It had been months since our wedding. In this time, I had learned more spells, potions, and practiced with my powers. I had also met some of Mark's druids and followers. The one that scared me the most was Gangrel.
"Victoria, we are expecting some guests. Would you prepare three rooms," Mark asked me.
"Yes, my dear. Who is coming?"
"They are called the Brood. They are three brothers and long time friends of Glen and I."
I did as he asked, and as I descended the stairs, there was a knock on the door. When I opened the door, two men with handsome faces and long blonde hair stared back at me.
"You must be Lady Victoria. I am Edge and this is my brother, Christian."
"Pleased to meet you. I was told there were three of you. May I ask where your other brother is?"
"Gangrel had some business to tend to in town. He will be along in a while."
"Where are my manners!? Please, come in. I will find Mark and Glen."
I found the guys in the shed, preparing a corpse for his funeral.
"Edge and Christian have arrived."
"Thank you, my love." He slipped his apron off, kissed me on the cheek and went inside to greet his friends.
I started to follow him, but Glen stopped me. "I want to warn you before Gangrel arrives. He is not like the other men you have met. What excuse did they give for him not being here?"
"They said he had to tend to some business in town."
"Considering it is still daylight, he is probably sleeping. He is a vampire, also known as Nosferatu. He can not travel by day or the sun will burn him. Also, he drinks blood for his meals. Be careful around him. Avoid being alone with him if possible."
"I will, Glen."
Glen cleaned his hands, and followed me inside. We found Edge, Christian and Mark sitting in the study. Before I could enter the room, there was another knock on the door. I looked out the window and noticed it was still daylight, so it wasn't Gangrel yet. I opened the door and found Mideon standing on the other side.
"Good evening, Lady Victoria. Have the Brood arrived yet?"
"Edge and Christian have, but Gangrel is still in town. And, I wish you would stop knocking on the door. As long as you are staying here, there is no need for you to knock."
"I apologize. I do not feel it is right for me to walk in when this is not my house."
I led Mideon into the study, then went into the kitchen to fix tea. I watched the sun as it was setting on the horizon. Once it was hidden, I turned back to the glasses. I had arranged the glasses and sugar bowl on a tray, then looked out the window again. I was shocked to find a short, slightly plump man with shoulder length curly blonde hair, staring at me from the other side.
"Victoria, are you alright,"Mark asked when he saw me staring out the window.
"I beleive Gangrel has arrived."
Mark looked out the window and said," did you see someone through the window?"
"Yes," and I described the man to him.
"That sounds like him. He probably wanted to look around before he came in. He didn't frighten you, did he, my dear?"
"Yes, he did, but not terribly. Now, may I have a kiss from my lord?"
He wrapped his arms around me and crushed me against his body. He claimed my lips with a passionate kiss. When the kiss ended, he said," anytime you wish to receive one, my lady."
He kissed me again and then we went into the study. I had given the men their drinks, when there was another knock at the door. I opened the door, and there stood Gangrel.
"Good evening, Lady Victoria. My name is Gangrel." He took my hand and brought it to his lips, and gently kissed my knuckles. When he looked up, he gave me a smile that bared his long pointy fangs. "Mark has chosen a most beautiful bride."
"Why, thank you, Gangrel. If you will follow me, I will take you to the others."
"I don't want to join the others. I want to find a secluded place to take you."
"Excuse me, did you say something," I asked, even though I heard him clearly in my mind.
"No, I did not."
Mark and Glen greeted Gangrel as if he were a brother. After they sat down, I took my seat next to Mark and Glen. We sat there chatting for a long while, then I noticed that Gangrel had not taken his eyes off of me since he sat down.
I sat for awhile trying to ignore his blatant stare. "So how did you all meet?"
Edge answered,"our parents died when we were young. We ran away from the orphanage after a few months. The day after we ran away, I happened to run into a brick wall with a name. Mark. He brought us home with him and taught us respect, descipline and his craft. Mark and Glen have been our teachers and 'brothers' since then."
Evidently, Gangrel was bored with the conversation. He yawned and announced he was going to his room. We all watched as he walked out of the room.
"What is wrong with Gangrel," Glen asked Edge and Christian.
"I don't know. He was just fine before we left. Maybe his supper did not agree with him," said Christian.
Mideon decided to go outside and sit on the porch. He seems to be more comfortable with Mother Nature than with other humans.
I began to feel tired, so I told the men goodnight and went upstairs. When I reached the top of the steps, I saw Gangrel standing outside his door, chalice filled with what I could only guess was blood.
"Going to bed so soon?"
"Yes. I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow."
"Are you sure you don't want to find a secluded place, and find out what I'm like in bed?" He brushed his hand across my cheek and down my neck.
"I do not appreciate the way you are acting, and I don't beleive Mark would, either."
"I do not care what he thinks. He means nothing to me. I only came here to see what kind of woman he has found and take her home with me."
"I go nowhere with out my husband, and I will always be true to him."
I walked down the hall to Mark's and my bedroom. When I closed the door behind me and locked it, Gangrel's voice is what I heard in my head. "You can lock your door, but it won't keep me out. If you change your mind, you know where I am."
"Go to hell, Gangrel! I want nothing to do with you."
"I could offer you more than he ever could."
I could take no more. Since Mideon was the one who taught me how to mindspeak, I went to him to find out how to block someone else from doing the same. I ran down stairs, and past the study. Mark called out for me, but I ignored him. Gangrel was still speaking to me, but I could not understand him.
I found Mideon sitting on the back porch, looking at the stars.
"Lady Victoria, what is the matter?"
"How do I block mindspeach?"
"What's happened, Victoria," Glen asked from behind me.
"Gangrel has been mindspeaking to me, and I don't like what he has said." I told them what he said.
A cold wind blew, and Gangrel stepped out of the shadows. "What's going on here?"
"As if you didn't know,"I said through clenched teeth.
"I have done nothing."
"Go inside and stay with Mark. We will deal with Gangrel later."
"Are you sure? You don't want me to get Mark to come out here?"
"I'm positive. Don't worry. I beleive every word you said."
I went back in through the kitchen door, and almost ran into Mark.
"Are you alright, Victoria?"
"Yes, my dear. Nothing to worry about."
He draped his arm over my shoulder and guided me back to the study. Glen came back in some time later, and we talked for a while longer. Then, Mark and I retired for the evening.
In the middle of the night, I awoke with a parched throat. I walked down stairs and fixed myself a glass of tea. I heard someone come into the kitchen, but did not turn around.
Then, a hand slipped onto my shoulder and down my arm until it was parallel with my breast. The hand gently cupped my breast, with the thumb rubbing my nipple. The hand then slid down between my legs and caressed the tender flesh through my thin nightdress. The hand rubbed my neck, then down my spine. He touched my neck again, and I tilted my head.
A pair of lips kissed my neck, then I felt a painful pinch. Then, his voice came to me.
"Do not scream, or they will find you in a most compromising position."
I didn't understand what Gangrel was saying, until a breeze blew through the open window. I was standing there, naked, in front of Gangrel. I tried to get away from him, but he rushed his arm around my waist as soon as I moved. His other hand slid between my legs and tickled my clitoris. I tried to reverse my hips from his touch, but came into contact with the growth in his trousers.
"I will release you for now, but if you do not come with me, you will die next time."
He pulled his teeth out of my neck, and licked the last few drops away, then released me from his grip. I knelt down and picked up my nightdress to cover my body. When I turned around, he was gone. I ran up the stairs as fast as I could, without waking everyone up. Once I made it back into the bedroom, I threw my nightdress under the bed and climbed in next to Mark.
He stired and awoke after I snuggled close to him. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me. He rubbed his hand down my side, then gripped my hips and pulled me closer to his erection. He rolled onto his back, and pulled me with him. I slid his long shaft inside my hole, and reveled in the shear pleasure. I rode him until he released his seed within me.
He wrapped me in his arms, front to back, and fell asleep. Emotion flickered past me like flames in a breeze. Fear that Gangrel would kill me. Comfort from being in Mark's arms. Hurt that I may have to leave him. Joy in knowing that Mark and Glen would kill him if anything happened to me. I buried my head in Mark's arm and fell asleep.

The next morning, I awoke alone. I sat up and stretched my body, and the smell of breakfast was swirling in my nostrils. I dressed and went down to the kitchen, where I found 'the Lord of Darkness' leaning over the stove.
"Good morning, Mark."
He must not have seen me come in, because he jumped and almost hit his head on the cabinet above him. "Victoria, you gave me a start!"
"Sorry, my love. I did not mean to scare you. Do you want some help?"
"Please, take these to the table. Then, will you set the table," he asked while handing me a plate of bacon and one of pancakes.
I did as he asked. When I returned to the kitchen, Edge was standing next to the counter, talking to Mark.
"Good morning, Lady Victoria."
"Good morning, Edge."
We took the last of the food and juice to the dining room, where Glen and Christian were talking. We ate breakfast, then went our seperate ways. Glen decided to help me clean the kitchen.
"Did you have any more problems with Gangrel last night?"
"Actually, yes I did." I turned down the collar of my dress and showed him the bite marks. He examined them.
"We have to tell Mark."
"I was scared to tell him what happened. I was worried he would think it was my fault."
"He loves you, and would not place blame on you that is not justly due."
We finished the kitchen and I went to get Mark. He was in the stables with Edge and Christian. Once they were in the study, Glen walked in with Gangrel. Glen pushed Gangrel into a chair in front of me and Mark.
Glen put his hands on Gangrel's shoulders and looked at us. "It seems we have a problem child in our Ministry. Gangrel attacked Lady Victoria last night. Will you show Mark, Victoria?"
I wanted to show him, but I couldn't move. It seemed that Gangrel had a mental hold on my body.
"Victoria," Glen yelled," show Mark where he bit you!"
I still could not move. Mark reached out and pulled down the collar on my dress. I watched as the anger washed over his face. He slowly got up, and retrieved the sword hanging on the wall. He touched the blade to Gangrel's face. His face smoked and when Mark took the blade away, there was a burn on his face.
"Dipped in holy water," Mark said answering Gangrel's questioning look. "The water may have dried, but the power is still there."
"What should we do, Mark" Glen asked.
Mark was right in Gangrel's face. "Do you know what we do to traitors?" Gangrel shook his head no. "We abuse them beyond recognition, but this is very personal. She is my wife! You will have to die."
He swung the sword over his shoulder, but Edge and Christian stepped in front of Gangrel. "We can't let you do it, Mark. He is our brother. No matter the deed, I will not let him die."
"Then you would let him do this to your wives?"
They pondered his words for a moment, then shook their heads and stepped out of the way. With a quick swing of the sword, Gangrel's head was separated from his shoulders. His head laying on the floor, an evil sneer forever on his face. Glen opened the drapes, and let the remains burn into ashes.
Mark knelt before me and took my hands in his. "Victoria, my dear, are you alright?"
"Yes, Mark. It seems his spell was broken when you killed him." I turned to look at Edge and Christian. "I'm sorry you lost your brother, but it had to be done."
"We understand, Lady Victoria," said Edge.
Mark took me to the bedroom and laid me on the bed. Mark returned to the study, while I tried to rest. My dream gave me a look at the future.

Mark and I are in a room when a child rides his tricycle into the room. The child has dark auburn hair and smokey green eyes, just like Mark. He picks the child up from his bike and holds him close. Mark hands the child to me and I lay him down in a bed and tuck him in. 'Goodnight, Christopher' Mark tells the child. 'Goodnight, my son,' I tell the child. 'Goodnight, father. Goodnight, mother.'
I rushed down stairs as fast as I dared. I walked into the study and saw Mark and Glen sitting on the setee.
"Mark, I have some news for you."
"What is it, my dear? Are you hurt? Are you sick?"
"Mark, I had another dream. We are going to have a child."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course. We will have a son."