The northern lights were playing softly overhead, not a gaudy display this night, just a few faint sheets of beautiful phosphorescence shimmering against the jewel-bright stars. Aidan sat on top of the low hill of their home with Serapha beside him.

“How are you doing?” he asked, concern showing in his voice.

She smiled warmly at him. “You worry so much about me, dad. But you don’t need to. I’ve grown up with you always around, I know just about everything there is to know about vampires. I’m doing just fine.”

“I don’t think you know everything, Serapha. But I admit you do seem to be coping with this much better than I ever did.” Serapha just shrugged in response. “Have you thought about this trip of yours?” added Aidan.

“Yes. And I haven’t changed my mind. When you were my age you were on your own, taking care of yourself. I don’t need an escort.”

“When I was your age I was half-starved, miserable, and up to no good. I’ll admit you seem to have more sense than I ever had, but I’m not sure I want you going all the way to Tara’s tower by yourself.”

“Please Dad?” said Serapha, the puppy-dog beseeching look that all children use on their parents in her eyes.

Aidan shook his head. “Your mother and I both agree. We’re not going to let you go by yourself. I’d be happy to go with you. I thought you liked my company.” He gave her a mock-injured look as she said that last.

Serapha shook her head. “It’s not that. I just feel like I need some time to myself, and I want to travel, and somebody has to go get a second sun medallion. Why not me?”

“Because sister, a young woman traveling alone is always in danger, even in such peaceful times as these,” said Alan as he padded up the hill and sat down next to his sister. He folded his fire-orange wings and settled comfortably on the short grass.

Serapha glowered at her brother. “It’s just a conspiracy! None of you want me to go.”

Alan laughed softly. “I never said I didn’t want you to go, and neither did Father. We both simply said you shouldn’t go alone. If you like, and if Mother and Father will agree, I’ll go with you.”

Serapha blinked in surprise. “You? Why?”

“Because I think it’s time I too went out and saw a bit of the world. I’ve never really left here you know. Ariana was always off adventuring, and Arthur Flash and Damien have both made trips to the south, but I’ve never gone. I think perhaps it’s time I did.”

Serapha considered. She wanted solitude, time to explore the world and explore herself. Her parents wouldn’t give her that privacy, they couldn’t help but parent all the time. But Alan… he was the quiet one, the one everybody always overlooked, despite his remarkable appearance. He was a philosopher, a thinker, a dreamer, and there was a kind of odd magic about him. Serapha had never quite been able to relate to him, he seemed both aloof and elusive, and she knew that sometimes her parents felt the same way. But the same qualities that kept her from knowing him as well as she might would keep him from intruding on her voyage of self-discovery.

“All right,” she said. “If it’s okay with you,” she turned to her father, “I’ll go with Alan.”

“I think that arrangement will work out admirably,” said Aidan with a smile.