Lingering Crystal Dust

Ten years later... Lyle's POV:

I fluttered my eyes open as my head pounded. There was a sharp pain in the back of my head. What happened? Did I lose consciousness? I was leaned up against a wall, my legs about to give out from under me, straining to keep me up.  I felt a little panicked as I looked around the room, finding a pile of ashes on the ground. Milo! Where's Milo? I caught my brother Sylar running into the room with a gun in his hands and ran up to me. His breathing was heavy. "Lyle! Are you okay?"

"Where's Milo?" I asked quickly. His eyes flicked before mine could. I looked around, spotting a hole in the wall leading to the outside. Milo! I caught my balance quickly and started for the hole in the wall, reaching it quickly and relaxed as my eyes landed on an unconscious Milo. He's okay. Sylar ran up to my side.

"He's bleeding! I'll go get some blood to help heal him," Sylar said quickly and ran off. I don't think he caught the other pile of ashes laying by Milo... but I did. Silas. Those are his ashes. His fledgling's ashes are just a few feet away from me in the room. Milo killed them both... but he done it out of self defense. If only Silas wasn't so jealous of me having the crown... He might still be my brother helping me rule. I've been losing my family for so long now but I never imagined this would happen. I might've thought about it but Silas was raised with me. We were brothers for eight years while our parents loved us both. I felt my eyes start to water. It's all Jason's fault. His family murdered our parents and tore two brothers apart. "I didn't want him to die. I wanted him to accept me as his older brother and king," I mumbled. "That's why I chose for him to leave... to help him. Maybe he would have found out how good of a king I was being and would have came back to me. I wanted him to help me rule, not be my rival. He doesn't understand the other half of his ideal reign like I do.... I'd never want that for anyone." I took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, holding in tears as I walked out to Milo and scooped him up into my arms. There's no way I'll be mad at Milo for what he did though... He's a wonderful fledgling. A great protector. I lifted my wrist to my mouth and bit down into it then gave Milo my wrist, forcing the blood into his mouth. He whimpered and stirred in my arms, struggling then coughed up the blood I was trying to give him when he accidentally hurt himself more, his broken ribs pressing on his lungs. He started struggling to breath and stopped moving, his body tense as he kept coughing then opened his eyes weakly. He looked up at me in a pained daze, looking dizzy as he looked a little sick.

"Milo, you don't need to breath right now. Vampires don't have to breath anyways to survive. Just drink my blood to heal up." I told him and rubbed his head. "Don't worry." He whimpered and squeezed his eyes shut before he opened them again and looked towards my wrist before he weakly tried to drink from me obediently. I could feel him doing his best to give up on breathing, fighting against his instincts to keep doing it as he tried to break his old human habit of depending on air. I watched his poor instincts trying to kick in. Some vampires will go for years without taking a breath. He relaxed after a few minutes of struggling with himself and ended it when he finally got a good swallow of my blood. I heard a small purr from him as he started to drink from me without a problem, his bite wound on his neck beginning to heal first before it could move to the internal, more serious damages to him like his broken bones. I carried him into the house and sat us down on the couch, my muscles ached as they slowly started healing up. Sylar ran in again.

"I called Everest and told him what happened and Esther. Everest is at his mate's family's house. Esther is on her way right now.... I'm sure you don't mind.... Is he healing okay? I asked the maids to bring some blood and the butlers are coming to help clean this place- up." He sniffled and a pained expression went across his face. He looked outside then through the hole in the wall. His bottom lip started to tremble and he wrapped his body up in comfort. "Silas," he mumbled. Milo's eyes went wide with realization and he pushed my wrist away from him, looking towards Sylar worriedly then shrunk against me.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered to me then tried to sit up. I rubbed Milo's back to bring him comfort.

"No," I whispered. "Milo it was self defense."

"He killed him though," Sylar muttered. "He could have knocked him out or something.... He killed both of them." Milo's eyes went wide and he looked towards Stormy's ashes in shock then started to tremble. He looked a little freaked out and I could hear his heart starting to race as he looked towards his bloody hand.

"Oh my lord," he whispered and then jumped to his feet but yelped as his leg gave out from under him and he fell over. I caught him quickly and pulled him back into my lap.

"Milo, you done good protecting me." I kissed his cheek. "I'm not mad at you for defending yourself as well as me. Silas was crazed for our lives. He would have took us both if you wasn't willing to take his." I rubbed his shoulders then. "You done it in self defense and if we were to show this to the court they wouldn't be able to punish you." I looked towards Sylar. "There's nothing Milo could have done to prevent it. He was rushed and wasn't able to think about anything but defending himself. You would have done the same in his place." Milo trembled and buried his face into my neck, wrapping his arms around me as he smelled me for comfort. Sylar looked at me and then backed away slowly and left the room. I wrapped Milo up into my arms and held him closely, rocking him in my arms. He began to relax after a few minutes and then I felt him kiss me softly on the neck as he loosened his grip on me.

"I'm sorry," he whispered again and then nuzzled his head a little closer to me. "H-he just attacked you... and I couldn't let him hurt you.... I love you," he mumbled.

"I love you too," I purred and kissed him deeply. He saved both of us while I was too weak. I pulled back from the kiss and started to carry him out of the room. "I'm going to take you to our bathroom and let you take a shower.... I don't want you to continue through this night in their blood. Let's get it off of you." He nodded and curled up against me.

"O-okay," he whispered. "Thank you...." He really was bloody.... His entire outfit needed to be thrown out. I took him to our room and walked us into the bathroom then sat him down.

"I'll wait on the bed for you," I whispered to him then walked out to the bed and sat down on it, my eyes lingering on the floor. I heard his clothes hit the floor after a few seconds then the water turned on. He yelped when he got in it, but he quieted down and I could smell him getting clean. A maid walked in with two bottles of blood and looked towards me with a smile as she set them down.

"Will that be all?" She asked me sweetly, watching me with a slight worried look in her eyes.

"His clothes are going to need to be thrown out. They're ruined. You can do that later though.... I don't want you to disturb him and freak him out. Bring some blood in before dawn as well. He lost so much blood and I don't want him to wake up during the day starving." She nodded to me and gave a soft smile before she walked out.

"I'll get his clothes when I bring more blood, sir," she told me before she shut the door and walked down the hall. I laid back on the bed and ran my fingers through my hair. I'll have to report this to Jason. He'll probably want a face to face meeting about what happened tonight. Milo came out after a few more minutes, bringing a waft of vanilla and faint peppermint as he walked out as he gently played with his hair. He was dressed in a black tank top and soft looking Prussian blue silk pajama pants. He looked towards me with a faint smile and walked up, gently sitting down on the edge of the bed then bit his bottom lip as he gave me a little worried look before he looked towards the blood and took one, opening it and drinking it. I got to my feet then and started for the bathroom.

"You can have the other bottle as well," I told him and closed the door behind me before stripping out of my dirty clothes and walked into my closet and put some a pair of black silk pajamas. I walked out to him and sat down by him, looking him over.

"You know my favorite color is blue," I purred and leaned in to kiss his neck. He blushed and I heard his heart speed up a little at the kiss. He glanced towards me and then set down the empty bottle as he swallowed the last bit then turned to look at me.

"It is?" He asked me and then blushed.

"Yeah, that color on you is attractive." I gave a playful purr and pushed him onto his back. He blushed big time and then looked up at me as his heart skipped a beat.

"A-attractive?" He asked innocently. I nodded and laid down by him then curled up, getting under the covers.

"I could use a nap," I sighed out. He looked towards me and nodded with a smile as he got under the covers beside me and curled up to me.

"Okay Lyle," he purred softly and then looked up towards me as he watched me lovingly. I pulled him into my arms and laid his head down on my chest, closing my eyes to try to get some shut eye in.

~~~

I woke up to the sound of the door opening and quietly shutting. The heels of a maid clicked on the floor as she walked towards the bathroom, making Milo stir beside me. He sat up a little, groaning a little tiredly as he was woken up by it. I opened my eyes slowly and watched Milo carefully. He seemed to be watching her from beside me, keeping the covers around him as she walked into the bathroom and collected his clothes. She walked out and then paused as she saw Milo watching her then smiled. "I see you're awake master Milo," she said sweetly to him then walked up to the bed and sat down another bottle of blood, clearing away the two empty ones. "Master Lyle asked for me to bring you more blood before dawn. I hope you find it to your likes." She smiled and I felt Milo relax beside me before he purred at her.

"Thank you," he told her softly and then sat up all the way. "I hope you have a good day," he purred to her, watching as she giggled and smiled at him.

"I will," she told him then looked him over before she started walking to the door. "Good day Milo," she said sweetly over her shoulder, gently closing the door behind her. He watched the door for a few moments before he crawled over to the blood and picked it up, starting to drink it with a small moan as he got a taste of it. I sat up then and pulled out my phone, deciding to text Jason.

Me: Jason, my brother won't be around anymore.

I put my phone on the nightstand and laid back down, looking towards Milo. He calmly drank his blood then sat it down before he licked his lips clean and stretched. He glanced towards me and purred softly as he saw me watching him then crawled over to me on the bed and got under the covers before he laid on top of me, nuzzling his head into my chest. I kissed the top of his head and purred. "Good day," I purred. He laughed happily and looked up towards me.

"Good day," he purred back then wrapped his arms around me. He gave me a loving look before he kissed my lips softly. I kissed him back then closed my eyes to try to fall back to sleep. He purred to me and then laid his head against my chest, resting on top of me as he passed out with me.

Sylar's POV:

I was pulled from sleep suddenly as I felt the bed move slightly and smelled a familiar scent... one of silver roses- Silas's favorite flower. The scent was comforting, soothing the pain I felt from his passing, but it made me long for him.... I opened my eyes and glanced around in confusion. "Silas?" I asked. I couldn't hear anything, but I could feel like he was here... right next to me in the bed. His scent was a little stronger too when I opened my eyes. I sat up slowly and looked around the bed then rubbed my eyes. "Silas," I said sleepily and looked towards the curtains, seeing light shining through them. I slipped my blankets over my head to try to go back to sleep. I felt something light brush against my arm before I started to feel warmth around me. I let a moan slip out and opened my eyes. I looked around longingly for my older brother, craving for him. I was suddenly met with Silas's light blue eyes and saw him laying beside me. I gasped and reached out for him with excitement. "Silas," I purred with joy. He smiled a little at me as I reached for him and then reached up his hand, gently touching his to mine, but I could only faintly feel him. "I love you," I whispered. He mouthed something, but I couldn't hear what he was trying to tell me.... It looked a lot like he was trying to tell me he loved me too. His smile grew and he actually looked like he was at peace like this, laying beside me. I looked his lips over, wondering why I couldn't hear him that well. I thought.... I frowned slightly as I tried to make it out. Is he a ghost? He leaned in and I felt something brush against my cheek like he had kissed me there but it was so faint, it was hard to believe he had. He looked down at me with a loving look and I was suddenly reminded of the big brother I looked up to, the one I knew Silas was under that tough exterior of his. He reminded me of the times when he used to play chase with me and feed me himself and spend time with me constantly, when he wasn't so hell bent on the throne.... I felt my eyes start to water. Was he trying to say goodbye to me? I felt panicked by it and wrapped my arms around him. He can't go. He paused and looked towards my arms in confusion then looked towards me. He frowned as he noticed the look on my face then tried to wipe my tears away. I sniffled then. "You're not leaving so soon are you?" I asked selfishly. He watched me for a few minutes before he gave me a soft smile and gently tapped my nose to cheer me up.

"You'll be fine," I heard his voice from him finally, it coming out a soft purr.

"No I won't. I don't want you to go. You're not supposed to leave me." He smiled at me and then rubbed my cheek.

"Sylar, I can't stay forever," he told me. "We'll see each other again though...."

"You're a vampire though.... You can live forever and stay with me...." I looked him over. "I won't let you go."

"My sweet brother," he purred softly. "You can't.... I'm not made out of flesh and blood anymore. I can't stay on this plane of existence with you, even if I wanted to."

"I'll get you back somehow though," I said in determination. "You've got to come back." He frowned at me.

"You can't," he told me and then gave me a firm look. "Even if you could, it would bring disaster. They'd take me from you anyways."

"What if I kept you to myself?" I asked. He frowned at me.

"Kept me to yourself?" He asked with slight confusion. "Like... locked up in here?"

"You wouldn't mind," I said confidently. "You'll be my secret." He went to say something but I couldn't hear him again. He frowned and then gently touched his throat before he gave me a tired expression. He looked me over and then gently kissed my cheek again before he began to fade on me. I widened my eyes and shook my head. "No," I whined and gripped his shirt. "Don't go." He gave me a sweet look before he disappeared on me and I was left with the faint trail of a scent. I started to cry then as he left me and fell face first into my sheets, shaking as he left me. I curled up and let out a soft whine then got to my feet and ran out into the hallway and down in for his room. I ran into Silas's empty bedroom and jumped into his covers, covering up to the scent. I could smell him everywhere, but there was that faint scent of Stormy mixed with it in here, not my pure Silas. I whined as her scent was interrupting his. Why'd he have to get her? I felt like Silas was watching me suddenly as I laid there. I lifted my head quickly and looked around for him. I spotted him faintly in the room, sitting on the couch. He was hard to see, but I could see him just barely, a lot dimmer than before. He must be struggling. I ran over to the couch and sat down by him. He looked towards me in amusement and watched me, tilting his head. I reached out for his shirt. I have to find a way to revive him. I couldn't even touch him this time.... I pulled my hand back and sniffled, watching his light body. He looked at himself and then at me before he got up and walked over towards a nearby speaker and gently touched it, his eyes lighting up in delight as music cut on- one of my favorite songs. I rubbed my eyes and curled up on the couch, watching him. He looked towards me and then started to walk around his room before he faded again when he went near his bed, leaving me again. I sat up quickly, my heart pounding in panic as he left again. I got to my feet and started for the bed, looking for any sign of him. I couldn't find anything. He probably fell off our plane of existence again, too weak.

"What's up with the- Sylar?" I heard Everest's sleepy voice from by the door. "Why're you in here? Did you put on the music? It's early! You should be in bed!" He complained.

"Uh-huh.... I wanted to sleep with it on," I explained so I wouldn't make it out to sound like I was crazy. "I don't want to sleep in my room tonight.... I want to be in here." He frowned a little and then sighed.

"Alright... I hope you don't mind... but I'm going to inform Lyle that you're sleeping in here, alright? If we're attacked... or visited by someone, we need to know where you are... and he needs to know because he's your older brother. He should know if you're okay or not... and you seem to be mourning pretty bad," he mumbled and then pulled out his phone, texting Lyle. "It'll be okay Sylar.... He won't be in pain or have jealousy wherever he went," he told me softly and looked up at me. "He's probably happier...." I nodded and slipped under the covers in the bed, looking towards the door.

"If you don't mind, I want to be alone right now...." I pulled Silas's pillow close to me. He watched me for a few seconds and nodded, sympathy in his eyes.

"Alright," he whispered to me then walked out, gently shutting the door behind him. I heard him sigh softly outside before his scent faded, teleporting away. I slipped out of the covers quickly and started for Silas's closet, going inside. I pulled down his cloak and put it on then started for the door. I'm going to go find a witch and convince her to bring Silas back for me. I slipped down the hallway, trying to be quiet about it incase a servant caught me or worse- one of my siblings. I'll just tell them I'm hungry. I heard the clicking of nearby boots, a butler coming in my direction. I started to panic and ran for it, trying not to be obvious at the same time.

"Hey? Is someone there- Oh, it's master... Sila- no... it couldn't be... but that's his cloak," I heard the butler muttering in confusion, starting to walk faster to catch up to me. I held back a yelp and ran for the stairs. Oh my gosh he's coming for me! "Hey! Wait up!" The butler started in a full out run to catch me. I bit my bottom lip hard as I took off as fast as I could to get away from him, managing to get to the stairs. I took them slower to make sure I wouldn't fall. I noticed they were keeping the room more lit, some of the windows being wide open. "Hey! Don't go down there! You'll get hurt sir!"

"What's going on Matthew?" I heard a feminine voice nearby. "Oh! It's one of- OH MY GOSH, IT'S ONE OF OUR MASTERS! HE'LL GET SUNBURNT!" I blinked a few times as the light was starting to blind me a little, I wasn't use to it at all. I held up my arm to help block the light better, focusing on my feet. I heard them both coming for me, sounding extremely worried as they followed me. They attracted a few more and they started teaming up to trap me to make me go back to my room. I yelped and ran up to the side of the stairs, using the rail to get down to the bottom faster and started for the garage as quick as I could. "He's going for the garage! Hurry! Master Lyle won't be too happy if one of his brothers leave during the day!" I felt my heart pounding with my crystal, scared to death as I braced the bright hallway the servants used during the day. I can't believe they keep these windows open... What if Lyle wants a day trip to town?

"Maybe we should get King Lyle?" I heard a butler suggest.

"Call him," a maid suggested quickly and I heard one of them break away from the pack, going to call my brother on me. I better hurry if I'm going to get this done.... otherwise I'll have to sneak out tonight. That'll be even harder.... Then there is the wolves to worry about if Lyle finds out I'm being secretive and trying to leave the castle. I ran for it, trying to avoid the hall tables.

"King Lyle? I'm sorry for bothering you, but one of your brothers are trying to leave the castle sir," I heard a maid say into a phone. I could hear my brother lightly sounding bothered by that on the other end. I suddenly slammed into a hard chest and heard a light chuckle.

"Hey, I caught him!" I heard a butler yell and his arms wrapped around me tightly.

"Oh! They caught him sir!" I heard the maid say happily. "Would you like us to let him go ahead and go or do you want us to return him to his room and have someone stay outside his room till night? It looks like...." The maid looked over at me from the phone and squinted till her eyes lit up in recognition. "It's Sylar sir." Oh no. I felt the butler rubbing my back to comfort me.

"What's the matter master Sylar? Did you get hungry or something? You could have called us."

"N-no," I grumbled. "I mean yeah, I was hungry." I could hear someone running down the hall then and the phone was hung up. I could barely make out another cloaked figure.

"Sylar, what are you doing?" I heard my brother's firm voice. I shrunk in the butlers arms, fear covering me.

"I was just getting blood," I said innocently. The maid hung up the phone and walked up to Lyle slowly, standing beside him as she waited his orders.

"He was running in the direction of the garage... and he seemed like he didn't want to be caught sir," she whispered, ratting me out. Bitch. I felt the butler's arms tighten around me.

"Close these curtains before one of us gets burned. If he's hungry then get him a bottle of blood and take him to Everest's room. Tell him he's got a babysitting gig." The maid nodded and watched as the others started to quickly close the curtains all the way, making it void of sunlight in the room. The maid that ratted me out walked up and gently took my hand, pulling me from the butler.

"Let's go get you something to eat," she suggested and gave me a smile. I gave a innocent smile her way.

"You know the kitchen is in the other direction," the butler informed me. "The light must have really been blinding you, silly."

"He's young," Lyle purred. I could hear him walking away then. The maid watched him go and then took me to the kitchen, getting me a bottle of blood. I took the blood and swallowed it down with ease before giving it back to her. I should have went through the window. She cleaned it up and then smiled at me before she led me back to Everest's room and let me into it, holding the door for me. I saw Everest curled up to a pillow inside, sleeping soundly on the bed by himself. I looked towards her.

"He's sound asleep. I should go to my room so I don't wake him," I suggested. She grabbed my wrist and then put me inside then shut the door and locked it behind her. I could hear her giving an order to a butler to stay outside the room and make sure I don't leave it. I frowned as I heard it then looked towards my brother on the bed to make sure he was still sleeping. I was relieved to find him still knocked out. I walked into his bathroom and shut the door, locking it then looked around for a window or a air vent I can climb into. I spotted a window just big enough for me to crawl out of that overlooked the garden below. The curtains were drawn though, hiding the sun the best it could. I opened the curtains then the window, looking down at the garden the best I could. I could try to climb down carefully... or fall.... I think I'll be okay if I fall... I just had blood. I heard a lawn mower outside and saw a butler cutting the grass outside while another pruned the bushes and another pulled up weeds in the flower beds. Why are they so active? Don't they ever sleep! I can't go out this way... if I fall they'll reach me before I can recover. I saw a small air vent in the ceiling towards his closet. It'd be a tight fit.... I closed the window, shutting it then took off the cloak. It'll give me more room if I tie it around my foot and drag it behind me. I tied it to my foot with the sleeves then pulled the air vent open and looked inside. I saw two eyes looking back at me before a small mouse scurried off quickly, squeaking in fear. I grabbed my chest, holding it as that small mouse managed to scare me. I crawled into the air vent then, deciding to follow the mouse. It should lead me to somewhere I can crawl out of. I sneezed as I went through a cob web. It led me in the direction of the night room, getting me downstairs as it tried to run away from me. I looked out of an air vent that was over the night room, checking for any servants. I knocked the air vent open quickly and fell into the floor with a heavy thud then grabbed the cloak, untying it and put it on. I sneezed again before going towards a window that was pointed north to the gate. I opened it and slipped out of it, checking for servants quickly. When I found none I took off for the gate, reaching it quickly and punched the code into the gate, waiting for it to open. When it did I took off down the road, hearing a howl nearby in the woods. I followed the hard drive, only able to see it through the blinding sun. I found myself in some shade that enabled me to see where I was going. I'm going to make It! I smiled in pure happiness at my freedom. I suddenly face planted the ground as I tripped over- road kill! There was a dead possum in the road and the smell about killed my nose, making my stomach do back flips. I slipped away from it quickly, feeling my hood slip off my head slightly so I yanked it back on in panic. I got to my feet and ended up holding onto my knees, an overwhelming sense of sleep wanting to take me over. I fell down to my knees and rubbed my head. Stay awake, stay awake. I looked around to make sure I was still in the clear. I've got to make it to town. I will make it. I'm going to find a witch. A black wolf looked out at me from the woods, his golden eyes glowing as he watched me before he walked up and sniffed me calmly. He looked up at me then wagged his tail before he knocked me on his back and looked in the direction of town, starting to run towards it with me on him. I gripped his fur to hold onto him.

"Thank you," I purred with delight. My little savior. He looked up at me before he got me to town rather quickly and ran me up to a decrepit looking building. He sniffed it before he pawed the door open and took me inside into the darkness. He laid down when he got far into the darkness then started to lick his paw as he didn't bother to shake me off. I slipped down to his side and looked around the building then got to my feet, holding the wall for support. I need to fight my sleep. He looked towards me and growled softly before he nipped at my pants leg and pulled me back to the ground then laid on top of me to make me stay down. He watched me then closed his eyes, taking a nap on me. I looked him over and rubbed his head before trying to slip out from under him. He growled and nipped at my shirt, getting some in his mouth before he bit down on it and held it to make me stay. "It's okay," I told him quickly. "I have to do something here." He opened his eyes and looked towards me then sniffed me before he let go of my shirt and growled softly. He licked my eyes, making me shut them. I rubbed my eyes to get them dry. Eweeeeee! I pushed his snout away from me. "I need to go now," I told him. He growled at me and laid on me more firmly. "You've done a fine job getting me here, but please." I rubbed his head. "I'll sleep after I get it done." He looked towards the door that was spilling in a little sunlight then looked at me and gave another growl. "I have my cloak on," I told him, showing it off. "I'll be fine out there." He watched me then got up, tugging on me. I followed him then, wondering why he was tugging on me. He took me back towards the door slowly and then led me out onto the street, staying by my side as he began to stop leading me and follow me. I looked around then for any signs of a witch, deciding to head to a library. That might be a good place to start... I knew where it was too since I passed it a few times while exploring when Lyle was away during his meetings. When I reached it, I stepped inside, closing the door before the wolf could follow me. "No dogs," I whispered. The wolf looked up at me in confusion then jumped up against the door, whining at me as he pawed at the glass. I held up my hand. "Wait," I told him and looked around the library. I suddenly heard scratching instead of pawing like he was clawing at it now. I turned back around and let him in, grumbling. "If I get kicked out," I warned him and then started to walk around the library. "Hello!?" I asked. He followed beside me quietly, sniffing the library before his fur bristled and he let out a sharp growl, racing after a scent. I followed after him with interest. He lead me strait up to a lady stacking books onto a cart. She looked up at me, pushing a pair of glass up her nose. Her hair was brown and curly, running down to her lower back. Her eyes were a bright orange color. I caught her scent, able to tell she was a witch. She was around her early twenties.

"May I help you?" She asked me. Her eyes scanned me over then frowned. "You're going to catch on fire out there." She smirked. "Vampire."

"Yeah but I couldn't wait-"

"Don't bring dogs in a book store. Listen here flea bag, you better turn into a handsome boy in five seconds or your fur is going to be orange for two weeks. When your mates ask what happened to you, you'll turn around to a shaved side of you with my name all over it." My wolf yelped and he was quickly a teenage boy sitting on the ground, curling his legs closer to his body to hide the fact he was naked. His black hair framed his face nicely, bringing out his golden eyes even more as they carried over into his human form. "There's a lost and found in the back," she told him. Her eyes flickered to her book stacking. "So, you two want to have babies or something?" I widened my eyes and shook my head.

"No! I was wanting you- well ask.... see my brother just died...."

"You want me to return him from the dead?" She asked and raised an eyebrow as she looked up at me. My wolf friend scampered off to go find clothes quickly, leaving us with a blush on his face.

"Could you?" I asked quickly.

"Depends on if his crystal dust is still lingering," she told me and started to walk away with the cart, going towards a book shelf. I followed after her, watching her stack the books.

"What do you mean by that?"

"What I mean is, are you experiencing him still being near you but not at the same time."

"Oh- you mean his ghost? Yeah."

"Well I can do it... for a price." A smirk lingered on her lips then. "You're going to have to pay me... I want your fangs." I widened my eyes and stopped dead in my tracks.... My fangs? "Fangs are hard to get for a witch but they're also needed for some potions. If you give me your fangs then I'll bring your brother back from the dead. You get him for all eternity and in five years you'll have new fangs." I rubbed my lips at the thought of loosing them for five years.... Five years..... my fangs?

"Is there something else I could give you instead?" I asked.

"No. This is precious to you," she purred. "If you really want him back then you should be willing to loose your fangs for five years. It beats the alternative of no brother but your fangs." She wheeled the cart onto another row of book cases. I looked at her through the cracks. "Your fangs and a deal." I adjusted my weight on my feet before giving a small sigh.

"Okay," I whispered.

"What was that?" She asked. "I thought I heard you say something."

"Look! I found a wolfy tail!" I heard a voice say as I could smell my wolf running back to me. He proudly showed me a wolf tail he had clipped onto his pants, a chain attached to it too. It was black... like his fur but not as pretty and soft looking. He grinned and then looked towards the books with interest before he started to pull a few off the shelves that she had just put up. I looked him over and purred in amusement before turning my attention to the witch and went onto the row she was on.

"I said I would do it. We have a deal."

"Wonderful!" She said in excitement and snapped her fingers. The books on the carts flung off and onto a shelf they belonged to. I heard the door click and lock then the blinds to the windows shut to make the room dark. Candles lit up suddenly and a piece of paper formed in front of me, writing out a contract of agreement on it with her signature and a space for mine. I heard some chairs to tables scooting into place. My cloak suddenly came off and was placed neatly on the cart. "Sign away and follow me," she purred happily and started off down the row to get off it. I looked the contract over to make sure it wasn't a trap. When I was satisfied with the text, I grabbed a feathered pen from the air and signed my name on the line provided. "One brother's life coming right up for your fangs," she told me. The piece of paper disappeared along with the pen and I felt something hit up against my legs, making me tumble into a chair and it rolled me straight up to where she was waiting for me at a table. There was pliers set up on a piece of cloth along with a empty bottle and one filled with blood. "Let's go ahead and discuss what's about to happen to you," she purred. "I get your fangs first so that you don't bail on me after receiving your precious brother back. We'll go to your place tonight so that you don't burst into flames on the way over." I heard my wolf whimper then.

"You're getting your fangs ripped out?" I heard him ask and he walked up to the table. "Master Lyle won't be happy," he whined, pouting. "I'm going to get in trouble...." I suddenly felt my arms rest on the chair and metal clamped around my wrists. I felt rope rap around my chest to keep me to the chair.

"Just a precaution," she told me. "Open wide, or do you need some extra help?" She lingered her hand over the pliers. The wolf whimpered and looked to the pliers before he ran off, not wanting to see this.

"I can manage to keep-"

"Some vampires say that but end up trying to keep their mouths tight after the first one goes," she told me. "Let's get you some help. WOLFIE, COME HOLD HIS JAWS OPEN, WILL YOU?" I heard him growling on the other side of the shop.

"No way! Lyle will scold me! I don't wanna be a bad dog!"

"That's too bad, it would have been a great selfie. Oh well... CROW!" She hollered and a crow few up to her obediently. She snapped her fingers and suddenly he was a naked male. He looked lovingly towards her.

"Yes mistress?" He asked.

"Hold his jaws open for me darling and mind the teeth," she told him. He nodded as he walked up and stood behind me then grabbed my jaw, suddenly I felt him force my jaws open with an unnatural strength. There's no way I could shut my mouth. I heard her picking up the pliers then and walking up to me. "This is usually when I say, last chance to back out, but you already signed your teeth away to me." She giggled and I felt the cold metal touch one of my teeth. "Now be a good boy and expose those pretty whites." I exposed them and tried to relax my muscles. "One- two-" She yanked it out before reaching three and blood started to pour into my mouth. I felt out a pained scream. I could hear her placing it in her bottle and coming back for the second one. I heard the wolf whimper on the other side of the room then before he ran further into the shop to try not to hear it. I felt the cold metal touch my last fang. "One, two, three, four~" She teased. I closed my eyes tightly. "Five, six, se-"

"Oh come on, don't scare him." The crow rubbed my cheek with his thumb to ensure me I was fine.

"You know I like the tension," I heard her tell him and suddenly she yanked out my last fang. I screamed and felt the crow let me go. He suddenly few off, already transformed back. The chair let me go then and kicked me off into the floor. I heard her closing her bottle of my fangs. She handed me the bottle of blood and rubbed my head. "There, that wasn't too bad." I whimpered and opened the bottles, sucking down the blood so the pain would ease. "I have a room in the back you can rest in until dusk." She told me. I felt the cloak wrap around my shoulders. "Wolfie, come help the fangless beast up." He was back quickly, scooping me up off the floor as he carried me away from her quickly, whining softly.

"I'm in so much trouble," he whispered under his breath as he looked worried. He carried me into the back room and sat me down on a couch before he laid down on the floor and curled up. I curled up to myself and shrunk into the comfort of Silas's cloak. I sniffled as the pain remained in my jaw even after sucking the blood down. I rubbed at my jaw and mourned over my fangs. I won't be able to sink them into Silas when he comes back....