The Children of the Night (Taylor)

[Vlad]

Curiosity crashed over him like a wave swept over the sandy shores of those warm, far off places that most humans fantasized over when Ms. Taylor came near to tripping over her own feet at the question of money. The soft thuds of her heart increased in tempo and as he watched, the skin of her cheeks flushed a pale pink. Why should a simple question bring such a reaction?

Black curls bounced gently as he nodded his head. “I see.” It was his understanding that most that attended a college struggled with money. It was good that his wolf had been lucky thus far but he could sense the hesitation in her answer. Plain as day was the worry the girl held for if a time should come when she should not be as fortunate.

He had a few moments to word his thoughts as the wolf stopped to admire a flower, stroking the soft petals with delicate fingers. “And if there was a way for you to acquire any sum of money you might need, or desire, would you take such an opportunity?”

[Taylor]

When she slowed to let her fingers slide down the soft petal of a flower she heard him speak to her. Turning to face him she let his words sink in before answering. Tucking her bangs behind her ear she met his eyes. "To be honest it would depend on what was required of me. I have learned long ago that nothing is ever freely given." She smiled at him and spoke honestly. If he was giving her an opportunity for money she wondered what he would like in return. She did not have much to offer and was not very well versed in the supernatural world, but she was intrigued that he brought up this topic.

(sorry this took so long)

[Vlad]

The smile that crossed her face brought one in answer from him. “No, indeed not. I dare say nothing ever truly is free.” He bent to a flower and ran his fingers absent-mindedly over its petals, staring at it he spoke. “Life is a fragile thing, is it not? Take this gentle blossom. So graceful and full of beauty, so filled with the presence of life that one might think it impossible to rob it of its vibrant colors. But, appearances are often deceiving.”

He plucked the flower from the ground and twirled the severed stem between his thumb and forefinger. “One action, one simple choice and the blossom dies. It still holds the appearance of life, for a time, but cut off from the resources it requires to live, it dies. The same is true for all life forms …humans…..werewolves...” A smile up to her. “…vampires. We all need things in order to survive.”

He stood and let the flower fall from his grip, watching it drift back to the earth. “You, my wolf, need things…food, housing, in example. Things which I can, and will, most readily provide.” His eyes met hers here as he watched for her reaction. “But as you so astutely put it, nothing is without cost. Just like you, I require certain things to survive as I do. Most I can acquire for myself but one, the most important one, I must rely on others for. Blood, my wolf, blood is what I ask of you.”

[Taylor]

She nodded her head when he stated that nothing is ever truly free. Watching him bend down to a flower she watched as his fingers moved over the petals as he spoke. Moving to stand a bit closer to him she listened quietly as he spoke to her. Her eyes stayed focused on the flower as he spoke about it but with other meanings underneath his words. Watching him pluck the flower and continue she just watched him. Understanding completely what he was saying and not interupting.

Watching him stand back up her eyes moved to him and when he released the flower she followed it back to the ground. Her eyes stayed focused on it as he spoke to her. When he said that he could easily provide for her needs giving a few examples she raised her brown eyes to meet his and looked at him and smiled. There was still catioun in her eyes but he continued saying how she put nothing was ever without a cost. Pushing her bangs out of her eye she stayed meeting his eyes. He said the he required certain things to survive as well, but most he could get for himself. Nodding her head she understood this so far. When he said that one he must rely on others for was blood and that is what he was asking for.

Letting everything work itself out n her mind. He was offering her things to make her life easier to not have to struggle anymore and in return all he asked for was her blood. It was a tempting offer and one that seemed almost to good to be true. "It is a very tempting offer Vlad." She was still thinking on, the pro's and the con's of everything. Smiling she met his eyes and nodded her head. "I beleive that it is a fair offer though I have never given blood to a vampire before." The thought worried her but not enough to want to back down.

[Vlad]

How easily the girl agreed to the trade off surprised him. Most found the idea of donating blood revolting or in violation of their personal beliefs. This young wolf was shaping out to be a rather interesting girl indeed. Would she frighten at the last minute and revoke her promises, refuse to fufill her part of the bargain?

He smirked at the girl’s saying she’d never given blood before. “I can offer some assurance in this matter. I am told it can be a rather pleasurable experience.” He could not draw from personal experience, his own transformation had been one of violence and blind hunger. He treated his donors well, perhaps because of his own less than pleasant experience. Whatever the reason, the girl had nothing to fear from him or anyone else if he was given a say.

He met the girl’s eyes for a moment before continuing on, one foot delibrately placed in front of the other. “You will want for nothing, young wolf. I mean to make sure you do not regret the choice.” His voice pleasant, he continued. “In the way of housing you have a choice, a place of your own or a room in the house where I reside?”

[Taylor]

Taylor saw him smirk and she listened to him give her an assurance on what he had been told about donating blood. She nodded her head and smiled at him. She had her mind made up her mind and would not have agreed to donate. She was not that type of person and maybe it all spanned from the wolf that infected her and just left without her having a clue. She was not going to be backing down especially with what he offered her. "That is good to hear but even if it wasn't I wouldn't not have agreed to the offer."

He met her eyes and she moved with him staying at his side as they walked. She kept her head up and looking straight ahead as he spoke to her. With what he said he was going to be very genorous to her. Placing her hands back in her coat pockets she looked up at him when he asked about housing and gave her two options a place of her own or room where he stayed. She pulled her eyes off of him as she thought about the offer. "If I would stay where you live wouldn't that make it much easier or conveinent for you?" She asked looking at him. A house of her own sounded nice but if she was going to donate blood for him, she figured in her head it would be easier to stay in the same place. She wanted to hear how he answered her question before giving her answer, just because she knew so little about vampires.

[Vlad]

A smile turned up the corners of that delicate mouth as she explained that her uncertainties would not have held influence over her final decision. It was good to see conviction in one so young, unusual, and it made him think better of her. So few of today’s youth knew what they truly desired, it was nice to see one on a set path. “Then you are as rare a beauty as they come.” He said simply in answer.

Her question caught him by surprise, he was not used to his donors thinking of his convenience. “Do not trouble yourself with such trivialities. Though matters would be more simple if you resided with me, my methods of travel are far more efficient than your automobiles.” What could be easier than flying from place to place? The likeness of a bat was invaluable when it came to inconspicuous travel. “So, my wolf, it would make matters easier if you were to live with me but the distance would not present me with much of a problem.”

[Taylor]

She shook her head at his complement it was not something she was used to hearing. Never a rare beauty but beautiful but then again those where people who judged on just her appearance and got no where. “Thank you Vlad.” She said soflty as they continued along. Turning her head to look up at him when he told her not to trouble herself. She thought that it was odd but then again she did not have the knowledge of what she was walking into. Smiling at the thoughts of his other means of travel she remembered back earlier in their conversation. He left the choice still very open for her the only thing with her house little as it was, it was right next to the woods for the full moon she never had to travel. “Do you live by a forest Vlad? If you do I will gladly stay with you. If not I would prefer to stay where I am or someplace near a forest. I like to be close for full moons so I don’t have to travel or worry.” She smiled at him and paused waiting for this answer because this was a big decision that she was making.

[Vlad]

Sensible, to think of those things which her beast necessitated. Even he, in his joy of gaining a donor and perhaps friend, had forgotten that this women required more than money and a home. Strange, he was normally more astute. But then, he had not yet fed this evening, perhaps he could excuse himself this one minor mistake.

"As luck would have it, the manor in which I reside sits in the heart of a lush forest. For reasons that I am sure you can deduce, I and my companions enjoy our privacy." It struck him then, like a palm to his forehead. It had been more foolish than words could describe for him to have forgotten to mention the other members of the council until now.

"Ah yes, my companions. I pray that you forgive my not mentioning them sooner, sweet wolf. The manor in which I live is not mine alone." A pause here. "I share the space with those few I consider friends. There are four of us, myself included. Rest easy though with the knowledge that one section of the manor is set apart for myself and any who I wish to have lodge with me. You will have your own room and washroom. And do not let the fear of being crowded plague you, the manor is large enough to hold ten more comfortably."

[Taylor]

Hearing that the manor he lived at sat in the middle of a lush forest made her smile. Nodding her head she looked up at him and tilted her head ever so slightly to the side when he mentioned companions. It was none of her business who he felt where companions or not. He spoke up an shook her head when he mentioned forgiving him for not mentioning them earlier. She did not interrupt him as he spoke of the manor and how he shared the space with a few that he considered close friends. There was only four of them but he had a part just to himself and anyone that he decided to have stay with him. "I do not fear that four others would crowd a manor but I will gladly stay where you live. Would it be to much to ask to keep my small place I have now? I would like to keep it for my family or if I ever just needed the peace that I found there."

She hoped that she was not asking to much but she almost forgot how her brother liked to drop by occasionally. It was becoming more rare as the years went on but there was always the chance that he might. Vlad had mentioned that the house could fit alot more comfortably but sometimes peace alone and knowing that one was alone was something she had enjoyed. If he did not grant it she was sure that she would find a quiet place to herself other than a room that was hers.