City of the Damned

He had been right. She was not about to be left out of the plan. They still had a bit of time before the arrival of Blackthorne and his troops. He sent another servant to find the doctor that was tending to the Lycan's that were pregnant. He would have the doctor run the tests and examine her to find out. Once everything with Blackthorne was done with then they would announce the results of those tests if they were positive. There would be alot of celebrating if it was.

One of the troops that Nick had personally trained, arrived to inform him that the special ops unit was in place along with a number of regular soldiers. Nick nodded and smiled. He had trained a number of the lycans and human soldiers. In essence the Shadow Unit had been reborned. This was going to be an interesting meeting to be sure.

Later that afternoon, the doctor arrived and was taken straight up to the penthouse. It was made clear to him from the start that his visit was confidential and any slip in his promise would result in the loss of his job. The doctor nodded quickly and entered the penthouse to find Whisper reclined on her favourite couch with Demon at her side and Herra at her feet. Shadow had gone with Nick, following him despite being told not to. Demon let out a small growl to let Whisper know someone had arrived and she sat up more straight before getting to her feet. "Welcome, Doctor Travis." She said politely. "You understand why you are here?"
"Yes Ma'am." The doctor said with a nod as he looked at Demon and then Herra. "I understand that you have been quite ill since this morning."
"I have." Whisper told him before moving across the room towards him. "Nicholas suspects I may be pregnant."
The doctor nodded and put his bag down on the table. "Then, with your permission, Ma'am, I'd like to take some blood and urine samples to test for a pregnancy." He said politely.
Whisper nodded, "As you wish." She told him.

A few minutes later, Whisper sat again on her long couch as the doctor did his tests. He tested for a pregnancy, but he also tested for any infection or imbalance in her system just in case. Whisper remained silently patient and simply sat there. The table became a crude laboratory as the doctor set up test tubes, a separator and several smaller test tubes in a rack. He also had a standard pregnancy testing kit set up. It didn't take long for the results to start forming.

After a few more minutes of checking and rechecking, the doctor finally had the answers he was looking for. He moved to the chaise lounge and lowered his head to Whisper, "I have the results, Ma'am." He said with respect.
"And?" Whisper asked, "Am I pregnant?"
The doctor nodded, "The result is faint, but it appears that you are indeed with child, Lady Night." He said, "Congratulations."
Whisper nodded, but she didn't look entirely happy about it, "Thank you Doctor." She said. "Anything else? I could hear you splitting the blood for various other tests."
The doctor smiled and nodded again. Nothing escaped her attention. "You have a slight hormone imbalance, Ma'am, but that is to be expected, and your iron count is lower than I'd like."
"How would you suggest I correct it?" She asked.
"I will prescribe a course of iron infusions within your blood intake." He said, "You will need to take it twice a day until I'm happy that your count is up enough. Beyond that, I recommend some rest and relaxation, and just enjoy the coming months."
"And the sickness?" She asked.
"That should fade in a few weeks, depending on how far gone you are." He replied, "On that note, if you would please lay on the bed, I would like to take some measurements and find out."
"As you wish, Doctor." She said and got to her feet. She moved to the bed and laid down carefully. She lifted her dress, but also the sheet for modesty. She laid still and patient as the doctor examined her fully. Once he was done, she pulled her dress back down and sat up. "Conclusions?"
The doctor smiled as he wiped his hands with sterilizing liquid, "I'd say you were at or about the 10 week marker." He told her.
"That can't be right." Whisper said, "I've bled since then."
"Sometimes, a woman will." He explained, "It happens, but the pregnancy continues. The results don't lie, Ma'am. Lord Night caught you the first night you came together."
"Oh my!" Whisper sighed, "That does change things considerably. How is it possible that I've not felt anything. If I'm as far along as you say, I should be feeling something, a change in my being at least."
"Every pregnancy is different, Ma'am." The doctor told her, "I've known some women carry to full term before they've even an inkling of carrying a child. I've even seen some women go into labour and still not know what's happening. And to the other end of the scale, I've seen women that have known from the moment of conception. It's not uncommon, I promise you."
"Thank you Doctor." Whisper said as she clambered off the bed again and went back to her couch. "You have my leave to inform Nicholas at your earliest convenience."
"Thank you Ma'am." He said, "I understand that he is in the command centre, so I will go there presently and inform him of the good news." He collected up his things and left.

The very second Doctor Travis was spotted in the command centre, the general had the message rushed to Nick. The results were in from Whisper's tests. Travis was taken directly to Nick's office and he placed his bag on the chair before opening it up and getting out the results papers. "I have some good news for you Sire." He said with cheer. He handed the papers over. "Lady Night is indeed pregnant. I've examined her fully and discovered she is at or about 10 weeks." It put conception at the very beginning of them being a couple. "Congratulations Sire. I'll make an appointment to come again in two weeks with my ultrasound equipment and I'll be able to give you a more exact timeline and due date.".....

When Nick was informed of the news he smiled broadly and held himself straight and proudly. He nodded when the doctor said he would make the appointment for the ultra sound. He shook the doctors hand and thanked him and when he left he called the General in. Shadow lay on the floor by Nick's feet, his head between his front paws, watching everything. As the General entered, Nick nodded his head confirming that Whisper was indeed with child.

They would have to break the news to everyone, but first they had to deal with Blackthorn and his men. Also they would have to make sure Whisper would not be in any danger at all when they went out to meet them.

A man entered shortly after the General, "They are almost here. Perhaps another hour and they will be at the gate."

"Very good. Inform Regis and Fallon to come to my office." he told the man.

He left and a short time later two men entered. Both carried across their backs sniper rifles. One was a Lycan the other a turned vampire. The vampire had a body suit on that protected him from the sun. "You two know your job. You are the best I have trained and I am counting on you to keep Whisper safe when Blackthorne gets here."

"Yes sir, you can count on us. Mistress Night will not come to harm." Both men stood there proudly and ready to do their duty.

Whisper spent the next few hours considering things carefully. The news hadn't been what she was expecting, nor really what she had wanted at that moment. With Bloodthorne so close, she didn't want the worry, but at the same time, she was incredbly excited about it. She was a mother, something she never believed she would ever be. She touched her stomach lightly and let her head drop down as though looking at the soon to be bump. It was almost magical, but in that excitement, she felt some sorrow as well. Despite her skills and her finely tuned senses, she would never be abe to actually see her child. She would miss those first few things, the first smile, pointing and gasping for something. Sure, she could use her echo for things like walking and laughing, but beyond that, she would need Nick to describe everything to her. Well, she would get to that when it happened. For now, she was happy to sit and wonder and somewhat enjoy the knowing. And then, all too soon, it seemed, she heard the door opening and one of the commanders came in to inform her that Bloodthorne had reached the mid-line border. They would have to leave soon. At the same time, another commander went to inform Nick. "My Lord." he said as he peered around the door, "Bloodthorne has reached the mid-line. He'll be at the meeting grounds in an hour or so."....

The Tower came alive with people moving everywhere to prepare for the coming confontation. The troops were dispatched to their locations in the forest outside the walls, More were positioned in the defensive posts within the wall. Some even had LAW rockets. An old National Guard Armory had been rediscovered in the city and it had all sorts of weapons, ammunition and the LAWs. This meeting would be interesting to say the least. He figured that Blackthorn thought that they were weak and un prepared. Nick nodded at the reports and the two snippers departed to take up their positions. His Shadow Soldiers were ready to escort Whisper out to the meeting site and act as her body guard, but look as if they were giving her up.

Whisper left the apartment with her guards and went down to meet up with Nick and the rest of the escort. During the ride down, she began to wonder if she was doing the right thing. It was rare that she was unsure like this and it showed as the doors opened and she stepped out again. With erh head slightly down and turned away, she moved with her escort towards Nick. The more she thought about it, the more she felt this was too risky. Well, risky had never been something she had been afraid of before and it disturbed her that she felt that way now. She lifted her head again as she came to her beloved, but she didn't look up. It was too late to change the plan now and she just hoped it would go smoothly. "I'm ready." She said softly to Nick.....

He could see the worry in her face and that was not like her. But the confirmation that she was with child had probably got her thinking. She was a mother now and she was worried about her unborn child. He lifted her head up and kissed her lips. "I am not letting anything happen to you or........" he moved a hand to her stomach and rubbed it. He didn't want to make any announcement just yet and there were to many people around to say anything. The were soon on their way to the main gate of the city. Troops were massed on either side of the wall and reports were being radioed in that the forces outside were in position. The convoy of trucks appeared and stopped not far from the gate. Soldiers piled out and took up positions where Nick had expected them to. It was just after sunset and it was not long before an imposing figure exited a vehicle that had been made to keep its occupents protected from the sun. A small door in the massive steel door of the gate was opened and Nick stepped out followed by a number of armed men. Blackthorne approached with his guards and stopped staring at Nick. A quizzaled look apeared on his face and then he said, "Nathanel, Nathanel Night is that you?" Nick was a bit taken back at that. "I though you were dead, long dead." Now this was beginging to be more then interesting.

Whisper nodded and put a hand over his, "I trust you." She whispered and then took her place back among the escort. The party then moved to the main gate and Whisper stepped carefully through. From her once very familiar territory, she really did feel blind now. Every step was measured so she could feel the ground proper and she kept her pace slow. Thankfully, the ground was even and the road meant no rocks or gravel to trip on or hurt her feet, but it still felt strange being beyond the walls. This was truly sometihng of an adventure for her, albeit a very dangerous one. She also kept a close ear on everything that was happening around her. She could hear hundreds of heartbeats and men chattering and she could smell the engines and guns. When someone came forward and spoke a name that made Nick's heart skip a little, she furrowed her brow. Nathaniel? His name was Nicholas. Everything suddenly got a lot more interesting for her....

In his earpiece hat kept him intouch with all the units came a voice. "Oh my......... Lord Night, that would have been the original Night from when the first Vampires apeared on this world. Your distant ancenstor!" Nick raised a brow at that and wondered if he could use it. He let a slight smile apear on his lips. "Well Blackthone you know one should never rely on reports, only on ones own eyes." He would see where it lead. He could see Blackthorn's eyes narrow and an almost sneer apear on his lips. It seemed he had hit a cord in the vampires pride. Whisper also heard the report on who Blackthorne though Nick was.

Turning her head slightly away, she listened to the report and then lifted her brow. Bloodthorne thought Nick was his ancestor! Now that was definitely intersting and something her lover could definitely use, her too. Just to Nick's left, Whisper and her escort arrived and she turned her head again slightly. She felt sick again, but swallowed the feeling down and cleared her mind so she could listen and smell everything around her. For the moment, Bloodthorne could only see a small woman stood between guards. Everything was silent and Whisper didn't like silence, not like this......

"I believe Bloodthorne and your ancestor were not on the best of terms back in the begining." came the voice of Whisper's brother. Nick looked at Blackthrone, "What do you want here?" Blackthorne looked up at the walls with a knowing eye. "Well I am going to be expanding my empire and was hoping to take this fine city to ad to it. But it looks like you have as always managed to do the unthinkable." He looked over at Whisper. "And who is this?" he asked, Nick just smiled.

Dravin turned slightly and looked over at Whisper, who was clearly finely tuned into everything right then. "This." Dravin said with a smile, "This is Lady Whisper, or more to the point, Angelina Morgana Solitaire Damascus." He watched his sister lift her head slightly at her name and then turned back to Bloodthorne. "I understand that the name is very familiar with you."......

At the mention of the name Bloodthornes face became almost livid. His eyes blazed with hatred and a desiver to destroy. "So the bastard had a daughter." One coulod almost see the wheels turning in his head. "I understand that he messed up your plans some." Nick egged him on.

Whisper lifted an eyebrow delicately as Bloodthorne's anger became much more palpitible. She could almost feel the rage burning inside him and that made her smile inwardly. So, they agreed on something already. She could like this man, if it weren't for him wanting to take her fine city over. At Nick's side, Dravin also lifted an eyebrow at the remark. "Indeed, he did." He said carefully, "But fate has always been cruel to those it deems unfit. It would seem that he picked the wrong woman. She is badly flawed. Knowing your history with Damascus, we thought as a peace offering and a welcome, we might give her to you. despite her imperfections, she is quite beautiful, don't you think? She could make a nice pet to kick around.".....

Blackthorne immediately calmed himself. An offering of the child of his enemy. Now that was something. He would enjoy beating her and making her pay for her father's betrayal. "Now that is a very tempting offer. I know I could take this city. This here is just a small contengent of my army. I know we have had our differnces in the distant past, but this will go a long way in mending those.

Dravin smiled coldly and turned to the guards. "Bring her forward." He ordered and they did so. Though they didn't like to do it, they moved her roughly. Their true respect for her was kept well hidden. With force, Whisper was shoved forward to Bloodthorne and dravin came to stand at her side. "As you can see, from the features, she's rather stunning." He said, "And she's strong too. She can take a good beating, believe me and still keep serving." He firmed his jaw as he half turned and slapped her backside to shove her forward just that bit more. Whisper yelped quietly and moved, playing her part without fault. "It gets annoying that she can't scream and beg though. As I said, she's rather flawed." He slapped her again on the arm. "Open your eyes, wench!" He demanded. Whisper did, showing her blindness. "As you can see, as well as no voice, she's blind too."

The twin moons shined brightly over the landscape. On top of a large hill stood a large formiable castle and below a large town surrounded by a mighty stone wall. Fires burned in the town, buildings set ablaze. The screams of people in panic filled the air. From a forest of black tree trunks and blood red leaves to the east of the castle and town a small group of men and women ran.

They ran across the blood red grass of the plain between the forest and some low hills. They wore black metal armor and were armed with swords, spears and bows. Fifteen men and fifteen women moved with remarkable speed. They splased through a stream of thick, red liquid, the color of blood when it hit the air. It clung to the armor the men and women wore. As they reached the low hills another, much larger group of armed and armored men emerged from the forest. Some rode beasts that resembled horses but snorted fire from their nostrales and their eyes were red as the fire from hell.

"Hurry, to the ancient temple!" Cried one of the men. He was a handsome young looking man and at his side was a beautiful woman with blond hair and piercing green eyes. The others hurried through the hills till they reached the ruins of some building that looked old as time itself. "Hurry, it is our only hope of escape." he cried out again. Reaching the ruins the thirty men and women entered and closed the double metal doors and slid a bar across to secure it.

The young man moved to what appeared to be an alter and removed from a pouch a strange looking crystal. "Blackthorne, Damascus, Corwell, get everyone up here to the alter." One could see that Blackthorne did not like taking orders from the younger man, but he did as he was told. The other two did likewise.

Pounding on the temple's doors told them that their pursuers had reached the temple. They were trying to batter the door down. If they succeeded before Night could do what he had come there to do, they would all be dead. He placed the crystal in the center of the alter which seemed to have a indentation that accepted the crystal. He then began pressing various symbols on the alter and they depressed into it. A humming could be heard from deep beneath the temple. Outside the sky turned dark and lightning flashed across the sky and thunder rolled across the land.

Suddenly the lightning seemed to strike all around the temple forcing the pursuers back away from it. A bright light then enveloped the temple and shot into the sky. It lasted but a moment and then all was calm once more. The dark clouds disapeared as fast as they had appeared. The lightning and thunder ceased and all was as before. Again the pursuers attacked the doors and smashed them open. But inside was nothing but the remains of the old temple and the alter.

On Earth a bright light suddenly appeared in the middle of a valley, in a structure much like the one they had just been in, only it was more open to the outside world. It was in what would be known as Germany. The blond haired woman turned to Night and threw her arms around him. "You did it my beloved, you did it." Yes he had activated the strange device he had found and studied. It had saved their lives for the time being, but another more pressing problem faced them. Their need for blood to sustain them, blood that flowed in rivers and the fruit that trees bore was now not present. They would starve if they could not find a supply, but did this world have anything that had blood.

"Yes I have succeeded in making out escape, which we would not have had to do if......." he turned to Blackthorne, "you had not been so bent on conquering our neighbors."

Blackthorne snarled, "It is because of me that we had such a large kingdom to rule over. It was my military mind that lead our armies to victory.

Night's eyes narrowed but he did not respond. The four of them had desired power and they achieved it. Night had been satisfied with what they had but Blackthorne always wanted more. He looked around the new landscape and then at the others of their party. The four were the High Lords and the others were their guards. "What is done is done. Now we must find blood and shelter." He began to walk and the others followed. Soon they found a primative village of humans and the scent of blood was high in the air from them. The villiagers did not stand a chance against them and soon all had been bleed dry of their blood.

"Well we know that this world has a blood source. Not as plentiful as their home world but if there was one village there would be others. Here they also found animals that had blood and their meat could be consumed. The blood was not as good nor as delicious as the human blood but it would sustain them.

Blackthorne remembered the coming to this world. How Night, their leader had lead them from their world to Earth when their Kingdom had been attacked by superior forces and over run. He hated Night, and thought he had succeeded in killing him long ago, but his assassins must have missed, and he had for thousands of years hidden from him. Now he faced him again and he knew that he probably knew he had tried to kill him. But now he offered the daughter of another of his enemies, one he had thought a trusted ally, but had betrayed him. Perhaps this would be a good day after all.

For some reason, as she felt Bloodthorne's eyes look her over, Whisper began to feel something else.  Something older, darker, deeper.  It flashed through her mind, not in images, but in emotions, feelings.  Anger, fear, love and betrayal.  It played out in her like a long lost memory of time's past.  She heard cries, screams, shouting.  She felt her heart race as her fingertips tingled and she clenched her hands tightly.  This wasn't a strange feeling to her, she had felt it before, long ago.  Only the once, strong and deep in her.  It was like a dream, yet it wasn't a dream.  It was something much more than that.  Why did she feel this now?

That bad feeling she had suffered before, that feeling of something wrong began to come full circle now and she began to understand what she was feeling.  At her front, she released her fists and rested her palms carefully just below her bellybutton.  She felt the sickness begin to rise again and the ground felt uneven.  Something was most certainly wrong.

Slightly behind, Dravin noticed how his sister was acting.  Something was wrong.  Covering it neatly, he stepped forward again and took any possible attention away from Whisper.  "I see you like what is before you."  He said, pushing her back slightly.  Whisper didn't hesitate, still playing her part, for the moment at least.  And then, just as she reached her escort and with her back to Bloodthorne, everything changed.  As quiet as a mouse, as graceful as a swan and as strong as an oak, she lifted her head again and began to speak.

Whisper spoke only one word, but it would be more than enough for the invader if he heard it.  It was one word that he hadn't heard for more than ten millennia and a word that he had made sure to hide in memory and silence since the first war. To speak it meant death to any vampire. It was the name of their home, but more than that, it was the name of his only child. A daughter, taken from him by Damascus, tainted by his evil touch and cast into shame and darkness. Murdered. It was a name that Whisper knew well. It was her mother's name.  "Serephin.".....

Night's beautiful wife Freya was proud of her husband. If it had not been for Blackthorne's lust for more power, her husband would have ruled a powerful kingdom and would have eventually won over the other Lords and assorbed their small kingdoms into theirs. But with Blackthones raids and incursions into other kingdoms, the other Lords banded together and with their combined military might had attacked and had nearly had them.

Blackthone was jelious of Night. He coveted Freya even though he had a wife, he desired her. He schemed and planned to eliminate Night and take her and take control of the others. He wished to forge a new empire on Earth, but there was one big problem. Where their world had been almost constantly night, here there was bright daylight and it was deadly to them. It burned their skin and if they should be caught in it they could burn to death. The only time they could come out was when t he sun went down. This hampered them from trying to make any kind of kingdom. The humans were not as primative as the first villiage they had found. Though their weapons were superior to the bronze ones that the humans had, the humans could move about in daylight and at night which made hunting them more easier.

Over the centuries, the small group of vampires had enlarged their numbers somewhat and had scattered over the world so the humans could not destroy them all in one fell swoop. Blackthorne and Damascus had kept in contact. They found that humans if bit by one of them and not drained of blood, would become a vampire, but not as powerful as they were. They were weak in comparison, but stronger then humans. Some of these became a problem and had to be eliminated, but others escaped and became the vampires of lore. Over the years Night and Freya seemed to disapear, especially after humans had found their place of hiding in the mountains of the Alps. It seemed they knew exactly where to find them. Some of the turned humans were killed and it was thought that Night and Freya had been killed. Damascus having lost his wife from their home world to human hunters, found Blackthorne's daughter suitable and secretly courted her and filled her mind with hate for her father. He stole her away and made her his wife, and then later when Blackthone had formed his plan to carve out and empire for the vampires under his control, Damascus again betrayed Blackthorne and took control and botched the whole thing. Had Blackthone not have been burried alive during the war, he may have succeeded where Damascus had failed.

Rage welled up in Blackthorne.  He took two steps forward but was blocked by Nick.  The snarl on his lips told Nick that again a cord had been plucked with in the old vampire.  Dravin and his brothers knew the name but had no idea of what it meant to Blackthorne.  

Blackthorne took a closer look at her.  No, it could not be, but the looks the frame of the body was the same.  She was blood......... his granddaughter.  He stepped back "You dare speak that name, you........."  he stopped and looked at Dravin then Whisper.  He had said she was mute and blind, but she just spoke.  He got a very uneasy look on his face.

Nick saw it and knew that Blackthrone was realizing he had walked into a trap and that things were about to be come messy.  Blackthorne suddenly bolted towards his special vehiicle and began screaming orders to cut everyone down.  That is when Nick gave the signal and those on the walls opened up and those in the forest did the same.  He quickly moved back to Whisper and put himself between her and the soldiers of Blackthorne as they withdrew to the gate and into the city.

Blackthorne's vhelice turned around and began moving away.  Nicks men tried to stop it with a hail of bullets but they bounced off.  The vehicle was armored.  Even one of the LAWs that was fired at it, exploded but did little damage to the back of it.  Blackthorne's men however were not so lucky.  The road was littered with their dead.

"Well that went something like we had planned.  But it looks like we have not seen the last of him."  Nick commented, "Who was the name that you spoke?"

It only took a few seconds for Whisper to realise she had just fucked up, royally. Quickly, she felt Nick behind her and thent he escort surrounded her, pushing her with Nick, back tot he gates and then into the city. The sound of the gunfire exploded in her ears, actually hurting her head somewhat and she firmed her jaw to lessen the noise. The fight continued and from the direction the sound was travelling, Blackthorne had got away. Somewhere in all that, Whisper heard the dying men, left behind and uncared for. The grounds outside the walls would be littered with bodies and it wouldn't take long for the mutated predators to arrive and pick them off. Until then though, with the heat of the summer arriving, she knew she would be able to smell their rotting stink for miles. The thought alone did nothing to help ease her churning stomach and no sooner had the gates closed behind them, Whisper staggered to the side and leaned against the wall with her head down and both hands planted flat on the stonework. "Don't throw up." She whispered to herself. It helped.

After a few moments to clear her mind of the noise and dizziness, she heard Nick at her side. It was something to what they had planned. Not to Whisper. Her plan had seen Blackthorne in only two ways, leaving freely with a promise of trade, or dead. To her, the plan had failed. Failed. That was not a word she had ever tolerated, not in any form or function. That angered her, but she had more pressing things on her mind. The nausea began to pass and after several deep breaths and a shudder down her spine, she was able to stand proper again and she smoothed the mass of hair from her face and shoulders. Her main servants was right, it was as long as she was tall now and she felt it brush along the ground as she moved. Strange how she hadn't noticed that until now.

Nick continued to speak and Whisper nodded her head somewhat. Who was Serephin? After another moment or two in thought, she finally answered. "Serephin was the true name of my mother." She offered in whisper. "I rarely heard it, but I knew it was her name. Damascus generally referred to her as wench, or madam if he was in a good mood. I remember only twice that he actually called her by it. The first time was to officially shame her because of me. The second time was to order her death. But..." Whisper shook her head, "And I can't quite explain to you how I know this, but it wasn't just her name. It meant something more to Blackthorne. It's hard to describe, but when I felt his eyes on me, staring at me, I felt like it came from somewhere else. Somewhere deeply connected with him from a time long forgotten. I could feel anger and hatred, fear and jealousy. It was like a dream, but older. A memory of something, or somewhere that meant a lot to him." She shook her head again. "And when he called you by another name. I.. I can't think. Nicholas, please take me home. I don't feel well at all."

It was said, long ago in myth and legend that vampires were connected with their families in ways that a mere mortal could never understand. They shared memories and dreams, emotions and desires. When close by, that connection was made stronger, but the strongest link was through the females. Blackthorne was connected to Whisper through her mother, though she didn't know it yet. With Dravin, Brandon, Lukus and Hector, they only shared her father's blood, which didn't carry so much of the connection, so she didn't feel them as much. What Whisper had experienced for only the second time in her life, was the presence of the maternal connection to her grandfather. She didn't understand it yet, but the first time she had felt it, Blackthorne had been in Gotham, but she just hadn't known it at the time.....

Blackthorne was gone, escaped but Nick knew he would be back. The bodies were dragged from the road, the trucks they had come in was driven into the city and all the weapons, ammunition and gear was stripped from the bodies and brought in. There were a few wounded and these were taken as prisoners. They would find out from them, one way or another what Blackthrone's strengths and weakness were.

When Whisper became sick again he was there at ther side to try and comfort her. When she began describing the feelings, images and such, he raised a brow at it. Dravin was the one to explain it to him, how the women seemed to posess the ability to feel the past through one of their older relations. Now that was an interesting bit of information.

When it looked as if Whisper was able to travel, he got her into a vehicle along with the General and himself. On the way back to the Towers, "We have to go take a look at the the other city. If he is trying to expand his empire, he will surely try to take that city, we must offer them our assistance if they desire it. Will help to make an alliance and get some trade going.

"I will put an expedition together. The road in that direction has been only cleared a little ways."

"Well with the newly aquired vehicles I think we have the means to push any small vehicles out of the way. The larger ones we can get around I think.

"Who will lead the expedition?" the General asked.

Nick looked at Whisper. He was the one that should lead it and take one of her brothers with him. After all he was now the leader of Gotham and it was up to him to decide on what should and should not be done should the other city welcome them. But he did not want to leave Whisper alone, not in her condition.

Whisper remained silent for the trip home, but as always, her ears picked up every syllable. The second city had been relatively forgotten over the last decade or so because of the difficulty in clearing the old roads and the deep forest that had beaten back the scouts more than once. But now it was important again and she knew the expedition had to be led by one far more experienced than most. That ruled out almost everyone except Nick. But, she also knew that despite his want and need to do this, he didn't want to leave her behind, not now. This baby's timing was getting worse by the minute!

Turning her head to where she heard, felt and smelled Nick, she took a deep breath and opened her eyes to him. "You should go." She told him, "You are the only one experienced enough to deal with the forest. It would be a hard journey and I know that you won't want to leave me behind now, but it must be done. Blackthorne won't rest with us, with Gotham. He will want it all. Every city, every town, every mud riddled village across this continent and beyond."

from somewhere deep in the recesses of her mind, she began to hear the distant voices, shouts and calls from the dream/memory. She began to hear names, though it was muffled with her nausea. "Ask for Lord Corwell." She said quite suddenly though very quietly, "They were all a part of it. Blackthorne, Damascus, Night and Corwell. We all survived, so perhaps he did too. Perhaps the southern city is his?" She began hearing more names, but they seemed too far away to be clear enough to her. She closed her eyes again and rested her head back as she felt the emotions again. "So much pain and fear." She said as though she felt it for herself. "So much hatred and blood and war. It's too much to bear! The southern city might have the answers, my love. How ever long it takes, you must find it. You simply must, my love." After that, she fell back into silence and seemed to shut down a little, though make no mistake, the slightest change would wake her again......

Nick looked at Whisper raising a brow. It was as if she was reading his mind again. She seemed to do that alot lately. Perhaps she was now getting so use to his ways that she could figure out what he was thinking. He leaned over and kissed her lips and put an arm about her and pulled her closer to him. The rest of the trip to the towers was quick and he soon had Whisper back up in the penthouse where she could relax and have the servents help her if she needed it. "Well shall we make the announcement?" he asked her

Whisper made herself comfortable on the bed and then pulled the bell chord to summon her main servant. The woman arrived with a bow of her head to Nick and Whisper and set down a decanter with the iron suppliments the doctor had ordered. "I don't think we have much of a choice." She offered in her usual quiet tone. "Every one of our guard saw me faltering at the gate. They will be wanting to know why and if they begin to think I am ill, it will unnerve them."...

"Yes you have never been like this before." he said. When he was sure she was well taken care of he left and sent out the message out to the other towers. Her brothers were there already when he had made the call they all immediately disapeared and reaapeared at her door with big grins on their faces.

Whisper waited for the inevitable cornicopia of well wishes and visits that would come in from the others, especially Mathaius and her brothers. And as predicted, within minutes of the message going out, they arrived in force. Suddenly, the appartment was full of people all wanting to talk to her and offer her good luck. Whisper rather preferred her quietness, but she understood how important this all was to Nick. She could feel the pride eminating from him and it made her smile. She wanted to ask him if this was what he truly wanted, but simply had not been given the chance yet. Still, she could feel some of the emotion and it all seemed good. Seemed though, not certain, at least not with Nick. As they people came and went and Whisper got tired, her servants asked that she be left alone for a while and finally, she had a moment to relax. While drinking her supplimented blood, she cast her blind gaze to where she believed Nick was and smiled softly. "There's something I want to ask you." She said quietly....

Nick smiled and walked slowly over to the bed and sat on it. Below in the city the news was spreading and like in old times the people began to celebrate, as was the other Lords and her brothers. "Let me guess. You want to know if this is what I want." he placed a hand on her stomach. "The answer is..... Yes. I never thought I would ever be a fathe. I have seen so many of our people with babies, and young children and wondered. But now...... now I will be one and though I am not sure how good a father I will be, I am loving the idea."

Whisper felt a mountain of worry fall off her shoulders then and nodded, putting her hand over his. The flesh beneath his hand was solid compared to the rest of her and she felt it when she put the added pressure of her own hand on his. "I feel so foolish for not feeling this sooner." She said, "Maybe my skills are slipping. I can feel the pressure now I know it's there, but it never occured to me before now. I was so sure I bled fully and the result would be negative, or at least only a week or so into it, but not this far. If I'm ten weeks already, I'm almost passed the first trimester already. How could I have missed that so badly?".....

He chuckled a bit, "Well we have been quite busy of late. So many things have occured that have taken all our concentration." That was one explanation, there were many more but he figured that was the reason. "Now you get some rest, I'll be back later. I think your brothers and the others are cooking up a party that they will want me to be at."

Whisper nodded and laid back with her pillows stuffed down her back. Her servant kept the blood coming from the decanter until it was all gone and then she was left alone to sleep. In the command ccentre, the party had already begun in some sense and when Nick entered, they all cheered him and started passing round his favourite liquor. "To Nicholas Night!" Dravin called, "The daddy of them all!" Everyone laughed at that and raised their glasses to him.....

As the party went on, far away in the special vehicle, Blackthrone was not happy. He had been suckered into a trap. He should have known better. But he had not thought that the city would have had any realy defenses. That was something he would not underestamate again, especially Nathanal. It seemed he had learned quite a bit over the centuries. He had built a wall around the city proper, had developed a fighting force that even surpised him. He would have to come up with a plan to breach the walls, if he was going to conqure the city.

Again his mind flashed back to the time when they had arrived on earth. The sun was so hot and the time it filled the sky did not leave them time for much. The humans seemed to be uneffected by the light and were just as comfortable with the night. After a few centuries though, the humans began to hunt them, especially those that had been turned into the lower vampires. Humans though considered lower then the vampires, were strong in many ways and had a will that even shocked the Lords. Blackthone had made use of that in his present day army. He had turned them from huntning him and his small band of vampires to working for him.

As Whisper slept, she began to feel the emotions and sounds like before. It made for an incredibly interesting and disturbing dream. Whisper rarely dreamt at all, having no sight to give the dream image or form, but this was something very different. She began to feel the memory in everything but sight. She smelled flora and fawna that she had no idea could exist. Rivers that ran with blood instead of water, gravity that said the world had two moons, clashing metal that said it was at war. She felt part of it, but at the same time, that she wasn't quite fully part of it. Like an observer of something that had happened to someone else. Oddly, it wasn't just her mind that felt this dream. It was her body too. She felt cool air on her skin and soft grass under her bare feet. The air smelled clean and fresh in her nose and she heard the fawna that she just couldn't quite describe. This world was alive, abundant with life of every kind, but it was at war. She could feel the hatred and rage in Blackthorne and another, but also, she could feel the fear in another. She felt a woman, she felt that woman was torn between her life and her duty. It was the same for yet another that felt so familiar in that way. The love between them was strong, stronger than any she had ever felt. As strong as her love for Nicholas. Though she didn't know it yet, Whisper relived the exodus and escape of her ancestors in every way but what they actually saw.....

Nick enjoyed the party and the well wishes and all. But he knew he had a city to run and protect. So he didn't drink to much and was sure to leave at an approprate time. He made it to bed still sober but tired and wanting sleep. He moved up close to Whisper and placed an arm over her letting his hand rest on her stomach. He smiled and wondered what would the child be, a boy or a girl. What ever the child would be it would be a hell raiser for sure with the genes of Whisper and him.

Whisper stirred briefly as she felt movement on the bed. The smell told her it was Nick and he'd been drinking. His coordination said not much, but she could smell it on his breath and in his blood. The change was enough to bring her back fully from the strange dream, but the memory of it still lingered in her mind. "The temple." She murmured, "Freya."....

Nick heard the name and the word Temple. He figured Whisper was dreaming and talking in her sleep so he did not ask any questions. He just settled in and fell asleep. His dreams however were more then Whispers. The closeness of her seemed to spark something in his mind. Perhaps a racial memory. He saw himself and a bealutiful woman with others. Blackthorne was there as well as Damascus. They were running and wearing heavy armor and carying primative weapons. It was not earth. The sky, grass, stream was not like anything on earth. He saw two moons, blood red grass, a stream that flowed with blood. He saw a temple like structure, in ruins and looking like it was as old as time itself. He saw himself take out a strange crystal. That is when he sat up bolt right. He quickly got off the bed and went to the closet where his things were and took out a wrapped object. He slowly unwrapped it to reveal a strange crystal. The same one he had seen in the dream.

As Nick bolted from the bed, Whisper woke with a start and sat up quickly, "Nicholas?" She asked breathlessly. He had shocked her quite badly. Feeling around the bed, she knew he had gone, but she could still hear him in the room. "Nicholas, what is it?" She coudn't hear anything beyond the normal sounds of the tower and Demon snoring near the balcony doors. "What happened? What's going on?"....

"i....I.... don't know exactly." he said. "A dream, a strange dream and this was in it." he realized she would not see it. "It is a crystal, a blood red crystal. It was given to my human foster parents when my real ones gave me to them."

Whisper held out her hand and carefully took the crystal from him. The very second she held it, she was flooded with emotions and something very close to memory. "Two moons." She whispered, "Rivers flowing with blood, I can smell it, feel it almost. It's just like my dream."....

"Yes. A world where our kind could live in a bounty of blood, not have to worry about anything. Darkness or a very dim lit sky to live under." He had seen himself, or was it him. Blacktorne thought he was his distant ancestor, The original Night. "The homeworld."

Whisper turned the crystal over in her hand, feeling the emotion through it. "Freya." She said again, though she didn't know she had spoken it already. "That was his wife's name. Nathanal Night. She was there with him when he used this. She loved him." She could feel it all in the crystal and yet she couldn't understand how it was possible. She had never been able to use empathy to this extent before. "It's all so strange to me, Nicholas." She said, putting the crystal down carefully, "I've never exerienced this in so much detail before."....

"Neither have I." he told her. But with her so close and touching her it seemed he was able to tap into what she had been, and had seen it rather then just sense things. He described what he had saw. The strange trees with blood red leaves, the blood red grass and stream filled with blood. He told her of the two moons and the endless twilight which made it possible for the vampires to live on their world.

"They were forced from their world to this one." he told her. "I think your brother needs to be told of this so he can add it to his history books." Indeed he would love to know this and anything else that they would be able to connect with. This made him wonder again why his parents had left him with the human ones. If he had the crystal, did that mean his parents were Nathanal and Fryea? Or had the crystal been handed down from father to son.

He rose and helped Whisper up and took her back to bed and soon was laying down with her again, her wrapped in his arms. "You mentioned a temple in your sleep." he told her. "It was old, and looked as if it had been there since the dawn of time. There is another here on this world, but very far away."

Whisper closed her eyes again and laid back down as Nick cuddled her up to him. She understood perfectly what he was saying and it all made sense with what she had felt and heard in her mind. He described everything in such great detail, she was able to build a mental picture of it all, though the colours were somewhat pointless. It didn't matter though, between them, they had given the dream credence and she desperately wanted to know more now. "I'll send for Lukus in the evening." She said, "When he has fully rested and awake enough to understand." She snuggled down further and then turned over, tucking herself right into him, practically pulling his entire body over hers to cover her. There was perhaps a little intent in that, but she didn't mind if he didn't pick up on it.

After some time and utterly comfortable, Whisper pressed her head into the pillow somewhat and took a deep breath. "This crystal. It gave power to something in the temple." She said, "I could hear something mechanical happening when it clinked against stone." Another deep breath, "Do you think Nathanal gave you the crystal when he and Freya gave you up, or to your father when he was given up?" She asked sleepily and then nodded, "Yes, the temple was very old. I could smell the age in it. It reminded me of the Egyptian pyramids, but older.".....

Nick knew he would have to get with her borther and find out all he had on his family. He also wanted to know if the crystal was mentioned at all. He wanted to know exactly what his family was. For he had a feeling that Blackthorn was wanting to see him dead now that he thought he was his ancestor.

Blackthorn remembering the past, remembered the crystal. Did Nathanal still have it? If so he wanted it. It had been milinium since they had crossed over to the earth. Their life spans there had been what the humans were on earth. Something about the earth, perhaps it magnetic field or perhaps the sun it self gave them extremely long lives. With the technology that they had here he could easily return and conquer the home world. They did not have the materials to make gunpowder and for as long as their history was they had always used swords and armor. He laughed as he thought of coming back with an army armed with earth weapons.

The day came and went and Whisper slept quite peacefully. However, that soon turned as the sun went down. No less than ten minutes after dusk, Whisper woke with a start and went racing for the bathroom again. Demon and Herra were quick to her aid as always, but this time she was left alone. Everyone knew now, so there was nothing to answer to. A small comfort.

And, no less than half an hour after dusk, Lukus arrived with several servants carrying books, folders and cases of old scrolls. He made himself comfortable in the conference office and waited for Nick. He had much to say about what he'd found and he was eager to know more of what was to happen now. He'd found quite a lot about Nick's distant ancestor, though perhaps the big news was that Nathanal wasn't as distant as previously thought. Word had been sent up to Nick of Lukus' arrival and it wasn't long after that when Dravin, Brandon and Hector arrived also.

As the brothers waited for Nick and probably Whisper to join them, they talked about what had transpired the last couple of days. They were all eager to know what was going on and what was to happen now, but they were also curious about Nick and his odd ancestry. And Whisper's of course. To know that not only was she once a Damascus, but she was also a Blackthorn. In some weird way, she had united them all either by blood, or now, by union. They wanted to know more.....

To say the least Lukus was excited. He was the Historian now. He had the line of Damascus back to the begining with all the off shoots. Whisper's father had more then just one wife, in fact he had four during his life of four thousand years. Lukus and his brothers was from one and Whisper was from another, one of Blackthorn's daughters. Where the off spring of the first two wives were, seemed a bit fuzzy in Lukus' books. Their names were there, Marcus and Lavita from the first marriage, the wife he had when they left the home world. Later he married one of Corwells daughters, Annita. Corwell had seven from his wife when they came to earth.

From that marriage he had three children Lucius, Brianna, and Arthur. The names were there but what happened to them was not clear. This was during some hard times for the Pure Bloods. They were scattered over europe and Asia Minor. Once the children had grown they left to meld into the growing population of the world.

Some may have been hunted down and killed by Vampire Hunters of the day. Others may have given up on life and surrendered to the Sun. Nick read through the stuff Lukus had and if it was possible, he was going to try and find a way to locate any of them out there and bring them into the fold.

As for his own family. It seemed he might have a brother and a sister out there somewhere, if they were still alive. It was recorded that Freya and Nathanal had a daughter shortly after coming to Earth, and a few hundred years later a son had been born. Adam and Fiona was recorded as being with them up until Nathanal and Freya disappeared. After that his brother and sister tried to bring the pure bloods together but Blackthorne and Damascus prevented it. So they to disappeared.

Nick gave Lukus what he knew of his birth and his foster parents. They had told him that his true parents had given him to them on a certain day, month and year, and that he seemed to be a new born. His foster mother said that his real mother cried when she handed him over and had to turn a way quickly.

This was all added to the history. The Corwell line was also recorded and seemed to be the most updated of them all. They had lived in the background one might say, not wanting or trying for power. Corwell himself was last seen just before the war began, along with his wife, from the home world. Their children numbered eight, all girls. But what happened to them during the war no one knew. That was a blank spot also.

Some where out there were other pure bloods and Nick wanted to get to them before Blackthorne did.

Dravin sat and listened eagerly as the histories were told about. So he had more siblings out there, he couldn't wait to go and find them. He had so much to tell them and so much he wanted to know. What he wanted to know most of all was where his current sister was. Whisper had not attended as expected. Going back to what was being said, Dravin continued to imagine things, but he still listened to it all carefully. At the end of it, it seemed clear to him that the last war had truly ended everything between the main families and something more worrying pricked at his thoughts. He recognised one of the names and so should everyone else, but it shocked him to realise that he was the only one thinking it.

Getting up from his chair, he moved around the table to the papers mentioning the name he knew and he read them carefully. It was definitely the same vampire. "Um." He said, holding up the papers. "Lucius. This is the same vampire that Whisper left in neat piles in his panic room." He looked around the faces staring at him and in particular, Nick. "I knew it was familiar somehow and it was a long time ago now, but it's the same vampire. Lord Lucius Dragon was Lucius Damascus. He was actually our brother." A rather sickening idea began to form in his mind and he put the papers down, swallowing hard. "Something tells me I'm not the only one thinking of utter domination here. Damascus Senior was putting all his kids into Lordship in Gotham, or at least, that's what I'm thinking. Where Whisper would have fit into that, I'm not sure. What about you guys? Speaking of our beloved queen, where is she? I thought she would have been joining us for this."....

"Resting." Nick told them. "Being with child is a draining experience right now." he told them as he looked over all the history. So many children and the majority were missing. Where were they all. From what he had been told by his past bosses, Blackthorne had gathered every one he could to make his play for establishing an area of Vampire Control that would eventually spread. If that was so where were all these other purebloods. Some he was sure would not have heeded the call and could still be out there some where. The burning question was where were his parents? Were they Nathanal and Freya? Where were his brother and sister?

He wanted answers but there were not to be found in the hand written books before him. Some might lie in the third city, Eastwood. Perhaps there were those there that would know and would lead to finding others. The assemblage broke up a bit later and he returned to Whisper in their bed chamber. Soon she would be over the morning sickness and would be watching the baby bump grow. He went to the window and looked out over the city. They had accomplished what Blackthorn had wanted and what Whisper's father had wanted, perhaps even what his parents and ancestors had want, the begining of an empire ruled by vampires. But their's was not ruled by tyrants but those that actually cared for those they ruled. Her brothers, and the others had come to realize that with out the peoople, they were nothing.

Three days later the group that was to go with him had been picked, outfited and armed to the teeth. They would be taking one of the trucks that they had taken from Blackthorn. Each wore the black uniform of the Shadow Unit. As he stood there, little shadow was at Nicks side. He knew that Nick was going somewhere and he was wanting to go as well. He didn't seem to want to be left behind.

As the group mounted up into the back of the truck, Shadow jumped up into the cab and sat there waiting for Nick. Nick turned to Whisper and took her into his arms. "We will not be gone long. A few days at the most."

Whisper had slept through most of the meeting, but when Nick came back, she heard him and woke enough to listen to what he was doing. He was quiet, he was thinking. She wished she could read his mind because it seemed clear he wasn't in the mood for talking right then. Everything became clear soon after as she heard people moving about and getting ready for the excursion to the other city. Eastwood they had named it.

Three days later, Whisper stood outside the truck with Nick and smiled as he cuddled her up to him. A few days and he would be back. Whisper somehow doubted that, but she didn't say anything about it. "Take care of yourself." She told him firmly, "We need you back in one piece, ok?" She leaned up and kissed him lovingly, "And Herra would like her pup back in one piece too." She chortled. She knew he was in the cab waiting, she could hear him panting and she could smell him. He desperately needed a bath!.....

"I will be back in one piece." he told her. He kissed her deeply before he made for the cab of the truck to be greeted by Shadow. He nodded to the driver and the truck began moving down the road. He could see Whisper standing there in the side mirror of the truck. He hoped that he was doing the right thing leaving her alone. He just didn't like the idea.

It seemed that Blackthorn had the same idea that they had. He had pushed vehicles out of the way so the other trucks could keep rolling. But the road to the other city would now take time for them to push some of the vehilcles off the road. It was indeed slow going but with the large 5 ton truck they were easily moving the rusting hulks out of the way.

Shadow sat there panting as he looked ahead through the windshield. Now and then he would step over my lap and hang his head out the window. It seemed he was enjoying the trip. Now and then they would stop and stretch and let nature take its course. A few times they had to repel some of the new denisens of the forest and the open land. What would have taken maybe a couple hours of fast driving took two days.

What they found was not what they were expecting. Vegetation had overgrown everything. Wild animals ran through the streets and in and out of buildings at their approach. "It looks as i this one didn't fare as well." Nick commented as they pushed their way through the citys streets. Like the other two cities, this one had central towers, what was called tall skyscrapers back in the day but now just the Towers. "Well if there is anyone around, that is where they will be." But when they pulled up to one, it didn't look as if it had been inhabited for some time. But they were there so they had to explore.

Whisper stood by the roadside and listened as the trucks rolled away. She hoped their exploration would go well and they would find what they were looking for and what they were all hoping for. She waited until she could no longer hear anything and then turned back to head home. At her side, Demon and Herra gruffed at her in comfort, though she knew Herra's gruff was more of 'I want my son back in one piece or else'. Whisper reached down and gently rubbed the bitch behind her ear. "They'll be fine." She said, though she wondered if she believed it as much as the hound did. "It's only for a few days at the most. From there, Whisper's mind turned to Blackthorn. It was still hard for her to accept that this vampire was family and with so much else going on, the distraction wasn't helping her any.

The city of Eastwood was much as Nick had found it. The going was tough as many of the streets were blocked with debris from nature and the entire city as crawling with all manner of mutated and dangerous creatures. Two days would quickly become a week and then a month. Eastwood was massive compared to Gotham, but it was entirely empty. Whatever life had been there, it was all long gone. The city had literally been abandoned for greener pastures.

During that time, Whisper did as she always did and things in Gotham went on as normal. Lukus continued his research as best he could and Mathius and the other lords continued their own work. All the while, Whisper's belly began to grow until at the end of that month and into the second, she sported quite a cute and well rounded figure. Every outfit had to be altered to compensate for the growth and Whisper found herself spending more and more time with the tailors just to keep up. At least the sickness had stopped. That was the biggest relief, but she missed Nick terribly now. Messages came and went, but they were getting more infrequent now. The last message sent was a picture of Whisper sporting her new bump, though she had to pull her dress tight for it to show properly. The general took the picture and a second one that included his own wife. They looked like a pair of bookends stood back to back and showing off, but at least Whisper managed to find a smile for it.....

The city seemed deserted for sure. They had searched the towers and with no power had to use the stairs. That was a fun thing. They all got plenty of exercise in their search. But Nick had a nagging feeling that there was life in the city, not just the mutated version of animals but like him and the others. After a month which he knew was causing Whisper to worry, he was about the call of the search when one of the scouting parties came back with a scrawny man that looked malnurished. The poor man was frightened and shaking.

"Where is everyone?" Nick asked the man. At first the man hesitated, then when offered food it seemed relax. He devouered the food and then looked at Nick. "Not like others. You different, like godesses. Not like them though." It was as if the man did not know how to speak properly. He shook his head knowing that after so many years without formal teaching had degenerated.

"Where?" I asked.

"Come, show you." the man said and pointed towards the towers.

"No one there." I said.

"Yes, Yes." he said, "Down." he pointed to the ground.

Now that was one place they had not looked. Under the city and the towers. With the others he followed the scrawny man and soon found themselves decending down into what had been the subway system. Here they found life alright. There was alot of humans that looked more like primative cave men then people. They were armed with spears and knives and wore the furs of beasts they had killed. Most ran from them, some tried to stop them, but with a couple of rounds going off in the air they scattered. Our guide almost ran off at that point but Nick grabbed him and handed him some more food.

He took them down the old subway tunnels that were now lit by torches instead of lights. Up to one of the stops where there had been some businesses. Here he took them to a large room in which Nick could see several glass coffen like things sitting on raised tables. Dust covered everything and when Nick wiped some off one, he saw the face of a woman with jet black hair. He checked the others and found the same thing. Eight women and two men were in them. "Gods and Goddesses." the mand said, "They sleep."

Nick smiled. He had found some of those that were lost. Who they were he would have to find out. First though he had to some how wake them.

Around the underground community, the strangers had caused a whole world of fuss. No-one like this had come for a very long time, generations in fact. At the door of the crypt as they called it, several dirty faces peered through to see and stare at the strange people that came with loud black sticks and strange clothes. One brave soul, a young girl, came forward and tugged on Nick's arm. Unfortunately, it was his gun hand. She didn't understand the dangers of it, only that it made a hellish noise. "Pretty." She said, looking up at him. "They sleep for long time. They waiting. Waiting for Gods to come for them. Come." And she tugged on him some more, "Show you somfink. Very special like. You like. More Gods. Come!"

Behind them, a woman came rushing forward. The little girl was hers and she was frightened by the strangers. "You leave!" She cried, trying to snatch her child away, "Mine! Mine girl! You leave!" She thought that Nick was going to take her daughter away. Children were precious here as so many were lost to predators. Their protection and health was as important as their care for the sleeping vampires. After all, it was the children that would take over from them and provide the care and food for them later on......

Nick smiled down at the little girl and then at the mother. "No Harm." he tried to speak so they would understand. He pointed to the caskets, "Family." then to himself. Almost instantly every soul there was on their knees their heads to the ground. They understood what family meant and that if he was a part of the gods family, he was one himself.

The little girl looked up at him. "Come to take home?" she asked and he nodded with a smile. "Come. Show you."

"Get a call into base, have the other trucks begin rolling. I want all these people taken back to Gotham on the quick. He steped to the side of the child's mother. He lifted her up and said. "Taking Home." he pointed to the caskets. Then waved his hand to all the humans there, "All comming with us."

An amazed look came to the woman's face and again she went to her knees and kissed his hand. "We serve, always."

"Bring all here." he told her. "Take home with us." She was on her feet bowing as she backed up and then she began telling others and they rose and ran off down the tunnels. Then Nick followed the little girl.

In minutes, the entire community was ready to go.  Men, women, children, every last soul in the city and they all gathered around the new found Gods and bowed to them in service and respect.  The general with Nick looked at all the people.  There were hundreds of them.  "Uh, Sir."  He said, "Are all of these mortals coming with us?"  He looked around, trying to count the numbers, but couldn't, "I don't think we have room for them all.  A hundred trucks couldn't carry them all from this place.  And where will they all live?  Gotham isn't that big, Sir."  He seemed genuinely worried as he looked through the crowds of dirty faces, "And what about disease?  This long without any vaccination programme, no clean water or food source, mutation meats?  This is a big can of worms." He then shook his head, seeing that Nick hadn't heard him.

The little girl, so eager to please and help, led Nick down a series of corridors until finally, they arrived at another old station, but this one was empty. The point of this room was the many paintings all over the walls and ceiling of the room. "Look!" she said with excitement, "Look! Goddess!" She pointed up to a central point in the ceiling, "Goddess Freya! God Natanal." His name had clearly been distorted over time. "God Nikolus." That name too had been badly distorted. "Big man Gods." She said and then dragged him further into the room, "Here!" She said quickly, "Baby Goddess!" She pointed to a painting of a young mother carrying a dark haired baby girl, dressed in white lace with white eyes. "Baby Goddess. Most loved. Most heart."......