Forgotten Children

      Night in St. Lou's and Iriisii cannot sleep after her performance on stage. Something niggles at her senses, something is not right out there. She wonders if whatever it is is something she should see to, since it seems to be trying to attract her attention. Jean Claude comes up to the spire to find her.

     Jean Claude: "There you are. They said you left in a hurry, is there a problem?"

     Iriisii: "Something is tugging at me. Something out there. I cannot be more specific. It is like someone knows trouble hunts them but they are not able to articulate the problem. Its like they are screaming out into the Aether for help, but all I can hear is the barest whisper."

     Jean Claude: "Hmmm, could they be clouded or something?"

     Iriisii: "Clouded?"

     Jean Claude: "There is a vampire bloodline that can enfold a victim with a sensory fog. Keeps them blind, deaf, and mute to those with extrasensory perception abilities."

     Iriisii: "How can I get past something like that? Wait, I think I might know a way. If I link to Dettlaff and use his senses to scan the area, perhaps he could pick up something more."

     Jean Claude: "I think it is worth a try."

     Iriisii calms herself and thinks of Dettlaff, picturing him with her, holding her in his arms, carrying her across the warm sands of the dunes on the Nomad world. She can distinguish his crisp scent from the smells of the desert. Hears his feet slip in the sand as his steps climb upward. Then his aura envelopes her.

     Dettlaff: "What do you need, my love?"

     Iriisii: "I need to merge our senses. Somehow something or someone is trying to call me for help but they are being muffled. I can barely sense a whisper from them. Your senses can slip through some kinds of this type of restraint. Anyway it cannot hurt to try and see if I can get a clearer picture."

     Dettlaff: "What do you need me to do?"

     Iriisii: "Just stay linked with me. I will try and sense the whisper I felt and see if I our combined senses can bring it in stronger."

     Iriisii opens her mind once more and lets it float about, not trying to force finding anything just floating about until she comes across the whisper, but this time it is as loud as a shout. She has to slam down some shields before she can make sense of what is going on. As soon as she can get a quick look at the situation, she shoves the mind of the person she is in contact with now and drives herself to take control.

     She looks out of this different set of eyes to see a rogue vampire, Dettlaff's thought not hers, stalking this young woman. Iriisii takes quick stock of the possibilities and realizes she will have to take action. Running is not an option, the vampire is much to close. Iriisii casts a quick combat speed buff and tightens her control over this body's vocal cords. But first she turns to face the vampire and assumes a defensive stance that she can morph to offensive in the blink of an eye. The vampire seeing the abrupt shift in his 'dinner', stops and backs off just a bit to see what gives here.

     Iriisii: "Turn and leave now. Do this and you can avoid a fateful meeting with the Master of the City. Otherwise your fate will be in his hands."

     Rogue vampire: "Good effort, really it is. But you do not know him any more than I do. We are beneath his lofty notice. Either way I will make this quick, you are making me very hungry."

     The vampire makes a lunge as Iriisii anticipates, shifts to the side, spins away from him and catches him with a foot across his face. When he turns to face her, his eyes are a deeper red, and he is sluggishly bleeding from a tear in his lip where it was smashed against a fang tip.

     Rogue vampire: "You are going to regret that. Now I am going to take my time draining you."

     Iriisii: "You should exercise more restraint and leave while you still can. But it is your choice if you want to continue your existence or experience true death. I can go either way."

     Rogue vampire: "The only one who is going to die here" as he makes another lunge.

     Iriisii is not where he thought she would be. Instead he meets the business end of a roundhouse kick that sends him staggering back. She quickly leaps to catch him, but he rolls out of the way as she drops down on his previous position. He thinks for a split second, wondering how she got so fast all of a sudden, and her positioning is different from earlier. Now she is fighting like, well not like anything he has seen before. Maybe he should have turned but too late now. Besides if he showed up empty-handed, again. It might be better if he just kept going.

     Iriisii watches to see what he intends to do. His muscles betray him as he leaps to a nearby concrete block wall, immediately leaping off of it and toward her, just in time to meet, "FUS RO". The next thing he knows, he is slammed into the concrete block wall, busting some of the blocks on impact. Then he sees flames flickering in her hand.

     Iriisii: "Do not move or you will fry, I promise you that."

     Rogue vampire: "Go ahead, at least it will be a quick clean death."

     Iriisii: "It does not have to be your death. Answer my questions and I will release you."

     Rogue vampire: "Yeah, right. If I do not come back with you I am truly dead and it will not be quick. At least with you it will be over with and done."

     Iriisii thinks on his comments, this is not making sense. For some reason he is truly scared out of his wits at someone who sent him for this young woman. I need to know more about the details of this.

     Iriisii: "Why does the one behind you want me?"

     Rogue vampire: "All I know is that he has been searching for you or someone like you for a long time. It seems your lifestyle has enabled your family to stay ahead of him for quite some time. It was just because you got slowed down here that he was able to get close."

     Iriisii: "This makes no sense, we are no one special. We are trash, gypsies, tramps, thieves. These are what they call us everywhere we go, but that does not stop them from spending their money and when they are done they send us off until the next town."

     Rogue vampire: "I do not know anything about that, but there is something about you that is different. He even hired a merc to find you and bring you to him, but you eluded him like a snake in the grass."

     Iriisii: "Who is the merc?"

     Rogue vampire: "Never heard his name, supposed to have a tough reputation. Big time hunter of anything not human."

     Iriisii: "What is it that whoever it is that wants me, can do to you that would make you want to die by fire than face him?"

     Rogue vampire: "You do not want to know, besides you are not a vampire, his power would not affect you."

     Iriisii: "Still what can he do that you fear so badly?"

     Just as he begins to tell her, a loud 'crack' sounds as a gunshot strikes the rogue vampire's head and bursts like a melon. Then she hears a voice call out, a voice she recognizes.

     Ted (Death) Forrester: "Stop right where you are! Do not make any sudden movement!"

     Iriisii hears a whisper in her mind, 'Who are you? You know him, I can feel it. Are you working with him?'

     Iriisii: 'You will learn who I am soon enough. Know that I mean you no harm, and yes, I know him. Although I have never worked with him, I respect his abilities. He is known among the 'preternaturals' as 'Death'.'

     Whisper: 'Oh no, I am done for!'

     Iriisii: 'No you are not. I am here to protect you and I can. We just need to stall for just a minute or two. I have help coming.'

     Whisper: 'But he is 'Death'! No one escapes him when he sets out to track them.'

     Iriisii: 'He is good, yes, but there are those better. There is one more dangerous than he that now serves me. He is coming to assist me in protecting you.'

     Whisper: 'Who?'

     Iriisii: 'Death' knows him as 'Psycho', has worked with him in the past. But he is now mine of his own free will. And does as I ask of him freely and without question. I will get us both out of this with no further harm or bloodshed, trust me in this.'

     Whisper: 'I guess I really have no choice, do I?'

     Iriisii: 'You do have a choice, say so and I will leave you. but you will face this situation alone.'

     Whisper: 'NO! Please do not leave me! I do not stand a chance if you do!'

     Iriisii: 'Very well, watch, listen, and learn. Then we will see where this leads us.'

     Slowly she turns to face Forrester.

     Iriisii: "What does the infamous 'Death' want with a simple young woman? You have already killed the rogue vampire."

     Ted Forrester: "What I want with you is simply for you to come with me. I have been contracted to find you and deliver you to my client."

     Iriisii: "I had no idea your job description included kidnapping and forced abduction of a minor. Unless your client is one of my parents and somehow I do not think that is the case. They know me well enough to know that I will return when I have sorted out my misgivings. Besides, before you so forthrightly disposed of my assailant, I was about to get to the bottom of who your client is. He was ready to tell me who it is that wants me, not to mention why he was so scared of what he would do should my assailant return without me in tow."

     Ted's body makes some minute movements that tell Iriisii she is right on the mark. He is not comfortable with the situation, and possibly whoever is behind this has some form of leverage. She just needs to find out what it is.

     Ted Forrester: "He said that he was sent after you?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, although he kept saying he was going to bleed me, I think that was just to keep me off balance. Whoever sent him had a strong hold over him, something about a power that he would rather face true death than subject himself to whatever would happen if he went back alone."

     Iriisii senses both Dettlaff and Olaf standing in the dark shadows away from the streetlamp illuminating the area where she is standing.

     Ted Forrester: "Well, interesting as that is, he is now dead and you are in my custody. I have been paid half the bounty for you and I intend to collect the other half. Now come on!"

     As Ted steps toward Iriisii, Dettlaff calls out from the shadows.

     Dettlaff: "I think not. I think you are going to cut your losses and walk away."

     Ted whirls toward Dettlaff, "Who in blazes are you? Why are you interfering?"

     Dettlaff: "As to who I am, I am Dettlaff van der Eretain. A name I am certain you have never heard before. Be that as it may, I have a vested interest in seeing this young woman to her home, unharmed."

     Ted Forrester: "What are you to be able to slip up upon me like that? You are not human, that is certain."

     Dettlaff: "Indeed, you are quite correct. Among my peers, I am a higher vampire. Not of the blood of those you have encountered around here."

     Ted Forrester: "Great, they are all crawling out the shadows now."

     Dettlaff: "Not so, it is just me. There are no other vampires nearby at all. I am quite able to see the young woman to her home safely. There is no longer any need of your presence."

     Ted Forrester: "Now that is something I do not happen to agree with. You have not done anything I am aware of that I should deal with, therefore if you leave now..."

     Dettlaff: "But you sir, are attempting to kidnap her, for whatever purpose is in store for her should you do so. This would make you into an 'accomplice after the fact' to whatever should befall her. Whereas I have done or intend to do nothing against the law, your actions are quite different. So no, I am not leaving, but rather I ask you once again to do so."

     Ted Forrester: "Do you know who I am?"

     Dettlaff: "Indeed I do. And I am not afraid. However that should at the least give you pause, for I am not of the bloodline of those you know around here. Therefore you know not what I am capable of. Under those circumstances you would not be held accountable should you simply leave and go about other business."

     Ted Forrester: "You know something, I have had enough of this!"

     Olaf's arm rips Ted's gun from him, throwing it aside, while his other arm slips around his throat. As Ted reaches for his blade.

     Olaf: "Grab it and I will snap your neck before you draw it. You know I can and will do it."

     Ted Forrester: "OLAF! Damn it! What are you doing here?!"

     Olaf: "The question should be what are 'you' doing here? I know you sometimes skirt the 'law' in your dealings. I have worked with you on some of those tasks. But I also know you do not do it out of greed, only out of personal reasons. I surmise this is the same here. Someone has gained leverage over you to force you to do this. Why did you not come to us and ask our help?"

     Ted Forrester: "You know why, you and the others have far more on your plates than my small matter."

     Olaf: "Still we would find time and resources to help you. If we can not help our friends, then how is anyone else to trust us when we offer to help them?"

     Ted Forrester: "What has gotten into you? I have never before known you to be so level headed and generous, quite the opposite in fact!"

     Iriisii: "It is because of my influence on him. I have shown him the path his future needs to take to go where he wants it to go. And so he has responded to the challenge. But he is quite correct, you could have come to us, explained the situation, and we could have worked out a solution. Perhaps it is still not too late. But you have to trust us or this will not work, and your innocents involved will be the ones who suffer for it. Let him go."

     Olaf releases Ted, and steps back just in case, Ted however, does not reach for his blade, but rather gathers himself to do something he rarely does, open himself and his personal life to someone outside his inner circle.

     Ted Forrester: "It is my fiancé, Dora. Or more specifically, her son and daughter. They have been taken and are being held hostage until I do as I was instructed and bring this young woman to 'him'. I do not know his name, but I do know he is some kind of vampire I have never seen before. The others around him are scared shitless of him. They fall all over themselves to keep from displeasing him in any way."

     Iriisii: "Did you see anything out of sorts, compared to other vampire lairs you have seen? Anything at all?"

     Ted Forrester: "There were coffins there as in some others, but these had chains wrapped around them. A few I saw even had a cross laid on the lid under the chains."

     Iriisii: "That is very strange, especially for this part of the world. They had to be unaffected to handle the crosses. That is a property of the strength of religion and belief here. So they are from an area where a totally different religion holds sway, or one with no religion at all. We will need to ask questions of the community, someone knows something that will help us, we just need to find them and persuade them. Now why was this 'vampire' so hell bent on getting his hands on this young woman?"

     Whisper: 'Speak to my parents and grandmother, if anyone knows they do.'

     Iriisii: 'Alright, you should be fine until I can get here in my own body. You can trust Dettlaff and Olaf. Dettlaff is my mate, and Olaf has sworn 'life service' to me.'

     Whisper: 'Life service?'

     Iriisii: 'Yes, he has sworn his body, mind, and soul in service to me for eternity. He did this of his own free will once I showed him what he may become under my tutelage."

     Whisper: "What did he see?"

     Iriisii: "He saw himself as the greatest of my Black Dragon Elite and Rider to my Dragon Daughter Vilok. He saw himself as I bestowed upon him the Title of 'Dovah do Maar', my 'Dragon of Terror'. Of how he would unfurl his 'Battle Standard' on the battlefield and send his enemies scrambling in disarray to quit the field. All of this, and one day he would finally find the peace in his soul that he has been searching for his entire life and never yet found. How do I approach your people, the best way to come before them and not alarm them?'

     Whisper: 'My grandmother tells fortunes, mostly she simply tells the customers what they want to hear. But she does have the 'gift' and for the right person it will activate and she will give a true reading.'

     Iriisii: 'Very well. I see in your mind where your family is camped. I will come after you have returned to your family. I will have Dettlaff and Olaf escort you, but they will not enter your encampment, but stay just out of sight and watch for either your would be captors or for Psy-Ops. If either shows up before I do, they will protect you all.'

     Whisper: 'How can two stand against so many?'

     Iriisii: 'I have trained, equipped, and empowered them. Dettlaff is my Vyrkolos, and near to ascension. Olaf was very, very good before he came to me, now there is almost no one on this world that can touch him. And if I am there, none of our enemies can stand before me.'

     Iriisii gives instructions to Dettlaff and Olaf.

     Iriisii: "Love of mine, you and Olaf need to escort this young woman to her family encampment, but stay out of sight. I do not want to alarm them, watch for any other vampires or Psy-Ops. If they mean to enter the camp, stop them by whatever means you deem needed. I will return there in my own body and see what I can learn of what is going on. Ted, do what you will, but I suggest you go to Dora and wait for me. When I know more, I will come and we will discuss getting your children back, alive and unharmed."

     Ted nods his head and mouths, 'Thank you'. Iriisii nods hers in return, then all can see the change come over the young woman as Iriisii leaves her and she is herself once more.

     Issa: "Who is she that can do what she has done?"

     Dettlaff: "She is many things to many people. To me she is my mate and she draws me with her as she climbs the ladder of Celestial Power. Some of our marriage group were with her when she took the 'Mantle of War' upon herself. They say that was when she took her first steps upon the 'Path of the Gods'. It has been an unending adventure since then. Come, we need to be on our way."

     Iriisii slips back into her body.

     Jean Claude: "I am glad you made it back before sunup, but I would have posted a guard to watch over you."

     Iriisii: "Thank you for that, but I must ask you if you know anything about a vampire I have just heard of?"

     She proceeds to tell him of what happened, what was said, and what she intends to do.

     Jean Claude: "That is not much in truth, but my first impression is of a vampire called 'Obsidian Butterfly'. She was turned in the days of the ancient Inca's and her power reflected the belief's that were held then. She could draw the very life force from a vampire of their blood. Leaving them shriveled and powerless. As punishment for an infraction, this would be done and they would be placed in a coffin then chained shut for as much time as she decided would be fit. In the face of that kind of punishment, they walk on eggshells around her."

     Iriisii: "I should say so, but this one is a male, definitely. But he seems to possibly wield the same power. Could he have escaped and learned to use this on those he also made?"

     Jean Claude: "Possible, I would send word and ask her, but she does not acknowledge anyone unless she is the one to begin the conversation. I will keep my ear to the ground and listen for what floats just under the surface. Also do not discount Psy-Ops, it seems they have been messing around with using what they learned from experiments on their vampire and were prisoners. Using what they learned to augment their agents. Possibly they could have gotten their hands on a few of hers and learned from those."

     Iriisii: "I will remember, but I need to get back. I must enter their encampment and seek the fortune telling grandmother, then see if her gift will read true and reveal me to them. In any case there is something about them that calls to a deep part of me. Somewhere we share something deep and integral to us both. I will find the answer and then see where it leads."

     Jean Claude: "Good luck then. We will be here if you need us."

     Iriisii spreads her wings and dives off the spire. She stays in freefall for a few seconds then opens and spreads her wings. Catching an updraft she soars high, higher, and higher still. The clouds are still above her but up here the air is clean and crisp. The noises of the city have faded into a low murmur down below. She feels her mind clearing away the fog that had accumulated. Now she is ready for what this night may bring. She tilts downward, picking up speed. Streaking past the nights denizens as they look for their dinner, scattering as she flashes past. Downward and downward, she keeps speeding until it seems she will come to a hard crash. Instead she opens her wings wide, cupping the ends she beats them hard. Sinuously she rolls them then snaps them out, catching the air and dragging herself to a stop just a few feet above the ground.

     Dettlaff: "That was a quite impressive display. Training for something specific?"

     Iriisii: "I do not know, perhaps my Seer's talent is anticipating something or somewhere I might need it."

     Dettlaff: "I am not sure if that is a good thing or not."

     Iriisii: "If it keeps me from getting hurt and I accomplish what it is supposed to allow me to do then I have no problem with it. Now has anything gone on while I was heading here?"

     Dettlaff: "Quiet as a mouse with a hawk looking for it. That concerns me though, too quiet."

     Iriisii: "I understand, but I saw nothing on the way here. And that concerns me even more."

     Dettlaff: "Glad we are on the same page. What do you want to do?"

     Iriisii: "Find out what it is that is drawing me to these people, then decide what I must do. Get hold of Reaper and have him maintain a scan of the area, alert you if anything shows that should not."

     Dettlaff: "On it."

     Iriisii turns and kisses him before heading into the encampment. As she saunters her way through looking carefully at everything. A few other customers are making their way from one tent to another, she continues until a large man, dark complexion, strong eyes, asks her what or who she is looking for. She asks about getting a reading and he points out a tent set up next to an even larger tent that must be their living quarters. A beat up van with a trailer hitched sitting next to the larger tent. She thanks him as he works to hide his surprise at her politeness, then walks over to the fortune teller's tent.

     She draws one side of the cloth and canvas door, making an opening large enough for her to slip through. She stands and waits until the fortune teller is ready for her, then takes the proffered seat. She patiently waits for the teller to look her over. She barely feels a brush of psychic senses cross her skin. She acts as if she felt nothing.

     Fortune Teller: "What kind of reading may I interest you into tonight, dear lady?"

     Iriisii: "Your choice, Grandmother. I trust your judgment for this."

     The fortune teller smiles and replies, "Of course, let us start with the cards, see if the spirits will speak to us tonight of what lies ahead for you."

     She draws her tarot deck and shuffles them. Iriisii can feel the age of the cards, generations have used them leaving psychic imprints of themselves suffusing each card. She thinks to herself, 'this should be interesting'. The teller begins by dealing a simple layout. As she looks over the cards, feeling what they are trying to impart to her, she hurriedly gathers them up and shuffles them once more, mumbling about how they must not have been shuffled enough the first time. As she tries out another layout, Iriisii can see a slightly different mix of cards and positions, but she gets the feeling the message is not changing, and it is not for her but for the teller. She tries a third time, but uses a more intricate layout. This time Iriisii can feel the cards reaching out to her, drawing her to see the message that is for both her and the teller.

     The teller is agitated, as she delicately traces her fingertips across the cards, desperately trying to make sense of what they are saying to her. Then Iriisii fells drawn to use her own fingertips to trace a different pattern that meshes with the one the teller is making. As she does so, little flashes of power sparkle across the cards as their fingers move in sync. Iriisii then lays her hand palm up in the center of the layout, then says, "read my hand."

     The teller places both of hers around Iriisii's hand. Her fingers tracing the lines there, her head leans back as her eyes roll back until only the white sclera shows. Then her voice deepens but still remains female, "Welcome, Mother of All Dragons, these who are your lost children, have awaited you since the ice retreated from the lands. They have wandered ever since, searching for you, searching for their path to open and for them to go home. Only you can open the way for them, the Mother Dragon who guides her children along the path she has made for them. They have kept themselves apart from all others as they were told to do. And so they have avoided those who would use them for purposes of greatest outer evil. But now the world has grown smaller, closer, they cannot move about as freely as they once did. Those who would defile them grow closer. You have already saved one from their claws, but they are in danger for as long as they remain. Will you take them from this place? Help them find their forebears? Show them they have a heritage to be proud of and not to hide it in the dust of those who hunt them."

     Iriisii: "They are dragon 'were' are they not?"

     Teller: "Yes, they are. Even as they have forgotten what that means, you have not. You live the heritage of dragons each day, each night. Every drop of your blood sings of the path you walk, your voice speaks and they hear and understand you. Your voice echoes across the ages of past and future, and so these followed this lonely path to meet you here, now. They will form the foundation upon which your Dragon Flight will be built. A force like no other ever seen or known. Hold them close, cherish them as you do your own blood children, for as these too are of the dragonblood, are they then not your children as well?"

     Iriisii looking straight into the face of the teller, "Yes, they are my children. And so I do declare that as of this day, by the power within my blood, by the power within my voice, by the Dragonsoul of the first Dragon of Destiny that I share my body with, by the Draconic Divines that I gave second birth to, I claim these, my dragon children as my children in truth, children of my blood, children of my spirit, children of my soul. As I am DOVAHKIIN, Anointed of Akatosh, child of Alessia and Talos, I bind myself to them and they to me from this day forward in this world and the next. LET IT BE DONE!"

     At the last words she utters, the power rising within her pronouncement, binding this dragon 'were' clan to herself as her children, is released and races to and through each of them. They feel the strength of the words even as they have no idea of what they will come to really mean to them. But as power of the 'words' goes outward, spreading its message to all that have the ability to hear and understand. The dragons hear and they know their mother has found and claimed their lost and forgotten children. All of Dragonkind, everywhere in Existence, pause to hear her 'words' and what she has done. And in their hearts there is now no longer a shred of doubt that she is indeed the 'Mother of All Dragons'. And all give return voice to her of their approval of what she has done.

     Their voices come back to her, riding the Aether, gaining power with each new voice added, until it finds her. Sitting in the fortune tellers tent as the teller awakens from her trance to see Iriisii glowing with Draconic power, barely able to hold it in. A few of the men of the clan race within the tent to see what happened. As they reach to grab Iriisii, the teller shouts for them not to touch her. As they back away, she goes to Iriisii and drops to her knees, takes Iriisii's hands in hers, and bows her head, even as her tears fall on the entwined hands.

     Fortune Teller: "Mother of All Dragons! I am so sorry that I did not know you when you came to me. Long have we wandered from place to place looking for any sign of you, and now you have come to us. Tell us what we must do to return to your good graces?"

     Iriisii looks down to her, takes one hand and cradles the teller's head.

     Iriisii: "You have done all that you could. You have kept faith, keeping yourselves apart from the others. Avoiding conflict that would draw unwanted attention to yourselves. No one else could do any more than what you have done. And so I have found you, and declared you to be my children. All of Dragonkind knows and approves of my decision. Now there is one more thing that I must complete that will set the stage for what comes after. You, my children will be witness to this moment. To an event, billions of years in the making, that will chart the course of the future and pave new roads for 'Were', 'Vampire', and 'Fae' to travel forward to your destinies. Can someone help me outside, it is all I can do to contain the power sent to me, that I hold for this next ritual."

     A sleepy eyed Issa walks into the tent and her eyes widen in shock. Then there is a commotion outside the tent.

     Guard: "You cannot go in! You are not family!"

     Iriisii senses who is there and, "Stop!, Let them enter, they are mine."

     The guards open the tent flap, Dettlaff and Olaf quickly walking in.

     Dettlaff shields his eyes from her glowing form, to him she is blindingly bright.

     Iriisii: "Take me outside, to the clearing to the east. All will follow and bear witness to what follows."

     Dettlaff gathers her into his arms as Olaf goes before them to clear a path. The entire camp follows them to the clearing.

     Dettlaff: "You know Psy-Ops will be on top of us soon, there is no way they missed that Proclamation."

     Iriisii: "We will be guarded from them. What must happen has been prophesied by the Hidden Prophet. The Ageless Ones are sending someone as their representative, they will see that all are safe."

     Dettlaff: "I hope you know what you are doing anyway. Tahrodiis says the Royal eggs are quivering, getting ready to hatch. I though I heard him say that he was bringing them here, why I have no idea."

     Iriisii: "It is as it was written in the beginning. The 'prophecy' was kept in silence until now when it is time to be fulfilled. Issa!"

     Issa hurries to Iriisii's side.

     Iriisii: "Child, you will soon speak with the voice of the 'Hidden Prophet'. He who is the first and greatest of all prophets. Do not be afraid when it happens, but let his words flow through you for all of your family must hear what he says."

     Issa: "If you say so, then I will do as you ask."

     Iriisii: "Now we must clear the area in the center, You and I, Dettlaff, are the only ones to stand there. Ready yourself for what many will call a miracle. Let yourself be driven by your instincts and all will go as it should."

     Dettlaff: "All right! Everyone else to the edge of the clearing, Iriisii and I are to be the only ones in the center!"

     As everyone moves back, Dettlaff carries her to the center.

     Dettlaff: "Now what?"

     that is when a fireball appears streaking down from above. It comes quickly then circles Iriisii and Dettlaff before hovering nearby and assuming a female form.

     Iriisii: "Nephti!"

     Nephti: "Indeed mother, I said I would be back, I was just not certain it would be this soon."

     Looking to those gathered on the edges, "I am Nephti, daughter of Iriisii and Desidarius, sent by the Ageless Ones to initiate and lay witness to the monumental event about to happen. Blessed are all of you for being here and supporting my mother. As she has declared you her children then you are my brothers and sisters. Know that no one who intends interference will be allowed anywhere near this place. And it will forever more be a hallowed and blessed place. A place of peace and sanctuary. Mother, are you ready?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, I am."

     Nephti: "Dettlaff, mate to and Vyrkolos of my mother, are you ready to take this next step in your evolution?"

     Dettlaff looks to Iriisii, who smiles at him and nods her head.

     Dettlaff: "I am."

     Nephti: "Then know you are about to fulfill the promise of being Vyrkolos to my mother. The time has come for the awakening of the Vampiric Blood God. Let my mother stand next to you."

     Dettlaff puts her feet on the grassy clearing. As she stands and slowly moves away.

     Nephti: "Good, now, AI!, AI!, AI!, DRACONIS APPARTE IG! IA!, IA!, IA!"

     Both Iriisii and Dettlaff curl down to the ground and begin morphing their body into Dragons. Iriisii's form has not changed except for growing even larger. For Dettlaff, this is his first transformation, and his form reflects who he is. Black as the moonless night, eyes, red as fresh blood, his back spikes are sharp as needles, his scales edged in the sharpest obsidian. He shakes his head, and where his saliva strikes the ground, ghostly wisps rise up and flow across his body.

     Nephti: "The time to fly has 'Come!' Seek ye the edge between night and day, dance and play along that edge, rejoice in the power that flows between you, then let that power guide you together."

     Iriisii springs forth first, spiraling round and round, leaving a power trail of light to mark her path. Once she is well aloft, Dettlaff springs up and shoots like an arrow within the center of the spiral. They weave and duck around each other going ever higher. The air begins to thin out, but they do not care. They absorb yet more power from the undiluted rays of sunlight. Moving on paths of light and energy, they play and dance amid the emptiness of space.

     The power they continue to absorb, grows within them and they fly ever closer, taunting each other. When they grow close enough, the color bands of their pleasure in each other grows and expands, strengthening until finally they come together. It is then that the color bands merge, and a brilliant new star is formed in the night sky. Iriisii and Dettlaff, still entwinned together, each has teeth embedded in the others neck. Each drawing the others blood, and each drawing power from that blood. The new star feeding from all that power, opens a pathway to a place, if only for a short time. Dettlaff and Iriisii are drawn to it, and touch upon its wonders. Their minds and souls are locked together as are their bodies. They are oblivious to the fact that they are falling. They could care not for they have each other. The legendary and prophetic bond between an Aasimar War Goddess and a Vampiric Blood God now formed and complete for the first time after many failed catastrophic attempts. And it is overwhelming to them.

     Nephti knew this was likely to happen, and so she has prepared a portal to take them on a journey of discovery. The things they will discover will slowly come back to their conscious selves and help to guide them along their new path. Dettlaff and Iriisii keep falling, wrapped in each other. Nephti casts the portal opening as Dettlaff and Iriisii drop through, out of sight.

     Issa: "Where did they go? Why didn't they just land?"

     Nephti: "They were totally immersed in each other, to the point where anything outside of them did not matter. And no, had they slammed into the ground they would not have been hurt. Where they are now, is on a journey of discovery. They have in the past shared their dreams and memories. Where they are now is far beyond that. Dettlaff has reached the point where he has taken his 'calling' and become the 'Blood God of All Vampires' as Iriisii is the 'Mother of All Dragons'. When they come together, she as an Aasimar Goddess of War, and he as her Vyrkolos. They have  become something Mythical, because there have been no others in all of Existence to succeed as they have. And you and your family will follow them in their footsteps. But we are not done just yet."

     A portal opens in a clear area on the edge, Reaper steps out and surveys the area then motions to someone still in the portal. Rigmor walks out carrying an fully grown dragon egg the color of the Night Rose. Behind her comes Illyria with another in her arms, then Rose carrying one, and finally Serana carries the fourth. They each go to a cardinal point and gently place their egg on the ground and stand waiting.

     Issa: "Who are they, and are those dragon eggs?"

     Nephti: "They are some of Iriisii's mates, the first is Rigmor, she and Iriisii were married as mortals first, then married again as immortals. Their story is an epic one, full of love and romance, as well as death, betrayal, and war. They came through it all, an example of what can be if you want it badly enough. The second one is Illyria, her story is one of pain, loss, and in the end rebirth. She is Iriisii's second mate. The third is Rose, she was the first to share a night with Iriisii. But then was captured  by enemies, escaped on her own while Iriisii and Rigmor tore through the Thalmor fortress where she had been captive to free her, only to find hee already gone."

     Issa: "Why did Iriisii not go after her then?"

     Nephti: "She could not. She was Dovahkiin, Dragonborn, and the Nine Divines had things they needed her to do. These things eventually placed her in the 'Seat of Sundered Kings' ruling over the shell of an Empire. One of her most important tasks was to rebuild that empire, making it ready to withstand an invasion by the Tsaesci of Akavir, just four years into the future. It was just after that battle that she met Illyria, and later after hers and Rigmor's daughter Kintyra was born. For her christening ceremony to Mara. They went to Bravil and saw Rose again."

     Issa: "And the fourth one?"

     Nephti: "That is Serana. Now there is a truly epic story, full of pain, tragedy, unrequited love, all this she endured for her love of Iriisii for many long lonely years. And now that Iriisii's gods no longer need her, and her heart has grown to where she can accept and care for more than one mate. Now Serana has come and asked Iriisii to marry. She said yes, of course and the wedding occurred not that long ago. It was truly the event of the Age, the guest list included everyone who is someone. But Serana is special, for she was vampire when Iriisii met her, hidden in a crypt for a few thousand years to sleep. Iriisii did not kill her outright when realizing she was vampire, instead she escorted her back to her father's castle, right into the entire clan, without missing a beat. Serana's father offered to make Iriisii into a Vampire Lord, yet Iriisii politely declined his offer. He banished her from the castle and she went her own way. Serana followed her and they adventured together for nearly four years until her Gods called her to go to Bruma and pull Rigmor out of the trouble that had grown around her. Of course there is a lot more to each, and there are more mates that I have not mentioned. My own birth mother, Desidarius is one. but we do not have time to go into the rest. The eggs are getting anxious to break out of their shells and begin their new lives."

     After just a bit they all feel a rumbling from deep underground, those who are armed hold their weapons ready. The rest seek shelter behind them. The rumbling increases until it is almost impossible to keep footing. Then a blast of light comes from below where the portal that Nephti cast sits, its surface roiling and bucking. The light shaft blazes upward going farther than they can see, then they see two figures with the light as Dettlaff and Iriisii step out from it onto the ground. Dettlaff is back in his normal human form, Iriisii however, remains in her dragon form.

     Issa: "Why is she still as a dragon?"

     Nephti: "Because she carries fertilized eggs. To morph while carrying them would endanger them, using any magic on them at this point would endanger them. So she will remain in dragon form until she lays them. We must stay vigilant in watching for her to see that no enemies come forth that would force her to use magic. I think that is also why the four Royal eggs have been transported here. They are ready to hatch and since they contain the souls of the reborn Draconic Divines. I believe they intend to be her personal guards until she lays her eggs and they can be transported to her Krang, where there is a place for them to be cared for. I expect that soon we will see Tahrodiis come to assist in guarding her."

     Issa: "Tahrodiis?"

     Nephti: "Her 'Shadow Dragon' mate."

     Issa: "She has a dragon mate?!"

     Nephti: "Two actually. Tahrodiis and Brii Qo Dunn."

     Issa: "I do not intend disrespect for asking so many questions..."

     Nephti smiles, "It is no disrespect, very few are aware of many of the things you have asked. Besides as you are now one of her children, you have every right to know. Go ahead and ask what you wanted to know."

     Issa: "The names of her dragon mates are different."

     Nephti: "Ah, you noticed that, not many do. Iriisii named Brii herself, after the naming convention that the dragons of her homeworld Nirn are named. There exists within her home realm of Mundas, within Dovahzul, the Dragon language dialect that they speak. It contains the 'Rotmulaag' or 'Words of Power' by which the dragons express there power by voice. Those few who can hear, when the dragons of Nirn, would say cast fire in their breath, you would hear one, two, or even three of the Rotmulaag, which would determine the strength of the effect."

     Issa: "That I can see, she shouted a word at the rogue vampire stalking me and sent him slamming into a concrete block wall, hard enough to break some of them. So she was using the Rotmulaag then?"

     Nephti: "Yes. To finish this, the names of the dragons of Nirn are composed of three words of the Rotmulaag. So when she named Brii, she chose three words of Dovahzul as her name, not necessarily of the Rotmulaag. That pertains only to those dragons native to Nirn."

     Issa: "I believe I understand now."

     Nephti: "Good, you can then teach the others of your family of this, so that they too know and understand. Her presence and claiming of you as her children, will eventually empower you to claim your heritage as 'Dragon Weres'. You will need to understand all that she can teach you to use those skills and powers correctly so that you stay in control of them and they do not control you."

     Suddenly a shout rolls across the clearing, "The eggs are hatching!"

     Then cracks appear quickly in the four eggs. Iriisii then moves closer to them and carefully assists the dragonlings with coming out of the eggs. The dragonlings immediately gather under her and a kind of rumbling growl can be heard coming from them. Reaper opens a sealed crate that was brought through the portal. He reaches inside and hauls out large pieces of bloody meat, throwing them to the dragonlings who snatch them from midair, gulping them down. Once one crate is empty, another is brought forward. The people gathered around watching, easing their concerns about newly hatched dragonlings, as these are being well fed.

     Nephti: "There is naught to worry about, they would not attack in any case. They are very intelligent even as they cannot yet articulate it. Their voices must grow in order that they can make themselves understood."

     Issa: "Yes, I understand. I can feel their need to speak to us, but their inability to vocalize speech means they must speak in other ways.

     Nephti: "They will learn to vocalize as they grow for now they must use other ways. Iriisii can talk to them, as well as others who are close to dragons."

     Issa: "Can you?"

     Nephti: "I can understand them, but it is not for me to speak for them. Those who were responsible for putting them in the place where Iriisii found and rescued them will now know they are no longer imprisoned. And so will begin looking for them. Currently they do not know anything of what has been occurring in this Existence, but they soon will. All must be vigilant for any sign of their presence."

     Issa: "Who are they?"

     Nephti: "I know, but I am under stricture not to reveal what I know, lest the knowledge change the course of the future. It is difficult to know what changes may occur, but in this case they would be so far reaching that there is no doubt that we want to avoid any possibility of the future moving in that direction. After all that, Iriisii has done, bleed for, sacrificed for, to bring the course of the future to where it is now, and where it will go. No, we do not wish for it to change and so I must do my part as everyone else must do theirs."

     Issa: "And I must do mine, if only I knew what it is."

     Nephti: "Do not worry so, follow your heart, and look to Iriisii. Follow and support her, and you will know your path. If I may, a personal word for your ears only."

     Issa: "Ok, I think."

     Nephti smiles, "Iriisii has two sons who have recently completed their training at the Temple of the Ancient Order of the Blade Dancers on Nirn, where she herself trained at in her youth. Their names are Darius and Ragnar. If you get the chance to meet them, do so. I think they will like you, and you will not regret it."

     Issa: "But I am dragon were, what if they..."

     Nephti: "Trust me, that would make no difference to either of them."

     

     Dettlaff: "All right, it is way past time we made sense out of all of this, but first we need defenses set up, supplies, support. For all we know Psy-Ops is either spying on us now or gathering to make a move. Reaper, what do we have aboard the Krang that can be dropped here for us in the next few minutes?"

     Reaper: "Your choice of defensive weaponry, supplies are not a problem, and the latest version of dimensional huts are coming off of the production lines. They were going to be sent to Tuo, but the next batch can go to them. We need this first batch more than they do."

     Dettlaff: "Outstanding, get it all down here and set up, ask Atticus if he wants to bring some of his people down to play guard duty, tell him he may get to fight against some of Psy-Ops augmented troops, that should tickle his fancy. Been complaining he and his is never around when the fighting starts."

     Reaper chuckles, "I will be sure to mention that to him."

     Issa looks to her grandmother, and sees she is does not know what is happening. She starts to move toward her but Nephti speaks once more to her.

     Nephti: "Tell her not to worry about what Dettlaff is doing. They will have more than enough to take care of their needs and will share generously with your family. The 'hut' will look small, but are much larger inside. Enough to accommodate all that they need to bring and more. They will protect all who are here with their lives. And with Iriisii in dragon form with eggs, the four Divine dragonlings here as well, they will let nothing get in here to harm anyone. And when the time comes for all to go, you are her children, and will go with her as well."

     Issa goes to reassure her grandmother of Nephti's words. then they gather the rest of the clan and tell them what is happening. Surprisingly they take it well, but they trust Issa's grandmother as the eldest of the clan. Issa looks toward Iriisii and sees her talking to Dettlaff, who is listening intently. Then Dettlaff nods his head and goes in search until he finds Olaf and draws him aside to speak. She is too far away to hear anything but she thinks this is something about 'Death'. So she gathers her courage and approaches them.

     Issa: "Please excuse me, but if you are speaking of 'Death' and helping to find his children, perhaps I could be of help."

     Dettlaff hesitates to say anything just yet, Olaf interjects, "He was hunting you to take you to one who wished you for who knows what purpose. Why do you wish to help him? You well know his reputation."

     Issaa: "He did this to find and save his children, who he obviously loves and cares for greatly to cross the line of legality for them. Iriisii has done so much in such a short time, saved and helped us who she has claimed as her children. She has extended to him her help with finding and helping his children, can we who are are now her children, stand aside while others are kept in threat of harm?"

     Olaf looks at Dettlaff: "She has the right of this, this is what Isiisii would want and expect of those she calls her children."

     Dettlaff: "You are right, she would indeed. What can you do to help in this situation?"

     Issa: "The cops are of no help in this. Even those who would look into it are ordered not to, not to mention seriously overpowered. We however by our lifestyle have formed many contacts with the 'dirtier' side of this country in order to move freely from town to town and not attract attention from the government. There are those we can seek information from. Olaf's reputation from his working with 'Death' properly applied to the right individuals can tell us what direction to look in for Death's children."

     Olaf: "She has 'street sense' which is something very valuable in this situation. I say we let her help us. I feel we will save much valuable time of which those children are in short supply."

     Dettlaff: "I agree. 'Death' will want to be involved, I know in his shoes, I would be. So whatever will get this done quicker, I am in favor of."

     Issa looks intently at Dettlaff, reading something from him. "This strikes echoes within you."

     Dettlaff: "You see deeply. Yes it does. Once I was faced with a choice of what fork in my path I would take. I wished to see what costs each would ask of me. I was taken down each and witnessed what happened and its cost. One involved a child of Iriisii's who went in search of me when I disappeared. This situation bears some similarity to that path. I chose a different branch than that one and luckily it is now unreachable from the timeline I now follow. I hope the future of that branch works out from the action I took. But we first need to seek out 'Death' and find out what he knows, add it to our knowledge, and then we can begin to ask questions and seek answers."