She was bitter and he was disappointed; it was so typical that he laughed. He hadnâ€™t meant to. Kalab had been angry for years when their parents had refused to look for Nehmahati. Sheâ€™ll come when sheâ€™s ready, theyâ€™d both told him at different times. But would Rorik have ever just trusted the universe to return Varik? The answer had still been no. Kalab felt like a caged animal and refused to accept it, not content to just wait. Not when he felt like he was only half a person. So he looked by himself while they waited.<br/><br/>He had been right too. Heâ€™d found her and she was ready. If she hadnâ€™t been, the power that drew him like a beacon would be invisible to her. If she hadnâ€™t been, she wouldnâ€™t have known him. Maybe that meant it was time for the old man to step down. It was a thought that had occurred to Kalab more and more often recently.<br/><br/>While Nehmahati searched, Kalab knew enough to remain silent. He didnâ€™t know how well a human could sense power and no matter how much he loved her laugh, he didnâ€™t want to distract her. They made it, however, with nothing untoward or exciting happening.<br/><br/>Once, humans had a name for the priesthood, E-Akhkharu, but that wasnâ€™t the name it had been called by vampires themselves. The familiar sight of un-mortared stone rising in competition with ancient sentinel pines and gnarled old oaks was almost a comfort. More so because his dear heart was coming home with him this time. Just as every other time, the doors were hauled open before he could touch them. The priests were very diligent in their duties.<br/><br/>Kalab in turn favored each of the priests with a smile and a nod. Heâ€™d missed the big carved doors and the old stone floors. The dark wood of the doors was carved in the likenesses of owls and bats and mountain cats; the creatures of the night. The floors were worn with the timeless passages of thousands of feet, and always warm. Somehow.<br/><br/>Seven. He smiled at the number seven, thinking it amusingly superstitious. He was trying to be entirely serious and pushed the smile away, starting toward the altar himself without a word. But he paused when Nehmahati caught him and brushed that innocent kiss against him. That was no fair; he clenched his jaw and nodded. Of course; that would be the better idea, wouldnâ€™t it? He loved the way she moved when she was armed. Loved even more that she was comfortable with it; that she hadnâ€™t questioned the human she was carrying blades.<br/><br/>The waiting gnawed his nerves ragged. Even though he knew it was never instant, he couldnâ€™t help the concern that something might have gone wrong. Or that maybe, despite his care, she wasnâ€™t ready. Noâ€¦ that couldnâ€™t be.<br/><br/>A great rush of relief went through him when the telltale signs of their presence swept through the temple. â€œMother, father, Iâ€™ve brought your daughter,â€ he said, a bit more challenging than was needed.