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Description
Location: Land of the Midnight Sun
The cut was still fresh on his face, still smarting. He was bent over the map, hand slowly following the trail they had taken. Instantly he retracted his hand as a knife came down on the map.
"Watch where you're stabbing Aizentine," he growled.
"You call me Prince, not any other name."
"You're a third heir, I'm a first, and I know this terrain so you need my help."
"You might be one year my elder but you can't insubordinate me like this."
"Look, 'Prince', you kill me, and there's no hope of getting my sister, so no new kingdom."
"I hate you."
"My Prince," someone entered, turning to him, "We found the passage sire."
"Good, send the scouts down, we need all the information on the castle."
"I thought you said you knew the terrain Taiden."
"The last time I came here the castle was in ruins. You think I even know what vampires are like?"
"I say we send in an army."
"You just want blood on your hands; you might as well be a vampire yourself."

Location: The Gatehouse; the Castle of Illusion
Xilef sat atop the wall, blankly staring off.
"Lucifer," he whispered to the stars. Tentatively he touched the back of his right ear, the most recent of his vampire scars.
"Is it that sort of thing you saw? Did you really conceive the idea that I might do that?" His chin dropped to his chest, he understood Luc's anger now. Ears twitching he then looked back up, his eyes instantly scanning the mountains. Five men stood behind an outcrop, each one in attire from the Land of Morn. He jumped to his paws, taking a step or two back, arms wavering. By the look in their eyes he knew they had just seen him. Jumping from the wall he landed on all fours, his rear claws unsheathing to add to his stability. Running for the castle he lost track of all his other thoughts.

Location: The Tower of Midnight; the Castle of Illusion
I put a hand to my neck, remembering his lips. The smell of his blood was still heavy in my nose. I was laying back on the bed. Gently I bit my lip, closing my eyes.
"Miss?" My eyes snapped open, Erica was there.
"Are you okay?"
"I think I am," I whispered, not entirely sure of myself.
"You're not, are you?" I sat up, arms wrapped about myself,
"Luc sent you didn't he?"
"Yes, he wants me to ready you."
"For what?"
"All he said was highly formal. He said he'd tell me the details later."
"Fine."
"What is it you feel Miss?" How that question was so similar to his own, making me wonder for but a moment if this was an illusion, but I knew it wasn't.
"Nothing," I blushed as my thoughts became playfully vivid.
"You're blushing. Are you thinking about someone?" I nodded, the blush vivid on my cheeks.
"What's he like?"
"You mean –"
"The way you're blushing, what's the guy like?"
"He's … oh I don't even know how to start describing him."
"You can see him in your mind right now can't you? I nodded, my eyes hooding as I smiled.
"Do you want to see him again?" she sat down on the end of my bed.
"I didn't realise it before, but …"
"But what?"
"I think I love him."
"Oh what did Master take you away from?"
"I just feel all …" I couldn't finish, all my emotions welling up.

Location: Lucifer's Quarters; the Castle of Illusion
"Luc," he panted, coming through the way, "They've found us."
"I know," the vampire was buttoning up a shirt, "I've got a job for you to do."
"You always have me doing jobs."
"You are actually a servant of mine; I just never refer to you as one."
"What needs to be done Master Lucifer?" he replied, eyes shying away.
"By the time they invade, only three people will be left in this castle."
"Three? What have you done to the servants Lucifer?"
"They are back in the Land of the Silver Moon. Will you listen to your job?"
"Yes Luc."
"If those who invade ask for directions, you will give them. That's all."
"Lucifer, what is your plan?"
"The veil of night is closing in, the quiet before the storm. The stars shall be my audience, the moon my shining light. The stage is set; all that is needed are the players. All shall be revealed tonight."

Description
Location: Land of the Midnight Sun
The cut was still fresh on his face, still smarting. He was bent over the map, hand slowly following the trail they had taken. Instantly he retracted his hand as a knife came down on the map.
"Watch where you're stabbing Aizentine," he growled.
"You call me Prince, not any other name."
"You're a third heir, I'm a first, and I know this terrain so you need my help."
"You might be one year my elder but you can't insubordinate me like this."
"Look, 'Prince', you kill me, and there's no hope of getting my sister, so no new kingdom."
"I hate you."
"My Prince," someone entered, turning to him, "We found the passage sire."
"Good, send the scouts down, we need all the information on the castle."
"I thought you said you knew the terrain Taiden."
"The last time I came here the castle was in ruins. You think I even know what vampires are like?"
"I say we send in an army."
"You just want blood on your hands; you might as well be a vampire yourself."

Location: The Gatehouse; the Castle of Illusion
Xilef sat atop the wall, blankly staring off.
"Lucifer," he whispered to the stars. Tentatively he touched the back of his right ear, the most recent of his vampire scars.
"Is it that sort of thing you saw? Did you really conceive the idea that I might do that?" His chin dropped to his chest, he understood Luc's anger now. Ears twitching he then looked back up, his eyes instantly scanning the mountains. Five men stood behind an outcrop, each one in attire from the Land of Morn. He jumped to his paws, taking a step or two back, arms wavering. By the look in their eyes he knew they had just seen him. Jumping from the wall he landed on all fours, his rear claws unsheathing to add to his stability. Running for the castle he lost track of all his other thoughts.

Location: The Tower of Midnight; the Castle of Illusion
I put a hand to my neck, remembering his lips. The smell of his blood was still heavy in my nose. I was laying back on the bed. Gently I bit my lip, closing my eyes.
"Miss?" My eyes snapped open, Erica was there.
"Are you okay?"
"I think I am," I whispered, not entirely sure of myself.
"You're not, are you?" I sat up, arms wrapped about myself,
"Luc sent you didn't he?"
"Yes, he wants me to ready you."
"For what?"
"All he said was highly formal. He said he'd tell me the details later."
"Fine."
"What is it you feel Miss?" How that question was so similar to his own, making me wonder for but a moment if this was an illusion, but I knew it wasn't.
"Nothing," I blushed as my thoughts became playfully vivid.
"You're blushing. Are you thinking about someone?" I nodded, the blush vivid on my cheeks.
"What's he like?"
"You mean –"
"The way you're blushing, what's the guy like?"
"He's … oh I don't even know how to start describing him."
"You can see him in your mind right now can't you? I nodded, my eyes hooding as I smiled.
"Do you want to see him again?" she sat down on the end of my bed.
"I didn't realise it before, but …"
"But what?"
"I think I love him."
"Oh what did Master take you away from?"
"I just feel all …" I couldn't finish, all my emotions welling up.

Location: Lucifer's Quarters; the Castle of Illusion
"Luc," he panted, coming through the way, "They've found us."
"I know," the vampire was buttoning up a shirt, "I've got a job for you to do."
"You always have me doing jobs."
"You are actually a servant of mine; I just never refer to you as one."
"What needs to be done Master Lucifer?" he replied, eyes shying away.
"By the time they invade, only three people will be left in this castle."
"Three? What have you done to the servants Lucifer?"
"They are back in the Land of the Silver Moon. Will you listen to your job?"
"Yes Luc."
"If those who invade ask for directions, you will give them. That's all."
"Lucifer, what is your plan?"
"The veil of night is closing in, the quiet before the storm. The stars shall be my audience, the moon my shining light. The stage is set; all that is needed are the players. All shall be revealed tonight."