Katya sat on a bench overlooking the canal as she slowly turned her hand underneath a ray of sunlight shining through the canopy of trees above, her index finger adorned with a dark silvery ring with red symbols.

“I had forgotten how nice the sun’s warmth feels.” Katya said wistfully.

“Ma’am, are you sure this was necessary?” Silas asked, standing behind the bench.

“It’s important to end things appropriately, relationships most of all.” Katya explained as she took a handful of seeds and threw them to the flock of waiting birds, keeping a respectful distance out of instinctual fear.

Silas raised a hand to his ear as his expression turned serious.

“They’ve just arrived and are approaching from the east end.” Silas reported succinctly.

A couple of minutes later, two men approached the bench, one taking a position beside Silas while the other sat down next to Katya with a heavy sigh.

“Boy, what a damned mess.” Pierce said with a disapproving shake of his head.

James Pierce was a portly dark-skinned man at the end of his fifties, his years of sitting behind a desk had given his once muscled and wide shouldered build a more rounded appearance, although anyone underestimating him even today were in for a big surprise as the man was still certified for fieldwork, something which had surprised even Katya when Clan Eve had intercepted the personnel file containing said information.

Katya also noted how he wore what had to be an extremely expensive anti-compulsion talisman.

“How long have we known each other, Katya?” Pierce asked.

“Forty years, give or take,” Katya replied with a warm smile.

“Forty years, huh? I’m getting too old for this.” Pierce said rubbing a hand over his face.

“Oh, I don’t know. You still look as young and spry to me as the day we met.” Katya teased playfully.

“How old are you again?” Pierce shot back with a raised eyebrow.

“What a rude question. A man should never question a woman’s age.” Katya gasped, feigning a dignified tone.

Years ago, they had started out as adversaries with an uneasy truce, but slowly through the years, a bond had formed and today they considered each other close friends. Something that would be obvious to anyone seeing the two sharing stories and laughs for almost an hour while looking out over the canal.

But all good things have to end, and they both knew this would likely be their last time seeing each other.

“I’m a granddad now, by the way.” James said with a proud smile.

“Congratulations! Chris or Stacy?” Katya asked cheerfully

“Stacy. Chris has been living the life of a musician.” James’ face twisted slightly as if the word itself soured in his mouth.

“Oh, stop it. He needs to find his own way as well.” Katya reprimanded with a light tap on James’ shoulder.

The conversation finally ebbed out as the two sat silently.

“I can hold back the hounds for a little while, Katya, but you and your clan need to leave my jurisdiction.” James stated unhappily.

“We’ve already begun. We’ll be gone by the end of the week.” Katya replied.

James stood up and straightened his suit before reaching out a hand for Katya.

“It’s been a pleasure, Katya.” He said as she took his hand and stood as well.

“So it has James.” Katya replied sadly.

***

“Ugh, it won’t fit Nat!” Sophia groaned, breathing heavy.

“You have to push it in harder, here let me help you,” Natasha replied suggestively.

“Oooh, you’re right, feels like it’s inside nice and snug now.” Sophia said in a sultry voice.

I sat at the dining room table wrapping plates in newspaper with sweat running down my fucking forehead. This had gone on for the better part of an hour.

“Oh, it’s sooo hot in here.” Natasha exclaimed in exaggeration moments before a worn tank-top landed on the floor in front of me, finally pushing me over the edge.

“WILL THE TWO OF YOU QUIT IT ALREADY?!” I yelled out, slightly shrill, as I looked up at them.

“What’s the matter Aleks? Are you getting bothered by us?” Natasha asked as she sat back down behind Sophia on the moving box the two of them had been practically bouncing on moments before. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Sophia’s waist and rested her chin on her shoulder while both of them smiled provocatively at me.

I felt my face heat up and quickly turned back to my plates, doing my best to ignore the two of them.

“Hmm, seems we weren’t bothering him at all. Maybe we should work a little harder.” Sophia said in a seductive tone.

“Damned sexy-vampires and their teasing.” I thought.

“Plenty more than just teasing on the table, beet-boy,” Natasha quipped with a laugh.

“Okay. That does it!” I grumbled as I stood up and marched up to them. I willed energy into my fingers and ran them up Natasha’s bare back, eliciting a shuddering yelp of surprise which quickly turned into a purr.

“There, how do you like...A taste of your own... medicine?” Natasha looked up at me, her eyes pure white as she flashed me a hungry predatory smile, and I realized in that moment... I had just made a huge mistake.

***

Leaving the pair of sleeping vampires on the frameless bare mattress in the other room, I got back to packing.

I didn’t really remember the drive back from the Special-branch facility. It had all been kind of a blur. Whatever the researchers had done to me coupled with locking away the rogue shadows had taken something intangible out of me and left me damaged and frail. Everything had just been hazy for the first couple of days.

I didn’t even notice Sophia standing in front of me until she placed her hand gently on my cheek, looking worriedly into my eyes.

It took days for the vampire venom to work itself out of my system; the process slowed considerably by the fact that my energy moved like sludge through my damaged body.

My nights were plagued by nightmares and my days were spent enfeebled, feeling useless and guilt-ridden. But I didn’t go through it alone. Natasha and Sophia stayed with me, day and night, caring for me, keeping me sane.

We had grown closer than before as we spent days talking about anything that came to mind. Honestly, I think they were just trying to keep my mind busy, and it worked. The dark thoughts slowly receded, replaced with warmth and something more.

I hadn’t understood what that feeling was, not until the night the venom had cleared completely from my system, lifting the hazed state I had been in and letting my strained body begin to heal.

We had celebrated merrily, drinking and laughing, eventually leading to something more intimate. Instinct kicked in, warning me, and I finally understood what I had felt earlier, but for some reason, I didn’t feel the need to stop myself.

The next morning, I woke up to find Sophia distraught as Natasha desperately tried to talk her down.

She was inconsolable and incoherent as she kept apologizing and telling Natasha she hadn’t meant to do it. She kept repeating her words in despair, only intensifying when I walked into the room.

Natasha sat with her arms wrapped around Sophia, as she wept into her chest, rocking her gently back and forth on her lap, comforting her and whispering calming words into her ear. I hadn’t known what to do with myself so I decided to give the two of them some space, but before I could even get on my feet Natasha grabbed my wrist while giving me a, Where the fuck do you think you’re going? Get over here now. Kind of look.

As Sophia calmed down, Natasha told me how Sophia had been the last Prime-Heir In her Clan and that she’d died young and alone, something the two of them had bonded over as Natasha had also been reborn alone and at a young age.

Sophia’s Clan had died with her. With no heirs left, she never experienced the intense compulsion to further the line or the terrible hopelessness that the rest of her clan felt at becoming heirless.

But for years, she blamed herself for her clan’s demise, leading her to leave and seek refuge in Clan Eve, where she met Natasha. They had fallen in love, and through that love, Sophia had found a new purpose.

But when she discovered my kinds unique biology, the instincts she’d never experienced before kicked in. But they weren’t just telling her to further the line, they were shouting out for her to save it.

Natasha told me that Sentires that go through the rebirth alone were often more likely to suffer a trauma, as they called it. Sentire Psyche was distinctly different from a human’s and during the change it becomes intertwined with their Sentire Instinct, it changes them in strange and unforeseen ways.

She wouldn’t tell me what had happened to Sophia as she said, That isn’t my story to tell.

But she did tell me it had left Sophia with a powerful need to be in control of herself, very much counter to her unconscious instincts.

Day had turned to night by the time Sophia slowly came back to herself. She pulled her face away from Natasha and looked up at me sitting next to them. Her eyes were red from crying and her expression was full of worry and regret. I felt my heart ache as I reached out my hand and placed it on her cheek like she had done to me just a few days prior. I placed my other hand on Natasha’s wrist before sharing what I’d felt the night before.

It was strange, fleeting and illogical. It made little sense. Just thinking about it made me feel like I had a pit in my stomach. It wasn’t some grand blaze or vast ocean, but it was there, a small sapling of longing, affection and intimacy.

It brought back memories of loss and pain, leading to a present fear and anxiety. But it couldn’t be ignored, it couldn’t be pushed away. It was part of me now and I accepted it.

Showing them this made me feel exposed, nervous and honestly a little embarrassed before I realized I was still touching them both, meaning they had just witnessed something resembling the feelings of a schoolboy after confessing to his crush.

I pulled back my hands quickly while trying and failing to keep my face neutral as they both just stared at me before bursting into bright and joyful laughter, most of the tension falling away.

I just looked at the two of them holding their sides while laughing before saying.

“Okay, forget the last part, but-“ I didn’t get any further as Sophia tackled me to the floor sitting on top of me. She smiled as she leaned down, her long blonde hair tickling my face as she passionately kissed me. I felt a tear hit my cheek as we parted and looked up worriedly, only to be reassured by her joyful expression, full of relief.

***

I stepped out of the shower and got dressed in the empty bedroom. This would be our last day in the city. The Eve Clan armored convoy had already left with the heirs, I had no idea how the Clan managed to get the permits for roof mounted anti-air ordinance and something that looked suspiciously like a Gatling gun, but I feared for the state trooper stupid enough to try to pull them over to check.

While getting ready to leave, I heard voices coming from the living room.

“We should consider branching south, sunlight being a problem of the past thanks to these rings, it would open up the entertainment industry to us.” Silas gushed excitedly.

“You want us to become a troupe of actors?” Katya asked skeptically, her choice of words hinting at her age.

“I mean, we’d be a great talent agency too, loads of neurotic actors and artists to calm down. No one would go hungry.” Sophia joked.

“You’re forgetting about the valley. There’s a slew of tech companies we could partner with or invest in.” Natasha said.

“Gods above, if only I’d invested in those damn Jobs or Gates when they came to me.” Katya groaned.

“Yes, not your greatest moments, Ma’am.” Silas agreed.

“Are you going to stand there all day or join the conversation?” Sophia said. I could hear the smirk in her voice.

I opened the door to see the group of vampires sitting on a variety of things around the room. windowsill, boxes, a cooler. Katya was naturally the only one sitting on an actual chair.

I was about to say something, but Katya cut me off before I could even open my mouth.

“Stop, I can feel the guilt all the way over here, and honestly, it’s unwarranted.” Katya interrupted.

“Listen Aleks, the Tower was constructed in the 50s when we had to be close to the stock exchange. It was right at the start of the cold war and the Aegis defense system covered the Tower nicely. But we outgrew it a long time ago, we’ve desperately wanted to get away from it since the late 90s. But moving the Heirs has always been too terrifying a prospect for most.” She explained.

“Now, however, any fool with a phone can trade, and no one will ever beat automation in speed. The cold war is over, and the Tower is a lot more likely to be the target for another terrorist attack than anything else. We’ve essentially had to hijack or install our own radar system for the past twenty years. And thanks to your rings, the prospect of moving the Heirs isn’t as dangerous an option anymore. A lot of Sentire are breathing a sigh of relief thanks to you.”

“I understand you see this as some grand failure on your part. But honestly, our partnership has been quite freeing and fruitful, if tense at moments.” she paused before throwing out.

“Clara’s making a swift recovery as well. She’s applied to become a Custodes. Apparently heroically protecting a fainted damoiseau in distress awakened something in her. Quite adamant, that one.” Katya said with a proud smile.

“I didn’t faint.” I protested with a laugh, relieved to hear Clara was doing well.

“Potato, Tomato.” Katya replied with a grin.

“Uh, Ma’am, I believe it’s Tomayto, Tomahto.” Silas said from the side.

I stood there stunned for a moment, looking at the group of Sentires.

“Months after returning, I think I finally found my way home.” I thought, making sure to keep my thoughts to myself, although I could have sworn I saw a kind smile appear on Katya’s face.

I walked over to the reading alcove and sat down next to a waiting Natasha and Sophia before asking a question I probably should have asked a long time ago.

“So, where are we heading?” I asked the group of Vampires... My Vampires.