6 AM

“Unacceptable! Unacceptable! I am not going to stand for this!”

Synyster Gate rounded upon the legion of vampire warriors who stood before him. They growled in response to his snarled statement. One young soldier stepped forward.

“What do you want us to do, Lieutenant?”

Synyster’s lip curled into a cruel sneer.

“We go out there, and find every Were...warrior and civilian alike...and kill them...all of them.”

“And then?” The soldier spoke up again.

“The Seward’s...find them and bring them to me. I would destroy them in front of that dog the Master has made his slave.”

“No...”

Synyster swung around at the soft feminine voice. There standing before him, long mahogany hair falling in waves down her back was a female he had not laid on for many years. He gasped.

“Luna...”

The female moved forward, deep hazel eyes filled with tears.

“You would not destroy my family...”

The Lieutenant gulped, confusion clouding his sable eyes.

“Your family...?”

Luna reached out to rest a small hand against his hard bicep. However, before she could say another word a cold voice boomed around them.

“Sister, I suggest stepping back.”

She swung her head around. Synyster followed her gaze. Matthew stood at the gateway arms folded across his bare chest. With his legs spread slightly and his shades firmly covering his eyes, he looked as deadly as she had always remembered him. Luna shivered.

“Matthew...”

He crooked a finger at her.

“Come here, sister.”

Luna licked at her fangs and glided across the ground to her elder brother. Peering up at him, she felt a thrill surge along her spine.

“Brother...”

He stared hard at her then moved down the steps levelling with her. He spoke softly so only she could hear what he had to say.

“Do not tell him anything.”

Luna trembled, whispering harshly, “You know about my son?”

Matthew nodded tightly. She swayed slightly; he grasped her by the shoulders.

“He is safe here with me.”

She lifted her head surprise registering in her eyes. She had never heard her brother speak in such a tender tone before.

“Mattie?”

The master vampire lowered his head and his voice.

“I cannot prevent Brian from doing this, Lu...he will kill Jonathan if I do.”

Luna bit her bottom lip hard, tears welling in her eyes.

“Please...” She grabbed Matthew’s hands tightly. “I love...” She whimpered. He wrapped his arms hard around her, pulling her close to his chest. Then he looked over her head to the vampires gathered below. Synyster raised his eyebrows. Matthew slid his shades down and stared hard at him for a long moment, and then he pushed them back up, lips pressed together tightly.

“Shadows?”

Matthew growled, voice strained, “Go. Before I change my mind.”

Luna’s body jerked in his arms and she whipped her head around and tried to pull away from him. He held on firmly as she strained against him.

“No!” She screamed tears flowing; Synyster stared at her then vanished, the squadron disappearing moments after. Luna let out a strangled sob and slumped in her brother’s arms.

“No...Mattie...no...”

The master vampire said nothing, dematerialising with her to the main dining hall, jaw set hard. She clung to him, face tucked into his neck, lithe body trembling. The Rev sat at the long table drinking from a goblet. He lifted his eyes when he heard Matthew’s feet on the floor.

“Matt?” He frowned, then his grey eyes widened when he saw the female. “Hell...Luna?”

Matthew didn’t answer just set his sister down on a high-backed chair. Luna wiped at her eyes keeping them fixed on a spot somewhere on the floor. The Rev tilted his head, his expression unwontedly gentle.

“Hey, Luna...”

She trembled. Matthew slumped on a chair opposite and folded his arms, expression weary.

“Leave her alone, James. She’s...distraught...”

The lanky vampire shot a sharp look at him.

“I can see that. What have you done, Sanders?”

Matthew clenched his jaw tight and shook his head. Luna sniffled and finally looked up at The Rev.

“Brian...Brian’s going to...” She bit her lip and wiped at her eyes.

“Ah...Hell...” The Rev reached over and placed a gentle hand around hers. She let him, just staring at the table. Matthew shifted uncomfortably.

“I had no choice but to let him...”

The Rev sighed. “You think protecting her son is more important?”

The master vampire nodded. Luna glanced at him.

“He is here in the manor?”

He nodded again. Luna shivered.

“May I see him?”

“No.” Matthew’s jaw tightened, his features set like stone.

“Mattie, please.”

“No.”

“He is my son, please...I need to see him.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

Matthew removed his shades and rubbed at his eyes, before replacing them.

“He does not know that you are my sister.”

Luna looked hard at him.

“Then he should be told.”

“No.”

“Please...I could tell him...”

“No, Luna.”

“Damn it, is that all you can say?”

Matthew’s lip curled slightly. “He does not need to know.”

“Why not?”

The master snarled, “He belongs to me. He does not need to know.”

“What do you mean he belongs-?” Luna stiffened cutting off her own question staring incredulously at her elder brother. “No...” she shook her head hard. “No...not my son...you cannot do that to him...”

Matthew ruthlessly met her imploring gaze.

“Would you rather I killed him? Because that was my only other option.”

She recoiled as if he had slapped her. Then she bowed her head.

“You could release him.”

“What? And have Brian track him down and torture him to death?”

Luna shivered peering up at her brother.

“You would not allow-”

Matthew grunted, “Johnny is safer being my slave than he is out there. You know that Brian would hunt him down and kill him.”

His sister trembled and wrapped her arms around her waist. The Rev stroked her arm lightly.

“You know Matt’s right about this, sweetie.”

Luna bit her lip hard then laughed bitterly glowering at Matthew.

“I always did hate when you were right, brother.”

The master vampire shrugged.

“The feeling’s mutual, sister.”

She leaned her head back, her hair rippling as she moved.

“Damnations...” She rubbed a hand over her face, then peered at her brother again. “Could...I at least see him...”

Matthew frowned. “What do you mean?”

Luna pressed a hand to her neck breathing deeply.

“I...just want to see him...once...please...he won’t even know I’m there...”

Matthew worked his jaw for a long moment just looking at her. She waited, knowing that pushing him was dangerous. He licked a fang with his tongue. Then leaned forward on the table.

“If I let you, you must never ask again.”

Luna nodded emphatically, “I understand.” She bit her lip. “I’ll never have contact with him again, will I?”

Matthew met her sorrow-filled gaze, a hint of sadness in his own.

“It would be best if you thought of him as dead, sis.”

Luna lifted her chin slightly, but then buried her face in her hands and began to cry. The master vampire bit his lip not sure what to do. The Rev moved to wrap his arms around the female’s shoulders rocking her. Matthew shot a grateful glance his way and slouched back against his chair waiting.

Eventually, the female’s sobs quietened and she straightened, squaring her shoulders. The Rev sat back and lifted his goblet to his lips. Matthew looked at her, removing his shades once more and holding them loosely in his hand.

“You want to do this now?”

Luna nodded. “Please.”

Matthew rose to his feet and held his hand out to her. She grasped it cautiously. He smiled faintly, squeezing gently.

“Come.”

She swallowed hard and allowed her brother to take them to his chambers. Wrapping both his arms around her, he materialised in the main bedroom, but cloaking them in invisibility, so Jonathan would not see them.

Luna shivered, eyes falling upon her son. He was kneeling on the cashmere rug holding a damp cloth in his left hand dabbing it against the Mark at his left nostril. Then he sat back and rubbed at his eyes, breathing in roughly.

Apart from the Mark, he still appeared as he had when she had last seen him. She grimaced at that memory. Her husband had been lighting into the youngling about how he needed to be more responsible for his life and how he wanted it to end. She bet Jonathan had never thought that this would be where his life would lead.

She shivered and let her eyes scan the rest of him. Her gaze fell upon the stitches on his limbs and upper torso; her grip tightened on her brother’s hand. He squeezed hers more, shaking his head slightly indicating that she did not want to know about those wounds. She peered up at her brother and spoke silently.

You will care for him?

Matthew pursed his lips expression grave.

He will live well enough.

Luna trembled. As a slave...

It is the only way to keep him alive.

She turned to press her face against Matthew’s solid chest.

But...if he tries to leave...

Matthew tilted her face up to his.

He understands not to.

You will kill him if he does...

The master vampire nodded, yet his eyes softened a little.

Luna, I will try my best to make life comfortable for him...but I cannot promise to be kind. It is not who I am.

She knew that well enough. After all, if Matthew had been the compassionate type, their mother would still be alive. Pressing closer she whimpered.

Can we go now...?

Matthew nodded glancing toward the youngling and then returning to the dining hall. Luna drew away from him and sat again on her chair.

The Rev was still at the table, but he was not alone. Zachary had arrived and was bearing a tray of fresh watermelon. Luna blinked at him. He stared back at her, green eyes filled with many questions. Except he only spoke one of them.

“You hungry, little sister?”

Matthew snorted. “She’s not your sister.”

Luna smiled faintly. Zachary rolled his eyes.

“I know, Shadows. But, she is like a sister to us.”

The master vampire smirked.

“True that.”

He propped his body against the table and watched as Zachary stepped closer to Luna and held the tray out to her. She licked at her lips and grabbed a piece of watermelon, sinking her fangs into it, the juice dripping down her chin. Zachary smiled setting the platter on the table and taking a seat next to her. He observed her contemplatively then glanced toward Matthew, then back to her.

“May I ask you a question, Luna?”

Luna peeked up at the younger vampire.

“Depends on the question, Zacky...”

He flushed at her using his nickname. “Well, you do not have to answer...”

“Damn straight she doesn’t.” Matthew growled low in the back of his throat. Luna glanced at him.

“It’s okay, Mattie.” She nodded to Zachary. “Ask your question.”

He bit his lip, then blurted out roughly, “Why did you mate with a Werewolf?”

Luna stiffened. Matthew began to snarl. She shook her head at him then turned to face the younger vampire.

“Richard is not a bad person.” She licked her lips. “He was born a slave. Did you know that?”

The master vampire rumbled, “He belonged to our father.”

Zachary blinked, nonplussed. However, he remained silent just staring at Luna. She shifted beneath his scrutiny.

“I could not prevent myself from falling for him. He was so...different from any male I had ever met...and he was so...gentle with me.”

Zachary’s lips pulled back from his fangs and he gave a low growl, a sound that was at odds with his usually cheerful attitude. Luna swallowed hard shrinking back against her chair, but her voice when she spoke was firm.

“I know that terrible things were done to you by some of his kind when you were younger, but Richard is not like that. And he says that most of their kind is not like that.” She clasped her hands in her lap. “The few that are, they are seen as rogues...” She halted and squeezed her eyes shut, before turning her head to look at her brother. “You have to stop this war, Mattie...you have to call Brian back...tell him not to kill them.”

“No.” Matthew’s voice was like a door slamming into her face. Luna recoiled. He pushed away from the table and strode forward to loom over her. “This war will not end until every Lycanthrope is dead. Including your husband.” He stared down at her, face brutal. “Your son’s life has been spared, sister. Do not expect more from me.”

That said the master vampire vanished without another word, leaving his sister staring at the spot he had been standing anguish etched into her face. She bowed her head, vision blurring as more tears came to her eyes. As her head dropped, she did not see the look of concentration pass across Zachary and The Rev’s faces. Matthew spoke to the two males’ minds as he disappeared from view.

Luna is not to leave the manor...and keep her away from her son.

Notes