The Children of the Night (Taylor)

[Vlad]

"Is it not proper in these times for a gentleman to stop and inquire after a lady he finds intriguing?" Black curls fell one after another to one side as the delicate face tilted. "As we are being blunt, in truth I want nothing from you but pleasant company. The children of the night should stick together, wouldn't you agree?"

He began to walk, staying in one place to long often caught someone's notice. The pebbles of the walking path crunched under their feet. It brought a small smirk to his lips to think that any sounds from either of them would vanish the moment they left the path, the silence that surrounded only those who also possessed the power to notice it.

"If I might be so bold, Ms. Taylor, how long have you possessed the power to shed your human skin?"

[Taylor]

She had to smile at his words and shook her head slightly. "I guess there is nothing wrong with that. If I am so intriguing to stop by site." She had heard that she was attractive before and used to love the attention that others would give her. Not now, not anymore that part of her had be pushed away and burried. All because of her looks she ended up where she was right now. She wasn't bitter about what she was but there were times she wished that she was a human again. To not fear infecting one of the people she loved or even to be able to start a relationship. Those things were impossible and she had learned to live with it.

Nodding her head when he said about being blunt that he just wanted pleasant company. His next words were puzzling children of the night. She wasn't always such a night person but never really thought about it. "Pleasant company then you will have Vlad. I guess we should stick together but I am not always such a night person but I understand what you are saying." She began to move with him walking beside him.

She heard him ask how long that she had been a were-wolf. Her mind didn't think in such terms as he spoke. Shedding her skin as he called it which she was intrigued by the way he spoke. Looking up at him she sighed. "I have been shedding my skin as you put it for eight years now." Sighing she looked away. There were many good things that came from her being were-wolf for so long. Plus she had survived her first change and survived all these years. "Since you asked a question so will I." She smiled at him. "How long have you been a vampire?"

She was curious, never meeting a vampire before. Or never actually talking to one. Taylor had probably passed a few here or there not even bothering to look their way. That was how she lived, how she survived and how she kept the ones she loved safe. Stepping a bit closer to him as they walked she waited to see what his reply would be to her.

[Vlad]

An internal war waged within this one, plain as day from night. One part of her longed for the humanity she'd lost and there was another part that fought to convince her that perhaps being wolf was not a tragedy but a blessing. Perhaps she did not even notice the war, but Vlad could see it, he'd warred with himself over something very alike centuries ago.

Eight years? He would have supposed fewer for one such as this girl. Eight years and she knew so little? How very strange indeed. Normally by now a wolf would have encountered at least one of his kind and learned the scent that clung to the bodies of vampires. Strange that Ms. Taylor should be so ignorant.

He was unsure if he liked the girl asking questions so freely of him. With Esme he had given permission, he had not done that with this little wolf. "Careful young wolf, the centuries I bare demand a certain respect." He paused in his walking a moment and gazed into Taylor's eyes. The centuries seemed to whirl behind the deep, smoldering brown. A wave of his power he sent dancing along her skin, not threatening in nature, but showing the power he bore. A show of dominance. He would lead this meeting, and she could choose to follow or to leave and go about her business.

He glanced away and continued to walk, the crunching of the gravel beneath his feet resuming once more. "In answer to your question, I have been a vampire for nearly six hundred years."

[Taylor]

She looked up at him and resisted the urge to raise her eyebrow when he told her to be careful and that he demanded a certain respect. Stopping when he did she was puzzled and knew that she had overstepped some boundary that she shouldn’t have. Looking into his eyes she resisted the urge to step back and felt the power move across her skin. Rubbing her arms as he glanced away and continued on she shuddered before following him.

Moving up beside him she heard him answer her question and nodded her head. Understanding more now with knowing his age how she had made a mistake. Not knowing what to say and how not to be disrespectful this time. She had a quick tongue and well when she met Adam it didn’t seem to matter. With Vlad though it was different. She used to be so good at meeting people and now she wasn’t. Sighing softly she tucked a few loose strands of her hair behind her ear. “I am sorry that I was disrespectful to you Vlad. Its that I am not used to this people and coming to talk to me anymore…” She let her words trail off and continued to walk listening to the sound of their footfall staring off into the darkness.

[Vlad]

“Do not trouble yourself much, my wolf. It is simply polite to ask permission before you inquire of an elder.” It had been a small slip on her part and such things were easily forgotten and forgiven. Still, it was important for the young to remember such things.

Taking a page from Ms. Esme’s book, he decided to switch to a lighter topic and put the girl at ease. “Are you a student, Ms. Taylor? Or perhaps you work?” A normal enough subject, something even two humans would discuss he should think.

[Taylor]

Nodding her head when he told her not to worry over her slip up she still would. If she didn’t then how would she remember it for the next time she met someone. Tucking her bangs back behind her ear she placed her hands in her pocket once more. He changed the subject and she felt herself relax again. “I am a student yes.” She smiled at glanced up at him “I am studying biology and astrology. As for working I have kept a few little jobs here and there but nothing large so people don’t ask questions.” Shaking her head she continued on with him.

[Vlad]

Like two figures from one of Stoker's books, they walked through the dark gardens. One with a more vivid imagination and who knew nothing of either of them might picture them hunting innocent prey rather than conversing for the first time. Old friends rather than awkward acquaintances, hunting partners, family, pack. For after all was said, could he also not take on the shape of the wolf?

Perhaps he was out of touch with this, the modern age, but it seemed strange that the girl should study both the creatures that walked the earth and the heavens."An odd combination. I'm curious as to what trade, or rather occupation, you plan to pursue with such a degree."

[Taylor]

She turned her head up to look at him when he said that it was an odd combination her studies. She had never really thought about it. Biology she was studying before she got infected or whatever term was used for it. Astrology was something new she had just added on recently. "You know Vlad I never really thought about studying both together it just ended up happening that way. Biology I was already a year into my studies when I was turned. Since then I have spent alot more time out doors and the night is peaceful. Soon after I found myself wanting to study more to learn more."

She shook her head and continued on it was odd now that she said it outloud and thought about it. Enjoying both studies she couldn't complain. He had asked about a career for her education. "As for a career after I dont know. It will all depend on what Fate decides to push my way." Hoping that she had answered the question for him. She answered it as honesty as she could.

[Vlad]

Sound reasoning on both accounts and fortunate indeed that the girl should have been studying biology before she became infected. It must have been marginally easier to cope with the changes with some knowledge of the beast she became each time the full moon hung like a glowing pendant in the dark sky. Astrology was not so odd a choice with the reasoning she gave, one would become curious about the heavens with such a condition.

"And do things such as rent, schooling or food pose much of worry? Monetarily speaking of course." An idea had begun to form within the darkest corner of his mind. That corner which governed his less human instincts, the part that thirsted for blood, death and violence. The part where his enhanced senses originated from, that sick whispering voice which forever pushed at his morals.

He had need of servants presently, willing donors were all that stood between him and the monster he had once been. What would be better than a donor and a pack mate? His stores of cash would make certain she wanted for naught, she could study all she liked and never find a need for work. Of course, the idea would need to presented with grace and delicacy to one so young.

[Taylor]

She really did enjoy both studies and noticed how he did not say anything about her answer. That she took was a good thing that he understood her reasoning and that she had explained it well enough. Smiling she looked down at the ground for a few seconds before looking back up the path. Hearing his question she almost stopped, skipping a step she corrected herself and shook her head. She felt her cheeks flush from the step.

“Most of time yes it does. I find a way to fight through it and so far I have been lucky.” She glanced up at him then looked away. Strolling past some flowers that she didn’t know the name. She pulled her hand from her pocket and let her fingers brush over the soft petal. Smiling she dropped her hand and continued on.