"I'm serious! One minute I was looking at the eyes of a blood thirsty wild cat, the next I'm looking in the eye's of a goddess!" A man spoke feverently as he desperately tried to convince his fellow companions at a local bar of the illusions the desert had plaid on him, but laughter still vanquished his voice.

"Moorieese! You goon! You honestly think it possible for people to turn into cats?"

"I would have been just like you guys if I hadn't seen it for myself!" Moorieese suddenly felt a hand clamp down on his shoulder and a strong voice penetrate the other voices with a calm chuckled.

"Moorieese, come now. You know the trickery of the Siberian Sand's, it's said men have followed a camel to their doom, thinking it some kind of luxurious goddess."

"She was real I tell you! Bruce Ask Timmel! He was there!" Bruce removed his hand from Morrieese's shoulder and sighed. "I would, except Timmel's long gone by now." Bruce flopped his muscular self down on a barstool, propping his elbow up on the counter.

"Hey come on men." A gentle, yet deep voice rang from another section of the bar. A young man, tall and lengthy yet his body was tone and rigid with muscles. Dark and rich brown hair lazily fell in an aimless fashion in front of roasted almond orbs that went with sleek, softly tan skin. He raised a glass of water to his soft rose lips and drank to his liking, letting small streams of water dribble down his chin and moist his partially exposed, masculine chest. He removed the cup from his mouth and placed it gently back down on the table, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Don't tell me you haven't heard the legends? Or the stories of the 'Desert Rose'?"

"Damn it Ri, don't start with that old hog wash again, those are just old wives tells people tell their kids to keep from running off into the dunes."

"I'm afraid Bruce is right, you're Highness." The bartender spoke, flipping the white cloth he was using to wipe out glasses over his shoulder before turning around to greet the face of mischievous and down to earth prince. "Those are just old wives tales I'm afraid, there's not any proof that the maiden of the Siberian Desert actually exists."

Orion kicked up his feet onto the table, leaning back to balance on the two back begs, folding his arms behind his head and closing his eyes, a charming smile with a curious glint spreading through his lips. "I'm not saying it is or isn't true, personally I'm with Bruce." Ri reached forward and gripped his cup, examining the bottom of it aimlessly; swirling around a small water droplet that lingered in the bottom. "There just old wives tales."

"You might want to be careful, your highness. Those chairs aren't that sturdy to be balancing like that." The bartender's voice wavered with uneasiness as he watched the prince balance himself on the scrony wooden pegs, rocking back and forth. But Orion merely closed his eyes, setting his cup back down on the table, a smile still radiating over his charming face.

"Calm down Danny, you worry to much. And quit with the highness bit, I'm no better than rest of you free loaders."

"Hey! Watch is Ri! I work hard on the job!" Bruce rose from his seat, highly tempted to push Orion over while he wasn't paying attention.

Orion chuckled "Right Bruce, you work hard to try and sleep with my sister." Bruce smiled to himself and scratched the back of his head, slowly returning to his seat. The rest of the men chuckled to one another at the fiery wit of his highness Orion.

"What's you're point?" Bruce's voice smug, his smile indicating mischief. Orion popped one eye open to stare at his friend that sat across the room, before releasing a refreshing laugh of amusement through out the rest of the bar, the men laughing along with Orion at Bruce's comment. Laughter resonated through the small building, and was heard outside in the street.

"ORION STELLAR!!!!!" The voice boomed over the laughter as the form as the bar doors busted open, sunlight pouring in through the brutally opened doors. Orion, caught off guard by this sudden outburst, instantly toppled over in his chair, colliding with the floor and smacking his head on hard ground.

"Ow." He laid on his back in the cool dirt, Danny standing over him from the bar and Orion just glared up at the crystal blue orbs that gleamed down him with a smart alic glint running over them. ".Don't even say it." He slowly picked himself up off the ground, brushing off his loose fitting emerald green pants and buckskin colored vest, lined elegantly with gold thread.

"Hey, Isis!" Bruce moved to put his massive arm around the tiny female. "How you' doin?" He looked down at the feminine form under his arm.

"Back off Bruce, how many times do I have to tell you I'm not interested!" Isis shoved Bruce off and approached her twin brother who was busy dusting himself off of the dust he had accumulated.

"Orion! Mother is SO cross with you right now! How could you forget about today?!" Isis folded her delicate arms across her chest, her hazel eyes glinting with annoyance as she tapped her foot on the ground. Orion quit dusting himself and looked over at his sister and raised an eyebrow, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

"What WAS today again?" He grinned; hoping she wouldn't get even more upset threw his childish grin. "And...why are you so dressed up? You never wear that white dress unless it's for a formal occasion." He looked over her, his warm eyes glinting with confusion.

"ORION! YOU'RE IMPOSSIBLE! You're SUPPOSED to be meeting the princess of Greece today! You know...your FIANCE! And LOOK At you! You're all dirty and you're not EVEN dressed in your formals! Mother's going to RING your neck!"

"Oh...That's TODAY?!" He looked down at the ground, biting his lip only to glance back up at his sister. "How much time do I have till she gets here?"

Isis glanced outside "With the way the shadows are falling? I'd say around thirty minutes!" Isis huffed, knowing very well she wasn't surprised with her brother. He did this with every arranged marriage. And sometimes she wondered if he let it fall threw on purpose. Though before she could begin to scold her twin again, he had already bolted out the door and back to palace.

Orion shimmied up the lime stone column that connected to his balcony, the only key to his freedom in and out of the palace. He stumbled onto the balcony, rolled a few feet before jumping up and quickly stripping himself of his clothes, discarding them to his floor. Once free of his clothes, her ran to his shower room, giving himself a quick sponge bath and rinsing his hair free of dust. Once done with the wash cloth he threw it down and ran back to room, throwing on his formals in an orderly and practiced fashion. A white sleeveless tunic hemmed in solid gold all the way around the bottom with black swayed pants that were almost form fitting to go around his legs with simple leather sandals to cover his feet. Once properly dressed he scurried over his mahogany dresser sent as a wedding gift from Greece to gaze into the mirror and comb threw his slick hair, when his mother announced herself in his room by the shove of the door.

"Orion Stellar, are you ready to meet your fiancé?" The queen spoke, traditional stalk strait Egyptian black hair fell her shoulders and her olive skin shimmered in the afternoon sun that shone threw the windows. Green eyes that glistened like emeralds shone over at her son's tidy appearance, shocked to see him clean and actually ready. A sold gold and silver amulet, a heirloom to the family hung around her neck with a stunning white silk dress that hung around her single shoulder and draped over her mesmerizing body. "Why son...you're actually ready. Does this mean you're serious with the Princess Aphrodite's?"

"Of course mother, I'm always serious about people I've never met." Orion spoke sarcastically as he finished combing his hair.

"Now Son, Can you PLEASE just give this one a chance?! She came all the way from Greece to meet you! That MUST mean something!" The queen pleaded with her over exuberant son.

"That she's turned down every other prince along HER coast line?" Orion smirked, eyeing his distraut mother.

"Please, Orion. Just mind yourself." She pleaded one last time before exiting his room, with him following her.

"What kind of name is Aphrodite anyway?" Orion mumbled with his mother glancing over her shoulder, shooting him a powerful glare. "Why doesn't Isis have to participate in my torture? I always have to meet HER fiancés." He grumbled, not paying attention as his mother stopped dead in her tracks and spun around, her fists clenched.

"Orion! You are eighteen years of age and the only male heir to this throne! Now either you straiten up or you right back to your quarters!"

"I guess that means I should just leave now and save you the agony." He smiled and spun on his heels in an attempt to walk back to his room, whistling joyfully. But his mother had other plans as she latched onto his ear.

"OH NO YOU DON'T!"

"AH NO! NOT THE EAR THING!" He begged to be let go, struggling against his mother's grip.

"NOW YOU WILL GO IN THERE AND MEET HER HIGHNESS APHORODITE AND YOU WILL ENJOY IT!" With her final words spoken she tossed him threw two massive double oak doors, that of which he stumble threw only to find himself in the fine dining area with his guests who had been awaiting his appearance. His mother, the Queen of Egypt following profoundly and graceful after him making Orion look like even more of a graceless twist. He quickly straitened up, standing tall, pulling his strong shoulders back as he eyed the younger woman that sat elegantly at the table.

"Your Majesty's of Greece may I present his Highness, the Prince of Egypt, Orion Stellar." The royalty that sat at the well-polished rectangular table slowly rose in the presence of Orion and her Majesty.

"And may we present her Highness, the Princess of Greece, Aphrodite." The elderly man, the Majesty of Greece extended his hand to display his daughter that surprisingly Orion gawked at. Soft light blonde hair was pulled back neatly with tiny braids on each side and styled with beautiful spiral curls that fell down past her shoulders. Her skin was milky, flawless and untouched with a tint of rose in her cheeks and she eyed his Highness of Egypt with bright baby blue eyes. Orion just stared, dumbfounded by her beauty, until his mother nudged him to stop drooling.

"What?" He whispered to his mother only to blink with realization. "Oh!" He bowed quickly, dropping his eyes away from the golden beauty. "It is an honor to be in your presence, Malady." Orion subconsciously rolled his eyes, thinking to himself. "Geeze...how many times have I used THAT line..." He rose slowly, his eyes drifting back to his current fiancé.

"Please, take your seats." The Majesty of Egypt spoke gently; extending her hand to the table everyone did as requested. Orion willingly taking a seat by Aphrodite. His mother smiling at this odd occurrence.

"I must say this is exciting!" Her Majesty of Greece speaking with pure enthusiasm. "We've talked about this engagement for months, but now the children actually get to see each other." And see each other they did, Orion lost himself in the presence of the goddess, infatuation consuming him with a dreamy grin playing over his enchanted face. Even though Aphrodite tried to stay poised, she couldn't help but let her blue orbs drift over to land on his steadfast gaze, her already rosy cheeks becoming darker.

"Well, I'm sure after your long journey your all rather hungry!" The Majesty of Egypt proclaimed.

"Oh yes your Majesty! I'm just ravished!" Aphrodite spoke for the first, her voice matching her appearance, melodic and gentle.

"Aphrodite! Mind your manners, you only speak when addressed directly." Her Majesty of Greece was quick to correct her daughter.

"Yes mother..." Aphrodite responded softly, looking down at her reflection in the table. Orion cringed at this sudden offset of the mood, prying his eyes away from her.

"Great..." He thought. "Her parents totally consume her life...I bet she's never done anything outside of the royal court..." He sighed to himself accidentally, luckily no one seemed to notice his distraut state. But thankfully the odd mood was discarded by the essence of food, as the servants began to coat the table in every kind of dish imaginable. Orion grinned, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. "Alright..." he thought to himself again. "Food! The best thing that could ever happen when royalty gets together." Once everything was set, everyone helped themselves generously. Orion taking note of Aphrodite's fancy eating style. Cutting everything into the same perfect proportion, where as he practically shoveled his food. A projectile olive knocking him in the head attached to a warning look from his mother when no one was looking. But Orion just grinned at his mother looking down at the olive that had skillfully fallen on top of his plate, after knocking him in the head. And he scooped it up and popped it in his mouth, grinning happily at his mother who just dropped her eyes even more so at her eldest child who, at the sight of his mothers terrifying glare, went happily back to starring at his plate.

"If you don't mind me asking, Your Majesty of Egypt. What happen to HIS Majesty? Is he off on royal business?" His Majesty of Greece asked in a respectful tone. But Orion's mother went quiet dropping her eyes slowly, only to dart them back up with a response.

"Well you see-"

"He's dead..." Orion cut her off, looking strait at his Majesty of Greece. An awkward and still air flowing threw the room.

"I see..." His Majesty dropped his eyes away from Orion's steady eyes. "I'm sorry to hear that. I hope I don't sound like I'm prying, but how did he die?"

"Henry!" Her Majesty of Greece thwaped her husbands arm for being far to nosey.

"Now Athena! If were going to be family soon then I think we have a right to know how a family member died."

"Well you see-" Her Majesty of Egypt tried to start in, hoping she would beat her son to the question. But she was mistaken.

"He was bitten and killed by a vampire..." Orion said solemnly. "The blood suckers name was Zechel." Orion cringed. "And I swear upon my fathers grave, I'll find that basterd and kill him!" He slammed his fist down on the table, the contents on the table jumping and shaking. Aphrodite startled by his sudden out burst.

"Orion! Mind yourself!" His mother shot out, trying to control her son's outburst.

"I see...you have a Vampiric problem here as well?" His Majesty asked Orion, raising his wise old blue eyes to meet Orion's gaze.

"I wouldn't really call it a-" Orion started, but quickly went silent as his Majesty began to speak.

"I know of this Zechel..." His voice seemed to go suddenly frail and icy, his wife clinging to his arm.

"Henry, don't...please. This isn't necessary." She tried to reason with her husband, who hung his head. Letting his arm drift and point at his daughter.

"Show him...Aphrodite..." His Majesty of Greece commanded his daughter. Who seemed to be controlled by an alternate force of as she turned over her right arm a red and pink scar engraved on her arm in the shape of a "Z". Orion stared at it, jumping out of his seat and backing away from the supposed goddess as the Z throbbed over the strong thick blue vein that ran threw her arm. Orion pried his eyes away from the scar, looking at his Majesty of Greece, who answered the question that was prying at his brain, as the scar haunted his memories.

"I'm sure that scar looks formillar...if what you speak is true, and your father was bitten. Then he would have had that scar on the part of his body where that monster sunk his fangs. Aphrodite's, my only child, was bitten by the Vampire of whom you speak of."

"But...But why did SHE live and my father die?! WHY!" Orion rose his voice, and his mother went to correct him, but she knew it wouldn't be any use and stopped herself short.

"Because..." His Majesty rose from his chair slowly. "She's female and beautiful. What more could an immortal man want than to have an immortal goddess?"

"But wait! You don't become a vampire just by getting bitten!" Orion protested against his Majesty's words. "She had to drink his blood after she was-" Orion stopped at the wave of her Majesty's hand, moving his hand to his daughter.

"Aphrodite..." He spoke coldly, as if it were a stab in the heart each time he spoke her name. She rose from her chair, her face blank and walked toward the enraged and confused prince. But he intelligently backed away from her with each step she got closer, until she stopped and he watched a morbid grin twist threw her lips as she flashed her pearly white fangs at him. "My daughter answers to no one but that beast...he comes to her...and takes from her. Takes anything she has to offer..." His Majesty slowly sank back down to his chair and Aphrodite slowly walked back to her chair, beckoning to the young prince with her baby blues. But Orion turned his back to the room and stormed out of the room.

"Orion!" His mother called to him, only to receive no response. "Excuse me." She bowed gently to the court and made a fast exit to chase down her son.

Orion stormed up to his room, throwing open a huge antique chest and frantically threw things out of it till he found a silver plated stake. He latched onto it, stood up and quickly turned around only to slam right into his mother who held onto his wrists with a death grip.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" She bellowed at her irrational son who struggled against her grip.

"I'm going to kill her! She's a part of him! She's GOT to die! I'M GOING TO KILL HER MOTHER! SHE'S TRASH I CAN'T LET HER LIVE! NOT IF SHE ANSWERS TO HIM!" His mother glared down at her son releasing on of her hands from his wrist, only to deck him hard enough to where he fell to the floor on his back.

"You WILL NOT kill her!" His mother commanded, her authority rising over her son who was busy supporting his throbbing cheek in his hand.

"Mother! Listen to yourself! Her SIRE is the Vampire that killed my father, YOUR husband!"

"And why should she pay for his debt that he owes Hades?" His mother spoke over her son, looking down at him, as he still lay sprawled on the floor.

"Because she's a part of him now! If I can kill-"

"Orion, STOP! Listen to yourself! You're willing to go threw innocence just to get someone you've been hunting for years..." She sighed deeply, helping her son off the floor. "You're a better human than that..." She slapped her arm around her son's broad shoulders.

"Mom..." Orion spoke dryly and softly, not looking into his mothers deep green eyes, or her face period.

"Mmm..." She looked at her son, smiling gently.

"I can't marry her..." His voice stale and regretful. But his mother just sighed, moving away from her son.

"And it seemed so promising to..." She let her shoulders sag and pushed her lip out jokingly at her son, who smiled boyishly at his mother.

"Gawd Mom, and you wonder where Isis gets it!" He laughed gently, nudging his mom with his elbow, moving back toward the trunk to put away his weapon of choice.

"So it's really off?" His mother double-checked while Orion re- latched the trunk, the brass locks clamping down tight.

"Yeah..." Orion spoke gently, rising slowly to turn around and face his mother. "It's really off."