To Dante the scene looked like a historical museum, trapped miles underground, almost as though a piece of an old neighbourhood had sunk down, intact, and nestled itself among the rocks where it finally stopped sinking. The lights on the buildings were working, but he didn't know why. He assumed all the inhabitants here could see in the dark, well dressed as they were, strolling leisurely around. They didn't pay them too much mind, however, although they must have recognized the scent of familiar kin. There was one building that dwarfed all the others, standing out in both size and appearance. It was almost like a castle, dressed in lights; a welcoming entrance and a deep dark red carpet leading them in.

  Kaida crawled off Marcus's back and headed inside. Marcus scrambled after her and Dante and Eva followed. Inside something he had not seen in many years, he had almost forgot that it was possible. Art adorned the walls behind a counter. The whole pce was brightly lit as though this was some sort of spectacle. No one stopped them; they proceeded on their way to the chamber at the end with big red doors.

  Upon entering he saw the screen, a rge dominating thing filled with colour. A mp of some sort cast light upon it, And all around, seated, or perched on the various balconies were the vampires. On the screen was a movie about vampires, that much was clear, and as he made his way down two guards stopped him.

  "A character enters whom I have not seen in some time."

  Dante recognized the voice, feminine and fierce, he knew of the ruthlessness behind it. A hand moved forward over the seats, and the guards let them pass. Dante sat down, but Kaida and the others stayed behind, held back.

  "I'm surprised you still recognize me, Elraine."

  "For all your faithless falsity I would recognize you anywhere."

  "When I left, I thought I might have left behind something important, but it seems you all have become a sad society of frauds, sitting around staring at fantasy."

  She chuckled.

  "When you left Dante to py pretend in the forest with the rest of the cowards and malcontents we were here fighting for what power we could keep, even if that's just the little bit of power of fantasy, sitting in a dark room and staring at old glory. We hold onto what we can, here. Your vilge was never going to exist outside its own."

  "Maybe it could have if you'd come with us instead of staying down here."

  "Maybe it could have if you hadn't left. You should know, your father and mother were the ones who informed the Syndicate of your location. So when you think about it, the raid on your home was really your own fault. You're the one who brought the lion to the doorstep."

  Dante was shocked, he did not know what to say, he gnced to his right. Thankfully his companions did not seem to hear.

  "I'm sorry. You shouldn't bme yourself. We don't bme ourselves, for what happened to us, being forced having to live down here forever. We sheltered away in the dark away from the control, instead of free under the night Sky. You couldn't have known how deeply your forebears cared only about themselves. Maybe a small part of you didn't want to know, despite everything you've seen, everything you are. You are the one who really wanted to live in a fantasy world. I'm happy to accept only escaping into one."

  Dante got up to leave but the guards forced him back down. On the movie screen in front of him, the vampire character, bit its victim, fangs sinking into a neck. The bulging veins and ravenous expression of the vampire’s face dominated the screen, it seemed to look into the audience directly at him.

  "What do you want from me?" Dante said forcefully.

  "What do you want from me?" she continued, "I have an offer for you, but I will not share it now. Take your time, explore the theatre and the home that could've been. We will speak after I am done here."

  Dante moved to speak but Elrain raised a finger to her lips. Tthe guards moved out of the way. Dante left the theatre with group, and they all strolled along the boulevard. Kaida pyed, dancing in the street in a silly way with Ava chasing after her. There are a few shops, pces to drink, a supply store. It was not much but maybe it seemed like enough. They meandered for a bit, he and Marcus talked, but not about much. They were all outcasts here, except him. Dante was the only true born. The Trueborn who had nevertheless still left. Maybe they'd be better off here than to keep the candle, for an eternity burning out at the inn at the end of the world. Some fanciful notion of freedom. This pce, at least, was not so lonely. Eventually they returned to their hotel, a darling gothic affair, traditional and fanciful, luxurious and rich and dark.

  He left them while they were in the room resting, returning to the theatre. It was quieter now, there were fewer patrons but all the screens were running, films in bck and white. They all seemed odd, familiar, but he had never seen any of them before. The screens held him captivated and he could see how he might spend a little time, or an eternity, staring at them. He would not necessarily feel that much less for it. Elrain was not there, so he continued to search. Down he went to the lower levels, taking the old antiquated staircase on the traditional but aged carpets that dragged along the stairs.

  The lower levels were a maze and there were many chambers. He could see that each had boxes and boxes of old films, common cassettes, discs, projections, discarded posters and film art. He had expected it to be organized, with all the time in the world they had, but it was not, and at least not in any understandable way. He expected more from beings with such long life spans, but maybe that was the cause.

  There was never any urgency to improve, to organize, confident they were in their eternal abilities and that they could always withdraw to the ink of time. But up there, there was no time. It was all self-sustaining and immediate. It was faster and smarter, and it never aged. They were beaten by an enemy they didn't know could exist, and driven out to create a world where time mattered again.

  There was one st room at the end of the hall. He guessed Elrain would be there, waiting for him. If he entered he would take the deal, whatever it was, he knew that. The door was closed and golden handle was half turned, ready to help him let go of his position. The decision was his, he knew that they would follow him, where in fealty, or love, or necessity. The handle was cold, but so was he, and he had come all this way. He pulled the door open.