We set out in short order. After leaving Clem’s grounds, the terrain was less cooperative. I was able to lead us through faint trails use by the wildlife that ventured this close and avoid tangles with the underbrush. Richard trampled along behind me noisily. I handed him a bottle of water I had brought along.  

“Here, drink it slowly and be a little quieter.” I told him. He accepted the water without a word.  

For quite some time the boy followed me, managing to be a little quieter, though the noises he made still filled my ears. Every snap of twig was shadowed by a grunt, or a skipped heartbeat. At first, when he took a drink he sipped cautiously, slurping more as we progressed. I heard him gulp the last mouthful greedily. By the time I spotted the ruins of the mill, Richard was panting laboriously. He still clung to the bottle I had given him, though it was empty now.  

“We made good time. Come sit down, you need to eat something.” He sat down in a huff and watched me as I pulled out a small package of spiced jerky. He looked at me without enthusiasm. “Come on, I know you're hungry. Eat it." 

I sat down beside him and handed it over. He took it and looked at it. He tore open the package and sniffed at it.  

“Don't choke on it!” I warned him as he started to devour the strip of meat. I glanced around. Aside from the sound of Richard's teeth pulling at the meat and his jaw chewing at the pieces, the area was virtually silent. The night sky was partially overcast. Patches of stars twinkled, and presently a three quarter moon shone down on us from above. The sound of Richard smacking his lips and finishing off the jerky distracted me. I looked over at him.  

“Sorry. I didn't think I was that hungry. It was really good—made my mouth water.”  

“I noticed.” My eyes lingered as he licked his lips. “Here have another.”  

“Thanks.” He smiled and stuffed the wrapper in his pocket and grabbed the second.  

I nodded and looked away. I peered into the surrounding wooded area and saw nothing in the dark there. Part of me imagined Clem watching us now, doubtful as it was.  

“How are you doing?” Richard's voice wavered just above a whisper.  

“Me? Why do you ask?” I was genuinely confused by the question.  

“Well…” He hesitated to continue. 

“You mean… am I hungry?” I studied his face. He looked away shyly. “Are you offering?” 

I realized then that I hadn't fed fully in the past couple of days. With the excitement of late, it wasn't surprising. Though what was surprising was how my hunger and thirst weren't raging. I was sitting next to Richard, who seemed to steadily gaining his strength, and we were for the moment totally secluded. I turned to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.  

“I don't want you offering yourself to me just because you feel compelled. We tend to have that effect on humans that remain near us. So, for your own well being, don't feel like you have to do me any favours. I can hold my own.”  

“But…” His eyes met mine. Something in them unsettled me. “I’m I—I like it…”  

I thought about this for a moment, then in a flash I pushed him back and pinned him to the dark moist ground behind us with my body. Instinctively he struggled, and I sensed a spike of fear followed closely by a wave of anxiety. And then, in its wake, was something else. The ends of my hair brushed against his face I was so close. His quick breaths washed over my face. He had closed his eyes and was now biting his lip. I let my mouth hover over his. Slowly he relaxed, and opened his eyes. I pulled back an inch so he could focus on me. He looked so pale in the moonlight, but I saw him blush suddenly. I shifted my body in shock.  

He does like it! I could literally smell the hormones flood his body.

“You twisted little bastard!” The words slipped out of my mouth under my breath. I didn't mean it in any negative way, but I simply was taken aback. I would have been in denial if my senses weren't convincing me otherwise. Richard's face scrunched up and he looked away.  

“No, no. I didn't mean… I mean, I… Sorry.” I relinquished my hold on him and simply straddled him. He started to twist around and slip from underneath me.  

“Richard.” I reached and brushed my fingers along the back of his neck. I saw the shiver jolt along his body. He stopped and looked over his shoulder.  

“What?” He asked with a scowl.  

I shook my head, as if that action alone could describe it all. I wanted to say quite a few things right then. And I nearly did. I was distracted by a sound. Something was approaching  fast. 

“Hmmm,” I looked towards the sound. “It appears that our chariot has arrived.”  I stood and watched the horizon. I could spot something, inconspicuously small, yet growing and taking shape quickly. Richard scrambled to his feet and followed my gaze. He didn't spot it until it was almost upon us, and by then I realized why the sound of it bothered me.  

The chopper was unlike any I've seen. It was sleek, compact and exceedingly nimble. It darted towards us like a mechanical insect. The pilot swerved and reined it in so sharply, it seemed as though it was going to soar upwards above us. The whirlwind it created beat at the both of us, knocking Richard into me. It turned about and settled dexterously over the ground in front of us. It touched down and its high pitched hum changed radically. The sheer blur of its rotating blades slowed to a dull droning sound. A section of the side of the chopper slide away. Inside lights blinked on, and a small figure jumped out. She was almost as short as Clem was, but her tiny frame was lithe and far from delicate. As she crossed the distance between the machine and us, she pulled off her helmet, which looked more like a motorcyclist's helmet. In fact her suit resembled much like biker’s leathers.  

She stopped a few feet from us and regarded me pleasantly, ignoring her short cropped hair whipping around her face.  

“She's a bute, ain't she?” I couldn't place her accent, but I noticed that this woman was kindred immediately. “It's a new Legend Aria 2340-c.”  

“Indeed.”  

“My name is Cassa. You must be Viktor.” 

“I am.” I inclined my head. I couldn't tell how old she Was, but I figured she was perhaps around my age. “This is Richard."  

“Hi.” She nodded in his direction. I noticed how quickly she took stock of the boy in once fleeting glance. Richard gave her a shy smile.  

“Right. We need to jet. Pronto. So if you'll follow me.”  She turned and headed back to the craft. Inside the fancy chopper was not what I'd call roomy, but it was designed well enough to avoid being cramped. Cassa indicate that we should strap in.  

“If you get motion sickness, then I recommend these handy little things.” She tossed us a couple of bags. I caught them and placed them on my lap. I was sure that I wouldn't get sick. Motion sickness isn't something we had to worry about. Richard on the other hand, I wasn't so sure. The tone of the whirling blades rose and within seconds that high pitched hum cocooned us, though it was lessened by the insulated cabin of the chopper. Cassa waited for nothing, the machine leapt up and forward. I handed over a bag to Richard and he grasped it tightly.  

The seats Richard and I were in faced each other with our backs to the outside. I watched Cassa's form; the illumination from the controls shone off her suit and helmet. From what I could see out through her window we were dashing along the landscape just above the trees and hills. She swerved a lot which didn't help Richard. Worse, she dipped and jumped along the way causing much more discomfort, even to me. Surprisingly, Richard didn't use the bag. Though his hands twisted and pulled at it nervously.  

The next time the chopper made contact with anything it was a low pad part of a stone and brick building on a slight rise much like the mill. We stepped off onto a wide courtyard accessed by the third level of what was known as The Cottage. The five story building was a partially reconstructed castle built from the ruins of an old secluded fort that had gone almost a century of disuse and neglect.  

While the chopper's engines and blades whined down, I directed Richard up the couple of steps to the terrace near the building's north-eastern wall. There, Cassa joined us and entered a large conservatory where we were met by a tall man.  

“Expedient as ever Cassa.”  

“I like to call it speedy, myself.”  

“A simple preference in vocabulary, I'm sure." The man turned to me without even glancing at Richard. “Viktor Krauss. It's excellent to have you again.”  

“Thrilled, aren't you Terrence?” 

“Master Carrington is presently en route. I will summon you when he is ready for an audience. You may retire for the moment and see to your needs.”  

I nodded my thanks and glanced around. Cassa had hung back curiously watching the housekeeper retreat from the room after closing the doors behind them.  

“Damn. that man is uncanny.”  

I looked over questioningly at Cassa. Terrence did speak in an unflappably measured pace, even when his tone varied. It was definitely unusual. 

“I mean nothing I've done so far has unnerved him in the slightest, and he's unsullied!” She glanced at Richard.  

“Maybe he's just open—minded.” I said. She scoffed at me.  

Richard was staring at various parts of the room, no doubt overwhelmed by the luxury. I placed a hand on his shoulder.  

“Come on. You still need to eat more." I lead him to the kitchen on the main floor, Cassa following us. In the kitchen I told Richard to have a seat while I looked around.  

“Cassa.” I said after a while.  

“Hmm?”

“Spit it out.” I had gotten the distinct impression she wanted to say something.  

“Spit what out?”  

I didn't say anything after that. I served up something quick for the boy, seeing as my culinary skills were something I didn't use often. 

“I thought you'd be prettier."  

“What?” The bowl of greens I was carrying thumped awkwardly onto the counter in front of Richard.  

“It's just… from what I heard, I thought you'd be really girly. Although, those clothes don't help.”  

Richard chuckled. I shot him a quieting glare before returning my attention to Cassa.  

“Not in a bad way! I was dreading meeting you. But now, I see that you're not the unruly princess I thought you were.” She was staring at me in such a way that I was confused as to which way to take her and her comments. I stood there for a good few minutes.  

“You're not so bad yourself.” I finally had said. She grinned at this and to my great surprise sat down beside Richard.  

“You should have heard some of the stories I heard.” She whispered to the boy.  

“So, where is this place?” Richard asked.  

“Eat Richard." I placed a tall glass of water in front of him and added, “and drink.”  

“Speaking of drink, I'm thirsty.” Cassa glanced over at Richard. I noticed how her eyes lingered on the mostly indiscernible marks I'd left on his neck. Her eyes flicked over at me before she rose and walked over to a large walk-in freezer in an alcove. She returned with a slim thermos, I which I knew contained blood. What kind of blood? That I did not know. She caught my glance.  

“It's distilled.” She said tactfully. Human blood was the blood that could be distilled properly for storage. I nodded her thanks, and returned my gaze to Richard who was finishing the last gulp of water before tackling the last portion of food before him.  

“Want a sip?” Cassa had twisted off the cap and handed it to me. The metallic scent of the liquid within tempted me greatly. I gritted my teeth and shook my head. She promptly drank the whole thing without pause.  

“I'm full.” Richard announced.  

“You're probably tired then.” I said.  

“Probably? He looks like he's ready to sleep through Armageddon.” Cassa was right, he looked dreadfully tired.  

“Come on. I'll put you up in my favourite room.” I had to pull him to his feet and Cassa and I both assisted him during the trip to the top floor. The whole process was made easier by the elevator installed not too far from the kitchen.  

“This is your favourite room?” Cassa asked. The room we entered was one of the smaller ones on the top floor, but it still had its own bath suit and the view was quite nice. The décor was dark with rich mahogany and royal crimson, trimmed with obsidian and gold. Cassa pulled back the plush bed coverings and I gently set Richard down on the edge of the bed. 

“You can sleep here.” 

“I feel dirty.” He mumbled sleepily. His eyes were scanning around him under heavy lids.  

“There's a bath just in the other room. You can wash there, but first sleep.” I knelt and tugged at his shoes. He leaned back and sank into the layers of down and silk.  

“I think he's officially dead to the world now.” Cassa told me from beside me, as I pulled off his socks.  

“Thanks for the newsflash.” I leaned over his body and unbuttoned his pants. Then I stared at him for a moment and grunted. “Why did he have to fall asleep so fast?”  

I struggled, but I managed to pull off his hoodie and the tee-shirt underneath. The tee-shirt was snug fitting and I nearly ripped it. The rise and fall of his bare chest was nearly hypnotic. His body odour wafted up to meet me and I gulped clenched my jaw.  

I stepped back and pulled at the bottoms of his pant legs. The pants slid off easily enough but his boxers were dragged nearly to his knees. Peripherally, I sensed Cassa reacting to the sight of the naked boy. I pulled off his underwear the rest of the way. The boy groaned and sighed heavily. It nearly sounded like words escaping his lips. I shifted his torso and limbs so that he was not hanging off the edge. The heat of his flesh sparked memories of my dream.  

Cassa cleared her throat. I blinked and pulled the blankets up to Richard's chin.  

“You've bonded.” She said simply.  

I stared at her.  

“With a human. So it's different, but it's there.”  

“What are you talking about?”  

“You and Richard.” Her eyes were on the sleeping boy. She continued as if rationalizing to herself. “If you both were turned, then it would be a bond. If you were both human then… some might call it love.”  

I laughed at this.  

“But you're kindred and he is mortal.” Her eyes found mine and I saw something in them that spoke of experience.  

“You were turned while in love, weren't you?”  

She nodded sorrowfully.  

“My first love.” She confirmed quietly. “My first love, and my first—” 

She turned and fled from the room in a rush. I let her go. Being turned was never a walk in the park, even for the lucky ones. Even for me. But what I sensed from Cassa was tragic, and still ripe with memories. 

- | -

Later, in a room not too far from the one I placed Richard, I thought. I thought about what Cassa had said. I could have thought about it for much more time had I not sensed his arrival. Quietly I made my way down into the lower levels of the cottage. I paused once to see that Richard was still asleep; curled up and somehow looking smaller than he was in that large bed. I paced myself and headed below. As I came upon the last  flight of stairs I spotted Terrence.  

“Master Carrington,” the man servant paused just noticeably, as if to consider his words. He continued, “is anxious to see you.” 

I nodded. It wasn't a complete shock to realize that I was feeling excited and anxious to see my Sire. I followed Terrence down into the bowels of the old fort. The old dungeon had been hollowed out and refurbished. It was now Carrington's private chambers whenever he came to The Cottage. At the entrance to the subterranean chambers Terrence stepped aside and motioned me forward.  

Well lit by a handful of lanterns suspended from the ceiling, the space was somewhat similar to that of Lady Clementine’s. However where Clem filled hers with delicate items of antiquity, Alabaster filled his with a number of eclectic pieces of dubious history. Though my Sire’s presence was enough to charge the air itself when he wasn't there, having him regard me as I entered was near enough to a physical blow. 

Alabaster Carrington stood languidly in the middle of the room entirely pensive, a hand lightly placed on the crystal topped cane at his side while the other hand beheld a small gadget. He wore a pristinely pressed suit of customary flourished style, something most humans would fail to see at being timelessly elegant.  

“These new phones are quite amusing, Viktor. You must have one.” After he spoke his eyes found mine. Those grey eyes regarded me uncompromisingly.  

“Sire.” I slid to one knee and bowed my head.  

“Come now, Viktor.” He chided.  

I rose and closed the distance between us. Icy silence threatened to fill the room but before I could drive it back, my Sire spoke. “I need you to tell me everything that has happened since you left.”  

I watched him as he stepped around a high-backed chair. He gazed off into empty space. He could have taken the memories from me, forced me to share them, but he did not. He could have stolen them out of me, without me ever being the wiser but instead he preferred to have me tell them—give voice to the past, even though it was recent past. I recited, as concise as I could, the events of note during my absence. 

First were the few weeks of wandering where I attempted to put as much distance as possible between him and I. Then was the couple of months I spent hopping from city to city, living on the streets. Not at my best to say the least. I noticed the subtle shift in Carrington’s visage. I moved on swiftly to the time I spent searching for a stable hideout of sorts. The first place I found was adequate, though when the neighbouring complex burned to the ground, I began my search again. It was during this time when I first ran into Richard's father.  

“Before or after this blaze, did you sense any of Us? Or any Others?”  

The interruption caught me off guard, just as much as the actual question did. I paused and thought.  

“I remember feeling very uncomfortable. I actually thought about leaving, so after the fire, I had decided to go. If there had been anyone watching me, that would explain my unease.”  

My sire studied me intently for the briefest of moments.  

“Please, continue.”  

I resumed my narrative, telling him of my time spent in that basement apartment. Very quickly I came to the events of the past few nights. At the end of my recount, silence once again taunted us. Carrington chose this moment to sit in his high-backed chair, idly fingering the crystal on his cane. 

Fatigue began to slowly creep into my body. Sunset was nearing.  

“What are your intentions with this boy?”  

“Richard.”  

“Yes.”  

“Regardless of my intentions, my choices are limited.”  

My Sire agreed with a subtle nod.  

“Whatever you're your course of action, I'll support you. Just be careful.”  

“I will. Thank you.” I sensed something unsaid from him. It was something not quite like jealousy, but close. I chose to pursue another topic.  

“What's the story with Cassa?”  

“Cassa is…a wonderful young woman. She was embraced only months after your departure, and not by me. Her Sire was an ignoramus from the lower echelons. The events immediately following her turn… well all I can say is that the ordeal was unfortunate. However, I managed, through my actions regarding other issues, to eliminate her Sire, and welcome her into our family.”  

“I see. She mentioned something earlier.”  

“If you could, I'd like you to be a friend to her. She needs it.”  

“Of course.” 

“Now, the sun has risen. We both need some rest.” 

I started to rise to my feet, the ripples of fatigue pulling at me.  

“Oh.” Alabaster added. “When you wake, please feel free to return to your customary wardrobe.”  

I glanced down at myself and chuckled. At the touch of a hand on my shoulder, I glanced over into grey eyes.  

It's good to have you back, Viktor.