Yuri and Elizabeth shared a laugh as they drank their wine and watched Mobius's reaction to the date.

"What power does a date have unless you gave it one?" asked Elizabeth. "These mortals make up a calendar then give powers to the numbers of the date and time. It's so childish."

Yuri grinned and took another swallow of his red wine. The taste wasn't as pleasant without Jade by his side. She had run to offer comfort to the mighty Lord and staying a shadow in her mind, Yuri knew she hadn't succeeded. Having a brother as a vampire wasn't as fun as some might think. Especially a twin brother.

Lord Mobius and his brother were two sides of the same coin. Light and dark, laughter and tears, love and lust. No matter how wicked his Lordship may appear to be, the twinkie loving giant didn't have it in him to be truly evil.

"You know better than that," chastized Ruby. "Elizabeth, there is always ways to release power and gain it. We can't fight the cycles of the moon anymore than we can change the sun rising in the heavens. Yet we can use them to our advantage."

"Yes, we can," agreed Yuri just before he dropped his glass. In slow motion, he watched the goblet fall to the floor, crash and splinter into tiny red tipped shards.

He stood, energy swirling around him as he stepped out of time. His friends were all but frozen, their heartbeats spaced so long apart that he could hear each single beat as a long slow pulse. He saw brilliants lights surrounding him, the life force of everyone Jade cared about, and then it traveled into the walls, floors and ceilings.

"She's called her power," he said aloud, though no one heard him. "Heaven help us if she can't control it."

An unfamiliar voice in his head laughed. "You think to control my daughter, to have her spend another lifetime without the gifts I have given her."

"Of course not," Yuri responded. "That's utter nonsense. Whoever you are, if you are Jade's father, look into my mind and see the truth for yourself."

"A brave and daring suitor," said the voice. "Perhaps you will make a fine mate for my daughter."

Before Yuri could respond, the tapestry of time crashed in on itself, leaving him standing with his fists raised in challenge and the faces of Ruby and Elizabeth in shock.

No words were spoken as Yuri quietly sat down and a minion came forward to clean the spill. No words were needed. Ruby, Elizabeth and Yuri had expected this to happen, just not quite so soon.

A moment of reflection and the three began chatting as if nothing had happened. The spilled glass forgotten as the residual power continued to surround the occupants of the mansion in a protection spell.

Even if they wanted to speak about it, they couldn't, Nikolai had seen to that. Ruby and Elizabeth were not to interfere with Yuri and Jade's courtship. They could play, offer support and guidance, but outright interference wasn't allowed. There were rules to be followed and consequences to every action.

As if a little goddess came into power every day, Ruby raised her glass and toasted Jade in a silent tribute.