Carrying the distraught Vampire in his arms, Jason kicked open the bedroom door and strode straight into the bathroom, cing his mate carefully on the floor when he sat curled up, hugging his knees to his chest, lost in grief. ''Come on baby'' Jason said softly, kneeling down and raising Vance''s arms above his head to pull off the blood soaked t shirt, ''lets get you cleaned up!


    Stripping him out of the crimson coloured clothes, Jason turned on the shower as he quickly stripped his own clothes from his body before lifting the Vampire again and cing him in the shower tray under the water jet. Making small circles on the prince''s skin, Jason slowly started to wash Viktor''s blood from his son''s body and hair, watching sadly as the water turned a deep red around them before heading toward the drain.


    Grabbing the shampoo, he ced a small dollop in his hand and began to gently massage Vance''s scalp, washing each strand before rinsing it clean.


    Next he got the body wash, squirting it liberally onto the torso of the grieving Vampire, rubbing away the signs of the Vampire King''s death until the water that cascaded off his body was clear.


    Quickly washing his own hair and body, Jason turned off the shower, wrapping a towel around his waist before collecting the Vampire who had remained motionless, wrapping a towel around his naked body and lifting him up in his strong arms, sighing as the prince automatically cuddled closer to him forfort.


    Carrying him back to the bed, hey him softly on the covers as he began to dry the prince before taking out some pyjamas from his drawer and dressing him.


    Drying himself, Jason quickly pulled on some jogging bottoms andy down on the bed next to Vance, who instinctively huddled into his chest, the werewolf encircling the Vampire''s body, holding him tightly, silently supporting him as the young prince tried toe to terms with his loss.


    After a time, Vance''s breathing became rhythmed, telling his match that he had finally sumbed to exhaustion and fallen asleep in his arms.


    A soft knock at the door pulled his attention, e in'' he said quietly, careful not to disturb the sleeping body next to him.


    The door opened gently and Justin stuck his head in the door, smiling sadly as he saw the two men curled up on the bed.


    Beckoning the Alpha toe in, he waited until his father had shut the door and taken a seat before raising his eyebrow questioningly.


    Nodding at his son''s unanswered question, Justin gave a soft sigh, ''we have moved Viktor''s body from the foyer into a side room, he is wrapped in a shroud. The foyer is being cleaned by the servers so when Vancees down he will not be faced with the trauma of his father''s blood smeared all over the floor.''


    Jason nodded silently, his eyes caressing his mate''s face as he slept.


    ''How is he?'' Justin asked, looking over the exhausted Vampire''s face with concern.


    Sighing, Jason shook his head, ''he''s not good dad, I had to wash him in the shower, he didn''t even move from the ce I sat him in.


    Justin leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, ''he is not alone Jason, you make sure you tell him that, he has family'' he said in a low voice.


    Jason''s smiled back sadly, ''thanks dad, and thank you for epting him as mine, some werewolves might not have been so happy about a werewolf / Vampire mating'' he said a slight bitterness to his voice.


    Justin shrugged easily, ''we love who we love son and nothing can change that, the Moon Goddess has said that Vance is the other half to your soul, who am I to argue with her? Plus, that young man there, I have rarely seen such pure devotion in the eyes of a mate as I see when he looks at you'' he added with a smile, ''what more could a father want for his child?''


    ''I wish I could make this better for him'' Jason admitted anxiously, ''I can feel his heart breaking!


    ''You are helping son, you are sharing his pain which is making it a bit more bearable for him, you are one, his pain is your pain, as long as you are with him, he will be fine'' Justin replied determinedly.


    Rising from his chair again, Justin patted his son''s leg before heading back to the door, turning slightly he added, ''we will be lighting the bonfire soon, it will need time to gain the heat necessary for the ceremony. The castle Vampires have sent out word to their kin about Viktor''s passing, we are expecting an influx in the next few hours!


    Jason nodded understanding as he brushed his fingers through his mate''s hair absent mindedly.


    ''Let Vance sleep for now, we wille and get you when it''s time for the ceremony to begin'' Justin added before leaving the pair alone.


    Hourster, a slew of Vampire''s were gathered in the courtyard, lined up on opposite sides of the path as a right of passage for the fallen King.


    Slowly, Justin, Leo, Daniel, Carter and two of the high ranking Vampires carried out a stretcher made from wood, the shrouded body of the Vampire Kingid carefully upon it.


    As they walked through the guard of Vampires and Vampiresses, each one dropped their heads in mourning, a low hiss of pain issuing from each of them, curling together in a vocal tribute to their leader.


    Behind the body came Vance, holding his head high, his arm through Jason''s who silently supported him as he walked through his brethren silent vigil, keeping his eyes faced forward as again, the members bowed in respect of the heir and his match. Reaching the fire, that had been burning for some time, the six pall bearers carefully lifted the sheet covered body, sliding it and the stretcher into the mes where the orange and yellow warmth licked over the body like a calming water.


    An elderly looking Vampire stepped forward, a book in his hands, standing behind the fire he opened to the marked page and began to speak.


    ''Today we send our beloved King back to the ancestors, returning him to our founding father, the first of our kind. May he watch over our people, may he guide his surviving heir when decisions appear difficult and may he rest knowing that he was revered above all others as a fair and just King. Reaching into his pocket, the Elder pulled out some herbs that he threw into the fire, the heat that emanated intensifying as theynded among the mes.


    Vance then stepped forward as the Elder beckoned to him, standing by the mes he bowed his head to his father''s body before turning to the Elder who handed him an iron, jewel encrusted dagger. Taking it carefully, Vance turned back to the mes, and cut the dagger across his palm, releasing his crimson blood which began to pool in the creases of his cupped hand.


    Holding his hand over the mes, he winced slightly from the heat, but held his position, ''With the blood of the founding father, I send you back to Blood Lust, rest well dad and know that our people will continue to flourish through the sacrifices you made in life. Opening his hand, he allowed the drops of blood to fall into the fire that immediately changed from their usual warm yellowy orange to a deep and brilliant red. Pulling his hand away, he stood and watched with the crowd as the fire became an inferno, roaring powerfully up toward the sky as the Vampire King''s body turned to ash in front of their eyes. Once the body waspletely cremated, the fire died down of it''s own ord until it finally extinguished.


    The ashes of the King slowly started to rise from the remains of the bonfire, swirling upwards as they spread out and floated over the castle wall and away with the breeze toward the distant sunset. Each Vampire turned to face the fading rays, their heads bowed, motionless until the sun finally dipped below the horizon leaving them with only the lights from the castle.


    The sound of wings filled the air as the attending Vampires shifted into their bat forms and took flight, crowding together as they flew together behind the ashes of their lost King, apanying him on hisst flight to the after life.


    Leading the way back inside, Justin made his way to the dining hall, everyone standing behind a chair as Carter and the other servers brought in food for the wake.


    Hesitating slightly, Vance steadied himself slightly before making his way to the head of the table, pulling out his father''s vacant chair and taking a seat, Jason sitting to his left. Once he and Jason were seated, the rest of the group took their seats and they talked quietly as they ate the meal that had been prepared in honour of the King of the Vampires.


    Tapping his ss, Justin rose to his feet, clearing his throat he spoke aloud, his voice echoing through the room, ''today we lost an ally, a man who was taken before his time, a friend. Viktor was a good man, caring, toward his friends, his people and especially toward his son. We will miss him, we will remember him and above all we will support his heir who will continue hisgacy'' he intoned strongly. Raising his ss he murmured, ''To the Vampire King''


    ''The Vampire King'' rumbled around the table as everyone lifted their sses in honour before taking a sip.