Darcy wandered though the ally stumbling a little as she walked. It would appear to the average mortal that she was drunk, her situation was quite the opposite. She was hunting rather unsuccessfully mind you but hunting nonetheless. Entering the dimly lit alley she tried to find a victim some one she could sink her fangs into. Oh how her fangs ached for the neck of a mortal yet Darcy did not wish for blood…she wished for anything but the need to hunt the need to kill. In her short time in Demaitre the few vampires she met all instructed her to feed as often as she could. They promised it would make her fell better, but feeding did not take away the pain her body still felt and the hatred she carried for herself every time the red liquid entered her veins.

Stumbling again she sat in a puddle not caring that is soaked though her jeans. She wanted to die there yet at the same time the young vampire still desired life. Her hand went to her throat it was almost healed except for the scar that would stay with her for who knows how long. She mentally cursed the one who gave it to her. She hated him for making her what she was but she also hated him for not finishing her off as he had wanted to.

Why did those who had life and youth eternal wish for death? Because they had none to show them how to live, how to make a purpose for their life. He had been watchign this oung one now since he had seen her. She was young, clumsy with her talents. But that was not what had drawn him to her... She was lost in pain... confusion, anger and resentment.... He coudl tell just by that that she had not asked for the gift, it had been given to her without her knowladge and against her will.

The well dressed man was hidden in the shadows on a balcony of the fire escape now, his usual buisness attire of black pants jacket and tie with a white shirt. His long hair was down however, flitting gently in the wind.

Closing his eyes he took a deep breath as he lifted her scent on the wind. It would be etched in his memory untill the end of time now... The scent of this young one.

He continued to watch her as she simply sat in the alleyway, a puddle of water benieth her. He was not concerned for her health of course... She could not get sick... But...

"Stand up little one..." He whispered into her mind. "I know you can hear me... Stand up... Come to me..." There was a slight push to his words as he spoke to her. He appeared at the entrance of the alley in the blink of an eye, standing tall against the gloomy street light.

Darcy sat slumped in the puddly her hand proped up with one hand. She had promised herslef she woudl at least try to hunt. There was always blood at the Hospital for her Doctor Nitta told her that but she wanted to give the hunting at least one more try. If she was to live for eternity she could not rely on the kindess of other vampires to supply her blood. There was the temptation to go back to the hospital and ask for help...but she held off for now. Suddnely there came a burning sensation in her skull it felt as though her head woudl split in to. she cried out clutching her head . Doubled over she yelped her fingers entwined in her hair. She had no way of knowing another vampire was trying to talk to her though her mind. She had not developed enough to handle the result was a burning sensation in her head that slowly went away when the vampire stopped communicating.

Sighing heavily she rubbed her temples then in the dim light she saw a figure. Perhaps she would feed tonight.

He saw no responce that the girl heard him. But... she seemed in some sort of physical pain. Was she that young? So young that she could not understand mental communication? Or perhaps the fault was with the vampire who had sired her.

She did not stand up, but rather looked up. He walked slowly towards her, the heels of his shoes clicking on the concreat slightly. He wanted to know her name... but he feared looking into her mind even that little to find it...

Lucian stopped five feet from the girl, looking down at her with nearly indifferant eyes, but his emotions had not been protrayed on his face for years... decades, ceturies.

"You need not fear me young one..." He said quietly, his voice gentle as if speaking to a child. "Now... Stand up from the puddle." He was unused to speaking with young fledglings... Had not needed to... since he could remember...

Damn he's a vampire too Darcy thought No drink for her tonight. SHe stood slowly wiping the muck off of her jeans. She attempted a half smile looking up at the vampire. Darcy was afraid she was nervous of all vampires she encountered even the kindly ones. "I'm not afriad" She lied stepping back proving the contrary. There was a slight quiver in her voice as she spoke to him. There was no way for her to tell how old the vampire was standing before her but she always carried the respect and fear with all of them as if they were all ancient beings.

"i'm Darcy." She said slowly they always asked her name so she figured she save him the trouble of asking. Not that being Darcy made any diffrence. The words came out as if it was an excuse for her being there, the explination for her behaviour when it really wasn't. Her name ment nothing to this creature and she knew it yet she gave it any way as if it would make some diffrence in the end.

She tried to think of something else to say but there was nothing that really need to be said she was there and so was he. He just stood there looking at her with his emotionless eyes. It made Darcy uneasy, surly he could read her mind making her feel even more pathetic then usual at least in the vampire world.
When her voice returned to her it was raspy hardly more then a whisper." I was hunting."

((Sorry I forgot where the post was >.<))

A smile glinted in his eyes and curled slightly at the edge of his lips, but no more. It was enough to make him seem more... friendly. Perhaps to sooth her. "Do not lie to me little one." He said simlpy, a hit of amusement in his voice. "But you need not fear me child. I shall not harm you." Honesty was all one really got from Lucian, but that would not be known to the fledgling yet.

He could not help the frown that formed on his face as she said she was hunting. Trying to hunt perhaps... She felt so weak... But then again she was so very young. "Did not your sire teach you how?" He asked as he stepped forward, sheer power in his evry move, liquid grace as if he were a large cat. "Darcy..." He said her name quietly on his tongue, the name strange with his accent.

As he moved he never took his eyes off of her. Her small, delciate figure... Her dark eyes, pale skin... She was so young, so fragile... Her light, hair... He did not know the colors... But he had never seen hair so light...

Darcy was still very much afraid. He moved closer to her and she couldn't stop herself from stepping back. Her eyes avoided his choosing to gaze at the pavement below." He taught me nothing." She said softly not watning to think of the one who had made her. "He has had nothing to do with me since the night he made me." It seemed fitting to say but she wished to say nothing more on the subject. Her blondish hair sliped away from her pony tail framing her pale face. Head bowed she back up till her back presed against the wall.

Why did she recoil from him so terribly? He could not understand.

"My name is Lucian... I heard your silent call of pain... I could not bear your sorrow." He had followed her. "Do not fear me Darcy. I am here to help you." He reached out a hand to touch her small face. So delicate was her skin... "You are hungry..." It was not a question, but rather a statement.

He listened to her soft words, her pain of rejection... An anger seethed through him unlike he had felt in a while. True anger, not just a sence of duty and justice. But the raw emotion of anger. She had been abandoned by her sire... Abandonded and lft to fend for herself in this world alone with no knowladge of who or what she truly was...

His heart ached for her... So young

Pulling his hand back away from her face he unbuttoned the sleeve of his dress shirt and rolled it back. His blood would not sustain her forever, but it would placate the hunger she felt for now, alowing him to find a proper meal for her. He had aready fed this rising and would not need to for some time again. "I offer my bloo to you little one. Take your fill, quench your thirst. He said as he offered the exposed wrist to the fledgling huddled, terrfied against the wall.

Her face turned up and a cold shiver when across her when he touched her. Her head rested against his face she was tired again possibly due to lack of blood. Try as she might she had not gotten used to the taste, her cravings, or her need to hunt. She didn't know how to do it, how to choose who should be fed from and who avoided. More importantly she had difficulty dealing with death. Darcy had no desire to kill for her food, but death did follow her unskilled fangs.

She took a step forward her eyes fixed on the extened wrist. yet she did not bite into it as her body craved to do. Fear still remained with in her, fear lingering from the last time she had tasted vampire blood." I would rather not." She said softly her eyes turning upward for a second.
There was no where for her to go, she could not run away. It was only the two of them now, darcy with her hunger and he with his blood. " I can't" She whispered Of course she could she wanted to taste him wanted his blood but she didn't want the guilt that came with feeding.

"You must young one..." He said, a push in his voice. He could compleatly force her compliance if he so chosed, but to do so... It violated her. He would never do that in such a way. "You will not kill me, you need not worry aobut my safety." He stepped closer to her. "You are weak with hunger. I can feel it." He told her. "My blood with not give you all you need, but it will prevent you from going into a lust." He could imagen that was the very last thing she would want to do. She was so young, pure, innocent.

"I offer to you freely. Take what you have need of child. I would rather you do so willingly than having to force your compliance." He ran his fingers through her hair, faicenated by it's softness, like strands of silk... "And I will if I need to little one. You would not be able to live with yourself should you become absorbed by the darkness that dwells within us all."

His hand travled down her face once more. "You must feed." The bare wrist of Lucian was in her reach, all she needed to to was turn her head slightly to take what he offered.

Darcy whimpered softly the wrist was so close offered to her little mouth. Before really thinking abotu it her tiny fangs bit in hard the coppery taste of blood hitting her tongue. Like a babe she nursed from the vein drinking it in deeply feeling her body warm up slowly. Devoured by the thrill of his blood her legs became weak and she nearly collapsed then and there still drinking. Eventually her knees did give out but she clung to his arm drinking the blood into her with great need. It filled her took away the pain that plauged her body. To young Darcy the blood was like mana from heaven.

He let out a shuddering sigh as he felt the tiny pricks of her fangs in his wrist. The breath though useless to his ancient lungs, expressed an emotion he had not shared with any individual in centuries...

There was no pain though, only a warmth, a heat he felt as she fed. He could feel her falter and Lucian held her close to him as she slid. "Yes my little one... Feed... Feed well." His voice was breathy as he spoke. She was taking with more force now, drinking quickly.

But she must not... She must not take too much. His blood, if she recieved his memories, his powers. It would cause insanity. She would tear herself to peices over images she saw. He did not know if that would happen with her, what she would recieve.

"That is enough Darcy..." He said quietly with a sigh, pulling his wrist from her mouth before sealing the two pin pricks with a trace of his tongue, his eyes still closed. He was still holding her in his arms, almost reluctant to let her go.

She let go reluctantly hodling tight to him feeling dizzy after the blood. It took her a while for the sensations running though her body to stop letting her come back to reality. Darcy wiped the blood from her chin ashamed what a mess she made in her haste."Thank you" She gasped thinking that to be the most fitting words.
She eventually found her feet again but let him hold onto her it felt diffrent from before. This time the vampire holding her would not harm her, not drop her on the cold ground. He supported her upright clinging to her as she held tight to him.

He was greatful that she did not thirst for more of his blood. That could be a danger to one such as her. "It will not be enough for tonight I am afraid. You must feed on human blood, mine, though powerful it is, can only keep you alive." He warned as he opened his eyes, looking down at her small frame he lifted his hand to wipe a spot of red on her chin as he smiled.

Red... Red. He saw the color... The blood that he had given her... He saw her. He saw her hair, the color of what he remembered long ago as straw. How could this be? Could she have been the one who called him here? Called him with her pain? How long ago had she been turned? But there was no doubt.

"It was you, whom I was searching for. You." He said blinking. "But how can this be? How long have you been alone litte one? When were you turned?" He asked. She seemed young.. No older than two decades... And it had been two decades since he had awoken from his sleep of misery.

Darcy was confused and it showed." I've only been away from Xander a few nights. And I've been this way two months tops." She looked up at him.' What are you talking about I've called no one." She didn't understand. Of course she was looking for someone to protect her and be liek the vampire makers in the movies. How ever she didn't think that would ever happen, her life was no movie. Xander kept her company and she loved him dearly but this fellow, Darcy shuddred again she was so confused right now."I'm sorry I don't understand what is going on."

Two months... The timing was right... He had felt the call to this place that long ago... He had arived shortly after...

"You called out to me Darcy. Your pain. Your suffering. It was you who I awoke for." How could she possibly understand? The lonelyness... What he felt from her was nothign compaired to his own. He just never complained.

"You are young... You could not possibly comprehend... You called me to you..." His hand brushed her face gently. "You needed a protector, a mentor. Someone to watch over you and teach you. To understand and love you." He framed her face wit his powerful hands. "You are the reason I have awoken into this world away from my past misery. I have slumbered hundreds of years... Just waiting for the one to come alone... The one who could save me from my darkness."

She gasped feeling his hands on her face." I don't understand I couldn't have done that. I can't do anything like that." How ever she wanted it to be so she wanted to be loved by the vampires. She wanted a family of ones liked her, to be the little sister the daughter spoiled with their affection, selfishly she wanted it all.
Blood tears sliped from her eyes and she clung to him afraid and overjoyed at the same time. " I want to be that one. But I don't know if I am." Her thought turned to Xander what would he think , he woudl be jelous but she wanted a father figure in her life. The fear of Xanders rejection came in a cruel wave. No it would not be like that..never like that.
"Teach me?" She asked" please."

"You are the one who called me to this place. Make no mistake... Otherwise..." His fingers brushed the golden strands, leaning in and taking her scent it deeply. "These would seem as grey a storm cloud... Your eyes as well. You were made for me Darcy. You have called to me since you came into this world." His voice was absolute. If he had any doubt he need only to look at the colors. So bright and vivid even in the dark. The red of the brick, the brown of dirt. The yellow of the lights even.

"You are the one." Should she deny it he would have to make her see. He could not loose her, for if he did the bleakness would over come him... He would slip into shadow to become what he hunted, or to seek out the morning light.

"I will teach you all I know little one... I will teach you what I have learned in the many of lifetimes I have lived..."

Darcy smilled still a little nervous. It all sounded so strange to her like fiction rather then reality, then again her life has alway been strange." I want to learn, I'm just scared."
She looked around the dark alley they were alone and she felt hungery again." Some times I wish I wasn't like this at all. " She gave a half smile up at her new teacher. " But I guess it all happens for a reason right?"

((Arg... Short posts... So.. Hard >.<))

"You should not be afraid my love. I have found you now... But only if it had been sooner." He murmured as he brushed his lips against her forhead. "If I had turned you... If I had made you mine, you would have known no fear, no doubt or pain." And she would have been strong too. Her power would have been great. But the vampire who had sired her... Did not wish to truly share himself with her. Had she been brought over as a mistake?

No matter. Had he found her still a human, he would have turned her. He would have brought his light into his life... But perhaps if she had been older... Their union in publinc would seem odd. Her body, so young, small and frail as compaired to his own. He could have been seen as her father almost, though not quite that old. He was still in his prime, no wrinkles creased his eyes or face, but he still looked much older.

But it was too late now. No use wanting to do what could not be done.

"Come..." He said as he brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. He just simply wanted to touch her, learn her mine, heart and body intimatly. He wanted to know her very soul. "You must feed. My blood will only sustain you untill the next rising but you would awaken in a lust if you do not have human blood to fully sustain you." His voice was soft, but deciseve none the less. He would not have her argue on this point. "I will teach you from whom you should feed. Whom you should kill, and whom you shoulod spare." He would teach her to be a hunter like himself. Marie had taken thrill in the hunting. Would this young one be the same? Or would she be like Autumn? So pure and clean he dared not even taint her with his blood?

Only time and patience would tell. But no matter what her will, he would still love her.

Darcy listened carefully now standing at his side willing to learn all he offered." But I don't want to kill." The thought of killing mortals although she had done it when she could not control herself was not appealing." Is there a way to feed with out killing, I don't want to hurt any one." She whimpered a little not intending for that to come out. There was so much she wanted to know and learn but causing death was not one such thing. It was hard enough For Darcy to afree to drinking the blood of humans but to willingly kill them was another thing all togehter.
She walked at his side reaching out a hand wanting to hold his. She was even more childlike for a moment so innocent so scared she needed him some one to watch over her a father to protect her in the night.
"i want to learn.I think I'm ready now." The lamp light above her gave her the image of an angelic crown she smilled looking up at him."Where do we start, tell me eveything. Hold nothing back from me. i may fear it but i must hear it"

"There is of course Darcy... But there are those of humanity, and those of the undead who deserve nothing less than death. Those who prey off of others for sheer thrill and exploit their fellow man." He explained. "I am a hunter. It is my job slowly and surely to remove them from this existance. For over two melinia now... I have been purifying this world. I have been hunting both the living and undead to bring them justice."

The vampire who marred her, stole her innocense would pay for what he had done to his love.

"Feeding without killing requires self control beyond most fledglings. Do not dispare if you kill those whom I show you. I feed from the innocent only if I cannot find those who are in need of my justice and I have never killed an innocent. But in this world, there has been no such shortage." Which aslo ment that every time he had fed in the past two decades had never survived the night.

"We are predators Darcy, hunters. Killing is a nessecity almost. You will at one time kill your human. There is no stoping it." But could he teach her to kill and like it?

He couldn't help but smile at her request. "Everything my love? It has taken me two millenia to gain what I know. How could I possibly teach you all I know in one rising?" He asked, laughing lightly, his first true laugh since he had lost his Mari.e. Leaning over he brushed a kiss on the top of her head . "We have an eternity together my little one. That is pleanty enough time to learn."

Darcy smiled leaning her head upward when he kissed her on the forehead. She had stayed at his side with out a word when he spoke but she was still distressed by it all.
Her arms folded accross her narrow chest looking at the group for it strained her neck to look up at him when speaking. "I'm not a murderer I don't want to kill any one, I don't care how bad they are. Some one loves them and it isn't my job to decide who should live or die. I don't agree with the death penalty so why should I start killing now." She sighed her thoughts were turning to her dear Xander. How she loved him she thought the world of him, he understood her if no one else did. Darcy sighed heavly with regret, if only they had met each other sooner if only they had not met the way they had." I would never hurt Xander i couldn't, I love him too much." She ment to say it to herself but the words were out there clear and crisp.

"I'm not going to be a very good vampire am I." She gave a half smile her face apearing childlike again. Darcy turned her dark eyes up to look at him, small and innocent she was. Darcy would never be like the rest of the vampire, she couldn't be.

"I never said you would be responcible for the decision Darcy." He corrected gently, brushing his hand through her hair. "That is my place. And yes, I do believe I have right. I know justice and over my years I have never wrongly judged anyone." Or at least so in his mind. "A father who beats his children, abuses the one he vowed to cherish and protect, who shows his kids no love and kindness a father should. A woman who sells herself on the street to pay for addictoins she has no will to fight because she is weak."

He fell silent and shook his head. "But if you do not wish to kill I will not force you. But if you see the horror around you. The sins and crimes that are committed simply for thrill and pleasure, perhaps you shall see differently then."

He raised an eyebrow at her last comment. A 'good vampire'? "Darcy... What exactly do you believe us to be?" Did the horror stories and fiction of the humans still run rampant in her mind? Clouding the true beauty of this gift and making her fearful of all?

Darcy smilled when he told her she woudl not be forced to kill. That was a great relief to the girl for she wasn't one to take life reguardless of how wretched that life had been.

Hearing his next question she cocked her head to the side thinking long and hard before answering."Well I've only met three vampires prior to you sir. The first two were cruel and dark, like any monster from fiction. They were powerful and mysterious and had that way of ensnaring you before they attacked. The third was beautiful and mysterious, but she was kind to me. She knew things the moment she laid eyes on me things abotu me I wasn't even sure of, it was spooky. You and her are much alike. I always thought vampires would be that way. Beautiful and dangerous with powers the human mind can only dream about. I can't do anything to be honest i feel worse now then I did when I was mortal. It was suggested that feeding more woudl make things better, but I doubt it. I try but I don't feel like a vampire at all. I feel like Darcy just plain old Darcy."

She sighed and walked a little ways further away from the darkness of the alley. The gloom was bothering her she wasn't a creature ment to lurk in the shadows she needed light. Oh how she longed to stand in the sunshine again.

He felt unease at her relief of not having to kill... She would though. It was inevitable. no fledgling of only two months could hold their hunger back and control the lust that set in once feeding began... She would kill.

BUt he had to smile as she called him 'sir'. "Darcy my love. You need not be formal with me. My name is Lucian." He said smiling at her. "But for the power, that is something that comes with age, experiance and blood lineage." He explained. "The ones you met were much older than you no doubt. But they could have also been sired by the oldest among us. If I had created you like was ment to happen... You would fear nothing, you would be a fledgling to rival with."

But since that was not the case... "I am sorry my love... That I did not find you sooner." He appologized as he stroked her hair. "If only I had been quicker... I would have not let that monster taint you in such a dispicable way." He had proded into her memories, only slightly, and that seemed to be near the top... "Perhaps one day I will earn your forgiveness."

He shook his head as she said feeding would lessen the discomfort with what she had become. "No. Only acceptance of the gift you have been given. That is the only thing that will sooth you." Lucian's eyes opened wide as her thought of walking in the sun came to his mind again. "Darcy! You should not think of such things! That would be death to walk in the sunlight, you know that. You must." He said sharply. Why else would most fall into a stupor durring daylight hours?

If she were to do such a thing, he would surely become the evil he had hunted. To be awakend to find the one ment for him, only to lose her so suddenly, or ever. He would become a killer, pure and evil.

Darcy leaned her head in towards him as he stroked her hair, it was a comfort to her. She smilled up at him her tiny fangs freely showing."I'm not angery with you Lucian, you haven't done anything wrong. And it isn't your fault that bastard got to me first. There is nothing to be sorry for."
She paused for a while before speaking again." Your reading my mind arn't you Lucian? I can't do that, others have tried to say things in my head but it only gives me a wicked headach." She streched trying to relax her aching muscles she was hungery her whole body felt it. " i think I'm handling what I am pretty well concidering. I don't want to kill myself Lucian I would never go out into the sun... although I do miss it. I like living or what ever you call this."

She thought again of Xander his suffering his dying. Darcy didn't want him to die but she wasn't sure it woudl be fair to make him a vampire. She couldn't herself, she was far to weak and what woudl that make him if she were to do it. She recalled Xanders words in the hospital he had showen and intrest in vampires had he wanted to change, she couldn't be sure. Darcy dared not mention it to Lucian in case it upset him, but she longed for a friend and a lover closer to her own age. She loved Lucian the moment she set eyes on him, Darcy couldn't describe the feelings she felt for him it didn't make sence. What she was feeling was the unbreaking bond of Maker and fledgling, she just didn't know it. Being denied the love of her own maker her vampire spirt was quickly transfering all those feelings onto Lucian.

DIspite the swirling emotions in her head there was a more pressing matter, her hunger."i'm hungery." She said in the softest of voices.

"I thank you for your ignorance little one." He said with a kind smile down at her. Of course she didn't blame him. She didn't know better, but perhaps she woudl one day... Had he searched for her he would have been able to find her. But his mind had been too occupied on the hunt to do so... He should have known. "Perhaps with practice, and help from my blood it can be a talent you can have one day." He said. It had happened before or so he had heard. Of course with his blood his two sires had had no problem with mental communication. It ran strong in Lucian's blood.

"Ah, but you have not embraced the gift, Darcy, my love. You still fear the shadows... Still deny that you are now a hunter of the night." There was even a slight teasing in his voice as his arm wrapped around her waist affectionatly. "That you are mine for all eternity now."

However he felt her thoughts turn to another. Another man even. And of course he was upset by her thoughts. She need not speak them aoud for him to know. He was an ancient after all. But she would come to love him... Otherwise his whole rising would have been for nothing. To awaken and find his one true thinking of another... No Lucian would not turn him. To throw the mortal into the world of vampires as such. No... Only if Darcy asked it of him... His eyes were narrowed in though as he heard her words now.

"Ah. Of course. I know just the place too." He said as he began walking with direction now, knowing just the place to take her.

Darcy leaned into his body a little as he wraped an arm about her. Practice thats what she had always been told and although she didn't really believe she woudl ever cary the skill he had she nodded as if agreeing with him.
"I am afraid of the dark." She admitted smilling sheepishly."Silly I know but I always have been a little frightened of it." It was clear she didn't want to disscuss her role as a hunter, or her being bound to Lucian. THey would have to talk about it some time she did understand this but it dind't have to be now right this minute. There were so many things whe wanted to ask her mind filled with questions Where to vampires come from? do we really live forever? Why does the sun kill us? SHe smilled up at him again pulling him towards the lamp light as they walked she liked the lamps like giant night lights they were.

"Where are we going? Is it very far?" She asked looking around her mood changing she was more willing now to follow his instructions. Darcy couldn't wait to get back to Xander and tell him all that had happened to her. Tell him of Lucian and how wonderful he was. Suddnly something that had been mentioned at the hospital came back to her. She looked up at Lucian as they walked."Lucian what are the Covens?" Darcy looked up at him her messy light hair covering over one of her eyes. She brushed it out of the way sputtering as some of the strands had gottne in her mouth." I heard another vampire talk about them, what are they exactly?" She wondered if Lucian belonged to in, if that was the case was there a whole family of vampires waiting to see her. This thought made her smile a little.

He smiled at her childlike sence of fear. She would become great one day... She would be powerful and fear nothing... He could not fortell the future no, He did not posess that rare gift... But he knew. Marie had been powerful, had conquered her fears... And the two were very much alike at second glance. Even in manner and appearance, how she leaned into him... HOw she loved the light though she could not live in it...

"You will not fear it for long." It was a statement that he made. There was no hesitation or any of the likes in his voice. It was simply a fact.

"But it is not far. Five minutes walk at the most. And in the meantime, feel free to ask whatever your heart desires my love, I would rather not try to sort out all the questions in your jumbled mind." He brushed a kiss on the top of her head.

He smiled though as she asked of the covens. "The covens are orginazations that spread across the vampiric world every vampire usualy will respond to one coven or another, though there are many who chose not to label themselves with the covens. In every large population they chose a leader, and there is a councle that desides the fates of the coven. I am a member of the Amman Coven. We are powerful elders, the wisest and strongest of the vampire species. We are not as closely bound to each other as some other covens are, but we do take care of each other. This is the coven you will also belong to simply by being under my care. There are others but the differances would take more time to explain then we currently have." He said with a smile at her.

Darcy smiles up at lucian as he kissed her. They would walk for a little while before her questions began."There are so many things I want to ask." She paused to think what was the most pressing for there were many things she couldn't get her thoughts in order.

" Do you think your coven will like me? I mean look at me i'm young and not exactly powerful. I would like to meet others and speak with them and learn from them. I am a history major you know, I love everything old. There is so much i want to learn about the past I hope you will tell me everything. What about my family? will I get to see them again? They don't know what happend but I don't want to leave them forever. I don't want to leave any of my friends , not really. " She blushed a little." I get chatty when I'm excited or nervice.. or anything really some times I talk so fast I can't pronounce words properly." She smilled feeling a little foolish but that didn't seem to bother her.
" We don't have to sleep in coffins do we? " SHe asked rather bluntly." I dodn't think I could handle living in a box."

"Whether they like you or not, they will accept you as under their protection. You will not be a true member however... But that is a small price to pay." He smiled. "And if you wish to continue to go to school, I am sure something can be aranged for you. I will make sure." If it made her feel better of course. Though she could learn just as much from him, even more from one who had lived through history.

"As for questions, not all are kind and welcoming with such. But I am sure I know of a few who would be more than willing to assist you if there is something you wish to learn about my darling." He knew the one called Rown would be more than willing to help.

He couldn't help but laugh, a rich melodic sound as he pulled her close, kissing her cheek. "No my sweet. We do not sleep in coffens. That is a common myth that only some wish to live up to. I believe you will be quite satisfied with my home, with my flat. It is quite nice, and if you like history, some of the artifacts that I have might be of interest to you." He could not help it though as his mile faded. He knew he would have to tell her one day... Best sooner than later.

"As for your family and friends... That will be difficult unfortunatly..." He knew the pain of watchign loved ones grow old, dying while you stayed forever young. "For now... And even the next decade or so to come... You only need to explain your daylight absences to them... But after that... Once your beauty does not fade, and your apperance is not as it should be... You will have to die to them... Illness, accident... You must fake a death..." He tried to keep the saness out of his voice, but he could not hide all of it. "Only to those who know you will you need not make excuses... But unfortunalty you cannot tell everyone... One or two is understandable... Even benificial at points... But your whole family cannot know of th eexistance of vampires. It is simply to dangerous. The Amman are dedicated to keeping the secret as secret as possible. I would erase there memories of not only you telling them... But of you compleatly." It was not a threat it was his duty that he was obliged to fuffill.

"I wish for you my love it was not so... But it is how we have been since the beginning. People fear what they do not understand and would wish to destroy us..." He said simply. "Untill they truly understand what we are, we cannot reviel ourselves to them."

Darcy's smill became brighter she had not mentioned her wanting to return to school. Her money saved for her education had been spent on her living in Demaitre. There wasn't enough left over to keep her in school, she couldn't work in her state, scholarships were an option but she doubted she could win enough to get her though. Darcy did not want to let Lucian about her financial problems. Now that he said she could return to school she would try harder for the scholarships to get by." I would absolutly love to return to school. I'll take a few nigth courses to start with, I want to get my degree even if I can't get a job out of it." Then a hopeful thought came to her."Perhaps I could teach there at night. What do you think Lucian?"

As he spoke of her family she pleasent smile bagan to fade." I know I can't really tell them. They woudl think i'm mad or something. I would like to let my mother know I'm allright if I may. Of all my family she and dad are the only ones I woudl even concider telling but not now, not for a long while. Perhaps not ever. I've called them a few times to let them know I'm okay that keeps them happy for now." She thought back to what Lucian had send of the vampire coven."I do want them to like me. I think I'm very likable, don't you?"
She took two steps away from him whirling aroudn to face him and striking a rather royal pose playfully for him. "I can be as charming as the lot of you."

He again chuckled as the thoughts of finances swarmed thorugh her head. "You need not worry about money. Not only have I had the oportunity to collect more than I could spend in a human life time, but I have also become wise on things like the stockmarket. Money is no worry. So you can of course teach, but only if that is what you desire. So long as you are with me you will want for nothing." He assured her.

And it was a reliefe to his heart that she did not dwell now on the future losses she would face. "You can speak to them of course!" He reassured her. "I would never prevent you from speaking with them, or even seeing them." He would not be able to bear her sadness if she would have to sever herself from them.

This child was a marvle... He had laughed the past ten minutes more than he had in the past ten decades, his face lit up with enjoyment as he watched her. Her hair shimmering in the street lights as she twirled. He could not help himself.

Gathering her up in his arms, lifting her off the ground, he brought her lips to his in a loving, gentle kiss. "Yes my dear. You are most like-able indeed..." He lowered her slowly, kissing her forhead as he placed her on the ground. "And they will like you, or they will have to explain why to me."

Darcy giggled loudly skueeking as Lucian picked her up. The kiss was so soft and tened it made her sigh in spite of herself. as her feet touched the ground she hughed him tighly smilling feeling the kiss on her forehead. She had always liked being kissed there it was a great comfort to her.

At last happyness no information would be held back, and there would be the love she drempt about. The love that binds vampires had made her fal in love with litrature about them. Perhaps she had always known that was what she woudl one day become, or perhaps not.

Darcy felt a little wabbly. The same way she felt when up in the apartment with Xander. But this time it wasn't so painful, due to the blood she had already taken. "Lucian I need..." SHe didn't really want to say blood but she knew that was what she wanted what she craved. It made her take victims in the night leaving them slumped and preteneding they were not dead to please she young mind. "Lucian I'm hungry does it always hurt so much when your hungry." THe pain was starting to come back slowly.

"We are nearly there my love..." He assured her. He was taking her to one of the more rundown parts of the city. A kill here would not only go unnoticed, but it would be of benifit to the city.

"But yes, younger vampires need to feed more often, And when you are not used to the hunger it can be painful." At least that's what Marie had experianced. Lucian himself was too old to remember when he was a fledgling. It had been so long ago, the Roman empire was not even in existance. Someone who was over two-thousand years old was bound to forget somethings were they not?

"But as time passes, it will lessen as will your need to feed." Lucian himself maybe needed one human every three days, but he fed every night, sometimes even twice. It would be twice tonight though. He was starting to feel the effects of the blood taken by Darcy. He found himself wondering acutaly, what hers tasted like... Perhaps... No, there would be a time for that later.

They arrived to his chosen destination and Lucian looked around with almost sheer disgust. "Welcome to the slime hole of Demitare. Kill as you wish the scum of here... Drug dealers, users, prostitutes, those who make their livings in illegal and immoral ways." He said, his distaste obvious in his voice.

He began to call his prey to him now. No need to physicaly hunt when there was no need. From an ally, a woman emerged. A prostitute who's eyes were half glazed over was walking towards them, Her heels making soft clicks on the concrete side walk. "Feed my love. Do not fear killing." The woman stopped about five feet infront of Darcy, a willing sacrafice.

Darcy looked at the woman comming towards her rather afraid. She had wanted to feed, looked forward to Lucian teaching her. But now that the prey was just infront of her she feared it. Darcy wanted to run scare the woman off anything. She pittied the woman, it was clear she was a prostitute but was that her fault? Perhaps she had been forced into it? Perhaps she was so addicted she needed the money? She was surly a slave to her Pimp and nothing more? "I can't." She whispered to Lucian." I can't kill her. I don't want to kill her. Don't make me I beg of you." Darcy was shivering again but her legs were making her walk towards the woman. On closer inspection this prostitute was not much older then her self, causing Darcy to sigh in anguis. Her fangs were sinking into the victims neck before she could even stop herself. Her hunger had forced her into it fear of starvation and death her body took over what her mind feared to do.
The womans blood tasted dark and buzzed in her mouth. The woman had been on some sort of drug and the taste of it enetered Darcy. More and more she fed the blood flowing into her mouth dribbling down the sides. She embraced the girl holding her to her. Her ting fangs gnawed at the neck breaking more blood vessels. Darcy was quite the sloppy eater not knowing how to make the painless cut, or how to do so while making passers by think nothing of it.
don't let me finish her off, she shouldn't die I don't want to kill her. Don't let me kill her, I'm soo hungry but I can't kill her. No no don't let her die.

Darcy tried to pull herself from the victim but she couldn't.

"She sells herself simply for the substances that keep her from living in a world where she has potential. She has chosen to waste her life and become a slave to her addiction." He had already scanned this woman. She was not worthy of life. But would that mean Darcy should take it from her.

He gave a soft growl in his mind as he heard her pleas.

He did not want her to suffer... To become a true killer against her will... Damn it... But he would need to teach her to feep properly... Such a mess she was leaving... But she was still young.

As he had done when she had taken his blood he put a finger under her chin, tilting her head up. "There are many more if you hunger Darcy." He removed her arms gently from the woman, her limp body falling to the ground. Lucian would finish her off. He grabbed the woman by the neck, lifting her with ease.

His tongue lapped at the blood on her neck that had spilt before he sank his own fangs in. Had she not been under his sway, Darcy would have cause her great pain, screams only drawing attention to them. Lucian's skilled bite however would have caused no sensation, should he wish. He fed from her gredily, drainging her of her last heartbeat as not to trouble Darcy with a kill on her conssious.

The woman's blood tasted foul as could be, the drugs that held her life in her systed as she died. If her body were to be foind and examined now, they would only find the drugs in her system. An overdose.

He turned to darcy, his looks impecable as always, not a drop of blood. "Darcy... I would not wish you to kill, or even make a kill myself if I thorugh it wrong. If there is a saving grace they have, I will alowe them life. I am not some harsh killer of humanity by any means my love. You will see this soon. There are those I have helped in the past, ones worthy of a better life. I only kill those who have no redemption." He said as she brushed her tawny hair with his fingers. He was always just with his desicions.

"Now my little one, you seemed to have made a bit of a mess of yourself." He said with a kind smile, his eyes twinking. "Someone needs to learn how to feed properly."

Darcy stood back as he took the victim. She watched in horror and strange intrest. It frigthened her but she could not bring her self to turn her head. She wanted to watch him amazed at how easy it looked. Her own bite was a mess flesh having been torn from the womans throat. Lucian left few marks when he bit. Darcy wondered if she could ever do it like him. She felt more monstrous watching him.
SHe spoke to her firmly but gently she went to his arms as he brushed her way ward hair from her face. THe blood was dribbling down her chin and she had made no notice to it untill he brought attention to her mess. Darcy blushed wiping the blood off with her sleeve sheepishly.
"I'm sorry." SHe said smearing the blood on her face more as she tried to clean it off.
"I told you I wasn't very good at this vampire busness." And feeding was not something she exelled at. Darcy only did it when the hunger threateded to end her. When she was so starved she became like a wild beast unable to hold back. That was when she bit and tore at teh flesh waiting for the blood to flow into her mouth.

"You do it so well." She added smilling her teeth stained red with the blood.

"You are still young my love. You still have much to learn." He said with a smile. "Do not appologize for something that cannot be your fault." Looking down at her he had the urge to simply lick the blood from her face, to kiss the mess away, but no... He would not.

"And I will not have you starving yourself. Doing that will only cause you more suffering in the long run, you will become what you fear, a monster, a killer." He explained. "When a lust sets in, it cannot be stoped untill the hunger is stated." And he could not allow that to happen to her.

As she gave her appologetic smile he could no longer resist. He leaned in to pull her lips to his, kissing the blood from them lightly. But she was still a mess, only some tidying up on her part would do.

"Are you still hungry my dearest Darcy?" He asked. "If not, We can head to my flat where you can clean up." Lucian stroked a thumb down her cheek. "Such a mess you are." He teased gently. She did have so much to learn, and he would teach her. He would turn her in to a true vampire, that sorry excuse for a sire had only changed her blood, but not her mind or her heart. That would be Lucian's doing.