Nephriel

The Ties that Bind

The ride had been miserable, Anna had been unable to release Gunner from the netting. For everyone's safety she had to leave him in there because he could be faking his unconsciousness. Anna knew better, Gunner's cries as the net had fallen on him had torn her and they'd only stopped once he'd been sedated... She was glad that the other Elites had suggested it, she didn't think she could have taken watching him burn in agony the whole way to court. As they arrived, Anna allowed them to take Gunner away from her... She had to find Seb and Serena, let them know what was going on even though she didn't want her friends seeing him this way.

She took a breath and knocked on their room door and an unfamiliar Guardian answered it, "Guardian Ross... you've returned. One moment, I'll inform Sebastian."

Anna shook her head and brushed past the woman, "It's important."

~*~

Seb had taken Serena back to the room, he'd planned to change into less formal clothing and take her to the hotsprings to relax them both over the fiasco earlier when a knock came at the door and Anna barged past Airen.

"Anna... are you alright?"

Anna shook her head, "I'm... not really sure how to answer that. We found Gunner... and we brought him back with us."

Seb smiled, "He's alright then?"

She shook her head again, "He's strigoi..."

"They... brought a strigoi into court?"

She nodded, "He has information on missing children and he has an army hidden somewhere... we couldn't kill him."

Seb flinched at the words, "I'm sorry Anna, how did you manage to bring him back?"

"Silver netting... enchanted." Sebastian winced and Anna reassured him, "We sedated him... He didn't feel most of it." She took a breath, "Seb... I don't want you to see him this way but... you're the only other spirit user aside from Jace and the Queen around..."

He nodded, "I know and -"

"I'm going to ask Serena... I know it's your ability but you're hers too... and she has your child... Plus, Gunner isn't exactly a puppy at the moment. He'll be waking up soon... Even if we manage to sedate him again you'll be in danger. Talk to her... let me know what you decide. Text or just come down to the cells... depending on the answer..."

Anna left and went back to the cells, sure enough... Gun was awake and he wasn't happy. She stuffed her hands in the pockets of her jacket and moved just out of arms reach from the bars. The other Guards were staying a sufficient distance away to avoid an issue with compulsion. "These bars aren't just silver...they're enchanted too." She sighed, "And the whole diameter of your cell is warded... If you compulse me, they'll sedate me. You're out of options here Gun..."

She took a breath, "I know you won't want Seb and Serena to have seen you this way but thanks to your stunt with Jace... Seb is the only spirit user aside from the Queen who can turn you back unless they call in Adrian or Sonya Karp and they're too far away right now. You're too much of a risk to keep this way for long..."

~*~

Seb sighed, no rest for the weary. He moved to find Serena, thinking she was probably still changing. He pushed open the door and smiled at her, "Hello beautiful..."

He ran a hand through his hair, "Anna came back..."

The Ties that Bind

He took his eyes off her, and why wouldn't he? He had always known her like the back of his hand and she didn't have a stake for him to worry about. As he leaned down Anna brought her knee into his nose and an elbow down on the back of his knock promptly afterwards.

Suitably subdued for a moment Gunner would suddenly find all the air in his lungs gone just as the blaze died and a net descended as Anna rolled out of the way. The netting would burn his skin and any struggle he made would only find him more tightly ensnared. Anna stood back as the other Elites moved in.

"I knew you would underestimate me... you always knew me so well."

Air would be returned to him just as an elite struck him with a needle. It was a powerful sedative but none of them were sure it would work.

"I'm sorry Gun... I know it burns but it was the only way..."

The Elites cinches the net tightly closed and they began hauling him down out of the caves to the sedan.

The Ties that Bind

Anna slowly circled him, following the line of the blaze. That's right Gun... keep talking...

She shook her head, "Not just beat you Pretty Boy, take you back alive."

As he stripped out of his jacket and rolled up his sleeves, just like Gun used to she found it easier than she should have to focus on the red around his iris. This is what she'd been training for, she was ready.

Anna came at him, the same way she used to... head on. This time, however, she kept her hands up and lashed out with her feet for his knees. If she could take out his legs, even briefly, it would make subduing him much easier. She stayed ready for his retaliation and the Elites still made no move to help though the fire users kept the flames burning.

The Ties that Bind

((Seb and Serena to be cont. after the Gunner Anna thing so we can time jump))

~*~

Anna tensed as the clapping began, they'd torn their way through quite a few Strigoi till this with the Moroi help and none had been wounded or injured. As Gunner stepped into view Anna's heart cinched up, his words were nothing like what Gunner would say but they were in his voice and the Strigoi inside him was wearing his face. As he mentioned children Anna's heart ached again, Gunner would NEVER hurt children, not HER Gunner but... this isn't her Gunner. She shook her head, "Unfortunately, we knew about the children Gunner. We put it together a while ago, maybe you forgot what it means to be Elite since you tore through the last ones so easily but this time we did our homework... and I was expecting... you."

She nodded behind her and the cavern behind Gunner collapsed before fire burst around both he and Anna, caging them in. "I'm not going to kill you Gunner... Just like you said... We need you."

She took a fighting stance, but there was no stake in her hand... The other Elites had moved in front of the Moroi and were making no move to help Anna, instead... they looked just as grim as she did.

Anna had been training with the other Elites, brushing up on styles and techniques she'd never used before because Gunner knew her too well. If she came at him with the things she'd known before he'd mop the floor with her. She'd taken her time picking up different style focusing mainly on Jujitsu and it's other forms such as Judo and Aikido. She was small and these enabled her to turn another's force and momentum against them instead of confronting it with her own force. It also focused on pressure points, joint locks, and other types of submission and restraint that would come in handy if she wanted to take Gunner down alive.

He was much bigger and stronger than her, even more so now that he was a Strigoi, and now their speed was more on par with each other whereas she'd had the advantage there before. She'd have to use his attacks against him if she wanted to win. So, she slid one foot out behind her and brought both hands up. "Come on Pretty Boy... or did you plan on standing there all night?"

The Ties that Bind

Sebastian was hot on Serena's heels as she walked away, his mood quickly darkening. As they approached his mother Sebastian was about to open his mouth and confront her when Serena surprised him and did it herself. Seb felt proud, she'd been so soft spoken... taking everything his parents had dished out with a quiet grace he envied. He'd only managed to keep hold of his temper this long because he'd been afraid what would happen if he allowed himself to blow up. What usually followed was a dark spell that would affect them both and he didn't want to risk Serena's pregnancy.

As Serena went off on his mother, Sebastian caught himself smiling and tucking his hands in his pockets. His mother's eyes boggled and her face went red and as Serena turned on her heel and stomped off his mother sputtered. "You're going to let that... that... blood whore talk to me that way?"

Sebastian's smile fell from his face and his hands exited his pockets, "I didn't want to have to do this... but I'm done. In front of full view of everyone there Seb lit into his mother. "You will never speak to Serena that way again. In fact, the next time you see her you will apologize. You will beg her forgiveness and after that you will avoid us both and stay away from both she and my child. The only time you will see either of us is when it is absolutely necessary and when you do you will go out of your way to be polite."

His father stepped up beside his mother, "You will not talk to your mother that way Sebastian."

Seb sneered, "I can and I will. Both of you have been nothing but cruel. I'm tired of it and if I have to repeat myself... I'll do it using compulsion and I'll make sure neither of you sleep for a fucking month do I make myself perfectly clear?"

His mother gasped, "Sebastian! Compulsion-"

"Is something I'm very good at and the only reason I haven't used it against you already is because of the effect it could have on my soon to be WIFE and child."

His mother took a breath and stomped off and his father frowned, "You've shamed this family. Don't come back home..."

Sebastian laughed, "Why would I?"

His father stomped off as well and Sebastian went after Serena, catching her wrist. "They'll be leaving us alone now... I'm sorry I didn't face them before now.."

~*~

As Anna moved through the tunnels she grimaced... The place was like a maze but they had a plan this time. "Are you ready?"

The two Moroi earth users nodded and stepped up to the plate. The cavern rumbled and the two side cavern passages caved in, effectively leaving only one direction they could be attacked in. There were a few outraged cries and Anna took a breath, "Here they come..."

As six strigoi came up the tunnels the three fire users went to work, casting fireballs at any strigoi that broke through the line of Elites.

It took no time at all to put the Strigoi down and Anna began to feel some hope that maybe the Queens plan of attack would work after all...

The Ties that Bind

Three days passed in no time and in that time, Seb was surprised not to hear much of anything out of his parents at all. It wasn't until the ceremony that he even saw them and when he did he thought their heads would explode when they realized he'd brought Serena to what was supposed to be a 'moroi only' event. So much so that even the Guardians were made to wait outside the throne room. Airen had begged numerous times that Sebastian reconsider but there was no convincing him. Serena was going to be his wife and wherever he went, she'd go... end of story.

He'd helped Serena dress for the occasion, it was one that required a person to wear their wealth on their bodies. In the end though, he thought she was beautiful in the gown he'd gotten her as a surprise. It was cinched tight under the breasts but had extra cloth that rippled out over the belly. It didn't hide her pregnancy but it fit her well during it.



As they moved through the crowd you could have momentarily heard a pin drop before the Queen stood and greeted them. "Sebastian Lazar, Serena Abatangelo, it is good to see you both..."

Her mother cleared her throat slightly and the Queen glanced at her, "Yes, Mrs. Lazar?"

"Your grace... you knew that this Dhampir was coming?"

The Queen arched a brow, "It is customary for the wife or fiance of the soon-to-be head of the family to be present during the ceremony. So yes, I had thought so."

His mother declined to say anything further and Seb squeezed Serena's hand gently. The ceremony itself was a bunch of fancy words and the handing over of a medallion from the queen to his father and from his father to him. Though, for a moment Seb was certain his father didn't WANT to put the medallion on him in front of all these people with a dhampir at his side. The thought made Seb grind his teeth but it was over in a moment. He turned, gave a sharp bow and then went back to Serena's side. However, he saw his mother walking away with a smirk on her face and was immediately concerned over what had happened...

~*~

The minute that Sebastian was forced to leave Serena's side his mother slid up like a snake. "Isn't he handsom," she asked quietly.

"I had such high hopes for him but now... Well, now he's disgraced himself in front of the royal families... No one will take him seriously after this... All because he chose a Dhampir blood whore over a suitable Moroi wife."

She smiled falsely, "Do you think your child will ever be seen as anything more than a puppet to be trained and used as a Guardian... if she's lucky. If she isn't, well... We both know what happens to female Dhampirs who don't make it into Guardianship. Dragging my son down by forcing him to marry you gains you nothing... No money, no title... no one will ever see you as more than a mistake... and sooner or later... Sebastian will see that too."

The ceremony was completing and his mother walked away from Serena just as he walked towards her. Seb frowned and watched her go, "What happened, are you alright?"

~*~

Anna had dug through every report she'd been given, she'd followed every lead, and they all tied in here... this commune and it's thick woodlands. Still, she'd been here three days and she and the other Elites had went with nearly every hunting party and not once had they come across any signs of strigoi or Gunner... That is, until this morning.

Word had come in that another commune had been attacked on the other side of the woods... It had been almost completely wiped out. It was hard to believe that Gunner would make an attack so obvious but after his last overwhelming success over the Elites perhaps he'd gotten a little too cocky. They'd left immediately and the sun was just starting to sink when they'd tracked the Strigoi trail to yet another set of caves. This was all seeming a little too easy, perhaps Gunner knew she was with the Elites... maybe he was luring them in to kill them all off once and for all... However, she knew he wouldn't be expecting their secret weapons.

Anna glanced behind her and nodded at the other Elites and the ones they had with them. As they entered the caves, Anna headed them off a stake in one hand and a flashbomb in the other in case they got surrounded.

The Ties that Bind

Seb smiled and kissed her, "Anything you want, Love." He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand and glanced around for their Guardian. Airen was seated quietly at the table and was busy playing solitaire but obviously she'd been paying attention because she stood up and grabbed her coat. "Where would you like to go," he asked as he rubbed her shoulders.

Despite the fact that Airen seemed well enough, Seb hadn't brought himself to completely trust her. He could see her aura and sometimes she was a little too interested in their conversations. He kept his worries to himself however, there was no need to worry Serena when he wasn't even positive about it himself. Also, despite Airen's helpfulness with Serena he sometimes caught amusement in her aura when his pregnant love was struggling or irritation when she had to help her even though her face was all smiles and she was completely friendly outwardly.

Airen, despite his question, was frowning... "As much as I understand how you guys need to get out... Moroi aren't allowed off the grounds, even guarded." She held up her hands, "If I took you off the grounds I'd never hear the end of it... I'd probably be replaced."

Seb frowned and looked down at Serena, "How about we go out to the Gardens and have a picnic then?"

He ran a hand through his hair, some frustration showing. Though the Courts were full of things to spoil Serena with (the Hotsprings, the massage areas, etc) he understood her need to get away.

The Ties that Bind

Sebastian frowned and kissed her, "No, I still love you and I'm always going to... If I seem different it's all the stress." He smiled some at the way her belly separated them, "Though... I do feel as if something is coming between us." Just to show her what he meant he lowered his hands to her belly and kissed her again.

"I'm nervous... about the ceremony. I don't understand why they have to make a big deal out of it." He sighed, he'd never been one for a huge public displays. He ran a hand through her hair, "I'm also worried about Anna... She's been gone for days again."

They both knew what had happened to Gunner though neither of them had pressed her for further details on what had happened. All Seb knew for sure was that her aura wasn't happy and it wasn't sad either... It was determined... like that was all there was for her. He rested his chin atop Serena's head, "I'm afraid she isn't going to recover from this... I'm afraid she's going to spend the rest of her life chasing after Gunner and that's all there is ever going to be for her."

He shook his head, "But I can't tell her to just move on... He's like my brother. I don't want to give up on him either but I have you now, I can't just run everywhere after him. I want to be here for our baby and for you... everything is different and I worry sometimes that Anna holds it against me..."

It was true, Anna hadn't been around nearly as much. Their conversations had been short and though Anna always seemed friendly enough there was no life in her eyes and her voice was empty... even when she laughed. The only time he saw it come back was while she was training and then right before she left there was always fear in her aura... but she wouldn't talk to him about it...

~*~

Anna had her hands shoved deeply into her pockets of her jacket, the scarf pulled tightly around her neck, but the cold wind still stung her eyes and the exposed portion of her face between the hood of her coat and the scarf. Despite the fact that her cheeks and nose were chapped red she barley felt it... She was too busy trying to understand what the russian woman in front of her was saying. They'd seen Gunner in this small village, the hunters had spotted him and apparently he'd been alone at the time. At first Anna wasn't certain it had actually been him but the more the woman described the Strigoi her son had told her about the more it was beginning to sound like him...

Still, if he'd been here he was long gone now and so were his tracks. The blizzard that had held back the search for him would have wiped away all traces of his travel in the three days Anna and the others had been forced to hole up in another commune several miles away. She wasn't good at Russian, even after taking lessons and having Kazenia (another of the elites) trying to teach her she was still only able to understand certain words.

The woman kept pointing to the dense woods behind the village and saying something but Anna didn't know what... despite that she nodded as if she did and walked back to the others shivering and rubbing her arms. "Did you find anything out," she asked Kaz. The other woman had a grim look on her face, "More Dhampirs were taken from several different hunting parties... this isn't right. Strigoi almost always go after Moroi... the blood makes them stronger. Why would they be going for Dhampirs now?"

Anna knew why... because Dhampirs were the better fighters. They could be trained more easily than the weaker Moroi who lost their magic anyway after the change. Still, she kept that fear to herself. "Easier prey I suppose... We should meet with the others."

The Ties that Bind

Days went by, they turned into weeks, the weeks went by and turned into a month. In that time Anna had gone out over and over with the other Elites, hunting for Gunner but she always came back... She knew Sebastian and Serena would worry if she didn't. Still, the search was going out wider and wider and it was taking an increasing number of days for her to come back each time. Each time she came back she collapsed into bed from exhaustion and slept for a solid day. Seb argued with her about her wearing herself out so badly but it was like talking to a wall. Anna had become more and more determined. She was training harder than she ever had when she was at the courts which was also putting a strain on things... As much as she loved her friends she was barely spending any time with them at all. Seb couldn't really hold it against her, he remembered what losing Anya had felt like.

The Queen put a lock down on both the courts and the Academy, no Moroi in or out... no untrained Guardians either. The only ones allowed out or in were the Elites and the Guardians sent with them to supplement their forces. Gunner was a very wanted Strigoi, he was a talented fighter and his mother had created one of the largest armies of strigoi seen since the attack on Academy and the nest found shortly after all those years ago. It was a concern now that Gunner may be following in his mother's footsteps, creating yet another Strigoi nest but they could find no proof. The man was like a ghost, much as his mother had been.

In the meantime, Sebastian was also feeling torn. He wanted to be able to demand that Anna let him know the instant she found Gunner so he could help her bring him home but on the other hand he had a baby on the way and he had an obligation to them too. He kept these feelings from Serena, he said nothing about going after Gunner. He didn't need her feeling like she was making him choose. However, he rarely slept well lately... disturbing dreams he could never quite remember seemed to stick with him the moment he closed his eyes.

As for his family, they weren't making things any easier. They were pushing and pushing and pushing for him to have another Guardian and though Seb and Serena had both agreed they wanted another Guardian taking over they didn't want his parents influencing their choice. Finally, however, the Queen seemed to give way... She agreed that with the rising Strigoi threat, Sebastian needed a Guardian to protect him and his family. So, she'd sent a Dhampir Guardian named Airen Hugh to watch over them. Airen seemed easy going and trust worthy enough... She stayed out of the way and even seemed willing to help Serena with things now that certain activities were becoming difficult.

His family backed off on the Guardian thing but picked right back up on their vocal disapproval of 'illegitimate' 'mongrel' children. The first time his father had slipped and called his unborn child a 'mongrel' was also the last time. Sebastian lost his temper, lost his control, and used the training Serena had given him to slug his father hard enough that it had broken his nose. That was the last he'd heard of the name calling but they'd moved right along to picking at his choice to marry Serena. According to his mother it was all well and good for a Moroi Prince to have his fun with Dhampirs, even to occasionally produce possible future Guardians, it wasn't however... appropriate for them to marry their 'fun'. Also, his mother having scented blood in the water when she'd last spoken to Serena about the attack on her friends, had made it a point to bring up how miserable Anna looked and how it was a shame that her 'dhampir' friends weren't helping her...

Seb ran a hand through his hair, the ceremony was only three days away... the Queen had postponed it several times because of the happenings and Sebastian's own mental state. However, now people were beginning to raise questions... prying questions, and the Queen thought it best to silence them by getting things over with. Seb was feeling the stress. He'd never wanted the title, but now he'd be taking it anyway. He glanced at Serena, "Are you alright?"

The Ties that Bind

Sebastian gritted his teeth, trying to keep his cool. He understood where Serena was coming from, he really did, but if he stayed he was GOING to heal her. He couldn't help it. His jaw worked as he kept completely silent and worked on just breathing for a moment before he finally stood. He could tell her he couldn't be here all he wanted. He could tell her that if he healed her the darkness would bleed on them both but if he didn't he was GOING to have a serious breakdown in about five minutes. His hands shook as he rung out a cloth and dabbed at Anna's wound but it only made it worse... Seeing the damage this close made his palms tingle and his mind daze. He took a few steps back, shaking his head.

He walked out and when he came back he had the nurse with him, "She wakes up and you call us... immediately."

The nurse blinked, flustered, but seemed to soften when she saw Sebastian's hands shaking. "We'll call you as soon as she wakes."

Seb looked at Serena, his eyes apologetic, "I can't... and you can't be alone. So we both have to leave."

He didn't leave any room for argument, he didn't stay TO argue. He left the curtained area and then left the room. His hand already drawing out a cigarette and his mind racing... He felt ill. He knew he'd been harsh with Serena but as much as she usually understood, she'd never understand his overwhelming need to FIX things... it was what spirit made him do... It wasn't a choice when it was someone so close to him. It was instinct and he could fight it all he wanted. If he healed her, darkness... if he didn't... serious breakdown... and either way Serena would have been caught in the crossfire.

He felt like he'd just chosen between his best friend and his love and it made him feel like shit either way... He ran a hand down his face and struggled to calm down.