After the day wound down everyone opted for an early bed time, being exhausted from the sleeplessness and worry of the last forty-eight hours or so. With four additional people to make room for, the large manor suddenly seemed much smaller. The master bed room upstairs along with Corbin's childhood room were never an option since they were viewed more as shrines to distant memories by the Allender children, so sleeping accommodations for the guests had to be found elsewhere.

    Corbin gladly donated his room to Vivian and Sebastian, choosing to sleep in Lydia's room on an air mattress beside her bed. Gale and Ethan already shared her room, so Shade gave her room to Vincent and Sara, choosing one of the comfy recliners in the entertainment room for her rest. With everyone sleeping soundly, Gideon and Amanda stood watch over the manor through the night.

    The two vampires were leaning back casually against the counters in the kitchen, sipping  donated blood which they had poured from plastic medical bags into fine crystal wine glasses. The grandfather clock off in the livingroom gonged three times to indicate the lateness of the hour. Soon after they both heard the soft footsteps of someone who had snuck up on their keen vampire senses. They set their glasses aside as they assumed on guard postures only to relax at the appearance of Sara in the kitchen's doorless opening.

    "That's a little unsettling," Amanda remarked, shaking her head as she reclaimed her glass and took a deep swig of the thick red liquid.

    Cocking her head curiously to one side so that her full brown hair swung away, Sara asked,"What is?"

    "Not being able to sense your presence more sharply my dear," Gideon answered, receiving an agreeing nod from Amanda as she swallowed her gulp of blood.

    Sara shrugged innocently, then stepped further into the kitchen when she saw the wrinkled and empty plastic bags laying on the counter tops with the names Shade and Ethan written on them in permanent marker. Then she took notice of the red liquid in Gideon's glass as he lifted it to his lips and finished it off.

    "All of my files indicate that blood is the food of vampires," Sara stated as fact.

    "Unfortunately you are correct," Gideon confirmed.

    Sara glanced at Amanda, who was wiping her mouth after taking the last gulp from her glass, then back to Gideon with a curious rumple of her brow. "Humans require food daily to sustain themselves and to function properly. How often do vampires require food?"

    Gideon glanced across the kitchen at Amanda with an amused look at Sara's inquisitive nature, then after receiving a similar expression he looked back to Sara with an answer. "Well my dear, a well fed vampire can function properly for about a week before the need for another meal arises."

    Sara gave a satisfied nod at Gideon's response. 

    Amanda sat her glass down and strolled over to Sara, who simply turned her head to watch as the snooping vampire walked slowly around her, examining her closely from all angles until stopping nose to nose in front of her. Amanda peered deeply into Sara's cordial brown eyes as she searched for some clue that they were artificial. Shaking her head in awe, Amanda backed away a few steps while studying Sara's appearance further.

    "Unbelievable, simply unbelievable," Amanda remarked. "There's no way I can tell you're a...machine."

    Sara grinned proudly. "Vincent is very good at what he does," she praised.

    Gideon chuckled. "Sara, that may very well be the understatement of the last few centuries."

    Gideon turned to wash out his glass in the kitchen sink, something Amanda did also, then they disposed of the empty bags in a nearby trash can as Sara observed. When they finished they turned to find Sara bulging with an eager request.

    "Do you two mind if I join in your night watch duties? I have an excellent night vision mode."

    "Sure, but what about Vincent?" Amanda asked.

    "Oh, he's been sleeping soundly for a while now. I'll make sure I'm there when he wakes though. I love to see his morning smile," Sara admitted fondly.

    "You are most welcome to join us," Gideon assured, echoing Amanda's response much to Sara's gleaming delight.

    The rest of the night passed peacefully until dawn once again peeked over the horizon. The morning sun found no admirers among the slow rising guests and residents of Allender Manor who stirred groggily in their fading sleep. Gale rose first with a considerate desire to not only relieve Gideon and Amanda so they could take their daytime slumber in the dark confines of the basement, but also so she could begin preparing a hearty breakfast for everyone else.

    As she filled the kitchen with the sounds and smells of the forthcoming meal, her waking family and guests began to find their way to the kitchen one-by-one with yawns and grateful remarks for the waiting coffee and juice. Eventually the table in the dining hall was set for the morning feast Gale prepared, and everyone claimed a chair; but when Gale noticed that Vivian and Sebastian weren't present, she trotted off to check on them.

    A few light taps on the closed door to Corbin's bed room went unanswered, so Gale turned the handle and quietly pushed the door open just enough for her to sneak her head into the room for a private look. She couldn't retain a sharp gasp at the sight of a shiny black jaguar curled up at Sebastian's feet on the bed. The big feline raised its head alertly, instantly fixing its protective stare on Gale. Sebastian stirred under the covers, rolling his head around to see who was at the door. Seeing Gale's startled face caught in a wide-eyed glare at the jaguar snuggled at his feet, he soothed Gale's fears.

    "Don't be afraid, it's only Vivian," Sebastian revealed.

    The jaguar lowered its head back down, and its eyes softened after a lazy blink. Gale swallowed hard, regaining her composure.

    "There's breakfast in the dining hall if you two are hungry," Gale offered.

    "Thank you," Sebastian replied, yawning afterward as Gale eased the door back closed.

    As soon as breakfast was finished, before anyone had left the table, Sebastian slid his chair back and stood up to gather everyone's attention to himself for an announcement. When all eyes fell silently on him, he smiled appreciatively then began.

     "My sister and I would like to thank the Allenders for their hospitality, but even more we would like to express our utmost gratitude to those who risked much to reunite us apart from the bondage of Jarell. I hope everyone here will remember that the regretful acts perpetrated by Vivian against those present at this table were not done with her consent, but were done because of malicious threats made against my wellbeing, and hers.

    Together now, and free from Jarell's restraint, I can ensure with the powers passed down to me by our parents that his hand will never reach us again. With that in my mind, I would like to offer a gift to the Allenders; a token of appreciation on behalf of Vivian and myself, as well as a gesture which will hopefully in some small way make amends for the trespasses which I also must share the blame for."

    Corbin exchanged glances with his sisters as they each sought consent from one another concerning acceptance of Sebastian's proposed gift. After a few seconds of scurrying glances, in which everyone else at the table waited with anticipation, the Allender siblings finally settled their silent debate with nods and shrugs. Gale looked to Sebastian with the authority of being the eldest of her family, then nodded their unanimous acceptance to him. 

    Sebastian smiled as he bowed respectfully at the honor bestowed upon him by their willingness to take his gift. "Follow me then, please," he said as he walked away from the table.

    Everyone pushed away from the table so they could follow Sebastian as he led them out of the dining hall to the base of the grand staircase at the heart of the manor. He stopped near the first step and turned to face the gathered crowd behind him that observed him silently with baited interest. Vivian stepped out of the crowd to be at her brother's side, then he once again addressed those around him.

    "My sister and I cannot erase the heinous events which took place here, against those of you who call this great house home, but I can make sure that such violations never happen again." 

    Sebastian turned back around to face the stairway. He stretched his arms out as if to encompass the whole manor, then he began to chant an incantation with words no one gathered could comprehend. Everyone watched with unflinching stares as he raised and lowered his arms, chanting even more fervently as he continued with the incantation. As he seemed to lose himself in the spell he was casting, he dropped to his knees and threw his head up toward the ceiling with his arms fully extended out beside him.

    He repeated the incantation one final time, and without warning a cloudy ring of blue energy exploded around him, rippling harmlessly throughout the manor until it dissipated upon reaching the outside walls. Everyone but Sara flinched and turned instinctively to protect themselves from the ripple when it shot through the manor, only to realize afterward with stunned breaths that they were all okay.

    Sebastian's head drooped as his arms fell heavily to his sides from the exhaustion of casting such a powerful spell. Vivian stooped down to offer a hand to help him rise. He breathed hard from the toll of the spell, but took his sister's hand as she carefully helped him rise from the floor. Turning to face the bewildered and astonished glares of those gathered near him, he thanked his sister for her aid then steadied his breaths before revealing what had just occurred.

    "From this moment forth, no one with evil intentions toward anyone living within this house shall be able to enter this house. Allender Manor is now under the protection of more than three centuries worth of my family's power which has been handed down from one generation to the next."