Catherine leans against the wall of a building, a tear running down her face. There are very few people on the streets, and those that are there walk right past her without a second glance. The breeze blows stray strands of her long brown hair across her face as another tear joins the first. She looks up at the star studded sky a moment, then wipes away the tears. She brushes her hair behind her ear to keep it out of her face, then looks up at the sky again. As she looks at the sky her beautiful voice breaks the silence in a sad song she wrote a year ago when Joseph, a friend of hers that was a vampire, died. At first her words are barely audible, not clear in the least, but soon the song can be clearly heard as she sings:
"...don't know what to do.
Dying inside with each pain that you cause
Is my heart all that is lost?
A drop of blood, I feel so cold,
All I need's someone to hold.
Another day; another tear,
Another dream; another fear.
Will I live or will I die,
All I can do now is just cry
Blood and tears, it's all I see
Will my heart never be free..."
Some people stop a moment to listen to her song, but continue on there way quickly, not wanting to get caught staring. She's always been good at singing, but never persued her talents.

A shadowed female stepped slowly out of a nearby alley, where she had been for the past few hours now. For reasons unknown by anyone but herself, she had just lay there, staring up at the sky, her pale blue eyes seeming to lose life by the moment. Perhaps she was there to get away from the crowds on the streets? The noise, maybe? No... It was a mix of things. Ironically, she had returned there to get away from 'everything', going back to her own little world in that alley. Unknowingly though, she had been somewhat drawn to that spot, where only a few days ago she had been so brutally turned by an unknown vampire.

Either way, she turned in the general direction that the other woman stood, and began to walk slowly. The other woman's voice seemed to linger in the air around her, causing her to walk slightly slower. Listening quietly to the lyrics, she found herself stopping with the crowd that began to stare. After the other woman had stopped singing, the crowd did seem to disperse, but she remained. Simply staring at the woman, she tilted her head, letting the words of her song sink into her mind. 'One does not sing something like that... unless they have reason to', she silently thought to herself. Oh well... she did not want to seem like she was staring... or being rude. Slowly turning aside, she began to walk at an extremely slow pace, for she had no where to go in specific. She only wished for someone to tell her what she needed to do next, someone to tell her what she was doing wrong.

She stops before she finishes singing the song, not caring that people had stopped to stare and to listen. She touches her cross a moment, then slides her scarf down to feel the scar on her neck, remembering the one who had given it to her. She drops her hands to her side and slumps forward, not bothering to fix her scarf to cover the scar again. Her hair falls forward as she slumps forward and she sighs, a few tears hitting the pavement.

This woman suddenly stopped once more, feeling more and more thoughts invade her mind. Even some of the woman that stood behind her. Sadness seemed to envelop her, coming from the tears that seemed to hit the ground. How.... how could she see all of this? Perhaps the curse that the vampire had given her had a few blessings...? If that could possibly be called a blessing. It only caused her pain, pain from the thoughts that came from others. Memories that the woman had been thinking of swarmed her mind. Why did she have to see all of this...? Perhaps, if she took the other woman's mind off of it... it would be also off of her mind...?

"Excuse me... but I was listening to your song... I suppose that I see you suffering now... I hate to see such things, is there anything I can do to help you?"

The truth was that the woman was only interested in helping herself, but if that meant having to help this other woman... she would have to do it. She would slowly go insane, otherwise.

She looked up, tears still running down her face.

"Not unless you can bring back the dead." She laughed slightly, making a lame attempt at a joke.

"It's nothing, I was just remembering a friend of mine that died a year ago today..." She sighed, watching her sadly. She was remembering how she had seen Joseph decapitaded and insinerated. her memories rushed to the surface as she spoke, figuring the woman probably wouldn't know what its like to loose your dearest friend.

"Forgive me, for I do not know how to do such a thing. I suppose if it helps at all, I do know how you feel. Not recently... but I have felt this way before."

A lie, of course. The woman only wished to rid herself of these thoughts that seemed to invade her mind. She would have said anything to get them away. Thinking for a moment, she silently wondered of what to say. Perhaps if she talked to the girl about it, she would not feel so badly.

"Would you like to share with me what happened? At times, the best thing to do is just vent it out, instead of holding it in. I suppose that no one's really cared about what you're thinking until now..."

"No, not really. Joseph was my only friend, so it was hard when he dies. Seeing someone murdered before your eyes never leaves a pleasant impression. some man just showed up, fought Joseph, and ended up decapitating him. And if that wasn't enough, he then got gasoline and burned him to ashes." She sighs and looks up at the sky, "I just wish there had been something I could have done." Her thoughts drifted slightly to laying on the grass and looking at the stars, talking with the man, no, vampire called Joseph. She thinks to herself, *That won't happen again, now that he's gone.*

Her only other option was to leave then, for she did not know what else she could say. Perhaps if she were farther away, the thoughts would simply go away. At least that was what she hoped would happen.

"Forgive me then... I apologize if I brought any bad memories back up. I shall not bother you any longer... It was certainly a pleasure to hear your voice, and certainly a pleasure to meet you."

She brushed her hair off of her shoulder, letting it fall over her back now. Turning away, she started to walk on her way, taking a very slow pace.

"By the way, I'm Catherine. What's your name?"" She decides to make an attempt at a more pleasant conversation, hopefully get her mind of the bad memories. She smiles, trying to be friendly.

Erika turned slowly around, blinking. Perhaps she would stay, if the conversation was better.

"Catherine. Certainly a beautiful name. My name is Erika. A pleasure."

She walked back towards Catherine, tilting her head slightly. Already her mind felt as if the thoughts were going away. Finally... she needed to learn to control these things, and soon. Otherwise, she would slowly be driven to insanity.

The air reeked of humanity; so overwhelming was it he could almost taste it. The city’s streets were crawling with the nighttime activity of the mortals, and the vampires of the city just starting to trickle in. What a fine way to start out in a new city again. Hungry.

He had not been here long, a month at the most. He’d been prowling the streets a few weeks prior, familiarizing himself with every building, alley and corridor the city had to offer. For a time, he sufficed with the prostitutes, picking them off one by one; no one ever seemed to notice when they went missing. Good. His feeding habits were… less than clean. His respect for men was minimal, and his respect for women, even less.

So he continued down the street, his gait steady and confident. His form was certainly very mortal looking, save, of course, the unnaturally pale complexion. The soft light of the street lamps reflected upon the sharply formed, high-boned features, giving a feministic edge to the male’s face. The undead so often possessed such strange preternatural beauty, an image that hid the savage, animalistic nature, one he concealed so well underneath. Tall, lean and slender, the male’s attire consisted of a black, partly unbuttoned collared shirt, and casual pants of the same colour. He wasn’t much for the leather tonight. His ebony lined, dark blue-hued eyes quickly searched his surroundings, easily singling out the holder of the voice’s haunting melody. The man approached, only observing. Young. Female, and pretty.

He’d break this one before dawn.

"Erika is a nice name too, so how long have you been around here? I just arrived yesterday." As she spoke she touched the decrative scarf she wore around her neck that hid the scar on her neck and the cross choke necklace. She smiled, remembering when she first got the necklace, and the scarf. Her mood had definetly improved with the conversation.

"I have lived here my entire life, love. Ever since I was a child."

Erika had noticed that Catherine kept on playing with the scarf on her neck, and she had also noticed that the girl had scars along her neck. It was strange... this girl had been bitten quite a few times, obviously. Intriguing.

Erika also noticed the second vampire that approached. Somewhat weak now, Erika had not fed ever since she had been turned, which had been a full four days. She didn't really know what to do... it was strange that she had this hunger inside of her, and it was also strange that she did not wish to inflict pain in this girl. It was obvious that the other vampire was here to do that... but Erika could not really intervene, in her state. Oh well.

She noticed Erika look at the scar and she covered it back up with the scarf. She thought to herself, a bit curious if Erika knew how a person got a scars like that, but also hoping she wouldn't ask about it. "I've never stayed in any one place very long."

"Oh....? And why is that?"

Erika tilted her head, now noticing that Catherine was trying to hide her scar. It was obvious to her that the girl was concientious about it... and the memories that it held. Perhaps that had something to do with the man she had been thinking about. Joseph? Yes, it was obvious that she had not been a mere mortal. One did not kill another by decapitation.... and burning. It was just unheard of. But to a vampire, anything could happen.

"Why do you hide that scar, child? I have one of my own, if you have not noticed. It is not quite as large as yours, mind you. But that is because mine seemed to heal quite fast, these past few days."

The scar she spoke of was merely only a pink spot on her neck... but it had been a brutal tear before. Small, microscopic pink dots also lined her lips, if one looked close enough. She did not speak about those scars though. She did not want to scare Catherine.

"I just don't like getting questions about it. Most people don't know how a person gets a scar like it. I doubt mine will ever go away, I've had it for about a year and a half now." She sighs, "I don't suppose you remember how you got your scar, most people never do..."

"On the contrary, love. I remember it like it was yesterday. It happened to me only recently, four days ago to be exact."

Perhaps that last statement would reveal to Catherine what she really was...? Would she be frightened? She didn't seem like the kind of person to be scared of a vampire. Especially one such as herself. Erika was pathetic, really. She had not even fed. She was somewhat afraid to, afraid to lose herself, afraid to lose control in doing it. Everything about this new 'life' seemed so horrible. Erika would have rather just died. But it was not possible now. She would not kill herself. That was an act only another could perform.

"So you remember being bit? Mos thumans don't... are you...a vampire?" She says the last part softly as not to arrouse the suspition of passer-byers. She watches Erika curiously, obviously not conserned that that could be what she is.

"As far as I know. But I am at a loss as to where to start this 'life' I have. What a mess... I'm such a pathetic excuse for an 'immortal'. I don't even know the taste of blood."

She shook her head, long golden hair waving gently as she did. Erika closed her eyes. Maybe it would have been better, yes, if she just would have been drained completely. But that other vampire... he had to pass his bloody curse onto her.

"You've never fed? You won't do well for long if you don't feed." Seh watches her, seeming to know what she's talking about. She seems to have experience dealing with vampires, and seems to know a bit about them.

"Yes, it is true, I have not fed. And I certainly do not care... I would most rather die than do such a thing."

She shook her head again, sighing. Even though her hunger seemed to increase every second, she seemed to supress it with the thoughts that sickened her about what she was. Maybe, it was a good idea to let herself die from starvation?

"You don't have to hurt people, but you need blood to survive. Many vampires feed and simply erase the mortals memory of the bite. Others have a specific few mortals they turn to frequently, like Joseph and I. It's not that bad for us, but its wrong to just starve yourself." She stared at Erika, looking a touch worried for her. She respected vampires, and feared some, and she did not like to see them starve. She thought to herself, to blame a vampire for biting a human would be like blaming a wolf for hunting deer, even humans take in lifeforms to survive, whether it be animal meat or plant lifeforms, how can she want to starve?

"I have no one to turn to, love. I am but an outcast, or whatever you prefer to call it."

She shrugged, rubbing her neck lightly. How long had it been since she had been turned...? Four days. If what she had heard was correct, she had one more night to live. Perhaps it would just be better for her to end it now, and get the pain out of the way. She did not want to starve. but she knew that the hunger would soon take over and she would not be able to help but to attack someone.

"It's not smart for you to put off feeding. You could hurt someone without meaning to." Catherine reaches up and takes her scarf off, shoving it in her pocket. She watches Erika, then turns down an alley, wondering if she'd get the hit. Catherine was willing to 'donate,' but it was best if other humans didn't know what happened. After all, ignorance is bliss.

Erika shook her head, following Catherine silently into the alleyway. She didn't want to do this.. She was afraid of actually liking it... wanting to do it more. Staring at her neck, she shook her head again.

"You cannot just allow me to do such a thing to you, regardless of what I might do to anyone else. It is a disgusting thing. If you do not wish for me to harm others... then I must ask for you to kill me now. I will not fight back... please, just do it. Don't ask questions."

"It is no more discusting than when a butterfly drink nectar. All animals, and even some plants, must feed on other lives. Even humans feed on life. I will not kill you simply because you exist." She watches Erika, turning her head to the side and pulling her hair off her shoulders and neck. "Go ahead, I trust you not to kill me."

Darkened lips twitched into a wry smile, one of dry scorn. A vampire junkie? He did not understand those that insisted on letting their victims live, or refused their vampiric nature. He’d fed off the fear of his victims, just as much as their blood, how could they deny the pleasure? And he had seen this fledgling so blindly trying to hold onto what little was left of her humanity. He would have dismissed it as weak, had he not sensed the faint trace of uncertain energy she possessed, a familiar warm feeling crawling on his skin.

The man came from behind the female vampire, a soft accented whisper to her ear, "Are you so sure then? An invitation... free, willing. ...Then, perhaps it will be easier if I helped you along a little."

It was then that his gaze traveled slowly to that of the human woman, in them was that dark, glazed look of a yearning need. He was already lost. A graceful stride forward. And in a moment, there would be the promise of blood being spilt.

She watched Brye, not completely sure of him. She could tell by Erika's attitude that she wouldn't try to kill her, but this other vampire she wasn't so sure of. Joseph had told her a few things about the diffences in vampires... so that she might be able to help herself if one went after her that was planning to kill her. Joseph had given her a cross necklace, for what little protection it could provide. Despite not being sure of his intentions, she wasn't afraid.

Erika silently listened and looked to Brye, somewhat weary, somewhat tired. That didn't mean she wouldn't stick up for the girl.

"Regardless of that. Either way, she is mine, and not yours. She has allowed me to take of her blood, and not you. You would do well to keep away..."

She put her arm slowly around Catherine's shoulder, walking slowly around Brye and out of the alley. She knew that she would not be able to defend herself, let alone anyone else in her condition. Perhaps, this other vampire would just go away. Leave them alone. But in the back of her mind she knew otherwise. She doubted that neither Catherine nor herself would walk away from tonight.

She let Erika lead her out of the alley, not glancing back at the other vampire. She sighed, a bit relieved that Erika had lead her out of the alley, away from Brye. She wondered briefly if Erika was going to take her up on her offer, but wasn't overly conserned. If Erika did, she did; if she didn't, Catherine would probably try to make her change her mind.

"Let us go somewhere quiet, if you must insist that I do that to you. I do appreciate it, however. And I am amazed that you trust me enough... You do not even know who I am."

She let her arm fall away from Catherine's shoulder, walking slowly to another alleyway, the one that she had come from.

"Alright. I'm going to do it now... are you quite sure that it's okay? I know how painful it is."

"It's rather obvious from your attitude that you don't like to hurt people. I am fairly certain that you will stop before you might do perminant damage to me." She smiles and closes her eyes, turning her head to the side so that Erika has a clear view of her throat.

"Alright... I shall do it then."

She sighed softly, putting herself in the position to bite her. Her hands went around Catherine's shoulders, holding onto her for some reason. It was probably some sort of instinct, passed along to her by the vampire that had bitten into her. Erika slowly bit into Catherine's neck, closing her eyes. Starting to drink, her fear had come true. She did enjoy this... she would enjoy it more and more every time that she did it. After a few moments, she pulled away, wiping at her mouth.

"Sorry. I know that hurt."

Catherine managed to stay standing, a bit weakened from blood loss, but at least she hadn't collapsed. "It didn't hurt much at all. I have high pain tolerance... it wasn't a big deal." She stumbled a bit, then leaned against a wall, but she was used to it. She smiled at Erika slightly, "Feel any better?"

"Much better, yes, thank you. I feel like I could do it all night though. And I want to, is the scary thing..."

She shook her head, closing her eyes. It was enjoyable to her. She did want to do it more. But not to Catherine. Catherine was now a friend, not someone who she would feed off of.

"I suppose that it was... enjoyable. It was all in my mind that it was bad."

"I'm glad, you didn't seem so well off earlier. I'm glad I could help. I suppose I should be heading home... it wouldn't be wise for me to wander the streets weakened." She starts walking towards the end of the alley, leaning on the wall so she doesn't collapse.

"Let me at least take you there. You're in no condition to be alone."

Erika was suddenly mad at herself, why had she done it? She could have found some other mortal... She sighed, putting Catherine's arm over her shoulder.

"Come on... just show me where to go, and I will take you."

Erika looked at Catherine again, somewhat saddened. Would this be what happened to everyone she fed off of? No... much worse would happen, she knew.

"It's not too far, I managed to rent an apartment. It's a nice place... If you need somewhere to stay you can use the spare bedroom if you like... It's pretty nice because there's no windows except in my room." She pointed out the general direction of her home, yawning slightly.

Erika blinked a bit at Catherine's offer to house her for the day. She had just been sleeping in an abandoned building. Come to think of it, she hadn't been sleeping at all. Sitting there, huddled in the shadows, hiding from the sun was what she had been doing.

"If it's not too much trouble... I would really appreciate that..."

She sighed. Catherine was too nice to her.

(OOC: Eeeep sorry, I couldn't keep up with all the postings x_x Besides it'd be sort of weird for him to jump back in now... just pretend he wasn't there. Sorry 'bout that.)