Chapter 1

Nathaniel was born in the suburbs of San Diego. The first five years of his life were spent peacefully with his mother. When he was six Nathan was cut on his hand and said nothing.

When his mother noticed it later she asked why he didn't say anything and Nathan said, "It didn't hurt mom."

Catherine took her son to the hospital and the doctor couldn't explain it.

"It seems like leprosy but he's healing." The older man said.

He had been little Nathan's doctor for two years since they moved to the area two years ago after moving around. He had never seen any signs or symptoms of this. As far as he knew Nathan was just another average boy. This change however was only the beginning. His skin soon became pale in the coming year and the pigment in his eyes paled as well giving a frosty gaze.

Catherine's and Nathan's troubles did not end there as he began to have troubles in school. Nathan was hesitant to tell his mom everything until she continued to press him on the issue. Finally giving in he told her it was not just his appearance that getting him in trouble.

"I hear voices mother. Whispers while I am awake and while I sleep. Sometimes I wake up when they grow too loud. I can't shut them out. They are always there no matter what I do, and..." Nathan began hesitating.

"And... ?" Catherine prodded.

"I get the sense that they are not human. I can't explain why. I just know that they are somehow different from those around me, plus I can't hear the people around me. I tried mother but they too hard. The others I can easily focus on. Some are in the city and some are far away. I have used our globe here at home to determine where they are." Nathan said.

"Show me." Catherine said.

Both got up from the couch they were sitting on they moved across the shiny wood paneled room. The money that Catherine had hidden in various financial institutions over the years had made her quite rich. Nathan walked to a large globe set on a wooden stand.

The globe was multicolored and could be spun easily. It stood about two feet tall and the frame was made of polished mahogany. Spinning the globe Nathan pointed as it stopped at England.

"There are hundreds here." Nathan said staring at that place on the globe. Catherine more than anyone else knew this was true.

England had been the main Focal point of the Vampires for most of modern history. It was a country that had allowed them to travel anywhere, without having to answer any questions for centuries. Before that it had been ancient Russia, but Communism had made that country less than an ideal feeding ground.

The government there started to pay attention to every detail of their citizens' lives, and did not really care about their person rights in the grand scheme of things. The Vampires for obvious reason did not want any unnecessary attention. While some chose to stay the rest moved to other countries and the new capital was chosen.

"You are right my son. They are many strange creatures there. I knew about them before you were born." Catherine said.

"Who are they mother? Why do they seem so much powerful than the rest?" Nathan asked. It was the moment of his mother's greatest hesitation. Until now these changes could have just strange happenstance.

Humans were not unknown for having strange things happen to them. Their history was filled with new diseases of both the mind and the body. In a way it would have been better if this had been the case.

The problem was it wasn't. Anthony had crossed some invisible boundary they not even he could see and he had made something that should not exist. Nathan might have been born looking human but he obviously wasn't and she cursed herself for how naïve she had been.

Too much power had been put in one body. Already as she reached out to lay a comforting hand on her son's shoulder she could feel the chill coming from his skin. She had no doubt that if the bare skin was touched the results would be much worse. What was her son becoming and would there be anything left of the child she had loved when it was over?

"There will be time for your questions, but for now pack your things we have to go." Catherine said as she turned away so he would not see the tears that began to well up in her eyes. She wiped them away quickly as Nathan walked to his room shutting the door behind him.

It took hours for them to drive to L.A. in her black Ford Focus. Catherine had never liked advertising her wealth in her vehicles or to the general public. Even their home was a façade looking so plain on the outside but with a beautiful interior.

Picking up the cell phone Catherine dialed a number she not used since before that fateful night that she had been turned into a human once again. Memories of her life as the head of the once great Vampire Council flowed through her mind returning from the nether. She had been a different person then and would have barely recognized herself now. Catherine had been given a great gift that night: a second chance.

There was not a night that she had not thanked fortune or the heavens above for that precious gift. Glancing at her son sitting beside her she smiled. Catherine reached over and gripped his gloved hand that lay not far from hers on the other side of the arm rest.

Her son looked at her too his eyes reflecting a question that she did not have the strength as of yet to answer. How could he understand and would he blame her for her part in all of this?

Santiago met them at the hotel they had registered in. In the lobby he smiled warmly greeting Catherine by embracing her.

"I would have thought you would not have remembered me kindly Santiago." Catherine said.

"I am not one to hold grudges, besides you tried to help the rest of us that night, even at your own peril. It was a mess for all concerned and I am glad to see you're safe. Is this your son?" Santiago replied before glancing at the young boy before his eyes again met Catherine's. She knew the question he wanted to ask.

"Does he know?" Shaking her head she answered the unspoken question. Santiago took a deep breath and nodded. He did not envy Catherine in the task she must carry out, but gladly she would not be alone.

"Samantha will be here tomorrow. My men will watch over you. There are those out there would see you harmed if they knew you were here, and they soon will." Santiago said.

Catherine thanked him for his kindness and for his protection. She had made many enemies when she had taken a stand siding with their new king. Some would still wish her ill for the harm she had caused. Many of the traitors had high ranked friends among the most powerful of the houses. Santiago was right that they were in danger until Samantha took them on.

Catherine had no doubt there was a reason for the delay. The chaos after the averted war had left the leadership of all the factions in shambles. Samantha no doubt had been the one voice with enough influence to unite them and keep the peace that Anthony had forced on them for the safety of all.

Unfortunately Catherine did not have access to all the information. If she had she would have been made aware of the real danger. Despite the fact that it would mean their total annihilation if he were awakened many hot heads tended to forget the past, and the confrontation that had brought about the peace.

It was up to the older and wiser members of their race to keep them in line so there was no blood shed. A single drop could spell disaster if it meant that Anthony would arise from his prison under the earth.

He had slain many of their strongest that night proving that he was king of all by sheer brute force if nothing else. None dared challenge his rule or the place of his successors. Already those children who had already returned to L.A. with their mothers had been placed under Samantha's charge as the regent in her father's place.

Nemiah and Katrina had been both been surprised to learn that they were not the only mother of Anthony's children and that in fact there was yet another. It appears Anthony had left little to chance. Nemiah's and Katrina's children would each rule one of the four factions, giving Samantha direct control over two of them through their shared bloodline.

The following day they found a limousine waiting for them and Santiago ushered them inside. The car took them to edge of the city where a large mansion stood. High gates surrounded the great building and the expansive surrounding grounds. Samantha waited for them on the steps in front of the house.

"Greetings Catherine. How is our little Nathan doing?" Samantha said giving him a warm smile.

"He seems fine all things considered. It is those things however that have brought me here." Catherine said.

Waving them inside Samantha led the way her plain black shirt and jeans making her look almost average. She was an attractive woman to be sure, but her clothing had been chosen to downplay her features. Samantha wasn't even wearing makeup that morning, and had only lightly brushed her hair. It was a rare thing to see her so informal.

Most visitors received a woman wearing a fine crimson gown with gold trim regal and powerful. They were recognized as their family's colors making them easily recognizable.

Her gaze was known to quiet entire rooms no matter the amount of shouting or whispers. All who had been in her presence when she showed this side of herself respected her iron will and did not cross her.

Samantha protected her family from all outsiders and was constantly on the watch for any danger towards them. Through her cunning and leadership more than one attempt had been stopped without blood spilling.

She always stayed one step ahead of her enemies seeming to guess what they would do before they did it. Nothing happened among the faction under her control without her being made aware of it.

By now all of them expected her to know what was going on, and took it for granted making her job much easier. Now none dared to make a move directly against her. When she had made it clear last night that Catherine and her child were not to be touched, by any who still held a grudge against the new arrivals; those individuals quickly rethought their plans.

Samantha did not become directly involved in any problem unless it was important. Her favored tactic was to use those around those seeking to threaten the peace to avert problems. It had gained her much respect especially among the Werewolves and Vampires. Both respected strong leaders.

The development of a new serum insured that the new blood drinkers, that Anthony had sired no longer needed to feed off of the Vampires. The Huntsmen were the main trouble makers but they had few capable leaders left. Now they had been broken up into smaller groups with only a handful under one leader at a time. In their present condition they were more of a nuisance than a threat.

Walking down the tiled hall she led them to the living room and offered them a seat in one of the many couches or chairs. Catherine and Nathan chose one of the couches while Santiago bid his ado. Bowing to Samantha he turned and left. Sitting beside his mother Samantha told Nathan the whole story explaining all. When it was done Nathan was unsure of how to respond at first.

It had provided the final pieces to the puzzle that he had been trying to solve but provided yet a new one. He knew the how but the question was why?

"Why did my father do this to me?" Nathan asked angry and frustrated.

He knew now that he could not have a normal life. If anything that much was certain. He would never graduate high school like other children his age or make human friends.

His very touch seemed to affect his mother, and though she tried not to show it she was uncomfortable with it. It had something to do with the warmth he drew from her strengthening him.

For one brief moment he felt warm himself before it passed as he had once felt before all the changes. It seemed a distant memory now but he felt it and recognized. He was eight now and already he could feel his powers growing. He had killed a bird the other day when they stopped at a gas station.

His mother had been pumping gas when he had approached a tiny bird searching for a worm. It had frozen at his approach its body becoming paralyzed. Nathan had not understood and had believed it was simply not afraid from him. When bent down to pet it he felt its warmth pass into his body and he felt its life extinguish.

When his mother found him he was crying holding its limp body in his hands, knowing that he had been the cause of its untimely death. His mother had stroked his hair, and helped him bury the poor animal before leading him to the car.

They drove off and she had told him to go to sleep, but the tiny little bird haunted his dreams. In them the bird was singing and just as it had happened before he unintentionally killed it. Catherine yearned to comfort her son and had bought a pair of gloves so he wouldn't be terrified of touching anything.

As she explained the incident to Samantha both understood his feelings.

"He must learn to control it or he will be a danger to humans. Come here Nathan." Samantha said noticing him hesitate as she waved him over, "Don't worry you can't harm me. Like you I am not human. We are different you and I so the normal rules do not apply. I will show you how to control your ability. Right now you will receive your first lesson."

Taking his hands she seemed immune to his cold touch and in fact did not feel it at all. To her he might as well have been a normal human when it came to that department.

"Close your eyes Nathan and listen to my voice. Remember the bird and what you felt when you touched it. Now imagine putting a wall in front of it. It can be any wall you like, but make sure it stands in the way between you and the bird. Now keeping your eyes closed and follow me. Don't forget to keep that wall up Nathan. It's important." Samantha said.