Inell's Fanfiction Archive

Darla walked into her Father's chambers, her eyes moving around the room to ensure that they were alone. She moved towards his chair, kneeling slightly, "Father."

"Daughter," he replied, motioning for her to stand. "Please sit."

Darla sat down and looked into the face of the man that had sired her so many hundreds of years before. He was by no means an attractive man, being one of the first of the races of vampires. He had been attractive when he had been alive, or so she had been told. Now, he was pale and deformed. Still, to her, he was Father. To others, he was simply Master. He had had another name once, more than a thousand years before. It had been forgotten. He even professed to not remember that human link. "You called for me, Father?"

"That I did, childe," he smiled. "Tell me of this latest childe of yours. I was not aware that you were considering such a task."

She smiled, "His name is Jesse. He belongs to my mate. A friend of hers."

"Aw, so you have turned him for her?" the master asked, watching his eldest and favorite daughter smile. "A turning present perhaps?"

"Not yet," Darla shook her head. "She's not ready. I had planned that though. Alas, that did not go as planned. Someone decided to snack on him last night. I changed him for her, but I believe he will make a nice addition to the family. His loyalty is strong."

"Good, good," the master nodded. "And your mate? When shall I meet her?"

"This evening," Darla smiled. "I wish her to be here when Jesse awakens. He is going to be hers and I would like to enforce that from the beginning."

"You are bringing her here?"

"Yes," Darla replied. "She knows what I am. Last night she watched me bring her friend back from the dead. I want her to see where I live, to meet you."

"To be seen by the family so they recognize and accept your claim?" he remarked in amusement.

"That too, of course," Darla smiled sheepishly. "I want to claim her here, amongst my family. She is not aware of that, thinking she is here strictly to make Jesse more comfortable."

"I can not wait to meet the girl that has captured your heart," the master said with a smile. "A human that accepts you as you are, well, that is a rare thing indeed."

"Willow is very special," Darla said. She turned serious as she regarded her father, "I'm sure that you did not ask me here just to discuss my mate and newest childe."

"No, I did not, daughter," he said, growing serious. "Are you aware that Angelus is in town?"

She nodded, glancing away from him, "Yes. I've felt him for several weeks but have not seen him. For reasons of his own, he does not wish to contact me."

"Is he a threat?"

"Angelus is very strong," she began slowly, carefully. "He's always been very stubborn. I have not seen him in nearly eighty-five years though. Since the soul. I have no idea what to expect of him, honestly."

"Even with that soul, would he join us or fight?" the master asked, remembering his favorite grandchilde.

"I doubt that the soul would allow him to join us willingly, but I do not think he'd fight," Darla said. "Not alone at least. Angelus was never stupid."

"For the moment, it would appear that he is content to lurk in the shadows and watch. I will be accept that for now. If he is deemed to be a threat to us," the master left the statement unfinished.

"I shall convince him to not be," Darla said, knowing that she could not sit by and watch her favorite childe killed by her father. No matter what Angelus had turned into over the years, he was still hers. Her bond with him had once been very strong. It was still there, waiting.

"We shall see, childe. Only time will tell, correct?" the master observe.

"Yes, Father. Trust me though. Angelus will not be a threat," Darla promised.

"Enough," the master moved his hand in the air to designate that he was tired of this subject. He slowly smiled, "So, daughter, tell me a bit more about your mate and the plans that you have for her."