Collette laid out her clothes and had an overnight bag packed with everything she would need the next day. Two garment bags were hanging on the hook of the dressing room, and Katherine guessed one was the ballgown. She wondered about the second bag. She dressed and walked over to unzip each bag and peek in. One did indeed have the ballgown, but the other bag held a long black gown with the Vanderau crest embroidered on the chest with silver threads and gryphon in silver and green there was a sparkling red jewel at the eye. It was a near match to the family ring she wore. Hanging in with the gown was a highly ornate belt with an empty scabbard that would hold --- the thought froze in her mind – a blade!
She closed the bag and went out to Collette who brushed and fixed her hair in a soft coil at her neck. Katherine went to her bedside stand and pulled open the top drawer. She took the ring box out and opened it. In the black velvet fold was the Vanderau family ring. The emerald eye winked up at her. She slipped it on her right index finger and turned to Collette. The young woman hugged her tightly. "Good luck tomorrow, madame!"
"Thank you, Collette." Katherine returned the hug and the young woman rushed out of the room nearly colliding with Vanderau.
"Did I miss something?" he drawled, watching Collette's quickly vanishing figure. Katherine came to the door where he leaned against the door jam.
"I think she's a little nervous for me," Katherine replied. She looked at him appraisingly, "You clean up pretty good!"
"So do you," he murmured, leaning in to kiss her mouth, "But I rather like you covered in mud too."
She clucked her tongue at him in mock disapproval and he chuckled and offered his arm. They strolled across the second floor to the door that would take them up the back stairs to his suite. They entered and were met by Mrs. Tremeur. She dipped a little curtsey and Vanderau nodded.
Sauvageon was already ensconced in his chair by the fire. Katherine went to him and took his extended hands in hers. "Pierre, how are you feeling?"
"I am well, Katherine," Sauvageon answered, "You have good color, both of you."
"The great outdoors!" Vanderau cheered.
They sat down to dinner. Mrs. Tremeur had fixed a delicious stew with vegetables and yeast rolls. Katherine had a good appetite. They relaxed with glasses of wine. Sauvageon turned to Katherine. "This is a good time to tell you about the proceedings, Katherine." He glanced at Vanderau, "They will be foreign to both of you."
"How so?"
"As a potential, you will be sequestered, like the old days." He glanced at Vanderau. "I spoke with the Chamberlain earlier to get the particulars. He requests sequestration to establish that all the potentials are unmolested until the testing."
"I thought he might be severe," Vanderau said quietly. He looked over at Katherine who was not revealing anything she was feeling. "You will be separated from everyone, to prepare yourself for testing. In the old days, it was much like a knight preparing spiritually."
"I understand," Katherine said. "When will the testing begin?"
"It will begin at sunrise," Sauvageon replied. "Which begins the Equinox. Usually, the testing is just before the noon hour, but again the Chamberlain has returned to the old ways."
"Why do you think he's doing it this way?" Katherine asked.
"To evoke a more ritualistic and mystical testing," Vanderau said. "With so much at stake, he is doing all he can to maintain the balance between the families."
"Rares and Makarov destroyed that!" Sauvageon growled. "I would not let either of them into the testing!"
"I think we're way past trying to fix that," Katherine said. "Everyone should be present, to witness in person and pay proper respect to the head of the Seven."
"Agreed," Vanderau replied. "So, we will do as the Chamberlain requests." He looked at Sauvageon, "Do we still travel together to the Oculus?"
"We do," Sauvageon replied. "Vincent and his father, Martine will be responsible for our safety and be present with the other Indago at the testing."
"Vincent and his father have our backs," Vanderau told Katherine with a smile, but his eyes smoldered as he spoke. "The Ring of Huntsmen in the old days were the knights that protected the members of the Sept."
Mrs. Tremeur came to stand at the door of the dining room, "The car just arrived, Dominus."
Vanderau pushed up from his chair, "Thank you Mrs. Tremeur. Has the luggage been brought down?"
"Yes, sir." Answered Mrs. Tremeur.
Once downstairs, Vanderau, Katherine, and Sauvageon waited inside the entrance hall. The vehicle they were to ride in looked like it came from the Secret Service fleet. The windows were dark, and Katherine could only make out the driver. Two security men loaded the luggage in the very back of the SUV. Vincent observed the entire operation with a close eye. He was dressed in a dark high-tabbed collar uniform. He wore an odd device on the right side of his uniform jacket. Nicklaus leaned over, "It's the order of the Huntsmen."
"And it looks like he's wearing a lethal-looking hunting knife too," Katherine observed. "Part of the role of Indago?"
"Indeed," Sauvageon answered. "No one in or out of the Oculus is permitted to carry weapons, except the Indago. It has been out-of-fashion for some time to wear the Huntsmen uniform, but the image is everything, according to the Chamberlain."
The security guards saluted Vincent and he returned a sharp incline of his head. He went to the passenger side of the vehicle and opened the doors. He then came up the steps and opened the door. He lowered his head in salute to Vanderau, "Your will, Dominus."
Vanderau returned the salute. "We are ready."
Vincent turned to Sauvageon, "Master Sauvageon, you will ride up front with my father."
Sauvageon nodded and Vincent helped the old gladio down the steps and into the car. Vincent handed the seatbelt to the gladio and closed the door. Katherine recognized the courtesy and smiled. Vincent returned, "Dominus, you and Katherine will sit in the left seats, I will be facing you on the right. You both need to move quickly into the car."
Vanderau nodded and glanced at Katherine, "Like a mad dash through the rain."
Katherine smiled and on the silent count of three, Vanderau and she quickly descended the steps and hopped into the back of the SUV with Vincent one step behind them. He closed and secured the doors. He watched as Katherine snapped her seatbelt into place and Vanderau locked his seatbelt in place before knocking on the dividing window behind Martine's head.
The SUV pulled out and was off. Dusk was falling as they reached the main road. Katherine felt suddenly conflicted, almost the same way she had arrived at the Sun Maiden manor two weeks ago! It felt like a lifetime ago, but only two weeks had passed, and she was embarking on the greatest adventure of her life. She looked over at Vincent and he met her eyes and smiled. "How is your French coming along?"
"Just fine, immersion is the key to remembering – that and two excellent tutors," Katherine replied.
Vincent's brows raised in surprise, "Your accent is flawless! I would never know you were an American."
Katherine laughed lightly and the mood in the car lightened significantly. Vanderau let it wash over him. It was like being submerged in champagne only more intoxicating!
They did not speak much on the drive. They did not stop, and Martine navigated the twists and turns of the roads expertly. They traveled at a high rate of speed, but the sturdiness of the SUV and the capable driver made it a comfortable ride.
They got to Geneva and Martine raised the inner shields in the back windows and side door panels. Another shield rose behind Vincent's head. Katherine looked around anxiously and was thankful when the floor lights began to cast a light in the secure cabin. "For your protection and to protect the precise location of the Oculus," Vincent told her. "Once installed, you will know the location."
The sound changed and Katherine could feel that they were heading down. Possibly a lower-level parking garage. The SUV slowed and came to a stop. The inner door panels and shields lowered, and Katherine looked out. All she could see was that they were in an underground parking garage. Martine unlocked the doors and Vincent was out and standing at the open car doors. Katherine unfastened her seatbelt, but Vanderau kept her from getting out of the car. "Wait here for a moment, mon coeur. Other guards coming."
From the stairs carved out of the yellow stone that comprised the lower level of the building where they were parked, men dressed in similar uniforms to Vincent came, unpacked the luggage, and assembled around the SUV. Martine opened the back driver's side and Vanderau stepped out. He greeted Martine with a warm hug and the elder Thys returned the embrace. They spoke a language that Katherine could not determine the origin of. Vanderau went around the front of the SUV with Martine and Vanderau helped Sauvageon out of the passenger side. Martine greeted the old gladio formally, even though they had ridden together up front. Vincent directed the men with the luggage to go ahead of them and then he reached in to assist Katherine from the SUV.
A heavy wooden panel door opened and a cherubic man in a scarlet tabbed collar and grey uniform stepped out. He came and greeted Vanderau with a courteous bow. "Good evening Dominus, I trust your trip was uneventful."
"Indeed, it was, Chamberlain," Vanderau answered, he then turned to Katherine, "Katherine this is Jan Huyghs, Chamberlain of the Oculus." He looked to the Chamberlain, "May I present the Vanderau Potential, Katherine Elena Van Dermeer."
"A pleasure to meet you, Lord Chamberlain," Katherine answered and extended her hand in greeting.
Jan Huyghs took her hand briefly in both of his, "The pleasure is mine, Ms. Van Dermeer. Welcome to the Oculus."
"Thank you." Katherine returned. "Please call me Katherine."
The Chamberlain stepped to one side, "Katherine, let's see you settled. We'll take the elevator," he looked to Martine and Vincent, "You will proceed with us. Dominus and Sauvageon will be behind with the escort taking up the rear."
Vincent and his father moved down the hallway with everyone falling into place behind them. When they reached the elevator the Chamberlain and Katherine stepped in with Sauvageon and Vanderau behind them. Martine and Vincent stepped into the elevator, and the two additional guards turned and took up guard at the elevator.
They rode up two or three stories and the elevator doors opened. Martine and Vincent stepped out and the Chamberlain led them all a few steps away. He turned to Vanderau and Sauvageon. "Here is where we all part company until tomorrow one hour before sunrise – which I understand is 5:46 a.m." He looked to Katherine, "Your sequestration begins now, Katherine. You will be summoned anytime between 6:00 am and 8:00 am."
"I understand," Katherine said. She looked over at Vanderau and met his worried look. The Chamberlain caught the intense look between them and directed a patient, but firm look at Vanderau.
"Because circumstances have altered, we might chafe at what appears to be medieval to previous searches and testing, it is being enforced for particular reasons."
Vanderau glowered at the Chamberlain. "Not by my doing, Lord Chamberlain!" he growled.
Unfazed, the Chamberlain continued, "Protocol will be adhered to, and the severity of these procedures are precisely for your protection Dominus, and that of your Potential. Do you agree?"
"Yes," Vanderau hissed irritably, "I agree. But I do not like it at all!" He looked at Katherine and his gaze softened. "It is only for a short time, mon coeur. I will see you in the morning."
She nodded. She did not trust that her voice would not break with anxiety and emotion. Instead, she smiled bravely, stepped away, and turned to join Martine and Vincent. The Chamberlain bowed to Vanderau, "Good evening, Dominus."
Vanderau gave a curt nod at the Chamberlain and watched Katherine disappear down the corridor of the eastern wing of the complex. Sauvageon clapped Vanderau on the shoulder, "Come on Nicklaus, you need your rest as much as Katherine does. Tomorrow is the big day!"
Katherine followed Martine and Vincent down the corridor with the Chamberlain close behind. They reached a heavy wooden door to the left side of the corridor. The Chamberlain took a heavy skeleton key from his vest pocket and opened the door. He allowed Vincent to enter and make sure everything was secure. He flipped on the overhead lights and checked the luggage and the garment bags. He came out. "All is secure."
The Chamberlain handed the iron key to Katherine. "When you enter, lock yourself inside. There is a hook to the left of the door where you can hang the key. Only you can unlock the door from your side anytime. Martine and Vincent will be on the watch. Since this is a time of reflection and meditation, I have delivered to your room several histories of the Sept to which you belong. Sauvageon suggested these histories would be of particular interest to you. I hope you have a good evening. We will see you in the morning."
Katherine took the key and entered the room. "Good night, Lord Chamberlain, Master Martine, Vincent." She closed the door and locked it. As she hung the key on the hook, she turned to get the first look at her quarters.
It looked like a hotel room, comfortable but non-descript. She had a bathroom, a bedroom, a small desk and chair with an overstuffed chair and footstool. There was a Persian carpet in the bedroom and a reading lamp. Beyond the essentials, there was no telephone or television. So, she unpacked her travel bag and found the toiletries Collette had packed for her. She took the ring box from her pocket, set it on the bedside table, and placed the family ring in its cushioned fold. She gathered up her nightclothes and slippers and went to shower.
When she emerged, she opened the garment bags to look at what she would wear during the testing. It was a long black gown with the ornate Vanderau crest worked in silver threads. The jewel in the gryphon's eye was indeed an emerald cabochon. It glimmered balefully at her. The pearls and other stones used created the Vanderau crest as a family device that identified her as belonging to the family of Vanderau. The belt was made of black leather and was highly embellished with silver brads and toolwork on the sword scabbard. She put it on over her pajamas, buckled it, and rested the belt at her hips. She had to go into the bathroom to look at herself. She laughed at how ridiculous she looked with such an ornate and old-world device hanging around her hips in her pink pajamas! Katherine wondered if the empty scabbard was symbolic, or if she would carry a real blade at some point. She took the shoes out of the garment bag and looked them over, they were soft leather ballet slippers with black ribbons that laced around the ankles.
She unzipped the garment bag holding her ballgown and found a heavily embellished shift with seed pearls and twinkling translucent glass beads sewn into the ornate Battenberg lace. It was exquisite and looked to be antique. She wondered whose gown it had been. She put everything back in the bags she would be wearing tomorrow and left them unzipped for easy access in the morning. She looked over the volumes the Chamberlain had brought to look through. One caught her attention, and she took it with her and crawled into bed. She opened the volume and began reading, she had not expected to fall asleep so fast, but she did and did not stir until she heard knocking at the door.
Katherine woke with a start with the heavy book lying on her chest. The next rap on her door was louder and she jumped up and went to the door and unlocked it. She opened it a crack. It was Vincent. He smiled at her through the narrow space of the door, "Just as I remember you from Georgia!"
She pulled the door open wider and grinned up at him. "Only this time I'm not going to threaten you with arrest."
He chuckled good-naturedly and then sobered. "It's time to get ready. No breakfast until after. I believe they allow water, but nothing else."
"All right," Katherine replied. "Have you heard anything from the Dominus?"
"Nothing this morning," Vincent replied. "He was prowling the halls until very late in the evening. When Father and I switched standing watch, I ran into him."
"He should have been in his room," Katherine said. "I guess he had a lot on his mind."
"Yes," Vincent murmured. "Get ready, Katherine. I will see you again when the summons comes."
She nodded and closed the door. She took a quick shower and applied very little makeup but added a bit of mascara and some lip stain. She took the gown off the padded hanger and slipped it over her head. The bodice laced up in the front and she cinched it in enough to nip at her waist, but she made sure she could move around in the gown. She put on the slippers and laced them up and tied them at the back in a neat bow. She slipped her family ring on, pinched her cheeks for color, sat on the end of the bed, and waited.
There was no clock in the room and no windows so Katherine could not make out how much time had passed. Then there was a sharp rap on her door. She jumped at the sound, and she hurried to the door and unlocked it. She opened it wide, and the Chamberlain greeted her. "Good morning Katherine. It is time."
She gave him the key and stepped out into the hall. Nerves made her mouth dry up and her heart began to speed up. This was it! She would be facing everyone in the Oculus! Enemies and allies would be there to apply pressure on her to select them. She knew she would seek Vanderau, she only hoped that he could overcome them and reach her!
The Chamberlain walked silently beside her. As they reached the end of the hallway they walked past the elevators to stand at the top of a wide staircase that descended to tall brass paneled doors. Two guards stood with lances crossed and lining the staircase were all the Huntsmen. Vincent and Martine began the descent with Katherine and the Chamberlain one step behind.
The Indago formed a line of two men abreast with Martine and Vincent bringing up the rear. The lancers kept their spears crossed and the Chamberlain turned to Katherine. "The Indago will proceed you through the hall. Then you will walk to the end of the hall and stop at the doors. Martine and Vincent will be right behind you."
"And you?" Katherine asked.
"I will be here waiting." The Chamberlain said. "When the doors open, walk straight ahead, and stop in the center of the Oculus. Martine and Vincent will stop briefly to either side then move to take up their guard behind the Dominus and Sauvageon. You will not see anyone at first but let your eyes adjust. There may be questions, or they may begin testing you. If Sauvageon did his job, and I know he did; you will know what to do and how to respond."
"Thank you, Lord Chamberlain," Katherine whispered.
The Chamberlain nodded. The lancers reached for the door rings and uncrossed their lances, the spear blades striking lightly together making the steel sing, one octave above middle C, Katherine heard the music in the blades. The Indago marched through, pausing at the doors of the Oculus as they opened to admit them. The doors closed and Katherine stepped up and passed the lancers to begin her walk down the hallway to the doors at the other end. She did not look back, she knew that Martine and Vincent were behind her. She stopped at the end of the hall and waited.
The doors whispered open, and two lancers stood holding each door open. Faint sunlight filtered through the open eye of the dome. The high dome was painted a deep sky-blue color. Some whispers coursed around the room. She squared her shoulders, lifted her head, and walked straight to the center of the Oculus. She looked down and the dream she had been having for a year or more became reality! She knew almost immediately, there would be no questions but a direct assault on her psyche!
Katherine let her vision acclimate to the gloom of the domed room. The seven families were arranged at tables with two additional members seated at each table for a total of twenty-one – the same number of Indago were present in the room arranged around the back wall of the room. Then one by one the middle-seated Sept member rose and announced his or her name to her.
Vanderau rose and stepped around to stand on the outer ring of the mosaic floor. "I am Nicklaus Alexander Vanderau, Dominus of the Septum Noblium Familarum."
The woman to Vanderau's right rose and came to stand in the outer ring, "I am Claudette Priam, second lieutenant of the Septum Noblium Familarum."
To the left a man who used a cane to aid him came and stood in the outer ring, "I am Frederic Gaillez, Septum Noblium Familarum."
"Jean-Luc Rares, Septum Noblium Familarum"
"I am Gallego Makarov, Septum Noblium Familarum." Katherine heard the challenge in his voice and could feel the power flowing off his body. He was stronger than the others and he did not keep tight control as the others were doing.
Next to enter the outer ring was a man in his mid-forties. "I am Rupert Swartz-Bahn, Septum Noblium Familarum."
The last to join the outer ring was a tall distinguished British man. He bowed, "Gentle lady, I am Jonathan Hennigan-Orden, Septum Noblium Familarum."
Katherine surveyed them all where she stood. Then Vincent and Martine left her side and took up position behind Vanderau and Sauvageon. Then it began!
They all stood around her, not moving then there was a soft murmuring incantation that each one of the family members began to repeat over and over. From every position around her, power tethers began to form and spiral outward. Each one was different and unique in design and color. They were faint at first then began to pulse with power as they continued to repeat the incantation. Then Rares, Makarov, and Gaillez's tethers grew brighter and began to snake out toward Katherine. The power tethers slithered around her wrists and the fourth from Hennigan-Orden.
Each one had was different composition and feeling. Makarov and Rares were the strongest. Each strengthened their barrage from either side. Katherine absorbed the light and felt a sudden and intense giddy power that began at the top of her head and ran like ice water down to her feet. Then Swartz-Bahn and Priam's tether coiled around each wrist, and she was held in place by six of the Sept.
"Come on boy!" Makarov taunted Vanderau, "Let's see what you have!"
Vanderau whispered the incantation and his bright power tether began to take form as it headed toward Katherine. Bound as she was by the three power tethers around each wrist and forearm, she began to exert her powers. They gasped as they felt her siphon off some of their energies and began to move her outstretched arms inward toward her body. She could see how each tether was different. She had been standing at the center of the great sun, but she squared her shoulders and positioned her feet apart and her right foot slightly in front but planted firmly in the circle of the tiled sun design. Very slowly she began bringing her hands together. She caught and took hold of Vanderau's tether in both her hands. She hung onto it like a life rope, and it split and began to wind around to join the tethers that encircled her wrists and forearms. More pressure was exerted to break her grip on Vanderau's tether.
Katherine felt tremendous power and just like in her dream she absorbed the light and felt powerful beyond belief! She looked down at her wrists and began twisting and weaving the tethers together around Vanderau's own sparkling power tether.
Seeing what she was trying to do, Rares and Makarov began to see they needed additional help and looked to their family members behind them. Katherine now held one thick tether in her hands with Vanderau's tether at the core. The six could not disengage without losing their connection with Katherine and were forced to watch as she began to fuse the tethers into one glittering rope of light.
It was unexpected for most in the room, but Sauvageon began to smile. She was truly the most powerful natural potential he had ever seen or read about! Makarov glared and turned to his family members, "Lend me your strength!" The two men at Makarov's table spun their tethers to Makarov and he laughed, "I will have you yet!"
"To me!" shouted Rares to his family members.
The other family members began to yield their power to their Sept member, but none grew significantly stronger. Katherine began to sweat as their combined tethers began to grow stronger as the members of the Sept grew more confident.
Makarov began a different incantation and then he looked to Priam and Swartz-Bahn, "To me!"
This jolted through Katherine, and she cried out as the assault began in earnest. She could feel the cruelty in Makarov as he continued to slam against her, trying to break her down. With Priam and Swarts-Bahn combined with his family, Makarov was gaining. He was in her head, "Still think you will make me bow? I will never bend a knee to the likes of you or Vanderau!"
Rares managed to hold his own, but he called to the remaining families to join him, and then he looked to Sauvageon who still had not been called to aid Vanderau. Sauvageon was waiting. Then Vanderau made his move and he pressed further against the combined tethers of the other families, he could feel them yield to his strength. Then something happened. Rares shouted out, "Sauvageon, you bastard! To me!"
Vanderau turned and looked at the old gladio. "No!"
Sauvageon slowly rose and he released the Drake. Like a volcanic spiraling flow of lava, he sent his tether not to Rares or Vanderau, but straight to Katherine! The dark coils circled her feet and as they rose, the image of the man from her dreams appeared. "The Drake is yours, Katherine! It is my gift to you! Take it!"
The power of the Drake spiraled up and the immense power filled her. Then the sunlight pierced through the eye of the Oculus and Katherine began to fuse the power tethers together. She glanced up and the dark molten tether of the Drake spun around her like a fiery tornado! "Thank you, Pierre," Katherine whispered. With a single massive jerk, she snapped the power tethers from them, including Vanderau and they began to wrap into a rope of glittering opals with bright white cores she lifted her arm over her head, and the liquid white fire formed into a blade. The intensity of the cores coming together drove her to her knees, but she held the blade of light aloft.
Sauvageon sank into his chair and watched as the form of a giant with colossal white wings appeared behind Katherine. It bent down, Katherine rose to her feet, and the form stepped into her human body. Now the blade was condensed into a bright shining column of power. Katherine then lowered the blade and pointed it at Vanderau. A blue-white power tether shot out and Vanderau cried out as the power core came to him and slammed into his solar plexus, filling him with the same sunlight as was flowing from Katherine.
"I am the power and the glory of the light!" Katherine said, her eyes fastened on Vanderau, "We shall be as one, I am your blade!"
With that, the light around her grew in intensity and strength. It became a bright silver sword that she grasped in her right hand. It seemed to sing with low harmonics. Katherine let it flow through her and around her. It was so powerful and incredible that she felt invincible! She turned slowly to each of the stunned families. To Makarov she pointed the end of her blade at him, her blue eyes still burning with the cold frosty light of the entity within her, "You will kneel to the might of your Dominus!"
Immediately everyone including Makarov went down to one knee. Vanderau could barely breathe! He felt the power of his blade throughout his body and mind. He moved out to join Katherine in the center of the Oculus.
Katherine turned to her Dominus and turned the hilt to him. "Your will Dominus!"
He took the sword and sheathed it in the scabbard at her hip. "It is done!"
Katherine looked to the still and grey form of Sauvageon, he was gone but the Drake lived in her now. His final gift to her and the Vanderau family. Martine touched his fingers to the old Gladio's neck, he looked up and shook his head. "He is gone, Dominus."
"He's not gone," Katherine said, touching her heart and laying a hand on Vanderau's chest, "He lives on in here."
Vanderau looked to each of the members in the Oculus, "I will not seek retribution on those who tried to injure me and cause harm to my gladio! But I will not hesitate if I hear of treachery and collusion of family members against me for as long as I remain Dominus! If you have any doubts about your ability to follow my rule, let me know now and it will be dealt with, and you will be expelled, and new members will be selected! Go now and think on it – the Chamberlain will hear your petitions."
The room was filled with murmurs as they all began to file out. Katherine felt wonderful! The power that flowed through her was like being shot from a cannon into the stars! She felt powerful. Stronger than anyone in the room, including Vanderau. But she was his blade now, and she would be his until the end of time.
"Katherine, it is over, mon coeur!"
The light in Katherine flared suddenly and she found she was reluctant to let go of the surging power that flowed through her veins! She could fly away if she wanted to! Then an odd presence came to her, the Drake! "Katherine! Katherine, let it go – we will be here when you need us!"
"We?" She spoke aloud and Vanderau tried to reach her again.
"Katherine! Katherine, please!" Vanderau pleaded.
Martine signaled for his men to exit quickly through the doors. Something was not as it should be. Vincent came closer, now that Katherine was gladio, his duties were now transferred back to Vanderau. It was Martine who caught his arm. "No, son! The Dominus must temper his blade! You can do nothing. Help me with Sauvageon."
The two of them lifted the limp body of the old gladio and they carried him out. Once inside the hallway leading out of the Oculus, the Chamberlain was waiting with a gurney and two security guards. "We will take him." The Chamberlain said, "You must remain here outside the Oculus until the Dominus has tempered his blade."
It's been quite a long time! Now that I have more chapters to share, we will begin moving into more 'adult' scenes between Nicklaus and Katherine. Hope you'll stick around! Thank you - please return for more.
Paragraph comment
Paragraph comment feature is now on the Web! Move mouse over any paragraph and click the icon to add your comment.
Also, you can always turn it off/on in Settings.
GOT IT