Snowhawk fidgeted nervously as she waited on news from Rais and his team about Janus' condition. Adian sat with her, one hand resting on her shoulder, trying to calm her some. It had been three months since Rais arrived. Because of Anya being long dead, the team had no way to acquire a new venom sample, and no other Avizon were known in the city. They had been experimenting with the vampiric anti-toxin to remove the residual effects. The process was slow going, slower than the original tests on Snowhawk, and seemed to be just as painful, and the results seemed mixed. While the persona of Kirrian was spending more and more time away, Janus seemed to be slowly losing his memories.

“He asked me where this came from,” Snowhawk began, pointing to the still-visible scar on her neck.

“He can't remember?” Adian asked, concerned.

“He remembers before that night. He remembers finding me. And in the hospital afterward, and my escape and killing your uncle, but not what caused it.”

“Did you remind him?”

“Yes, but I don't know if he'll remember.”

“What else has he forgotten?”

“There seem to be little pockets everywhere, like your parent's names and what a damn fork is used for.”

Adian sighed, looking toward the room's door. About that moment, Rais walked through said doorway. “I hope I'm not interrupting.”

“No,” Snowhawk replied, “we were just discussing your patient.”

“Oh, then I won't have to change your discussion topic,” the Director said. “I think we should reduce the treatment. Or stop it completely. I'm concerned about this memory loss he's having.”

“That's what we had been discussing,” Adian began, “though not about altering the treatment.”

“I believe it's coming from the pain. His mind is shutting it out, and other things are being locked away.”

Snowhawk gave a small nod. “Understandable.”

“I have to ask you both if you feel you could live with him in this state.”

“I've fought too hard to give up on him now, Rais,” Snowhawk responded.

“Adian?”

“As long as he's not attacking her on a nightly basis again.”

“Then we'll scale down and stop treatment as soon as we can. If we had another Avizon, it might work better, but unless you know of one in the city–”

“No. We've looked as best we can.”

“Then you may be stuck with him like this for good. But if there's any good news, it seems to have slowed his aging.”

Snowhawk did give a weak smile at this. She had suspected as much for Janus, but her own aging never caught up to what a normal Delphin's should be. She would still outlive him.

“I'm sorry I couldn't do more, but if you find an Avizon, and they're not trying to kill you, please, let me know and I'll return as soon as I can.”

“Thank you for what you have done though, Rais,” Adian said.

The other wolf bowed slightly to Snowhawk and Adian. “Just doing my job. I'll go let Janus know what the plan is.”

*********

Across town, at Nytehawk's home, Valerian paced in his room. He was nervous, but wasn't quite sure why. He simply felt something to be wrong. He hadn't been able to see his mother recently, and wondered if what he felt was in relation to her. Over the past decade, he'd seen her at least monthly, if not more often, until these past three months. The boy, now nearly an adult by Delphin standards at just over thirteen years of age, was far more keen to pick up when something was “wrong” and had been growing ever harder to keep things from.

He had learned the truth months ago about his father and mother. The whole truth, not just the sugarcoated version he'd been told as a youngster. He appreciated honesty, but understood why he'd been protected for so long.

“Still,” he said to himself, brushing his long forelock from his eyes and picking up his cellphone from the bedside table, “something is up. And I'm not sure what, but I think I need to get to my mother.” And with that, he called her.

The phone rang a half-dozen times, but then went to her voicemail. He left a short message, asking her to call him back, then dropped the phone back on the table next to his bed. He grumbled with frustration. “I guess I just have to go see for myself.”

His aunt was scheduled out for meetings the rest of the day, so he left a message with Hunter that he'd be back later. As he'd aged, he'd been allowed to roam more and more, so wandering off to visit his mom was not something he'd typically get in trouble for.

*********

Snowhawk sighed as she wandered the estates' gardens. It had only been a couple hours since Rais left, and while things were improved over these past few months, she had this nagging feeling of dread. A feeling of being watched. No, she thought, not just watched, stalked.

Just a moment later, something rushed at her and soon had her pressed against the hedges. “Hello, dear,” Kione's voice began, just before wrapping his hand around her muzzle to muffle any cries of help. “Did you miss me?” He grinned as she fought to pull her head away. “Oh, you're still wearing that damned locket?” he said, taking said object into his free hand. “You won't be needing this anymore,” the vampire continued before jerking it from her neck.

She gave a muffled cry of pain as the chain of the locket bit into her neck, then broke free, pulling some of her fur and mane with it. The wall the locket had built in her mind, protecting her from Emerald was crumbling fast and she began to hyperventilate as the panicked feeling rose at the thought of being taken over again.

Kione removed his hand from her muzzle, brushing his fingers over her cheek as he trailed them to her neck. “Don't worry, she won't come back yet. Just breathe.” His hand stopped high on her throat, his thumb resting under her cheekbone, while his fingers laced themselves through her hair.

“M– Mom?!” Valerian yelled, having stumbled onto the scene.

Snowhawk couldn't move her head to look at her boy. “Run! Get help!” she screamed before being cut off by the vampire.

As the boy ran toward the house, calling for help, Kione watched him go. “Obedient young man you've got there.”

“Don't you touch him,” she choked out.

“Oh, he's far too young for me right now. I don't turn children. Their mothers on the other hand,” Kione grinned, “are fair game. And this time, I'll make sure they don't find you prematurely.”

“No!” she cried, striking out at him with a hoof.

Kione easily dodged her still shod hoof. “As much as I love the fight you have now, this is not going to make life easier for you.” He grabbed her curved horn, pulling her head down with it. “Fight too much and this lovely horn is gone.” Knowing the consequences, she stopped struggling, dropping to one knee. “That's a good girl,” he grinned, then easily picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder.

“Stop right there, you son of a bitch!” Janus yelled, having been led to his mate by Valerian. Adian followed close behind.

“Oh, it appears I've overstayed my welcome. No matter, I have what I came for.” And with that, he seemingly vanished from view, leaving the two wolves and young Delphin with only a breeze ruffling their hair and clothes.

“Shit!” Adian cursed, then took off to the garage to grab his truck, then head in what he believed to be the vampire's direction: east to the sea shore north of Di'aru.

But he would be off. The vampire no longer resided in the castle by the sea, but instead found his refuge in the city of Di'aru. The high population of the city gave him not only a large food supply, but plenty of faces to blend with. By the time he reached the city with Snowhawk, night was well underway, and he encountered little hassle from the local slavers about the Delphin prize slung over his shoulder. He soon reached his new home, a large house on the sea-side of the city, just south of the main port.

“Welcome to your new home,” Kione began, tossing her unceremoniously onto a bed. “Get used to it, because we aren't leaving for a long time. And if you step out into that city with no protections,” he paused, “let's say there are worse fates than becoming a vampire.”

“You wouldn't dare collar me,” she growled.

“I have once before and I will again, for your safety.”

“Don't remind me,” Snowhawk glared, as the vampire rummaged through a box.

“Oh, I'll do more than remind you,” he grinned, pulling out what appeared to be the same wide band of steel as he'd placed on her over a decade ago. He set the band on the dresser, then walked to the bed where the other Delphin sat. “But first, we need to get this out of the way,” he grinned as he leaned in toward her.

“I said no!” she yelled, kicking him squarely in the chest, then rolling backwards off the bed, only to find her back literally to the wall.

“You have to learn to watch where you go,” he growled, mostly unphased by her kick and continuing to advance toward her.

“No,” she whispered. “Not again.”

“Yes again, and for good this time. No one will save you now.”

*********

“Son of a bitch!” howled Adian as he ran from Kione's former home. “I should have know he'd have moved. But where?” Every second he lost was one less Snowhawk would have. Suddenly, the thought struck him. If he were to hide somewhere, it'd be easiest to hide in plain sight, and the city of Di'aru was so close. “I'll start there.”

*********

Kione pulled away from Snowhawk's neck, letting her bright red blood trail down it and to her chest before he grinned and closed the wound with a lick. She'd not passed out this time around, and though she was woozy, and nearly unable to sit up on her own, she shot him a glare that could have killed anyone else. Her look of utter displeasure just made him laugh. “You are certainly stronger, but you can't resist this.”

“Watch me,” she defiantly whispered, then finally collapsed to the side, breathing heavily as the vampire's venom ran through her body.

“It's easier on us both if you just give in.”

“No.”

“There will be no wolf or doctor to save you this time.”

“I won't need them,” she weakly replied.

“You are just prolonging the inevitable.”

“No, I won't let you w–” she began, but finally passed out before she could finish her thought.

*********

Adian wandered the city for hours, asking anyone if they had seen either the vampire or Snowhawk. Several recalled seeing her, but it would only be a single Lupino adolescent that could point to the house she thought she remembered seeing the pale Delphin disappear into. Adian carefully approached the house, unsure if the vampire knew he was there yet. Through all the other scents of the city overwhelming his nose, he could faintly pick up Snowhawk's, so he at least knew the kid had been right.

He tested the door, and found it unlocked, which would be strange for this city. He carefully entered the building, keeping himself on guard as he followed Snowhawk's scent. Adian soon found himself at a door where her scent seemed to come from strongest. He also smelled Kione. His fur bristled thinking about what had probably been done to her in the hours past.

He quickly opened the door and burst into the room, seeing the vampire sitting on the bed next to the still unconscious Snowhawk. “You're far too late, wolf.” Kione grinned.

“Never too late.”

“It's been nearly twelve hours since I bit her. She's fought it, but I'm sure she'll be awake soon.”

“It will never be too late as long as–” Adian began to growl, but was cut off.

“As long as what? You live? There's a cure? You wouldn't take that cure yourself because you know that this is inevitable for her.”

“No, because I knew I'd have to protect her from you.”

“You can't protect her forever if you won't take her from your brother. And it's such a pity for you, I'm just going to take her from you both so I can have my mate back.”

“Never,” Adian growled and advanced toward them.

“Oh, Adian, we've had this discussion before. You're always going to be a third wheel, at least until he's dead, and things will just end badly. You know how it goes.”

“Move.”

“No, Adian, I think not.”

“Give her up, damn you.”

Kione smirked. “I'm not letting her get away this time.” He lifted his hand to reveal a heavy steel chain, attached to the same wide steel collar he'd removed from it's box earlier.

“You. Son of a bitch,” Adian growled again, narrowing his eyes at the vampire. “How dare you collar her.”

“In this city? It's better protection than either of us could offer.”

“No!” he howled, then lunged at the vampire.

Kione was honestly surprised by the attack and took the full force of Adian's lunge. “What's wrong, wolf? Did I strike a nerve?” he chuckled as he easily pushed the younger vampire off him. Adian hopped up to try and reach the bed to grab Snowhawk, but found himself blocked by Kione. “You're still too slow, Adian.”

“Move, damn you!” he yelled as he threw a punch at the vampire. Kione simply caught his fist and pushed it out of the way.

“Watch where you fight,” Kione warned, nodding back to the still unconscious Delphin.

“Then get away from her, you prick!”

“That's too easy.”

Adian looked helplessly at Snowhawk. He didn't know if she was able to hear what was going on or not, but he swore he saw her mouth “Save me.” With one last burst of energy, he lunged for the vampire, grabbing his shoulders, falling backwards with him, and vaulting him backwards, away from Snowhawk. Once the vampire was away, Adian rushed to the Delphin's side. What appeared to be peaceful from a distance was quite distressing to actually see. Tiny twitches wracked her small body, strange for this long after being envenomed. “She's still fighting,” he whispered, then quickly scooped her into his arms.

“You can take her now, Adian, but you'll never get her back.”

“We'll see about that,” the wolf growled, then ran from the house.

*********

Adian couldn't risk being seen biting Snowhawk as soon as he got her back to his truck, so he had to simply load her into the passenger seat and drive far outside of the city. Another two hours would pass before he looked to the passenger seat to see her waking up. He quickly pulled over so his attention could be focused on her. “Snowhawk?”

“Adian,” she quietly began, “How did I get here? What happened?”

“I fought Kione away from you. Don't you remember him biting you?”

“Vaguely. I'm so tired, though.”

“Stay awake, dear. Tired is a good thing, it means his venom didn't work.”

“I fought it off?” she said with a small smile.

“Most of it at least, apparently. Let's get you back home and in the mean time, I'll get in contact with Rais again.”

*********

"You're incredibly strong, Ms. Alyandra. Very few folks could ever even think to fight off a vampire's venom. Yet you beat it almost completely," Rais complimented.

"Thank you, Rais," Snowhawk returned.

"I have to ask, though," Adian began, "have you felt any hint of Emerald?"

"No, none at all. Its like she's completely gone from my head."

"Its possible the anti-venom has removed her ability to communicate with you. It would be a long shot, but that seems most likely," the Director commented.

"That, combined with wearing that locket for a decade," the chocolate wolf suggested.

“Very possible as well.”

Snowhawk sighed and looked down. “I'm almost more afraid now, knowing she's probably gone. Kione was pissed enough last time, and she was just hidden then.”

“Then we have to get rid of him, once and for all.”

“As interesting as studying an elder vampire would be, I'm inclined to agree. I don't know the long-term effects of using the anti-venom multiple times. It's possible the effects will lessen with each use, until there comes a point where even it wouldn't be able to bring you back.”

“But,” Snowhawk began, looking up, “how are we supposed to do that? We couldn't before.”

“We hesitated then. We won't this time.”

Snowhawk just nodded slowly, unsure of Adian's plan. “Thank you again, Rais. I think I'm going to go and rest.”

“You're quite welcome, Ms. Alyandra.”

As she left the room, Snowhawk was greeted by Janus and quickly pulled into a hug. “So glad you've returned.”

“Glad to be back,” she whispered, giving him a soft nuzzle. “Where did my son get off too?”

“He's sleeping right now. Your cousin knows he's here, and safe.”

“Good. And I think sleep sounds like a wonderful idea.”

“Then we should rest,” Janus smiled, then led her away to their room.

*********

Kione was fuming. Not only had Snowhawk managed to mostly fight off his venom, but that thrice-damned anti-venom had obliterated any that remained in her system. “But it can't work forever, and if I bide my time, she'll eventually succumb.”

But he was also concerned. At no point had he felt Emerald's presence in her mind. This was the part that infuriated him the most. He'd made sure to remove the locket specifically so Emerald could contact him, but there had been nothing.

He stared into a viewing orb, looking at the sleeping Snowhawk, and as he tried to get some reaction from her, he found she was oblivious to his presence. “Son of a bitch,” he quietly cursed, tossing the orb aside, barely noting the sound of it shattering. He loved a challenge, but this was a bit much. He would have to find some other leverage over her.