Born in 1645, young Wei Chu watched as the Manchu warriors invaded her China, overthrowing the poor, and disloyal imperial armies of Ming Dynasty, to establish the Qing Dynasty. Referring to "kanji" the calligraphic writing of the Chinese, an ancient proverb reminds us that "contained within the characters for Chaos, is the character for opportunity," - this was too true for Wei Chu's father and family...

A sharp and fierce guerilla fighter of the rebel factions, her father helped the Manchus destroy the Ming control of the outer provinces and as the Qing's took power, he became a "noted man" - a trusted lieutenant recognized for his loyalty and intellect and he rose through the ranks to eventually become a member of the Imperial cabinet.

But though he and his family enjoyed the privileges of the Royal court - he never lost his guerilla ways. Nor his ties. A respected and revered commander, his guerilla forces remained at his call... and though they did the Emperor's bidding, they did so only at his call... and eventually his only child... his beloved daughter Wei Chu.

She was more at home mustering and maintaining her father's forces - a secret "Tang" who operated within the Imperial standard. The Emperor's goals were the T'ang's aim. And the Emperor knew not that a shadow force existed within his army but that his wishes, when Lt. Tang was asked, became so...

And that his ever lovely daughter was more than up to snuff on Imperial business...

Which would make any Emperor nervous.
Which though generally not their first mistake, it is always their last.

And Wei Chu catches his eye. A lotus blossom that floats gracefully on the pond of turmoil that is the politics of the Imperial court. Her intellect keen but her tongue gracefully demure... it is only her father and her enemies that know its lash.

And Vladimir thinks he has answers to her eyes that seem to hold a million questions - but he is shamed by her compassion for him. She knows and understands him more than any before her - he is mesmerized by her grace, captivated by her calm, lustful for her strength - like the quiet of a mountain before the avalanche - the stillness before a hurricane, the recess before the tsunami...

He must have her...

And yet, he cannot take her by force - for he knows that he would chase away that which he needs from her and is content to wait for her to be human again...

And as her father's fortunes turn, his chance appears - internal strife within the Imperial court has her father running to answer his Emperor's wishes... and sickness falls on him. Wei Chu must act in his stead, so that he may maintain his appearances in the Imperial Court.

Wei Chu pulls the reigns of the shadow army closer to her chest until she realizes that her father is being played as a fool - given impossible tasks that only someone with his own army could accomplish - the rumors of his secret power are being dragged into the light acting without heed to consequence is reckless - Wei Chu discovers too late that her father is being tested...

And Vlad is there to provide a clear picture... and love.

Wei Chu sees the noose that is closing around her father's neck - the fate of Tang with it. And Vlad offers his hand in exchange for a kiss.

And the Clan of the Fly is born. The Tang a ready-made army goes overnight from being a mere whisper in the shadows of Chinese politics and intrigue into night and darkness and deathlessness.

And the Manchu Empire with its Forbidden City becomes a small world, a mere tool actually for Wei Chu and her Clan of the Fly. The Imperial Court and mere drawing room of petty intrigue compared to the world of her Dark Lord and his plan for the world of the living...

And the Qings... rule with her protection not because they deserve it but because it suits her...