Andreas lay deep within turbulent dreams. In his unnatural sleep, he followed disjointed and disturbing paths; his painful turning in slime-encrusted tunnels replayed brutally, and in horrible contrast, the sweet vision of his nameless bellezza and her full lips upon the now-shattered wineglass. Lovely Anansi and her dark warning to be careful, my handsome friend, whispered repeatedly until the words became an ominous chant; he saw Suri's desperate plea for her bestial lover in the deep chamber before the council, and strangely, his own word to the human, Vivian'forget'�.

Forget'�.

The sun had set. He could feel that the stinging rays were gone for another night. He rose and went about his routine, although the sticky snare of the dream clung as closely as cobweb. Once dressed, however, he was reluctant to leave his loft; he stood at the enormous bank of windows and contemplated the sprawling city outside, unable to spur himself into action. Just as his torpor had broken and he was prepared to turn from the window, he caught sight of movement in the street below. Three men, vampires all, strode purposefully toward the building and entered the lobby. Moments later, the elevator hummed to life and a demanding thumping sounded outside his door. When he opened it, he found grim expressions on the faces in the hallway. Yin, his opposite from the conflict over Suri and her rogue lover stood in the forefront; Kassian and Ivor, bruisers and enforcers of the council were a step behind him, a brutish force of three. Uneasily Andreas invited them in and became even further disturbed when Yin refused his hospitality.

'I apologize for this intrusion, Andreas,'� he said crisply, and he sounded anything but sorry. 'I must ask for your presence in the council chamber immediately.'� He dropped his fierce mask for an instant and he met Andreas' gaze almost sympathetically. 'Please come with us, Andreas.'�

'What is this about, Yin?'� Andreas addressed the hulking Mongol directly, trying to ignore the brute menace behind him.

Yin only dropped his gaze away and shook his head. 'I cannot say, only that you must come.'� Deliberately, Andreas took his long black coat and shrugged his tall frame into it. He would not allow this rabble to rush him, and he could not permit implied threats to break his composure. He let his mind wander over reasons that the council would call him to speak, and he was still puzzled when he was ushered into the subterranean chamber, gothic and dim, to stand before the tribunal. In the front and center audience tier, both Anansi and Baracas waited. Jaelle sat with Baracas, her conversion complete; the unhealthy gray was gone from her, and her dark skin seemed preternaturally smooth, like the curving grain of deeply polished wood. As she turned her head to watch him, he heard the tinkle of her long, dangling earrings. Anansi's face was composed, only a small line between her eyes betrayed any emotion, and that unreadable. Baracas, to his relief was openly angry'his huge hands were tense, the muscles in his arms taut, his mouth set in an unpleasant line.

The council bench was carved directly from the stone of the surrounding walls; five austere seats occupied by ancients of varying decent and experience. The only common factor between them was the protection of the vampire purpose, and willingness to use any means to assure the survival of the members of that dark society. Andreas faced them often enough to be acquainted with personal quirks and individual viewpoints. Bhanu, named for his lost sun, and consort of kind and gentle Kaisra; Osei, a gruff tribal leader from Africa, he often withheld his opinion until the very last moment, wanting nothing and no one to cloud his judgment. They presided from the center, reading the faces of those brought to council shrewdly and skillfully. To the left of Osei was Audney, tall and as blonde as a Norse Valkyrie, and as dispassionate. It was rumored that her hunger was voracious, and that hordes of humans had fallen to soothe it. Lucan, bearded and good-natured, was the only councilmember standing, and he met Andreas' gaze bleakly, adding to Andreas' sense of foreboding. The hall was eerily quiet; there was no fidgeting or rustling among the watchers. The chamber was equipped to seat hundreds, and yet few attended this meeting. Yin and the two thugs with him hung back, allowing Andreas to stand alone before the council. He stood composed and straight, piercing gray eyes upon the wall behind the council members and his face calm. Lucan took his seat, avoiding Andreas' eyes and Andreas felt unease settle lower in his gut. When the members of the council were seated, Aemaelia entered the chamber, her potentissimo, power and authority, apparent in their deference.

'Andreas Regali,'� Audney began, her icy, clear irises focused sharply on him. 'It has come to our attention that you have gained the dubious pleasure of a stalker.'�

'Your interaction with a human a few nights ago was observed by a young woman,'� Osei added, his voice as dry as winter breath. 'And she was with you last night, yet was allowed to retain her memory and her life without submitting to a blood oath."

In spite of his unease, Andreas felt more frustration than guilt. Before he could begin to question the origins of the accusation, Osei went on. Andreas felt an insinuating apprehension trickle over his skin.

'While you have come before this council many times in favor of change and to argue for exceptions to the rule, you have never gone against convention yourself. Others have sought admission of friends and lovers into the society we maintain, and yet you do not use your power to convert others. You have few ties, but those close to you are loyal to a degree that is somewhat unseemly.'� As he spoke, Osei turned his stern and hawkish gaze to look directly beyond Andreas' right shoulder. His words were directed to Baracas and Anansi, he knew, and while he was concerned for their favor with the council, he was relieved that his friends were resolute.

'Normally you would be allowed to be heard, to give an accounting before this council,'� Audney took up, her icy voice crackling like an ice flow along a winter-gray river, yet she was smug as well; the smallest hint of self-righteous glee coloring her words, 'but there is little room for argument."

A whisper ran through the few that attended. The council rarely disallowed commentary or defense. He looked quickly to Aemaelia, but her face was impassive, not an inkling of her thoughts flickered in her eyes. She stood, and the ripple of sound that had begun in the hall ceased.

'This transgression is serious and this woman must be found. She is beyond memory modification at this point, as you well know, and so your choices in this matter are but two: she must be converted or killed outright. So too, must any human she has told of your nature. If this situation extends beyond this girl, the council must be informed immediately in order to affect damage control.'� Aemaelia paused, her youthful face cold as stone. 'You may make the choice of her conversion to vampirism or her sentence of death once she is found, though normally her conversion would be a council matter. You have been forthcoming and trustworthy, and we await your report upon the resolution of this matter.'�

The five stood as one, not a single council member meeting his gaze or showing an iota of emotion as they exited. Many times, whether his cause was won or lost, Lucan or Osei would pause to converse with him; both had argued literature, history, and politics with him socially. In the night previous, Kaisra had greeted him with affection, and her husband Bhanu had addressed him with respect before now. Yet the chamber was silent and tension made the air thick in their wake. Andreas turned at once to consult Anansi and Baracas.

Anansi glided forward, her normally cheerful demeanor absent and concern in her black eyes. Her simple dress flowed as she moved, making her steps fluid. Baracas in contrast hulked angrily, his fists still clenched, the muscles of his arms bulging dangerously. Andreas said nothing, his first intent to give Anansi a chance to speak. She was the only one who was aware of the girl in his company last night. If the council was so sure of her existence, the source was surely Anansi.

'I swear it was not I, Andreas,'� she said quietly, her dark gaze steady and intense. She did not elaborate, aware of Baracas and Jaelle beside her, and her unwillingness to say anything before them re-enforced his confidence that the council had arrived at their decision without her help.

'What sort of person is this, Andreas?'� Baracas growled. 'Your own rules have prevented this sort of misstep in the past. You have argued for stringent prevention of human knowledge of vampiric nature.'�

Andreas shook his head, angry himself.
'Find her,'� Baracas seemed to get a hold on his accusatory tone. 'Jaelle must feed soon, friend, else I would scour the city myself. We will await news. Bring the lady with you, if you prefer,'� His last words were tainted with an ironic lilt. Andreas knew that Baracas would indeed enjoy venting his frustration on this troublesome female.

'No.'� Andreas put his hand up, stopping the banter. 'I will take care of her.'� Baracas shrugged.

"Settle this, Andreas." He slipped an enormous hand around Jaelle's tiny waist and they turned to leave.

'Where will you start?'� Anansi's voice remained grave. She saw no humor in the situation. Her normally mischievous grin was gone, and some of her beauty with it. Andreas had never seen such concern. He remembered her grave words at the gallery, and had that trickle of disquiet on his skin, washing over him. As he had with Aemaelia, he calmed his expression, refusing outward signs of his unease. He managed a smile. Kissing her palm, he left her standing alone in the amphitheater.

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