Catherine wandered on this beautiful night. She had needed some time to herself so created the excuse of spending time with her friends, which wasn't quite true. Catherine enjoyed spending time with Julian, truly she did, but sometimes a woman needs to spend time alone.

Tonight was a beautiful night, needless to say. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and it was abnormally warm. By this time of year, there should have been snow on the ground, yet the ground was totally uncovered. Some people blamed it on global warming and Catherine agreed with them.

Since it was a special night for Catherinel, she wore black jeans with a forest green shirt, which was hidden underneath the brown leather jacket with a black pashmina at her neck. Simply because she never got cold, didn't mean she had to disregard the way she dressed. Besides, she liked fashion, she looked good in it. Her feet were adorned in a pair of small black sneakers that fit her, quite well. Her auburn hair fell in soft curls around her face and her green eyes were amused.

She wondered what the night would bring. What would happen tonight?

Nafalen glanced behind him, his "friends" were no where to be seen. A good sign. He had finally lost them. Looking around to figure out where he was, Nafalen's gaze was drawn to a lone woman walking away from him. From what he could see of her, she was beautiful. He wasn't able to take his eyes off of her red hair.

Glad that he had left his cape and sword home, he was able to seem like a normal vampire, whatever that meant. Quickening his pace, Nafalen quickly caught up to the strangly attractive woman. Linking his arm around hers, Nafalen put on every bit of charm he could muster.

Smiling he added, "Greetings. May I walk with you M'lady?"

Catherine looked up startled at the man that had linked arms with her. She tilted her head in his direction. He was old, that much was obivous to her and he was tall too. What was it with older vampires, she attracted men like mosquitoes were attracted to blood. It didn't seem bad, unless the man wanted to rape you, though she dealed with the mortals easily enough. any vampire that was too old, she ran for her life. It was useful to move faster than the immortal eye.

A soft smile drew on her face. "I suppose you can, though I am not usually one to walk with strangers." Her eyes danced, alight with delight. The night was already interesting.

Nafalen look down at her and smiled. He knew just what she was thinking. He always could tell what that look meant.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you," he assured her. "My name is Nafalen Sintelnor."

He walked slower then usual, not wanting his long strides to make her feel awkward. Looking at her again, Nafalen judged that she was young, less then a century old, yet she only looked like she was in her mid-twenties. She was even more beautiful then he had seemed.

Noticing the cross that she wore, he smiled. "Nice choice of symbols," he remarked, chuckling.

Catherine bowed her head, slightly sheepish looking. "I know you won't, you seemed like a decent one. I can't talk for all the other ones out there." She smiled looking up at him. "It's a pleasure to meet you Nafalen, I'm Catherine, Catherine Guyon." As she said her name, the FRench language rolled off her tongue.

She was a lot older than he thought. She was almost 4 centuries, it was nothing close to his two millenia, but she had met vampires older than him. He was an ancient, but she had met old ancients. They could be frightening.

Her hand went to her cross at the base of her neck. "I'm a catholic and have always been. Crosses don't bother me, as they do some vampires. Besides my coven lives in the catacombs of a church. I'd have to be fine with holy ground."

Noticing her name Nafalen replied in her native tongue, "Ils ne m'ennuient pas ou." They do not bother me either.

"There are many strange beings around. I have run into my share during my time here. Do not fear tonight though, they will not harm you while I protect you, Cathrine. Cathrine, that's a wonderful name," Nafalen said, reverting to English.

Nafalen wrapped his arm around her and stopped as a cold wind blew in his face. A sure sign that snow was on its way. When the wind stopped, Nafalen released her and continued walking down the road.

Catherine giggled. "I can take care of myself, I've done it for long enough now. I don't need anybody to protect me." She had taken care of herself for a century and a half. She needed nobody and could take care of herself. It was the independent woman in her that assured her she could do that.

She felt his arm wrap around her as a cold gush of air, blew towards them. Snow was on it's way, perhaps they would have snow for Christmas, it would be fun if they did. "You have crossed strange being in your time here?" This time she laughed, amused. "We are part of those strange beings are we not? We are vampires, the stalkers of the night."

He released her, continued walking and Catherine stayed with him, simply because he seemed like good company.

He laughed. "Only if you consider yourself strange. I for one like to think of myself as a normal vampire. A normal vampire that has a nack for dealing with the abnormal and crazy vampires. But that's just my opinion."

Passing by a vegetarian restraunt Nafalen stopped, "Would you like something to eat? It's on the house."

He grinned and slid his hands into hers, watching her reactions.

Catherine looked at him. "No one is comepletely normal. Normal people are scary. They are so normal that they actually defy all common sense of this world. I'd rather be strange it keeps life interesting."

When he mentionned food, she simply looked at him, again. "Well if you want me to throw up, sure give me food. I think that you forgot that we are vampires, we can't eat unless it's blood and we won't be getting any blood there." She jerked her thumb towards the vegetarian restaurant.

When he slipped his hand into hers, she looked at their hands and up at him. She pulled her hand out of his. "I'm already taken darling."

Nafalen laughed, "Didn't I say it was on the house? I could never stomach vegetarian food, even when I was mortal. And I'm sure there is some food in there for us, after all, it's not a buffet. Someone needs to serve the food. Some mortal that is."

When she pulled her hands from his only reaction was a slight smile that gave away his embarrassment.

"I...I did not mean to... I didn't know... " he stammered, forgetting himself. Quickly composing himself he smiled softly, "I apologize. I did not mean to presume that someone such as yourself would be avaliable. I beg your forgiveness M'lady."

Catherine titlted her head and gave a smile. "I already ate, but thank you for the offer." She had ate the night before and felt no need to eat, not yet, perhaps tomorrow. She only needed food a minimum of twice a week. She could last a long time without sustenance, as long as she didn't exhaust herself.

Catherine was amused as he stammered. "You didn't know, I don't blame you for it. Mistakes happen." She laughed. "You are forgiven, don't be so hard on yourself. You are a sweet heart."

Shrugging Nafalen remembered what it was like to be able to blush. He would be beat red now if he were still a mortal.

"Very well," he said with relief, "and thank you."

Nafalen resumed his slow walk and smiled, when he was younger he could have gotten any girl he wanted, mortal or not. His pride had clouded his judgement.

Composing his thoughts, Nafalen turned to Catherine again.

"I forgot, did you have any plans that I inturrupted? I did not think about that in my hurry to get away...uh...to meet you." Nafalen said, quickly catching himself.

'Well i'm on a role tonight. Just can't win I guess.' he thought, shaking his head slightly.

Catherine raised her eyebrow as he stumbled on his words again. She was amused, was he always like this around beautiful woman or was it simply on this night? Catherine was beautiful she had caught the eyes of many men, vampire and mortal alike, but had decided to go for a mortal simply because he had needed someone and a sort of relationship had blossomed between them.

"Plans? No none at all, I was simply enjoying the night and a stroll. Needed some time to myself and I don't mind being interrupted. I could use some company." Getting away? Getting away from what? She couldn't be deterred, once she had an idea or a thought it stuck to her. "What or who were you getting away from?"

Nafalen looked around, looking for and excuse. Nothing came to him. He decided to try and play it off, in hopes that she wouldn't catch him.

"Noth..Nothing. Nothing. Why do you say something like that? I don't know what you are talking about." he badly lied.

'What is it with her? Why can't I get anything right tonight? Is it her or me? What's wrong Nafalen? Get it together!' he thought to himself.

"So you had no plans. That's good," Nafalen quickly changed the subject. "So what do you like to do Catherine? I'm up for some fun."

Athough he knew it wasn't likely, Nafalen hoped that she would drop the topic and move on. But then again, he wasn't having very good luck tonight, whatever the cause.

Catherine stopped dead in her tracks and gave him a look. "Now you're lying to me and I don't like people who lie, they irritate me. Tell me what the hell is going on, or I'm leaving." Her hands were propped on her hips, while she waited for an answer. He perhaps was an ancient, but she took crap from no one including said ancient.

Her foot was tapping the ground and now her arms were crossed in front of her chest. She was in no mood to answer any other questions until she got an answer from him. He better come up with something quick or she would vanish.

Seeing that he was trapped into a corner, Nafalen gave in. Even with all his years of training, something about this woman just wouldn't let him come up with a good excuse. So he told her the truth.

"I was running from an old friend when I saw you. He and two others were chasing me. I borrowed something of no importance to them and it broke. Now they want my head even though I offered to replace it. they said it was irreplaceable, obiously they don't know me or my contacts. Which is a good thing, but a different story altogether. Anyways, it's nothing to be afraid of and I'm afraid that I might drag you into it if I tell you any more details. and i have now wish for harm to come to you." explained Nafalen. "I'm sorry."

Sighing, Nafalen turned away from her and began to walk away. There was no way she would talk to him now that she knew he had stolen something and was being chased.

Catherine frowned as he told his story and wanted to whack him, hell she had done a lot worse in her time and stealing was the least of them. She had slaughtered, simply because she could and with it came the end of her revenge. She had stolen and frankly for survival she would have done it.

She jogged to catch up with Nafalen. "You think that I have never stolen, that I have never been chased?" A small smile was upon her lips. "Truly Nafalen, some things simply happen. I've done worse then that and I'm not afraid of being chased and I'd rather have you as a friend, then simply a contact. So what do you say?" She wasn't going anywhere.

Startled by her sudden reaction, but not totally suprised, Nafalen turned back to Cathrine. Looking into her eyes, Nafalen thought of all the things that he had done throughout his time of existance. The mor he thought about it, the more he decided that being a vampire changed people's perceptions of him. Spending all of his time alone probally wasn't the best thing for his social awareness skills.

"A friend would be...nice," Nafalen said, his face softening into a slight smile. He couldn't remember the last time that he had someone he could call a friend, at least not one that would kill him for fun. "But I want to warm you, the people chasing me are trained vampires, and they do not want to capture me...if you understand what I mean." Pausing, Nafalen tried to lighten the situation, "But I don't think that we should worry about that to much. We are probally safe for tonight. Besides, I don't want to drag you into this, even if you probally could take them all out yourself." Nafalen said with a grin. He had learned by now that Cathrine wasn't as petite and helpless as she seemed at first glance.

Catherine clearly wasn't helpless. She had fought other vampires as well as mortals that had hunted her and her sire, leaving him dead and her alive. Life had been hard though she had continued living, finding the Nephim and then learning to live and love again. It had been hard, but she had survived.

"Friends are always the best. I have so many though I don't keep in touch with all of them, unfortunately. Sometimes you simply have too many to spend time with them all, but the more friends the better." That was Catherine's philosophy as well as her curious streak. She shrugged. "I can take care of myself and worse comes to work I'll run. I'm not going to fight vampires that are older and stronger than me."

'Well she's smarter then I would've thought as well. She's just full of suprises.' Nafalen thought with a grin.

"Wise words from one so young. Comparitivly speaking of course," Nafalen replied. "Ones that I wish I had learned long ago." Nafalen remembered painfully his sire's execution.

"So what is there for friends to do in this town on such a lovely night? It's been so long since I've been out with someone I don't know what to suggest."

Catherine understood, she had often been face to face with older and crueler vampires and had run using her shadow walking to escape. She would rather be a coward and live then risk her life for no reason, she liked to live and she wanted to keep it that way.

Catherine paused thoughful. "Well there are always the clubs to dance at and parks to walk in or simply hanging around town. I do most of them and I'm still endlessly amused by mortals, well most of them anyways." Julian was the only one tht she cared for. Unlike other mortals he had something that made her want to be with him and missed him, he had been busy and she wanted to see him again.

Nafalen laughed. "Arn't we all. Mortals can be pretty fun. They're wound very tight and take life way to seriously. How about a club? That should be fun. It's been a while since I have been to one."

Nafalen made a mental note to spen more time around the city, discovering all the things that there were to do. After all if he wanted to get a girl he had to know how to impress her, and women these days were not as impress with skills such as fighting and strength.

"All right. Let's go to a club," Nafalen said smiling. "Have any in mind?"

Catherine smiled at him, he wasn't so bad, you simply had to know what he was good at. She did a little dance and moved off towards where the clubs were found. "There are a few in this area and two of them I used to spend a lot of time in. I know the bouncers quite well, perhaps we won't have to wait in line."

She continued dancing and twirling to music she could only hear. It was graceful and sensual, yet would you expect anything less than that from a Nephim? Nephim were known for there sexual tendencies and that was the way most of them lured their prey. Catherine was a classic example of exactly that. "Come, let's go dance."

Nafalen like the idea of not having to wait in line. Agreeing he followed her towards one of the clubs. He watched her as she danced in front of him. She was gorgous, elegant, more graceful then anything he had ever seen.

Nafalen's desires began to rage. He remembered the last time he had been with a woman, it had been over a decade. Not understanding how he could have abstained so long Nafalen began to reach towards her. He wanted to grab her by the arm and be with her right then.

"Cath..." he started. Then he remembered what she had said about the mortal Julian. It upset him that a mortal could steal such beauty, but an immortal like himself could not. Stealing himself, Nafalen quickly put his arm down and shook his head to clear his thoughs.

'What is it with her? I can't even control my own thoughts!' Nafalen began to wonder, but continued to follow her anyway.

Catherine had barely registered when he spoke her name and knew what he was feeling, it wasn't hard being a telepath and all, even though her powers were still new to her. She could feel his desire raging, though would do nothing about them. She was loyal to the man she loved and Julian had her mind, soul as well as her body. She wasn't going to have a one night stand, she didn't do them, especially when she was with someone else.

She was beautiful and knew it. Her auburn hair ondulating as her body did the same, the love of dancing was a part of her. She stopped dancing abruptly not far from the club. She pointed ahead and off to the side there was a long line-up. "That's where it is and it is one of the most popular clubs in this area."

Nafalen blinked his eyes a few times to clear his head of any thoughts of her. He came up beside her when she stopped. Looking ahead he could see a line that nearly extended around the corner. He hoped that they wouldn't have to wait on line. That was one of the few things that really bothered him.

"Well lets see what you can do pretty little lady," Nafalen said smiling at her.

It wasn't until after he was out of her line of sight that Nafalen realized how stupid and overused that line really was. Nafalen was teetering on the edge of losing himself to complete stupidity. He needed a good fight to get his senses back in order. Fighting always helped to calm Nafalen and focus himself.

'I just can't start the fight," Nafalen thought remembering his company; even if she could hold her own. His pride wouldn't let him start a fight in front of a woman he was with, any woman. Even so, he secretly wished that someone else would initiate something. He needed to clear his head.

Catherine sashayed to the entrance of the club and smiled at the bouncer. "Hey Jack, what's up?"

He turned at the sound of her voice. "Catherine it's a pleasure to see you, how have you been?"

Catherine shrugged. "Good, I suppose haven't been out much, I needed a night on the town and then I met someone so we decided to some clubbing." She glanced at the line-up and back at the bouncer. "You have a hell of a night too."

Jack smiled. "Yes I do, but I can let you in. You are a VIP memeber here."

Catherine grinned. "You are such a swetheart, my dear Jack." When he motionned her in, she grabbed Nafalen by the arm and pulled him in. "Now let's have fun." She walked to the bar and ordered a tequila shot. She wouldn't get drunk but she would at least enjoy herself.

Nafalen was shocked at how well she knew Jack. They were let in so easily. Now letting it bother him, Nafalen followed Cathrine to the bar and ordered an extra dry Grey Goose vodka martini. He had the bartender leave the shaker and paid both their bills.

Nafalen finished his drink in a few quick sips and refilled the glass, empting the shaker. Drinking this one slower, Nafalen remembered to keep his wits. Striking up a conversation, Nafalen asked Cathrine how long she had been coming to this club. As he asked, the music began to sink into Nafalen's mind.

Slowly moving his head to the rythm of the music, Nafalen looked around while waiting for a reply. He was begining to like this place, and the martini's wern't half-bad either.

Catherine saw him relax and the music soothed her own soul. That was probably why she loved to dance, the music helped her relax and dancing was a form of exercise. It was so much fun and besides the drinks here were quite good and it was one of the best clubs in the area. She moved her head to the sound of the music and downed her drink.

"I've been coming here since I first found it. I really loved dancing and was a little lonely so I went looking for fun. I found it here and Jack is a total sweetheart." She shrugged, then continued. "I came here so often and drank so much, without ever getting drunk that they gave me VIP. I was simply that special I guess." She gave him a warm smile, then turned to the bartender and ordered a cosmo.

The music changed to a slower beat, and Nafalen continued to move along with it. He slowly finished his drink and picked up the tab for Cathrine's new drink.

"Jack does seem nice," he stated. "I wasn't able to tell for some reason, but is he one of...us?"

Nafalen leaned up against the bar backwards. Putting his elbows up on the counter, he assumed a comfortable position. Just for kicks he decided to ask her just how much she could drink.

Catherine was surprised that he kept picking up her tab, but said nothing about it. He was being a sweetheart and she wasn't going to ruin it, because she liked to be treated well. "Jack is not a vampire. He's a plain mortal, but a nice one at that. He's a nice one though."

"I can drink a lot, my healing abilities are very strong and very good at keeping me sober." It was true her healing abilities were very strong and she had to drink very much, very fast to have it to have any effect. "Why do you ask?"

Nafalen listened intently, nodding when she commented about Jack. Her healing powers shocked him, though he wasn't one to push his luck. Removing his suprised expression, Nafalen casually answered her question.

"No real reason," he replied. "I just never met a girl who could drink as much as you claim to, that's all. It's a nice change, a woman who can hold her liquor, powers or no."

The music changed again, to a slow song. It reminded Nafalen of ballroom music, almost Bach-like. He though it was an odd choice for a club to play, but liked it nontheless. Nafalen had liked the classical age very much. He had hunted well during that time.

Standing to his full height, Nafalen stood in front of Cathrine.

"I know you can dance to music in your head, I saw that on the street. And I assume you can dance to modern music, seeing as you frequent clubs. But I wonder how you would hold up on the floor with someone who thrived during the pinnacle of dancing culture." he casually remarked in a smile.

Sweeping his arm out and bending at the waist, Nafalen made an over-exagerated bow. Righting himself, he extended his hand towards her. "M'lady? I would be honored if you would dance with me," Nafalen said in his best English accent, that was one thing that he would never lose. He had spent to much time in Europe.

Catherine loved to dance, it was one thing that she probably excelled in. She had learned everything from ballroom to salsa and had picked up on pop music almost immediately. The fact that she was a vampire helped and made her that much more agile and sensual. She had lived during the Renaissance and her sire had been intent on teaching her every dance possible that he knew. She had learned and remembered them well.

She saw him hold out his hand and ask for a dance. She placed her hand in his and lifted herself out of the chair after downing the rest of her drink. "Show me what you got..."

Glad that she had accepted his offer, Nafalen gently pulled her towards him. Placing his right hand around her waist and left in her hand, he began to spin. Everyone seemed to move out of their way, creating a path to the center of the dance floor. Nafalen was glad that he had perfected his ability to control so many people at once. Leading her in circles towards the center of the floor.

Closong his eyes, he drew their bodies together. Time seemed to slow down, every note was as clear as the last to Nafalen. The music flowed through his body, his soul, his very being.

Gentle guiding her with his body, Nafalen danced with Cathrine around the dance floor. He spun her, dipped her, and twirled with her. His only thought was the music. He felt like he was free of all constraints, his feet lighter then air.

Catherine smiled as he twirled her onto the dance floor. She loved music and dancing, it was simply a way of life to her. She had spent so much time alone and music had been her only friend. She had danced in her room and nights where she was feeling lazy and it had felt good. Eventually she had gotten a radio and had spent time dancing to the different music that evolved around her, until it reached what it was today. At first she had no idea how to move to this music, but soon she remembered.

She was pressed tightly to his body, but that was not what was the most important to her. The most important was the dance in itself, it felt good to finally dance with someone that knew what they were doing. She laughed happily as they danced. She had decided, her and Julian were going to take ballroom lessons.

Nafalen opened his eyes; the music still flowing through his soul. He stared deeply into Cathrine’s eyes, seeing that she was enjoying herself. He smiled slightly and began spinning around the dance floor faster and faster.

Slowly they began to rise off the floor. Once they were a few centimeters above the wood dance floor they stopped rising. They were dancing through the air now, literally. Fortunate Nafalen had leveled them off before they got high enough for anyone to notice; except for them.

Nafalen’s head had finally cleared and he could think straight once more. The music flowed through him slower now. The song was beginning to end. As they sunk back to the floor, Nafalen spun Cathrine around on her fingertips one last time before the music faded.

Stepping pack from her he gently grasped her hand and kissed it before releasing her. Bowing, as was custom after ballroom dances, Nafalen could hear clapping. Glancing around him noticed that all the other people in the club had cleared off the dance floor and was watching them. They now all joined together in roaring applause. Nafalen hadn’t danced in from of an audience in over a decade. He liked the feeling of pride that it caused to swell through him. Turning, he made a slight bow to the audience before stepping aside and gesturing towards Cathrine. Their applause turned towards her.

Catherine was enjoying herself, though she was caught a little off guard by levitating off the floor, it had happened before in a different situation with a vampire as old as he. It was an interesting feeling and it was truly like dancing on air.

Catherine felt disappointement fill her as the song started to end, but as all good things that must end, she accepted it. Their feet were on the floor and that was when she heard the applause. If she could have blushed she probably would of. She was taken a back by the kiss he placed on her hand. He bowed to the audience and then gestured to her.

She wished she was wearing a skirt. At least she would have been able to curtsy, but instead she bowed to the audience and to Nafalen. She had loved the dance.

Stepping next to her he laughed. People had finally come back on the dance floor and the music changed to something much faster paced.

"Well I'm impressed," he said. "I've never met anyone who could dance like that. You held your own in the air too. Very well done."

He made a little clapping gesture and smiled. "Thank you for that."

Nafalen took two drinks from a platter that a man was carring by and handed one to Cathrine. The man started to say something, by Nafalen just pushed him away with his mind. Raising his glass towards her he made a little toast.

"To the dance floor. May it never die. And may your feet always stay agile...or something like that," he said with a little laugh. Clinking his glass against hers he sipped it, finding it to his liking.

Catherine hips gently swayed to the new music but she stopped as he talked and let a small smile grace her face. "My sire was a noble, he was a very good dancer and a lot older than I was. He taught me everything I know." It was true her sire and been adamant that she learn everything of court. He was a noble and had to attend court and therefore as his wife she had to do the same.

She took the glass that he passed her and clinked her glass against his at his toast. She laughed as he mentionned her agile feet. She took a sip and sighed, able to relax, the drink was good. She smiled at him and headed off the dance floor, back to her previous stool.

Nafalen followed her graceful movements back to the bar. Hopping over a stool, he sat next to Cathrine and grabbed a handful of peanuts from a basket on the bar. Quickly eating them Nafalen began to cough.

"Dam human food," he quietly muttered.

Sighing Nafalen leaned back, grabbing the front of the stool with his hands and spinning around a few times before settling in place. Sometimes it was good to relax.