Though it was not her style to do so, Suneyva lurked in the hall outside her Childe's chamber. He had been late in coming in that morning, uncharcteristically so, considering how close to sunrise it was. Knowing him, as only she did, that worried her. "Jesse? Can I come in?" She paused with her hand on the doorknob.

"No, I'll be out in a little while. Could you wait for me in the Drawing Room? Please Suneyva..." His voice, muffled through the light-proofed door, was still edgy.

She hesitated ever so minutely, "I suppose so. Don't be long, there is much to do this evening and the Council of Primogen is meeting in two hours." She stalked down the hall, a triffle upset at his unusual display of independence from her ministrations.

Jesse waited until he heard the click of her boots leave the marble hall before sitting up in bed. He gazed down protectively at the young man who shared his covers. Suneyva would not understand this at all. She was far too old, too removed from human society to care for them any longer, but he was not. He caressed the boy's cheek, "Paul? Could you wake up a little?"

Paul stirred briefly, his jade eyes opening slowly, and once seeing Jesse beside him, smiling sleepily. "Hmmmm?" He tried to sit up but Jesse stopped him gently.

"I need to talk to Suneyva, but you could take a shower and then we can go downtown if you'd like." He leaned over Paul and kissed him softly on the lips.

"Why don't you want her to see me? Were you..."

"No, we were never lovers. She's not really interested in that part of humanity and I'm not her type. She created Julianna out of love, she Embraced me for a different reason." He helped Paul sit up and continued. "I don't want her to see you yet because I don't think she would approve and she is my Sire. I must abide by her wishes still, and if she wanted me to stop seeing you...I would have to obey. If I didn't she might hurt you and I don't want that to happen, ever."

*

Suneyva waited patiently in the Drawing Room. She was not pleased with Jesse's recent avoidance of their relationship, but if something needed to be changed between them it was time to discuss it. She knew that he was seeing someone, Kine, but that didn't bother her. He was less than two hundred years old; he could have his affairs whenever and with whomever he chose.

However, if he thought that he was going to leave her out of his life he had another thing coming. She would not leave him alone yet, not until she was completely assured that he had healed. Even after one hundred or so years he was affected by his attack.

She heard him walking down the hall, failing to conceal the sound of his movements. He had never felt the need to hide himself from her. Jesse walked into the room, close to the wall, and shut the door quickly behind himself.

"You wanted to see me? Can we make this quick, I have somewhere to go and so do you."

She stared at him for a long moment. "You can't hide him forever. What is his name?"

Jesse started back, his eyes growing wide, "What do you mean? Who?" He looked away from her.

"I mean the young man that you brought home with you this morning, the one that is, even as we speak," she tipped her head, listening, "taking a shower in your bathroom. Who is he? And don't deny it again. I'm not angry about this, I need to know. If you want for him to be protected...I could do that much better than you."

"You aren't angry?" He hesitated again. "His name is Paul. I love him." He crossed the room suddenly. "I've been seeing him for a few months now. I won't stop if that's what you're going to tell me to do. I...need him." He looked up at her, holding her gaze.

A small smile tugged at her lips. "Why would I tell you to stop seeing him? Because I wouldn't understand? Jealousy? No, I would be happy if you have found love, but I need to know if you intend to take this further. If you intend to ask for my permission to approach the Prince, and if you wanted my support." She looked away from him, "I don't know if I could give you that. It isn't the Gangrel way to create a childe-"

"That you love? That knows who his Sire is when he wakes after the Embrace? But did you not love Julianna, and did you not stay with me after Embracing me and explain everything to that frightened child that I was? I love him, and I would have him know that it was I that brought him over." Jesse reached out to touch her and she evaded his grasp. "He has not yet asked me for anything. I would give him that Kiss without remorse if he asked it of me."

She snorted, "Is that all the further you have thought about this? What about the consequences if the Prince does not grant you permission? Would you leave the city? And what of Julianna and I? I know that you are able to choose your own life, you have been for a long time, but we are still your family and the only ones that you can really trust. You still need us. You wouldn't survive long on your own."

"I think that I could." He clenched his teeth. "I think that I could do just fine without you both."

"Oh? And do you think that you would have done just fine without me one hundred and forty-seven years ago? Do you think those Malkavians would have been so kind as to let you live at all, even as Kindred? I've saved you more times than I can remember, and until I can clearly see that you do not need my protections you have no choice!" Suneyva lowered herself into a large armchair and sighed. "I care for you Jesse, and I do not want to see you get hurt. I'm sorry, but I can't promise to help you with Paul and I can not let you leave, not yet. Maybe one day I will, when I see that you have thought things out more clearly than an emotional outburst."

He was silent, staring at the back of her head, counting the strands of white-blond hair to calm himself. "Okay then, we'll talk about this another time. I have to go. Paul is waiting."

She bit her lower lip, half afraid to bring anything else up. "You haven't told him about it yet, have you? About your Embrace..." She waited for some reply, but the only one that came was the sound of the door closing behind him.

"Damn you Jesse." She whispered under her breath. She was not going to be responsible if he was hurt again. She wasn't going to comfort him from the consequences of his procrastination. It just wouldn't work this time.

Sharper than Fang Part Two
Story Links
Zoo Entrance