Nightfall

Kathy Harris pushed herself away from her desk in annoyance. She just could not concentrate. "Dammit Colt... where are you?" she breathed out in frustration.

It was the night before last that Colt had called. He'd just dropped off the face of the Earth a while ago, and no one could find him. His so-called parents were no use, and since his father was a cop, the police were of no help. But then he calls out of nowhere.

Yesterday everyone stayed home, waiting for Colt to show up. He said he would be by, but he never said when. This morning, the kids had to go to school, and so did George, being a teacher at the school the kids went to. Since she was a doctor, and had taken some time off from patients to work on some research, she could afford to stay home. The kids didn't like it, but both she and George agreed it would be better than all of them sitting home waiting for something that may not happen soon.

She got up and went into the kitchen trying to calm her nerves. She had so many nightmares about what had happened to Colt, and not knowing if he was even still alive. The boy may not have been hers by blood, but she... her entire family, considered him one of them.

She poured herself a glass of water, and had just put it to her lips when the doorbell rang. She almost dropped the water as she rushed out of the kitchen, through the living room, and to the front door. When she threw open the door, she barely noticed anyone other than Colt. "COLT!" She cried out with tears in her eyes, as she grabbed the boy up into her arms and hugged him so tight that, for a bit, Colt couldn't breath. Not that he cared, the tears coming out of his eyes, and the love he was soaking up, made any discomfort more then worth it.

Runi looked back at the guard and nodded. He then gently escorted both the woman, and Colt inside. Hank followed a step behind, while the rest of the security that came alone spread themselves out and 'disappeared'. "Oh Colt, where have you been?" Kathy asked as she pushed Colt away gently so that she could look him over. Her 'doctors' eye were looking for anything wrong, and she wasn't able to find anything quickly.

"I'm sorry Mom." Colt said through his tears. "He said he would hurt you guys if I told."

"Well, don't worry about that now. Are you okay? Really?" she asked.

"Yeah mom, I am." he said with a smile as he used the back of his shirt sleeve to wipe away the tears. "I, uhh, I want you to meet some people...".

It was then that she looked around and noticed the other two children in the room. Both of them wore dark sun glasses, and normal jeans and t-shirts. She couldn't help but stare at the slightly taller of the two, maybe ten years old, due to his having a bald head, save for the long pony tail coming from the back. "Mom." Colt said as he walked over to the two boys, and put his arm around the slightly taller one. "I would like you to meet my boyfriend, Runi." He waited to see if there was any reaction, but there wasn't one. He then turned to Hank. "This is Hank, one of my friends."

"It's very nice to meet you." Kathy said in a very cautious voice.

"Mom, Runi is the one that saved me. If it wasn't for him, I'd be dead." Colt said seriously which caused her to immediately soften as tears again started to fall.

"Oh my." She breathed as she stepped over and pulled Runi onto a hug. "Thank you." She said softly then stepped back.

"It was my pleasure, Madam." Runi said with a slight bow.

Kathy couldn't help but chuckle. "And so polite." She grinned at Colt. "Looks like you caught a winner." she said before she paused, looking back and forth between the two. "Not that it means much, but isn't he a bit young for you Colt."

The fact that Colt, and Hank, burst out laughing, while Runi simply grinned broadly, made her look around rather confused. "Madam, I assure you I am not as young as I look."

"Mom, I'm sorry I laughed, but... well there's a whole lot that's happened, and well, you deserve to know the truth, no matter how hard it will be to accept." Colt said as he sobered up quickly.

She looked at Colt just as seriously for a few moments before she sighed and nodded. "Why don't we sit down." she said as she moved towards the kitchen. "I need to call George and let him know you're here. He and the kids will want to get here as soon as they can."

They all followed Kathy into the kitchen where she grabbed the cordless phone, and was about to dial when Colt spoke up. "Not yet Mom."

She looked at him oddly, but then slowly nodded as she put the phone down. Slowly she moved over to the table, and sat down at her normal place. Colt motioned for places for Runi and Hank to sit, then took the place where he normally sat. He then closed his eyes as he tried to figure out where to start.

His eyes snapped open when he heard her gasp in shock. He should have known that Runi was not one to sugar coat things, or present things gently. Runi had simply took off his sunglasses and gazed at her with his bright orange eyes. Runi was about to speak, but Colt was able to beat him to it. "Mom... Runi is not younger than I am, he's actually much much older, and a vampire."

She looked at him with wide eyes for a moment before her eyes rolled up and she started to slump out of her chair. Before she could do more then start to tip, Runi was there, gently lowering her to the floor.

"Well that went well." Hank snickered, earning him a glare from Colt. Not being one to back down, ever, Hank ignored the glare and looked at Runi. "I have to wonder if you have ever heard of the concept of subtlety." Had it not been for the grin, Colt might have been more pissed off, as it was, he suddenly couldn't help but giggle.

"I have often found it is easier to deal with things if they are placed out in the open for everyone to see, rather than try to dance around the truth, and hope that the person figures it out... eventually." Runi said as he looked down at the woman, concentrated, and a moment later, she started to stir. While he wasn't great on modern social decorum, Runi was still able to figure out that her waking up to seeing his face would not be wise, so he stepped back before she opened her eyes.

The first thing she saw was Colt when she opened her eyes, and she bolted upright quickly. Her eyes then fell on Runi, and finally Hank who had by now, also taken off his sunglasses. "Mom please. They won't hurt you, or anyone else for that matter."

"But... Vampires... they don't exist!" she breather out while slowly getting to her feet.

"Madam, I would have to beg to differ there, since I can assure you I very much do exist." Runi said with a small grin. "If you would require proof, I would be happy..."

"No Runi!" Colt said quickly. "Let me handle this please." he said imploringly.

Runi just shrugged, and moved back to take his seat. "As you wish."

Hank giggled, as Colt rushed over to Kathy and helped her sit back down. "I'm sorry Mom. Runi, well, he doesn't do to well in social situations anymore..." he said as he glared a bit at Runi.

"Is this some sort of joke?" Kathy asked looking at the three people in the room.

"No it's not. Vampires do exist, and well, I kinda ran into a group of them a while ago. If Runi hadn't shown up, I would have been dinner for them." Colt said as he sat down and looked Kathy in right in the eyes. "Please, I know all the stories and movies make Vampires out to be bad guys, but not all of them are. Runi saved my life, and I have a whole bunch of friends and family now. Just give them a chance!"

Kathy looked Colt in the eyes for many moments before she finally nodded. She then looked over at Runi, then Hank, and back to Colt. "So what happens now?" She knew that her family would be home soon, and wanted to have some sort of idea of what was going on before they got there.

---

"So he's really a vampire?" Tanner asked in an awestruck voice. Tanner, his father, and little sister had gotten home over two hours ago, and had all been told what was going on. Of course Deanna, was just happy that Colt was back, but the parents were worried about the entire Vampire thing, at least once they were forced to accept it was true. Tanner thought it was cool, and was just so happy to have his best friend and brother back. So now, while his parents talked with Runi and Hank, Tanner and Colt were up in Tanner's room catching up. At first Colt made Tanner tell him about everything that had happened since he left, and now Tanner was able to ask the questions he really wanted. Draining his second soda, and opening his third, he looked at Colt seriously for a moment.

"Is he really, like... well you know. Are you and him really?" Colt couldn't help but laugh and nod. Tanner may have had no idea what it meant to be gay, but he didn't care if Colt was. "Dude... but he's like REALLY old..."

Colt lost it and laughed so hard he almost fell out of the chair he was sitting in. It took Tanner only a moment to start laughing himself, and soon the boys were in each others arms, laughing hysterically. They broke apart when a knock came on the door frame. They looked over and saw Hank standing there with a sad smile on his face.

"Tanner, your parents would like to talk to you and Colt." Hank said simply before turning and going back down the hallway.

Both boys quickly got to their feet, righted their clothing, and went down to where their parents waited with Runi and Hank. George got out of his chair quickly, and just like when he first got home, grabbed Colt up in a massive bear hug. George was a classic teddy bear; a large man who enjoyed working out. He stood six foot five inches tall, and was built like a body builder. But his heart was the biggest thing in this man, as all his students knew. "I'm so glad you're all right. We were all so worried about you." he said gently.

"I know." Colt said softly. "I'm sorry."

"I understand Colt, just remember; no matter what is going on, you can come to us. Even with your new friends, we will do everything we can to help you." George then released the boy, and moved back to his seat at the table, while Colt and Tanner took their seats. By the looks on everyone's faces, they knew this was going to be a serious conversation.

After a moment of silence, George began. "We have spent the last little bit talking with Runi, and with Hank, and now we want to talk to you both. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Colt will understand this, but Runi allowed us to see what is inside his mind, and what has happened recently, and what is happening now. He has shown us some of what you have been through Colt, although he said nothing he showed was private and that you agreed to it all..." Colt nodded, since he knew it was happening as Runi was showing it and agreed to what had been shown as Runi had asked.

"Well, we took some time, your mother and I, to discuss some things. Here is what we are thinking about doing. However, because it will impact you greatly Tanner, we felt we needed to discuss it with you. Deanna is young enough to where she will be fine no matter what we do. You though, you have a say."

George looked over at Runi who stood and bowed slightly to the man before he spoke. "As your father said, there are decisions that need be made. I know how Colt feels, and he would not be willing to give you up as family. Nor would I ask him. I owe you, and your family a great deal. You were able to help Colt before I was able to arrive. However, the fact that you are close to him, and he is close to me, will put you and your family in danger. Now, there are things that I can do to protect you. The first being that I can imprint upon you a piece of myself, which will let most vampires know that you are all under my protection. For most vampires, they would not touch you if you bear my mark. However, there is a chance that one will. Understand, it will make you about as safe as you are now, without Colt being involved, which means rather safe."

On the other hand..." Runi said, knowing that he had Tanner's full attention. "I have offered to bring your family into the home that we use. There is plenty of room for you all. Most of the people there are about your age; however they are vampires, and some are actually much older then they appear. Take Hank here. He appears to be about ten years old. However, he has been living in the darkness for twenty two years."

Tanner looked at Hank in shock. "You mean you're like my parents age?"

Hank laughed, while Tanner's parents mock glared at Tanner. "Are you saying we're old?" Kathy asked.

"Uhh... not really no." Tanner stumbled causing everyone to laugh. Even Runi was smiling as the boy blushed with embarrassment.

"As I was saying, if you came to live with us, you would be around mostly vampires who appear to be your age. One thing you have to keep in mind, though, is this. When someone enters the darkness, they stop growing... completely. Which means all the things that make a teenager a teenager will be with that person for the rest of their existence."

"In other words..." Kathy said softly. "You know all those hormones running through your body right now? Well for a vampire, they will have those running through them forever. It's something that I find fascinating..."

Tanner couldn't help but grin as he looked at Hank then Runi. "We forbid mom from experimenting on us years ago... looks like you guys get to be the guinea pigs now!"

Tanner's face then turned serious as he looked around. "And why do I have a feeling that a lot of the kid vampires have not had much if any education since they got... whatever you call it."

"Turned." Hank said quickly. "And yeah we got one hell of an education, but it's probably not what you were meaning."

Tanner nodded his thanks to Hank then began speaking again. "Dad I know you love teaching, but I've also heard about all the B.S. you have to put up with in the public schools. As for me, I hated school after Colt vanished. So I got nothing keeping me there. So I say let's go somewhere that we can all be useful."

Kathy and George just stared at Tanner wide eyed for a moment. "When did you grow up that much?" Kathy asked softly.

"AWW... MOM!" Tanner cried out indignantly, causing everyone to bust out laughing since his voice broke in the middle of his exclamation.

"Well I think we knows where he stands." George said quickly with a grin. He looked at the wall clock, saw it was only four in the afternoon, and shook his head. He still had a hard time with vampires, especially ones that could walk in the daylight. "Okay, why don't we do this. Tonight we'll pack what we need, and come spend the night at your house. Then I will commute back and forth to school while I have my notice in. We'll figure out the rest as we go." That got nods from everyone, and suddenly the home was a flurry of activity. By the time they all returned to the mansion, the sun was going down, and the house was beginning to get active.

---

"So what do we do now?" Hunter asked his brother as they sat on the edge of the bed they shared. They had been there for over a week now, and had yet to really figure out what they needed to do. They weren't ignored, not by a long shot, but no one pushed them to do anything either. They knew that many of the others were teaching and learning extras, but neither boy had their own extra yet, so they couldn't learn any of the others. They had seen some of the others being taught how to fight, but, as was told to the twins, until they have their first feeding, the added physical abilities won't have set in well enough to really learn. So, for the most part they had just been wondering around, and watching.

"I don't know." Wyatt said softly. He still didn't like being a vampire, but thankfully he had lost the memories of the night that he got turned. Both of them had lost the memories, and from what they were told, that was a good thing. Runi said that he would explain it to them one day, but for now, they didn't need to know. The only thing that they knew was that some large man with a bird's head spoke to them, and asked them to join with Runi. "Think we'll ever figure out who that guy was? You know the one with the head of a bird?"

"I think I heard someone say his name is Ra, not sure who that is." Hunter said softly. Out of the two of them, he was the one that had the hardest time with not knowing. He remembered that he was turned, and thrown into a room with his brother, being told that he would feed eventually. After that though, he didn't remember anything till he woke up here.

"Think there's someone here who knows? Other then Runi.. he kinda scares me."

Hunter chuckled softly. "Yeah Wy, he scares me too."

Both boys were silent for a minute before they looked at each other with a smile and said the same name at the same time. "Hope!" With that both boys were off the bed, and out of the room in a flash. It took some searching, and asking others, but they finally found Hope in an office she claimed as her own. They looked at each other, and nodded. Then Hunter stepped forward, and softly knocked on the door.

"Come in." Hope's voice came through the door and then looked at each other again before Hunter grabbed the door nob and slowly opened it. "Hi boys!" Hope said when she saw who was at the door. "Come on in." Hope stood up from behind the desk she was working at, and walked over. "What can I do for you?"

"Well..." Hunter said nervously. "We were hoping you could tell us some about Ra. You know, the one that saved us."

Hope's face brightened into a smile. "I would love to. Come on in and sit down." Her smile and easy nature put the boys at ease, and they quickly found seats on the couch in the office. She walked over to a small shelf that had many small figurines on it. She carefully picked one up, and walked over to the boys. "This is a depiction of Ra." She handed Wyatt the statue and he looked at it nodding.

"Yeah, that looks like the guy that talked to us." Hunter said softly as he handed the statue back.

Hope shook her head slightly. "You guys keep it, I can get another."

"Thank you!" Hunter said gratefully. As he pulled the statue back and looked at it again, Hope pulled a chair over and sat down.

"So you want to know about Ra. Well I guess the best place to start is an explanation of my family going back to that time. You have heard that Runi is a distant relative of mine, and my line actually comes from his eldest brother?" Both boys nodded, so she continued. "What you may not have heard is that my ancestor was one that worshiped Ra. In those times people worship many different Gods, and Ra is the God that represented the sun. He is the ruler and father of the other Gods."

"Is that why Runi kept talking about 'feeling Ra's embrace?" Wyatt asked softly.

"Yes, Runi is a follower of Anubis, however, as with all priests, Runi is well aware of the other Gods, and does follow them, and their ways. It's just for Runi, Anubis is the God he has dedicated himself to." Hope said as a way of explanation.

"But we were always taught that there is only one God. So how can Ra be real? Hunter asked, and Hope sighed.

"That is hard to answer, and I don't claim to have all the answers, all I can say is what I believe. Which I have found is much like what Runi believes." She looked up and saw Duncan standing there. Instead of stopping, she waved him in, and continued talking. "To me the Gods are all one thing. You have the Christian God and there is only one. You have the Egyptian Gods, which are many, the Jewish, Muslims, and others all have one God, whereas many of the older religions have many. Who's right? Who really knows? I mean you ask them, and they will say they are right, but honestly, are we mere mortals supposed to understand such things. I don't believe so. What I believe is this. They are all the same, all a part of the same greater being..." She saw that she had lost the younger boys, so she sighed and tried it a different way.

"Tell me, have you boys ever had a fresh warm cherry pie?" They both looked at her like she had gone crazy, but eventually they both nodded. "Good, you know how you take a Cherry pie, right out of the oven, and cut it into slices?" Again they nodded. "Well that Cherry pie is like God. You can cut it into slices, and name each slice something different, but inside, the knife you used, slice through the Cherry pie filling, and that was it. Inside the pie, it's still one thing, one big vat of cherry pie filling, even if it is sliced. So the way I look at it is this, each slice is called by a different name, but inside, they are all the same, not really caring about what we call them."

"Look at it this way guys." Duncan spoke up for the first time. "You probably know that my faith is very strong, and honestly, I am still trying to figure this all out. But the one thing that I can say is this. God does NOT make mistakes. We are not meant to understand why God does what God does, but I do know that He does NOT make a mistake. With that in mind, being what we are, and what we have to do to survive can not be against God's plan. Yes we have free will, and we can do with what we've been given, what we wish, but we will, eventually, have to stand before the Father and answer for our deeds. None of us asked to become what we are, but we are now, and nothing can change that. What we have to decide, and only we can decide for ourselves, is this. Are we going to do good with the powers we have been given, or are we going to use our powers for ill?"

He smiled at them gently, and spoke again. "Now to get back to what you guys were talking about when I came in. To me, the easiest thing to do is just accept that Ra and Anubis, and all the others are very powerful spirits, all working for the god that we all worship. To me, worshiping one of them, as Runi does, is not that big a thing, because even he is not putting Anubis before God. Does that make any sense?"

Both Hunter and Wyatt were nodding, but then Wyatt asked a very shaky question. "But... well what about, well you know... we have to kill...."

Duncan sat back while giving a deep sigh. "That's complicated..."

"Actually it's not as complicated as you may think." a strange voice said from the corner of the room. All four people were on their feet immediately, looking towards the strange voice. "Boy, you are a jumpy lot." the stranger said.

"Who are you?" Hope demanded while holding a curved knife that she pulled from somewhere, while putting herself between the boys and the new stranger. He looked like a kid himself, mid teen with blond hair and blue eyes. He looked completely normal, which made Hope very uneasy.

Of course the teen's chuckles didn't help her mood at all. "Put the knife down Hope, I'm not here to hurt you. Although I gotta say, seeing a human put herself between danger and three vampires... impresses me."

"You still did not answer my question." Hope said, not moving a muscle, coiled and ready to strike if needed.

The teen sighed, yet smiled. "My name would mean nothing to you, as it is not well known, yet. However, since you asked so nicely, I am known as Kuan Ti."

Hope looked confused for a moment as she relaxed. "If I may be so bold... what is the 'Protector of Buddhism, and the God of War to the Taoist and Confucianists' doing here."

"Good lady, I am duly impressed. However I am not 'THE' Kuan Ti, I am simply named for him. That, though, is not why I am here." The teen said as he slowly moved over and sat down on one of the leather seats in Hope's office. "I am here because Wyatt asked a question that I believe I have the answer to."

He looked Wyatt in the eyes, and spoke in a very soft voice. "The Father cares not if you need to feed, but what it is that you feed upon. 'Thou Shalt Not Kill.' That is what His commandments say, but let me ask you this. Who were those Commandments given to?"

"Moses..." Wyatt said, clearly confused.

Kuan Ti nodded and smiled. "Yes, and what was Moses?"

They all knew the question was not as easy as it sounded. Finally though it was Duncan who seemed to understand. "Moses was a man... a human."

"BINGO!" Kuan Ti cried out. "And what are you not, any longer?"

"Human..." Duncan said, while looking incredibly uncomfortable.

Kuan Ti picked up on it quickly, and was fast to say. "That doesn't mean that the Religion doesn't apply to you anymore, it very much does. But for you, all of you, it is easier, and more difficult. For you must follow that path the Jesus laid down. A path of love and understanding, a path of doing what you can to help others, dedicating your lives to what is right and good. Yes, you have to kill to survive. God knows this, and does not hold it against you. If he were to, then he would have to admit he made a mistake. God does NOT make a mistake, as you put it earlier. Do not gain enjoyment from killing, do not feed from the innocent, and follow what your heart says. Those are your commandments now.

Kuan Ti stood. "Well I must be leaving." He turned and walked towards the corner that he first appeared in. He turned around and looked at all four, meeting eyes with them, one by one. "Heed my words, for one of God's Own would not mislead you." He started to fade from sight, but before he was fully gone the outline of a huge cat faced being, with large wings made from flame and holding a flaming sword, hung in the air for a moment, before it too faded.

---

The Harris' mini van pulled up the front of the mansion following the limo that carried Runi and Hank. A black SUV lead the group, with another one following behind. As soon as the minivan stopped, Tanner all but jumped out, looking around in amazement. "It does take some getting used to." Colt said as he followed his best friend out of the minivan at a more sedate pace.

"I'll say." Tanner breathed out then spun and looked at Colt. "You live here?"

"That I do." Colt said with a grin. "With a whole bunch of others."

Kathy smiled as she pulled a sleeping five year old Deanna out of her booster seat. "This is a very fine place you have here, Colt.

Just then Runi and Hank walked up. "Would you care to join us inside. It seems your young one needs to find a real bed."

"It is past her normal bed time." George said with a chuckle. "Please lead the way."

Colt led the way up the stairs to the doors, and then inside to the grand foyer. Inside the living room area of the mansion, many of the kids that were sitting around turned and looked at who was coming in. They all looked curiously at the newcomers, especially the living ones. Colt stopped just inside the living area, and spoke loud enough for everyone to hear. "I would like everyone to meet some very good friends of mine, the family that took me in and helped me when my sperm donor got done with me. They are George and Kathy Harris, the little one sleeping is Deanna, and the guy next to me is my best friend Tanner." Colt paused, and his voice grew somewhat dangerous. "Please spread the word that they are under my protection, and will NOT be harmed. They are to be treated as family. Understood?"

A few of the kids sitting there raised their eyebrows in surprise, but most just nodded, or waved, and went back to what they were doing. Colt turned around, and upon seeing the shocked look on his guest's faces, he blushed slightly. "I just wanted to make sure you knew that they won't hurt you."

George was the first to smile and chuckle. "What happened to the shy, meek boy I used to know?"

"I was wondering that same thing." Runi said with a happy smile. "It seems I may have corrupted him with my evil ways." He paused as he looked first to Hank, then to Colt. "I approve."

"Oh my God!" Hank cried out, causing many of the people in the room to spin and see what happened. "Runi just made a joke!"

That got a disapproving glare from Runi, yet everyone else in the room burst out laughing. Hank and Colt could tell by the twinkle in Runi's eyes that he wasn't really upset, but he did have an image to protect.

Hank then looked up at Kathy. "Why don't I show you where you can lay the little one down. And to add to what Colt said. You have no reason to be afraid here. Every single one of us would meet our final death before we let any of you get hurt."

Kathy nodded seriously, the intensity in those burning orange eyes showed nothing but sincerity. Hank nodded, turned and started to walk. "Please follow me." Both Kathy and George followed Hank.

Once they were a few steps away, Colt turned to Runi. "I'm gonna show Tanner to the room next to ours, okay?"

"As you wish." Runi said simply, to which Colt turned and motioned for Tanner to follow. They had just made it to the steps when a small boy ran up to them. "Colt, you gonna give me my lesson soon? I've been practicing, and haven't even hit myself with the staff all day! Wanna see?" Marco pulled out a small rod, flicked his wrist, and it grew to a staff that was perfectly sized for him.

"Not right now Marco, I have to get Tanner settled in. I'll catch up with you in about an hour okay?" Colt said seriously, which made Tanner look at him very strangely, but otherwise, the boy said nothing.

"Okay sure!" Marco said with a nod of his head. "Oh yeah, Mary told me to tell you that she has some left over dinner for you. She made Fried Chicken! It was really good!" And with that, the boy was off like a shot, another flick of the wrist made the staff shrink back down and allowed him to shove the small rod into his pocket.

Tanner was about to say something, when Colt shook his head. "I'll explain in a minute okay?" Tanner just shrugged and followed Colt up the stairs. In silence they walked down the hall till they came to a door. Colt turned to Tanner and spoke. "The next door down is the room that Runi and I share. This one's for you." Colt then opened the door and walked in. Tanner softly whistled as he looked around the very large and comfortable looking room. In the center of the room was a large queen sized bed, nice, what looked like hand crafted dressers, and a huge closet. Colt showed him the en suite bathroom, and then took him back out to the main room, and sat down at the desk, where he looked at Tanner for a long moment.

"What?" Tanner asked.

Colt wiped away the tears that suddenly started to flow. "I'm sorry, I just... I just never thought I would see you again."

Instantly Tanner was hugging his friend, his own tears mixing with his friend's. Tanner didn't say a word for almost a minute, and it was actually Colt that spoke first. "I thought about you guys all the time while I was on the streets. Every time I dug through a dumpster, I imagined it was Mom's cooking. Every time I had to... to do things with a guy... I tried to imagine you and your dad outside teaching me how to throw a ball, or when your dad actually bought me a bike. I... I just couldn't handle things without thinking about you guys."

After almost five full minutes of crying, Colt finally was able to get his tears under control, he sniffed, and looked up at Tanner with a smile. "Sorry."

"Don't be." Tanner said as he pulled another chair over, and sat down in front of Colt. "I'm just glad you're okay. And from the looks of things you're doing okay."

Tanner paused, then got a big grin on his face. "I gotta ask. How did you end up from the streets to here, and someone who the vampires actually seemed afraid of? I mean I don't mind, and am grateful, but under 'your' protection? How'd that happen?"

Colt smiled as he wiped the last of his tears away. "That's a long story. A lot of it, I don't think you'll believe, cause, well, shit, I don't really. I just know it actually happened."

"I'm all ears!" Tanner said with a chuckle.

"Well I told you about Runi rescuing me from the other vampires, and then taking me to his 'home'. Well things were okay for a little while, I mean they weren't too weird. Well okay they were weird, but not too bad." Colt said trying not to laugh, and failing. "I mean yeah it was weird him being a vampire and all, but it wasn't that bad until the first night we decided to go into town.."

Over the next twenty minutes, Colt told Tanner all about finding Duncan, and then Samson and Jennifer. Then about the council meeting. How scared he was going in there, but Runi being there in his mind the entire time gave him the courage to deal with it. And how Runi 'cleaned house' when they got here. He even told Tanner about the fight that they had when Runi was about to torture someone.

"And that's when things turned from strange to 'really fucking out there'! Colt said with a wide grin. I went to sleep that night, and had a really weird fucking dream. It was all about wars that happened a long time ago. I watched I don't know how many battles and castles being attacked and everything. When I finally had enough Isis showed up."

"Isis?" Tanner asked. "You mean the Egyptian Goddess of Nature and Magic."

Colt looked at him really strange. "Yeah... how'd you know that?"

Tanner blushed a bit and softly said. "I like to read a lot. And well, I always loved Mythology."

Colt busted out laughing. "You'll fit in around here great then. It's almost like a day doesn't go by that some God or Goddess shows up."

"You mean they're real?!" Tanner asked in disbelief.

"Oh yeah. As I said, she showed up in my dream. And I've actually seen her, Ra and Anubis in person. It's really kinda freaky!"

"I bet!" Tanner breathed out.

"Anyways, she showed and talked to me. She made me realize that war and battle, and fighting, well it all isn't bad, depending on what's being fought for. She made me realize that even though Runi fights, and now I do, there are times when war, when fighting is needed to protect those you care about. She spoke to me about a war that's coming, a war over Vampires, and who will control them. Well I should say, who will decide not only what they do, but how they do it. Runi will be fighting a lot of vampires to try and make it so that Vampires aren't the evil creatures that everyone thinks they are."

"Wow..." Tanner breathed out. "That's gonna be... well I don't know, but. I mean can you guys win?"

Colt gave a grim smile before he answered. "We have no choice." He stood up, and looked at Tanner. "I'll be right back." He then quickly left the room, leaving a rather confused Tanner sitting there alone. But only for a minute. Rushing back into the room, Colt handed Tanner a soda and then handed him a golden statue. Tanner looked at it oddly as he opened the soda and took a sip. Finally he looked up at Colt and spoke in a confused voice. "I may have read a lot, but that doesn't mean I'll recognize everything. Who's this?"

"Me." Colt answered simply as he sat down.

"What?" Tanner cried out in shock.

"One of the things that Isis told me, and as soon as she did, I knew it was true, was that I am the reincarnation of that man." Colt said seriously.

"Okay..." Colt said in complete disbelief. "I don't buy it, but I'll bite... who is he?"

"His name is lost to time, but it was Amenhotep. His name means 'the Peace of Amon', he was the Pharaoh that elevated Runi's family when Runi became his... 'lover'. He died trying to protect Runi, even though Runi was a vampire by that time, and well, could easily have defended himself. That's how much Amenhotep loved Runi. But it didn't stop there."

Colt paused as he took a sip of his soda, then continued. "Egyptians didn't believe in reincarnation, and Amenhotep was about to go to the afterlife, paradise for them, when he was given the choice. His reward for being a good and faithful servant of the Gods, or a chance to come back and help Runi is his greatest time of need. The man never hesitated, he choose to come back. And now... well I'm him... or he's me... or, well, you get the point."

Tanner stared at Colt for a few moments, then chuckled. "Well that sure as hell beats any of the stories Shakespeare ever told. It's so fucked up, it's gotta be real. So you're actually this really old guy, reborn?"

"Yeah. But there's more." Colt said as he got up and started to pace around the room. "I actually have all of his memories. Not even Runi knows that, but I do."

"Is that how you know how to fight?" Tanner asked.

Colt grinned. "Nope. But that sort of came from Isis that night too. She said she couldn't help me, when I asked how I could possibly be with Runi when he was going to be fighting so often. Well even though she couldn't help me, she knew someone that could. And then she took me to some strange place where I met a boy. Younger then we are, but boy does he know how to fight. The weirdest part was, it took years for him to really teach me to fight, but when we were done, and I came back, I woke up and it was only the next evening. At first I thought I dreamed it, but then I was wearing this pendent, that acts like a shield, and the rod that can become a staff."

"Damn.. that's cool. This boy, is he a God too?" Tanner asked

"Not that I know of, at least he said he wasn't. All I ever called him was by his name. Chang." Colt grinned as a thought struck him. "He even said if I found anyone that I thought would want to learn to fight like I do, I could come back and he would be happy to teach them. He even gave me a way to contact him, so I could get back there." Colt stopped and looked at Tanner. "What do you say, you wanna go for a trip?"

Tanner never hesitated, he jumped to his feet, grinning. "You're damned straight I do!"