The warmth swirling within Evonne was like no other bliss she had known. She felt connected to something old and powerful—a being that lived in this world and the next. The harsh reality was lost to her. She wanted to hold onto the surrounding bliss, but as her mind became aware, the feeling slipped away like water into sand.
     With her deep sleep ending, Evonne senses returned, each one picking up on the strange room she was in. Her hands felt the cool fabric underneath her and her blurry vision took in the sheer fabric draped around the bed. Voices came to her ears as her hearing was the next sense to awake. Her eyes found two forms standing beyond the gossamer fabric. She easily recognized the voice as Saros. Her stomach knotted. Where am I?
     “This poison was different from the one used on Keelan,” Saros said, walking around the room to take a seat on a lavish settee.
     Evonne narrowed her eyes at the second form. As the man followed Saros across the room, she easily recognized him based on his movements alone.
     “She is young,” continued Saros, “and the toll on her strength not as prominent.”
     “Thank you for helping her,” replied Gabriel.
     “This is the last time I will aid you in such predicaments.”
     Gabriel looked down before asking, “There is one more thing I must request from you.”
     Saros’ words turned cold. “No, you may not leave with him. Evonne was kind enough to show me her time abroad. Demetrius is playing a risky game. He’s running around like a newborn when he should be the king he once was.”
     “He would be the first to refuse the title of king.”
     “And that is why he must remain here.” She tilted her head, her curiosity shining through. “Why do you love him? He’s not your real sire.”
     “He is the only real sire I have known.”
     She sighed. “Jovan has disappointed me many times, but you cannot deny the fact that he is your sire. Demetrius can’t bear to lose you.” She laughed at a passing thought. “The pathetic king without his court is nothing more than a peasant.”
     A hint of frustration was beginning to show in Gabriel. “May I go now?”
     “Not yet. Tell me, are you enjoying your gift?”
     “She was never a gift,” he quietly replied.
     “Are you turning away my kindness?” She sounded shocked by his response.
     “No. I… I am thankful for your kindness.”
     Saros smiled. “Good. You may collect her and leave.”
     Evonne closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep. She sensed him approach and his weight on the bed. Stirring awake, she looked up at him and groggily asked, “Where am I? The last thing I remember was getting off the plane.”
     “I’ll tell you later,” he whispered, “but first we need to get on road.”
     Evonne easily picked up on his urgency. While her mind struggled to fill in the blanks, she finally realized where she was—Saros’ Haven. And this was not just any room, this was her private chambers. Her stomach knotted even further. What happened to me?
     Stepping from the bed, she looked around the lightly decorated room. Everything seemed to have its own story to tell. Evonne’s eyes then landed on Saros casually sitting on an antique settee. The old vampire stared at her, a peculiar smile finding her lips. Evonne felt a chill run through her body. She forced herself to look away. Below the cordial expression, she knew Saros held her own secrets from them. It was like everyone was laughing around Evonne and she didn’t know why. Don’t even attempt to understand her, she ordered herself.
     Outside in the underground parking lot, Evonne spotted the Jeep. She wanted to climb inside and get the hell out of here. The feeling was a familiar one, akin back to the time they came here to help Keelan.
     Evonne saw someone dressed in a sleeveless, black shirt and torn jeans, leaning against the Jeep. Judging from his many piercings and tattoos—topped off with dark, messy, gelled hair—she recalled the vampire’s name; Emery.
     He looked at his watch. “7:45. The sun has just now gone to beddy-bye, and it’s now time for us to get our tread on.” Emery nodded at Evonne. “Nice to see you coherent this fine evening.”
     Evonne looked around as Gabriel opened the door for her. “Where’s Demetrius?”
     “He’s staying,” informed Emery as he climbed into the back.
     Evonne took her seat in the passenger side. “Why?”
     Getting into the driver’s seat, Gabriel kept his answer short. “He was ordered to stay behind.”
     “Is he in trouble?”
     Gabriel started the Jeep. “He is by Saros’ definition.”
     Trouble? What did he do to get in trouble here? Evonne decided against asking the question out loud.
     As the haven was placed far behind them, Evonne felt her body slipping into a sea of peacefulness. For a moment she forgot she was in the Jeep.
     “How are you feeling?” Emery asked, as though he picked up on her relaxed state.
     “Strange,” she admitted.
     “I heard that her blood leaves a euphoric sensation. Only the lucky ones get to experience it.”
     “Her blood?” Evonne asked as she looked at Gabriel. “What happened to me?”
     “We were attacked at the airport,” he answered. “The Brotherhood was waiting for us. They managed to drug you. Demetrius and I tried to cure you ourselves, but we ended up coming here.”
     “How long was I out?”
     “Three nights.”
     “Three nights?” She stared at the road, trying to remember anything after arriving at the airport, but her memory revealed nothing. The realization frightened her. Three nights of not knowing what happened. She remembered Keelan and how the drug made him act. Did she do anything she would regret? Even if she demanded to know all that had happened, she doubted Gabriel would tell her.
     Emery spoke up as he lay down in the back, fingers interlocking over his chest. “The Brotherhood is a nasty group. I’m surprised they left you all so easy.”
     “What do you know about them?” asked Evonne, turning in her seat.
     “Just some stories I gathered while you were dancing in la-la land with Saros. There was one that made mention of a vampire who was tortured to death, just to see how much abuse he could take before he was unable to heal. They sliced off fingers, toes, then hands and arms, and so on, even disemboweling him. The large amount of blood loss kept him from healing at first, but he was still alive. He didn’t survive the removal of his heart though. Once they place it back, the body wouldn’t accept it. Oh, and another story talked about dhampirs. Though I personally don’t believe in them—seeing is believing, right?”
     “Dhampirs exist,” Gabriel calmly advised him.
     “Really? You sure? I thought it was common knowledge that vampires can’t conceive, you know, with the whole dead thing going on.”
     “There is a small window between the transition that makes it possible. And it is always between a male vampire and a female human. The other way around will always result in a miscarriage.”
     “Is there a handbook on this stuff or something? Seriously, I come across something new each night, and I’ve been tramping around these circles since 1976. All right, mister know-it-all, how many dhampirs do you know?”
     “One.”
     “Ha! One? Who is this mysterious person?” Emery sat up, leaning in between the two front seats. He was anxious to hear Gabriel’s answer.
     “What all do you know about Demetrius?” he innocently asked.
     Emery shrugged. “He was the elder of the first haven I was banned from. And he’s Greek… I think. Well, he looks Greek to me. Then again, everything’s Greek to me nowadays.” He waited for someone to laugh at his joke.
     Gabriel continued speaking. “Does the name ‘Dianthia’ mean anything to you?”
     “Sounds like a flower. Other than that, no.”
     “Dianthia was the daughter of Jharell and a human.”
     A look of confusion landed on Emery. “Jharell? Big, bad Jharell had a daughter?”
     “Has a daughter. She goes by the name ‘Laurel’ now. She is unlike the typical dhampir, or what others call living vampires. She is immortal. But by definition, she is half vampire and half human. Typical dhampirs age like humans. Some even go through life unaware of what they are. Others believe they are a variation of human that have a thirst for blood.”
     “I thought the Originals couldn’t have children, that’s why they have us to kick around.”
     Evonne actually heard Gabriel laugh at the statement.
     “It’s not that they can’t,” replied Gabriel, “it’s that they have forbidden themselves to do so.”
     “And who told you this?” asked Emery, sounding skeptical.
     “Laurel, Demetrius’ wife.”
     “Wait! Demetrius is married?” He shook his head. “Just when you think you know someone. Where’s Laurel now?”
     “I don’t know. I haven’t seen her since 1880.”
     Evonne’s interest in the conversation dwindled as they started talking about Laurel. This wasn’t the first or last time she would hear the name. And if what Demetrius told her was the truth, and that she and Gabriel were once more than friends, then Evonne wanted to know as little as she could about this half-breed. She had this mental picture of an ethereal beauty that could get any man she wanted, drink blood, eat food, and walk in the sunlight. It wasn’t fair. Evonne was desperate to change the conversation.
     “So, where are we going?” she said.
     Gabriel answered vaguely. “South.”
     “Myrtle Beach,” Emery specified, “or somewhere around there.”
     Evonne’s eyes widened. “The beach? We’re going to the beach?” She almost bounced in her seat at the news.
     Emery turned to Gabriel. “Sorry, man. I didn’t mean to spill the beans so soon. I forgot that you wanted to surprise her.”
     “Are we staying at in a beach house?” she asked. “Oh, a condo! Are we going to stay at in a condo?” She bit her lower lip, waiting for any answer to fuel her excitement.
     “Nothing high profile, I’d image,” replied Emery.
     Gabriel finally answered, “There is a place I’ve stayed at before. Getting a room won’t be that difficult without a reservation.”
     “We’re actually going to the beach?” Evonne said, the words leaving her with disbelief. Her earlier dread over the missing three days was quickly forgotten.
     “Oh!” Emery remembered. “We need to stop at a souvenir shop when we get there. I want to get one of those small, glass bottles with the sand and tiny shells inside. My own little piece of beachfront property. Maybe I can get something for Mikolas. Poor guy is Canada right now.”
     Emery continued talking as he sat back, explaining why Mikolas was in Canada in the first place. Evonne tried to listen but the thrill of finally seeing the ocean was too great. During their time in Europe, they kept to the cities and towns that rested inland. Even the flight to and from gave her no view of the ocean, having been trips that took place during the day. But this was her chance. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Aside from the exotic and tropical, the place would to offer her the perfect opportunity to see the ocean.