One blood.

A little Bonding.

Amelie.

'Sister it is tradition!' 

'Tradition it may be, but traditions can be broken; I don't need a big party i have you and Gerard back and a home to call my own; I do not need a big ball to celebrate that.' I notice she is playing with the diamond on the third finger of her left hand. I am more happy and content; she is young and free again with no-one to stand in the way of her true happiness; i for one cannot wait for her to be wed- for her to finally be able to marry the one in which she loves. 

'Well you are this coming Friday.' 

'What as in four days from now?' 

'Exactly.'

'How are you going to manage that?'

'Dear sister you are yet to realise who i am; i am Morganville; it will be done.'

'If you weren't my older sister i would argue this but i know for a fact you wouldn't let me win...and with courtesy of love and respect i grant that i will graciously accept a ball.'

'Alas dear sister, i am pleased we can come to an agreement.'

'Agreement?' She raises her eyebrows and smirks.

'Well an understanding.' I amend smiling. 

My sister is yet to realise who i am, who she has become on returning to me. I am the founder, i am the leader, i am the one who built this fortress of safety. I may not be as invincible thanks to dear Fallon but I am the Queen; i am the centre and creator of this vessel of hope for my people and in so i get the respect and in so i live in the true lap of luxury... and so now does Anastasia who may need reminded before her ball as to who she actually now is... 

'I suppose we could call it that.' She smiles, taking a sip  from her cup.

'Ana all you have to do is arrive on time and smile; leave the rest to me.' 

'Your impossible.' 

'Yes well that may be but you may take that back when you hear Victoria May will be creating your gown.' 

'Victoria may?' She says questioningly, her lips pursed. 'Where do I know that name... Victoria may...Amelie?' Her tone heightens as realisation dawns on her. 

I smile with my fangs down, raising my eyebrows and shrugging innocently. 

'Amelie!' She scolds but she's smiling. 

'What? Henry was going through wife after wife and she was favoured by him! I couldn't risk her being the next one beheaded she's too good of a designer!'

'Still!'

'What is done is done, she's quite content in this life- she runs a boutique out on the square; she doesn't get the chance to tailor make gowns so often she is quite excited.' 

'She is an array of skills... remember the dress I had made for me in Rome...'

'Alas yes Anastasia; i'm surprised any of the gladiators could concentrate on the task at hand!' 

'The gladiators yes...one of the last fights we witnessed at the Colosseum... I will admit it was quite a display but all that blood did make me rather hungry.' 

'Sir Thea rather liked you, if my memory doesn't fail me...' I smile.

'Oh Shh!' She giggles, sticking her tongue out at me; i mirror her gesture, it feels odd but thoroughly welcome. 

'He wanted you too be his Lady!' I laugh, throwing my head back in hysterics. 

'Ami!' She complains. 

'What? Many of those Sirs liked you, i should know Father was offered a small fortune many a time to give his blessing on a marriage and give your hand!' 

'Luckily he didn't!' She laughs. 'Although on that topic Nicholas De'Ume liked you Amelie!'

'He liked our Father's riches and the small fortune we'd inherit upon Father's death!' I sat with a air of fact.

'Still I remember many a night you'd talk pleasantries.' 

'He was disgusting!' I cringe.

'He was a money minded wrench!'

'That too!'' She smiles as I agree.

'When we went to Brazil that was my favourite place.' She comments.

'Ah yes Brazil , Father rather enjoyed the animal fights and Brazen fighters.' 

'I liked the dark over the seas and the view from my chamber window; the view of freedom and choice.' 

'You were in the sea tower?'

'Yes with that little old maid who bowed so low I worried she'd never get up!' 

'I have seen the world but very few places have I found home.'

'London, for me the city of home.' 

'Oh yes, a beautiful place I visited many moons ago; just before the Plague struck.' 

'Oh...' Her face is openly amazed.

'What?' I ask, leaning forward and grasping her hand in mine.

'I...I was there during the plague.' 

'My dear you were not?'

'Alas I was.' 

'We were so very close...' I breathe. 'You stayed during the rotten ruling of the rats?'

'Yes, blood wasn't sparse and they weren't checking the dead so I had no trouble... Sadly it was a common luxury i hadn't had in a while... I helped as I could though... i tried...' 

'You must have seen some sorry sights...' A look goes across my sister's face and she bites her lips softly for a second before smiling softly.

'Have we all not, though? In this life we see both the good and the bad of what a world can be given.' 

'Too true.' I agree. 'Although I heard for a sorrowing long time London was a vacuum pf pain and screams.' 

'Yes for a time one could not walk down a street without seeing crosses on the doors; swathed doctors doing pointless rounds with their less than helpful cures, remedies and preventatives;  then the screams.  It twas not just the screams; it was the wails, the groans, the whimpers; the cries of those left behind- it was a pool of constant pain yet still those looked to faith and found some hope.'

'What you must of saw, my beautiful girl.'

'It is a time of past, a time that I have lived but haven't we all? We all see human horror and suffering but one can't dwell or one would never live.' 

'Too true Ana, I apologise that i couldn't protect you and be by your side- i failed you greatly by letting father take you;  I should have stopped him...made you know you weren't his to take...i should have fought for you...' 

'Ami stop.' 

'But i speak nothing but the truth sister.' I press. 

'You don't, truth is you are lucky to be alive and so am i- we survived! You fought Amelie, you really did; i know you did!'

'I regret my weakness.' I whisper.

'You regret your weakness Amelie, you nearly had you limbs torn off by him!' 

'I love you Anastasia.' 

'I love you too sister with all my heart but you have to please remember that you have no burden to bear; we are once again united. '