Cain did not mind her stepping on his feet. He injoyed the dance and holding Afrika close to him. He leaned down and kissed her neck. "Mmmmmm yes it has been a long time. Remind me to have more dances at the palace. We need to keep up on things like this and insure our flock knows how to dance." he nodded over at Braun, and him steping on Evie's feet.

Anubis gritted his teeth as he saw the clumbizness of Braun on the dance floor. He flet for his daughter. But he had to chuckle. She was doing a very diplomatic song and dance so as not to hurt Braun's feelings. He saw Cain and Afrika dancing and wished again Raven was there to dance with him.

When the dance ended, Braun did not want to let Evie go. He didn't want any of the other young males to try and claim her for a dance. Anubis sighed and strode across the floor. "Ah my lovely daughter, no dance for you father?" He looked at Braun who immedately let her go.

Afrika smiled and stepped onto his feet. Her talons had just been clipepd and filed so she had no fear of cutting into him. She put her arms around his thick waist then and leaned right into him. "I like dancing like this better." She chortled as her feet were simply carried around on his own. She also looked over to Braun and she shook her head slightly. "There will be a fight over Evie, I can feel it."

Evie was relieved when the music ended and was even more so when her father came to save her. Braun was holding her so tight, she could barely breathe and she was getting cramp around her ribs. Thankfully, he let her go and she moved as quickly as she could without being rude or seen to be rube. "Dad, for you, anytime." She chuckled and hugged him as any loving daughter would. With her arms around him, she leaned up and kissed his cheek, "Any longer and he would have crushed me." She whispered.......

Anubis chuckled. "Well daughter, you will have young males after you. Already there are two that vie for your attention. He that marries you will become part of the royal family and have much power. As will the one that marries Seth." He looked over at Seth and Ashla, "I think he has already chosen the one he will mate with." he had a wide grin on his face. Then he looked down at Evie, "You my sweet one will be the one to choose which male you want. A bit different then the Angelus way." he danced with his daughter as they talked.

Evie danced around with her father and cuddled into him as she moved, "I know that Dad." She said, "How did it used to be between the males and females?" She looked up at him....

"Well from what I can tell, the Males would choose the Female. The female would accept or deny the males advance. Sometimes I think there was a fight between them. But usually I think they found mutual agreements in it." He moved her around the floor, "But for you there is plenty of time to look and choose."

"So you don't actually know?" She asked. She looked around the room at he two currently vying for her attention. Braun seemed happy enough at the moment to flex his muscles and show off to lesser ranked females and she couldn't see Darius anywhere. "Mum says I should wait until I've had at least four or five cycles before I start considering a mate. Do you think I should wait that long? It could be fifty years if I'm the same as her."....

He laughed. "She wishes you to remain her little girl for as long as she can. I can not say that I blame her, for I do not wish to lose you as well." He hugged her, "But I think you will know when you are ready for a mate. You will feel it in your heart and mind." Yes she would know. She would know when she was ready.

Evie nodded, "Well, they can at least wait until I can fill a bra." She said, then looked over at Ashla, "How come she gets to grow up faster than me anyway, it's not fair." She sighed again and then wrinkled her nose. She sniffed again and then backed up from Anubis. "Dad, what is that smell?" She asked. Several of the Angelus also smelled it and some of the males began to shudder with it. Evie and other females, including Afrika wrinkled their noses. "Jeez, that stinks!" Evie said...

He laughed. "That is your mother going into her cycle. That scent makes all males go kind of nuts and makes them want to mate." He moved with her off the floor and got hold of the maintenance people of the Palace. For this purpose alone he had large exaust fans installed on all floors that would pull the smell out of the building. He didn't want to have a repeat of what happened when he first met Raven. They came on and the scent disapated.

Evie started breathing again properly as the smell faded quickly. "Will I smell that bad when I start my cycles?" She asked, utterly distraught. Seth also came over, his head feeling a little fuzzy. "Dad, what was that smell?" He asked quickly, "Where's it coming from? I want more of it.".....

He put a hand on his shoulder. "Oh you will get your fill of it when Ashla goes into her cycle." he turned to Evie, "Oh yes my little one, you will also have that smell and drive the males crazy. "As for you filling out a bra my little girl, I think you are already begining to. Another thing males like to look at." he laughed again. Then he looked at them both. "How would you two feel about having a baby sister or brother?"

Evie and Seth raised their brows in unison and smiled, "Sounds like fun." Evie said happily. "Can I watch it hatch?" Seth's smile lasted all of two seconds before he turned visibly pale. The realization that he'd just been turned on by his own mother mader his stomach turn over. "I'm gonna hurl!" He said and quickly disappeared.....

Anubis laughed and shook his head. "Oh that boy is going to be smelling it for some time. If I am not mistaken, most of the females around here are on the same rotation as your mother is. Time for the young males to be taken somewhere else for a while." With in a year all the females would be going into their cycles. Darius had retreated a bit into the crowd of Angelus but kept his eye on Evie. He had got a whif of the scent and had to shake his head to clear it. He knew what it was, his mother had told him about it. "Now my girl what about collage. When do you leave?"

Evie's smile widened further, "Ooo, lots of new babies around then!" She cheered, "This year is gonna be so much fun!" She then chewed her lip, "Oh, college. Of course! I could maybe take a year out? The humans call it a gap year or something? They hang around and have some fun and stuff for a while." She grinned, showing a slight gap in her teeth where her adult fangs had yet to grow fully.....

"Oh yes I would say there will be plenty of new little ones in the next year. Alot of little ones to teach what you have learned, before they go off to school themselves." Seth returned a few minutes later looking a bit pale. Anubis slapped his shoulder with a hand. "Feel Better?"
he nodded and asked, "What are we to do. That scent will have the young males wanting to do what I was wanting."
Anubis nodded, "Well for a bit I would suggest you take the young males out of the city on a hunt or something for the time being."
Evie nodded quickly, "Absolutely." She said firmly.
Afrika came to them then with a small look of relief, "That could have gone better." She said, then looked at the pale Seth and bit her lip. "Not the best feeling in the world, is it?" She said to him, "Just be greateful you have better morals than some of the older males.".....
"You saying we don't have good morals?" Anubis asked her with a grin on his lips.
Afrika lifted an eyebrow, "We weren't the only ones interbreeding, Anubis, remember that.".....
"Oh? Well it is good that I had those exaust fans installed in the New Palace. Now if you will excuse me, I think I will go check on your mother." he looked at his children. "Do you need any help fighing off the boys?" he asked Evie
Evie looked back into the room and grinned, "I think they'll need the help more." She said evilly, flicked an eyebrow at her father and then went back into the party. Seth shook his head and followed her.
Afrika laughed and patted Anubis on the arm, "Give it another fifty years and she'll be worse than her mother. Have you given thought to the challenge for Primus?".....
"No." he said. "Guess that will be coming soon won't it?"
Afrika half nodded and half shrugged her shoulders, "It's up to you and Raven, I would imagine. And whether or not you want to carry on the old traditions.".....
"I want to keep them alive as well as make new ones. Make the Angelus more worldly then they have ever been before. We are now a power in this world and though the old traditions are good for some things, new ones are also needed for the new generations."
Afrika nodded, "Well, you've got some time yet. Most of the eligable females won't be ready for the challenge for another century or so at least. Unless you want to include the blood hybrids in with the borne."....
"Well I think all the young females should be included." he told her. He saw Seth find Ashla and it looked as if he wanted to get away from the party. "Well I think the party is about to wind down. Would You and Cain see to everything here? I am going to check on Raven."
Afrika nodded, "Of course." She said, "I'll have Cain put extra guards on duty for the unpaired females, just in case." She wrinkled her nose a little again as she remembered the scent. "I know my scent is strong, but her's is unbearable. I don't know how you can control yourself so well."....
He grinned. Who said he was not aroused.
Afrika grinned back and went back into the main room. She had a quick word with Cain about the extra guard before taking over the host duties.
When he got up to the nest he would probably be ravishing Raven. He just was able to control his urges with a lot of practice. He left and went back up to the Nest and looked around for Raven.

He heard her and Kaytelyn talking.
Upstairs, Raven was sat on her favourite stool staring at her changing self in the mirror. "It's happening faster every time." She said, "Last time, it took all night to get this far and the time before that, it took a few days."
Kaitlyn smiled and continued brushing through the lucious hair feathers. "Maybe it's a sign?" She asked, "You're a mated pair. Why waste time getting there if you don't have to attract the male?"
Raven looked up and smiled, "Twenty years ago, you wouldn't have dared say that to me." Her eyes went sad. "Twenty years. To humans, thats almost a lifetime." She looked past her reflection to Kaitlyn, "Is this what
it feels like?"
Kaitlyn furrowed her brow, "You've lost me."
Raven let her head drop to one side, "My babies aren't babies anymore." She said, "Both are fledged; neither of them really need me anymore. Seth is already distracted by Ashla and Evie will be heading off to college pretty soon." She rubbed her neck where the band was quickly becoming more distinct. "Am I supposed to feel this..... deserted?"
Kaitlyn stopped brushing and put her hands on the paling scales of Raven's shoulders, "My mom would say, 'You've done your duty, enjoy your freedom.'" She said, "But I know when I left home for college, she was heartbroken. They call it Empty Nest Syndrome. You feel lost and useless because they don't need you anymore. It's probably worse for you because your kids take longer to grow up. Didn't your mom feel it too when you left home?"
Raven looked up at her in the mirror, "I know she cried the night before." She replied. "But that was the last time I ever saw her, so I don't know."
Kaitlyn nodded, "It won't last long." She said cheerily, "Ole' Bossman will see to that." She tapped the band at the back of Raven's neck and grinned. "This time next week, you'll be cursing the day you met him again and vowing that you'll never let him do this to you a third time."
Raven laughed, remembering the carnage she had caused birthing Evie's egg. She nodded, "As always, you never fail to make me feel better Kate." She said, "I don't know what I'd do without you." Just then, a familiar scent wafted through the dressing room.

He chuckled as he heard what they were talking about. He entered the room grinning. "So is that a yes to having another little one?"

Raven looked at him through the mirror and lifted an eyebrow at him, "Kate, would you leave us please?" She asked. Kaitlyn quickly vanished, biting her lip for she knew he'd heard what she had called him. Once alone, Raven turned on her stool, "Is that what you want?" She asked him.....

"Well you said it, our young ones are up and leaving the nest to do their own thing. It will be kind of empty around here. Besides, Evie and Seth are all for having a baby brother or sister."

Raven rolled her eyes slightly, "Of course they are." She said, "Evie will change her mind pdq when she has to go through it herself." She took out a long pin and moved her feather back from her face. They were standing up in display and would annoy her later on. She looked at him through the mirror again, taking in the sights of him. His physique aside, she did love him dearly and she smiled at him in the reflection. "Do you really want another baby?"....

He grinned. "Yes I do, but only if you want one as well. Soon there will probably be a bunch more around and you would feel left out I think."

Raven cocked a grin at him, "Probably." She said, "And I know how you feel about me nursing other hatchlings beyond our own." She got up from the stool and went to him with a soft smile, "At least we know each other this time and I don't have to teach you how to impress me." she gave him a sly, lopsided grin and opened her wings a little to give him some of her scent......

He breathed it in and drew her to him. He kissed her deeply. He then picked her up into his arms and began their way to the bed chamber.

Raven kissed him back lovingly and then laughed as he picked her up and carried her into the bedroom. Once there, she looked at the bed, then the rafters and laughed again, "Choices choices." She chortled, "Do I lure you into bed, or up into the beams?".....

He laughed. "Either is good, I have learned how to use both over the last twenty years. We have made love in both places." He looked around the room, "Guess I will have to have all the breakables removed and perhaps have the larger furniture bolted to the floor. Good thing the walls are made of stone."

Ravem laughed again, "Cheeky." She taunted and pulled away from him. She untied her dress and let it fall to the floor as she moved around the room. She kept her back to him and opened her wings from her back to expose the greasy spot on her back. She then pulled her hair feathers over her shoulder and peered at him over her wing. A clear invite....

Anubis moved up behind her and put his arms about her as his hands came up to her tits to squeeze them and he kissed her neck and drank in the scent. It was going to be a wild night, but a fun one as well. He was actually looking forward to having another young one. He enjoyed playing with children, teaching them things. Now that Seth and Evie were basicly passed all that now, he felt as if a part of him was missing.

Seth had already gotten a place of his own, though he was not far away and was there a lot, it felt strange not having him in the nest. Evie was not getting ready to go and with Argyle's help he had gotten a place for her to stay that would have room for her body guard contingent. She would be leaving, if all worked out, a month after her brother or sister was born. She would be there for the hatching and get to hold her sibling. She was twenty years old now as was most of those from the first group of Angelus and hybird's. They were not taking on the very slow aging of children of the Angelus that much, more from the hybird side.

He had heard what Afrika and the others said about fifty or so years, but he figured it would be much sooner then that for the young females.

The party continued on for an hour more and then people began leaving. Darius made sure to see Evie before he left. He took her hand and raised it to his lips and kissed it. "I hope to see you again soon." he told her with a smile and left with his parents. Of course Braun had to say good by as well. One could tell he expected a kiss from Evie but he didn't get one.

The Man with no Name few out of Russia and headed towards Anubis' empire. In a folder he took from a briefcase, he took a map out that showed routes to and from the two collages that Evie could be attending, and the place that had been secured for her. There were points that had obstructions that would hide the limo she would take from view. Easy points to make the attacks and sent decoy limos from that would make it look as if her small convoy of vehicles had just passed through the areas. They would disable the cars, then the guards with a special knock out gas and take the princess away to a secure place. Now all they had to do was wait for the right opportunity.

Raven gave a growl of pleasure as Anubis came up behind her. It was definitely going to be an interesting night, but she hoped it would be better than the first time. She had learned much from him about the pleasures, but this time, she wanted it to be tender. As he squeezed her breasts and kissed at her throat, she groaned softly and put her hands up and back to his head. Her nails dug in, but only lightly as her head lolled slightly to one side. She was inviting his bite, but only gently.

Against him, her scales were beginning to harden and were turning white very quickly, though they stayed very smooth and her breeding band began to stand out sharply and slightly raised on her skin. She opened her mouth wide as she sucked in her breath and exposed her fangs.......

Anugis let his fangs extend and bit down gently on her neck, and drank of her delecious blood. A deep growl came from his throat as he let her neck go and swept her up into his arms and carried her over to the bed. "Tonight we will take it nice and easy and enjoy every moment of it." he told her. He gently laid her on the bed and kissed her deeply as he ran a hand over her naked body, down between her legs. His had taught her the pleasures of sex and that is what it should be like during the breeding cycle. She should enjoy it and it should not be rushed.

Evie appeared and could smell the scent.Katelyn appeared out of her chambers and quickly ushered her off to her room. Evie giggled as she knew what was going on behind the closed door of the bed chamber of her parents. Soon she would have a baby sister or brother. She liked the idea.

In a dark cavern in the middle of what use to be Russia, a man opened a lead lined box. With in was a black rock not of the earth, and it glowed with a dark light. The light enveloped the man and he cried out in pain, as subtal changes began to happen to his body.

Raven spread her wings out as Anubis laid her on the bed and carefully lifted up one knee to just under his shoulder. She sucked in her breath in pleasure as she felt his fingers playing at her womanhood. She reached around him and took a firm hold across his hips as she kissed him back lovingly. It didn't take long for his touch to bring her to her first climax and she writhed beneath him. The band around her throat began to thob strongly and her fangs elongated. Her scales turned porcelain white and began to shimmer lightly in the lamplight......

Anubis was enjoying the slow and senual sex with his mate. He hoped though the ventalation of her scent would work good. He didn't need to have a bunch of crazed males trying to break in. When he broke the kiss he began moving down her body kissing her chest and tits, flicking his toung over her hard nipples and moving down over her stomach, down between her legs. He looked up at her and grinned.

Looking down her body, Raven smiled lovingly and ran her fingers through his hair. Her wings shivvered against the white sheets and her scales glittered in the light. Her eyes turned darker as she stared at him and then gently pushed his head down between her thighs and laid back.....

He began licking her pussy as he incerted a finger with in. He knew she enjoyed this and it would drive her to the edge. He would make sure that she was good and ready to receive him when the time came. He licked her pussy for a bit then moved back up her body. "Did you enjoy that?" he asked as he squeezed her tits and kissed them.

By the time Anubis had finished his teasing and claimed a nipple to nibble on, Raven was all but ready to climb the walls in pleasure and frustration. "Did I ever!" She breathed as she reached down and grabbed him firmly by his lucious hair. She pulled him up over her and kissed him passionately, wrapping her legs tight around his back and digging her claws in.....

He chuckled as he knew she was definately ready. He guided his cock up to her pussy and eased it in. "Now enjoy this my love." he told her as he began to move slowly in and out of her.

She moved her knees up to his ribs and took a long, deep breath as she felt him slide into her. "I intend to." She breathed as he took a slow rhythm. She kissed him again deeply and then nipped at his throat and collarbone before pulling him skin close and held him.....

He kissed her neck and face as she nipped at his thoat and collarbone. When she pulled him to her tightly he moved his hands about her and held her as well. He continued his slow movement, letting her enjoy the feel of his hard cock moving in and out of her.

Soft moans escaped her every time he thrust into her and she lifted her knees just that inch higher to feel ever more of him. Her back arched in time also, making sure he could feel everything she could give. Her lips left his throat and she kissed him deeply again........

He returned her kiss with equal passion. She felt good and as she moved her legs he could feel her even more and it helped him go deeper. He finally began moving faster and with a little more intensity.

Raven matched his speed and passion and lifted her knees higher up his ribs. She knew he couldn't last too long like this. Her fingers gripped his hair and she pulled his lips down to her throat.......

He raked his fangs over her throat. He was now ramming his cock up inside her harder and harder till he finally could hold out anymore and rammed himself up inside her hard one last time and held himself there as he filled her with his seed.

Her moans turned to cries and then screams as his passion took over. Within a few minutes, she could feel the intense heat of his seed and she screamed out in both pleasure and pain and she could feel it burn all the way to her core. Her knees gripped his ribs incredibly tight and she dug her claws in to the back of his neck. her whole body had tensed up and her scales rippled with the exertion in her muscle.....

He held on to her as he felt her claws dug into his skin. He was use to it and knew that the cuts would heal with out scaring. He moved his head up to her ear. "Did you like that? Better then the first time."

Raven nodded as she caught her breath, "Infinitely better." She whispered, "But I'm far from done with you yet." She kissed his cheek and then smiled up at him as her dark eyes glittered in the light. Her body relaxed and she let her knees drop down and put her feet near his hips....

"Oh your not eh?" he grinned and raised up on his arms and looked down at her. He bent down and kissed her nose. "So you want more?" he asked.

Raven curled half her mouth into a grin, "I want these bone dry." She said, suddenly taking his balls into her hand. She caressed them gently and then smiled fully.....

She definately wanted more. He was more then willing. He moved down a bit so he could kiss and suckle on her tits as he moved one hand to them and began squeezing them, one at a time.

Raven groaned softly and curled his hair in her fingers. She let him play a little longer and then slowly sat up, pulling his head up to kiss him again.....

He grinned and kissed her back. She definately was horny and wanted more. He continued squeezing her tits as he kissed her. It would take a bit before he was up to the full extent of it but until then he would enjoy her body, and give her alot of pleasure.

Raven sighed gently as she kissed him back and ran her claws gently over his skin. "You're enough to keep me warm for a week, the heat you're giving off." She told him with a smile....

He chuckled. "Mmmmmmm and probably alot longer here in a little bit."

Raven grinned and then laughed a little as she tucked her feet under and lifted herself up a little to sit astride his lap. She kissed his nose and then his lips before she slid back from him and turned to lay on her front. She spread her wings out and let them drop across the bed......

He move to his side and let a hand move over her back, and over her ass cheeks. He patted them and then moved his hand up to the base of her wings to caress them.

She laughed as he patted her ass and then sighed when she felt his hands around the base of her wings. The shuddered lightly against the sheets. The movement released ever more of her scent and she saturated the bed with it......

"We will have to be careful with the laundry." he chuckled. "Females only I think would be best."

Raven turned her head slightly on her hands and smiled at him, "Kaitlyn does our personal laundry." She said with a small chuckle, "Her and Sophie are the only ones I've ever trusted with it."....

"Good thing." he leaned down and kissed her back and nipped at it with his fangs. His hand moved over her back as well.

She all but purred at him then and closed her eyes...

"So my love do you want more?" he asked.

Raven smiled and carefully put her leg up and around his hip, pulling him towards her. She lifted up her ass a little....

"MMMMMMMMMM and what do you want me to do to you my sweet." he asked.

Raven half turned her shoulders and propped herself up on one elbow. She then reached out and pulled him up her back. "Be careful you don't slip." She whispered, "You know I don't like that.".....

He laid down on her back and put his head between her wings, letting his fold back on his back. "How is that?" He asked.

"Mmmmmm." She said softly as she lifted her ass a little more to his hips.....

He was begining to get hard again and his hard cock began pressing against her ass cheeks, slipping between them.

Raven sighed again softly and lifted her ass just that little bit more. She felt him slide inside her womanhood and purred again.....

"MMMMMMM yes." he said. "Now to make sure it takes eh?"

"Right now, I don't care." She purred, "I just want you."....

He grinned and began moving in and out of her. He gave her ass cheeks a playful slap and chuckled. "This time it will take a bit longer for me to cum, so you will enjoy it more."

"I hope so." She sighed and lifted her ass up to meet his thrust....

She seemed to enjoy their lovemaking and like now there were times she seemed not to be able to get enough. He took his time, enjoying the feeling of his hard cock up inside her. He leaned down and kissed her back again and around the base of her wings.

She shuddered as he kissed at her back and wings and cried out softly as he thrust into her. She was tighter on him this way and she could feel every ripple down his cock. She climaxed again quickly...

"Ah my horny and lovely mate." he continued to move in and out of her a little faster then before. He was enjoying himself and hoped she was also. He grinned as he thought of having another little one. He loved children. Seth and Evie were the world to him.

"As you are, my love." She sighed. His pace picked up and she matched it. "Hold me, hold me tight!".....

He moved his hands and arms down and about her to hold her. He continued to kiss her back and shoulders, he again raked his fanges over her back and shoulders, nipping here and there.

Raven's whole body shuddered and shivered and she wrapped her ankles around his knees. Her wings beat against the bed, kicking up a cooling draft, "More!" She sighed softly, "I want more!"....

His hands moved around her and up to her tits. It was a tight fit with her laying on her front and all the weight being put on them but he managed and began squeezing them. He now began to thrust harder and faster, the deep growling coming from his throat.

Raven lifted herself up a little as he reached for her breasts and then melted into the bed under his weight. It was wonderful and she cried out as he thrust harder and faster into her and she wondered how much longer he could hold out....

After a bit, longer then the first to be sure, he felt himself getting readty to fill her again. He rammed himself up inside her and held himself there and pumped his load up into her again.

Raven braced herself as she felt him tightening his grip on her. She cried out again as she felt him burn inside her again and dug her claws into the bed. After a while, she relaxed again and pulled his arms up so he laid flat on her, pinning her down almost. She then kissed his hands and laid her head on them.....

He let himself relax then and let himself receed from her pussy. He laid his head on her back. "Now my dear. I think we need to relax some." He turned his head and kissed her back.

Raven purred again and reached across the bed to hit the intercom button. "Kaitlyn, honey?" She said. Kaitlyn's voice came back. "If you're not busy love, could you bring in some iced tea and snacks? I think I've worn him out." She laughed quietly and a few minutes later, Kaitlyn arrived with a tray filled with food and a jug of tea for them. She smiled warmly and put the tray down before leaving again in silence. She had seen them both like this enough not to care anymore. "Thank you honey!" Raven called and kissed Anubis's hand again.....

"Wore out?" mmmmmmmm not really but it will take me longer to recharge an esential part." he chuckled.

Raven laughed and turned her head around as far as she could comfortably. She smiled lovingly and wriggled slightly so she could move more....

"You want me to get off you?" He whispered

Raven smiled, "No." She said, "Just need a little wriggle room is all." She pushed herself up a little and turned so she could kiss him.....

He returned her kiss. "Now for a little cuddle time."

"Absolutely." she said, "But first..." She slid out from under him and got off the bed. She went to the tray and gathered up a few slices of fruit and some crackers and then poured him a large glass of tea. She brought it back, sipping the tea as she went and then handed him the glass. She then took a slice of melon and held it to his lips....

He chuckled as she slid from undr him and got the snacks and tea. He took a sip of the tea and then bit off a piece of the melon and chewed it.

The man with no name relaxed now on the plane as they flew over what had been Alaska and into Canada. Canada had not joined the Empire, but now was another of the dictatorships, ran by a military dictator. A generous bribe of weapons had paved the way for the unobstructed flight over his territory. The organization might have collasped but he knew where all the weapon cashes was and cashes of gold and precious gems that could be used as currency. They had been well funded by many things, to include drugs.

He would land just shy of the boarder of Canada and Angeleusis. He would make the crossing over in a very remote area and then make his way to the east coast.

The man in the cavern rose from the floor as bat like wings grew out of his back, pointed horns grew out of his fore head and sharp serated teeth formed in his mouth. His nails, hand and feet, became razor sharp talons. He growled deeply as he looked at his hands and turned his head to look at his wings. He looked back at the black rock. He closed his eyes and suddenly he began to change again and returned to what he had been before. He was breathing hard, but he laughed and closed the lid to the lead lined box. He took it with him out of the cavern and to his truck. He put it in the cab of the truck on the seat and got in. Soon he was driving down a road headed for the lights of a city.