Moon on the water

letting the cloak fall completely away she took his hand.

He smiled and a force field surrounded them. He dove into the water, the force field allowing her to breath as he made his way down into the old shrine.

He reached it and opened the door, shattering the ancient magics which had begun to crumble anyway; the water didn't follow them into the temple, and the force field vanished.

The statue before them was of a vampire woman, clearly in great agony, and a vampiric man, his hands held out in case she might fall.

"The unity of our goal is what makes this possible," he said, "for it was a rite first performed by two similar vengeance seeker; and the Gods chose to help them, and to give the aid needed to those who would follow in their footsteps. For those who were able."

Jessica looked at him the at the statue "she looks like me" she said she still held his hand

"Indeed she does," he said, "though perhaps with sharper teeth."

He offered her his enchanted sword.

"Strike through her and the power will be unleashed."

Jessica picked up the sword it felt heavy in her hand "what do you get?" she asked "if your willing for me to do this what do you get?" she asked standing with the sword held in her hand.

"An ally, I would hope," he said simply.

Jessica smiled lifting the sword she swung it over her head almost losing her balance then with an almighty swing she struck the statue.

The statue cracked...

And then exploded with a powerful blast of energy. Daemon put an arm in front of her and the jacket he wore was disintegrated, the arm covered in black marks like tattoos. More black marks covered the girl's arms and even her hair was turned black by the force.

The shrine began to collapse around them.

"Dammit," Daemon muttered under his breath...

Jessica turned away from the force "what happened?" she asked

Daemon looked at her for a moment.

"Smile," he said quietly.

she looked at him strange "what do you mean?" she still held the sword in her hands "if you've tricked me?" she looked at him.

"I want to see," he said, "if the Gods have given you your fangs."

Jessica turned her back to him "I am not in the mood for smiling" she said throwing the sword against a wall.

"Oh?" he said, walking to the sword and sheathing it as the walls began to crumble around them.

Jessica noticed the walls shake "I think we should leave" she said moving to his side.

"Yes," he said, taking her hand in his and building the barrier again, flying back up through the water and onto the beach, where once again it faded.

Jessica turned to face him hr finger pressed against his chest "tell me what happened back there?" she said

"Only once in a century can the shrine be used," he said quietly, "the energy released takes a hundred years to rebuild itself; the power unlocked yours, but it left you marked. It is too strong a thing to leave no proof."

Jessica looked at him "where i see no marks" she held out her arms both clear.

"Turn around."

Jessica curiose did as she was told turning her back to him "see nothing" she said looking over her shoulder at him.

"There's something there; a dragon."

Jessica folded her arms across her chest " i don't believe you" she said

"Well, it's not like I can show you your back."

She turned to face him "then how am i to believe there is anything there but your word" she said with a smile "its not like i can see my own back now is it"