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Alianne of Pirate's Swoop: Your question shall be answered this chapter. Thank you for your review!

KrazieJamie: I hate the Harry Potter movies as well. I think Harry Potter was good until all those people found out about it and those business people made it into a money making empire. And plus, I kind of had a bad experience when I went to see it. And I like your whole idea of my novel in Chapter's Bookstores, although I think yours would make it there before mine. Anyways, I hope this chapter grants your wishes, and thank you for your review! Update Meadows of Fire soon!

Loki-Sama: Thanks for your review!

DKiplan: Don't worry, I figured that some people wouldn't like Julina and Danaush together. And there is a reason why I have left Julina somewhat flat, but I can't tell you why because it would be a major spoiler. Thank you for your review and compliments!

Ye Say Ye Fool: I am currently 2/3 way through the fifth Wheel of Time book; The Fires of Heaven. Which one are you on, or have you read them all? Thank you for your review!

TheWolfGirlSorceress: I think I will get myself a copy of the Da Vinci Code, sooner hopefully more so than later! Anyways, thank you for your review!

Drama John: I was blushing while reading through your reviews. I can't help but wonder what idea you have decided to incorporate into your story! Anyways, thank you for your review and compliments! Update Falling Snow soon!

A/N: I noticed that a couple of you guys asked about Haliha. Well, umm, I hope you guys aren't too attached to her (and no, she isn't going to die), but I don't think she will make another appearance until *runs, goes under bed and takes out notebook* roughly the eleventh chapter of the next story. :-D! I hope you guys don't mind! Thankz!

Danaush surveyed his surroundings cautiously; his hands holding onto the table so tight that his knuckles had become white in appearance. This was the first time he had been around so many people since the incident with the demons, and he could not remember having ever felt so lonely or anxious ever before in his life. He quickly gazed at all of the people around him; none of them were cursed. None of them were being haunted by the Goddess of Darkness. They all led blissful lives as the nobility of Selen. Why Mala had asked him to come, he did not know. The only reason he had come however, was because Julina asked him.

Ever since he had been a child, he had never cared much for the nobility. He saw them as being spoiled and self centered; but then yet he had come from a town where the nobility cared little for the common folk. He had made exceptions for Julina and Mala however; Mala had chosen a commoner for her husband, and Julina thus was the child of a commoner herself. He had encountered other nobility as well, while in the Academy, besides the pair; but he found them really hard to get along with.

At the present moment, he was surrounded by a few too many Seleni nobility for his liking. It was a party of some kind, one which Julina said happened fairly often. He had gotten the gist that she really did not like them very much herself, and went mostly because her mother forced her to. Being that they lived where the party was being hosted, they had been the first to arrive, and were expected to wait patiently as the nobles came and took their places in the banquet hall.

The Lords of Selen wore black or gray button-down coats and came down to about their knees, and the same colour pants. The Ladies of Selen wore dresses that like the men's, were buttoned down to about their knees; but instead of black and gray they wore an assortment of reds, oranges and pinks. Danaush paid little attention to the faces of the Seleni nobility, and tried to stare down at the table for most of the time.

Julina jerked Danaush's shoulder slightly, in an attempt to get his attention. He looked up at her immediately, and turned his gaze to the door at which she pointed at. An elderly lady dressed in a red dress of Seleni fashion was making her way through the door. "That is Marian Valore, the matriarch of the Valore household. She is your grandmother".

One of the reasons that Danaush had stayed away from such parties over the years was out of fear that he would run into members of either his father's or his mother's family. In his eyes, they were the worst of the worst of the Seleni nobility; for they had allowed one of their own to live in absolute squalor for ten years, while they lived the good life in the fancy villas and estates. He had heard however, that his grandmother had asked about him since his arrival in Selen; most of this was from overheard conversations on Julina's part, and apparently, from what she had said, her mother was trying to keep them away from his as best possible. And if Mala wanted them to stay away, he knew that she would have had to have good reason.

It was a few minutes before Danaush realized that the Valore woman had set her gaze upon him. He looked down almost immediately; not wanting her to know that he knew who she was. He figured that if he did not look at her for the rest of the night, she would leave him alone.

It took another half hour for all of the guests to arrive. Once everyone was seated, the food was served; platters of roast beef, mutton and pork were laid out along the table's length. Flat breads fried in olive oil were laid out in plates in front of every guest. Dotting the table were an assortment of yogurt based sauces, and wine jugs. Danaush tried to eat, which was hard because his feelings of edginess were yet to pass.

Why in seven hells am I here? Danaush asked himself as he tried to force some food down his stomach.

"You okay?" Julina asked with concern evident in her voice.

"I'm fine" he lied. He wanted to get out of that room. He wanted escape.

He looked up from his plate, and began to look for a means of a getaway. Getting up from his chair, he pushed his way through the room until he reached the exit.

The door led Danaush into a beautiful garden which was surrounded on all sides by a gray brick wall. Green vines with blossoming flowers hung loosely along the length of the wall. Everywhere he looked there was greenery and flowers. A welcomed change from being cooped up in the banquet hall.

Danaush walked over and took a seat at the nearest bench he could find. To him solitude was nice; not that he did not like to be around people, but just not so many at one time. For a while he sat, enjoying what he figured he would never be able to enjoy again so long as Snana wanted him; the cool air of a moonlit spring night. It was really nice to be alone.

His silence was disturbed by the sound of someone else coming into the garden. At first, he thought that it was Julina; coming to check up on him after he had left so suddenly. But when he turned around to see who it was, he was met by someone totally different.

Marian Valore.

The woman was very regal in her appearance. She stood with her back straight and her nose slightly in the air, giving her a snobbish look. Even though her face was weathered and leathery, it still had some beauty. She was a very old woman, but her domineering appearance made her worthy to hold the title as Valore family matriarch.

"In my day, children did not leave until they were told to" the elderly lady said. Danaush was sure that if he had guess her age correctly, his father must have had him when he was thirty years old; which was fairly old by Seleni standards.

Danaush decided to ignore her. He wanted nothing to do with that woman whatsoever. He just wanted to be alone.

"It is better that you did leave however. I have wanted to talk to you for quite some time" the woman continued, sitting down on the bench. "You do look so much like Samien" she said, turning her head to look into his eyes. "I see little of your mother. No wonder Mala wanted to keep you locked away".

Danaush looked at her questioningly, and then she continued. "Mala told me about the little incident you had in town. Well, I guess it isn't all too little if she was willing to risk a lot by bringing you to the dinner, and showing the Seleni nobility that you are still alive"

"Wouldn't you want to stay as far away as possible from me then?" Danaush asked. "And what about me still being alive?"

Marian sighed. "Samien was tainted. He was so for at least five or six years before you were born. Mala and I had had a feeling that you may have been born with it; a curse passed down to you by your father. Our suspicions were proven a few nights ago"

"So is that why you practically left me for dead, didn't want your dirty little family secret to be let out?" Danaush said as he started to get up, "Well, I guess I will be going back inside then"

"Sit down!" Marian replied sharply. "Why do you think your mother took you to Bélay? They knew that Samien was tainted, and they figured that as his wife, she had to be as well. They wanted your mother dead, and unfortunately they succeeded"

So his father had not died to fever. It did make sense; the fever story had felt a little too fake.

"I am sorry that we weren't able to find you" Marian continued, "It was just that Mala and I were looking in the wrong places"

"You and Mala? This is the first time I have ever seen you in my life woman. You can't tell me that both you and Mala have been looking for me if Mala never introduced you to me" Danaush said. He knew he was being rude, but in his mind, she deserved it.

"That was for safety reasons. We did not want the nobility to know that you were alive. Like Mala and myself, they had a feeling that you carried a small portion of the taint, and we didn't want them to put you on trial for crimes which you did not commit" she replied. "I am surprised that Mala never mentioned me, but I suppose it was to prevent you from searching out members of our family. Not everyone has forgiven Samien's Sin"

Danaush sighed. So his father had been the one to curse him, just his luck. But from what Marian had said, he was only partially cursed. Maybe he could still live a relatively normal life. Maybe.

"I think Mala wanted me to give you some advice, or to at least counsel you. I really do not have any advice to give you on this. I will help you though" she said.

"How will you help me?" Danaush replied.

"At the moment, I can help Mala keep you out of the public's eye" she replied. "Seeing that you are my only close relative, well, I figured that it would be nice to build a relationship with you as well" Marian replied.

Danaush smiled. Maybe he wasn't so alone after all.

A/N: *walks over and turns on stereo, voice goes: 'Everybody Dance Now', 70's music starts playing as midnight walks over and turns on disco ball. Midnight starts dancing like a maniac much to the horror of her little sister*

A new record. Fifteen chapters plus prologue! I have never posted any more than 15 chapters before!