Joe walked next to Charlotte letting the wind blow his leather coat out behind him. They must've looked pretty funny, he looked like something out of the Matrix, and Charlotte was wearing her dress. He didn't worry about being mugged or anything, he actually hoped they would. He knew most of the criminals lurked around here, because there were a lot of rich people bussling around, though not too many at this time of night.

He smiled at Charlotte and slightly quickened his pace. He needed to feed pretty soon, but even if it was some scum who deserved to die. He walked down one of the paths slowing his pace. He smelt the poor piece of shit sneaking up behind them to rob them. Joe ignored him, hopefully Charlotte would do the same for now.

Charlotte sensed one of Demaitre's less desirable creeping up behind the pair or vampires and knew that Joseph must as well. "What do you think? Take him or leave him?" she whispered almost inaudibly to her companion. Joe hadn't made a move to take he thief yet and she was unsure as to whether or not she should make a move instead. She pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders, awaiting an answer.

Joe listened to Charlotte whispering. He leaned close to her, "I'll take him. I'm not going to kill him, even if he's a worthless piece of shit." He waited until the crackhead was closer, whipping around, he charged the surprised robber, and sank his fangs into his neck drinking the man. He couldn't bring himself to finish the job so he gestured for Charlotte to finish the job.

Charlotte watched Joseph take the man, her heart beginning to race upon seeing a vampire feed right in front of her. But her companion didn't seem able to finish the mangy cur. Charlotte swept over to the two of them, her skirt blowing about in the wind. She knelt by the frightened and weakened man and sank her own fangs into his tender neck. She drained him as much as she dared before detaching herself from his neck and sitting up again. "Danielle was right about one thing," she said. "They don't taste very good."

Joe chuckled lightly, after drinking Raymond's blood it seemed everything else was nothing. "Yeah, she knows her blood." He looked away as Charlotte finished the poor soul. He straightened his leather jacket. "That didn't satisfy you did it?" He asked, he had his fill for the moment. "I won't kill at all Charlotte." He reminded her as he wiped a drop of blood off his face.

"Probably not a good idea to. 'Never drink from the dead,'" she recited, having been taught the mantra over and over by her Gabriel. "Come. We don't have to hunt any longer if it displeases you. I'll get by without another," she said to Joseph, not wanting him to be uncomfortable. "The night is still young and there's plenty for us to do without feeding," she offered.

Joe nodded he felt bad because he didn't want to kill. "I'm alright we can find one more dreg and then do other things." He licked his lips, he was still thirsty and it seemed Charlotte was too. He walked down the path, feeling the cold wind blowing against his skin.

"I'd rather get a little more in me before doing anything else." He looked back at the poor bastard who didn't have time to know what hit him. He heard a little voice telling him to kill the mortal, to drink them dry, but he pushed it into the back of his mind. The demons from his past were getting stronger.

"Sounds fine," Charlotte answered, aware that Joseph seemed to be of two minds regarding the continuation of their feeding. But Charlotte's thirst was not yet quenched and she was happy to find one more victim. "I know of an alleyway off of Main Street where members of a certain gang like to gather. I suppose it's their headquarters. Perhaps we should go there next?" she suggested.

Joe looked at Charlotte and nodded. He wouldn't kill unless their lives depended on it. He walked with Charlotte towards the exit. "After you madam." Joe bowed and followed after her. He didn't like gang members, they always were bunched up.

"Thank you, kind sir," Charlotte answered, chuckling softly. She had often hunted the members of this particular gang. They were a cruel bunch and she actually felt no remorse in killing one of them. It was usually the sentry she took out. It was his job to stand at the entrance to the alleyway and he was an easy target. "And don't worry, they're not the brightest bunch. I never have any trouble with them," she assured Joseph.

Joe chuckled but became serious. "Even the dumbest bunch can be dangerous." He warned her, he heard the voice again, taunting him, wanting him to drink. He tried pushing it down, but he couldn't this time. He tried to ignore it, but it was really hard.

He followed Charlotte to the alleyway that the gang was. All he saw was the guard, he was by himself and easy prey for him. He heard the boy's heart beating, saw the blood pumping through his veins. He attacked the guard and sank his fangs cruelly into the boy's neck, covering his mouth to stop any screaming. He told himself to stop, but he couldn't it was like his body was on autopilot. He felt the boy's heartbeat slow, and eventually stop. When he was finished, he looked at Charlotte in horror, what has he done?

Charlotte nearly laughed out loud at the look upon Joseph's face when he realized he had killed the sentry. "Don't look so horrified. He was a piece of scum and probably had it coming," she assured him. Seeing that this was little consolation, she continued. "Just think of Darwin. Survival of the fittest. You were stronger than him and so, he died. It's nature," she offered, giving him her own special trick to use when the reality of what kind of monster she was hit her. "It is the nature of things."

Joe shook his head, "It's not that! I haven't killed anyone in 9 years!" He looked at the poor bastard who laid at his feet. "I let my demons win!! You don't understand how long I've kept them at bay!!" He turned and started walking away from Charlotte and the boy. He couldn't believe that nine years of hard work was just wasted!

Charlotte sighed and walked quickly after Joe. She knew what it was like to disappoint yourself. "Joseph. It does not make you any less of a man. It means nothing," she said in a soothing voice. Catching up with him, she seized his arm and turned him around to face her. "We are not perfect beings, Joseph," she whispered.

He stared at Charlotte, "You don't know what I used to be like." Deep down inside he felt his demons trying to escape. "I know that it doesn't make me evil, but each time I feed the more I feel I'm losing myself. It's becoming worse with age." He looked down at his shoes he didn't want Charlotte to see his demons in his eyes. He slaughtered so many mortals, it hurt him to remember his past. He took a deep breath and looked back at Charlotte, "I'm alright now." He said.

Charlotte looked into Joseph's eyes until he turned away. "I'm sorry I can't be more understanding," she apologized, not releasing his arm. She really did not have any idea what the man's past was like. Still, his obvious despair discomfited her. It was an instinct of Charlotte's to try to fix things, even when she was ignorant as to the origin of the damage.

Joe smiled weakly, "Don't worry about it Charlotte. I'm okay now." He hoped he was, the voice in his head was slightly weaker, but it still told him to kill. He wouldn't listen to it. He straightened his shirt and wiped the blood off his face. "You still need to feed. Do you still want to go?" He'd have to do some meditation later, get those voices suppressed.

"No. It's fine," Charlotte answered quietly. "I can wait. Let's just get away from this place. We can go to another show if you'd like. I'm sure something's still open. It's only ten o'clock," she suggested, pulling Joseph gently along as she began to walk out of the slum they were in the middle of. There were plenty of seedy people she could feed on later, alone.

Joe looked at Charlotte and nodded, "Okay let's go see another show." His feet kind of moved on autopilot, it was like his body was walking, but it seemed like he was looking from afar. He hated killing and he was glad Charlotte was pretty much dragging him away from the scene.

"Where would you like to go?" Charlotte asked gently. Her maternal instinct had kicked in and the first task she had given herself was to get Joseph somewhere safe and calm him down. He looked to be in shock, but she figured that being around people would take the edge off of that. "Do you want to see a movie? We could even just take a walk if you're not up to it," she added, aware that it might also be hard for Joseph to be around mortals right after this incident. She had given up trying to understand why he was so upset, but had taken it upon herself to make him feel better about it.

Joe looked blankly at Charlotte, and snapped back to reality. "Oh, I'm sorry. A movie sounds very good to me." He said as he tried shaking off the shock of killing the mortal. "I'll go see whatever you want to see." He said not really caring what movie he watched, he just needed to get his mind off of killing. What was scary for him was that he felt exhilarated draining the mortal. He hoped this wasn't a sign of what would happen to him in the future, when all emotions left him. He didn't want to become like Danielle, he wouldn't. "Are you ready?" He asked smiling now, he started walking down the street not looking back at the alley.

"Yes. Let's go," Charlotte said, nodding her assent. She walked away from the alleyway next to Joseph. "There's a new vampire movie out. Do you want to watch it and see what they think of us?" she asked, almost giddily. She often enjoyed watching the films mortals made and the horrendous monsters they portrayed vampires as. Not that they weren't, but they did still have feelings. It didn't matter that she was terribly overdressed for the movie theater, she was looking forward to the show nonetheless. She said nothing about the sentry and did not ask how Joseph was feeling.

Joe nodded and laughed lightly. "That sounds very good Charlotte!" He wrapped his arm around Charlotte's waist and left his demons behind him for the time being. He always loved watching vampire movies as well; especially those 'Blade' movies. He just liked the action in them, but he also loved seeing them mess up the facts about his kind. "Mortals are quite amusing in the way they view us." He sighed and continued to walk with Charlotte feeling the voice fade as they got farther away from the sentry.

"They are blissfully ignorant," Charlotte agreed, surprised by Joseph's arm about her waist. She didn't mind. "I'd be worried, I think, if they really knew us. Then they'd realize we are so much like them. And then how would we frighten them into submission?" she said jokingly. The mood had lightened considerably and she was almost giddy with relief.

Joe laughed, he imagined them pointing out everything the producers got wrong with the vampires. "That would be very scary indeed!" He kept walking with Charlotte. He was bored so he lightly poked her in her side. He knew it was a little immature, but he felt like being a little funny.

Charlotte jumped and gave a small cry of surprise as Joseph poked her in the side. "What was that for?" she asked with mock indignation. Joe seemed to be in a much better mood and she didn't want to disturb that so she played along. "I declare, I have never been so abused!" she announced dramatically.

Joe couldn't hold back his laughter as he watched Charlotte's reaction. He smiled and slowly calmed down, still smiling. "That was for no reason!" He laughed lightly and leaned on Charlotte. "Well I can dish out more if you want me to!" The hand that was wrapped around Charlotte lightly tickled around her ribs and under her arm.

"No!" Charlotte shrieked, squirming away from Joseph. With her hands held in front of her in a gesture of surrender she said, "I give up." She hadn't met any immortal who still had a sense of playfulness for years and years. She had missed playing. Grinning like mad, she circled around her companion. "Please, Joseph," she pleaded. Though her flesh had become like stone over the years, the sensation in her nerves had not faded and she was hopelessly ticklish.

Joe laughed as Charlotte pushed away from him and surrendered. "Alright I'll stop." He said between fits of laughing. Why did he suddenly feel like this? He didn't cast another thought on the it and just enjoyed himself. "Enough procrastination Charlotte!!" He said jokingly. He started walking in the direction of the theater again; he was still laughing as they walked. The vision of the dead sentry would return if he didn't keep up this childish playing.

"Fine, fine. Let's get a move one then," Charlotte acquiesced and followed Joseph in the direction of the theater. The two walked on in silence for a few moments before the reached the theater and entered. Charlotte hurried over to the tickets window and ordered two for the vampire movie. "My treat," she said, grinning widely, very pleased with herself. She handed over one of the tickets to Joseph.

Joe took the ticket from Charlotte, he was a little tight on cash. Had to spend a lot on medical blood. "Thank you Charlotte." He opened the door to the theater for her and bowed. He waited until Charlotte entered and followed her in. He'd have to find some way to repay her. Sooner or later anyway.

"My pleasure," Charlotte answered, waving a hand dismissively as she entered the theater. "Let's go and find seats," she suggested, leading the way into screen #3 where the film they had paid for was being shown. "Want the aisle seat?" she asked Joseph. She had been to so many films where her companion was constantly getting up to use the restroom or get some tooth-rotting treat. Needless to say, most of these companions were mortals and often they were her victims. Always men. Men were so predictable. They figured they were getting a quick shag for the price of two movie tickets. The look of surprise on their faces as she drained them was disturbingly satisfying.

Joe followed Charlotte to theater #3. "You can have the aisle seat if you want it." He made his way into the row and sat down next to Charlotte. "So what's this movie supposed to be about?" Joe turned to Charlotte and smiled. "Is there anything I can do for you?" He blinked as the coming attractions and movie started.

"No, there's nothing," Charlotte whispered, accepting Joseph's offer and sitting down in the aisle seat. "I'm not sure exactly what it's about. Some vampire hunter. You know, the standard plot for these types of movies," she continued as the screen flickered to life and the coming attractions flashed over it. She settled into the worn cushions of the well-used theater chair, the spring creaking quietly as she made herself comfortable. "Do you come to the theater often?" she asked, thinking how funny it was that they had just come from the high-brow atmostphere of the concert hall to this dingy little movie theater.

Joe chuckled a little bit, "I haven't gone to this theater yet. I usually wait to rent the movies." He smiled and looked at Charlotte. The chairs here weren't as comfortable as the concert hall's, but he'd live. "Ahh, the big bad vampire hunter. I hate movies like that, they should make a movie with the vampire living happily ever after." He chuckled quietly and watched the prewiews, there weren't any good ones. "So have you gone to this theater before?" He leaned towards Charlotte and whispered, "This isn't exactly the Ritz."

Charlotte laughed just a bit too loudly for the other movie-goers to handle and received some glares, but her smile remained stuck on her face. The movie had started and rapidly changing images moved across the screen, projecting their flickering light across everyone in the theater. "Yes, I've been here before. No, it isn't the Ritz, but they always have the movie I want to see," she whispered. "And vampires don't live happily ever after, Joseph. Ever after is a very long time for them, you know," she added, folding her hands across her lap.

Joe smiled knowing exactly what Charlotte meant. His life wasn't the best, a lot of death in it. Monsters like the demons in him didn't deserve to live. "I know what you mean Charlotte." He quieted down and watched the movie.

As Charlotte let the visions of vampire folklore wash over her, the glow of the screen illuminating her face, she couldn't help but notice that the humans in this film were not afraid of the vampire characters in the least. Their only mission was to kill the blood-drinkers. She chuckled wryly to herself. If only the humans knew... When the film finally ended, with enough blood and gore to last a lifetime, Charlotte sighed. "So...What did you think?" she asked, turning to Joseph.

Joe watched the movie and nearly laughed. He listened to Charlotte, "It's a good mindless movie. Though it's pretty funny how they portrayed the vampires. They almost have it. I think the closest they got it was in Interview with the Vampire." He smiled and got up from his seat. His butt was kind of sore from sitting on the seat. "So what now? Do you want to head back to my apartment?"

"I agree," Charlotte replied. "Still, they romanticize our entire situation. I like to think I've stayed pretty much the same throught my whole life. Or death," she said thoughtfully, rising from her seat and moving our into the red-carpeted aisle. In respect to Joseph's question she answered, "Sure. Why not?" She was weary down to her bones, but at that moment she couldn't bring herself to go back to her own home.