New experiences

Author: Zalen Honowithe

Date: 06-10-03 15:34

Zalen had watched the scene unfold before him. When the man he had followed had looked straight at him he had frozen, like a deer caught in headlights. Then she turned to look at him it seemed. Suddenly the naked feeling became even more prominent but he never moved. Only when she looked away once more did he move. Just to make sure he was indeed clothed. Which he was.

He continued to watch, at first the male she accompanied had interested him. But she now drew his attention. She was inticing to say the least. And the ambition that her eye's held were something that he had not seen in many. So when she tugged the boy off with her his curioisity had in fact gotten the best of him. Keeping as carefully hidden as possible. As she and the boy had moved into the room he had silently slipped in shortly behind as they had entered the room, their backs to him. he watched now from behind some tapestries that were hung on the wall.

Watching her seduce the boy who drew closer and debated on revealing himself before they got to into their love making. Only then did he see that this was not what he had at first thought. It was a banquet yes.. but one that he should not be witness to, or should he?

As she drank from him he let out a near breathless whisper "what the hell...." *he froze in his place as he spoke fearing to be made out and become the next that this woman would dine on. Like a child caught with his hand in a cookie jar he stood there, his eye's transfixed on the scene before him, not even breathing.

***

Identities Questioned?

Author: Deianira

Date: 06-10-03 21:16

The woman known as Laura did well in calming the fears of Deianira. She was still a bit shaken after her ordeal in the parking lot and then finding herself in this strange house.

Laura reassured her and for Deianita to follow her. Deianira hesitated at first.

Laura reached out and took Deianira's hand in hers.

"Don't be affraid" laura said in a calming voice.

Then Laura headed down the hall of the mansion with Deianira in tow.

As they were walking a thought suddenly came to Deianira and she said in a quiet whisper "Why did you call them your Master and Mistress?

Where are we headed to?

Whose house is this?

Finally after several questions lauara stopped and turned and looked Deianiria in the eyes and and put her finger to her lips.

"Shhh, enough now girl, no more questions. All your questions will be ansewered soon".

***

Chaperon

Author: Sir Guillaume FitzHenry

Date: 06-11-03 05:56

Guillaume cannot help but chuckle at Narcissa's seductive humor. She truly has a flair for the hunt. It astounds Guillaume how quickly she has adapted to her new predatory life.

She lures her prey out of the parlor and across the hall to the dinning room. Guillaume likewise leaves the parlor, but not to follow them. He has no desire to see his Chylde with any man, not even a mortal from whom she will feed. Guillaume moves to the foot of the grand staircase and leans casually against the banister. It would not do to have one of the human girls come down and learn what their Mistress calls dinner.

A fleeting movement in the shadows catches Guillaume's eye, and he sees the as yet unidentified stranger slip into the darkened dining room. The anonymous guest moves with the innate stealth of the Kindred, but clumsily executed. A fledgling? But then where is its Sire?

Guillaume himself moves up the hallway, although with complete silence. Waiting outside the diningroom, he hears the groggy moan of Narcissa's victim, his pain and fear dulled by loss of blood.

Guillaume then perceives the surprised curse of the stranger. How very curious. It is as if this young Kindred does not understand the nature of the Sanctuary he can rightfully call home.

***

Interruptions

Author: NarcissaDAvalon

Date: 06-11-03 06:37

The handsome young meal was not quite dead yet, still plenty of blood to be had, and yet she was filling on his sweet blood. Of course, she would fatten herself and take it all, but she was taking her time on this one enjoy it quite throughouly, until the quiet voice of a young man rang out from one of the walls...."what the hell?"...It was a voice that did not seem scared, but more...amazed.

She withdrew her fangs from the moaning boy allowing him to slump to the floor in an unconscious state. It was the stranger, she knew this instantly. She slid from the strong table top and followed his essence to the tapestry in which he was hiding. She grabbed his arm and pulled him out into the open room, and he did not seem to resist too much. Small droplets of blood trickled down her chin as she hadn't even had time to finish and clean up.

"You...Who are you and why are you watching me?"

He could easily tell by her accent and body language that she was not an elder vampire. She was a woman of modern times, perhaps brought here just as ackwardly as he is now, a kindred spirit of sorts. And now, he was in the open, exposed and having to explain himself.

***

The Hidden One

Author: Mat

Date: 06-11-03 08:40

It did not take long for Mat and Somatra to catch up on each other's lives, although they had worked together before, (and briefly met many times in the past,) after the destruction at Sparta they had largely gone thier seprate ways and little of thier lives in the intervening years had held much of intrest for the other. Somatra was always drawn a bit to destruction, it made Mat wonder a bit at what was to happen here. There were almost too many possibilities, and she was having trouble seeing her way through them. She thought idly and longingly of a lovely little island that she knew of near Rarotonga, uninhabited by all save seabirds and the occasional stranded sailor, she had wintered there many times before, when particularly troubled by events.

But with a student, she did not have the luxury of withdrawal. And because of the nature of the student, Sanctuary was even more important than isolation. She should count herself very lucky indeed that so many ancients were around. Not only could Mat brush up on her social skills, but the child could learn some too. And there were those around that she could actually talk to, events that she could remember with them, memories that she could relate to. Maliciousness was all fine and good, pranks and jokes and the occasional boon or blessing did give you something to do, but how long, in all reality could you carry on that way? After a while, even murder and extinction got boring. And when half the creatures on land and sea were terrified of you, how did you actually hold a conversation with anybody?

Like the phuka she had run into on the way here. She'd caught it, and held it a good while trying to find out something, anything about the world that she now found herself in. The poor thing had been pissing down it's legs in terror, and shuddering so bad that it developed a stutter and she was only able to make out about one word in every three. Finally she had released it, none the wiser and a great deal inconvenienced. She'd caught a Nightmare later, and asked it some of the same questions, but gotten little or no help there either. Not the 'Mare's fault, they'd always been about as intelligent as the rocks they nested on. Given the isolation that she faced in her own home by the very nature of who she was and what she could do, combined with the emptiness of any contact that she had had within the last few hundred years, was it any wonder that she'd been in a temper when she'd arrived?

The conversation in the room had ground to a halt, and Mat felt a bit exposed, as if those in the near vicinity had seen and were now judging her thoughts. It was a rediculous thought, she would have felt the tug at her mind had someone tried to read her as such, but Somatra knew her as well as anyone living possibly could, and the Vampiress Violet had some powerful and innate empathic abilities so those two might have been picking something up, but the male that remained in the room was entirely too absorbed in the here-and-now to have any inkling of what was going through her head. Still, Mat did not like feeling so naked in company of this sort, and so after ordering Asha to stay where she was, Mat excused herself, and left the room for the hall.

The Vampire from last night was standing at the bottom of the stairs, not (as she had expected) feeding with his Childe. Of course, every Childe was different, just as some that she had seen had had to be force-fed by thier Masters, or in one case helped to learn how to correctly feed, others picked such skills up immediately, in some cases never spilling so much as a single drop of blood. Narcissa must be one of those, an inner darkness in the girl that she had been had instantly adapted to her new life and the new society that she had found herself a part of. Good for her, it was always best for offspring to be inherently intelligent. Of course, it was also dependant upon the Master's selection of such potential offspring, but very few who chose the unintelligent lived long enough to endanger the rest of the various communities. She knew, she'd taken care of a few problems herself from time to time. "FitzHenry," she said, "that's a Norman name, isn't it?" She sighed, and walked to stand beside him so that she could see what he was looking at, and got to a vantage position just in time to see Narcissa drop the man she had been feeding on to the floor. "I don't suppose the hidden one has decided to show himself just yet?"

***

An Explanation... Sort of...

Author: Laura Anne von Hoeffner

Date: 06-11-03 13:29

"Why did you call them your Master and Mistress?"

Deianira had asked the question among another hysterical outburst, but it sticks in Laura's mind, reverberating now with her own voice. Laura almost answers because they told me to, but Deianira's continuing desperate inquiries keep Laura silent long enough to realize that this answer simply begs the same question.

"Shhh," Laura finally insists, hoping a bit of silence will help her confront the disconcerting issues Deianira raises. "Enough now girl; no more questions. All your questions will be answered soon."

Laura actually winces as she says this, realizing how trite it must sound. Who is she trying to convince, Deianira or herself? The fact is, Laura really has no answers, neither to Deianira's questions, nor her own.

Why do I call them Master and Mistress? For so many days now that she's lost count, Laura has felt like she has lost all control of her life. Here she is, living in a remote mansion among strangers, and not even sure why.

"I didn't plan to stay," Laura says softly, as much to herself as to Deianira. Laura's eyes focus well beyond the walls of the large bedroom. "I just came looking for Belle... But Tricia thought we should stay.... She said we were needed here... desired... She said Narcis... Mistress Narcissa would be crushed if we left her. Tricia refused to go... And Mistress Narcissa had been so kind to us... so generous...."

Laura takes a deep breath and shudders slightly. She glances around the room, which, despite Deianira's minor vandalism, remains the epitome of plush opulence. Suddenly, the troubled look on her face is replaced with a wide, bright smile, and Laura actually giggles slightly as she continues.

"After all, who wouldn't want to stay here?! I never imagined I'd live in such luxury. It's like a fairy tale palace! And... It's been...."

Suddenly Laura blushes and looks down at the floor, a shy smile still dimpling her cheeks. "Um... It's just a really interesting place to live."

***

Eavesdroppers

Author: Sir Guillaume FitzHenry

Date: 06-12-03 06:22

"FitzHenry."

Guillaume turns at the sound of his name.

"That's a Norman name, isn't it?" SkillMistress Syntyche whispers as she joins him in the hallway outside the diningroom. The inquiry is obviously mere small-talk, as she immediately changes to a more material subject, nodding toward the drama on the other side of the wide, arched doorway. "I don't suppose the hidden one has decided to show himself just yet."

As though to answer her, Narcissa's growl echos into the corridor, directed to the unseen Kindred in the diningroom. "You! Who are you and why are you watching me?!"

Guillaume playfully raises an eyebrow toward Syntyche and chuckles softly. "Now it gets interesting."

***

Assured Self-Deception

Author: Laura Anne von Hoeffner

Date: 06-12-03 14:26

Laura can see how reminding Deianira of the rare privilege of being a guest in a palatial mansion has helped the frightened young woman accept her unaccustomed surroundings. The blonde girl's gaze scans the richly paneled walls, the plush oriental rugs, the huge canopied bed.

"Yes... it is like a fairytale palace," Deianira says somewhat dreamily.

Unknown to either woman, both are under the effects of the vampiric essence which has spread throughout their bloodstreams. While it has not yet taken as firm of a hold of Deianira's psyche and it has of Laura, it nonetheless has started to influence the new arrival's thinking.

In Deianira's case, the sole source of the essence is the Vampire Guillaume FitzHenry, who at that moment is in the corridor almost directly below her bedroom. This unrecognized proximity subconsciously soothes the woman, reawakening his prior hypnotic suggestion that she would be safe with him, making her feel at home.

"I think this is a fabulous place," Deianira sighs, blushing in shame when her eyes come to rest on the chair she had broken trying to escape. "I guess I am lucky to be here."

Laura tilts her head. "You said the last thing you remember was being in an alley. Where were you going? Where had you been?"

"I'd been at a bar," Deianira replies uncertainly, as if straining to remember. "My car broke down again... Wouldn't start... And I was walking home. There was someone... a man...."

Laura chuckles and smiles knowingly. "It sounds like you had a little too much to drink and some gallant soul brought you here to sleep it off. You're lucky he didn't take advantage of you!"

"No... That's not it," Deianira insists. Her forehead furls as though she is trying to recall a distant, fuzzy memory. "I was not drunk. I remember. I did not drink much.... There was a man... two men... a struggle... I fell...."

"You must have hit your head," Laura suggests. "Been knocked out.... Then someone brought you here so you'd be safe."

"I guess that makes sense," Deianira replies slowly. "I must have hit my head. I know I cut my knee. Some one... a man... offered to help me... said I'd be safe... but I guess I passed out. When I woke, I found myself here.... Good thing I wasn't taken by some hooligan! I'm lucky that the guy who found me took care of me. I wonder where he is. I would like to thank him."

"There are several real gentleman in this house... Master Guillaume, of course, and some staff and guests." Laura looks down at Deianira's legs and chuckles again. "You must have really hit your head, though. It has you imagining things. You said you cut your knee. There's not a scratch on either of them!"

Deianira's mouth drops open and she quickly looks down at her knees.

"But I am sure that I fell... I remember the man wiping the blood from my leg.... I don't get it. Maybe I was dreaming."

Laura smiles sympathetically. "You're mind sure can play tricks on you at times!"

Laura, of course, remains completely unaware just how true that is in her case, having been completely beguiled into the service of a nest of vampires. Nor can she recognize that her new friend inevitably faces the same bittersweet thralldom. With an innocent smile and a little shrug, Laura leads the still confused Deianira out of the bedroom and into her new, unimaginable, life.

***

RE: Interruptions

Author: Zalen Honowithe

Date: 06-12-03 16:11

Zalen's eye's darted around for possible escape routes, before resigning to the fact that he was caught. He looks back at her and holds himself up straight, her grip on his arm tight and stronger then what he had expected, but he stood his ground.

"My name is Zalen Honowithe. I came here for.. well in all truth I don't know exactly why. I was drawn here."

His speech never falters as he looked at the small crimsion crystal drops of blood still on her chin. He was strangly drawn to it and more then acutely aware of the strange hunger. But he forces the feeling aside for now to look once more into the eye's of his captor.

"Who are you then..? and what were you doing to the boy?"

He lightly cocked his head to the side, his manner now one of curiosity rather then the guiltyness of being a place he should not be. His form is relaxed and no longer tensed to flee or hide. He was surprisingly calm even to himself. this he kept hidden as well. The fact that he felt at home here both unnerved and pleased that finally after his search he perhaps had a home.

***

New Blood

Author: NarcissaDAvalon

Date: 06-12-03 18:38

She had brought him into the low light and let go of his arm. Zalen Honowithe...and he didn't know why he was here. She looked into his gaze and smelled of his essence. She took great notice of the fact that his concentration was not on her eyes, cleavage or body, but the droplets of blood that seeped down her chin. He was not mortal....but was he immortal? It was difficult for her to make that judgement considering she was new to this game as well. Should she tell him then if she's not sure? Now she felt as if she was the one in a most precarious situation. What if he was a hunter? Did such things exist? What if he was going to drive a stake or something in her heart? What if she was the one that gave away all of their identities and put their lives at risk?

She started to back away from him now, her face twisting into an almost panicked state. She almost tripped over the unconscious boy, as she stepped around him kneeling to his side.

"I'm....I'm Narcissa."

Dammit, she thought, where is Guillaume? Why isn't he interrupting yet? Surely he could tell this person was so close to his lover.

"I don't think anyone knows why they are drawn here until they figure out who or what...they really are."

If he was a hunter, he was bound to play games with her first, get more information out of her. She decided to start the dance first and toy with him. Just to test him, to see if he was kindred like the rest of them. She propped her hand under the boys neck exposing the open wound and spirals of blood down his neck. Surely the scent of such an offering to eat would draw him to do such a thing if he was indeed kindred. If not...she hoped Guillaume would come in quickly.

***

Offering Opportunity

Author: Sir Guillaume FitzHenry

Date: 06-13-03 06:15

Guillaume, with SkillMistress Syntyche at his side, remains hidden in the hallway shadows outside the diningroom, silently watching as Narcissa introduces herself to Zalen, the Fledgling who has come so secretly to the manor.

Narcissa explains, "I don't think anyone knows why they are drawn here until they figure out who, or what, they really are."

Narcissa then offers the bleeding neck of the unconscious human to Zalen.

"Most inspired!" Guillaume whispers in approval. He then glances at Syntyche, who is observing the encounter keenly. "My Chylde is a natural leader, wouldn't you say?"

***

Sharpened Observations

Author: Mat

Date: 06-13-03 11:15

Although Mat could feel the uncertainty (and to a lesser degree anxiety) coming off of the Vampiress in waves, she had to admit that the girl was certainly clever and brave enough to lead, and to do it well. But how carefully would she balance potential risks against potential gains? An example of her abilities in that regard was about to be displayed right before her.

Narcissa had introduced herself to the new 'guest', and was attempting to draw him out a bit. Although she currently had little to none of the intuitive powers that Violet so passively exuded, she seemed to have gotten something from this new Vampire and began to cautiously back away. Mat tensed a fraction, ready to act if necessary.

Narcissa, showing more confidence than Mat would have expected to see from someone so distressed, continued to make small talk with the strange new Vampire male. Although her unceartainty increased by the moment, she rather admirably forged ahead. Mat watched as Narcissa offered the boy's neck to the half-starved Kindred. "Most inspired!" Guillaume whispered approvingly. "My Chylde is a natural leader, wouldn't you say?"

"Every leader must know when to advance and when to retreat, or at least have an advisor who knows such." Mat replied coldly. "Are you that advisor, sir, or is this merely another test?" The strange Vampire tensed, perhaps at the smell of the blood, perhaps not. Without her noticing, Mat's body tensed as well, in sympathy. The sympathy that the snake shares with the bird seconds before pulling it out of the air to be consumed; the sympathy of the huntress with her prey. "He will make his move soon..." she said in a voice so still and small it was more like the gentle susurus of a breath than actual speech. "If he attacks her stay behind me, I can come to her aid before even you can be at her side."

***

Temptation

Author: Zalen Honowithe

Date: 06-13-03 14:22

Zalen listens intently to Narcissa, hanging on every word she speaks his eye's going from the drop's of blood to her lips as she speaks.

"Well met Narcissa.."

His voice calm and collected but the more he stood there the more the feeling attacked his defences. Put he continued to push the feeling down. At first putting aside the feeling of hunger for the moment he watches Narcissa back up and nearly trip over the boy on the floor. Now he was curious. He was the intruder and she was afraid. From her grip she had on him she was much stronger then she let on.. a ploy? perhaps he thought.

When she went and propped her hand under the boys neck to exposing the open wound and the slight blood down his neck, he nearly immediately took a step forward but halted in mid-stride. His facial features contorted visibly as he fought the sudden almost irresistable urge to tear at the boy's neck. He glanced between both the boy and Narcissa his thought singular. "Is this.. what I am now? Is this what makes me drawn to them?"

He continues to fight but it is a loosing battle and he takes another hesitant half step towards Narcissa and the boy.

***

Checkmate

Author: NarcissaDAvalon

Date: 06-14-03 17:33

She could sense his needs as he seemed to draw closer to her and the boy. Now would be the time to find out if he was friend or foe, and pushed back long fiery curls to see the expressions on his face. She curled her voice into a sweet whisper as she urged the body up a bit.

"Zalen, perhaps you could help me. He's still alive, but I'm not sure if he's breathing. I think he might have had an accident in the kitchen or something."

She stood up a bit now, moving to prop herself on her knees while pushing the body of the boy over a bit to make room.

"I don't really know a lot of medical stuff...do you think you could lean down and see if you hear anything? Maybe listen to his heart?"

She knew if she could lure him close enough to the body, she could force him to eat if he were kindred. The resistance would be almost unimaginable if he was hungry enough and could pull it off....she knew she certanly would not able to resist the smell and sound of such sweet blood if she had to get that close.

Should he break down, he would surely not want to show any weaknesses in front of her, and now is the opportunity for her to get him to confess what he is. The strong feeling of him being kindred nagged at her, and if he was one, she wanted him to admit it....to share his kindred spirit with her, with all of them.

***

Futility.. and a taste..

Author: Zalen Honowithe

Date: 06-14-03 20:31

Zalen watched her prop the body up and he took another half step towards her. He listened to her words. But they were lies. She was playing a game. He had seen her drink the boy's blood. He had seen the blood on her chin and lips. It was still there. Haunting him. Calling forth a silent challenge, calling forth an offering. One which he was quickly succumbing to.

He nodded in assent, playing the game only for a little while.

"Yes Narcissa.."

He crouched and pressed his two fingers to the side of the boy's neck to feel for a pulse. He thought he did but was not sure, so he lowered his right ear to the boy's chest and listened. Yes.. there it was. He had thought so. The boy was alive.. barely. He needed a hospital, and badly. He looks up to Narcissa and his internal battle doubled twofold seeing the same blood as before. But he manages a few words.

"He is alive. But he needs a hospital and very quickly. He has lost alot of blood.."

He trailed off on the last word as he finally noticed some blood on his fingers. He hadn't noticed the blood when hechecked for the pulse. But now he did. He looked at it and was transfixed on it. He stared at it. Immediately revolted by it, yet at the same time desiring it. His eye's dart between Narcissa's and the bloodied fingers. He was confused as to what to do. Finally he closed his eye's and surrendered slightly to the feeling. He brought the bloody fingers to his mouth and carefully tasted the blood from the tip's of his fingers...

***

Newest family member

Author: NarcissaDAvalon

Date: 06-15-03 13:58

She watched closely as he carefully inspected the body, able to hold back from merely diving into her victim, and she felt alarmed as he spoke.

"He is alive. But he needs a hospital and very quickly. He has lost alot of blood.."...Why would he even care if he was kindred? There was no way this meal was going to be patched and sent to a hospital, as even if they did patch him up, he would have to become another slave as her essence would only bring him back to the mansion...something she was not willing to take on right now.

"Hospital huh..well, there isn't really any in the area and I don't think he would make it anyways."

He was now looking at the blood on his fingers and she wondered if he was analyzing this situation...the hunter. He was not feasting, and he was not acting like a normal kindred...not that she had really been exposed to many anyways, but what kindred could resist a free meal?

"Well, maybe we should just...." Before she could even finish, he had stuck his fingers in his mouth, tasting of the vibrant liquid. The sign she wanted...the key to relax. He was one of them...at least she thought so. She knew in modern times, no hunter or investigator would merely taste the blood of someone in need...god only knows what's out there now a days...only a kindred would enjoy such libations from the mortal race.

"Maybe we should just continue to drain him...Zalen." ...Her gaze fixes on his urging him to finish off the boy. She now sits and leans back against the table leg propping up her legs and resting her arms on her knees.

"How have you managed to resist this long? I mean, after all...you are ...hungry. Right?"

A wicked laugh escapes her lips, luring Zalen closer, urging him closer to the situation, and pushing him over the edge. She certainly does not look lady like in her current position sitting on the floor and perhaps, if he looks hard enough, he would likely see her care free nature prevents her from wearing any under garments. She had always used sex to get her way, and this time was no different. Perhaps he would find her voice, body and laugh, alluring enough to relax and enjoy a good meal....if he were indeed kindred. She lowered her voice and continued to stare into his reflective gaze.

"Come on Zalen...no time like the present. Finish him off."

***

Benign Mystery

Author: Sir Guillaume FitzHenry

Date: 06-16-03 06:30

A predatory grin brightens Guillaume's face as he watches Narcissa seduce Zalen to share not in the pleasures of her body, but in the delectation of absorbing the life force of another.

SkillMistress Syntyche's earlier odd comment about a possible attack upon Narcissa -- too much of a non sequitur, from a Kindred point of view, to register with him at first -- finally works its way into Guillaume's comprehension.

"You see," Guillaume says lowly, still not wanting to interrupt the interactions inside the diningroom. "There was never any concern about him doing violence, at least not to any of us. But we do face another problem. How has it come to pass that we have a Fledgling here with no sign of its Sire? This is most unusual."

***

Mystery Story, or Horror?

Author: Mat

Date: 06-16-03 08:26

"You see," Guillaume says lowly, "There was never any concern about him doing violence, at least not to any of us. But we do face another problem. How has it come to pass that we have a Fledgling here with no sign of its Sire? This is most unusual."

Mat turned her head to look at him. Didn't he know that there was always a chance of an attack? Humans attacked humans, fae attacked fae, why would Vampires be any different? And the simple facts were that this Zalen fellow had followed Guillaume to the Manor, hidden himself and spied on the company. What did they know really about the newest 'guest'? Only that he was here, and here alone. Only that he seemed to not know what he was, or how to behave, it looked like he didn't even know how to feed himself. And yes, there was that troubling lack of a Sire.

"We don't know anything about him, only that he is here, and that he is indeed a Vampire." she turned back to watch the ongoing saga in the dining room. "We know nothing of his mental state or the circumstances of his Making. That he is in fact alone and so young is troubling in itself, what is more troubling is that we have no idea of what has happened to his Sire. It is not unheard of, or it was not at one time for the Chylde to turn on thier Maker, sometimes feeding off of them to gain power and then destroying them, other times as an act of revenge when the Chylde finds how...unsuited...to thier new life they are. Just as in any other community, our world has its rouges."

She looked back at the Vampire standing beside her. "I know that it is impolite to bring up age Guillaume, but I am a great deal older than you are, and perhaps throughout time I have seen more of the ugly side of all of our natures," as she turned to go, one side of her mouth quirked upward in a self-deprecating smirk. "At times, I have trouble remembering quite how old I really am...and then I study those humans' history, and find myself rather happy that I have forgotten quite a lot of it. Vampires are born of one of the most violent and virulent species on this planet. Just because some of you take your role as 'gameskeeper' seriously, does not mean that all of you do. After all, even Jack the Ripper was turned, at the last."

***

Surrender

Author: Zalen Honowithe

Date: 06-16-03 20:33

Zalen watched her carefully, noting the un-lady like posture, but did not allow his eye's to linger on her shapely form for to long. Surprising even himself was that her laugh did not unnerve him, as he was sure that most might have been by it.

"Come on Zalen...no time like the present. Finish him off."

He looks between the two once more, his hunger still driving him, the subtle taste appealing as well. He locked his eye's on bite mark she had made and closed his eye's his mind whirling with thoughts. Without opening his eye's he leans forward slwoly. Bringing his mouth over top of the wound, he hesitates for but a moment to slowly open his eye's to look up at Narcissa as if for approval or confirmation.

He closed his eye's once more and let his fangs that he so feared to show most sink into the bite mark she made and drank, little at first, but as he drank his hunger grew and he drank deeply his grip on the boys arm and side tigthening.

He drinks for as long as he can, savoring the warm slick taste of the blood. It was sweet to his senses. The boy's pulse faded to nothing and he drew back. the boy now dead before him. He stared at the prone form of the boy for some time. Before lifting his eye's from the boy to Narcissa's feet. His gaze still rising up her form until it rests on her own eye's and looks at her, deep and long. Not menacing in the elast, but a strange look almost as if it was a dawning of knowledge.

***

Accumulated Wisdom

Author: Sir Guillaume FitzHenry

Date: 06-17-03 06:13

"If you will pardon me," Guillaume says softly to Syntyche. "It is time for me to assist. You are certainly welcome to join me, if you wish."

Narcissa has done all that can be expected of her when confronting a lost Fledgling, something extraordinary in the experience of any Kindred. Narcissa has acted with remarkable wisdom and grace. Guillaume knows, however, that it is time for him to contribute his centuries of accumulated knowledge to this delicate situation.

The Fledgling's back is to him as it feeds. Silently, Guillaume enters the dining room and takes a seat in one of the extra chairs set against the near wall. His pride in Narcissa is fully evident in the warm smile he offers her.

***

Young and old

Author: NarcissaDAvalon

Date: 06-17-03 06:49

Such sweet delights. She enjoyed this sight of Zalen taking the rest of this poor boy more then she could have ever imagined. It excited her to watch someone like Zalen feasting on the young innocent, someone like her. New, inexperienced, but she knew what she was. For some reason, he didn't. Why would he deny himself the feast, why would he hesitate eating when he could fill his belly and strengthen himself? Those were questions only he could answer, and she was not entirely sure he could do that.

She propped up on her knees as he feasted, stroking his lush hair with her fingernails, encouraging him to finish off the boy with a soft loving touch. As if to tell him that his life was now right. She also felt Guillaume enter the room and looked over her shoulder to him as Zalen feasted. She noticed his smile in the dark of the room and offered a smile in return. How she enjoyed her lover so close to her, and it took everything in her will not to leave Zalen's side to join Guillaume in the corner to caress his lips with kisses. She was full herself, her hunger sated, for now, and her need for Guillaume's attentions were now strong. But it was more important that they find out who Zalen was and welcome him into their community.

Zalen sat up as the boy lie there dead. A flush came to his cheeks as his hunger dwindled to confusion and wonderment. She purred to him, still running her fingers through his hair as she sat up now on her knees.

"Welcome Zalen. This can be your home if you let it. This is only the tip of the iceburg of what you can have here."

Her words were strong, and had many many meanings, enough to let any young man realize his desires and fantasies could be filled in a place like this, but she would not state that right now as she was sure he was not ready to even hear it. Those pleasures would have to wait, as it was time for Guillaume to help. There was really nothing else she could do for him, as she had already lured him from the shadows of the old mansion. Now it was time for someone more experienced to take over, for it was very clear any wrong question could cause Zalen to either attack for flee...both of which could be dangerous for their small coven in the woods.

***

The Watcher

Author: Mat

Date: 06-17-03 09:55

She struggled to decide whether to stay or to go. On the one hand, she had a student to see to, on the other, little as these two overconfident Vampires seemed to notice, they could still be in danger from this newcomer. What had happened to his Sire? Vampires didn't just walk off and leave thier Fledglings to fend for themselves, so something must have happened. In cases were the Sire had been destroyed fighting for the life of his or her Childe it was always painfully obvious what the circumstances had been, and such Vampires always seemed to carry around a heavy sense of guilt, as if it had somehow been thier fault. That was not the feeling that she got from this new Vampire, but neither was any of the smug self-righteousness she had seen in those that had turned on and slain thier own Sires. The troubling fact of the matter was that he had seemed to not know what he was, even now, he did not seem to realise the full implications of what he had become.

And when Narcissa told him? Or would that explanation be left to Guillaume? Either way, they could still be in danger, and if they were, this entire Sanctuary could be. Little as she liked the land, Mat didn't know of any places that offered the same protection that this one place did, under the sea. There was one that came close, but that was not a secret that she was ready to share just yet. And so, her first priority must be to this Manor, and not to her self, her student, or even any of the other inhabitants. The integrity of Sanctuary here at the manor must be maintained no matter what the cost to its individual guests. She sent a command to Asha. The girl would have to learn her manners another night, for now, she could see to the Witch, and they would both be out of her hair.

For now, Mat would watch the goings on in the dining room.

***

New life

Author: Zalen Honowithe

Date: 06-17-03 15:24

"Welcome Zalen. This can be your home if you let it. This is only the tip of the iceburg of what you can have here."

He gazed at her, his feeding finished and he regained his wits and calmness. He followed her occassional glances behind him and discovered the man he had followed was also present and viewing. He thought to himself "How long has he been here? Am I to be like him?" He shooks his head slightly and looked back at Narcissa. Right now she drew his attention. He had played her game, now perhaps he should ask his questions.

"My home? What is my home?

Zalen regarded her now cooly and rose carefully, his gaze never breaking as he stared at her eye's boring into them it seemed. trying to discover what hidden intents, fears, and desires she had. Whether he discovered what he was looking for no one knew except for him. But he continued the game she had started even tho she perhaps had ceased it.

"And what is it I can have then?"

His tone was calm and unwavering. The question simple and to the point with no chance of misinterpretation. The meaning behind the question was blatant curiousity, at least that was what was evident. As for him him realizing his fantasies and desires, they were his own, and no other would truly know them.

He occasionally cast a brief glance at the man behind him, to assure his location and his motives perhaps. Either way he was prepared, but his form seemed relaxed and loose.

***

Welcome News

Author: Sir Guillaume FitzHenry

Date: 06-18-03 06:45

"My home? What is my home?" the lost Fledgling asks as he rises to face Narcissa. He displays a certain tension, but no threat. He is obviously already instinctively aware that he has settled among his own kind. "And what is it I can have then?"

He then glances back at Guillaume.

The Vampire responds with a warm, welcoming smile. "Your home is among people who understand, share and appreciate your true nature. This luxurious mansion is a sanctuary for those like us."

Guillaume leans back casually in the chair as he concludes, "As for what you can have here... why, it's noting less than immortality."

***