She had her backpack... Her duffel bag... She'd packed as much clothing as she could into the bigger bag, about two weeks worth actually, and she still had some at the club that she could use for costumes and street clothes. She'd actually kept a lot there, because she'd been planning this for a week now. Ever since she met Chris.

Adri had realized that she wasn't ever going to be happy until she got away from them. She wasn't going to be able to do anything until she was free.

So what if she had to vanish from school. No one would care.

She'd just get a GED or something. She'd go back once they couldn't do anything to her anymore.

It was about two in the morning, and she was tired. Exhausted more like it actually. She was about ten miles from her home now, she'd made it all the way from the outskirts of the city here, and she needed to rest.

Dropping her bag at a bench, Adri sat down and began to rummage through the backpack, pulling out a granola bar. She was only a little hungry, which was good because there hadn't been much food that she could take with her that she could eat or keep fresh. She had a little over a thousand dollars on her, another seven at the club.

Adri knew that with the money, she'd be able to survive for a while. All she had to do was find a place to stay, a place to live. She could do that tomorrow. She'd already come this far, she'd be safe for the night. She was starting her life now. She would start her life as a new woman, a real person in the world. Cassie was ready to take on the challenges of the world.

After some well deserved sleep of course.

A man, worn-down blue jeans and a black band tee, came walking down the sidewalk passing under streetlamps in a sluggish pace. His messy black hair was riddled with the signs of having woke up and his muttering to himself about not having enough time would have surely caught the attention of those around him if they paid attention. But as he passed between the reach of two lamps, Xander stopped, cigarette between his teeth as his yellowish hazel eyes caught a glimpse of a woman's figure. Normally, when hunting, he would simply use broan to overcome the broad or he'd seduce her. But having woken up so late, like that lazy ass he'd convinced himself he was, the man merely took a drag from his cig and walked slowly towards her. His converse making no noise on the broken pavement of the backstreets.

A moment passed in which he realized the figure belonged to a relatively young girl, her scent flooding his scences, her heartrate obviously alight with thoughts of getting away; apparent by the bags she had with her. Reaching up he took one last long pull from the cig before flicking it away silently, Xander approached, she was sleeping. How does a pretty little thing like that end up sleeping amongst her belongings on a shitty street like this?... Standing only a few feet away now, he could easily hear her breathing, Very easily. This is the worst city in the world. His thoughts were suddenly fogged with judgment. What to do....

Standing over her a moment more he realized it was getting close to almost four, he wasn't going to feed tonight, which was a serious bummer but he'd live until the following evening. Crouching down Xander's pale and handsome features lightened as he examined those of the sleeping girl; she couldn't have been seventeen.

"Psst. Hey." The tone was almost a husky whisper that easily covered the few feet between them. "Hey, girl."

Adri jumped, her hand clenched tight around the half eaten granola bar.

Her terrified eyes stopped as they came across a man. Young, maybe in his twenties. Almost looked like the kind of guy she saw at the club a lot. The ones who were always offering to give her a bit more for some 'alone time' which she'd never, ever done. She had refused all offers because no matter what her parents said, she wouldn't be like her mother.

"Oh... Uh... Hi?" She said curiously.

He wasn't security, police or anything like that... So why had he woken her? Her stuff was all there, and he wasn't trying to do anything funny. After all, if he wanted to steal her stuff he'd just do it while she was asleep. After all, he could probably take the granola bar rom her hand while she was sleeping and she wouldn't wake.

"Must have dozed off... Is there something I can do for you?" She asked frowning.

What in the world did he want? Usually when she fell asleep somewhere at night, people just ignored her. She'd done it before. Maybe not here, but in parks, along the side of a road. They pretended like she wasn't even there. Why did he have to wake her now?

Xander didn't even so much as blink as the girl woke up suddenly, his eyes half-mast like he was tired but still wide awake at the same time, his features soft. Straightening out his head he smirked at her, she was certianly a processor, a whirr of thought occuring over his pressence since the moment she saw him crouched there.

"Jus' saw you there and wondered what you were doin'." A few moments passed in which he observed the typical kid traveling meal, exhibit A - the half eaten granola bar. With a smile he couldn't help but shake his head alittle, "What's a pretty thing like you running away from, huh?" His tone was friendly, but in a distant and neighborly way, nothing more and nothing less.

For some reason he felt being nice to the girl would suffice for the moment, if she went back to sleep perhaps he could drink from her and sneak her to his place where he could play that 'it's not safe out there, kid' act. Being the good bad guy was always easiest.

Xander stayed at his crouched position, standing around six feet tall he wouldn't want her to feel instinctively intimidated by his size and assume the worst, it would ruin his possible meal ticket. If he stayed crouched, he was far less obtrusive and therefore more friendly appearing, not to mention his handsome greek features made him easy to look at. Especially for a young girl.

"Well, I thought it was kind of obvious what I was doing." She said with a little smile. His features were hard for her to see in the dark, the street lamps being her only source of light. But his voice... There was something about it that sent a little thrill down her spine.

"But I'm not a pretty little thing, and don't you be trying ta butter me up." She said raising an eyebrow at him despite his tone. "But why does any kid run huh? I'm sick of my folks.... I want to be out on my own." She lied, her vice soft as she shrugged.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but did you have to wake me up? I'm tired as hell and I still have to get up early to find a place to stay before I go to work." Her tone wasn't chiding, or even mean. It was almost pleading, as if he could... Well, just come back another time or something.

Xander too cocked a brow at the girl, "Butter you up? No, lassy, I was merely seeing if you might require assistance." He gave a slow nod, he figured she'd turn down the opportunity of a warm place to sleep if he offered it, "But seeing as you've got things under control and obviously need your sleep; I'll leave you be." Coming to his full height, the vampire again nodded to her gently, "Sorry to have disturbed you." It was strange how he went back and forth between gutter-punk speak and a mature and intellectual tone but he never let it bother him. He just sort of went with it as he turned and continued to walk as if he hadn't seen her; or though it would seem to the girl he'd left behind.

The man walked, couldn't have been more than two blocks, from the girl on the ground before he doubled back via rooftops. Having climbed a quickly accessed fire ladder, Xander silently sped over the minimal gaps between buildings and before a half an hour had passed he was looking down over the edge of the building at the top of her sleeping head. It wasn't until he was just about to sweep down and silently feed from the beauty that he realized that oh-so-familiar scent of another person present. A vampire. The short man stood just off the sidewalk across the street between two beams of casted light from the street lamps. His figure was small, even comparitely to Xander's from far away, but the problem was; he was schaming the same meal.

I don't fuckin' think so. Xander growled in his mind before launching himself off the edge of the building and flying across the street quick a lightening, landed directly on the other vampire and wrestled him to the ground with a barely audible struggle. "Don't move!" He growled as he pinned the other's head to the ground by covering his mouth and forcing downward at the same time. Straddling him and using his knees to pin the other's arms to the ground, he stared hard down at him, "This is my meal, and I'll be damned if some pip-squeek little fledgling is gunna take it, understand?" The older man's voice was dark, heavy, whispery and promised a severe beating or even death to the other should he disobey.

Even up close the other was seriously small, like he'd been sired at thirteen or fourteen and left to care for himself, the recognition of age only made him seem weak. But in fact there was no way to know directly how old the lad was, and frankly, Xander didn't care. "Now git!" Standing up quickly he flitted silently across the street to the sleeping girl and looked back only to see the small man run off hurriedly in the opposite direction.

Once the other vampire was gone from both sight and scent, the one left standing with the girl crouched next to her, brushing a locke of ashen hair from her pretty features with a smirk. She must have been dead tired, for when Xander effortlessly and unnoticedly titled her head to the side and bit into her neck, all that escaped was the subtle shiver that all humans gave and the little pop of her flesh as his fangs forced into it. Her warm blood flooded his mouth and he gave a soft moan, it was like heaven as he began to pull it out subtly, making sure not to leave surrounding hickie-like marks beyond that of the pin-prick fang holes. Moments passed in silence and eventually he pulled away, her blood staining his teeth and a smile on his face, eyes alight with the fresh blood in his system.

Positioning himself just between her legs and leaning forward to the crook of her neck, it would seem to a possible passerby that they were making out, but in fact he was biting hard on his own lip. Xander let the blood of the minute wound smudge over his lips before pressing them lightly to the two little wounds, the skin healing quickly beneath the aiding amount of vampiric cells, a smirk on his face when he licked the remaining mess from her skin and moved away.

Standing up Xander took the girl up from the ground, placed her over his shoulder and carted her belongings with the opposite arm, easily accomplished because of her slight weight. Though it would have been easy had she weight four hundred pounds. Flitting off, he covered twelve blocks before coming to the entrance to his apartment, and walked up the small steps to the door. It was never locked so he merely turned the knob, while balancing the girl on his shoulder as not to drop her, and entered quietly. Dropping her things on the floor just inside the door, the vampire moved to the couch and set her down gently, then disappearing into the semi-messy kitchen.

"Good night to you too..." She muttered, but not out of irritation, just out of exhaustion. She meant it, and it was odd that someone was actually concerned, but she would be fine. She'd done this sort of thing before, and now she wouldn't have to worry about getting beaten for it when she went home. Because she wasn't going home.

She was asleep fifteen minutes later, and sleeping once more like a dead rock. She didn't even notice that there was someone watching her, keeping an eye on her or even hunting her.

She was completely unaware of the scuffle, unaware of the territory battle and who won and what they were really fighting for.

But a sharp pain in her neck made her stir. It was like being bitten by a mosquito, but when she raised her hand... She could have sworn she felt a head, a face, a person there.

A moment later, she drifted back off, unable to stay awake any longer. It was probably just a dream anyway.

Her body was as limp as a dolls as he carried her and her things. But of course, that was a good thing, as she was unconssious throughout the trip, unaware of what was going on. Her still body lay on the couch, her skin cool and paler than usual, her light brown hair laying across her face. Had she only been asleep, she might have realized that something wasn't right, but she was too far gone to care at this point.

Xander had gone into the kitchen to wash up, he loved the scent of blood but if the girl woke and noted it on him, he knew she would freak out. So after a few moments making sure his handsome features were cleansed of any crimson, he returned to the living room and parked his toned keester on the floor beside the couch, the girl's face covered by her wonderfully scented hair. Sighing, he realized she must have been more tired than perviously assumed, for almost an hour had passed since he'd picked her up from that street and she hadn't stirred yet.

The vampire brushed his messy black hair away from his forhead, letting his mouth fill with air and puff out before letting it out with a heaving sound, his bright yellow-hazel eyes wandering around the living room. It wasn't an exceedingly large room, but comfortably held a three coushin couch, a worn-down black leather recliner, a few small side tables with ashtrays on them and a small bookshelf in the corner. There was a coffee table next to the couch made of steel and glass covered with a few gaming magazines, a butterfly knife, a few half emtpy packs of cigs and an ashtray. The TV was by far his favorite thing about the whole room, being a 42" flatscreen he'd gotten because the mail man was too scared to knock on the door to the apartment it had really belonged too; it paid off to have a crazy neighbor always yelling at her creepy kids three doors down.

Leaning forward he lit another cig, admiring how the darkness of the apartment melted away when he clicked on the tv with the remote and leaned against the couch, his features alert as he watched the simpsons and Most Evil.

---------------------------------------------

Xander returned to the apartment half-expecting the girl to have woken and gotten miles away by now, but as he made his way around the hall wall and saw her still laying there, only with her body twisted up in a very 'sleeping for a very long time' type way.

Having wandered around the city, going over and taking a look at the place the girl had just left the night before, having found the adress on her luggage; it seemed somewhat normal. But then again, he hadn't passed by during the daylight hours so things may have changed during that time, he wouldn't know unless she told him.

Striding across the short way, dropping his hoodie to the floor, his somewhat tight black jeans with holes in their kness crumbles strangely as he sat in the recliner and finished his cig. His eyes never left her as they sat in the darkness of the living room. The windows were not only facing the building next to them but had thick curtians on them that hid the large quantities of duct tape to keep all light out. The only source of light was a small lamp he'd turned on in case she'd woken up she wouldn't be in the complete dark.

A familiar noise made her stir just as the sun was setting, though she thought it was night, with the dark curtains blocking everything and the little table lamp on.

Where the hell was she? What was going on?!

Her heart was racing as she looked around an unfamiliar apartment. Her phone stopped ringing again. But that wasn't the first thing on her mind. Where was she?

But that question was answered slightly as she saw the man from the other night, asleep in the recliner in the room as well. He had dark hair... Slightly tanned muscular skin... and he was tall too it looked like, a lot taller than her.

She jumped as her phone rang again, and she pulled it from out of her pocket, "H-hell-o?" She said with a trembling voice.

"Oh god! Cassie! What the hell happened babe? We've been trying to reach you for hours now! Are you okay?"

It was Sara, one of the girls she worked with. Her voice sounded relieved that she finally picked up. "Uh... yeah... I... I left home last night.... And uh... Well I don't know exactly where I am, but I'm okay. Just a little startled is all." Well you fall asleep one place and wake up a completely different place? That was bound to happen.

"Okay, well, are you coming in tonight? I mean, your shift's only until eleven sweetheart, so you have another two and a half hours. But should I just tell Jack you're not coming. I mean if you had to find a new place, that's cool, he'll totally understand. Probably be glad you're free now."

"Uh yeah.. Sounds good. Thanks Sara. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Alright sweetie, take care."

What time was it? How long had she been asleep? He... He hadn't done anything to her, she was still in the same clothes, shoes included, that she had been last night or whenever it was that she had fallen asleep. But she was thirsty, and tired still but not sleepy, just achey and weak.

She had to get out of here... Whoever this guy was, he must have done something to her. He was hot... Yeah, so what? Those guys usually had the worst attitudes. Thought that the world owed them everything. Just like her brother.

"Get up! Get up and quit whining." Xander's sire yelled as the young man stood over his father's remains, blood now dirtying his grey pants and bare chest, "He's not gunna come back so you might as well get up and admit he's dead. It'll be easier on the both of us if you're not crying like a child!"

Turning quickly to strike the man with a fist, the vampire grabbed the wrist and twisted with a bloodlusty grin, "NO!" Xander's usually beautiful yellow-hazel eyes were blurred and red with tears, "You'll bring him back if you can!" Yanking on his wrist hard, he still couldn't get away from the vampire as he opened his mouth again to bare his fangs and sink them into the strong arm, "NO!"

The here and now Xander shot awake, his whole muscular frame burning with a cold sweat, his handsome features contorted with what almost seemed like distress as he bolted awake screaming. "NO!" The second his eyes were open and his feet were on the ground, he noted the girl was awake, after hours of rest she had finally woken up. His dark gray band tee was sticking to his hard chest a bit and his pants were ruffled with the tell tale signs of restless slumber.

"Oh. Good. You're awake." Clearing his throat, Xander rubbed his eyes with one hand and noted with his internal clock that he'd woken early, "Feeling better? You only slept like the dead." A smile crossed his pearled features as he brushed stringy black hair from them and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. The suspicion in her face as he glanced her over made the vampire realize she assumed he must be a dirtbag for having brought her to a strange apartment. Perhaps she thougth he'd done something to her?

"You're perfectly safe, I assure you." Xander's tone was gentle but masculinely so. "I was on my way back home when I saw you were still asleep on the street. There was a creep scammin' on ya and I figured I'd get you out of there before he did somethin' to ya. Followed my half way here if ya must know." The man sighed as he waited for her response, the reoccuring dream of the night of his siring becoming troublesome, he felt he needed to bathe and feed. But currently this girl was his main concern, she was alone as he'd found out last night, and he needed to be sure she at least had somewhere to go.

She had just picked up her backpack when she heard his cry. Was he still asleep?

No... He was waking up now.

Shit...

"I feel fine." She lied. Her voice and posture stiff. One hand clenched around the strap of her backpack, the other balled into a fist. She knew she wouldn't be able to fight him, but she'd sure as hell try.

"Safe? How do I know that. You might not have tried anything yet... But how do I know you just find it more fun when the girl you drug or something is awake before you do whatever to her?" She said with a glare. Maybe if she could swing the backpack around fast enough if he came at her that she'd knock him out.

She frowned and shook her head. The story wasn't good enough. Why did he give a damn about her, what did he care if some other guy was looking at her?

"I have no reason to believe you or trust you. And really, you just fucked things up for me." If she'd done her math right, it was around eight thirty. Far too late to call anywhere for leasing information. Now she'd have to wait another day to find an apartment. She could probably crash at the club for the night. Jack wouldn't mind.

"How far are we from downtown?" She asked sharply, moving over to her duffel bag. As soon as she knew where she was, but she'd

Her strance, her tone, the way she held tightly to the backpack strap; everything about the girl screamed teenage distress. Xander didn't know much about the current social behaviors of teenage women, but he knew one thing; if a girl had been manipulated by a man before she would be less likely to trust a stranger even if he had saved her. "I'm not expecting you to completely believe me, lassy." The terminology was something he'd grabbed from a fat irishman he'd drained a few nights before. Poor old guy hadn't seen it coming at all. "All that happened was as I said. You were in potential danger and I figured it would be the shittiest thing in the world to just leave you there for the wolves; or so to speak."

Standing up, but slowly as not to make her scurry off, the man groaned and stretched in a tired manner with his hands over his head before letting them fall back to his sides. "If you don't want to believe that there are good people in the world, that's your choice, just didn't want to be responsible for the death of a young girl just trying to get away from a bad situation." Slowly he walked over to her, like one might approach a wild animal, a soft smile on his face. The smile wasn't one of mock kindness, it showed every sign of sheer caring, he had no intention of hurting her.

Xander put his hand out and grabbed the bag before she could even hope to swing it at him. Though he was impressed that, even though she knew she had no chance in even a handicaped fight against him, she was still ready to defend herself. "Just calm down for a moment. I'm sure that you've got no where to stay or you would have gone there instead of sleeping on the streets like that, right?" Looking at her, his face parallel to hers as he bent over to look at her, sincere tenderness in his eyes; he wanted her to trust him. "I haven't drugged you. You would know if I'd touched you because you're clothes would be messed up and I have absolutely no intention of touching you." A moment passed in which he waited to see if she'd hit him. When she didn't he stood up to his full height and placed the backpack on the couch next to her.

"I've got to shower. You may stay if you wish. I've got no one else living here with me so it's not like I've a roommate who'd be upset about you stayin'." Xander shrugged, "I hope you'll realize I'm not going to hurt you." The last sentence came out in an almost hurt manner, not quite but just filtered with dispair; like he'd been thought untrustworthy before, "There's waffles in the freezer if you're hungry. That's all I've got right now."

With that, Xander turned and walked to the bathroom down the hall, the front door was unlocked and he'd hear if she decided to leave. Though for some reason, he realized as he got undressed and into the steaming water of the shower; he hoped she would stay.

Completely believe? She wasn't even sure she believed a ration of his story. What were the odds he'd passed her again and saw someone else there trying to mess with her. But it wasn't that she believed that good people were a myth, but it was like... Like this whole thing was too good to be true.

She found herself nearly trembling as he approached her, she could feel the power he held. It was something in the way he moved that told her. He was far, far stronger than he looked.

His hand grabbed her bag before she could even notice. But he reassured her thoughts, basically saying everything out loud that she'd been thinking and fearing, but she frowned as he said he had absolutely no intention of touching her.

Well, maybe he meant that for right now, meant that without her permission.

That itself was odd. He was so close... Close enough for her to smell his skin, a thick rich scent... But yet he didn't touch her, he didn't do anything to scare her, threaten her. His voice had only been gentle, a little chastising here and there it seemed, but otherwise...

There was only one man who'd ever been like this to her. One man who had ever shown her a lick of kindness. And odd enough it was because of him she was here now. And he'd been handsome, but not... Not like this man. He was... Well, he didn't make sex seem so unappealing anymore.

But she shook the thought out of her head. That was probably all he wanted, probably why he was even asking her to stay. She hated thinking about that fact, but then again, he would have done something to her already, or something now to indicate what he was expecting. Maybe... Maybe he really didn't find her attractive.

"Fine..." She said simply. "I'll think about it." Adri relented. She would at least have to stay for the night, maybe she could look for apartments tomorrow.

As he left to take his shower, she moved back to the couch and went through her bag. Everything was still there including all of her cash. Good... Good. At least he hadn't tried to cheat her or something.

But she slumped on the couch with a sigh. Wondering just what to do. Once he found out she was a stripper, she'd probably be gone. But she'd deal with that when it came. And she would have to lie about her name and age. She couldn't tell him the truth and ask him to lie, she had to lie to him to so he wouldn't get in trouble if she got caught for running away.

But... But what was she going to do now? She had no real clue.

The water was nice. Steaming pressure against every surface of his cool skin. Made him feel even more clean than the axe body wash he rubbed all over himself. He couldn't have been in there fifteen minutes at most but to him it felt like a nice eternity with the hot agua. Xander opened the see-threw curtain and stepped out of the tub-shower, his hard frame beading with the remnants of his short shower, "Ahh." He sighed, the smirk on his face fading as he saw his appearance in the fogged mirror; he looked handsome, but tired.

His black hair was fingered back away from his features, brow furrowed alittle, "What are you doin', mate?" The vampire asked himself in reference to the girl he knew was still in his living room. There was only two real options for him. One: he could let her stay until she was on her feet, befriend her and feed from her as she slept. And two: he could tell her she could only stay for the night, feed from here again and say she had to skitadle because he had a life to tend to; which wasn't true. Either way he would get his small meal and wouldn't really have to go out. Not to mention that as long as the girl was no theif; he probably wouldn't mind having her around.

By this time in his thoughts he almost decided it would be best to just help the girl out. Considering the fact that with her luck, she needed at least one good semariton if she could find one; and it would be something nice to think about in a hundred years. Not to mention she wasn't that bad looking; not hard to be ncie to a pretty girl.

Walking across the hall, bare naked but out of the girl's sight, Xander went into his bedroom. It was pretty plain. Queen size bed with untouched dark grey sheets, considering he usually slept on the couch, a dresser topped with a few books and trinkets, a small nightstand next to the bed and a lamp on the other. Making his way lazily to the dresser, he sat on the end of his bed and easily reached out to open the requires drawers, seeing as the burrow was only a foot or so away from the bed end. With a smirk he pulled out a pair of black demin jeans, briefs and a dark blue dropkick murphys band tee.

Getting into his briefs and pants, he lay his shirt over his shoulder as strung a studded belt through the loops and walked out into the hall, standing just before the living room doorway. Fingering his hair back again he stepped into her view, "Come on." he jerked his head lightly to the side as he put his arms in the proper holes of his shirt and pulled it over his head before walking into the kitchen.

Approaching the counter, he opened the cupboard and pulled out a plate, two glasses and took silver from the drawer at his waist. He set all the items down on the small table in the corner beneath a strange painting of a man on an old fashion torturing rack. Xander retrieved a box from the freezer and went to prepare her waffles in the toaster but stopped then returned to the table to flip the painting over. With a smile at her, he moved back to the toaster and loaded two waffles, "Come on. Half a granola bar isn't enough for a young girl in a matter of a full day." He paused and glanced at the fridge, "Sorry I don't have any milk." The man gestured to the fridge with the fork, "Need to go shopping... There should be like four different juices in there though."

By the time he was dressed and back out from his shower Adri had taken her shoes off and set then by the door, and her hoodie was hanging over the back of the recliner, her semi-pale arms bare up to the shoulders now in a plain white tank that was slightly too short, too many trips through a washer.

"I'm not hungry after sleeping all day." She said simply. "And I have food of my own."

Besides, frozen waffles were nothing but carbs and she'd been good about eating right and loosing the pudge around her face and her belly, she wasn't going to just let it waltz on back. Her job depended on it. She might not eat a lot, but she didn't starve herself by any means.

"But a glass of juice sounds nice." She said as she moved tot he fridge. She'd only brought water since juices wouldn't have kept

"You never answered my question though. How far from downtown are we?" She asked again, pulling out the jug of apple juice. "And it would be nice to know your name too. I' Cassie." She said, figuring it would be better to just keep going by that.

Xander had turned his back to the girl as the waffles popped out of the microwave just in time to hear her say that she didn't want them and had her own food, "Alright then." It was a monotoneos voice he had as he threw the fresh waffles into the sink and turned to face her again, leaning on the chipped hunter green counter. "Suit yourself." His features had come to rest in a formal smirk that made him look wiser than he should at his apparent age.

Girl doesn't waste any time. I like that. Xander thought to himself as he picked up a random softpack of cigs and lipped one out, a plain zippo flipping open simultaneously in the other hand to light it, "Wan' one?" The words came out alittle muffled because of the cig between his lips but he held up the pack to gesture the question at the same time. He knew she smoked, the vampire could smell it on her distantly, so there would be no doubt in her wanting one eventually.

Another moment passed in which he crossed the small kitchen to the table and sat down in a slouched manner, the smirk never wavering from his face as he took a drag and blew the smoke out toward the flipped painting, "Have as much as you like." Xander nodded at the juice before deciding he would just answer her question, "We're about a five minute's walk from the nearest convenience store and about a eight to ten minute's walk to downtown mainstreet." He hadn't meant for it to but his voice almost flattened out, he was polite that was for sure, but in a bland way. It was probably because he'd woken early, and not in the most pleasant of ways.

Sitting there he admired Cassie as a whole; she was thin, pretty, her light brown hair done the way it was made her look alittle older but Xander certianly knew how old she was and, with alittle councel, she could be a lot more seductive with a hair change. If she grew it out alittle, she'd look like an angel, perhaps that's what she trying to avoid? Again the vampire's innermonolog kept putting in little comments that were best said in one's head to avoid her getting jumpy; but she was most certianly pretty. "Xander." The vampire extended out his right hand for her to shake, his tattoos visible on his forearm and just below the short sleeve of his tee.

"Sorry..." Adri said with a shrug. "I hate wasting food, but I'm really not hungry." She said truthfully,pouring the juice into the glass and putting the bottle back. As she turned around again, he was holding out a pack of cigarettes and took it with another shrug.

"It'll probably do more good than harm right now." She said truthfully, because she was barely keeping her hands from shaking. It was like her body was tense... Waiting for him to snap and turn on her all of a sudden. Because the more she looked at him, the more she came to realize something....

He was hot... Drop dead gorgeous to her eyes if truth be told. His hair seemed soft, the kind you could curl your fingers into. She couldn't help but notice how his body, though not bulky was smooth, muscled. And his eyes... She was truthfully afraid to look into them because she knew she'd only get caught. Adri had to admit to herself as she pulled out a small BIC from her back pocket, lighting her cigarette. That little thing had come in handy lots of times really... But it wasn't that that was so amazing to her, but he was also nice as well as hot.

Was it even possible to have those two qualities in the same person? Was it even possible that someone so handsome could genuinely care for her well being?

No... Either she was going crazy and he was only a figment of her imagination, or it was only a matter of time before the warm fuzzy side of him was ripped away like a paper mask. She couldn't let herself get too attached to him.

But... Even though Adri ignored him, she could feel him watching her. Her body was tense, even though it didn't seem that way.

She nodded with an improved outlook though as he said this place wasn't too far from downtown. A ten minute walk? So she didn't even need her bike. She'd really wanted to take it with her, but she wouldn't have been able to get it out of the house without setting off the alarm and waking up her parents.

"Well, that's good then." Adri said thoughtfully as she thought about it. Sure she probably wouldn't be staying with him beyond tonight, but still. "Do you know if any places around here are leasing?" She asked curiously. If she could live in the area, that would be good for her for the mean time. Until she had enough money to get out of the town and really start a new life. "And what's rent like?"

When Cassie, if that was really her name, took the cig, the man went to flip the zippo for her but she'd already pulled out a tiny bic and lit it herself. She was obviously a smoker; just as he'd thought. "Don't worry about it. I don't usually eat anyway so it happens occasionally around here." He paused, "Oh, and you're welcome." Xander could understand why she'd be sketchy around him, strange handsome man bringing her to his apartment away from the dangers of another equally strange man who she hadn't even seen; he wouldn't be too comfortable either.

"Still think I'm a weirdo?" He smirked as he continued to look at her, furrowing a brow as he held his cig between his lips and adjusted his belt alittle, the studs having caught strangely on a loop.

Xander nodded and smiled as he continued to smoke his cig, "Aye, there's a place open across the street I think," he gestured to their left through the wall, but kept his eyes on her face; she was apparently having trouble meeting his gaze so he waited for the opportune moment to catch it.

Exhaling a small grey cloud he smirked and put out the small remainder of the cig in a dirty glass ashtray, his gaze pointed at the tray as he continued, "And the apartment next door is open I think. But the last tenant killed his wife in there so I'm not sure how... clean it is." The emphasis of the word 'clean' was meant to make her smirk, the vampire had a twisted sense of humor about death so he could understand if the teenager didn't find it funny, just his old age he figured.

Seconds passed in which he considered his rent, "Hmm." In truth, Xander hadn't paid rent for some time, the owner of the building was a woman that he'd introduced to her would-be sire; she owed him. In a sense. Since organizing the meeting between the woman and her sire; she hadn't made him pay rent.

But figuring on a guess, he could get the apartment next door for Cassie at a lowered price if he so chose, "Perhaps... Ninehundred a month. Utilities covered." Finally he looked back up at her from the smuldering ashes in the tray, the yellow of his eyes more apparent because of the small light over the kitchen sink a little ways off. The vampire made a point to capture her gaze this time, the glance was to be brief but captivating at the same time.

He might comprehend why she was iffy about him, why she didn't touch him and hardly looked at him. But he would never really understand.

"Clean? It doesn't matter really... But talk about happy memories..." She muttered, her eyes on the ashtray like his. He wasn't the best of people but she had a feeling he wouldn't be living in a total dump either. And if he was across the way... He was still close by, but not near enough to hurt her still...

Maybe...

"Nine?" She did some quick figuring and then nodded. She had about eight months rent ready now, and that was only after five months of work. It would be easy to make due, even buying her own food, and if utilities were included.

"Is the landlord going to be in any time soon? Maybe talk out some arrangements? I mean this place is nice enough. Not too big for one person." Adri said simply. "And it's clo-" But her words and her breath caught in her throat as she met his gaze, her pulse suddenly jumping. She wanted to suddenly be closer to him... As if she were a moth drawn to a flame. A flame in those amber eyes.

When he looked away her heart was still pounding, but she began to breath again, even if it was a little quickly. "Don't do that again." She said quietly, getting up from the couch, using the empty glass as a reason to move to the kitchen, away from him.

"Indeed." The vampire nodded shortly in agreement with the memories comment, it would be a strange thing for a human to move into a place like that; certian attachments and detachments occur about the walls they'd inhabit. "But considering it was the only bad thing to ever happen in this building, I'm sure you'd be fine should you decide it would work best." He found himself thirsty, the little tingling sensation in the corners of his lips when he smirked, the dry bite at the back of his throat. Normally Xander fed every night, even every other night, but he'd made a habit of having a constant food flow. Didn't like to feel hungry; as it were.

Again he found himself glancing her over. That frame she was obviously just growing into but must have had experience with; little movements giving away tell tale signs of physical interaction. Then the thought hit him, Maybe that's why she's so finicky about me.... Forced interaction was always a sure-fire way to create a nervous demeanor in a girl. Xander wouldn't push her if it would make her leave; he'd been out less lately, hadn't even enjoyed a fellow vampire's company in months.

"Close to town?" The vampire finished her sentence and smirk, "Gretta should be around either tonight or tomorrow night. She has much business to tend to during the day so she has a habit of getting to tenant needs during the later hours." Clearing his throat he stood, taking his gaze away from the smooth skin of her neck, arms and face; everything about her making a gurgle appear in his stomach. Making as though he was picking up the waffles mess, he stood at the sink, moving the waffles onto a napkin and rinsing away crumbs.

"I know her personally so I cou-" Xander was cut off by Cassie saying "Don't do that again.". Turning and facing her, he was almost confused, then remembered the way that her heartbeat had quickened in their brief eye contact. His handsome features were something of questioning kindness, "I'm sorry?"

She stiffened as he moved into the kitchen with her and she quickly made her way back to the living room.

Adri could see his eyes on her... Even though she wasn't looking at him, occupying herself with something in her backpack.

"Don't look at me like that. I don't like it Xander." She said as she frowned at her backpack. Maybe... Maybe it wouldn't be a good idea to move into this building. Maybe she should try to find a place away form him because... Well she really didn't know.

The way he'd looked at her though... She... She could feel a hunger, and with the way his eyes had run over her body afterwards? There was no doubt in her mind what she wanted, and she wasn't going to give it up to anyone without a fight.

She wasn't just a piece of meat... She might display herself like one, but that was all she did. She'd never fucked any of the guys at work, even though they offered a lot of money to have that pleasure. And she had no reason to fuck Xander either. He didn't have to bring her here if he didn't want to. She hadn't agreed to anything and she wouldn't either. If he wanted something like that from her, she'd gladly leave in a heartbeat, better to be out of his way anyway.

"But what I was going to say is it's close to work. Even though I doubt that matters to you." She wanted to shoot him a glare but what if he was looking at her? What if.... What if she met his eyes again?

Apparently Cassie had caught on to the way he was feeling, not in the fashion that was truthfully there because she would have freaked, but she'd noticed the way his eyes traced her frame. Walking over and throwing away the napkin and toast he didn't look at her but apologized all the same, "My apologies... Consider it a compliment, if you will. Most girls your age struggle with being either too thin or too 'fat'." Xander finally looked up at her, "You're lucky to be in the shape you are." With that he went back into the kitchen for a glass of grape juice, it was thick and rich, almost as thick as blood. Made it easier to image it as such a sedate the lust burning in his stomach.

Standing there at the kitchen sink drinking his juice, the man looked into the drain with a thoughtful stare, he had wanted the company and the beast in him was about to push her away. Xander had to try for alittle more control around her; it was obvious that she'd been threw something serious if she was even alert to simple glances. But there was something to be said for the way her whole person reacted when their gaze met; perhaps it was a simple human reaction to insinctively realizing he wasn't human. Perhaps she thought him attractive. Who knew with young girls?

He didn't look at her when she spoke, just nodded distantly before downing the rest of his juice and tossing the plastic cup into the sink with a 'pang', "I'll talk to Gretta for you if you wish." Xander finally turned away from the sink, the yellowness of his eyes dying away alittle as he pushed away thoughts of the taste of Cassie's blood, "I know this place well. The closest apartment aside from next door is priced at around twelve hundred a month with biweekly payments; you wouldn't be able to afford it." Standing before her, he put his hands in his pockets to show he wasn't going to try anything, his gaze on nothing but her face.

"I could get you the apartment next door for as low as eight-fifty a month." Xander's tone was bland but kind. His hand shooting forward only a few inches with his palm facing her to gesture for her to hold before jumping to any conclusions, "I want nothing from you, Cassie. Nothing at all." If she dared meet it, his glance would have told her that he wasn't lying, "Consider this my act of humanity. Doing something good in the world."

The vampire repocketed his hand, "If it's closer to your job, cheap so you could save up, and safe; it's your best option." The thought popped up and he figured he'd kill it in her mind before it really festered, "And just because we'd be neighbors doesn't mean I'd expect anything of you...." Xander smirked. "Expect maybe a cup of sugar now and again."

"Why should I?" She said in response to his 'compliment'. "I'm not just some piece of ass alright? I don't need guys staring at me everywhere I go. It's great for work, but beyond that, I have no interest in guys. None what so ever." She said sharply, more so than she'd intended. But she didn't care he was going to get the point, or she was going to get out.

"Twelve hundred? Six hundred every two weeks? I could afford that." She said simply. After all, she might not have been the highest earner, but as the new girl, not to mention being young and pretty, all the guys seemed to want her attention.

At work it was one thing. She expected it. When she wasn't in the club, that was another thing entirely.

"But less is always better really." She admitted, and well, three hundred and fifty a month? She could use that money to get a car or something. Or a new bike. But she didn't like the idea of him talking to someone for her. Why? Because she would owe him. He might not say it, but she knew damn well that he was probably thinking it. What guy wouldn't be, and so far he was slipping in to that typical guy standard.

"You say that, but how do I know that's true huh? You bring me here when I already told you I was fine, you act all nice and chivalrous but look at me like a wolf or something and now you're going to work your magic to save me some money and aren't expecting anything in return?" She frowned at him, her eyes safely on his chin.

"I find that hard to believe Xander." Men were pigs. Men lied. Men really did have only one thing on their minds. It wasn't hard at all for her to believe. The only decent man she'd ever met was Chris... And she doubted that she'd ever see him again. Because he probably had been a figment of her imagination.

It wasn't too hard to believe, with all the stress she'd been through. Well at least now that she knew that Xander's ploy was all a mask, she knew at least his hotness was real. But... Well she would have preferred if he'd been nice.

It had only been wishful thinking... Hope... Hope that still burned in her, even though she said that it was dead. Chris had been right at least about that.

Xander hadn't been expecting her to jump the gun so quickly and assume him a coniving creature of the typical male persuasion; but he took it in stride. Cassie had been staring at his chin the whole time she spoke, a sure sign that she wasn't ready to look him in the eyes again, that was fine. "Like I said, Cassie. You would owe me nothing. I don't expect anything of you. I assume you've been mistreated, horribly, or you wouldn't be running away as you are. Good on you for getting away from a bad situation; but it's harsh to assume the whole world is out to get you."

The vampire took a few steps back and sank back into his recliner, his posture slouched but still dignified, "Last night you were in danger. Whether you believe me or not, it's up to you, and I don't want you to think you owe me anything." Xander put on the best look of consideration he could muster, "I haven't been the nicest guy my whole life, trust me, and this... These acts of kindness are sort of... well..." He sighed, chewed on the side of his thumb and looked away from her to make her feel less tense towards him, "They're my way of trying to give back."

He sat there in silence for a moment, considering what he'd done in the past as of late; he really hadn't been that productive or kind. Always out for the best score and looking for whatever made him feel as high on life as possible. Calming down and helping out another person wouldn't be too bad. Except that he'd chosen to help out the one girl who apparently wouldn't accept it. Great. He thought to himself, his inner voice heavily accented with his Greek past, unlike his fresh tone he used now. Free of accent aside from the local standard.

"I can understand if you don't want to take the offer. The eight-fifty wasn't definite but I've known the land lady for years. You can approach her at her apartment in a few hours if you must, but I could get you a better deal if I went with you, up to you." The whole while he didn't look at her, his gaze unwavering as it scanned over the turned off TV, he hoped this whole thing wouldn't blow up in his face.

The last thing he needed was Cassie going to authorities saying he was trying to set her up for some sex puppet or trap her in the building or something.

"Who says I'm running? Maybe the folks kicked me out. Said I was eighteen, I should take care of myself and to get out." After all, she wasn't far off from hearing that, because she'd heard that from her dad so many times that by the time she graduated or was eighteen she better have her own place and own life because he wouldn't bother with her after that.

"And I wasn't mistreated." Adri lied again. It was her only way to live now, Lying... She hated it, but it was the only way she could be free. "I just know not to trust men that's all. All you guys want is sex anyway. After all, why else would you have been looking at me like a wolf a few moments ago."

Maybe if he admitted it it would at least be a redeeming factor to know that he wasn't like just about every other guy who would refuse it. If he admitted that he'd been checking her out and ogling a bit then, then she'd at least have to give him points for honesty.

But she frowned curiously as he said this was his way of 'making up' for things in the past. "Why me? Why now?" She asked with a slight frown. It didn't make sense... But whatever.

She wanted to know that he did have some redeeming qualities... But she wasn't sure how many would be worth them, or even which ones would be worthwhile. "I mean you have no reason to help me. I mean, even if I was in trouble last night-" which she still didn't fully believe she was- "you didn't have to do shit for me. There have to be some other factors."

"Aye, that could be a plausable reason; if it were true." Xander could hear the way her heart jumped and mind raced behind those pretty green eyes. His own gaze traced back and found her features as he sat there, the expression on his face something of subtle disbelief; though not an antagonizing amount of it. "I've seen girls come and go through this apartment building who's been kicked out. But they weren't kicked out in the middle of the night with no transportation or a plan." He waved a hand in a simple gestured in the air, "Got all their trinkets and shit packed in dingy marked boxes that their siblings or parents help them carry into their new place."

For some reason his front had changed, the man's features had softened again and his tone was light and friendly, the sarcasm there but not overbearingly so. "Now, before you get defensive: I'm not sayin' that perhaps you're parents didn't get into a heated argument and kick you out after a few willing hours to pack your things in a suitcase just to force you out in the middle of the night." Xander smirked, "All that is your business, really." Then the man figured out what he was doing; he was pushing off the question of his past. It was easier to get her fired up alittle bit in hopes of getting her to lighten up if it meant taking away the focus from his bad deeds of the last 300 years.

"And yeah," He looked down at the tribal tattoo on his forarm and realized there was a small cut there, "I was checkin' you out." The words were drawn out alittle bit as he looked at the small amount of blood left behind from the minimal wound, he figured it had come from getting scratched by the counter or something, no big deal. But he stood up slowly anyway, walking past her but keeping her in his focus on his way down the hall to the bathroom, "But I meant no offense because I was merely looking." He stopped just at the doorway to the living room and looked at her, "Think of it like,... Well. Looking but not touching. Like when you walk into a store and don't have the money for the clothes but want to get a look just in case you've got it one day."

Before he could really let himself go any further the vampire realized that was a terrible analogy, and it showed on his features; he was trying to be smooth about it and calm her down but in truth he was messing up. "Shit, that was the worst analogy, give me a moment. Will you? Got a wee injury to tend to." With that he thumped his hand against his forehead and marched into the bathroom muttering 'stupid, stupid, stupid. Now she thinks you're a weirdo!'. A smirk caught the corners of his tender lips as he went to the sink, knowing well that she heard him; hoping she would assume him the cute guy who was just trying to act tough.

Washing away the small amount of blood from his arm with a washclothe and cool water Xander spoke again, the bathroom echoing his words alittle back to Cassie, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that I could buy you or anything. I should have left it at looking and not touching, really." The vampire's tone was forcably embarrassed but not forced to such an obvious amount that the pretty girl would notice.

"Well, maybe I knew it was a matter of time before they tossed me out..." She said softly.

She had been able to tell Chris what was going on... But she didn't trust him like she trusted Chris.

"Maybe I just can't stand being near them? Maybe I just wanted to get the hell out of there..." She said, taking a long drag of the cigarette. Besides, that much she could tell him.

But she did smirk as he admitted to checking her out. Maybe there was some hope for him. "Clothes huh?" She asked raising her eyebrow, taking another puff. "What just because you think I would look good on you huh? Or maybe I would look good in your clothing after your sexy self convinced me to go for a little romp huh?"

Adri held back a snort as he said he had an 'injury' to attend to. Hard on more likely. And with those tight pants it was probably hurting him to. Served him right, horny ass-bastard...

She gave a harsh, short laugh as he came back and apologized. He really was trying now wasn't he? "No, no. I think that worked just fine. Because after all, the more you have, the more a woman will want you right? The more you can offer her of anything, the more tempted she'll be." She grinned. "You're no different than any other guy baby... But at least you're honest about it." She sat up again, leaning forward to put out the butt of the cigarette. But she didn't sit back, her green eyes looking up to his, refusing to be drawn in this time now that she knew for sure.

"You're an ass who wants some ass... But you're not getting this one darling, so you probably should just get me out of your mind and we should go see the landlady tonight to get me out of your apartment."

Truth be told; Xander hadn't been expecting a full-out sassy attitude from the young girl. Sure, she was pretty, but she wasn't stop-your-heart-and-drop-your-pants gorgeos. Remaking his entrance fully into the living room, the vampire stood off from her about four feet, "Listen baby," he empahized the word because she had used it on him, "you're a looker. That I'll admit. But it takes alitte bit more than a girl in a tank top, who's afraid of carbs and men, to get me up." The tone was dry, almost amused but not fully so, it was perfect for his stature.

Looking down at her, the vampire felt his hand twitch with want, knowing well that if he truly wanted to take her physically; it would be all too easily accomplished. Then the thought hit him as he listened to her insist he was just like every other guy, "But you like that don't you." Xander's tone had become smooth as he kept her eye contact and mesmerized her; he would get to feed before helping the girl get an appointment. But this feeding would be pleasant for both of them.

Moving forward, not breaking eye contact, the vampire positioned himself before her with his fists supporting him on the edge of the couch. His handsome face only a few inches from hers as he took the cigarette from her, took a drag and set it blindly on the tray behind him on the glass table. "If you didn't like that concept you would have run at your first chance and you know it." Getting closer, Xander let his lips brush over her cheek and bottom lip before pulling away alittle, enticing the mesmerized girl. A smirk crept onto his face as he looked at her, his eyes growing more and more yellow with each passing moment, "Dangerous man like me; saving your life and giving you a chance to stay away from those horrible parents of yours. You don't owe me anything."

Like he always did; the handsome man was relying on the fact that he could manipulate a girl's mind into just about anything under mesmerization as he leaned forward a smidge. The space between their faces was minimal but he wouldn't come close to closing the gap again until he was sure she was truly under his control mentally.

She raised an eyebrow as he shot the retorts right back at her, resisting the urge to grin or smirk. As he stepped forward her heart skipped a few beats and then started up double time. His scent... His eyes... She couldn't look away. She didn't want to look away. She... She even wanted him closer... He wouldn't hurt her, she saw that now.

How she didn't know. If someone had asked about it, she would have only been able to shrug. To shake her head and go back to not caring how it was done. It didn't matter.

"No..." She whispered, her breath nearly catching in her throat. "I don't like that..." But that was okay. Because he wasn't like other guys. He wasn't and he saw that now. Saw it in his eyes as he moved even closer to her. "I don't want that Xander."

Her own eyes were wide with delight, expectant of something more than what he was giving now. Run? How could she run from him? Why would she run from him? She wanted to be closer to him, closer than she was even now. She wanted..

And then he bent his head to kiss her- but only brushed her lower lip, making her reach out for the kiss her lips seemed to crave.

"You're not dangerous..." She said breathily, her hand brushing against his face. "And I might not owe you anything but... But isn't there something that you.... want?"

Xander could sense the ease with which she sank into submission; she wanted him now and he knew it. The way his name rolled off her tongue was a wonder to listen to for the vampire; she had a pretty face, body and voice. Quite a nice little package to be in the presence of. "Of course you don't like it. But it's what draws you in. It's what your subconsious seeks out and defends from at the same time." The new bout of convincing and reversed psychology would only put her deeper into his control as he moved yet a hair closer to her.

"Want? From you?" He pretended not to know what she was talking about by putting on a seductive but curious expression. The vampire was sure that he could get away with it by now and he decided to go for it. Pressing his lips to hers finally and gently pushed forward so that she would move back on the couch, one hand moved from the couch to the side of her face and the other migrated to the back of the couch to balance his weight before her.

Once he had one knee set on the couch between Cassie's legs, Xander pulled out of the tender kiss and smiled, "No. I don't want anything from you." The vampire let his gaze wander back and forth between either of her green eyes, "Why? Was there something you wanted to give me?" There was a short pause in which he waited, never having used the name given because he didn't want it to be false and bring her out of the mesmerization alittle bit. He figured after a bit he'd ask her birth name; that usually got the real one out.

He would protect her... He would keep her safe. He was like most guys... But maybe most guys weren't as bad as she thought. Maybe her brother... Her father... They weren't like most people. They were the ones who'd been cruel, hurtful... People weren't all like that, they couldn't all be like that. "You're not like them... You're like other guys..." She murmured. "They're not like other guys." They were worse.

But before she could say that much, her words were cut off by his kiss. A kiss so gentle and soft she'd never imagined something like that could happen, she leaned back into the corner of the couch, as if melting beneath it.

When she regained her senses he was just about crouched above her, and if she'd had an sort of control over herself she would have panicked. She would have started fighting and screaming with him this close.

"Give... I... I don't know..." She murmured, frowning for the first time. What... What did she want to give him? What did she want to do for him.

"I don't know Xander..." Her eyes were confused, as if she'd lost something and didn't know where to find it. "I... I was... I wanted to but... But what was it?" She murmured, looking as if she were nearly about to burst into tears at being unable to think properly.

The man could see and sense the confusion and sudden breakdown in the girl; she had obviously never mesmerized and it showed in her reaction to his question. It was a juvenile mistake he didn't plan on making again; having her break down in tears because she couldn't remember to be attracted to him wasn't condusive to a free meal. "Let me remind you then?" The tone he used was soft as he leaned forward again, catching her chin lightly in his hand and made her look at him full-on, a smile on his face. Kissing her once again he used subtle force to rest some of his muscular frame against hers now that she was backed into the corner of the couch. It wasn't an intimidating amount, just enough to physically remind her what she was supposed to have in mind, nothing that would frighten her; or so he hoped.

Pulling out of the kiss, Xander moved his balancing hand to her side where it crept under her tank top and rested between her ribs and hip bone, the grip strong but gentle. "Remember yet?" With that he trailed kisses down her chin and jaw to the left until he reached the nook of her neck, his lips as tender as he could make them on her flesh, a twinge of anticipation catching in his throat.

Xander's right hand pulled her leg up onto the couch and held it there, letting his apendages press somewhat into her leg, and the thought hit him. Being this close, it would be perfect timing to get her real name out of her, "What's your birth name, dollface?" The tone was suave as he planted a few more enticing kisses on the skin of her neck; each bit of contact proving to the vampire he had amazing self control even when blood was so close.

The panic in her face calmed as he took her chin, looked into her eyes. For some reason now it didn't really matter. It was okay that she'd forgotten.

She felt a lonely ache in her body as he pressed against her, almost painful, but not the same pain that her brother made her feel. However there was something wrong about it. She wanted it... She knew that she did, but she also knew that she shouldn't. She shouldn't do this there was something wrong about it.

But it didn't seem that way as her head lolled back, letting him kiss at her neck, his hands running along her body.

"Yeah..." She whispered.

Soft little murmurs of delight, relaxation came from her as she let him kiss her, touch her. "My... Name?" She said softly. She didn't have a birth name... She hadn't known her mother at all, her mother hadn't even named her. But her name... "Adri... Adrianna..." She murmured, her fingers sliding up his face, curling into his hair. So thick... So soft and smooth. "Adri." She murmured again.

"Don't stop though... I want to give you something... Want to give you me..." The words were rough, as if she'd been hesitant to say them. And a part of her buried deep deep down in her now was screaming... Screaming that she shouldn't do this, no matter how good he made her feel now.

There was a moment in which the vampire let his eyes close and he paused, lips still on her skin, and he felt the rush of her quickened heartbeat beneath. There was nothing like it in the world for Xander. Knowing that he had someone so far under his control that he couldn't help but take in the moment as something special, important, his. "Adrianna." He repeated the name after peeling his lips away reluctantly, "So pretty. So suiting." His voice was his only tool for control now that he wasn't looking directly into her eyes, and it was no where near hard to hold that seductive tone with her; she really was a piece of work. "Adri..."

Just as he breathed her name, Xander opened his mouth wide enough to let his now extended fangs brush her skin, enjoying the little goosebumps that every human covered with at the sense. It was something instinctual when a vampire pushed and pushed until the mortal was on the brink of realizing it's situation; but this man had never pushed so far as to be unwillingly caught.

"Are you sure, Adri? Is that what you want me to have?" Again Xander's tone was quizzicle but pleasant, his own thoughts somewhat primaly lost in her little murmers, it had been a while since he'd been this close to a conscious and somewhat willing woman. "I'll have you." Sliding his hand up her side, over her breast and to the back of her neck where he got a gentle grip, the vampire bit into her flesh at the midpoint of her shoulder and jaw. Almost instantly the warm, salty sensation sprung out after the light 'pop' of the skin beneath the pressure of his jaw.

Covering the wound with his mouth he began to suck. To Adri it would have felt similiar to a playful bite and the beginnings of a hickie. But in truth, Xander was pulling almost mouth fulls of blood from the small wound, his grip tightening on her as he pressed his frame against hers.

He was in control... But as he said... It was something she wanted. She felt safe like this, under the will of another, and at least this time he wouldn't hurt her. He wouldn't abuse her, beat her leave her bleeding and crying alone.

Adri took a shuddering breath as a delightful tingle ran across her skin.

"Yes..." She said softly, her fingers curling harder into his hair. But they slipped out as her body relaxed against the couch, a groan coming form her lips as he ran his hand over her breasts. She wanted to keep feeling that... Keep feeling everything that was so gentle, as if she'd never feel it again.

Her body jerked slightly as he bit in to her neck, an involuntary reaction that her mond didn't even register.

She moaned as he simply kissed her neck. "More... Don't just..." Her words trailed off to a sigh as her body refused to fight him, even though there was something that just wasn't right. He was pressing hard against her... He was holding her tight... But all he did was kiss her neck... Any man would want more. She wanted more.

Adri opened her eyes, her head swimming. And not wanting to deal with that, she closed them again, leaning against Xander almost limply, nearly wanting to faint... With pleasure? She wasn't sure.

Everything about her reactions told Xander that he'd nothing to really worry about at this point. Bringing her out of this controlled state and 'heat of the moment' attitude would be the challenge; something he realized as he felt a growl emanate from his throat. His fangs sinking into her skin again. Though he was sure the pain would have paniced any normal person, Adri was on the verge; and the vampire knew it.

Hoping to keep her where she was, comfortably under his control and urging him to continue, the vampire abliged in a small way. Applying a certian amount of pressure to the back of her neck, like a caring clutch before the release, Xander slid his hand back down her front. Over her breast once more, where it slowed for but a moment to let the tips of his fingers run down the edge of her bra and continue downward. Sliding his hand down her flat stomach to the brim of her pants, all four digits slipping only just inside until they reached the top of her panties and stopping, pulling her closer to him by the fabric he now held.

"Adri..." The vampire half-moaned her name between swallows, keeping that mental hook in her as long as he could; only having a few more moments to keep her in that status. Though he was alittle over three-hundred years old, Xander had his limits, and he was fully aware of them.

All the while Xander kept the constant sucking pressure on her wounds, the familiar taste of her blood in his mouth driving him mad; the closeness of their frames mixed with feeding was... Exciting, to say the least. And it wasn't just the blood; it was her fingers in his hair, her scent, the way she didn't fight at all under his control. Even how easily she'd fallen under it considering how nervous her thoughts had kept her almost the whole time she'd been at his apartment.

His senses picked up on everything at this point. The vampire didn't need to feed every night, but he prefered to; the euphoric feeling that overtook him during and after feeding was like coccaine to a human. Finally pulling away from the wounds, Xander kissed them, spreading little marks of blood just around the surface of her skin. Every bit of him screaming to just take her; but the wisdom in him made the decision. Biting down on his own lip, the vampire spread his crimson over the wounds and healed them, licking up the rest of the mess with pleasurous little swipes of his tongue.

Adri gasped, her body quivering as he bit into her again. Whatever he was doing... Oh it felt so wonderful... But it wasn't enough... She wanted this... She wanted him, but first time she'd ever wanted to have sex with a man before but he wasn't doing anything more than playing, teasing.

She moaned as his hand caressed over her breast again. against her stomach. And had she thought about it, she would have been embarrassed at the way her hips jerked ofsuddenly against him as his fingers curled under the hem of her pants. "Xander..." She murmred, nearly whimpered his name. "Please... Don't tease." Her little voice begged.

She wanted him... She wanted him and it felt so wonderful... Like nothing she'd ever felt before. She'd never wanted a man like this. She'd hated all of them, hated people in general. She'd never wanted to have sex with any man she looked at before.... but why was this so different?

But she'd have to wait until tomorrow to figure it out, because with the blood taken over the last two nights, she was weak, not fully refreshed. She fell asleep there, slipping into the state of mind without even realizing it.

Her body lay still beneath Xander's, her head lolling slightly, the side he'd bit in to turned up. Her breathing was jagged, but slowly returning to normal from the excitement.

He'd felt her little involuntary jerk against his hold on her jeans and the vampire couldn't help but laugh alittle. There were demons in her closet that she wouldn't admit to; but apparently all it took was alittle release and she could forget about them. She stayed under his control relatively easy, which was good, and her whimpers and pleas proved how easily she'd been put under. "I'm not teasing, pet." Xander kissed her throat, moving his fingers from side to side on the hem of her pants, her soft flesh beneath beckonging for him.

As he retraced his kisses back up her throat to her jaw, he was just about to kiss her lips again when he felt her fall limp beneath him, her head rolling away from his lips. Xander's eyes had long since been open as he admired the smoothness of her flesh and was hoping to catch a glimpse of her gaze with no resistence in it; but she'd passed out. Fallen alseep right there on the spot as if she had overloaded like a computer or something. It made the vampire smile. Adri acted tough but she could be broken just like everyone else in the world.

Pulling his hand from her jeans, Xander moved it to the back of her head, using his other to balance himself as he stood up and away from her carefully. Resting her head against the arm rest he moved her legs into a curled position facing the back of the couch and throwing her own sweater on her from the back of the recliner. Standing before her, the vampire thought about why she may have passed out, only two reasons coming to mind. One: she was exhausted and drained from being fed upon, and two: she was pushed so far into his control that her mind and body said 'enough' and went to sleep. Or a mixture of both. He figured it was the mixture.

Xander moved into the kitchen, clearing his throat shortly and taking her glass from the table, he refilled it and put the juice back into the fridge. Then, taking the glass back into the living room with him, he set it on the glass coffee table near the sleeping girl. If she woke up before it was too warm it would be a nice treat, bringing up her blood sugars alittle and get something into her stomach. Adri needed to eat, really.

Without another thought the dark haired man put on socks, shoes and silently went out the front door. The cool night air hitting him in the face like a moist towel on a hot day; it felt wonderful. It had always been a freeing feeling for Xander to stand in the night for the first time each and every time. Like getting the same present over and over again but appreciating it equally each time it was recieved.

Lighting a cigarette, he leaned on the railing and thought about Adrianna; such a pretty name. Everything about her screamed sexual abuse. The defiance, the nervousness about men... The bitter attitude about them. Everything. But in a way he'd almost broken through that entirely. Showed her it was alright, in a controlled state, that it was okay to be sexually wanting. There was no danger in it, really. When she woke, however, she would probably be either oblivious to what had occurred. Or it would have seemed like a very real, very enjoyable dream. Either way he could respond in a way that wouldn't put her into an uncomfortable manner.

After a quick reboot, her body began to stir. Her fingers twitched at first, but then she slowly uncurled, pushing herself up. But as she opened her eyes her head swam and she lay back once more.

As she lay there, her hand over her eyes, the memories came flooding back. How she had provoked him... Kissing him... His eager kisses along her jaw, neck... Against her throat. But it didn't make her relax... It didn't help her. In fact as she remembered what she had wanted... What she had said she wanted him to do and then what he had done, she began to panic.

But her pants were still on. Her underwear, shirt and bra were still on too. He probably wouldn't have bothered dressing her after that.

But he still did something to her. He had to have. She wouldn't have let him do that, ever, especially not after just meeting him. He couldn't have drugged her though. She'd poured her own glass, never left it... It didn't have a funny taste. But what could he have possibly done to her.

Sitting back up she looked at the glass of apple juice sitting on the table and frowned. Maybe he had done something and was trying to do it again.

Like hell she'd take any offer from him again.

But she would take a shower. A shower and she was out of here for good.

After grabbing her bag of shower supplies and a towel, Adri found the bathroom easy enough. Getting in she turned the water on hot and let it hit her skin, run through her hair. It might be her last shower in a while, so she might as well enjoy it.

Xander heard her stirring in the living room and head down to the bathroom where the gush of water could be heard. He'd half-expected her to seek him out. Question him about what had happened or whether it had happened at all. But she didn't. Didn't even bother to call out his name and ask where he was in the apartment. It was a mixed signal for the vampire. His dark hair had been fingered back, away from his face, the entire time he'd stood there and smoked. Thoughts of not only the girl, but what he would say to Gretta to get her to allow such a low rent, were occupying his mind.

Then it became clear. Gretta was still very much under the impression that she'd owed Xander. Owed him alot considering what he'd given to her. So he'd use this as his ticket. The one thing she could do to really ensure he'd been paid back in a small fashion.

With the decision made, he flitted down three stories worth of steps to the door with the imaculate '13'; Gretta had always been sort of supersitious and never settled anywhere near the number one if she could get away with it. The number 1 held no real significance magically. But Xander figured she had an experience in her past that simply reminded her of it and she used her superstition to cover it up.

Knocking, the vampire stood there, eyes bright from having just fed even though the rest of him was still cool to the touch and pale. "Gret?" he meant to knock again but the door swung open and there stood the beautiful young Gretta Blythe Simone. She stood around 5'9", very slender like she hadn't eaten for ages, fair skinned and smiling. Her short dark brown hair was cropped short around her strongly french features.

"Xander." The fledgling breathed his name and moved forward to hug him, "What do you need?" Her tone was quiet, almost a whisper, but it was very affectionate in nature. As she pulled out of the hug she took the other's hand and brought him inside her lavish apartment. It was bigger than most in the whole building, with three bedrooms instead of the simple two, and her sire had treated her to many pleasantries in the form of furniture and art.

Letting himself be lead in, the man smiled; Gret had had a crush on him for a while before she was sired. And now being creatures of the night, she had a new attraction to him that almost made her seem like a 'bride of dracula' type woman; always ready to serve and please. "Gret, I have a favor to ask." Xander lead her to a large white couch with soft cushions.

"Anything, Xander. You know that." her brown eyes were full of admiration as she looked across as him, still holding onto his hands lightly.

"There is a girl in my room," The elder spoke softly, his tone strong but his features gentle as they looked at the now put-off woman; she didn't like to hear about his being around other woman and she couldn't hide it. "Just listen a moment before you get upset. She's had a hard life. I think she may have been abused for a long time - but she got away from it." Xander paused and let his gaze trek back and forth between her two pretty eyes, "I got her away from another of us and she stayed the day at my home.... She's looking for a place of her own. Cheap." He sighed. "I told her I could get her an apartment here for eight-fifty a month."

A moment of silence passed in which the man thought Gretta was going to scream at him, calling him rediculous and cruel to assume he could so easily get what he wanted; but she didn't. Those chocolate eyes threatened to brim with crimson tears as she stared at him, but in the end she only half-heartededly smiled and patted his hand. "Of course, Xander. Just bring her down and I'll set her up."

The next few minutes were filled with thank you's, explanations of how things should play out and a few small kisses of simple vampiric contact. It was a strange thing when he was around her; she was his land-lady, owed him a great deal and did anything he asked of her. But under the surface they could appreciate each other as if he were her sire and not the other man Xander had introduced her to. It was a comfortable connection they shared. "I'll be back with her in a few minutes. She's in the shower right now."

Leaving number '13' the vampire flitted back up to his own abode where he opened the door and stood in the doorway to the living room. He noted that she hadn't drunk the juice; obviously assumed he'd poison her or something to that affect. "Oh, well." Drinking the juice himself, he sat on the couch lazily and waited for her to finish her shower.