Bodies pressed together tightly, moving in time to the music as the lights flashed continuously, in almost mind numbing patterns. Dry ice fog drifted up from the floor. Black lights gave everyone a freakish look, illuminating hair, eyes, clothes. Despite the tightness of bodies, the room was cold, almost meat locker storage.

The DJ was playing an interesting mix of techno remixes, something from Rob Thomas at the moment. He was pretty sure he knew the tune, but couldn't place it right away as he moved around the fringes of the crowd. His red lips turned upward in a sarcastic smirk as he heard some one wolf whistle as he passed. But he kept his focus on the music and his destination, not the fact that he was dressed the way he was.

It wasn't that he minded being dressed this way, he looked better then half the girls in this joint. The short skirt, the halter top, the high heels. His long red hair was in a high pony tail, rhinstone chandelier earrings hanging from his ears. The neck of the halter hide the black leather collar around his neck. He looked good. He knew, and they knew it. But he was here for business, not pleasure. Lexine moved through the last stretches of clubbers, shoving his way through a cloistered group and ignoring the name calling, as he headed for a private party room at the other end the room.

Behind the DJ turned to actually playing one of Rob Thomas' songs, and Lexine muttered under his breath along with the music, "Don't you wanna go for a ride, just keep your hands in side, and make the most out of life..."

He could hear the click of his own heels on the floor and raised his absinthe green eyes with a cynical glint to the fringed curtain hanging over the door way to the party room. Pushing it aside, he climbed the few steps into the room, letting his gaze travel over the posh furnished room. A body guard stood on either side of the door way and they moved to stop him. There was a man on the couch, snorting up a line of cocaine from several and he looked up. He was greasy and rat looking.

Lexine did his best to hide his disgust and waited patiently. The man spoke in Russian to the body guards and they backed off, allowing Lexine to move deeper into the room. "Would you...care for some?" The man asked with a smirk, motioning to the cocaine.

"No, thank you." Lexine replied dryly with a British Accent. "We have business Ivannovich, I'd like to get to it." He came to stand before the table, looking down at the little Russian man before him. "Do you have it?"

Ivannovich turned slightly and pulled a brief case from between him and the table and laid it near by on the table, unlocking it and turning it around, lifting the lid. Inside the foam lay a long pale green object, jade, carved to look like a dragon and a key. Lexine's absinthe gaze traveled slowly, almost leeringly over the object as a slow, cold smile formed on his full lips. "You're very good..." He said softly, almost a purr.

The fingers of one hand slipped into the waist of his skirt as he removed a small memory card, holding it up between two red painted nails. "Payment, of course." He dropped it, right in the cocaine lines, before the brief case was snapped shut and picked up by Lexine. "It's been a pleasure doing business." He added, blandly, starting to turn to go.

"Wait, just a second." Ivannovich replied, setting up a laptop. "I must see if this has my money."

"You doubt me?" Lexine asked with disbelief, looking over his shoulder with a sneer at the little man.

"A man in my business must be careful, Miss Mordant..." Ivannovich replied with a greedy smile as the laptop started.

"I don't have a second to wait." Lexine replied with a cold tone and started for the door again.

Ivannovich spoke in Russian to the body guards again, and they stepped in front of the door. Lexine's eyes flashed and he turned back to Ivannovich, who was putting the memory card into the computer.

After a moment, he began swearing in Russian and jumped to his feet as the body guards tensed. He kicked over the table and began stalking toward Lexine, still swearing. "You've cheated me! No money, no key!" Ivannovich made a move to take the brief case back.

Only to find a sword's point at his throat, and one body guard on the floor, the other slowly dying. "You don't REALLY think I'd pay you, do you?" Lexine asked softly with a cold smirk as he felt a familiar presence appear behind him. "Oh, have you had the pleasure of meeting MY body guard, I don't think so. Allow me to introduce you to Mr. Caine."

The sword point pricked Ivannovich's throat drawing a trickle of blood as the man swallowed, but Lexine caught sight of more body guards moving toward the party room, from the mirror across from them. "Mr. Caine, I'm going up the back stairs. Please follow as quickly as you can." Lexine said calmly, sliding from between Ivannovich and his body guard and heading for the door behind the Russian.

He cast a look over his shoulder to see his body guard, slide around behind Ivannovich with the smaller sword, more a dagger, and slice the man's throat with out a sound or expression, dropping the body, and sheathing both katana and doji before turning to follow Lexine up the stairs with no sound.

They broke out onto the roof and Lexine kicked off the heels, sprinting toward an air conditioning duck and crouching behind it, dragging a black leather back pack from behind a concealed spot. His body guard came to crouch beside him. "How ever did you get those in here, Xander?" Lexine asked with a smirk as he unlocked the brief case.

Xander smirked in reply and shook his head slightly in indication that Lexine didn't want to know, his dark blue eyes sparkling dangerously in the dim light. Lexine giggled softly, taking the jade dragon key from inside the foam and ran his fingers over the piece, eyes narrowed. "Hmm." Xander watched him closely. Then Lexine's lips turned up in another cold smile and he was wrapping the key in a soft cloth, slipping it onto the back pack. He pulled a pair of no heeled shoes from the concealed spot and traded out the high heels for them, leaving the high heels behind.

Jumping to his feet, he slung the back pack over his shoulder. Xander stood with him, and they made their way to the end of the roof even as they heard the door being busted in. Lexine looked over the ledge at the dumpster below, before unslinging the back and holding it in front of him. "I hate jumping..." he muttered.

"I hate jumping into dumpsters." Xander added with a smirk.

"After you." Lexine replied with a smirk of his own.

Xander snorted. "Ladies first."

Lexine flipped him off, flung the bag into his chest and climbed on to the ledge, before jumping. Xander watched him land in the bags of shredded papers with ease. Xander shook his head, and dropped the bag with the key over the ledge. Lexine caught it, before climbing out of the dumpster and Xander jumped.

Once he was over the edge, they headed down the back of the alley. A large lump under a tarp was waiting for them at the end of the alley to a back street in the shadows. Xander yanked the tarp off and two bikes where revealed.

Lexine pulled the back on and grabbed one helmet, "See ya back at the mansion, luv." He said with a devious smirk, putting the helmet on.

"Not if I get there first." Xander replied, before mounting his own bike. He heard Lexine laughing gleefully before his back was kicked started, tires spun and Lexine was speeding off down street toward the outside of London. Xander snickered, kick started his own and was following Lexine.

The gate opened opened as Lexine approached and he sped up the gravel drive toward the large garage off the side of the house, hearing Xander's bike right behind him. The door to the garage opened as well and Lexine imagined Winsten was monitoring, waiting for them. He spun into the garage, parking the bike between the Aston Martin and the Porsche as Xander pulled in.

Lexine turned off his bike and dismounted, turning to Xander who was doing the same. "Well I think it was a successful night..." He remarked.

Xander snorted. "Troublesome, but successful." He replied, following Lexine toward the door into the house.

The mansion was large, Victorian. The door from the garage, opened into a very large kitchen, which was well lit and well stocked, empty at the moment. Lexine carried the black back pack on his shoulder crossing through the kitchen and following the hall out into the main greeting hall with it's black and white marble floor, the large stair cases, flanking either side and it's mahogany paneled walls.

Winsten the butler was waiting at the bottom of the left stair case with a silver tray. "Good evening, Miss. Mordant. I expect your evening proved...fruitful?"

"That it did Winsten." Lexine replied, glancing at the tray to see an envelope resting ontop. "Messages?"

"Just one, ma'am." Winsten held out the tray. Lexine picked up the letter.

"Any problems?" Lexine asked, eyeing the envelop, knowing the writing on the front.

"Not at all." Winsten replied with a chuckle.

Xander looked over Lexine's shoulder at the envelop and made a face. "Oh damn..." He heard Lexine snort, then followed the red head toward his privet study next to them. "Good night Winsten." Xander called over his shoulder for Lexine.

"Good night Master Xander." Winsten replied, heading for the kitchen, serving tray tucked under his arm.

Lexine was tearing open the envelop as he went, Xander opening the door for him. Lexine pulled the heavy peice of paper from inside, to see the Mordant family crest stamped at the top and his look was rather sour. He unfolded the piece and began reading as Xander turned on the lamps and Lexine set the bag absently on his desk. Xander began pullinggraphs and maps from near by, laying them out on the clear portion of the desk.

"I WILL NOT!" Lexine suddenly cried, slamming the letter down on the desk with an angry motion.

Xander sighed and took the letter from under Lexine's hand to read it himself. He scanned the letters contents and shook his head. "I don't think your father's very happy with you..."

"Oh no shit, Xander." Lexine snapped, pacing, biting his thumb nail. "I REFUSE to submit to him... I am NOT going back to the States, absolutely NOT!" He raged, still biting his nail, absinthe green eyes flashing.

Xander watched him half amused, half concerned, and glanced back down at the letter, then caught the P.S. He winced. "Er... Lexi..  .if you don't...they're coming here..." He said softly.

"What?!" Lexine spun around, snatching the letter from his hand, reading what he'd missed. "Oh BLOODY FUCKIN' HELL! That is going to put a complete damper on everything! We have worked FAR to hard for this, to have them interfer now... If they show up...Gods I HATE Chaos Incorporated, always sticking their noses where they DON'T belong..."

"I'm rather surprised he wrote..." Xander said dryly, folding his arms over his chest and watching Lexine resuming his pacing, clenching the letter in one fist. "I mean after all, I was rather sure you made it clear last time how you felt about hearing from them."

"Obviously not clear enough..." Lexine growled, then sighed in frustration. "Very well, if they want to come here to see if I'm still being a bad 'girl', let them. Its time to put up the front, Xander... I assume you can make sure our tracks are completely covered..." He said, glancing at Xander as he grabbed the black bag and pulled the key from inside, unwrapping it.

Xander snorted. "Of course..." He watched Lexine running his fingers over the key, almost lovingly, before Lexine moved toward a portrait behind his desk of another red head. His mother's portrait. This had been his mother's London mansion; his now, despite his brother still being around.

Lexine moved the portrait and opened the combination safe, slipping the key inside, then punched a code into the keypad beside it. As he shut the safe, Xander felt a prickle of magic and smirked. Lexine slid the portrait back over the safe. "I'll move it to the down stairs safe in the morning." Lexine muttered, before turning back to the desk to assess the maps.

"You going to be able to handle your.. family coming to visit?" Xander asked softly.

Lexine snorted, eyes on the maps and graphs. "We'll see, but if they start poking their noses around..."

When Xander woke, he heard the faint strains of music from somewhere down stairs. He rolled over in the bed, glancing at the clock on the beside table to see it was after eight am. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and yawned, before stretching and moving to sat up.

When he decended the stairs, Winsten passed by on the way to the kitchen. "Morning Winsten."

"Good morning Master Xander. Can I get you a cup of coffee?"

Xander surpressed another yawn, and scratched his head. "Yeah, thanks. And Lex?"

"In the gym, sir.' Winsten said before heading for the kitchen.

Xander nodded and turned for the hall next to the right stair case, heading down it. He turned into what once had been the ballroom, which had been coverted into a gym, it's tall sculpted and mullioned ceilings with it's gorgeous mural, it's guilded walls. The marble floor had been covered with thick carpet.

One wall was made up of a climbing wall and currently that was where he found Lexine, in a pair of shorts and tank top, climbing freestyle. The stereo was playing a vivid classical Vavalidi piece as he climbed. Xander settled himself on a near by balancing beam, watching her as Winsten appeared with his cup of coffee. "Three sugars, no cream."

Xander took the cup of coffee and inhaled the rich scent deeply. "You're a saint, Winsten a real saint." He said with a grin, taking a sip and heard the old man chuckle as he disappeared. He turned his dark blue eyes back to watching Lexine climbing.

Lexine felt the eyes on him and half way up, managed to turn his head enough to look back down and saw Xander watching. He smirked slightly and was turning back to continue climbing up the wall when he caught a glance outside the tall windows over looking the front of the mansion and saw the car. More importantly saw who was getting out of the front.

He gave a sudden sharp cry as his foot slipped and he slammed into the wall, his fingers slipping from their hold. He scrambled to get another hold, but in the few seconds knew it was useless and prepared himself for the fall.

Hitting the ground never came as he found himself in a pair of arms. Some one had caught him. Not that he had to wonder who as he looked up to see Xander smirking. "If breaking your neck is your way of getting out of having your parents show up, I don't think it's going to work." The ice elemental said, before sitting Lexine on his feet.

Lexine looked back toward the window, Xander followed his gaze. "Yus, I know..." He muttered. They saw Auron heading for the front door, with Chaos behind him. Then Lexine noticed the other people. He recognized his sister, Regan. And there were two other young men with them. One had silver hair, the other had a copper blonde. "Oh, now they're bringing company, isn't that nice..." Lexine muttered sarcastically, with a snort. "I'm going to change..." He left Xander's side heading for the back of the gym toward another room and elevator.

Xander sighed and headed for the greeting hall, snatching his cup of coffee from where he'd sat it. Winsten was already opening the door when Xander got there. Auron and Chaos were standing there others were just catching up. "Good morning." Winsten acknowledged.

"Good morning, we're here to see Lexine." Auron said calmly. Xander stood back by the stairs, and caught sight of a black limo pulling into the drive. He knew who's limo that was and swore.

Wintsen knew of course as well. "Miss Mordant is changing, you may wait in the parlor, this way." Winsten stepped back to lead them toward the parlor to the right of the front door, he glanced at the limo as it stopped then at Xander.

"I'll tell her." Xander said, not even acknowledging the others and turned for the left hand stair case, sprinting up it.

Winsten opened the door the parlor and bowed them all in. Regan looked around with a raised eyebrow, the palour was covered with all kinds of artifacts. "Is all the house like this."

"Oh yes, Miss. Mordant is an avid collector. If you require any thing, simply ring that bell." Winsten said, nodding to a bell cord near by. The next knock on the front door came. "Excuse me." Winsten bowed, leaving to answer the door. Auron scowled, he hadn't come here to be thrown off like this. Chaos caught his arm with a look.

~ ~
Winsten moved the front door and opened it. He was a handsome tall man with long ash blonde hair in a braid, sharply dressed. "Good morning Winsten." He said pleasently.

"Good morning Mr. Dominic, Miss Mordant is changing from her morning excursive, would you care to wait in her private study, per usual?" Winsten asked, admitting the man in.

"No, I think I'll just go on up, Winsten." Faal answered.

"Very good sir." Winsten bowed again.

In the parlor, Chaos frowned, moving toward the door as they heard footsteps moving toward one of the stair cases, she knew that voice all to well and hadn't thought she'd ever hear it again, let alone see it's owner...especially in her stepdaughter's house. She caught sight of him climbing the stairs and he seemed to know he was being watched because he cast a look back over his shoulder, his light blue eyes meeting hers and a touch of a sarcastic smile hit his lips. Chaos' eyes narrowed, but he kept climbing.

**
Lexine was just finishing attaching the garters to the silk stockings when Xander slipped in. Lexine looked up. "Problems?" He asked softly, standing to move toward his closet to find something to wear, dressed currently only in the stockings, garter belt, knickers and camisole.

"That depends on how you wanna look at it." Xander answered, not really paying attention to the alluring red head or how he was dressed. He'd long gotten over his attaction for Lexine and the only feelings he had for him consisted mainly of a brother's affection and protection. "He's here..."

Lexine stopped, looking over his shoulder at Xander, eyes slightly wide, on hand on the intricately carved footboard of the bed. "Who's here?"

"Why I am." Came the amused answer from the door way of the bed room. Lexine turned his absinthe green in that direction, and found his other hand going to the footboard to keep his balance.

Xander winced slightly. "I'll just uh...go tend to the flock shall I?" He asked moving toward the door.

"Yus, Thank you Xander..." Lexine said softly.

Faal chuckled softly, and patted Xander on the shoulder as he passed him, slipping out of the room. Once the door was closed, Faal turned the lock. His eyes never leaving Lexine as he looked him over. "I see your family is here..." He said softly, finally moving from the door way to cross the distance to Lexine's side.

He slipped a hand around Lexine's waist, above the top edge of the garter belt and Lexine felt a shiver pass through him, he was still holding on to the footboard and his fingers tightened.

"They threatened to come, if I didn't go back to the states." Lexine whispered, Faal's other hand came to caress his cheek. "They however didn't give me enough time to answer them, as I only got his message last night..." Lexine added, finally letting go of the footboard to lean back against Faal.

He heard a soft chuckle, "You wouldn't have answered them anyway, would you?" Faal asked softly, holding the red head.

"No..." Lexine answered breathless. "I thought you were in Paris..."

"I was, until I heard about Ivonnovich. Was that really called for, Lexine?" Faal asked with a chiding tone.

"I didn't kill him, Xander did. And before you say anything, Xander was only do his job of protecting; he did threaten me." Lexine answered seriously.

"Hmm, I see, I'll have to thank Xander." Faal said softly, his hand began slipping lower, his fingers sliding into the hem of Lexine's knickers. "And did you get your key?"

"Yus..." Lexine breathed. Then smiled, eyes closed. "You should see it, oh you will. But it's perfect, and so beautiful." He seemed to purr.

Faal smirked, a touch of wicked amusement twinkling in his eyes, before he turned Lexine around to face him. "So it is." He whispered, before capturing the red head's lips. Lexine gasped softly behind the kiss, opening his eyes, before he wrapped his arms around Faal's neck, clinging to him.

Faal drew out the kiss as long as he could. as long as he thought Lexine could take it before wanting more, before pulling away. "Ah, little flame...you shouldn't keep your family waiting..." He said softly, running a hand through Lexine's hair.

Lexine scrunched up his nose with a sour look. "I don't want to see them."
Faal chuckled. "But they want to see you..."

"They want me to go back to the states, where they can keep me out of trouble. I've  to much to do; I have the key now, I'm going after the dagger." Faal let go of Lexine who moved toward the closet anyway and grabbed a black halter dress and a pair of high heels. Faal chuckled sitting on the bed, he was all to familiar with.

"Perhaps, but you know, your sister, Regan, has experience in this sort of...ventrue. Perhaps you can...persuade her for assistance."

"Oh I'm sure I could presuade Regan with no problem at all, it's our parents who would interfere. He's always sticking his nose in my business..." Lexine muttered with a frown, pulling the dress on. Faal watched him.

"There's another matter we need to discuss." Faal said seriously, getting up and crossing back to Lexine's side to hook the neck of the dress for Lexine. "One you've been putting off for far to long..."

Lexine sighed. "I'm not ready."

"Lexine, how can you say you're not ready, you've been posing as a girl since moving here to England two years ago...I think it's time...and I think you should do it before you go after the key..."

"Why?" Lexine asked with a slight pout in his tone.

"Oh for many reasons...your safety and well being for one...two...wouldn't you like to prove a woman, a young woman can do this just as much as a man?" Faal asked, Looking Lexine over. "You're missing something..." He said thoughtfully, before reaching into the armoire beside the closet. He took out a pair of completely diamond cuffs, about an inch and half wide, connected by a long diamond chain and slipped them on Lexine's wrists.

Lexine giggled softly, watching the way the sun filtering through the balcony windows glinted off the many diamonds. "Yus, as if that wont make a statement..." He muttered softly.

"You like making statements, remember. Everything you do is a statement." Faal said softly with a wicked smirk as Lexine slipped into the heels. "Shall we?" He offered his arms.

Winsten has served refreshments to everyone as they waited, Auron was clearly on the edge. Xander was standing by the window, watching them covertly, with amusement. He really didn't expect Lexine to come down stairs for awhile now, chances were he and Faal were...catching up...The benefits and pleasures of having your guardian as your lover as well.

But the double pocket doors to the parlor opened on their own accord, Faal's doing, and the fae escorted the young red head in. It was hard to say who came to stand first, Auron or Chaos, facing the pair. Lexine was leaning on Faal's arm, eyeing his family darkly.

"Well, this is a marvelous surprise, you didn't even give me time to ANSWER your letter before you just show up." Lexine remarked with venom, detaching himself from Faal's side. Xander didn't fail to notice the cuffs, or the fact that Faal's other hand was fingering the long chain connecting them, possessively.

"Call it intuition, but we figured you wouldn't answer it." Auron answered calmly, also noticing the fae's actions.

"You're right, I had no intention of answering, and I have no intention on going back to the States." Lexine answered. "As you can see, I'm doing quite well here on my own."

"Quite well?" Chaos asked. "Four artifacts have come up missing, and your name has popped up in...connection to them, in... inquiring about them..." She said, unable to keep from glancing at Faal with a dark look. Faal on the other hand seemed calmly amused.

"I'm sure I have inquired about them, but that doesn't mean I know where they've disappeared to." Lexine replied dryly.

"Lexine, you have a history of this kind of...obssession in the past." Auron started.

Lexine snorted and shot him a dark look. "I'm not the only one." He replied, before looking directly at Regan.

Regan rolled her eyes, leaning on the arm of the couch. "I've never gone about securing my artifacts with illegal methods."

"Wrong, big sis." Lexine replied dryly. "Infact, tomb raiding it's self, could be considering illegal, it's grave robbery, but we're not here to discuse ethics, are we?"

Regan eyed the red head coldly a moment. "No, we're not."

"Didn't think so." Lexine replied coldly. He nodded to the two young men who waited behind his family, but otherwise ignored them, and noticed his stepmother was having a silent battle of wills with Faal. He turned his gaze back to his sister. "And why did you bring Eire  and Nate ? Were they supposed to carry me out to the car and lock me in the trunk to take me home?"

Before anyone could answer, Chaos finally broke. "What the fuck are you doing here, Dominic?!"

Faal smiled sarcastically. "Does it really matter what I'm doing here?" He was still holding on to the chain of the cuffs.

"If it has something to do with my step..daughter, yes it does." Chaos replied.

"Oh it has everything to do with Lexine. I'm her guardian." Faal answered, the smile turning wicked.

"Bullshit!"

"I'm afraid it's true."

Auron stepped forward, looking at Lexine. "Lexine. Please come back with us...if you're involved with the business of these missing artifacts and the deaths of the owners we can clear it up."

"No." Lexine answered. "I have business to tend to, I intend to see it out. If you're worried about my safety, don't be. I have an excellent body guard," He motioned to Xander who saluted them all sarcastically from the window, "And of course Faal. Now if you'll please...this is my house...leave." The last word came out cold.

Auron stared at him, a bit taken back, looking like he'd been struck. Chaos seemed to take a breath, inhaling sharply, before stepping forward. "Lexine Gabrielle Mordant, if we DO find out, you've had anythng to do with these deaths and these missing artifacts, we will stop you." Chaos hissed. "And you..." She turned her eyes on Faal, which flashed red. "I swear to gods, I'll do everything I can to stop YOU."

"You can try, Clarice. You can try." Faal replied softly, almost pleasantly, but the challenge was evident in his tone.

Chaos flashed him a frigid, dark smile, her eyes still red, before she grabbed Auron's arm, leading him from the house. The other three followed, Regan only shooting Lexine a sad look. Lexine gave a little wave with a sarcasticly sweet smile. Winsten closed the door behind them.

Xander exhaled slowly, watching them all get into the car outside. "Damn, I thought it would be worse then that, you know...blows and all." He said softly.

"It could have, but I'm assuming I lucked out...for now..." Lexine said, leaning on Faal, who slipped his arm around his waist.

Xander watched the car leaving, noticed it was Chaos that was driving and how she purposelessly scratched the finder of the limo. Faal didn't fail to notice either, and shook his head mildly bemused. "They know Lex..." Xander said softly.

"I know...damn it..." Lexine swore, looking ready to throw a fit.

"What do we do, Lexi? Say the word..." Xander said, turning to look at the red head.

"We've got  to move quick...and we've got to be more careful. Xander, making the preparations, I want to leave for China by tonight." Lexine said.

"Lexine..." Faal said softly in a warning tone. Lexine looked up at him.

"And I'll be unavailable for the rest of the morning...inform Winsten." Lexine added softly, looking up at Faal, as he curled the chain of the cuffs around his fist slowly, drawing the red head closer holding his gaze.

"Where are you going?" Xander asked softly.

"The Seal..." Lexine answered in a whisper. Xander let out a low whistle of surprise.

Chaos pulled the car over suddenly on the side of the road and turned to face the back. Auron was sitting the passengers seat, still staring out the window looking like he was in shock. "So what's the plan, mom?" Regan asked, shifting. She was sitting between Nate and Eire, leaning against Nate.

"We know damn well Lexine's deeply involved in this shit, just not sure how deeply. Eire was at the club last night. Regan, we're going to need you to do what you do best..."

"I'm going to need all the information on these artifacts first." Regan answered. Chaos leaned over Auron and dug under the seat before pulling out a folder and passing it back to Regan.

Regan began flipping through the documents, speed reading was one her traits, she processed information very quickly. "Damn..." She muttered with a sour look, before looking up at the ceiling of the car.

"Wha?" Nate asked, looking at the papers over her shoulder.

"If I'm correct, and I'm pretty fuckin' sure I am, Lexine's going after the Dagger of Xian."

"The Dagger o' who?" Eire asked.

"Of Xian. Xian was the major Emperor of China. His tomb has never been found...it's said it's buried in an under ground pyramid with rivers of mercury surrounding it, that his body, or mummy rests in a solid jade sarcophagus, that if his rest is disturbed, he'll return to earth as a plague and wipe out all in his path."

"An' ye believe that?" Nate asked. Chaos was eyeing her daughter.

Regan snorted. "Half and half, I've seen enough shit like that in my tomb raiding days not to discount any legend as false in some way."

"So wha's so important bout this dagger?" Eire asked.

"Well, besides it would be proof of Xian, and be immensely wealthy artifact, it's said if the dagger is plunged into the heart, that person would be possessed by the spirit of the dagger and become a dragon." Regan said.

"A dragon..." Eire replied, looking at her. "Like one o' those big fuckin' fire breathin' lizard things?"

"Pretty much, yes..." Regan answered.

"Would there actually be anyone foolhardy 'nough t' actually stab 'em selves jus' turn int' a dragon?" Nate asked.

Regan and Chaos both snorted. "You know, that some one out there, is just that foolhardy." Chaos answered.

"But Lexine?" Nate asked.

"I doubt it." Chaos answered. "But...we still need to stop Lexine."

"Find me proof Lexi's going after this dagger, and I'll head her off." Regan answered.

"We'll get you that proof." Came Auron's soft voice. Chaos glanced at him.

Lex shifted in the over sized bed, waking slowly. She pulled the blanket up over her head and wondered if Xander had taken care of everything yet, and what exactly her parents were up to now. She'd seen her father's face before he'd left. Part of her felt bad, but the rest didn't want them anywhere around. She still remembered them putting her in that hospital. She shifted, rolling over, to look for Faal.

At the soft sound of the sheets rustling, Faal turned  from where he'd been looking out the window. He chuckled softly as he walked back to the bed, watching her as he did so. "Sleep well, I hope?"

Lexine raised an amused eyebrow. "I actually slept?" She asked softly, stretching under the satin sheets and blanket. "It just seems like all a blur and I don't remember much that happened at the seal..." she muttered softly

Faal smirked softly as he sat on the bed beside her and trailed his fingers over a blanket covered hip. "I'm sure it'll come back to you in time...  and yes, you slept. No doubt the change was very... tiring..."

"To be honest, I'm not remembering much about this morning...except that they're here...damn..." Lexine groaned covering her eyes with an arm. "They're going to ruin everything. I steal one rare book after getting out of that...insane asylum they stuck me in and after that, they think I'm stealing everything..."

Faal laughed softly, his eyes sparkling. "I shall reserve my comment on that...." he said softly as his continued to slide his hand over her hip. "So,  my treasure.. how does it feel to be a rather ... stunningly beautiful woman at last..?"

Lexine moved her arm enough to look at him, quiet for a moment. "Different..." she said softly, watching him. "Not bad different...just...different..."She stretched more, watching him. He'd taken her to the seal, and had actually waited for her before bringing her back here. Now she was trying to figure out what he was waiting for, because she knew it was going to happen sooner then later.

Faal sat there, that soft smirk on his face, eyes sparkling as he watched her looking at him. He moved his other hand to her other hip and grabbed, pulling her farther down the mattress towards him.She gave a soft squeak of surprise, letting her arms wrap around the pillow at her head, pulling it with her and gave him a mock innocent expression. She knew the look in his eyes...sometimes it scared her, but she could never refuse him....

He leaned over her, his hands still holding her hips, as he stopped, his face a couple inches above hers. "How long were you planning on keeping me waiting?" he asked, his voice soft and husky. "Don't I even get to see the body I'm supposed to be guarding?"

"I wasn't keeping you waiting..."She replied softly, almost a whisper. "I was just wondering what...you were waiting for..." She added, aware her cheeks felt flush. Even the scent of his cologne made her heart beat faster. "Besides, when have I ever been able to deny you?"

Faal chuckled softly as he sat back up, his eyes never leaving her or losing their sparkle. "Hmmm... true enough... and yet..." he tipped his head to one side slightly, the smirk growing. "And yet there is still a blanket hiding you away from me. As for what I was waiting for?" The smirk grew a bit more as his hands gave her hips a squeeze, tugging her a couple inches closer. "I'm waiting for you to give yourself to me... "

Lexine let her head drop back on the pillow she'd dragged with her with a soft moan, eyes closed. "I was afraid you'd say that..� She said very softly, but knowing he'd hear her anyway.  She opened her eyes to look at him, with that sexy smirk and gave a soft whimper. No matter what, she could never refuse him, "If you want me...I'm yours...I have been for two years..." She said softly.

Faal laughed softly as he slid his hands up over her hips, letting one slide over her thigh. "Ah.. but... things are different now, Lexine... this body.. has never been mine..." he said, his voice dropping slightly to an almost growl as his hand slid over the blanket and between her legs.

"I've only been this way a few hours..." She replied, and did her best to make herself remember to breath. "But I didn't exactly think that would stop you..." She added in a whisper. She shifted in just the right way and the blanket slid down lower from her chest.

"Lexine... I may take what's mine when I choose to..." he said in that soft husky voice as he watched her. "But I won't rob you of something that you can only give once..." he chuckled softly.

She blushed deeply, not looking at him. "Why would I give it to anyone else?" She asked in a whisper. "You're my guardian, and my lover...although a lot of people apparently have a problem with that..." She stared at the ceiling, then sighed as she sat up, the blanket dropping away to her waist. "Do you love me, Faal?" She asked softly.

Faal smirked softly as he slipped one hand into her hair, cradling her head in his hand. "Lexine.. you are my treasure..." he said softly as he lowered his head to kiss her teasingly soft. "but this is your gift to give.. not mine to take."

She groaned softly, quite used to his teasing, and let her eyes close as his lips racked hers, before wrapping her arms around his neck, wanting to kiss him back. "But I wouldn't give it to anyone else..." She whispered.

Faal laughed softly as he slid his other hand around to the small of her back and pulled her closer, the blanket falling around her waist. "An yet...  here we are.. and you still haven't given it to me, either..." his eyes sparkled as he let his eyes lower to roam over her bare chest. "And I still haven't seen this new body.. although... the parts I can see are very worth guarding..."

Lexine blushed even more, her arms still around his neck. She was quite used to playing his game. After her life up until two years ago, before she ran away from her parents and came to England, she never really thought she'd find some one who drove her crazy like this, in such a good way. "All you have to do is ask..." She whispered, then smirked. "But you never ask..."

Faal laughed softly bending to kiss the hollow of her throat. "No...I never ask... why ask for what is freely given?" he felt the beat of her pulse beneath his lips and kissed it again as he spoke. "But then I was never your first, was I? So there was nothing to you giving yourself to me... I was but one more in a long line... although I should hope the last and the best of that line." he looked up catching her eyes as he cupped her cheek in his hand. "But that's over now. This body has never been with anyone. I would be the first... that is to be given.. not taken or asked for..."

She closed her eyes, breathing deeply, trying to stop the rapid beat of her heart. "Then be my first...and only..." She whispered, shifting enough against him that the blanket slipped away from her waist and legs more. She hated thinking about everything before him. She wasn't sure what was worse, her life as a slave, or her break down.

Faal held her face in his hand watching her for a moment longer, memorizing the small differences since the change.. the deeper red of her hair, the thicker, longer curl of it as it flowed over her shoulders and down her back. He couldn't even  put a name to the changes in her face.. but they were there... her already beautiful face was more so in some subtle way that defied his attempts to identify it. He rubbed his thumb over her cheek as he leaned forward to catch her lips again, once more soft and teasing as he slid his other hand up over her bare hip pulling her closer.

``

Lexine shifted, wanting to be closer, wanting to be with him. She kissed him back, her lips brushing his, before kissing him a bit more deeply. His hands on her skin set her aflame and she wrapped her arms around his neck tighter.

Faal laughed softly through the kiss as he moved and lifted her free of the blankets, pulling her onto his lap. He gently nipped at her lower lip before deepening his kiss further, his hands exploring the new curves of her body as if to memorize it by feel alone.

She leaned against him, kissing him, her fingers slipping from around his neck to slowly undo the buttons of his shirt, her body beginning to tremble with need, as he ran his hands over her body, exploring. It seemed that she wanted him even more as a girl, then before.

Faal found himself suddenly drowning in the sudden desire for her, stronger then he'd ever felt. Her kisses seemed sweeter, the soft scent of her hair and skin more intoxicating. He groaned softly as he slid his hands free of her to undo his belt and pants, the backs of his hands rubbing  against her bare legs as he did so.

Lexine smiled softly behind her kissing him then pushed him back on the bed, leaning down over him to continue kissing him. She finished unbuttoning his shirt and ran her hands over his chest, slowly, caressing his skin, before pushing the shirt off his shoulders, bringing a soft moan form him as he kissed her harder.

There was the soft thud of  his belt hitting  the floor, and he kicked off his shoes, his eyes closed as he savored her touch. He paused in his attempt to undo his pants, sliding his hands up to cup her breasts, another soft moan escaping through the kiss.

Lexine shivered, a new sensation passing through her at his hands on her breasts and she moaned softly kissing him back harder. Her hands slipped lower down his chest to start undoing his pants for him, one hand slipping inside.

Faal found himself pressing harder against her hand, urging her on as he gently squeezed her breasts, rubbing his thumbs over her nipples. He'd always been intensely attracted to Lex, unable to deny himself even the simple pleasure of holding her in his arms... but he couldn't remember ever being this completely undone by her. Every fiber of his being was on fire with the need to have her.

Her fingers stroked and caressed him slowly, her kisses matching the speed of her fingers. Her other hand caressed his chest. Since becoming his lover, she'd become less submissive and self concious, After her breakdown and the insane asylum as she called it, she'd  needed to find some one to break her. Although there were still times she'd fall in to a severe submissive spell, and not everyone seemed to know how to deal with her then.

Faal broke the kiss, suddenly desperate for air. He gasped for breath as he fought for control, his hands moving down to slide over Lex's hips and around to her backside before starting back up again. "Lexine, my love... be careful with your playing..." he  softly, his eyes closed as he pressed against her hand, his own hands moving up to tangle in the thick red curls. "I'm barely holding on as it is.."

Lexine smirked slightly, kissing his neck and shoulders, but she withdrew her hand to finish undoing his pants for him. "I wasn't playing..." She whispered seductively, running both hands up his chest as she leaned closer, pressing against him. "If you want me, I'm all yours..." She added in the same whisper.

Faal groaned again, his fingers tightening in her hair as he opened his eyes to look into hers. He swallowed heavily as he realized there was still something to consider before he went farther. "Are you ready to give the Seal it's heir?" he asked softly, one hand slipping free of the curls to trail down her back. "Or should we wait until we have some .. protection...."

She gave a deep sigh, ceasing what she was doing to just lay against him a moment, weighing everything. She knew she hadn't exactly told him what the dagger was...what or rightly, WHO it could be used on. But she wasn't about to considering giving the Seal it's heir until Abandon was dead. "I have to wait..." She whispered with an almost pitiful moan.

Faal sighed softly as he lifted her face and kissed her. "My fault... I should have thought to ask before hand... been prepared for this.." he said between kisses, his hands continuing their gentle stroking up and down her back. "So your virginity survives another short while..." he said with a soft chuckle. "That doesn't mean we have to stop..."

"Stop what?" Lexine whispered, finally moving again and kissing his neck again, working her way down his chest. She giggled softly, and looked up at him through her lashes with a coy look. "We should stop...we get carried away...you get carried away...you've never been able to just hold me..." She said in a husky whisper.

Faal chuckled softly, letting his hands slid along her skin as she moved. "Very true... but we can get carried away. There's no need to hold back." he said, tucking one arm under his head as he watched her, the fingers of his other hand trailing over her shoulder. "Unless of course, you don't care for that now that you're a girl..."

She was still kissing her way down his chest and paused at his stomach to raise her head, looking up at him with a look. After a moment, she gave a soft snort. "How forgetful you are..." She muttered softly, rolling off him, and stretching out beside him on her side.

"Ahh... then I suppose we should stop before I do get carried away." he said softly with a sigh, kissing her forehead softly as he reached down to fasten his pants again, putting that small barrier back between them.

She moved closer, hesitant at first, then lay her head against his shoulder, with a soft sigh. He'd brought up a subject in her mind that she knew she'd have to consider very seriously, and yet she wondered if he'd want to be with her to do that....to give the Seal an heir...

Faal sighed softly as he wrapped his arms around her, his sudden passion already fading in his concern for her. Her sudden shift in mood  was generally a warning sign of worse to come if he wasn't careful in defusing it. "Lexi.. my treasure.. my little flame... I'm sorry if I upset you ... "

Lexine sighed softly, raising her head to look at him as he held her. "You didn't upset me...I was just thinking...about things..." She sighed again, laying her head back against his shoulder. "You just...reminded me of the fact that I HAVE to have an heir..."

Faal smirked softly and kissed her the top of her head. "Lexine.... that was the entire point of becoming a woman... " he said softly, trying not to laugh.

She blushed slightly, "That's not exactly what I was thinking, Faal...its not that I don't WANT to...but just not now...but..." She sighed even more. "Are we still going to be together, when I...have the heir..." She asked in a whisper, not looking at him.

Faal lay quiet for a moment as her words struck him. He smoothed down her hair before tipping her chin up to look in her eyes. "Is that what this about, Lexi? Are you afraid I won't want you anymore? That I'll grow tired of you when you have a child running around?" He stroked her cheek with a thumb. "What would it take to lay your fears to rest, my treasure? My word... or my name?"

Lexine sighed, looking at him, watching him closely. "Are you saying you'll still want me, when I'm pregnant, or when I have a daughter under my wing? Will it be your child?" She asked softly, there was a slightly pained tone to her voice.

"Lexine, my treasure... I'm saying I'll marry you if that's what it takes to keep you happy and at my side. And I sincerely hope it will be my child you have." he said softly caressing her face. "If you care to have me as the father of your children that is... I'm probably not the most fatherly type..."

She felt a tremor of emotions run through her at his words as she looked at him. "You seriously want to marry me? To be the father of my children?" She asked in a whisper, fighting down the giggly feeling that was threatening to overwhelm her.

Faal laughed softly as he stroked her face. "My darling one...do you truly think I would have said so otherwise?" he asked softly. "I'm afraid I don't have the ring on me at the moment, or I could get on my knee and ask properly. Or should I ask your father for your hand?"

Lexine choked on a giggle. "No! No don't ask HIM...don't even talk to him..." She shook her head. "They wouldn't allow it...they just want to put me back in the asylum...I'm too unstable for them..." She muttered with a bitterness.

"You're fine, Lexi. And you're mine. and if a ring and a ceremony is what it takes to convince you of that, then that's what you will have. I suppose we can get way with something small and intimate since we don't have to worry about inviting our families.." he said, biting back a rueful chuckle. "Are you certain you care to become Mrs. Dominic? Well...depending on whom you're speaking to."

She did giggle this time. "Why would I mind?" She asked softly, looking at him. "Oh, I know there are plenty of people who don't like you...there's plenty of people who don't like me..." She frowned slightly. "Although I did notice...my...step mother...seems a bit...cold toward you..." She said softly, looking at him. She pulled the corner of the blanket around her, and snuggled against him.

"Hmmm...." Faal said as he helped her pull the blanket up and wrap it around her. He kissed her forehead softly and cuddled her closer, part of him marveling that he'd actually asked her to marry him. " The Lady Chaos and myself have had a rather unfortunate misunderstanding in the past. But that doesn't matter.. and you're right, there are plenty of people that don't care for either of us."

"And when this whole business with the dagger is done, I'm sure there'll be plenty of people who STILL wont care for me...a few even more..." Lexine said softly. She closed her eyes, her head on his shoulder she sighed softly, contently, and smiled. "Yus..." She said softly, answering him at least.

"Yes..." Faal said softly. "I'd never realized before what a wonderful word that is..." He smiled as he kissed the top of her head again, an odd warmth spreading through his chest at her answer. "I hope you can handle everything being married to me will bring..."

Lexine smirked, opening her eyes again, to look at him. "WHY would I mind it? I've been you're lover, for two years, I've stood by you in enough functions and all that other stuff that you do to know enough, and I don't care. You know that...I...love you, Faal."

Faal smiled softly as he stroked a curl away from her face, letting his fingers run through her hair. "I love you too, Lex. I hope you'll always feel that way." He kissed the top of her head again, suddenly afraid he'd made the wrong choice in asking her to marry him so soon. Perhaps he should have waited until she knew everything...

She looked at him a bit confused, "I'll always love you...you've saved me from so much..." She said softly. She leaned forward and kissed him softly and was about to say more when a soft knock at the door indicated Winsten was checking on them.

Faal smiled softly and did his best to shove his worries aside as he sat up and started to do up his shirt. "I guess that's our cue to return to the world... I'll make sure to stop by the store so that we won't have to stop next time." he said, tossing her a smirk.

Lexine sighed softly, but smiled a bit. "I guess so." She slid out of the bed, toward the walk in closet, already as Winsten slid into the room, without look at them. "Can I get you anything?" the man asked, picking up various articles about the room already.

"No thank you, Winsten." Faal said as he stood, retrieving his belt and shoes from the floor. He debated for a moment as he pulled his shoes on then followed Lex into the closet.

"I think we're okay, Winsten." Lexine called from the walk in closet, as she found a change of clothes. "Very good, Ma'am. Master Xander wishes to inform you that he has made contact with those in charge of securing things. And that he has a couple of look outs on the Mordant family in London." Winsten said. Lexine sighed, she'd already slipped into a pair of knickers, but she paused, leaning against the wall, and smiled ruefully. Xander certainly knew how to make sure things were efficiently done.

Faal watched her for a moment as he slipped up behind her, wrapping his arms around her. He kissed her neck softly. "So what are your plans for the rest of the day, my sweet?"

"Probably to remain in the house, and possibly find out the real reason they're here...Regan doesn't tag along unless there's something serious going on...out of that whole family I suppose she's the one I can get along with most..." Lexine said softly, pulling a pair of sleep pants and a tank top from the rack. "Are you going back to Paris, now that you know I didn't kill Ivonnivich and now that you've taken me to the Seal? Or do I inform Winsten that you're staying awhile?"

Faal sighed softly as he kissed her neck again. "If you'd rather I leave... then I'll return to Paris.... however, considering I just proposed and you just accepted... not to mention we've still got some 'consumating' to do...." he kissed his way up to her ear. "I'd rather stay..."

She smiled slightly, and turned, leaning back against the wall of the walk in closet, looking at him. "I never said I wanted you to leave. But you know how Winsten likes a little warning if I'm going to have company." She said with a slight smile, reaching out to touch his face.

"Hmm.." Faal said with a smirk as he pressed her into the wall slightly as he leaned into to kiss her. "Yes....I've been told that many times.. and I'm sure I'll be told that many more since I tend to ignore that and come and go as I please..." he chuckled softly. "Still. Despite how badly I'd like to stay.. i'll leave if you say that's what you want."

Lexine rested her hands against his chest, kissing him back, then titled her head to the side, raising an eyebrow as she gave him a confusing look. "I want you to stay..." She said softly, frowning slightly. She raised her hand again, her fingers caressing his cheek. "Of course I want you to stay...why wouldn't I? You know I miss you when you go off on business."

"Then perhaps you'll give some thought to that being permant in the near future... if we're going to be married and raise a family.. it would be easier to do if we're actually living together full time..." Faal said softly, by passing her question. He had the odd feeling a part of her didn't wnat him to stay... he just wasn't sure whether it was due to do something she was up to, or simply due to her nervousness over providing the Seal with an heir and not wanting to give in to temptaion...

"Well yus...I suppose, considering most people who get married do live together. " She said softly, half holding onto him, half leaning back against the wall. She looked at him. "But we'll have to decide WHERE we'll live...here, or your house..."

"Or a new house altogether... a new country if you perfer, which might be neccessary if you have too much fun collecting your little treasures..." he added with a soft chuckle. "Hmm... I'm really regretting not thinking ahead,, I should've picked up some condoms before I'd even taken you to the Seal...." he added, kissed her  earlobe.

"There's plent of time for that later...and the dagger is the last..." She said softly, not really looking at him a moment. When he found out what the dagger was for, he was going to have a fit and he certianly wouldn't allow her to go after it, if he found out now.

"And what is so special about your dagger, my dearest? What makes it the ultimate treasure that you have no further wish for more?" he asked, switching to kiss the other side of her neck.

She didn't answer right away. "Nothin'." She said softly, innocently. "Well they say any one who stabs them self with it in the heart will turn into a dragon..." She said softly. "But I figure it should be the last...if I'm going to have a family..." She said evasively.

Faal gave a soft snort. "I do hope you're not planning on stabbing yourself with it to test that myth..." he said lightly as he kissed her ear and looked down at her. He stroked her cheek. "Are you sure there's nothing more to it than that, my love?" he asked quietly, fully aware that she was hiding something from him and hoping she'd come clean on her own.

"No, I had no intention of stabbing myself with it...I was going to stab Xander." She said with a sarcastic tone and a look. She looked at him, looking into his eyes and sighed. "Yus, there's something more to it..." She said in a whisper, lowering her eyes.

Faal smiled softly, caressing her face until she looked back up at him. "I know." he said simply, and shook his head sadly. "Did you really think I wouldn't find out, Lexi? Do you really think I don't look into the things that catch your attention?"

Lexine stared at him wide eyed. "You know?!" She blinked, then smacked him half in the shoulder, before leaning against him. "And you were still going to let me go after it?" She asked in a whisper.

"After the dagger.. yes." he said wrapping his arms around her. "Were you really planning on doing this without me? Please, Lex.. tell me you were going to bring the dagger to me once you had it...." he said softly, his eyes closed. "Tell me that�s what you were going to do... that you weren't planning on going after him yourself. Tell me you were going to give me the dagger and I'll believe you."

She lay her head against his shoulder. She hadn�t really thought ahead of getting the dagger, and yet she knew he was right...she couldn't have gone after Abandon herself..."I would have brought the dagger to you..." She said softly. "I couldn't have gone after him myself..."

Faal let his breath out in a heavy sigh, not even aware he'd been holding it. "Thank you, sweetheart." he said softly, kissing her forehead. "Go on... go plan on retrieving your dagger with Xander and figuring out what your family is up to. It seems I have a few things to take care of myself."