@Zahir @Belle @BlackPanther
Fritz knocked on Zavist's door to tell the warrior that the king needed to them in his off.

In the dinning room bowed to them. The Doggen was old school and refuse to treat them any other way. "Does the king has asked me to send you to his office once he arrives." Zsadist nodded. He had been headkheading that way anyway. He had to tell the king about their new recruit. Hopefully one of the others would be there to make things less awkward.

"Come on." He indicated for the man to follow him. He opened the door to reveal tallest ceiling ever, Lovely crown molding, a table in the center, two flights of spiral staircases going up to the second floor, the floor is ceramic tile. The hall was wide enough that they could walk side by but Zsadist doubted that they would. He lead them down the hall towards the king's office.

As the door opened Gracie woke at the sound and pulled the covers up to her chin, ready to hide under them. When she realized that Zavist was leaving the room she scrambled off the bed and raced out the door, grabbing his waist and shaking her head vehemently.

Brenna tried to pull her off. "I'm so sorry," she told Zavist before signing to Gracie to let go. Gracie tried voicing but it sounded muffled, like her was trying to talk with a mouth full of cotton balls. "Stay. Stay. Monsters."
"No monsters here," Brenna signed and spoke. "Brotherhood protect us. Here is safe. I promise. Here is safe."
Brenna pried Gracie off of Zavist and looked at him apologetically, biting her lower lip. "She is quite taken with you it seems," she said, her blush indicating that the child wasn't the only one taken with the male. "She'll be fine after I get her to bed."

@KatherinWinter@Zahir@Belle
Zavist had gotten out of the shower and dressed into the casual clothes. He had then entered the room to see his steak and chosen drink. Just as he had begun eating Fritz entered. A growl of a different sort left him before he began the wonder of chugging the drink and wolfing down the steak.

Finished, Zavist stood and started to exit when Gracie grabbed him. He found himself looking down at the girl and honestly wanting to slam the door shut and stay...but he couldn't do that. Instead he found himself frozen. As if chrsed to be a statue, he stayed frozen until brenna apologized and managed to get Gracie off of him.

His focus turned to brenna and he shook his head. [color=lightgreen]"Its fine. She went through a lot today" he then saw her blush and her statement had him pause. His mouth opened for a response, but fritz started to get antsy. He looked back at brenna before exiting and heading down.

Soon, Zavist was downstairs in time to spot his brother with a newcomer. One whom had a small girl with him. His nostrils flared and he slowly approached, ending up behind them. His head tilted as he studied the two.

It was only a few minutes after they went back to the room that Gracie was asking for a snack. Brenna looked at her doubtfully.

Sure you want snack or want to follow Zavist? she signed and Gracie looked sheepish. Brenna sighed and shook her head with a smile.

Taking Gracie's hand they left the room, moving cautiously through the house. It may be the Brotherhood's stronghold but it was still a house full of males. Gracie whimpered a little as they moved downstairs, afraid of the unknown.

@Belle@BlackPanther@Zahir
"You will have to forgive my brothers. We don't have alot of children and two in one night is alot. You will need to introduce me to your guest Zavist. But that can wait until morning. I think that calming and reassuring Zsadist's guest should come first since your guests are settled for the night." Wrath said sarcastically as leaned forward. While he couldn't see the man and the child that his warrior had brought to mansion. He needed the man to join them. They needed more fighters. But first he needed to reassure the man that he and the child were safe. "Zavist will you tell our guests that despite his lack of manners Zsadist isn't a threat to them. I think knowing that you interacted positively with a female and child might help him relax more than anything that I could say."

@Zahir@KatherinWinter@Belle
Zavist tilted his head as Wrath spoke to him. He silently approached, making his way from behind said guest to stand in front of them. His casual attire meant for sleep somehow managed to make him less intimidating then his usual look. Amber eyes shot to make eye contact with the blue of the guest. "my brother is not much of a social individual. He means no harm" His eyes flickered to the small girl in the arms of the new male.

Zavist paused while finding the correct words. "My guests here are a mother and her child. Her child is not hearing, but I was able to have a positive interaction with them" He let his eyes wander between the faces before continuing. "I can personally assure the safety of yourself and the child. You both are safe here"

As he went silent Zavist clasped his hands on front of him and seemed to become a statue almost. He heard the whimpering from Gracie he was guessing, and part of him wanted to find them and show them around....reassure Gracie and brenna....but he couldn't leave at the moment.

The Doggens were thrilled to provide a snack for Gracie. While the child ate she looked around for Zavist, going he would walk around the corner.
Brenna couldn't help but chuckle at the cuteness of it. She was like a puppy looking for her playmate... no pun intended.

Brenna's cellphone started vibrating in her bra, where she usually kept it. Pulling it out she saw Dr. Havers number.
"Where are you two?" Havers asked frantically. "It's nearly dawn. You must return immediately."
"We are safe. We came upon a Lesser attack but the Brotherhood kept us safe and brought us to their-"
"Listen to me," Havers interrupted. "You must get out of there and return to the clinic at once."
"Why?" Brenna asked, concerned.
"You may not be safe there."
"How could we not be safe with the Brotherhood?"
"Just come back. I'll explain everything then."
"No you'll explain now," Brenna said sharply. "Anything to do with my child's safety needs to be explained now."
Havers sighed and spoke in a low tone. "You know I've been testing Gracie's blood, to try and discover her lineage if possible. Brenna, I have strong reason to believe that Gracie is... her blood has strong ties to... I think her father might have been... one of the Brotherhood."

Brenna stood frozen in shock. She felt for the chair under her so she could sit, since her legs suddenly didn't seem to want to hold her up. "WH-what?" She asked in utter shock. "How is that... how could... the male who helped me through my transition, who got me pregnant and then killed by Lessers... was a Brother?! How could you not have known that?!"
"The Brotherhood are a very secretive group! How was I to have known!" Havers protested. "What's important now is for you and Gracie to get back here at once. The Brothers are a highly volatile group of males. Who knows how they might react to this news."

Brenna couldn't breathe. She couldn't think. She had been with a Brother... had fed on his blood... no wonder she had survived the transition! She had bore him a child.
A child...
Gracie...

Brenna looked at her little girl, who was watching her fearfully. Gracie was blood tied to the Brotherhood.
How would they react? Would they harm her? Would they keep her and kick Brenna out?
Zavist! He wouldn't let them be hurt! She knew it!

No. She was thinking of these males acting as the ones they encountered at the clinic. These were males of honor, sworn to protect their species. They had to be told. Especially the King. Perhaps they might even be able to tell her who Gracie's father had been.

Gathering Gracie in her arms, she walked towards the study and knocked on the door. A Doggen nearly had a heart attack and insisted he announce her first.
"Miss Brenna and Miss Grace to see you sore. She says it is quite urgent."

Once Brenna was allowed inside she held on to Gracie tightly. The five year old whimpered in fear and clung to her mother. When she spotted Zavist she reached a little hand towards him, wanting him to make all of the fear stop. To make whatever was making her Mommy scared and cry to go away.

Brenna was trying not to cry but tears filled her eyes all the same. "I apologize for disturbing you my lord the King," she said, her voice quivering. "But I have just been informed of something very..." she struggled to find the words. "I don't know how to say it... Dr. Havers has allowed myself and my daughter to live at his clinic after Gracie's father was killed by Lessers. I never got to know anything about her father. He helped me through my transition and disappeared. I didn't find out til after his body was found that I was pregnant. Havers has been studying Gracie's blood, to find any of her father's relatives that might take us in. He just called me to say that he believes Gracie's father... that he was one of the Brotherhood," Brenna finally got out the words in a rush. "I swear to you I didn't know before a few minutes ago! Havers didn't want me to tell you, but I can't keep something like this from you my lord, or any of the Brotherhood. I throw myself and my daughter on your mercy."

@Belle @BlackPanther
Zsadist reached for his knife without thought. He knew it was most likely the Doggen. But it was a habit. He had learned young to be on guard. He didn't pull the weapon though. Which was a good thing since the Doggen brought a child and female into the room. Zsadist didn't relax though he knew that just because a person was female that didn't make them not a threat. His mistress has made sure that lesson was carved into his soul.

Wrath stood up. He indicated for the female to come closer. He could smell the two new arrivals. The woman was young and unclaimed. But Zavist's was strong her. Which made him wondered how much interacting they had done. The child smelled of innocence. It wasn't a scent that he had smelled in a long time. "Come closer. I promise that you and your young are safe here. Zsadist will not harm you." his blindness made most people consider him not a threat even though he still fought when he had to. Of those in the room Zsadist was the scariest of them.

"It's underandable that you wouldn't know much of the man that helped you through transition if he died shortly after. Tell us more about this man. I hope that we can give a name to the man that helped you. If the child's father was a brother than we will provide for you and your young. We take care of our own."The king assured her.

Zavist looked over as Gracie's entered the room with Gracie in her arms. He smelled fear on them...paired with the shirts they had borrowed with his scent caused his protective instincts to go through the roof. As Gracie reached for him he almost moved...almost. But he could not do that just yet.

Zavists eyes shot over to his brother whom held the hilt of a knife. He swallowed a growl and watched the interaction that was occurring. So Gracie had the blood of a fallen brother. That meant....they could stay. For some reason that made him happy. mine the thought shot through his mind but he shoved it aside...pinning the cause of it on his scent from his shirt and his protective side. Amber eyes flicked to Gracie and he managed a flick of a smile to try to comfort her from a distance.

Gracie was scared of the male with the scarred face. He looked mean. She didn't know what was going on because her mommy was not signing. She tugged on her mommy's shirt, getting her attention. "Mommy sign," she said, her voice sounding like she was talking around a mouthful of cotton balls.
Brenna put Gracie down so she could sign as she spoke. Gracie deserved to know what was going on since it involved her. Brenna also spoke aloud as she signed. "My daughter is hard of hearing, nearly completely deaf. She can only hear very high pitched sounds," she explained. She paused. It was hard to know where to start.
"I never knew my father, but I assume he must have been a vampire. My mother was human but she died early in my life, leaving me with my grandmother. She was a very... religious woman who considered my existence a sin. So when my transition hit I had no idea what was happening to me. Gracie's father appeared out of no where, almost like magic. I remember he said he had sensed me in trouble and came to help. I remember he was built like a tank and he had long brown hair so dark it was nearly black. His eyes were mesmerizing. It was as if the longer you stared at them, the more colors you saw. Green, yellow, grey, blue, purple... I swear I even saw some red sprinkled in them as well. I think he told me his name, but I can't remember no matter how hard I try. But there was something about him... as if I wasn't seeing the real him, if that makes sense. Even though he was kind while I was dealing with the agony of transition, it was as if it was uncomfortable for him to be so. Once I was through my transition he told me to leave rather harshly. I didn't know what to do so I begged him for help. It was only after I started crying that he directed me to Havers," Brenna looked at each of the Brothers in the room, but her gaze lingered on Zavist, as it had throughout the story. "That is why it was a shock to think he was a Brother. He was not what I have always thought a Brother is supposed to be."

During all of this Gracie had been very still, watching her mother. Finally she tugged on the bottom of the shirt. "My Daddy mean? He bad?" the child voiced and signed, tears in her eyes.
Brenna's heart clenched. She hadn't thought about what she'd said before saying it. "Oh no baby, no he wasn't bad. Please don't cry," she said, kneeling down to hold her close.

It was at that moment Brenna realized something she had forgotten completely about :

She was wearing Zavist's shirt.
A shirt that hit her mid thigh.
A shirt that, now that she was kneeling, had hiked up dangerously high.
In a room full of males.
One of whom was the bloody king of the race.

Brenna's face turned bright red as every curse word she knew went through her mind. She had been so distraught that she had completely forgotten what she was wearing! She had barged into the king's study and had been parading around the mother****ing BROTHERHOOD in a shirt that looked like a cocktail dress on her! They probably thought she was some kind of slut!
Brenna picked up Gracie and stood quickly. If embarrassment were electricity she would look like a bloody Christmas tree! She assessed her options, limited that they were, and only one stood out as a viable course:

RUN!

"I s-should get her to bed," Brenna stammered. "Thank you for your kindness to us my lord the King. I apologize for my... I didn't realize I... that I... er..." she looked to Zavist helplessly, her face still bright red and mortified. Her long term plans were to put Gracie to bed, then find a nice deep dark hole to crawl into.

@BlackPanther@Belle
Wrath tilted his head. He could practically smell the woman's panic. He feared she would run the first chance she got. Which would be dangerous if the child was indeed the offspring of one of the brothers who had passed on to the Fade. Zsadist wasn't helping anything. Unfortunately Zsadist was just being himself. Considering the man's past with females Wrath thought he was doing well but this woman didn't know that.

"There is no need to apologize. I assure you that you and Gracie are safe here. Brothers do not hurt females or young. If you wish to put your daughter to bed I understand. But I would like to speak with you more tomorrow. We will need to set you up with a fund to support you and the child." Wrath told her. He hoped that she wouldn't run before he had a chance to make sure that she was safe.

@Belle@KatherinWinter
Zavist had kept his composure and remained silent. Even though Gracie's tears made him feel quite upset. He felt the urge to hold her....he suspected the wolf in him for all the feelings he had. Though that was likely delusion. He glanced at his brother and approved of how well he was controlling himself.

Zavist's eyes went back to brenna as she stood and seemed...embarrassed. The expression she had made his lips twitch into a small smile for a second. He looked down to compose himself before looking back up and listening to the king. That's when he saw her pleading with him with her eyes.

Zavist shook his head before rolling his shoulders. "If you do not mind sir....I should head toward bed as well. And the little one seems to think me as a safety blanket so I think my presence should help" his eyes looked at brenna his eyes still dancing with the humor he held a moment ago.

He thought this was funny?! Brenna wanted to smack Zavist for laughing at her, if only with his eyes. She would probably think this was funny tomorrow, but at the moment it was anything but funny to her.
But he had a point. Gracie did see him as a safety blanket. She would likely go to sleep faster if he was in the room.

"I would like to speak to you on the morrow my lord," she replied to King Wrath. "But I will say this before I go: I do not wish for money. I have been providing for my daughter just fine. All I ask for is protection. Lesser attacks are becoming more frequent. I want my child protected."

Gracie had been looking at the King but her eyes wandered to the scarred man. He looked mean and scary, but his eyes were really pretty. They looked like gold. Gracie found herself wanting to get closer and see the color better. She started to walk towards him, but she stumbled on the bottom of the long shirt and would have fallen if her Mommy hadn't grabbed her. Gracie continued to stare at the scarred man as her Mommy kept talking. She wasn't signing anymore so Gracie didn't know what was going on and hence lost interest in the conversation. She was thinking back to her Daddy and everything she had learned about him tonight. Had he been mean? Had he been bad? Was Gracie bad now too? Was she the reason her Mommy cried sometimes when she thought Gracie wasn't watching?
Her large eyes bored into the scarred man as if his golden eyes held the answers. He looked scary, but there was something else in his eyes too.
Anger.
But a kind of Sad Anger. It made her curious. She had never seen two such different emotions together before.

~~

Later on, after they were back in the room, Brenna gave a playful glare at Zavist. "Not. One. Word." Brenna said, her chheks still blushing cherry red.
Gracie went to Zavist, tugging on his hand to pull him down to her level. She started signing, which Brenna translated. "You protect us, right? Mommy and me safe, right? Mommy not cry anymore, right? You promise Mommy no more cry."

"Gracie," Brenna spoke and signed. "That's not fair to Zavist to-"
Gracie waved her hand to interrupt, making the sign for Z in front of her nose, the same place the sign for wolf was made. Brenna's eyes widened. "Really? You sure baby?"
Gracie nodded firmly. Brenna looked at Zavist. "Gracie has given you a sign name. In the deaf world a name sign is given to mean a specific person instead of spelling their name all the time. It is the sign for you and you alone. It can only be given by a deaf person. Mine is -" she showed him the sign for B and touched it to her chin "- because my name starts with a B and the chin is where the sign for Mother is made. Gracie's is -" Brenna made the sign for G and moved it across her palm in a scribbling motion "- G for Gracie along with the sign for draw. A person's sign name is connected to something about them that makes them unique. Gracie has made your sign name a Z... and the sign for wolf," Brenna bit her lip for a second before adding. "I hope you aren't offended. She means it in a good way. It means you are important to her. She hasn't even given Dr. Havers a sign name and she's known him since she was born."

She really hoped Zavist would not be angry. The thought pained her for some reason. It had to be because he had saved them.
It had to be.

Zavist had managed to make it into the room before he sputtered. He looked at brenna and swallowed the rest of the laughter which left a small smile. "I'm sorry" He inhaled and composed himself. He had never shown so much humor....it was like these two made him show a different side of himself.

Zavist blinked when he felt Gracie tugging on him. He crouched to be at her level. He looked up as brenna spoke. Before he could speak Gracie took his attention back to her as she signed. He blinked and listened as brenna spoke and silently watched her explain the names.

Zavist paused letting all that absorb in. He lightly did thebsign for thank you before giving her a quick hug. Once she was released he looked between the two. "I will do my best for the both of you." He was extremely tired at this point, but he felt a lot better then he had in awhile. He lightly stood before taking Gracie to the bed then laying down on the cot. What interesting turns this day had taken.

@Belle@BlackPanther
When he was dismissed Zsadist made his way to his room. He gave little to the way the little girl had stared at him. He was used to being stared at. It was nearly impossible for a vampire to scar. There were only two ways it happened. A serious injury before transition, which was how he had gotten about half his scars. The second way was by salting the wound which was how he had gotten the rest including the obvious one in his face.

He tried not to think about the fact that there was a female in the house and she would be staying for awhile. He went to his bathroom and stripped. He showered without bothering to turn on the lights. He rarely used the lights when he was in his room. He didn't want to accidently see his reflection.

---

Wrath didn't like that the female thought that she could refuse his money. He was the king. What he said was law. Clearly she had reacted without thought or she would have never refused him..one didn't refuse their king without a reason. Tomorrow he would explain to her again that she and the child would remain here and he would be covering their expenses until she found a mate to care for her and her young. He would not accept no. Nor would he compromise.