A/N: Big surprise here! Sorry for my disappearance which will be repeated after this chapter sadly as I started college and my time in front of a computer is still very much limited, but I'm not lazying around until I get my laptop back either as I have started on 4 different stories even if they are only sketches as of yet *grin*

But I want to thank you for your patience, your reviews and the adds and even for reading and please review despite my lack of response, I'll try to answer as soon as I can *puppy eyes*

Oh and if you're interested and haven't read them yet there are two one-shot you can read while I'm away.

Scattered Minds (Harry/Edward): http:/ www. fanfiction. net /s/6043161/1/ Scattered_Minds

Unresolved Affairs (Mike Newton/Edward): http:/ www. fanfiction. net /s/5796243/1 /Unresolved_Affairs

Take care and I hope you'll like the chapter;

Lilith

~oOo~

20. One step forward...

Seth stared at the girl in confusion as if she was talking an entirely different language earning an amused giggle from the she-leech.

"You look like a lost puppy," she cooed, still stroking Jacob's black locks. "But I would stop there sweet pup," she added causing him to freeze in mid step.

He felt cautious and was terrified to make the wrong decision which could kill his friend, his pack mate. Isabella and her injury seemed insignificant at that moment, Seth juts couldn't muster up the compassion to feel anything for her aside from revulsion, because this whole mess was her fault. Hers and her pathetic love for that leech.

Seth snarled inwardly at the thought of rescuing Edward Cullen from his prison before his mind snapped back to current situation, trying to come up with a plan to save Jake from the claws of the devil's little spawn.

"I still don't understand what you mean." He tried to sound strong and confident, but the slightest tremors still sneaked into his voice and the flash of those crimson eyes told him the vampire noticed it.

"Of course you don't, silly wolf! It's a secret! A big-big secret... He doesn't even know that I know! " the girl sang in a childish voice before jumping to her feet and appearing in front of him.

The boy tried to glare at her as she circled around him like a predator, red eyes gleaming hungrily and promising nothing but pain and death. Seth gulped nervously trying to muster up the so called werewolf strength and courage however with an insane monster in his personal space it was easier said then done.

"Would he be angry if I took a little bite? Just to taste your burning blood. It sings to me so sweetly," the leech licked her lips suggestively.

"Who is he?" Seth tried to steer the creepy girl's attention away from his neck unconsciously stepping back from the threat.

"Oh, of course that bastard of a Lord!" she hissed her expression turning sour and angry. "He's so noble and great! But Master Aro had put him in his place! You should have seen it, it was such a lovely show!" Her gaze lit up again and a disturbingly blinding smile flashed on her face while she backed the shifter against the wall behind him. "But he's not here now. He would never know..."

Where were his instincts when he needed them? Why was he so afraid of this one bloodsucker when he was fighting against a herd of other and even killed a few of them? At the thought a menacing growl ripped out of his throat and he straightened his back towering over the still grinning vampire.

His body pressed against the shorter and much slighter one in an attempt to show dominance but only earned a tinkling giggle and an affectionate caress before the soft movement turned into a hostile band around his neck, white cold fingers squeezing his throat warningly.

"Bad, bad puppy!" the girl scolded her nails digging into his skin. "No yapping at your master or you'll be punished!"

Burgundy eyes flared for a moment and in the next Seth felt as he was stabbed with thousands of blazing daggers tearing an agonized scream from him. His blood turned into lava and his heart constricted in so much pain he thought he was about to die in any moment, but the pain just didn't want to disappear and he screamed and writhed helplessly, clawing at the hand that pressed his body against the wall to no avail.

A cruel, gleeful laugh sailed through the corridor taunting him mercilessly and mocking his miserable position. His abilities and strength just couldn't be compared against the vampire's power and no matter how much Sam and the elders believed in their superiority they were far from it.

The sheer agony vanished just as quickly as it came leaving behind no trace of pain but the memories and the shadows of the excruciating feeling of being tortured. His whole body trembled uncontrollably while his lungs desperately tried to catch some air making his chest burn, but the aftermaths were nothing compared to the real experience which was why he forced his tightly closed eyes open trying to find his tormentor.

"What do you think you are doing, Jeanie?" A shiver run down his spine upon hearing the deep resonating voice he had never heard before.

"The naughty little dogs tried to escape, Felix," the girl answered petulantly. "And don't call me Jeanie!"

"Lord Aro will not be happy when he finds out what happened to the human girl," the man called Felix said ignoring his fellow clan mate's sulking. "And Lord Sanguini–"

"Is already here." Something in that velvety, seductive voice called to Seth and despite his still fragile state and vulnerability he felt safe knowing that the mysterious vampire was there.

The wolf in him wanted to purr in appreciation his baser nature that found its way back to him craved the man more and more with each meeting, terrifying him to the core with these new feelings. He had never felt something like this before... It was all consuming and forceful and he couldn't help but gasp brokenly when he felt the twitch in his nether regions, blood rushing onto his face showing his embarrassment in spite of his exhaustion and wariness.

His eyes attempted to seek out the dark figure but neither vampire was in the field of his vision. He could see nothing bar the bare marble walls but the taste of fear was heavy on his tongue. It wasn't his and the sadistic part of his mind was quite satisfied with the nervousness the little bitch was emitting.

"I should tear your limps apart then put you back together again and again, maybe then you would finally learn where your place is," the dark man hissed and there was the sound of crashing thunder which caused him to flinch then a body hit the floor.

"In no circumstance should the human be harmed. This was Aro's order yet here are the mortals lying on the floor with your personal mark on them," Sanguini's tone turned impersonal and cold.

Seth didn't hear the sadistic wench's reply as his awareness slowly started to slip away, a black haze edging into the borders of his mind making his thoughts sluggish and blurring the sounds and voices until they seemed nothing more than lulling buzz to him. And with the last flicker of his consciousness he thanked the gods their mercy for allowing his tortured mind and confused soul to rest forgetting every problem and the hopelessness of their situation.

~oOo~

When the young shifter came around he was lying in an unfamiliar bed alone. The light blue and silver pillows and blanket carried the alluring smell of the elusive Sanguini; Seth recognized the scent immediately as there was no other aroma he wanted to bask in more despite the underlying sweetness of vampire venom. It was faint and mixed with another smell that made his wolf to growl in irritation causing him to blush heavily upon catching up with the instincts.

It was like he had no control over his baser nature, as if he was controlled by the animal inside of him and he had no idea how he could gain the upper hand over the mangy spirit residing in his soul. He couldn't turn into a wolf because he wanted to like the others and he had to fight to retain his human and more logical mind every time he was in his wolf form.

He looked around in his new room, it was exquisitely furnished and screaming luxury but the lack of warmness just caused the foreboding feeling in his chest to dig its claws even deeper in his heart.

It was like a prison, a magnificent and beautifully decorated prison but a prison nonetheless.

Then Seth tried to sit up, fighting the fuzziness in his head however something cold and metal-like bit into his wrist stalling his attempt. It couldn't be, right? It couldn't be a pair of cuffs, it just couldn't.

But as he tugged his wrist testing out his still invisible bands as he was too afraid to peak under the blanket, the rattle of chain was there again and there was no denying it anymore. He was a prisoner for real this time.

"You don't have to fret, I will not hurt you," the impassive voice came out of nowhere startling the boy.

"You chained me to a bed," Seth stated blankly, trying to clamp down on the slightly sickening mixture of bubbling fear and searing excitement.

"It had to be done." Black eyes narrowed as Sanguini closed the door behind him. "You went against my word."

Seth wanted to protest and explain that it was that foolish girl's fault, but despite her foolhardiness, she was an honorary member of the pack which meant he could not betray her no matter how much he despised her.

"Where is Jacob?" he asked instead of answering.

"He is alive."

"But where is he? This whole mess wasn't his fault!" he tried again, rising his still hoarse voice.

The vampire was in front of him in a blink of time, grabbing his chin and raising it to look in his eyes, his fathomless gaze a mesmerising swirl of darkness so intense yet so cold.

"You have no right to demand answers from me," the man said scathingly, not letting Seth's chin go. "You might be young, little Star and I may have chosen you, but I will not stand for your rashness or lack of respect towards me."

"You have chosen me for what?" He wanted to ask but couldn't muster up the courage to do so.

"Good. I see you are learning." There was the barest hint of smile on the mysterious vampire's face, but it disappeared so fast that Seth almost believed it was just a trick of his mind. "And now you should sleep some more, because soon you would need all of your strength."

"For what?" Was the shifter's next question, but a cold, hard yet incredibly tempting mouth touched his own making him light headed and woozy before a wet sweet tongue licked his lips and he was falling and falling into the waiting arms of nothingness with the knowledge burned in his mind:

His first kiss was stolen by a vampire.

-33-_-33-

"You seem distressed." Harry turned away from the sparkling rays of the sun that were showering his uncovered torso in millions of tiny diamonds through the open window. "What happened?"

"You reek of wolf, Sire," he said instead wrinkling his nose in distaste, but still stepped closer to his maker and welcomed him with a soft kiss on the lips. "And taste like one too."

"Answer me, Childe," Sanguini demanded not unkindly, while his ivory fingers stroked the younger vampire's face lovingly.

"This," Harry whistled softly and raised his left arm in expectation causing his Sire to look at him with slight confusion written onto his face.

However not a minute later a snowy owl flew into the room and landed gracefully on the boy's outstretched forearm. Sanguini blinked once, his whole body stilling and he even ceased to breathe as he took in the beautiful bird on his Childe's arm.

It wasn't a good sign.

"Who gave her to you?" the older vampire asked in a deadly calm voice.

"One of the Romanian Lords, Vladimir," came the tension filled reply and despite his iron control over his features, Harry could see the shock and agitation that seeped into his Sire's gaze. "You know him."

"Only the foolish and the young don't," Sanguini's tone was dismissive but it couldn't fool the young Childe.

"No, I mean you know him. Why do you try to hide it from me?" Harry asked, chin held high, his unique eyes shining with determination.

"What do you want me to say?" His Sire shot back derisively his black eyes void of emotion as they bore into his own heated ones. "I was stripped off my rights by the Lords, my Childe. It is forbidden to me to speak to you about matters of even little consequences yet you demand answers from me."

"You are the only one I can ask!" he snapped grabbing the other by the front of his shirt. "Or you were, because you're never there anymore!"

"Do you think I don't want to be there for you? Do you think I enjoy being nothing more than a more or less useful puppet in Aro's hand? But we are not ready. You are not ready," the Vampire Lord's ire seemed to deflate turning into bitterness.

"Of course I know this. I can feel it, but I can't help but hate this whole situation even more because of my weakness!" Harry growled, his frustration written all over his face.

"Which is why you have to choose your future mate carefully and must never lower your defences around your Suitors, my Childe," Sanguini sighed, pulling Harry's hands off his shirt and embracing the smaller body to him basking in the power of their bond that was humming around them. "I should not tell you this, but you must understand this is not about you but the silent war between Aro and the Romanian coven. They might be few in number, but they are still standing strong."

"Aro wants to use me against them... and they want to use me against the Volturi," the younger vampire murmured nuzzling the older ones neck trying to making the offensive smell disappear. "Master doesn't know, does he?"

"I would assume no, he does not."

"Probably not. The bastard would be dead by now if he knew," he mused with a half annoyed, half amused smile, his bitterness long forgotten in favour of the chance to be together.

Their bond was burning around them causing Harry to moan into his Sire's neck before he kissed the long column of snow white flesh, nipping affectionately but never breaking the skin or drawing blood. This moment wasn't about feeding and the animalistic urge to devour the essence of his Sire was absent as well. It was about showing their love and affection making up for the loss of time they had to spend separately.

"I miss you so much," he whispered almost brokenly, pulling down the other into a soft but demanding kiss not caring about anything else.

The time was frozen and at that moment only two of them existed. There weren't power hungry Vampire Lords or self-absorbed Suitors who wanted him for their personal gain. There were no barriers and rules standing between them trying to break the unbreakable bond they shared. Harry unconsciously made sure it to be one the moment he tasted the older vampire's blood the first time. Their link was indestructible just the way they wanted it to be.

They parted slowly not wanting to let go of one another. Their eyes were glowing creating a frighteningly captivating picture with their sparkling figures. They were like two crystal statue captured in the peaks of their love and devotion. To human eyes they could have been seen as lovers, but the passion that flooded through their veins was anything but sexual. It was pure and instinctual and bond created by blood and magic.

"The Cullens are coming," Sanguini said quietly breaking the peaceful silence between them.

"And my Pet?" Harry asked stepping back from the embrace and walking to the black sofa in the other end of the room.

"He has potential," came the simple answer as his Sire followed him and sat next to him entwining their fingers. "But I think it would be essential for you to spend some time with him. He seeks comfort despite or more likely because of the absence of his memories."

"I will see him tonight," he nodded, absentmindedly stroking his free hand over his Sire's thigh.

"You're planning something."

"Maybe."

"Do I want to know?"

"Only if you want to share the story of your little conquest with me." Harry's smile turned devious, eyes shining with mischief.

"Then I shall not ask about it." Sanguini's lips quirked upwards into a little smirk.

"Spoilsport."

"Why thank you, my dear Childe."

-33-_-33-

The last rays of the setting sun glittered on his hand causing his skin to explode in countless of tiny diamonds. The vague feeling of recognition caught him unaware yet raising his hopes until the hollowness of not understanding that always followed the fractions of memories appeared as well leaving him disappointed and cold.

His mind was mostly blank but aware now, not tiring for a moment as he tried to put the pieces of the puzzle of this impossible new life together.

He wasn't human. This was his first coherent and somewhat logical thought. If he wanted to be honest it wasn't hard to put together; the lack of heart beat, the cravings of that crimson liquid that couldn't be anything but blood and now the sparkling of his skin were dead giveaways, but for some reason it felt natural and he couldn't find the strength in himself to try to fight it.

His second thought revolved around the strange pained cries in the back of his mind. They started out like nothing but whispers, mere dreams, but started to get stronger with each day he spent awake. They weren't his, he could tell the difference between his own doubts and fears and those he heard and felt in his head, but he had no clue whose they could be. Sometimes he caught the fraction of an image, like a blurred forest or a sea of blood, then there were screams and a pair of terrifying burgundy eyes and sometimes he wanted to scream along with the victims of the nightmares, because they could have been nothing else.

He didn't speak about his strange visions to the dark man, who came everyday feeding him with blood that just didn't taste right and lacked something... essential and then kissed him deeply like nobody had ever done before making him forget everything beside the intoxicating power that filled him with each kiss and lick that worshipped his body ripping desperate and needy sounds from him.

Someone screamed in his head again and the misery of the voice made him wince. It was as if that someone was tortured and he didn't know what he wanted more to scream along with that stranger or to press his palms against his ear hoping the sound would disappear. However before he could do either the door opened revealing someone who he dreaded yet longed to see.

"How are you feeling, my Pet?" the nameless creature's voice was almost affectionate as he asked this.

"Fine." Those coral coloured lips twitched at this and he couldn't help but avert his eyes in shame, feeling like he did something wrong. "I was allowed to leave the bed today," he added still not looking at the other figure.

"Very good. I brought you a present," the black haired being said and his head snapped up in surprise, his eyes widening without his permission as he took in the large box in front of him.

"What's in it?" he blurted before he could stop himself, his tone painfully awed and childish.

It was so different from his usual calm self, so unlike what he wanted to be.

"Something... essential if you are mine," those hypnotic eyes challenged him as he finally collected enough nerve to look into them and for the second time in a few minutes he spoke without thinking.

"But I am not."

He expected some kind of expulsion or at least reprimanding words, his scattered mind supplying him with their previous encounters and the shadow of a memory with pleading and agonized screams and an anguish he never wanted to experience.

Everything he got was a knowing smirk and then the creature was gone.

~oOo~

He was enjoying the balsamic wind of the mild winter night on his balcony when the stranger appeared again the next night.

They didn't speak just watched the lively city, the celebrating mass of people all of them gloriously oblivious about the unearthly beings living in the historical palace above them. The painful whimpers and pleas were back and no matter how much he wanted to block them it seemed to be impossible.

A flash of a bloody whip caused him to shudder causing his companion to look at him with narrowed eyes.

"Something is wrong." It wasn't a question, but the expectation in those sharp jewel-like ringlets wanted him to answer.

"It's just the wind," he lied through gritted teeth perfectly knowing the other wasn't going to be impressed with him.

Green and blue eyes watched him for a moment, their gaze cold and turning cruel causing him to instantly regret his words.

"Very well. Strip!"

He blinked, not understanding the order, or more likely not wanting to understand the order. The next moment he gasped as a shock of pain shot through his spine burning all of his nerves in warning and bringing back that shadow of a remembrance with the unbearable terror.

"Do I need to repeat myself?"

"N-no," he shook his head, his eyes widened by fear.

"No, what?" The tone was strict and unforgiving, but a part of him just didn't want to give in.

A part of him wanted to snarl and bare his teeth like some kind of animal. He wanted to show that arrogant bastard that he was no one's dog to order around. He wanted to find the weakness in the other than throw it back at him. He wanted that alluring, sadistic and merciless creature to fear him, to suffer...

His vision blurred and suddenly he was standing in front of an ancient mirror with some kind of writing on the top of it staring at his own reflection, a reflection that didn't looked like him at all even if he knew it was him or meant to be him.

Behind the glass was a young man with green eyes and reddish-brown hair in a military uniform frowning at him in frustration while his irises showed nothing but tiredness and resignation. There was a gash on his hollow cheek, right under his left eye carmine blood oozing from it, lazily sliding down on his skin marking it like grotesque tear stains.

He couldn't tear his eyes away from the image, noticing one little detail after the other, like a bruise on his temple or the gleaming engagement ring on his ring finger. Then a brown haired girl with a pale complexion and plain but pretty features stepped next to his other self, entwining their fingers as she smiled at him with love radiating from her eyes causing him to flex his fingers as if searching for the smaller hand which wasn't there.

He was so engrossed in this new certainly human him and the possibility of another life that he hadn't even noticed the subtle changes at first.

His hair started to darken turning into black while the wounds started to fade into yellowish bruises. His stature started to shrink and his clothes changed into rags hanging off his nearly skeletal figure pathetically. The familiar but still nameless girl disappeared just as suddenly as she appeared and as he finally was able to shake off the last remains of his stupor he realized he was looking straight into a pair of ruby eyes with cat-like pupils that screamed of darkness and cruelty and he took a step backwards unconsciously as the little pouty lips opened to say something.

"I think I said you to strip!"

The vision shattered and he was left panting and whimpering in fear and pain in a heap on the floor of the balcony of his room with that creature, that monster, standing above him, his glowing green and blue eyes alit with fury.

He was yanked up from the floor by an invisible power in the next moment and then the air was filled with the sound of tearing fabric as his clothes became one with the nothingness leaving him bare and vulnerable in front of a demon.

"I see you still haven't learned your lesson, hm?" the beast murmured taking his slightly trembling form in.

"What... do you want–"

"Be quiet! I did not give you permission to speak, did I?" It was a rhetorical question and he was too frightened to say anything. "You will be punished."

He remained silent, looking down at his naked feet. The whole situation was humiliating and he hated it even more because he knew that he had no power against the demon in front of him. That vision was insignificant now, it felt surreal and meaningless and it just caused more trouble for him...

"You are not allowed to clothe yourself for three days and three nights," said the creature, his tone emotionless and frosty. "You will not be fed during this time and you are not allowed to say a word. Do you understand?"

His fingers clenched into fists, but he nodded his head in understanding.

"Good. Now say it out loud."

"I understand... Master."

~oOo~

He couldn't erase those strange images from his head no matter how hard he tried. His human face and green eyes that were so different from the reflection he saw every time he looked into the mirror in his bathroom fascinated and confused him at the same time.

He seemed... fragile and ordinary, boring.

Even the girl who smiled at him with devotion and admiration while triggered something in his lost memory didn't moved anything inside his still, cold heart. Was she someone he knew before? Did he love her?

No, he was sure, it was impossible for him to love her.

She was plain and just as boring looking as himself despite her prettiness and even though he wanted to believe he wanted an uncomplicated and nice life – like the one he saw in that unique mirror – deep down he was excited by the thrill of challenge that demon presented to him.

He run one of his hands through his hair the only sign of his frustration as he sat by the window trying to forget his growing hunger and shame, that welled in his chest because the humiliating state he was forced into.

He hated looking at his body; the sheer marble like skin and ghostly whiteness disturbed him as well as the bronze hairs that were almost glowing compared to his skin. Even his penis was white, hanging between his legs like some kind of ivory rod and he knew if he had enough blood his face would have had a permanent ruby colour, but then again if he had had blood in his body, his dick would have had some colour too.

He scowled softly at the thought and turned his eyes away from the source of his interest, fingers clenching agitatedly.

He was truly pathetic. It was only the first day and he was already a mess, his fingers twitched, jaw clenched, steel like muscles spasmed with the lust for blood. The more vicious and untamed side of him craved the sweet yet tangibly metallic flavour that spread through his tongue with the very first sip he took and he just couldn't bear the thought of being separated from the essence of his life.

Yet he had no other choice.

His door was locked, he tried to open and even break it after that sadistic creature left him, but even with his inhuman strength, that he realized he had when he first broke the sink in the bathroom, it was impossible to open and every time he attempted to open it an electric shock snapped at his hand.

He closed his eyes for a moment, his hard nail biting into the probably ancient windowsill beneath him as he sighed resignedly.

It was going to be a very long night.

~oOo~

He looked blankly at the dark figure in front of him before averting his eyes in embarrassment as those blood red irises raked through his body, assessing him in a manner that while not exactly sexual was by no means innocent.

"You're quite the feisty one, eh Youngling?" the man chuckled, amusement dancing in his unnatural eyes.

He didn't answer even though he was tempted to disobey his "Master".

"The Princeling sent you a gift for the evening." The saucy grin that stretched the strangely familiar stranger's face made him shudder inwardly giving him a very bad feeling about the whole situation.

A medium sized box was placed in his hands, yet he didn't move to open it. The previous gift, a set of gorgeously made robes, laid in his wardrobe, carefully hidden under a stack of other clothes, untouched.

"You will wear this tonight, Youngling." The or else hang in the air between them and he had to suppress the urge to growl at the still grinning man.

He just knew that this gift was something even more degrading than his nudity and he had no intention of humiliating himself even more than he was two days before. He was no one's puppet, not even that arrogant beast's who dominated over him so easily despite his attempts to regain control.

"Oh, come on, open it already! I have the permission to put it on you." The stranger's grin turned into a smug smirk. "You do not want to be late, do you?"

He didn't react to the almost friendly taunting, just pressed his lips together and slowly opened the lid of the velvet box revealing a...

Bronze collar with thorn-shaped ambers on it.

His eyes widened without his permission and he scouted away from the offending piece of jewellery before he could stop himself.

No, no one could force him to wear this, especially not in public. He was not a dog or some kind of exotic pet and even if it meant more punishment he would not wear that thing.

"It was designed for you," the man piped up, gently picking the collar out of the box and stepping closer to him with obvious intention.

He snarled out of instinct, backing away and crouching down ready to attack if he needed too, however the other just grinned, crimson eyes alit with humour and sadistic excitement showing no sign of fear or nervousness. The man even had the gall to laugh at him while shaking his had a little.

"You are really one of a kind. So pure and wild. I like you Youngling. I honestly like you, but I can not go against the Prince's order," the man almost sounded apologetic as he said this, but he just narrowed his eyes and bared his teeth.

He would not submit. He couldn't.

-33-_-33-

"So you decided to crawl back to me at last? What, your little wench finally showed his true nature?" his once wife sneered at him disdainfully, her lifeless black eyes flashing with rage for a moment.

Caius smirked at her stepping closer to the bars of her cell taking her willowy figure and disgusting drags in. Nearly six years of isolation and denial of blood was taking their toll on her, driving her crazy, but at the same time enhancing the little Prince's allure even more.

Athendora never meant anything, she was just a trophy, a doll that was forced upon him because the potential allies Aro had seen in her family. Unfortunately Caius was the only unmarried one of the three brothers and at that time he was still too young to disagree with Aro's decisions no matter how much he hated them. So he was stuck with an empty puppet, that became possessive and gained a mind on her own in the two millennia they spent together and he hadn't seen any hope to get rid of her until the Childe's arrival who did a great favour for him even if it cost Caius' heart and soul in the end.

Now she had only one use.

"No, Athendora dear," Caius smiled a shark-like smile causing her to narrow her eyes in suspicion. "Although I find it quite amusing that even after six years you still cling onto your foolish hopes and dreams."

"I was your wife for nearly two thousand years!" the woman screeched leaping forward trying to catch him to no avail. "I will kill that little freakish mongrel! It's his fault!"

At that moment he almost found her beautiful. In a very grotesque way she was beautiful even in her insanity and rage and bloodlust inducted haze. A vicious scowl stretched her sunken face and her eyes gleamed with such a deadly hate that a lesser man would have already fled in fright.

Caius was no lesser man.

"You think you could lay a hand on him? You are pathetic and weak. A mere ghost of your past self," he taunted mercilessly, his grin widening further as she screamed and tried to break the magically strengthened bars.

"I would tear him apart then I would bath in his despicable blood before burning him to ashes!" Athendora shrieked and Caius laughed openly.

It was going to be a great gift, one that would anger his Princeling to no end, he just knew.

"Really now?" he asked still calm and collected, a perfect contrast to his ex-wife who was a shaking, raging mess. "Then I give you a chance to prove yourself."

His smile was snake-like as Athendora quieted down instantly, her once haughty and striking features eager and fanatical, her colourless lips stretched wide in a bizarre imitation of a smile. She believed him without a second thought, no doubt shadowing the gleaming blackness of his eyes. She was truly reduced into a mindless creature that only existed by her sheer will and because the venom coursing through her veins.

"You will have the chance to kill the Prince and regain your name and position." he repeated before he turned around and disappeared without another word.

-33-_-33-

Harry sighed softly as he looked down the still sealed letter in his hand. It wasn't anything ornate or flamboyant which gave him hope that Caius hadn't found his inner poet suddenly and written a love letter to him. The envelope was made of yellowish parchment with his name penned on it. It was sealed by Caius' personal seal – a swan with a sword in its beak flying above the sea – but it didn't tell anything about its contents.

There were only two hours left until the beginning of first rounds of the First Trial and he was still sitting in his room, not moving or preparing. All of his other gifts were handled; the ice snake from Benjamin was lounging on his bed while the dagger from Nahuel was resting against his left hip. Only the letter was untouched but no matter how much he wanted he couldn't stall the moment anymore.

He knew his hands would have been shaking if he had been still human as he slowly broke the wax and opened the envelope before pulling out a pile of plain parchment sheets out of it. He sighed again and looked down at them only to drop them in shock in the very next moment.

"That bastard!"

The Boy Who Disappeared!

- The secret behind the fall of the Dark Lord!

This reporter knows from reliable source that the reign of terror of He Who Must Not Be Named finally ended last night by the hand of our favourite hero, Harry James Potter on the ground of Hogwarts after endless hours of constant fight. The battered hero, who – as rumours says – even came back from death to end the war however disappeared not long after the fall of the Dark Lord and yet to be found.

"Harry is my best friend," Hermione Granger, war hero and Harry Potter's childhood friend starts, tears pouring from her eyes. "I'm sure we will find him alive. I know he is alive the tracks are still fresh and we, the Order of the Phoenix will do our best to rescue him."

To the question of who could have kidnapped the Boy Who Lived Mr Potter's first and best friend, Ronald Weasley answered.

"I bet it was that slimy Malfoy or one of his cohorts!" he says, his blue eyes passionate and holds true worry for his friend. "Unfortunately we have yet to capture all of those bastards, but they made the wrong decision by capturing my friend because Harry will escape and bring justice to them, like he did with You Know Who!"

This humble reporter is deeply touched by the loyalty these two young people show toward the Boy Who Conquered and in her worry even seek out the current head of MLE, Kingsley Shacklebolt who was another head figure in the Battle of Hogwarts and the war.

"We are currently hunting down the remaining of the Death Eaters while an elite group is searching for Mr Potter. Fortunately there is not many Death Eaters out there but I ask that anyone who has information about Mr Potter please alert the aurors immediately."

And I agree with Auror Shacklebolt as well. Dear readers, if you have any information about our hero please inform the Ministry or the Daily Prophet and help the aurors' work just like Harry Potter helped us to regain our freedom.

Rita Skeeter

He could almost find the humour in the article and the typicality of it. Ron Weasley and his never ending prejudice against the Malfoys or Hermione Granger and her constant belief in authority figures. A part of him wanted to be happy to hear from them, know that they searched for him, but they were insignificant, mere humans who meant nothing and could never understand his life and goals.

Then another article caught his attention and the phantom feeling of giddiness disappeared.

The True Life of The Hero

by Hermione Weasley

This is the title of the biography of our tragically deceased Hero, Harry Potter which was written for the first anniversary of Mr Potter's death by Mrs Hermione Weasley one of the best friends of the Boy Who Conquered.

Mrs Weasley who is quite tight lipped about her book allowed this humble reporter to make a short interview with her and even let me ask a few things about the novel which as she told me will be a mix between an adventure novel and a biography.

Rita Skeeter: So, Hermione, I hope it's alright if I call you Hermione. What motivated you to write a book about one of the greatest wizards of our time?

Hermione Weasley: It's perfectly alright Rita. And to answer your question, I wanted to the Wizarding World see what kind of person Harry was.

R.S.: How mysterious! Are you implying that Harry kept some dark secrets from us?

H.W.: Of course not, but there are many things people don't know about him, things that made him human and I tried to enhance his humanity in my book.

R.S.: You were very close, there were even rumours about you and him dating for a while. What is the truth?

H.W.: Harry was my best friend and that was it. Maybe for a short time we were attracted to each other, but I always knew that he is not the One for me.

R.S.: Right, you are married to your childhood sweetheart, Ronald Weasley who was Harry's other best friend. Wasn't Harry jealous of your relationship?

H.W.: No, I can assure you he was not jealous, as he was dating Ginny (Ron Weasley's sister) at that time. All of us were sure they would get married after the war...

Hermione's voice hitches as her eyes fill with tears, it's truly a saddening moment. I even offer to finish the interview earlier, but she wants to continue.

R.S.:If I know correctly Ms Weasley is engaged with Dean Thomas who was her boyfriend before she started to date Harry, right?

H.W.: Yes, the wedding is due to July and everybody is very excited about it.

R.S.: Isn't it a bit... inconvenient?

H.W.: I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Ginny was devastated after Harry's death and Dean was there for her.

R.S.: I'm sure she was, however correct me if I'm wrong but weren't they attending at Harry's funeral as a couple? It doesn't seem like Ms Weasley was overly depressed by our Hero's death to me at least.

H.W.: The search went on for nearly a year before the aurors and the Order declared Harry dead. All of us were a right mess at that time and I think no one can blame Ginny for looking for happiness where she could find it.

R.S.: So this means that Mr Thomas is nothing more than a substitute to Ms Weasley? Or that Ms Weasley was just like most of the witches in our world and wanted a piece of the Harry Potter?

H.W.: Of course not!

R.S.: Then please enlighten us.

H.W.: Ginny always loved Harry, even before she met him and maybe it was a simple childish adoration at first, but as she got to know Harry she fell truly for him. And I'm sure a part of her will always love him, but she's still young and can't live in the past.

R.S.: Which is very realistic of her. And with this perfect cue I thank you for your time and I'm sure all of our readers can hardly wait to read your book.

The only thing this reporter is wondering about is the fact that according to Gringotts and the Department of Magical Legacies and Inheritances the Potter and Black legacies are frozen and to be remains as such until the rightful heir comes out to claim them.

But who is this mysterious heir? And why haven't any of Harry's friends inherited anything? Are there more secrets to our Hero than even Mrs Weasley intends to tell us? One way or another we'll find out.

Rita Skeeter

There were more articles some from the time when his parents just died, some not even a week old, but all of them had his name in someway and he had to clench his hands to stop the urge to burn the memento of his past into mere ashes.

Of course he knew that Caius would eventually find out; the conceited prick promised him he would, but to do it in such a form only to mock him was preposterous and mortifying. Yet a part of him couldn't help but be slightly amused with the cheek of the Lord because he just did what none of his other Suitors had been able to; raised his hackles in challenge.

A slow, sharkish grin twisted Harry's lips while his eyes glittered with determination and mischief as he took another slip of parchment into his hand.

I assure you I will devour your very essence when this charade is finally over.

It was another promise written down and Harry knew that Caius would do anything to make his words true. It was his power after all, the power to bind others with his words, creating absolute laws and unbreakable vows by writing his demands down.

"Now we just have to see if you can win, don't we, dear Lord?" Harry whispered to no one before he stood up and headed for his closet.

It was time to get ready.

-33-_-33-

He tried to resist and fight, but it was impossible. The nameless man was much stronger and more experienced than him, merely toying with him and at the same time taunting him with his half-smiles and amused expression.

He was already panting despite he felt no need to do so; his strangely lifeless lungs gave out wheezing sounds as he acted like he thought he should. The other just smirked at him lazily stroking the metal collar with his long white fingers slowly, almost teasingly, then lunged forward one more time causing the younger one to jump back in a desperate attempt to avoid his fate.

It was the wrong move.

His movement was sluggish at best, his energy already left him with the stolen blood that was rapidly oozing from the gashes on his naked chest and neck and the lack of concentration caused him to hit the wall behind him leaving no escape for him.

"No..." he breathed shaking his head and crouching down once more.

"Your time is up Youngling," was everything the man said before a cool steel like hand grabbed his jaw and yanked his head upwards.

A metallic click joined the sound of his ragged gasps for a moment then nothing. A foreign weight encircled his neck making him claw at it, trying to get it off with no avail. He was imprisoned and shackled like a common dog and these creatures expected him to jump at that demon's every whim. But he wouldn't, he would show them that he wasn't a slave despite his weakness and non-existing memories.

His nails were painted red with his own blood, but he couldn't care less about it. He stared up into the creature's crimson eyes scowling and snarling like a wild animal even if he knew it has no effect on the man in front of him.

"Will you be a good little pup and come with me without throwing another tantrum or should I take out the whip and the leash?" the man asked tilting his head slightly in question, although his darkening gaze told him which opportunity the bastard would choose.

He narrowed his eyes, his previously ragged breath ceasing to exist entirely as he pondered about his opportunities.

The room was filled with eerie silence, both of them standing perfectly still like marble statues waiting patiently as if they had all the time of the world. And probably they had.

"I will walk with you," he intoned at last feeling a dark satisfaction at the disappointed glint in the other's irises, not even realising he broke the demon's order.

~oOo~

The prince's face was frighteningly empty when he laid his eyes on him, his indescribable gaze once again mesmerizing him and silently commanding him to submit to the higher will. He wanted to be defiant and was determined not to avert his own irises from the demon's however the humiliation of being naked and the mortification of unwillingly showing off his slowly fading bruises and cuts did their work for him and he lost the battle between their wills once again.

"It suits you perfectly," was everything the beast said, his tone just as distant and rigid as his expression. "But you are late."

He casted down his head, not in shame but in anger, hiding his derision the only way he could, but a moment later his head was yanked back by his hair, forcing him to look into those glowing ringlets. That perfect face wore the mask of coldness and arrogance, those pale lips quirked into a half amused, half mocking smirk before they captured his mouth suddenly ripping a shocked gasp from him.

He wanted to protest, to shove away the sadistic monster from him, but his own hands betrayed him and instead of pushing the other away, they curled into the rich fabric of the Prince's shirt. A shameless moan resonated through his throat only it to be swallowed by his captor greedily and he could feel the Prince's satisfied smirk even as a cool slightly slicked tongue slipped into his cavern and sharp teeth nipped at his lower lip pulling another gasp from him.

A little shock of pain rippled through his body and his mouth was filled with the taste of his own sweet but tangy blood and the only thing he heard was a threatening but at the same time warning growl before he was thrown away from the shorter body and he knew he would have collided with the nearest wall if the guard not far from them hadn't caught him in time.

"Fuck," the Prince snarled in a hoarse voice. "You and your irresistible essence."

Those swirling eyes were boring into him sending excited yet terrified shivers down his spine and the arms around his waist unconsciously became tighter as he pressed his back into the hard chest behind him. That look was full of hunger and promised danger, pain and pleasure causing his own eyes to widen, yet the boy remained still and unmoving like a statue.

"Put the leash on him Demetri, the guests are waiting." The maliciousness and the sheer power in the Prince's voice killed the tiniest bit of protest in him and suddenly he was almost grateful for not being one of those mysterious guests.

Despite the leash and nakedness.

After Notes: Longest chapter ever or in English at least *grin* I don't know what to say, because most things are explaining themselves, but still I'm curious what do you think about Edward's new power even if it's only half revealed yet. And to tell the truth I'm not the best with articles and interviews but did my best.