Sydney just laughed.

"You aren't at my throat for never telling you. Yes you're taking i tbetter than I had expected." She commented.

"And no. You fucking off for so long has ... very little to do with it. It was more that it hurt. Nico up and disappeared without a trace, and yeah. It hurt." She told her son.

"So much so that I did whatever I could to avoid bringing that pain forth again, and tha tmeant not telling you about him. When he showed up again a bit ago... I didn't bring it up immediately because I didn't know how the hell you'd take it. I'd really not been interested in you tearing his head off before I had a chance to spend some quality time with him."

♫Born of graves and left below ♪ Painted ashes, painted snow♫

Sydney was about to say something before pausing.

"Ohhhh... hey... you can't get in, perhaps you should let Desiree know before she tries to track you down." She commented.

"Did you tell her that you were getting the barriers updated?" She asked after a moment or two, her voice curious.

♫Born of graves and left below ♪ Painted ashes, painted snow♫

Sydney just sighed.

"When is she due h ome?" She asked.

"Anytime, really. So I can just fill her in when I get home." Jaden answered. Sydney just looked to Nico.

"So I told you want's going on. Right?" She asked the hunter.

"You realise what the problem is going to be, right?" She asked. Nico just nodded, but didn't move other than that.

"She's not going to be happy." was the last thing she said, more just as an overall comemnt than anything.

♫Born of graves and left below ♪ Painted ashes, painted snow♫

"Nope. You really don't know." Sydney commented with a laugh, before Jaden's cell chimed to signal that he had a text.

"Go on, read it. Bet she's unhappy." Sydney commented before getting to her feet.

"I'm goi ng to grab the first aid kit. Something tells me that she'll need it. " She added with a light sigh before heading off, leaving the men alone.

Jaden... why was I rejected from mana'ing into your suite, and finding myself bleeding afterward? The text was simple but said a lot.

♫Born of graves and left below ♪ Painted ashes, painted snow♫

There was silence from Desiree before a few secoinds later, there was a knock on the door.

"That would be Desiree." Sydney commented as she stepped into the room again.

"jaden, if you'd please?" She asked, basically telling him to go let Desiree in.

♫Born of graves and left below ♪ Painted ashes, painted snow♫

Desiree was silent before stepping inside.

"Yeah... that'd be appreciated." She commented, sounding rather unimpressed. Not that anyone could blame her.

As she did, Jaden was able to get a really good whiff of both her blood, and her mana... along with something else.

And there was a lot of blood.

As they reached the kitchen, Sydney just let out a low whistle.

"That barrier really did a number on you." She commented, motioning to a chair next to where she was standing, and next to Nico.

"Have a seat. Let's get those cuts patched up." She added. Desiree nodded before sitting down where she was told.

"Jaden will explain why you were suddenly repelled, as well." The vampire continued.

"For now, hair out of the way, I can tell most of the blood is coming from your forehead." Desiree was, of course, hesitant, but did as she was told - keeping her eye closed.

Allowing all three to see her scars quite clearly.

♫Born of graves and left below ♪ Painted ashes, painted snow♫

"Courtesy of mother." Desiree commented, regarding the scars.

"I was... I think Four." She added.

"Hand rake. Hurt like a b ugger." She finished before sighing.

"and no. He doesn't. He's never seen it. Doubt he's felt it either, since I'm extremely careful regarding it." She added before sighing as Sydney tended to her face.

"And wait... you're repelled too, aren't you?" She asked Jaden after a moment or two.

♫Born of graves and left below ♪ Painted ashes, painted snow♫

Desiree just sighed.

"Because you and I share something in common." She ansawered before pausing.

"Wait... you didn't know?" She then asked as Sydney stopped.

"Go ahead." She told the magician. Desiree sighed.

"You're half hunter. So am I." Desiree told Jaden simply.

"So yeah. You added hunter protections to the barrier, meaning you and I are barred as well." She added.

". . . had I known you were going to do that, I would have stopped."

♫Born of graves and left below ♪ Painted ashes, painted snow♫

"I'll say." Sydney commented.

"Top tier... and one that has been a massive thorn in the council and Triad's sids for as long as it's existed." She added as Desiree just turned to look toward Jaden. She met his gaze, full force, and he was able to easily see what she kept so well hidden.

"It's saved my life a few times, I must admit." Desiree commented with a sigh, and a light shake of her head, breaking the eye contact with the dhampir.

♫Born of graves and left below ♪ Painted ashes, painted snow♫

"all right kid. Let me finish patching you up." Sydney said to Desiree, who nodded and turned back to her, letting the older woman do what was needed.

"That barrier really did do a number on you though." Sydney then said with a sigh.

"How strong is the hunter side of you?"

"Quite." Desiree answered. "Not fun, but ... it's life. I'm not going to throw my life away just because half of my genetics wants me to." She added with a sigh as Sydney finished patching up a few of what could be seen.

"anything that we can't see?" Sydney asked.

". . . a couple, but mostly no." Desiree answered.

"Where?"

"Across my stomach and my thighs." Desiree answered honestly. "They aren't nearly as bad though. Not even soaking through my clothes. I think I'm all right there."

♫Born of graves and left below ♪ Painted ashes, painted snow♫