It was only slightly past sunset a few nights later when Claire finally talked herself into another meeting with Palmer to discuss any possible future business ventures between them. Sean had just gone downstairs to attend to his own duties, which included trying to find some way to regain the confidence of his currently very unhappy Primogen. As much of their confidence as he ever had at all in the first place, that was.

Claire had just finished dressing and rose from her seat when she startled as a voice broke into her subconscious with that special way of communicating that most of her Kindred acquaintances used to avoid all the muss and fuss, and ever so long wait times, when trying to contact one another without the aid of those pesky, and slow, messengers.

Bonsoir Claire. the voice greeted her.

Claire looked around a moment before realizing that it was indeed that psychic communication that was most often shared between other Kindred and Sean, rather than herself. After all, if any of their far away friends needed a chat, it was usually with the Prince, not his wife.

She paused a moment before sending her thoughts back in reply. Bonsoir? She questioned before making an additional reply. Nicolas? Is this you? Claire returned as she furrowed her brow.

I suppose that would be the Frenchman more likely to contact you. He spoke with an obvious smile in his voice, then continued. But no, this would be another you’ve made the acquaintance of a long, long time ago.

A long time ago? She repeated his thoughts, still not fully convinced of who it was who was contacting her in this way.

I suppose everything was a long time ago for us. His voice smiled again before he offered his answer. This would be Lemuel though.

Lemuel? Claire was a bit more than surprised by that answer, but soon added, the Prince of Paris? That Lemuel?

I wasn’t aware you knew more than one, he teased her slightly in return.

Claire smiled awkwardly, despite him not being able to actually see that smile. She then continued, sorry, can’t say I ever expected to be contacted by you. What can I do for you, Lemuel?

Glad you should ask. Lemuel returned in the same slightly indifferent manner that most four hundred year old vampires addressed most anyone with. Not that there were many who were able to endure that long of a life. Even Griffyn, the eldest of their line, chose to voluntarily sleep for as long as it took for him to once again find some interest in resuming his life of endless nights, assuming he ever did. I’ve been speaking with my vampiric brother, Hollister, these last several nights. Your name came up. He added.

Claire was a bit taken aback by that thought. She never imagined that two Kindred princes almost two centuries older than herself, and on the other side of the world as well, would ever have cause to even remember her name, let alone have any conversation at all about her. The only response she could come up with was, my name?

It seems that Hollister is a bit concerned about his grandchilde. The one who’s been staying with him these past several years.

Nicolas? Claire returned with worry. It was true that Nicolas and she had spent less and less time together in the years before he left for England, mostly due to Garnet’s entrance into their lives. But she still cared deeply about his well-being, and the possibility of him turning dark, just as his horrid sire had likely hoped he would. Has something happened? She had to add.

Not as of yet. Not as far as I know. Lemuel returned.

Not as of yet? Claire couldn’t help repeating his words once again. And why isn’t it Hollister, or even Nicolas himself who’s contacting me? She added with further worry.

Relax Claire, nothing dire has happened. Lemuel attempted to assure her as best he could, considering his own age and how far removed he was from such things as worry and panic at this point in his long life since his original birth in 1380 and subsequent rebirth in 1403.

Then why? That was the only response she managed as she waited to discover what reason he could possibly have for contacting her if it wasn’t actually dire, as he had indicated.

I’m sure you’re aware that Hollister has spent the last twenty-some years tutoring Nicolas to use his abilities wisely, as well as attempting to help the young man fight those inner demons of his and keep him from succumbing to the darker branch of our family tree. Lemuel began. He then added, I believe you made amazing progress in that same regard even before his embrace. Though Hollister is obviously better at reading the boy now than you are, unfortunately. That was the main reason Hollister wanted to take up the mantle and continue to keep Nicolas from falling into the darkness that his last childe enjoyed so much. Lemuel reiterated facts Claire already knew, in some attempt at calming her fears of why he was even speaking with her at all.

So, again, why me? And why you? And why now? Claire responded, having trouble sending complete thoughts through the worry she still so easily fell victim to, despite her own two and a half centuries of life.

Hollister believes that a major step in determining how well Nicolas is coping with his own past is by returning to the scene of where that past originally shattered him so thoroughly. Lemuel gave her some part of that answer with a sigh.

The asylum? Claire asked with more shock. I doubt Nicolas would ever want to go back there. Why on earth would Hollister even want him to?

That’s the very point, Claire. If Nicolas can actually make himself return to where this all began, and overcome it, Hollister is sure that it’ll prove he has the strength to overcome ever succumbing to that darkness as well, after all.

Claire thought a long moment on the idea before transmitting anything more to the elder vampire. So, the plan is to have him return to the place that was originally the source of all his pain, in order to prove that nothing there can hurt him any longer? Claire repeated warily.

Precisely. Lemuel responded. Then as if able to read her next thought from thousands of miles and an ocean away, he continued, that is where your name came up.

Not sure I follow, Claire responded.

Nicolas has obvious fears of returning to the place, even though I’m fairly sure the asylum itself is likely no longer even standing, or still running, at any rate. I think his fears are just rooted in the idea of even returning to our shared homeland at all, let alone the place where so many dark things happened to him.

Not exactly surprising, considering how long it took him to ever get over all the other things that he feared, let alone, that place. Claire responded sadly.

A fact you know well, considering you were the one thing that helped him overcome a lot of those fears before. Lemuel returned softly. And that is precisely why Hollister and I agree that you could be the one to help him with this remaining fear, now. Lemuel stated, at last getting to a big part of the reason she was being contacted at all.

Claire was more than a little surprised at that statement as well, causing her to pause before finding her own response. I understand why you two may think that I could help, but in his last few years here, Nicolas and I... grew apart, somewhat. She shared that information sadly. So, I’m not sure how much help I could still possibly be, in this regard.

Lemuel smiled again before replying, you may not have grown apart as much as you think. When Hollister suggested that you agree to meet Nicolas here in Paris upon his return home, that was the first time he showed any willingness at all to ever come back to France after all.

Claire swallowed hard as she took in his words, all three of you want me to come to Paris then?

Why do you think I’m the one contacting you with the proposal? So, what colors would you prefer for your chambers here?

When Sean returned to their current chambers that evening, or more accurately, morning, the hour was nearing four a.m. As he stepped through the doors and closed them behind him, he looked toward the bed with an obvious question in his eyes, immediately noting how apprehensive Claire looked as she sat atop their bed, not looking up at his arrival even.

Seeing that she offered no words as he moved toward the bed, Sean had to supply his own, “things going that poorly with your new business partner already?” he offered his first guess at the reason behind her mood.

A scoff barely made it from her throat before she responded, “please, I have yet to even speak to Palmer about that possibility since he originally suggested it. Re-opening the place at all, let alone with a Ventrue apparently now at the helm?” she just shook her head, but elaborated no more on that subject just then. Instead, she simply looked out toward the open patio doors and the expanse of ocean beyond them once more.

“So why are you looking so worried again tonight then?” he made himself ask, despite how little desire he had for any other bad news of late.

Claire sighed softly, continuing to stare out at the still dark sky above that seemingly endless ocean, “I finally heard some news about Nicolas, finally” she stressed.

As he removed the boots and moved to the bed next to her, Sean narrowed his eyes, “he’s still in England with Hollister, isn’t he?”

Another sigh, “yes, but Hollister, as well as Lemuel, they both believe that Nicolas will never truly escape the demons of his past until he confronts them head on...” she simply shook her head, her voice dropping, “or something like that.”

Still not quite sure where this line of conversation was headed, Sean asked for further clarification, “considering de Sade has been dead for years... not sure how exactly he is supposed to do such a thing.”

“By returning to his home country. To France. Finally. Hence Lemuel’s involvement in the conversation at all” she added that brief summary.

Another still puzzled look from Sean, “and?”

Another small scoff as she looked down, “Nicolas has obvious reservations about returning to his homeland. So, Hollister and Lemuel made a request, of sorts” she added further details, though her voice was even smaller then.

“A request?” Sean asked as he slid closer, gently brushing a black lock from her shoulder.

Another deep sigh, “they want me to go to Paris, to help Nicolas have the courage to finally go back there as well. Assuming I even could help him with that. It’s not like he seemed to want or need much of my help in his last few years here, after all” she finished sadly.

“Wait, go back” Sean was caught then, “did you say they wanted you to go to Paris?”

Claire cast her eyes down again, “apparently Nicolas seems to want me to go there as well. He wouldn’t consider it at all until they suggested that I be there to meet him.”

Sean swallowed then instead, “I’m sure it’s good to hear that Nicolas does indeed still value your nearness Claire, and that he still would like your help with... these things. But I’m afraid it’s just not feasible.”

That was when she finally looked his way, “what exactly isn’t feasible?” she was the one with the questions then.

Sean gave a slight shake of his head as he gestured to the very home they now sat in, “we can’t just up and go to Paris. I sort of have to be here. I’m practically a prisoner in my own life since being made a Prince. Ironically enough” he couldn’t help adding more quietly, his bitterness and unease in his role always just simmering below the otherwise cool exterior he tried to portray in front of anyone who wasn’t her.

Claire was caught a moment by his response. It took another moment for her to find her own. “I never expected that you would be going there with me, Sean.”

Sean looked up then, “you mean you do intend to go... alone?” then added, to himself, and leave me alone, here?

“I’ll have servants of course, but helping Nicolas was never something that you were really that big a part of... with one slight exception” she added, both their minds immediately traveling back to that voyeuristic, and extremely passionate night the two shared with the sole purpose of helping the boy. A night that seemed so very long ago now.

Pushing down those memories in order to proceed with the conversation, Sean spoke again, “so you have already decided that you are going to go then?”

“It was never something I ever envisioned myself doing or a place I ever thought I’d be going, but if it actually does help him keep himself from becoming like Thomas? We have to remember how powerful Nicolas could eventually be. He is the same generation as you after all... thanks to that horrible man’s blood.” She then had to add, “all that considered, aren’t I sort of obligated to do all I can to help keep that from happening?”

Sean knew he was not able to argue her point, as much as her leaving his side for any reason at all saddened and frankly terrified him. Instead of even trying to make any further protests, he simply, softly stated, “so when will you be leaving then?”