for old times' sake // leena

[Lucien Villette de Séraphin]

A couple of weeks had passed since the unexpected rendez-vous down at the warehouse by the Thames. Lucien had done his best to distract his thoughts by keeping himself occupied with Chevalerie-related business; there was always something to be done, whether it was more art-recovery errands, or digging through city archives, or making trips back home to France to check on his and Camilla's vineyards in Bordeaux and the Loire. Yet at every idle moment, the vampire's mind could not help sneaking back to the brief encounter with Leena. His conscience was still jarred, but for every minute he allowed his thoughts to linger on the memory of the woman, the more questions that arose and the more apprehensive he became of having fled the scene.

He found that one of the most prominent questions had been the same one that Leena had asked, several times. Por qué ahora? Why now? Was there ever a reason? Lucien no longer believed anything to be a coincidence, and he had been trying to convince himself that running into Leena there had to mean something. But what? He knew full well that wallowing in guilt would lead him nowhere, and he endeavored to overcome this guilt with reasoning.

Well, and with wine.

It was late in the evening, perhaps some time past midnight. Lucien had just met with one of Jean-Michel's clients at a London pub, the same one where he had run into Sarah on holiday, actually. But with that meeting done, Lucien, not feeling particularly inclined to spend the rest of the night with only the company of his thoughts, had withdrawn to a corner of the room with his customary bottle of wine. Perhaps he ought to have been concerned that his drunkenness was beginning to manifest outside of the home, but at the moment he didn't care.

"It was nobody's fault," he mumbled to himself, massaging at his temples with clawed fingertips.

He found himself wondering about what Leena had been doing here in London. London was of course a major hub for all sorts of people to come and go, but ... hah, what a small world. At least that Edmund figure was out of the picture now; Lucien found a shred of solace in that, even if Leena had cryptically hinted that she had simply passed from one owner to another.

That might have explained her presence at the warehouse. Briefly he wondered who had sent her there.

After that meeting, when Lucien had returned home, Camilla had hounded him with questions, knowing immediately that something was wrong. But Lucien hadn't the heart to tell her, not yet at least, not while he was still trying to understand everything himself.

His mind was restless. Lucien suddenly abandoned his wine, pausing only to drop payment onto the table. He couldn't sit still; he needed to do something, to distract himself from this uncanny rift in the fabric of time.

"Mon Dieu," he muttered in frustration, cupping a hand over his eyes as he slipped out of the pub, starting down the street with no particular destination in mind.

In a sense, the night air was soothing, crisp on the senses. He breathed deeply, trying to calm his turbid thoughts, letting his path take him wherever it so fancied.

After walking for quite a while, Lucien's steps slowed, and he glanced over his shoulder, his brow knit. Something wasn't right, but he wasn't certain what that was ... yet. He hesitated another moment before reluctantly falling into step again, glancing up at the patchwork of historical and modern buildings, tenant houses crammed en suite on this side of the cobblestone road.

Then he heard a commotion from the direction of the Thames. It probably would have been wise to flee, but curiosity and a muted sense of hope compelled him to turn his path towards the stone wall that overlooked the river. A bridge was just within sight, and he could have sworn he saw a flash of light from under it.

A staircase descended from the rue to the concrete bank of the river, which in turn wound towards that spot under the expanse of stone bridge above. He followed this path, his steps picking up speed. He smelled something foreign in the air, but the taste of wine still lingered on his tongue, masking the suspicious scents.

A hand darted to the hilt of his épée at his hip, unsheathing the blade with the satisfying ring of metal. His other hand drew his main-gauche, comforted by the familiarity of his trusted weaponry.

There. Ahead, he could see several figures surrounding one, entrapping the lone victim with both their bodies and the wall of the bridge.

[Leena Esmie Castillo]

Leena had left that day from meeting Luce again completely destroyed. She had become so comfortable in her modern ways. She didn’t want to remember those days of feeling. She had closed herself off and built a wall so high that no one could climb over it even if they tried. She had turned away many. There was Kellen, there was Estella, there was even Manual, all who tried and failed. Leena had sworn off emotions ever since the pair of siblings. She had loved Camilla like her own family member. She had never had a sister before only Magdelena her Senora’s daughter that would stay over when Maggie’s parents were away. Magdelena and Leena had been best friends.

Leena sat in a beautiful extravagant purple dress with her hair braided back into a bun. She was braiding the raven hair down along the side of Maggie’s head. Maggie had a shirt in her lap licking the end of a piece of thread before attempting to push the tread through the hole on the needle. She groaned as it frayed once more. ”Aye, Leena this stupid Maggie groaned shoving the shirt from her lap onto the floor of the caretakers bedroom. Maggie was wearing a very plain brown frock. The room was modest with a poster bed. Leena and Lordes shared it. They also had a small dresser and a standing mirror that sat next to the water basin. ”Magdelena, patience Mija,” Lordes stated placing a hand on top of her daughter Maggie’s head. ”But Senora, it’s impossible,” She sighed staring down to her hands. The two had swapped roles for the day. Leena finished the braid winding it around the bun before pulling it tight. ”Ah! Bueno!” Leena exclaimed hopping from the bed to her feet. She wobbled for a moment staring down to the bright black heeled shoes before turning in the mirror. Maggie soon followed twitching at her sight. ”Bleh, Leena this is awful,” Leena wasn’t paying attention the twelve year old was in heaven. She pulled at the pig tails turning. She walked closer to the mirror gently laying a few fingers against her reflect. Lordes stood leaning against one of the four posters from the bed sighing as she watched her daughter admire Maggie’s dress. ”Okay, I’m done. We can trade back now,”

Shouting sounded from the gathering hall as both girls jumped. ”Mama, did they find Maggie missing?” Leena asked quickly running to her mother’s side. Maggie ran to the other side as Lordes placed both hands around the girls. ”Wait here, I will go check,” She muttered quietly. Lordes opened the door as both girls grabbed each other’s hands as the shouting began. The match was getting louder and it seemed like it was only getting worse. ”Mama?” Leena questioned as the door was quickly opened. ” Debajo de la cama! Leena quickly pulled at her friends hands kneeling. She pushed out one of the large trunks before pushing Maggie under. ”There isn’t enough room,” She stated. ”Debajo de la cama!” Leena attempted to squeeze next to another large and heavier trunk as she heard yelling. ”Hola Senor,” Lordes mumbled as she stood in front of the door. ”Out of de way!” Edmund shouted as he shoved the older woman from his view. Tig growling behind him, his eyes spotted Leena who was attempting to still make her way next to her friend. ” ¿qué es esto?” Edmund growled yanking Leena up by the back of the purple dress. Lordes started screaming pulling herself to her feet. Tig immediately silenced her. Leena started crying, her eyes filling with tears. Edmund placed a long fingernail under her chin turning her head side to side. Leena could feel every heartbeat as she stared into Edmunds eyes.

”Dis is de one, she is wearing the proper clothes. Bonita no doubt, she will make a very good esposa,” Edmund placed a kiss on each side of her cheek before setting the twelve year old back to her feet. His eyes narrowed as he leaned down. Just at the right moment Leena spit in the man’s face making a bee line for the door as Tig caught her by a pig tail. ”Jefe?” Edmund smirked turning around on the back of his heel to look at the young Leena. ”She has a lot of fight, she is de one we have been looking for Tig, take her to my quarters,” Tig picked Leena up throwing her over his shoulder. ”MAGGIE! AYUDAME, Mami! Leena turned staring over towards her mother, her mother lying on her side completely lifeless. Leena started sobbing harder continuing to kick and hit Tig as he walked. Maggie stayed hidden until Edmund had completely turned. He paused for a moment picking an object up off a shelf before leaving the room. Maggie clasped her hands together, tears running from her eyes. ”Madre Maria….ayudame,” She whispered placing her hands in the cross formation. Leena stared after the door waiting for her best friend to do something. She never came. Maggie never came.

Leena had been going through all of her things in the apartment. She found old letters she had written to Lucien. She had found drawings beautiful elegant drawings of various people that they had encountered with Camilla’s hand in the corner. She had found pictures of her mother, a single black button, then there was a note from Magdelena. She sat holding the tracker in hand shaking her hand. One master to another. She was also imprisoned by someone. She couldn’t stop Luce, he claimed that he didn’t mean to leave her. It didn’t help her heart heal any faster. She knew that she loved with Luce. She had laid with many men but none of them were quite Lucien. Not that the bed just wasn’t great. It was centuries of memorable. One didn’t simply erase Lucien’s bedside manners from the mind. But it was something so much more than that. The passion, the genuine caring nature, his admirable sister; He was the full package. She just couldn’t take it. She sat staring down to a single necklace in her hand. Her hands aching for his. Some heartache never healed. Some scares never faded and Lucien would never fade from her memory as much as she would have liked him too.

” Accompagne-nous,” He pleaded once more. ”IR AHORA!” Leena stated pushing Lucien’s hand away from her. She could see Camilla on the other hand. She could not let Tig find them. She had protected them this far she would protect them with her life. She had Camilla’s drawing tucked in her dress and even though she didn’t want to let go of Luce’s hand she knew she had too. They had to be safe. She nodded to Camilla before closing her eyes. She could feel his fingers slipping through hers. The tears began pouring. They were at the shipyard. Exactly where she had found them; They knew their way around the yard better than most. Tig and Marti were rushing to her side. Leena’s hand was still raised as Camilla then knew what had to be done as the two disappeared. She let her chin fall against her chest as she felt like her heart was breaking. She hadn’t opened up to anyone before. She had opened up to them. The siblings had taken her heart with them. She should have sealed it up in a box and gave it to Luce because she would never have it again. Not completely anyways. Leena fell to her knees, the sobbing was very unlike her. She was a very strong and confident woman who didn’t let others get their way very often. She was proud and did not let others see her break. In this moment she wished Luce had stayed. She wished he had pleaded and tore away from Camilla rushing back to her arms.

”PUTA!” Tig yelled as the sound of boots echoed against the coverings. Leena wrapped both arms around her waist still crying. ”Edmund is not berry happy wit you,” His eyes narrowing on her. Marti smirked rounding the other side of the crying Leena. ”She already knows Tig, look, look de Puta is crying,” The two laughed as Tig reached for a handful of raven hair. ”Your disloyalty will cost you, but first, WHERE did dey go?” Tig shouted looking down into her eyes. ”Tell him Puta,” Marti hissed. Leena curled her lips, closing her eyes. She pictured Camilla and Lucien boarding a ship as they spoke. The siblings hand in hand just waiting to escape. She pictured Tig and Marti arriving just as the two were far away from the shore to safety. Perhaps Lucien and Camilla would wave to annoy them. They were classy after all. ”She’s not going to speak, Tig,” ”Edmund will make his pet speak, huh Edmund’s pet has to speak to Edmund or she’s no longer good for anything,” Tig smirked yanking her to her feet with the handful of black hair. ”Maybe it will be our turn for a little fun,” He stated brushing some of the black hair from her face. ”Edmund would not like you saying that, she is his Puta,” Marti groaned rolling his eyes. ”He always keeps the pretty ones,””We will return her and find the two intruders,”

Leena had been sentenced to years in the dungeon. Her disloyalty was one of Edmund’s pet peeves. His pets were his pets. This blonde hair senor that had walked into Leena’s life had humiliated him in front of his companions and he did not stand for that. Tig, Marti, Furr, Nil, had been hunting them down for days. Leena would pick her head up every time the door rattled open to make sure she didn’t see the siblings. She groaned leaning her head against the cell wall before glaring at her wists. The door rattled and just as she always did she lifted her head to make sure the blonde siblings were not there. She sighed in relief as she saw Edmund. Edmund lifted a key from the guard before entering her cell. ”Away,” He stated shooing the guard from her area. ”Senorita, I have missed you dearly,” Edmund stated as he walked slowly up to her position. ”I’ve missed you in my bed,” Leena said nothing. Her eyes memorized on a certain tile on the back wall. ”But this is the price you pay for sharing someone elses,” Edmund spat once, Leena kept her eyes closed feeling the essence of disgust dripping from her left cheek. ”Where did you hide them?” Leena didn’t speak. ”One day, I will offer you a deal, a deal you could never pass up. And you will hand my dignity back to me on a silver platter, comprendo?” He replied with a nod. ”Until then,” Leena muttered. ” You can search all over dis world, you will never find them, I will also escape Edmund. And when I do, you will never find me again,” Edmund threw his hands against the wall behind her head leaning in close. His chest heaving in anger. He closed his eyes for a moment before leaning in and kissing her lips. ”I did always enjoy your attitude. Be careful about what you promise. I always find a way to make you come back,”

Leena had received word that Magdelena was alive. The ministry contacted her via tracker explaining that Magdelena had sought the Ministry’s help before completely disappearing off the radar. Leena couldn’t believe that she was alive. After all these years it had to be the same result Leena’s ability to stick around. She was no longer human. She had learned about Leena in the paper as she was promoted and sought her out. The Ministry could no longer locate her. She hadn’t registered quite yet and they had no tabs on her. Leena had been attempting to contact them all day. The last sign Senora had on her was that she was nearby. She then had completely gone off the map. Her job was to escort her back and register. Her true job was to figure out what the hell happened to her since that night when they were twelve. Her spell hadn’t found anything out of the ordinary until she realized it was out of the ordinary to not find a single person out of the ordinary. She had a masking spell. She was hiding from someone or something. She groaned lowering her wand. She stepped outside a small tavern when she spotted a figure with black hair moving quickly down towards the river. Leena hissed under her breath her large black boots following the others.

Her speed was great and the others not so much. She was skipping almost feet as she ran towards her. The figure then disappeared by the bridge. Leena turned realizing they had gone traveled a bit from town. She turned lowering her head under the bridge. Her eyes widened as she stared in the face the same green eyes that had betrayed her years ago. ”Magdelena?” Leena whispered as she backed up quickly her boots soaking in the river near them. ”Hola Leena,” Evidently it had taken Maggie a few more years to transform into another. She looked about thirty. ”You—You’re,” Maggie nodded pushing Leena with her index finger backwards away from the bridge. ”Si, I am. That is not the only thing that has changed either. You see,” Maggie replied picking up her left hand. She turned it in the light showing off a glittery ring. Leena rolled her eyes in annoyance. Maybe there was a reason that they had stopped being friends at age twelve. ”Hola Maggie, haven’t seen you in centuries. Please do tell me more about the sparkling rock on your finger, oh me? I’m fantastica!” Maggie narrowed her eyes taking a step closer. ”You don’t like it pity, you see the man who gave it to me, he was really interested in me. And my past—friends,” Leena’s hearing picked up as she stared into Maggie’s eyes when she started watching several others appear from the trees surrounding and one from under the bridge others from on top of the bridge. ”You knew I would come,” ”You still have a caretaker daughter’s heart,” She replied with a grin tilting her head to the side.

Leena turned just in time to see Marti walk beside Maggie wrapping an arm around her waist. ”Meet my husband, Marti,” Maggie explained holding his right arm against her chest. Leena crossed her own arms over her chest shaking her head in disproval. ”Aye, and here I used to look up to you, I’m embarrassed,” Leena placed a hand down to her side finding her wand picking it up and shooting a spell at Maggie watching her shoot backwards into the river. At that very moment another from the left shot the wand from her hand. Two others had Leena’s arms against the stone wall, as Marti stomped towards her. ”I remember you perfectly,” ”Trust me, bebe. You’re not the first senor to have told me so,” Leena replied with a distinct wink. The two that were holding her arms pulled tighter. Marti picked up the stake that was sharpened to a distinct point. ”I will remember every moment of this,” He muttered again as he leaned against Leena’s body. He traced the dagger along her low cut shirt gently in circles. ”He would never let us have you,” Marti whispered putting a bit more pressure on the stake. ”Now no one will be able to have you,” Marti smirked leaning in closer. ”But I do have a deal, you have something that I need,” He whispered. Leena swallowed as she felt the stake glide along her skin. ”And what would that be?” She asked her eyes still staring at the others holding her arms. ”You have to commit to honoring our deal, He whispered once more. Lo siento, I don’t honor deals I don’t know what I have to do for. Trust me bebe, after a few centuries you learn not to mess around with older men. They don’t always hold up their end very well,” ”SIlencio!” ”Jefe! Mirra!” One of the others pointed to the top of the hill. ”Is just a simple peasant, never mind them!” He scolded turning back to Leena he pressed his lips against her neck. Her eyes catching a glance at Maggie. ”Well—isn’t this just akward for everyone,””Silence!” He hissed once more. ”Maggie aren’t you bothered that your supposed husband is—“”Me jealous? Heh, Leena mija, you are too cute. You won’t be around long after he finishes to even be jealous of, it’s honestly okay in my book,” Maggie replied with a wide grin as Marti continued tracing his lips against Leena’s skin.

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[Lucien Villette de Séraphin]

The wine was doing well to warm the blood, despite the frostiness of the mid-November night air. It was always soothing in its familiarity, and Lucien wasn't ashamed to admit that wine was his usual crutch for withstanding the heavy burden of memory that often plagued his mind. It helped to mute certain things, things one did not wish to remember. Amusing, really; he had never drank very much in life, not more than what was 'normal' for social events or whatnot. The stuff had just grown more and more attractive as time went by - as more and more unwanted memories accumulated.

-----

"Where's the cash we had from the last shipment?" Camilla huffed, on her knees as she rummaged through a burlap sack, sorting through a tide of useless trinkets.

"Mmf," was the only reply she received from the general direction of the pallet in the corner of the siblings' cramped waterfront inn room.

Camilla sighed, tossing the bag back onto the floor before she gathered up her skirts and trudged across the room to give the pallet a kick. "Did you spend it all on the wine again?!"

As it turned out, the pallet was, in fact, housing a certain someone, and the certain someone squirmed a bit before halfheartedly pushing the blanket off and sitting up, hair all bedraggled. Wordlessly, Lucien reached beside him, offering Camilla a half-finished bottle of wine.

She sighed again, grabbing it from him and taking a drink, before sinking into a seat next to him. The two had been living out of that room for a few months now, that cramped, smelly, dilapidated inn room that directly faced the harbor of Marseille. The smuggling continued - it had to, as that was how they made their money - but for some reason it wasn't as fun as it used to be.

"You can't stay holed up in here like this all the time," Camilla insisted, giving Lucien a nudge with her elbow.

Lucien didn't budge, except to take the bottle back from her and have another drink.

Camilla frowned, but said nothing for a moment, staring down at her toes. Silence pervaded the air about them, broken only by the distant sounds of activity out in the dock; ship bells, sailors' shouts; the shrill laughter of the flocks of prostitutes.

"What has happened to us?" Lucien eventually murmured, staring down at the bottle. "I have never felt so powerless, not even before ... when ... "

Camilla's gaze remained averted, though she nodded slowly in understanding. "We can't ... we can't blame ourselves, Luce. There wasn't anything we could do. We're not ... we don't have the means, not anymore. Things have changed." Carefully, she wound her arms around one of Lucien's, burying her face in his shoulder.

"Change. Hm. If this is a hint of what is to come, I do not want any of it." Lucien cupped a hand over his eyes, resting his head against Camilla's. "At least God has been kind enough to grant us one another. I cannot ... I cannot imagine how ... how alone she must be ... "

"Don't say that. Don't. Just ... stop, don't think about it," Camilla insisted, her voice muffled against his shoulder. "It will be easier if we just move on. I ... have the feeling it's something we'll have to get used to ... "

-----

Lucien was hearing voices. Not that that was particularly out of the ordinary, but he hadn't thought he had imbibed that much wine yet. Still, his hearing was subconsciously measuring the pitch of the voices, the intonation and volume and cadence ... and though he could not hear words, it did not take much effort to understand that there were several voices, and that they were ill-meaning.

His pace slowed to a stop. Lucien was still a good distance from the scene of the commotion, but perhaps this was just the sort of distraction his troubled thoughts required. He generally kept out of the business of others, but sometimes being proactive was necessary, and considering the circumstances ...

He sucked in a deep breath, trying harder to evaluate the scents laid out before him. Sorting through the air currents for directions and disturbances, Lucien re-sheathed his sword but kept a firm grip on the dagger. Then his free hand dipped beneath his coat, extracting one of his favorite revolvers; he checked the chamber to see that it was loaded before returning his attention to the episode unfolding below.

Crouching and advancing carefully, he kept out of sight behind a low stone wall that conveniently snaked around, leading him to a ledge that offered a wonderful vantage point to the scene below. Without hesitation, he leveled the gun. Une, deux, trois. Three successive shots were planted with impeccable marksmanship - courtesy of Edmond of course; the first two in the respective skulls of the two men flanking their female victim, and the third, straight between the legs of the man currently trying and failing at seducing his victim.

It wasn't until Lucien slipped down from the ledge, landing a few paces from the woman, did he realize just who it was. This time, however, he did not allow the shock of her presence to startle him, as there were more pressing matters at hand.

With the two lackeys down and the main assailant staggering backwards and doing his best not to appear either humiliated or injured, Lucien was allowed the moment to draw over to Leena's side, the revolver still leveled towards the man.

"I would ask, monsieur, if you were the famous Edmund that I have heard so much about, but despite the rather repulsive stench that hangs about you, I find that your disposition does not appear to carry a sufficient amount of megalomania to classify you as the self-proclaimed master of his house," Lucien drawled, his words sharp with spite.

His gaze flickered questioningly towards the man's female companion, though he spared her little more than a dismissive scowl. "Madame, you remind me of a mistake I once made whilst terribly drunk, down by the wharf in Bordeaux. Her flesh was as frigid and uncomfortable as her demeanor."

Lucien's silver tongue already had both the man and the woman glowering at Leena accusingly, as if this interruption was her fault. But they also seemed to be awaiting an explanation; unfortunately, that explanation would be delayed as another lackey joined them, appearing from around the bridge with Leena's dropped wand in hand. The spell he slung towards them knocked the gun from Lucien's hand; Lucien replied by sweeping his main-gauche towards the new offender, firing another disarming spell back at him. Leena's wand flew from the attacker's hand, skidding past Leena's feet towards the nearest wall.

In the ensuing confusion, both Marti and Maggie raced to take advantage of the diversion; Maggie leaped at Leena to try to get to her before Leena could rearm herself.

As for Marti, a frustrated growl escaped him; he was not happy at having his little ceremony interrupted. He lunged at Lucien, brandishing the stake in his fist; this was easily parried as Lucien drew his épée to deflect it, before darting forward with a riposte. He nicked Marti with the tip of the blade, rending his shoulder, but this only seemed to provoke the man's short temper even more. Again he leaped at Lucien, and again Lucien lashed out with his blade with a deft flick of his wrist to make another mark in the man's skin; this pattern would have carried on endlessly had the forgotten lackey not intervened, suddenly grabbing Lucien from behind.

Lucien aimed a swift kick behind him, but the distraction was enough for Marti to get close, plunging the stake into the musician's shoulder with a triumphant laugh, and letting go, leaving it embedded there. Lucien wouldn't allow him the satisfaction of anything louder than a muffled grunt of pain, yet he still managed a wry, "If ... if this is how you amuse yourself ... normally, I cannot ... cannot imagine what your poor wife over there has to put up with in ... in bed."

Sneering up at the man, Lucien shoved his own dagger backwards into the lackey's stomach, before the pain became too debilitating and he found himself staggering backwards, half collapsing to the ground. Marti growled again, stooping as if he were going to take the stake back for another blow, but Lucien's hand had found the dropped gun on the ground, and swiftly he aimed it upwards, firing a shot at the man's shoulder.

"To return the favor," Lucien hissed. "Take your whore with you and go crawling back to your master, before I put another bullet through your brain. Assuming, of course, that you are hiding any sort of substance within that thick skull of yours."

[Leena Esmie Castillo]

Leena rolled her eyes as Marti continued to trace her bare skin with the stake. Nothing like turning on a woman with something that could kill her,Oooh he was so dangerous, Leena found it hardly normal that Maggie was not only comfortable with the whole idea but was also not alarmed by her husband’s desire from someone centuries ago. That just so happened to be your old best friends, caretakers daughter. Times had certainly changed that was for certain. She then heard the three shots fired. Leena had shut her eyes before slowly opening them realizing she hadn’t been hit. She felt her arms drop immediately as the two fell to the ground, hands attempting to dig at the bullet. Their skin may heal faster but it would be very difficult to heal with a large bullet in the back of the head. She moved her arms to her side as Lucien neared her. He didn’t seem as nearly as distressed the second round of facing her. She couldn’t complain either. He did just do most of her dirty work. She bit down on her lip flashing him a rather sincere smile as he turned to face Marti. Leena cringed as Luce brought up Edmund and she literally slapped her hand across her face sighing realizing that Luce just identified himself as the person they had been searching for years ago. The frustration was soothed within a few moments as Luce insulted Marti. She chuckled. Leena hadn’t genuinely laughed in a few centuries. She lifted her chin shaking her head at the back of Luce’s. Marti’s jaw dropped. ”It’s you!” He shouted connecting just exactly who Luce was. Marti turned to look at Leena then back to Luce. ”You!” Leena curled left hand into a fist before staring back to Lucien.

She was about to stop him from insulting another one of the people who wanted to bear her heart as a prized possession to Edmund when he turned and directed his tamed comments towards Magdelena. She nodded her head in approval believing that her past friend deserved a little more punishment then that. ”Aye, always classy—no?” Leena chuckled which ceased the moment she realized Marti and Maggie were glaring at her. She shrugged her shoulders before letting a smirk stitch itself into her expression. She twitched as Luce shot a spell back at the one who was attempting to use her wand. She growled watching it fly in front of them rolling into the back wall. She turned just in time to see Marti lunge at Luce. ”Mi amor!” Leena yelled without truly realizing what she had said. The past hadn’t died. It hadn’t disappeared. No. Things in her heart and mind snapped quickly back to the past that it was still wheeling in her mind that they were not currently in Spain. Leena watched Marti plunge the stake in his shoulder. Leena gasped as Maggie jumped at her a new stake drawn in hand as her knees hit Leena’s stomach sending her backwards into the river’s edge. Leena’s hands held her wrists as Maggie gazed down at her. ” Debería haber dicho hace todos esos años…”Maggie laughed, her knees locked around Leena’s waist. ” ¿Por qué?” Leena struggled against the woman’s arms. ” Te uniste a ellos de todos modos”

Maggie pulled her left hand away quickly toppling the two completely in the river. Maggie had the upper hand at first using her left hand to push Leena’s head completely underwater. Leena struggled at first before freeing her right leg catching Maggie at the neck toppling her over. Leena jumped to her feet quickly flipping the soaked black hair over her shoulder. Maggie popped back up jabbing right with the stake. ”Aye, you got my hair wet,” Maggie hissed jabbing left. ” ¿y qué?” Maggie spat jabbing left again. Leena’s body moving to each side, Maggie went for the right again when Leena caught her wrist, pulling the woman closer to her. ” ODIO pelo mojado!Leena growled through the black bangs over her eyes as she jabbed upwards with her left hand essentially making Maggie punch herself. She quickly pushed the woman backwards pulling her bangs from her eyes. Leena pushed her skirt back to its normal placing against her upper thighs turning and running for her wand. With only a few steps Maggie had caught up to her. Leena bent down pulling the wand into her hand as Maggie jumped at her knocking the wand from her hand as Leena moved out of the way. Maggie stepped on her wand crunching it in half. Leena growled then bumping backs with Luce. Listening to him insult Marti once more. ”Fancy meeting you here,” Leena mused through a soft whisper. Maggie growled turning to face her. ”Aye, Luce. I believe dhey are the perfect match, they can just grunt at each other until dhey stop de hearing! Too tired for love after all of de grunting,” Leena didn’t last long with her back to Luce’s as Maggie’s eyes narrowed as she lunged stake raised. The stake gently tore the skin of her left arm as Leena grabbed her wrist once more turning it using her other hand to grab the stake from her. Leena lifted one large black boot and placed it against the woman’s stomach shoving her against the bridge.

Maggie sat holding the doll in her hand. Two pillows were on the ground as Lordes walked into the bedroom. ”Mijas, candle por favor,” Leena pulled her pillow under her chin. ”Mami, tell us a story,” ”Por favor senora, tell us our story!” Lordes chuckled sitting down on the edge of the bed giving the two girls woven blankets from the bed. Leena handed Maggie the blue one as she pulled the purple one around herself. ”There were two little girls, best friends, but they didn’t start out that way—both had their strengths and weaknesses,” Maggie nodded her head against the pillow. ”What were mine?” ”The first little girl had dark hair and bright green eyes. She was berry berry brave. She was not afraid to do things. But sometimes because she was so brave she didn’t stop to use her brain,” Lordes pointed at her head as Leena giggled clutching her pillow closer. ”Ehhh, what about Leena?” Maggie asked pointing a finger towards her. ”Ah the next little girl had long dark hair also but she had very pretty blue eyes, she was very smart but she felt her weakness was loving people,””Why loving people?””Now, sometimes loving people is a berry hard thing to do, especially after they have hurt you. This young girl felt it was too hard to forgive people and punished them,” ”Because she was bad?””Nuu Maggie, because she didn’t want her heart to break like—like glass,””Si,”

”The two girls came from different homes. You see the first girl—“”Was a princess! She was beautiful and had nice things,” Lordes shrugged her shoulders before nodding. ”Si, the second little girl was a—“”was a hunter,””A hunter?””She gathered the berries, she learned the trades, to fish,””Bleh, Mami Lordes…that’s terrible! Who would want to do that,” Leena had her elbows on her pillow. Her chin in her hands. ”I like it,” Leena stated smiling up to her Mami. Maggie shot Leena a look while tilting her head before shaking her head looking back to Lordes. ”One day the Princess was left all alone and she couldn’t do anything for herself,”Leena laughed. ”It’s you Maggie!””No…no I can do things!””She needed help from thee hunter. The hunter had been hurt before by her. The Princess thought she wasn’t worth of being her friend and banished her from the kingdom, that was until she needed her help,””You’re not very nice,” Leena stated pushing Maggie with her left hand. Maggie giggled looking back up to Lordes. ”That was when it happened. The Princess found thee Hunters ranch and asked her for help to find food and to save her kingdom from hunger,””Why would she asked the hunter, wouldn’t Mami y Papi have some comida?””Why would the hunter want to help her she’s mean!””No Mami o Papi, y that was the problem you see. The Princess needed her at that very moment to forgive her for the past. The Hunters weakness was loving people who had wronged her but in as she looked at the Princess…with tears in her eyes, she forgave her. She knew she needed help and she made the wise choice and helped the princess feed herself and her kingdom,”Lordes stood up walking across the small room to the table with the candlestick. ”I bet de princess didn’t need her help,””I bet she couldn’t even find a basket to put de berries in,””Shh mijas, sleep well, my little ones. In the morning we will be like the hunter and help bring food to the kingdom,” Leena nodded her head, laying it flat against the pillow staring up at the ceiling. ”If I was mean to you, you would forgive me, like Madre Maria y the Hunter, right Leena?” Leena nodded pulling the blanket against her head. ”Si, Maggie. Always,”

Leena’s harsh blue eyes, stretched leg against the womans stomach froze. Her arm that held the stake lingering over her heart, ”Do it,”Leena swallowed as she listened to Maggie. ”Go ahead, do it,” She stated again. Leena couldn’t kill Magdelena. Nope. Even after all that Maggie had done to her. She had literally taken Maggie’s place in Edmund’s place. Her mother died because of the poor trade between Maggie’s father and Edmund. She had lost everything because of her. Maggie had even threatened her life and Lucien’s and here she was. Ready to take revenge; Her had quivered for a moment before lowering the stake. The wet black hair clinging to her neck and shoulders, the black strapless shirt also still drenching wet, she looked down to her boots before taking a step backwards. ”I knew you couldn’t do it, you Puta,” Leena twitched, head jerking up as she kicked her left leg up aiming for Maggie’s face. Leena watched Maggie crumble to the floor turning as a last gunshot sounded. She watched Lucien stagger backwards as she quickly sheathed the stake in her silver belt that was around the rim of her leather mini skirt. Boots sloshing against the grass as she grabbed Lucien’s shoulders, she pressed her lips against his forehead shaking her head. Wet locks of raven hair trailing her motion. ”Aye, mi amor, I did not send you away all those years ago simply for you to get staked now,” Leena replied with a nervous chuckle as her eyes surveyed the stake sticking from his shoulder. She watched Marti slowly attempted to get back up. He bore his teeth once more turning and glancing at Maggie who was lying against the bridge. He was slowly dragging himself towards her as Leena looked down to Lucien. ”Loco, just marching in here as if you knew you could handle it,” She stated staring down to him. ”My apartment is near, can you make it there? Supplies and everything, I would heal you but…” Leena turned towards Marti who was struggling to hold Maggie’s head up her eyes falling then to the broken wand. ” This might call for an old fashioned needle and thread,” Something a caretakers daughter had a very steady hand for. Never fraying the thread, once.

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[Lucien Villette de Séraphin]

It was almost nostalgic, how quickly their camaraderie returned; Lucien too might have thought that they were back in Spain again, getting into scuffles with street thugs, fending off overzealous sailors at the dock ... hah, if only Camilla were here to complete the picture. Whatever the case, he found Leena's jesting tones almost musical in their joviality; it was a wonderful contrast to the jaded iciness under which her words had been masked at the warehouse, those couple of weeks ago.

Even through the thick of things, the last few moments of the exchange between Leena and the other woman did not escape Lucien's notice, but at the moment he was more concerned with the man, who had thankfully heeded Lucien's warning (it could be speculated that a gunshot meant that the person was quite serious) and backed off, scurrying away to see to the woman Leena had just finished with.

The moment he was gone, Lucien breathed a sigh of relief, dropping the gun almost immediately, that hand - the good hand - reaching to grasp at the stake. However, even the slightest jarring of the weapon caused a renewed surge of pain, and only then did Lucien realize it had hit lower than he had thought, embedded in his chest, and much too close to his heart for comfort.

"Merde," he hissed, his fingers loosening from their grasp on the stake; he feared moving it might cause more bleeding, as it seemed the weapon was, ironically, the only thing currently stemming the wound. Not wishing to tense up the area anymore, he stopped trying to catch a glimpse of it, tilting his chin back again and resting his head against the ground.

Lying back, he was granted the brief sight of the underneath of the bridge, before Leena's visage appeared in his line of vision. His gaze darted to her, and despite himself he found that he was smiling at her words.

"Ne sois pas ridicule; I would like to point out that my marksmanship was quite flawless for having been under the influence of a glass or three," he asserted, his head lolling to the side to try to see past Leena and make sure that the others were truly finished bothering them. It seemed they were, but Lucien already knew that it would hardly be the last encounter they would all share.

"'Tis not that bad, vraiment," he mumbled, trying to dismiss the potential graveness of the situation, but another surge of pain and a muffled grunt betrayed him. He frowned, frustrated, before heaving a defeated sigh and nodding firmly. "Oui, I do not trust that this damsel can make that journey without fainting, but ... I do not have much of a choice, it seems." He paused, then, and as Leena moved to help him up, he had to add a quiet, "Merci."

By the time they had gathered their effects, the other two had disappeared like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. "Mm, the next time that I encounter your friends, chère, I shall endeavor to remember introductions first." Trailing off with a chuckle, he did his best to not burden Leena with too much of his weight, leaning against her for support as the duo started back towards wherever Leena was currently staying.

Lucien would have very much liked to enjoy that walk; it was essentially the first time that they were privy to enjoy one another's company without intrusion and drama. But as it were, each step was simply another agonizing burst of pain, and he could focus only on trying to make his feet work for just a little bit longer. He did well in keeping relatively silent, hiding how grievous the injury was, though the occasional staggered sigh gave him away.

When finally they reached the apartment, Lucien breathed another sigh of relief. Through the foyer and the rest of the small apartment; he was allowed a brief glimpse of the kitchen in passing, of ethnic décor that reminded him of their years in Spain, before being deposited at the edge of a bed. It was certainly a nice change to the prickly gravel of earlier, by the river. By then, though, he was starting to feel dizzy, and the stake was more uncomfortable than really painful now, though that might have been his body's way of trying to put up with it.

He couldn't see where Leena had gone, though he could hear her walking around, rummaging through things. There was the sound of running water from the bathroom as well, and Lucien trusted that she knew what she was doing. That was good, as it seemed to be taking more and more effort to cling to consciousness. Perhaps that effort was part of what kept him silent; a hundred questions about the identities of the assailants were racing through his mind, but none of them rose to the forefront; not yet at least.

"Does this count? Does this count as returning for you, even if it was several decades down the line?" he eventually murmured with a muted laugh, still endeavoring to alleviate the seriousness of the situation with his usual dry humor.

[Leena Esmie Castillo]

Leena grinned as he claimed that he had excellent marksmanship. Same old Lucien. ” Supongo que para un anciano… Leena teased. It was if the first realization that the other to where still living had faded. It was rare to encounter someone that you loved that was still around. The first initial shock had been more of a slap to the face then anything. But as Leena sat on the floor of her apartment after bringing back a few items from Spain; she watched as Lucien’s head lolled to the side biting down on her lip. ”Aye,” She murmured to herself more than for Luce to understand. The two hadn’t aged much, her eyes still gazed at him as if he had never left or broke her heart. It may have been true that men had come and gone but thoughts never did truly leave. She watched as he wrestled with his pride and legitimate injury. Not bad? ” Mientes,” Leena hissed back as he claimed to be okay. Perhaps it was her newer personality traits that made her feel slightly elevated when Lucien admitted to needing her help. She nodded placing a hand around his waist gently helping him get to his feet. ” ¡no hay de qué!”

Leena adjusted accordingly wrapping a hand firmly around his waist. She was not about to let him faint and have the stake driven through his body further. She laughed as he claimed introductions would come next time. She moved as slow as Lucien needed too. She continued gazing up spotting where they were and constantly looking back just in case Marti and Maggie had decided to attempt a second attack even though they were walking away with quite a few more sore spots. ”Por favor, do not worry about such things with those two,” Leena replied shrugging off the others. The two were struggling to make it back. Lucien seemed to be getting worse by the very moment and Leena’s strength was still rehabilitating after Maggie’s sneak attack on emotions and physical well-being. Not to mention she was soaking wet and Leena despised wet clothes and hair unless they were accompanied by a freshly made tortilla and the ocean. Leena used the end of her strength pulling Lucien up the stairs to the second floor apartment using her foot to kick the door open. She never locked it. It seemed useless; no one was going to be scarier than her around these parts of the wood. She dared them to attempt and cross her in the middle of the night. Besides that Leena lived rather modestly. She grew up having the few things that her madre had in their tiny caretaker room in the Solis home. She helped Lucien lay down before pulling a few pillows in order to support Lucien.

Leena now had a task at hand and she would accomplish it. She made her way out of sight into the bathroom area. She picked up an old water basin that reminded her of her mothers. She quickly filled it then taking one of the small towels from the handle. She set the two items on the counter before ducking into one of the large drawers pulling out a leather case. She then picked up the basin in the other hand and placed the towel over her arm before making her way back out into the room. She set the basin down on the small wicker nightstand along with the towel. She quickly kicked off the wet boots, pulling her hair into a bun so it was out of her face. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and paused. She bit down on her lip realizing she hadn’t worn her hair in a proper bun in years. She kneeled on the bed next to Lucien sighing under her breath. ”Does this count? Does this count as returning for you, even if it was several decades down the line?” if words could completely break a heart, it had just been done. Leena leaned backwards away from Lucien for a moment staring down to her hands. ” Sí lo hace” Leena muttered quietly. ”You know Lucien, I never was angry,” It sounded like a pathetic attempt but she never truly was. Leena turned picking up the wash cloth placing it around the wound. She picked up the leather cord that was wrapped around the case pulling it off. ”Abrir,” Leena stated wrapping the cord into a small bunch placing it against the side of Luce’s mouth.

The stake the only true enemy of the vampires, They were stubborn little bastards and Marti had did quite the number to Luce’s shoulder. Leena stood up on the bed placing a leg on each side of his waist. She placed her hands around the stake turning to look at Luce. ”En tres,” She muttered biting down on her lip. She would have suggested taking him to St. Mungos since it was close by after all. But if Leena remembered correctly Luce would never be a fan of Ministry and Paperwork. Her medical training was from her father that passed it on to her mother. Her mother taught her the basics as they assisted the Solis soldiers as they returned from the war front. If she could just get the stake pieces and prod the healing power they possessed he would be fine. Just hoped she could do everything she said. ”Uno,” Leena stated, her hands adjusting to get the best grip. ”Dos,” She stated, her hands yanking the stake. Her mother never waited for three. It was a family habit. She was successful in most of the retrieval. ”Just hurt … Bueno,” She stated chucking the stake across the room. She slowly moved off of Lucien picking up the water basin, she sat cross legged placing It against her left leg. She dipped the cloth quickly in the water before dabbing at the wound. ”I should apologize for the way I acted,” Leena stated as her eyes narrowed at a piece of wood. She swallowed before using two fingers to carefully pull it from the skin. She continued to dab at his wound before placing the cloth on her lap. ”Lo siento—mi amor, I spent years wondering what had happened to you, my temper…aye, sometimes gets the better of me these days,” Leena whispered quietly. She picked up the leather case opening it up on her lap.

The gunshots were enough to make the young Leena’s blood run cold. ”Get them Mija! Hurry, bring them back,” Leena escorted two soldiers that were carrying another wounded one into the back of the house. A thundering bang was heard as Leena swore the ground moved. ”Mami, I am scared. Can’t I wait with Maggie?””Do not be afraid, come, come,” Leena ran to her mother’s side, her eyes widening at the sight of the soldier that was leaking blood from his lower leg. Leena cringed. ”Pressure, Leena,” Leena formed her hands in a triangle like she had been taught quickly placing it on the spot her mother instructed. ”Pressure Leena!””That’s all I can do!” Her mother moved Leena’s hands quickly placing her hands over the wound. ”Mirra, leather case mija, get it,” Leena turned around finding a leather case lying on a table. She picked it up and ran back towards them. ”Open it,” Leena did as she was instructed and pulled the leather cord from around it throwing it on the ground. She gazed down to some very large needles and bright green thread. ”Just like sewing a button back on mija,””But Mami, wouldn’t that hurt?””Not more than amputating the leg, Leena. Rapido!,” Leena quickly a large needle threading the green string before looking to her mother. ”Just like we practiced Leena, start there, end here. In and out,” Leena cringed before digging the needle in once.

”Dentro y fuera,” She whispered as she stuck similar green thread through the end of the large needle before staring down to the large hole in Lucien’s shoulder. Her fingers working quickly she placed the needle in the top of his skin. It was just like patching the many soldiers up. She felt like perhaps the first couple soldiers weren’t patched up the best but after that it was a new art in her book. She quickly worked along the side of the skin. She could feel her bangs gently slipping from the bun. She blew the hair from her face in attempts to concentrate on the task at hand. She had to make sure she assisted the skin the best she could. The skin would probably push the stitching out within the hour knowing how quickly they healed. She finished looping the string before leaning down and biting at the excess string. She turned wrapping the needle in the dirty cloth before uncrossing her legs and leaning and setting the basin and cloth on the nightstand. ”Mejor?” She asked picking up the second cloth dipping it in the basin before wiping her own handwork free of the blood that had pooled while she was stitching him back together like a broken button.

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[Lucien Villette de Séraphin]

Though it was dark in the room, Lucien found that even the moonlight streaming in through the window was a bit too bright at the moment, and so he let his eyes drift shut for now, instead immersing himself in the sounds about him: his forcefully steady breathing, the creak of the floorboards beneath Leena's feet, the gentle trickling of the water as it sloshed around in the basin.

Based on hearing alone, he had a decent idea of what Leena was doing; there was the obnoxious squeak of leather and a thud; her boots were off - she had never liked wet clothing. Or hair, he recalled, hearing the snap of a hair tie and the sifting of damp locks. The another creak; she had shifted closer. He could hear her breath and could determine just how many inches away she was.

"You know Lucien, I never was angry."

"I was," was his simple, unabashed response.

Despite all of the guilt that he had carried through those long years, guilt that grew heavy with age, heavier still as it accumulated dust and was forced away into a corner of the mind in a vain attempt to be forgotten ... did any of that still hold valid now that he knew Leena was alive and well?

His mind wasn't allowed to wander further than that, not yet at least, now that Leena was leaning over him, grasping at the stake. Magnifique. Well. He knew it had to be done eventually, but why so soon -

"Foutre dieu!" Lucien hissed, biting down on his tongue to stem the obligatory and compulsive string of blasphemies that wished to follow. Withdrawing the stake had only opened the wound right back up again (literally), sending renewed waves of pain coursing through every fiber of his body. He couldn't recall a battle wound having hurt that much, at least not for a very long time. Hmph. He'd have to return the favor to that man the next time that they met.

"'Tis ... 'tis nobody's fault," he mumbled, his good hand reaching up, groping about for the buttons of his coat so that he could help unfasten them. Next the shirt; he clumsily undid the tie, then enough buttons so that he could slip both the coat and shirt off of the bad shoulder, taking care not to jar the wound too much.

While doing so, his lithe fingers were briefly tangled by the delicate chain around his neck; there was the musical clink of jewelry, but he habitually swept the necklace out of the way, focused instead on rearranging his clothing to expose the wound.

After cleaning it with both water and antiseptic, Lucien eyed with faint apprehension the needle and thread that Leena was preparing. His worry was fleeting, though; he had had this done to him plenty of times before, most often by Edmond and Camilla, like during Yorktown.

He sucked in a deep breath and let it out in a long sigh, urging himself to relax. This time, he didn't even wince when Leena pierced his flesh with the needle; it was nothing compared to the pain of the wound itself. Still, that didn't mean he liked to watch it, and he tilted his head the other way, distracting himself with the sparse but meaningful decorations adorning the walls: blankets, baskets, jewelry ... paintings.

-----

"Sit still! I'm almost done," Camilla growled, peering around her easel to glare at Leena, who was seated a few paces away at the fountain in the center of the plaza.

"'Tis worth every minute that your rear will be sore," Lucien assured Leena with an amused chuckle as he hovered behind Camilla, arms folded and fingertips drifting through his curls as he watched his sister meticulously dabbing corrections into the canvas.

Leena huffed, wrinkling her nose and twirling her parasol over her shoulder. "Rapido! My nose itches!"

"Luce go take care of that for her," Camilla muttered, her nose an inch away from the painting.

"Quoi!? Tu es ridicule!" Lucien snorted, before the siblings melted into harmonious laughter, which was naturally contagious and quickly infected Leena as well.

"Tada! C'est fini," Camilla finally announced, hopping up and dumping her pallet and brushes into the easel box before throwing her arms up in the air in triumph. "Viens le voir!" she urged, running over to Leena and tugging at her arm to pull her over to the painting.

It was a wonderful likeness of Leena, the style very blurred between the rigid David-esque classicism and a more wispy, Rococo whimsy, à la LeBrun. The colors were warm and soft, conveying with unquestionable skill the gentle but fiery spirit of the woman it portrayed.

"Tu l'aimes? C'est bon, oui?" Camilla gushed, hopping up and down expectantly while Lucien rolled his eyes, setting a hand on Camilla's shoulder to push her back down to the ground.

"Sí! Sí, es perfecto!" Leena exclaimed, ecstatic, as she lunged at Camilla to pull her into a hug. Camilla giggled, affectionately planting a kiss on each of Leena's cheeks, before pulling away.

"Okay, your turn, you grumpy butt," Camilla snorted, pushing Lucien over to the fountain.

"And God help you if your nose itches!" Leena added with a vengeful laugh, before sweeping over to Camilla's side to return to admiring the completed portrait.

-----

Before Lucien had even realized it, Leena had spoken up, already finished with patching up the wound, and he sighed again in relief, turning his head to try to see it. "C'est déjà fini?" Relaxing further, he raised his good hand again, pushing his disheveled curls out of his face. "Merci," he sighed. "Encore."

While Leena tidied up the apparatus, Lucien laid in silence for a few moments, his mind already back to wandering. Vigilance spurned him to question Leena about those people at the bridge, but his more human curiosity was more concerned with what she had been up to in their long, long absence. Despite his earlier anxieties though, he was delighted, almost childishly giddy, at how seamlessly they had become re-accustomed to one another's presences. As if they had never parted in the first place. This, this was the sign of a true friend.

Still he said nothing, though, waiting for her to take care of herself, first. Another moment in her sopping wet shirt and he was certain that she would go mad.

Whenever she did return to the bedside, Lucien's fingertips were drifting curiously about the wound, probing at its fringes without coming too close. He immediately drew his hand away, though, guilty, like a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

He turned his head to look up at her again, and finally, finally he was allowed a moment to actually study her, this time without the impediment of shock, or the distractions of a battle.

The faintest smile of adoration crept onto his features, then. She really was just as he remembered, especially now that she wasn't consciously trying to hide behind a false wall of apathy. Certainly, there was the change of clothing and style; that was to be expected, and Lucien was accustomed to seeing it pass. She was a bit leaner than he remembered, and her eyes spoke of fatigue, the latter with which he could definitely relate. No doubt this was all due to her hardships.

But beyond that, he still saw the same Leena, the same bright, compassionate survivor. She may not have been 'free' when Lucien and Camilla had known her, but her spirit had still managed to be.

Silently he extended a hand to her, unable to move much further than that. His hand found hers, and he tugged it closer, raising it to his lips to plant the softest of kisses in the center of her palm. Then he shut his eyes, appearing distraught, suddenly. He pressed her hand to his cheek, cupping it there.

"I ... I long to know how ... how you accomplished what Camilla and I could not. How did you escape that place?" Leena would of course know just what he was talking about, but for the sake of his peace of mind, he wanted to hear it. After all, despite his attempts to put it out of his mind, to distance himself with the comfort of passing years, it was something he had always wondered about, something that he had prayed for; something that even occasionally invaded his dreams.

[Leena Esmie Castillo]

Leena didn’t quite know what to say. He was angry? If only all these years she knew he had thought about her. Was it pathetic of her to feel better to know he cared? Was she really damned by all the poets and authors of the past that clamed women up to be these objects of pure love and passion? She didn’t know why. She had always loved Lucien. But here as he sat claiming that he had been angry made her fall in love with him all over again. It was an impossible process. For someone to take your heart, stomp on it and then attempt to put the pieces back together again and be willing to sit there and force them to fit. Things might have been rough around the edges but once the pieces were turned just right; the match made sense. His cursing as the stake was pulled from his shoulder. She did feel bad for having to hurt him but as she continued the long process she realized that he had grown eerily silent. She didn’t want to ruin his train of thought. Leena had gotten back to her feet carrying the basin and two clothes back towards the bathroom. She studied her tiny scar in the mirror as the flesh was able to heal rather quickly due to the fact that it was just a tip of the stake. She made it out pretty lucky of course thanks to Lucien. Leena walked towards her armoire along the wall which was half outside the bathroom and towards the bed area.

She quickly slipped the shirt off tossing it over the amoire then sliding the skirt off. She stared at the clothing in disgust. Leena pulled another shirt from the bottom of the shelf before sliding it over her head. She then picked up a pair of tiny shorts slipping them over one leg then the other. She closed the amoire fixing the messy bun a little bit so it wouldn’t fall out quite as easily. She turned the corner just in time to catch Lucien dropping his hand from the stitches. Leena placed her thumb and index finger on each side of her nose as she shook her head. ” En serio?” Leena questioned. She dropped her hand from her nose placing it on her hip which was sticking out in her ‘do-not-mess-with-me’ fashion. She picked up the hand crossing both over her chest shaking her head as she felt his eyes on her. She watched as his features slowly melt into a smile, it was contagious. She couldn’t be any more upset with him then she could be with any other loved one. It was strange that years of pent up frustrations could be all removed within a first meeting and then of course the second. She didn’t know who she could truly be outside of the walls of the Ministry but she knew it couldn’t be in London all the time.

Leena watched him pick up his hand. She tilted her head before moving a few steps. She kicked her boots further away taking his hand within hers. He tugged it and for a man who had just been stabbed with a stake it was with a surprise amount of force. Her face remained emotionless as he placed a kiss on her palm, it was so strange; so very strange that he would appear and now. However, the more she tried to fight him away. The harder his dagger swung. She smiled. More smiles had appeared today than they had in her last couple life times. Her fingertips brushed his cheek gently as her hand cupped his cheek. Leena wasn’t prepared to hear the next part. He wanted to know how she had escaped Edmund’s wrath. Some called it luck but Leena knew better then to think it was just luck. She knew she played a part in her Madre Maria’s plan. It was just figuring out after all the bad how the good could arise. She neared Luce’s good side away from the stitched shoulder, crossing her legs on the bed leaning against his side. Her fingertips slowly dwindled from his cheek, down his neck and rested on his chest. ”Some personas may call it luck, but I know Lucien that she had other plans for me,” Leena nodded once more. ”You do remember Tig? The ever so ‘classy’ right hand man…well”

”You cannot come with us, mi amor,’ Edmund claimed. His small pouch of rare coins being held against his waist, ”Edmund, por favor, consider it?””Italy is no place for a woman of your looks, you must stay here and stay safe. You are one of the few things I care about,” It was always the problem. His love was never genuine. It was ownership. Marti spat at Tig’s feet before picking himself up off the wall and trailing behind Edmund. ”Oh and Tig, be sure no repeats of history occur, I do not want my pet to be involved with others, I enjoy her when she’s fresh,” Leena rolled her eyes. The curls cascading down her neck as she walked back into the castle. Tig walked also very solider like as he neared the window. ”Bonita…no?” Leena asked turning to look at him. Tig’s second in command was standing at the door, sword at the ready. ”Si Senorita, bonita…indeed,” He replied his eyes watching as Leena twirled a piece of hair near her neck. Leena caught his very eye giving him a soft smile as an idea surfaced. ”Tonight it will only be yourself General Tig y Mesha, no? I am making de dinner tonight,” She replied with a grin. Tig nodded slowly. ”Very kind of you, we would appreciate the kindness,”Leena curtsied before disappearing into the kitchen.

”He claimed to have planted the underground tunnels with various men that way he could completely capture Italy,” Leena placed the fork between her lips gently pulling it out as she watched Tig’s gaze once more. She had him right where she wanted him. ”More wine, general?” Tig nodded, eyes still transfixed on her lips. Leena smiled once more before filling the glass. The table chatter had been quiet and quaint. Leena did her best as hostess to make sure both men had plenty to drink that night. ”May I escort you back to your chambers?” He asked through a small hiccup. Leena gave a quick nod of the head, standing from her chair. She placed her hand out for Tig to take as he missed not receiving it until the third try. ”General, are you feeling well?” She asked. He continued up the stairs until finally the reached Leena’s chamber. It was no secret that Edmund favored many. Certain woman received better rooms then others depending on how much he enjoyed her. According to Tig’s tipsy state he claimed that Leena had the best room and also the one Edmund spent the most time in. ”You can stand guard outside tonight,” Tig stated as the man leaned against the opposite door of the one Tig closed behind him. ”Do you need anything else, Leena?” Leena had already the perfect plan brewing in the back of her mind. No one’s wrath was worse than a vengeful, broken hearted, Latina woman. Leena dropped the shawl that she had been wearing leaning back on her bed. ”With Edmund gone, who will keep me company?” Tig paused for a moment staring at the forbidden fruit. Leena stood once more slowly pulling at her left strap, then reaching up and pulling her hair out of the messy bun letting it fall against her olive skin.

Tig had only taken moments before he was rushing to her aid. Leena made quickly with disarming the sword, than she went for the armor. She noted the way the armor fastened together. She smiled as Tig’s kisses were heated and rather heavy with alcohol. She had him exactly where she wanted him. He pushed her legs back against the bed before he began his ritual. Leena stood up as the sheet tied Tig around a bed poster and had been knotted a few different times. Just enough to keep the man from falling completely over, ”Puta,” He cried, letting his head lull back from the incredible headache. Leena had dressed herself up in some of the best pants, black leather boots, she pulled her hair out from the bun before pulling Tig’s hat from the bed and placing it on her head. She grinned as he called her a puta. ”Ah bebe, I’ll always be the best you never had,” She placed a kiss against his lips before picking up his pants from the floor pulling a small leather pouch out and placing it in her corset top. She ran back towards the dresser opening it up and taking out Lucien’s dagger. She sheathed it on her hip before pulling open the door. The last guard stood at attention. ”Get ‘er!” Tig shouted, his words slurring. The guard lunged as Leena grabbed the dagger from its place, slicing the man’s throat in an upper hand motion. She turned using her left leg to kick him in the stomach before making her descent down the stairway.

It had been perfect. Edmund needed most of his men alive and well with him setting up the new business he had in Italy. Leaving only Tig the one who desired the forbidden fruit almost as much as Marti and one lackey, It was a foolish move. Edmund had thought he had broken her spirit by locking her away in those chains. In reality he only made her stronger. She bowed her head signing the cross before kissing the blade. ”Gracius Mi amor,” She placed the dagger back against her hip before running down the steps. Step 1 was to get rid of Tig, Step 2 was to set him up so Edmund wouldn’t trust anything out of his mouth, Step 3 kill the lackey, Step 4 escape with enough money to get to the Ministry, Step 5 convince them to help her. She ran towards the stable pushing the large wooden frame open before pulling out the prized stallion. Leena turned sideways pulling herself up onto the horse bareback before grabbing the mane. She kicked gently , leaning forward as the horse ran as fast as he could towards the station. Now if she could simply get the Ministry to believe her she was home free. Leena stared down at the dagger that gently placed pressure against her side with every leap. She would find him one day.

Leena had tucked her head against Lucien’s chin making herself quite comfortable in his presence once more. Her hand tracing gently against his chest, ”… you see sometimes the forbidden fruit is desired so much it can destroy a person. I was dee thing that none of them could have, it was the best thing I could have done. I was just fortunate it enough that Edmund was away in Italy. He couldn’t have gotten back fast enough he tried. By den, I was already in de Ministry seeking the first Senoras help, she already knew I was coming. She was a berry berry wise seer,” Leena replied. She smiled up to Lucien. ”I suppose you and Camilla couldn’t figure that one out because there should have been something so much harder, but that is not what matters now,” Leena replied with a firm nod. She turned in his arms leaning to the nightstand opposite of where the basin had been. She pulled the drawer open picking up a bright red cloth. She slowly unfolded the cloth to reveal Lucien’s dagger. She formed back to where she had been previously sitting setting the cloth on her lap. Leena closed her eyes slowly feeling the weight of the lashes take over.”You see mi amore, even when you were not beside me, you were still—with me,” Leena replied placing Lucien’s hand that was holding hers against her heart. ”You were still guiding me and offering your chivalrous protection,” Leena opened her eyes placing her head back down against his chest. ”Even today centuries later you step into a mess and get injured to assist me,”She smiled against his chest. ”You are truly a remarkable person Lucien, I prayed, every night in dat prison that you and Camilla found sanctuary,“

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[Lucien Villette de Séraphin]

Any lingering apprehension that Lucien might have had quickly melted away once Leena had sunk into a seat beside him. In face of Leena's emerging warmth, he found that his guilt diminished. Their paths may have been separated for a handful of lifetimes, but to know that Leena had found her own way, and he and Camilla theirs, only to end up here hundreds of paces down the way; the last time that he could recall such joy in his heart was when he and Camilla had found Edmond and Valentina again, in that cramped little cottage in Bordeaux during La Deuxième guerre mondiale.

His fingertips stroked lightly, absentmindedly, over Leena's hand, but he was silent as she recounted her escape. He sucked in an irritated breath at the mention of this elusive Edmund, letting out in a frustrated sigh, but still he said nothing until she was finished. His gaze was distant, perhaps still trying to imagine everything, but that was not as important anymore. Leena said the same thing.

But as she went on, still lavishing praises on him, he quickly, stubbornly shook his head, though his eyes followed his hand as she pressed it to her chest.

"You give me far too much credit, chérie," he murmured, glancing back to her before averting his gaze again with a sigh. "I do not think that any amount of apologies on my behalf can serve to fill the void of mine and Camilla's absence, but ... " he trailed off for a moment, hesitant, as if unsure as to how to word his thoughts, of if he even wished to word them. But then he forged ahead, his brow knit. "I ... I think that, in this moment, what I desire most is for you to absolve me of my guilt. Camilla and I ... we were guilty of being powerless to aid you, and then I, I did not come seek you out later for fear of stirring the hornet's nest again, for fear of making your situation even worse." He cupped a hand over his eyes, shaking his head, but his tone was drained and defeated, as if this were something he had been carrying ever since, tucked away in the back of his mind in an attempt to forget. "I am guilty of trying to forget, of trying to move on, because in many cases the heart does desire ignorance over painful remembrance. But I could not, I did not, I ... "

He paused again, stifling a spontaneous sob. "Chérie, you did so much for my sister and I, and I still feel that we abandoned you. I do not deserve your praises nor your affection, both of which you give so selflessly. Yet I am still eternally grateful for them - literally, I suppose," he added with a halfhearted smile even while he blinked away a tear, pulling his hand from his face. His fingertips dipped beneath the half-undone neckline of his shirt, then, feeling for a moment before scooping out the exquisite silver crucifix that Leena had gifted him with seemingly ages ago.

Of course, the delicate chain now bore the relics of others - the rings of Valentina, Séraphine, and Arlette - but they were there because they were all important memories that deserved to be held close to the heart. It was fitting, too that they were bound together by Leena's chain, for without Leena's part in his and Camilla's lives, the siblings certainly would not have been around to make more memories.

"I hope that you do not wish to have it back. I have grown very attached to it," Lucien jested quietly, smiling across at her. "You were our sanctuary, chérie. I do not know what good I have done for God to decide that I was privy to cross your path again, but ... you are here now, and this is what is most important."

With another sigh, though this time from warmth rather than guilt, he shifted his bad arm, trying to reach to stroke at her hair, but failing that - another shot of pain dissuaded him from the gesture - he settled instead for an affectionate nuzzle at the crown of her head, accompanied by a gentle kiss planted upon her temple.

He was silent for another moment, content to simply soak in Leena's presence, but after a little while, he tilted his head, trying to see his shoulder.

"Is it ... is it healing?" He was anxious about the effects of the stake and its potential in impeding the healing process.

[Leena Esmie Castillo]

Leena turned to stare into Luce’s eyes. He had obviously thought about it a lot. Which in any other given circumstance she would have taken the time to gloat that she made him feel something beyond mere physical pleasure; it was rare that Leena herself found something to hold onto back in those days that was beyond the average tap and go. He was rare, Camilla was as well. The friendships, the love, she could never replace them. She leaned closer smiling softly brushing his tears from his cheeks. He was beating himself up far more then she could have. She had been angry the first moment they had met but it truly wasn’t anything close to anger. It was all hurt. But as she sat in front of him watching him fall apart all of his apologies she knew he was sincere. She couldn’t mistake the obvious pain in his eyes that she only knew too well when she felt it as well. ”Mi amor…you have beat your-self up more than I could have, please, no more of these painful memories. The past is de past. Things would have been terrible. As much as I wanted and waited for you both to return to me, I knew, I hoped, I prayed you were both so berry far away,” She lifted a finger to brush another tear from his eye. She tilted her head to the side pursing her lips as he lifted the necklace from his chest. She lifted her head completely her jaw dropping a bit. She couldn’t believe he had kept it. Well she had hoped of course since it was the last piece of her madre but at the same moment she didn’t expect him too. ”Nonono. I just—I’m so—the word has escaped me, impressed? Shocked…Lucien didn’t know how much the small gesture meant to her. She curled her lips as he smiled claiming that she was their sanctuary.

She wasn’t quite sure if she truly believed it. She couldn’t be anything but trouble. To this day she would still be considered a problem to those she loved and cared about. He was still out there running around and one day her past would catch up to her. If she didn’t believe it before she certainly did now as she sat in front of Luce. He was solid proof that it was bound to happen again. She nodded in agreement as he claimed that this moment was the most important thing. ”Agreed. The past has already happened but there is still more to simply happen,” Leena scrunched her nose realizing the saying didn’t hold quite the same meaning as it did it Spanish but she hoped it still got the point across. She genuinely smiled as she felt Luce’s lips on the crowd of her head as he nuzzled her head. He still had the same effect on her that he had all those years ago. There was something about him that proved that life didn’t have to be as terrible as she learned it was. He was the tiny silver light that offered hope in the dark cave. She would cling to it. Any hope was promising now. She realized she had gotten lost in her thoughts as he asked how it was healing. She turned in her spot so she could easily pull the make shift medical gauze away noticing the skin was no longer red and inflamed but instead was normal pale well as normal as they were. She smiled pulling the rest of it from his shoulder. ”Excellente!” Leena exclaimed turning to Luce and smiling.

She pulled it away and set it on the nightstand next to them before returning the rest of the kit that was near them. She used the back of her finger to touch the tender skin slowly before nodding her head. ”No permanent damage senor, solo a slower heal,” Leena was more than just relieved. She couldn’t stand the idea of him being seriously injured because he came to her rescue. They were the same people just trapped in a different decade. It was how they had always been. ”Dis is wonderful, I was certain he had injured your beautiful piano players,” Leena grinned turning and tilting her head to the side then pressing her lips to Lucien’s softly. Her lips had almost forgotten what his used to feel like. The way the flesh that was meant to be attached to a person with no feelings or emotions could feel alive once more. It was almost like the first kiss all over again. Something that proved she was still alive even though she wasn't living. She longed for the way that Lucien used to make her feel. She missed the pure human form of passion and longing and envy, he was the closest she had ever gotten to feeling anything like it. Forgetting that in fact decades had past and they were two different people now. The moment she realized exactly what she was doing it dawned on her that she was completely over stepping her boundaries. She quickly pulled away. She wasn’t quite sure if it was the excitement of his healing or just the overall reminiscing of the past. The memories and flashbacks were hard enough to deal with but he was here. He was sitting right across from her on her bed. She couldn’t have wanted a better chapter to come in this section of her life novel. Live often threw in plot twists and this was one she wanted to welcome with open arms. She flushed chuckling staring back into Lucien’s eyes. ” No mas of dis sad, we have made it dis far, that is always something to celebrate, right? She laughed biting down on her lip softly wanting to kiss him again. ” Besides…I feel as though I should apologize for my behavior, but you see that would be a lie because I would not be sorry for kissing you, if anything--years were simply wasted not kissing you,” Leena replied with a distinct playful wink. For a moment she almost forgot their battles and troubles earlier. For once she just wanted it to be them. Not the rest of the drama the world created for them or that they were different just the two of them like it used to be.

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[Lucien Villette de Séraphin]

Lucien's eyes briefly drifted shut when he felt Leena's fingertips brush over his cheek, catching a stray tear. But her reassurances did, again, instill him with warmth, warmth derived from relief, from reluctant happiness. Yes, yes, tout sera bien. Everything had culminated in this moment, and one could not perpetually wallow in regret - something of which he was quite guilty. Sometimes this anxiety was so tenacious that it prevented one from enjoying the moments that were meant to be enjoyed - moments like this one.

Thus a tentative smile managed to find its way back to the vampire's features, and he blinked across at her, silent for a moment as he let his thoughts wander.

His gaze dropped to his shoulder again as Leena unraveled the bandage. Thankfully the flesh was already sealed up; a dark bruise and still-tender skin had taken its place, but it was progress. A grateful sigh escaped him then, as well as another faint smile at Leena's jesting.

There were still plenty of questions to ask, but his mind was beginning to grow weary of questions and of anxieties. Fatigue was starting to dampen the tumult of mental queries, and just in time too, as Leena's sweet and distinctive scent interrupted his dying train of thought on account of her closeness. Then there was the familiar and much-missed warmth of her lips, just as soft as he recalled them to be, a softness that extended beyond simple physical observation. There was something more significant, something not unlike genuine affection.

His only reflex could be to return it, the gesture inquisitive and innocent despite the many kisses of varying chasteness (or lack thereof) that they had exchanged before. But it was a reminder of better days, of an oasis of pure and simple and genuine love lost to the surrounding ravages of time in all its apathy.

Leena, however, seemed startled by her gesture, and when she pulled away, Lucien only laughed a quiet laugh, blinking questioningly at her again. The warmth had returned to his smile again, sans reluctance, and gently he cupped a hand to her cheek, allowing the pad of his thumb to trace over the parting of her lips.

"Oui, bien sûr," Lucien chuckled, still smiling. He tilted his head slightly, inquisitively, though he silenced her rambling with leaning forward to steal another kiss, this one just as soft and curious as the last, though he allowed it to linger for a few moments longer without a trace of apprehension.

His fingertips drifted lightly over her cheek, and though he was the one to break the kiss this time, he didn't draw away completely, nudging his nose against the bridge of hers, before a wispy sigh escaped him. Eyes closed, he rested his forehead against hers, simply soaking in the reality of her presence.

Eventually it was the fatigue, again, that forced him to pull away, almost regretfully. With another wordless smile at her, he sank back onto the bed to lie back down, being careful with the still-healing shoulder. He tugged his curls out of the way before properly settling down.

"I should rest," he mumbled, his eyes closed again; it took increasing effort to keep them open. But without looking, his hand nearest to Leena crawled across the covers, searching for hers and grasping at it gently. He wanted to word something, probably a request to stay, but he had already drifted off before anything further could leave his lips.