Declan – Part 2: “Charlotte just went crazy one day,” Edward said softly, “Brody was just a baby, but she didn’t want anything to do with him. The doctors tried one medication after the other, but nothing worked.” Declan closed his eyes and rubbed his hands over his face. “Oh man…of course it didn’t work, she wasn’t sick.” “She was. She tried to smother him twice before he was six months old. She kept saying Brody was born wrong.” “What did she mean by that?” “I don’t know! She wasn’t well.” “Go on.” “Then he came. He said he could fix her…I was so desperate. If I knew what he was...” Declan’s heart dropped in his stomach. “What was his name?” “Cyrus.” He closed his eyes. That was the last name he wanted to hear. “Oh, Edward, you poor clueless bastard. What did he do?” “I don’t know. He just talked to her every night. Some kind of hypnosis maybe.” “No, not hypnosis. Cyrus

Declan: Aster’s reaction really surprised Declan. He had expected some outpouring of grief, but there was nothing by apathy. When he told her it was because she had no connection to her past, he was really just guessing. There was another explanation – one he didn’t want to consider, but he had to: it could just be the vampire. Many lost touch with their gentler emotions – their humanity…it usually took decades, but because she was an elemental, no one could really predict how she’d turn out.The information he could dig up in the texts were sparse, and even when he found something the writers didn’t go into much detail. Except for the part where they mentioned that healers were the only vampires that could ever successfully transform elementals, there wasn’t anything helpful on how to deal with elemental vampires. He had to assume that Rowan came across this little titbit of information at some point, and convinced Cyrus to let Declan take Aster.

Aster Part 2: She waited quietly while Declan lit the torch. He took her by the elbow and steered her through the maze. Aster had no idea how he found his way around so quickly, she’d get lost in five minutes flat. “We have to hurry.” “Okay,” she said, trying her best to keep up with Declan. He was going just a little too fast for her, and she was already growing tired. “What’s the rush?” “Cyrus would have felt Justice die. He has hundreds of sons, so chances are he won’t care – especially about one as young as the kid, but just in case…we need to get Eros and Rowan and get the fuck out of here.” A little bit of curiosity plucked through the fear. “So fathers and sons share a bond like you do with me?” He looked over his shoulder at her, a little exasperated that she dared ask questions now. “I only ask, because you never have time to tell me anything. I know nothing about this life.” He softened a little. “Yes, we share a bon

Aster: Aster woke slowly, the springs from the worn out mattress poking her everywhere. Sighing, she battled upright. She was thirstier and more tired than usual, but attributed it to the previous night’s excitement. “There’s blood on the nightstand,” Declan said. She turned her head to look at the glass bottle filled with blood. “Where--” she cleared her throat, and abandoned the effort it took to speak. She managed only a few sips before giving up on it. “I know, it’s disgusting, but you have to finish it.” “Where did it come from?” “Eros.” “Do I even wanna know?” “Probably not.” Declan sat in the windowsill, one foot resting on a rickety old wooden chair, throwing a ball from one hand to the other. “So we need to talk.” “Well, of course we do. I wonder what a day without drama would be like.” “Your father is safe. I spoke to Melena.” She hadn’t even given considered her fathe

Declan – part 2:It was rare, but it did happen from time to time that a vampire would betray their own clan, and that is exactly what he thought Eros did, and since it didn’t really matter either which way what he said at that point, he asked the ancient if that was what he had done. Looking offended, the vampire shook his head. “Feel her vibrations. She is healed. This should not be happening.”“Get out,” Declan said.“Let me try--”“No. Leave.” He had an idea what might be happening, but he lacked the motivation and Latin vocabulary to explain it to Eros. “I know what to do. Please leave.”“If you attempt--”“Get. Out.”Nodding woefully, Eros left, even closing the door behind him. Declan stretched out next to Aster on the uncomfortable bed. Lying on his side, he cupped her face, gently caressing her soft skin with his t