The town of Eastmoor

Viktor strolled down the path, his hands stuffed in his pockets and his chestnut hair gently getting ruffled by the wind. He was wearing dark clothes, and would have shamelessly melted into the night... if not his skin had been so pale, it almost seemed to glow. His expression was calm and emotionless, although a certain degree of hunger was gleaming in his pale red eyes. The vampire glanced around, pausing and coming to a halt when he suddenly caught the scent of a human. Increasing his pace, you would have thought he would be noisier as he moved through the crunchy snow- but that was not the case. His movements were swift and graceful, not making even the slightest of sounds. A small smile started to tug the corner of his lips, and he was chuckling inwardly. Viktor could somehow tell that she would be a beautiful one... even if he hadn't seen her yet.

As he saw her laying up in the tree, his suspicions had been confirmed. However, just as he spotted her up in the tree, he also saw another vampire. A blood vampire- he could sense it... but there was something off about him. Viktor tilted his head as he watched them, a small smile of amusement flashing across his lips. So, had this whimpy looking little guy already claimed her as dinner? Viktor wondered, and thought it to be shame. He would have loved devouring this pretty little human- just a little and slowly- day by day. His family did need a new feeder anyways... the last one had died so pitifully in Raphael's care.

Sighing at the thought of his brother and racking his hand through his hair before stuffing it into his pocket, Viktor leaned against a tree trunk, still smiling in amusement. The sun had already started to rise by then. Damn the short nights, he thought, if they could just last forever... "Of course the murder rates have gone up, girl..." he said calmly, gazing at her with his sparkling but deadly eyes, "the number of vampires have increased... it's only natural," his smile widened and he glinted his fangs, a dark chuckle escaping his lips.

Arcadia shivered, and not with the cold. Her eyes were wide with confusion, her lips tinged with blue. She realized exactly what he had just said. "the number of vampires have increased." Her eyes fixed on the sharp, pointed fangs escaping from the second boy's mouth. Frozen with fear and cold, Arcadia looked up into the eyes of both boys. Red. They were both variations of red. The vision was burned into her memory with fear, and Arcadia almost couldn't move. But she had to. She stood up shakily, and only then did she realize her woolen glove had been sliced open by the fall and there was a small trickle of red across the palm of her hand.

Only then did Arcadia realize who and what she was dealing with. "Y-You a-are b-both-" She cut herself off with a short squeak of fear. She couldn't fight them - Arcadia didn't think that ballet moves and piano chords would do much harm. She couldn't run, they would most definitely be caught by them. But, exactly how fast were these vampires? Could they outrun a horse? She thought up a plan. All she needed to do was get on the horse.

She looked around, looking for some way to get out of that impossible, but deadly situation. The horse was about 20 feet away. Most likely too far. But if Arcadia stuck around she wouldn't be very alive to decide to run or not. She had to decide. And she had to decide now. She bolted across the snow towards the horse, hoping her luck would hold. Which it probably wouldn't.

Albert had yelped when the girl fell out of the tree, but she didn't seem injured. He chuckled when she asked if he was a murderer, yet before he could come up with something clever, he froze up, sensing another blood vampire nearby. When he turned to look, he recognized the vampire immediately: an Ivanov....most likely the eldest, Viktor. He hadn't seen Viktor in many years, but still remembered him. His mother kept tabs on their family all the time, seeing them as her next biggest competition besides her cousin (Albert believed the Ivanov's claim was mainly through marriage into the family, rather than bloodlines, though he wasn't sure).

Viktor, from what he remembered, wasn't the worst out of the five brothers. He had always taken on the big brother role, and was nice enough to Al. Raphael was the scary one...he remembered when his mother told him about their stepmother's death...

Yet if there was one thing Al was sure of, it was that Viktor was very practical about humans and what he thought of them. And that he was also vying for the throne.

For a moment, Albert realized that Viktor's apparent restraint might have been because the older vampire thought Al was claiming her. He started to smile, happy he had found a solution, but then the girl sprinted.

Eyes widening, he glanced back at Viktor and then the girl and then Viktor again. Albert didn't want to scare her, but if Viktor thought he was hunting the girl....

There wasn't anymore time to lose. Without thinking everything through entirely, Albert hopped down from the tree and chased after the girl, hoping he looked a little more fearsome than nervous. Catching up to her easily, he scooped her up, holding her tightly and continued running out of the field, leaping over the fence and booking it as fast as he could back towards the town, hoping Viktor wouldn't chase him.

He was breathless by the time he reached his inn. Just as he went for the door, he realized he wasn't sure whether this was the smartest idea or not....maybe he should just drop her off outside....but if Viktor was following...no, he'd let her out at noon, when the sun was highest and even he couldn't stay out for too long. He practically jumped up all the stairs to his room, opened his door (he had forgotten to lock it) and slammed it shut, locking it tightly. Only then did he finally relax and put down the girl. "You're safe now," he panted, sitting down hard on the floor and breathing heavily.

Arcadia had started screaming when the boy that had woken her up had picked her up until she had been put down. She had just whimpered in fear since then, her energy having been sapped by the cold and the struggle of the extra weight of the snow. Her lips were still a very pale blue, but since being inside her lips had turned ever so slightly pink again. Shivering, Arcadia wrapped herself into a dripping ball of melting snow, cuddling under sodden wet clothes in an effort to warm herself up. "S-so y-you a-are g-going t-to k-k-kill m-me?" She stuttered, trying to keep her composure calm, although her eyes almost screamed that she was terrified. Arcadia looked around her and saw that she was in an inn, and relaxed slightly. At least she knew where home was from here.

She realized that her hand was still bleeding, thin lines of the red liquid running down her hand and dripped onto the floor. "W-who a-are y-you? A-and w-who is t-the o-other b-b-boy? H-he'll k-kill m-m-me too." Arcadia managed to get it out without biting her tongue clean off with her chattering teeth. She was still freezing, and it was more than likely, she realized, that where there were two vampires there would be more. Besides, he had said the vampire population had risen, didn't he? So there were DEFINITELY more around. But where?

"Y-y-you aren't g-g-going to j-j-just l-let m-m-me go, are you?" Arcadia muttered. "You'll k-k-kill me or d-d-do something to m-m-my m-m-memories." She protested to herself. Nobody would believe her if she told anyone. She frowned to herself and hugged herself tightly, closing her hand into a fist and touching her chin to her chest, and pulled up the collar of her fabric coat around her neck. She may have looked stupid, but she really didn't care.

"No, no!" Albert tried to reassure her, waving his hands, "I'm not going to kill you! I'm not like the other vampires, don't worry, I'm not..."

Albert would have continued, but he was too distracted by the red that he just noticed was dripping onto the floor. Was it...no...but it smelled like it....slowly his gaze switched to the source of the red liquid, and his stomach nearly dropped.

Blood. It was blood.

He barely even heard the girl's chattering, his eyes wide as he kept staring at the blood. He was going to turn 16 very soon. In two weeks, as a matter of fact. Whatever bad cravings he had before were now nothing compared to this. The fact that he had just exerted himself did nothing to help.

Feeling himself tense up, he quickly squeezed his eyes shut and tried to calm himself. You don't need it, you don't need it he told himself, You're not like them. You don't need it.

Opening his eyes, he forced himself to focus on the girl. He noticed her shivering, and, thankful for the distraction, immediately pulled off his own coat and scarf. "Here," he said, draping them around her, "This will keep you warm. If you want to change out of your wet clothes, there's a bathroom right there," he pointed at the small door in the side of the room, "There's also a sink so you can...clean up your...." he couldn't finish, and instead went to his drawers. Pulling up a white shirt he didn't particularly like, he ripped it into strips and handed them to her, "You can wrap these around....you know..."

He took several steps away from her before motioning at her to change in the bathroom. He then quickly turned around and sat on his bed, head in hands as he tried to concentrate on anything but the blood.

Arcadia gently took the items from the boy in her good hand. The shirt was very soft on her skin, and the coat looked very warm indeed. She took off her own wet things carefully, (Which was only her coat, really) and laid them on the bed gently, before standing up slowly and shuffling towards the door he had gestured to. She reached for the door with her empty hand and pulled it open, before dropping the clothes onto the floor. She closed the door quietly, so to not disturb the boy who claimed he was not like the others. He sure did look like he was concentrating on not having her for dinner. Arcadia looked around and was relieved to find there was a shower. She turned on the hot water gratefully.

While she was in the shower, Arcadia had time to reflect on what had just happened while the hot water ran over her icy skin. Was the second boy coming to kill her? Were her parents worried? Of course they are! She thought to herself as she examined the cut on her palm. It was still bleeding slightly, even now, and it was dirty. She could clean it properly in the sink, but she removed any larger pieces of bark that had rubbed off on her skin. Arcadia realized that she was now warm, and shut off the water, and wrapped herself in her clothes and the boy's coat and scarf. It was comfortable and warm, at least.

Arcadia forced herself to look out of the window right then. She wished she hadn't. Even from here she could see the red spots in the fresh white blanket of snow, a trail of her blood leading right to the room she was staying in. A trail for the other killer to follow. Or another particularly hungry murderer. She remembered that her hand was bleeding when she looked at the windowsill and saw a tiny pool of blood forming. She picked up the cotton pieces and placed them by the side of the sink. She let herself get distracted as she washed her hands with warm water, the water turning slightly pink from the blood. She thought about the devilish handsomeness of both boys, and how she would have been happy to go with them if they hadn't let her realize exactly what they were. It was strange how she didn't notice the colour of their eyes until it was almost too late. The burning memory of the hungry pairs of eyes looking at her shook her out of her thoughts and she remembered that she was supposed to wrap up her hand. She did so, carefully wrapping the cotton strips around her hand. It soaked through the white slightly, but several strips did the job, and Arcadia had soon finished her bandaging work. It was not very neat but it worked. She took the doorknob in her hand and pushed it ever so slightly, and she crept back into the room.

Catya made her way to the inn with hasty steps. She didn't want to be caught in the sun light. Dawn was already on it's way, and she hadn't slept in three days. Catya knew she would soon go to school on human hours; she had never done that before. Anyhow, she at least wanted to be on her best side if she was going. It was Saturday, so there were only two days left until school started. She also knew that wasn't the only reason she was tiered. Catya hadn't had blood in days and it was taking its toll.

The air was freezing, as she hurried on. She soon saw her first glimpse of the inn she was going to reside at until better living accommodations had been found. For how long would she be in this cursed town? She didn't know. But she knew it was going to be her home for a while. Her pace quickened. Then she stopped right in front of the door, suddenly unsure of herself. She stood there for a minute, trying to make up her mind. Catya had as much right being here as anyone else, right? She was young but surely not the only one? Catya shook her head. They had called her after all. She opened the door decidedly and walked inside, up to the front desk.
"Hallo, I am Catya Varias, I have reserved a room," The young vampire stated, her speech bearing an ever so slightly Romanian accent. Catya spoke excellent English, but well, you can never fully hide your true identity. The crow on her shoulder gave a slight squeak as he glanced around curiously. She glanced up at him, and gave her a slight, reassuring smile. Yes, everything would be fine.

Viktor snorted in slight annoyance as he watched the girl bolt, and the meek vampire after him. There was so etching off about Abert, he knew. He remembered him well, although only barely, from what his father had thought him about his relatives. Howeber, that was not what he found strange about the child. It was that fact that he indeed- did smell like a child. He had never had blood in his life before, Viktor realized. He had not yet become a true blood vampire... despite his age. What a disgrace to the van Kneers- what a disgrace to their race. The whimp was reason enough to follow them, or so Viktor reasoned.... but that was not the only reason. He had seen and smelled that girls blood- and he wanted it. He wanted it badly. It was not like her blood bore the most amazing smell he had ever experienced... but it smelled good. Better than what he had had in quite a while.

Forcing himself to calm down and keep composure, Viktor started following their trail in the snow, and the lingering scent the girl had left. He wasn't running or hurrying, but he did walk in a acceptable pace, ignoring the fact that he no longer was as silent as before, but nonetheless still graceful. His feed made a slightly crunching noise as they made impact with the crisp snow and frozen ground, and his eyes glimmered even brighter than before. Now when he had caught her scent, he would be Abel to find her... no matter where she went or where Albert tried to take her. Biktor had already decided he didn't like the kid; he was a Whimps excuse for a vampire. Even more so than Yuri... and that said a lot.

A small smile formed on his lips when he had almost reached the inn, his hair feeling wet by the time, as so it was snowing heavily. He was glad for it. Despite the sun being up, the snow clouds prevented it from reaching him in that way. "Perrrrfect..." he purred as he stepped into the inn.

He glanced around and arched an eyebrow as he spotted another blood vampire... and her familiar. After a short moments thought, he realized it was Catya... another distant relative. It didn't matter to Viktor, though. He would be the one to claim te throne. he was sure of it, and he would not let anything stop him... not even little crow girl.

Albert turned instinctively when he heard the door creaking, and was immensely relieved that she was still clothed. Even better was the white bandage around her hand. With the blood out of sight, it was easier to take it out of mind.

Smiling, he stood up. "You look much better," he observed, voice soft but cheerful, "I'm hoping you feel better as well? I hope I didn't frighten you too much...I was just trying to get you to a safer place. Once the sun is out fully, I think it'll be safe for you to walk the streets back to your family. Oh, but first, manners..."

He held out a hand, making sure it would be the one that would shake her good hand, and grinned, "My name is Albert. Albert van der Kneer. May I have the pleasure of knowing yours?"

Gray was sitting at his house bored as usual holding a glass of blood in his hands. I should probably head out, he thought to himself and pulled on his signature black hoodie. He opened the large door of the mansion and stepped out. Immediately after he stepped out he smelled a strong, sweet scent of blood. It was very unique and absolutely irresistible. He quickly walked away from the mansion and the scent got stronger and stronger. Once he made his way into the town he saw a faintly blood stained trail. He swiftly followed the trail, his blood lust growing. He the trail stopped in front of the town inn? This is where the der Kneers are staying. I'm not letting Albert get that blood, it's too good.

He stormed into the front lobby of the inn. The blood trail continuing up the stair and the scent getting overwhelmingly strong. He climbed up the stair until he got to the room where the scent was the strongest. He busted open the door with ease, breaking the locks like twigs. He stepped in casually, his crimson eyes glowing with blood lust as he stared a the girl.

"Albert, it seems you have finally decided to drink. It took you long enough" He said in a bit of an arrogant tone. He noticed him struggling to keep the craving under control. "What are you waiting for? Bite her. Pierce your fangs into her neck and drain her of her blood", he said a little too casually holding his hands in his pockets. Why is he so keen on not drinking any blood? Some of the most amazing blood I have ever smelt is sitting right there so vulnerably.

"It's not very hard, I'll show you" he said and grabbed the girl into a hug and tipped up her chin. He gazed into her eyes seductively, "you're going to feel a slight pinch" he said licking off the blood dripping from her fingers. He stuck his fangs in her neck and drank only a tiny bit of her blood. "See, it's easy" he said blood dripping from his mouth.

Viktor paused and narrowed his eyes as another blood vampire dashed past him and up the staircase, following her trail. Shaking his head and snorting once more in annoyance, he started up the staircase, his mouth twitching slightly in annoyance. It was silly, he knew, to want that human when another vampire was already chasing after her. He was, however, the first real vampire who had set eyes on her... And having other vampires chase after what he had already decided was his, did piss him off quite a bit.

He stepped into the inn room just as the vampire sunk his teeth into her neck, a whole lot of foul curses flashing through his mind as he walked over to the vampire and girl with calm yet decisive strides. When he reached them, he leaned down and grasped hold of the vampires shirt collar, pulling him up and away from the girl and he watched him in distaste.

"Watch your manners, punk," he grunted, shoving the vampire backwards in order to slam him against the wall, hard, though not so hard that it would harm him too severely. "This human is mine... do not soil my pray," Viktor said in an ice cold voice with the capability to chill anyone to the bone. He had the cruel and authoritative look of his father gleaming in his pale red eyes. The glow increased as he saw the blood dripping from his mouth. He had been wrong... it smelled wonderful, and he needed it. He knew he needed it then and there, but he also knew that he would be a hypocrite if he fed from her now. After all, that wouldn't be minding his own manners at all. Throwing fellow vampires into walls wasn't really minding your manners either, but he was pissed... and despite not usually liking to retreat to something as vulgar as violence, Viktor was quite good at throwing punches... and had quite short tempered when it came to something he viewed as his.

Dae opened her eyes at the sound of the knocking. "You can come in little one." She said sitting up slightly, a smile on her face as Elvis seemed to snore away. Dae wasn't sure what to make of the younger girl, but sometimes everyone needed a friend or at least someone to talk to.

In this case it seemed as if the younger girl just needed a bit of both. "Whenever your ready or comfortable you may speak to me... do not feel pressured to do anything." Dae added on slightly before pulling the blankets up to cover her shoulders. She was a tad bit cold, but the fire in her room kept it warm enough for the woman.

Arcadia had almost sighed when another glowing eyed red vampire burst in. It just seemed...Very strange that all of these boys were fighting over her! Before she had time to react, the hoodied boy had pulled her into a tight hug and was telling her that it was only a pinch that she would feel. He spoke the truth, she did only feel a pinch, but Arcadia felt like the bite was a lot more than that. It felt like heaven, all of the wonderful things combined together. She felt her eyes grow wide and stopped struggling so much. It was a bit of a shock that it felt so good! He finished - too soon, may she add - and Arcadia was left sitting there in some sort of daze. "Okay. That was...Weird. Uhh, to answer your question, Albert, I'm Arcadia." She blinked the daze and the wonderful feeling from her eyes. She was NOT going to let them think she had actually ENJOYED that!

Arcadia looked up as the boy from earlier also came in. She wasn't surprised, because she was expecting him rather than anybody else. Although she wouldn't be surprised if any more came through that door. She rolled her eyes and sighed in frustration. Seriously, it didn't seem real. And the feeling of the bite was still coursing around her head like drugs. She twiddled a lock of hair between her fingers, and then remembered something. She put her fingers up to the bite, and caught the dribble of blood from her throat. She swore under her breath - if her blood had caused Albert to have that amount of trouble keeping away from her and had lead all of these damn vampires right to her, she couldn't imagine how crazy they must all be going right now. Perhaps other than the hoodied one in black, but then again he'd already tasted her and could be wanting more. How did she even get into this mess? Oh yes. Falling asleep in a tree. When it was snowing. Genius plan! "And for your information I am my own and not any of yours!" Arcadia protested loudly. "You can't just...Just bite me without asking first!" Arcadia realized that sounded stupid, and she honestly didn't care. "Just...Figure out what the heck is going on please." Arcadia had accepted her fate. She was going to die, probably, at the hands of three (Or possibly more) vampires. And there was absolutely nothing she could do about it.

Albert yelped loudly when Gray crashed down his door. So easy! It turned out those locks hardly did a thing...he had backed away into the corner and watched helplessly as he bit into the girl. No! he wanted to shout, but it strangled away in his throat. His stomach felt sick as Gray pulled away, and it was easy to feel disgusted when he saw the blood, her blood, dripping from Gray's fangs. Disgusting! Horrendous! Albert felt like throwing up. They wanted him to do that? Never! Never, ever!

The girl introduced herself breathlessly after the bite, Al barely hearing her name over his own mental protests. Instead, he wondered...if he refused to drink from her, even now, would Gray turn on him?

Before he could find out, Viktor entered the room and slammed the Morlock into the wall, causing another high shout from Al, who was now sitting on the floor, weak-kneed. Viktor said something about how the human was his, which did get Al thinking. He had been the one who first caught Arcadia and brought her here, not Viktor. Did the older vampire just know Al wasn't going to drink from her, and then claimed her first?

Bristled at the thought, Al opened his mouth to protest when he heard a shrill voice demand loudly from the doorway: "WHAT IS GOING ON!?"

He recognized the voice already, but turned anyways, peeking through his fingers to see his mother standing in the entrance, clad in her nightgown but long black hair still perfect. Her eyes were glowing a bright red of anger, and even her cheeks had slightly pinked. She was baring her sharp fangs at the other two vampires, growling dangerously, "What in the Seven Hells are you doing in my son's room? Especially when it is clear that he did not welcome any of you in? Have you no manners in your families? Or is it perhaps polite for the Morlocks and Ivanovs to break down doors and barge into chambers?"

Arcadia watched as yet another vampire busted in. It looked like they were all having some sort of reunion and she was going to be the feast. The female vampire hadn't seemed to have noticed her yet. Strange. She lifted her already bandaged hand to her throat to stop the bleeding, it was already soaking into Albert's coat, which Arcadia was sure he wouldn't really appreciate, seeing how he behaved. She'd have to buy him a new coat.

Arcadia looked at all three boys with her blue eyes. She was only trying to figure out what on earth she was supposed to do. Staying in here was suicide on her part. However, Arcadia didn't really want to run. She desired that wonderful feeling, that feeling she had been scared of feeling. It was almost addicting, and Arcadia had only had a little. The feeling swam around in her brain a little more, and her newly bloody hand dropped to her side again. Most of the bleeding had stopped now anyway. However, she didn't think that would stop the vampires from going crazy.

Arcadia just sat very still, and tried to focus on the danger around her rather than the ecstatic feeling she had felt just a few moments ago thanks to the vampire that had bitten her. She swayed slightly, looking more than slightly drunk. The thing was, Arcadia was drunk with the feeling of it. And she couldn't get it out of her head, leaving her more vulnerable than ever, and trapped in a room full of very thirsty blood vampires. And one of them had tasted her blood.

Viktor folded his arms over his chest and started as the female vampire entered and spoke. He did see the point in her words, though. Looking at her, he smiled apologetically and bowed his head in respect- something his father had always been very careful with teaching. "Forgive me, Madame..." he said wearily, "I have no idea where my manners went... I guess that if vampire or not, boys will always have to be boys..." he bowed briefly before crouching down by the human, leaning close to her and smiling at her softly, handsomely. He licked the blood from her throat, his tongue very gently playing over her skin. His eyes widened for a moment, as the wonderful taste of her blood filled his mouth. There was something familiar about it, but he did not know what. Then he moved his lips to her ear and whispered.

"Keep out of trouble from now on, will you? At least until come for you again. You're mine, sweet one..." he said gently, carefully touching her cheek before standing up. Now when he had tasted her, he would be able to find her whenever he liked too. He smiled once again at the vampiress apologetically before speaking. "Now, please excuse me..." he said and bowed politely bowed again, before slipping past her and out of the inn.

Viktor made his way down the snowy path, knowing there was still a rather long way to walk to the manor. He sighed and glanced up a the sky, where the sun became more and more evident through the clouds. It had already stopped snowing. He would have to hurry, he knew. What was worse was that he was starving and had not yet found anyone to drink from. His mouth twitched as the thought of how his brothers would react flitted through his mind. Raphael would scold him, Clarence would treat him even colder than he usually did, Yuri would throw a tantrum and Andrei would... not I've a damn, as always. Honestly, it was a wonder that guy was still alive, lazy as he was. "We really need to get some staff for that manor," Viktor muttered to himself.

Eve hugged the familiar and watched the woman wearily as she pulled up the blankets about her. The little girl nodded her head slightly, smiling weakly. "O-okay," she murmured softly, still hesitating slightly before speaking. "I-I'm tired... if it's not too much to ask for... is... is there anywhere I could go to sleep? It doesn't have to be anything comfortable or nice or anything... j-just somewhere safe..." she said in a small voice, her soft voice barely audible.

The daemon watched the dog with narrowed eyes, his ears and tail twitching nervously. Eve could imagine that the cat most likely had had bad experience with dogs in the past, but still didn't understand why the daemon was so... unfriendly towards Elvis. He was cute and didn't seem to be bad at all. Besides, if it would so be that the dog actually attacked... well... he wouldn't stand a chance against a daemon... unless he was one himself, of course. Eve didn't think that was the case, however. "H-hey..." she mumbled to the cat, "Draco... please calm down, okay? B-be nice..." she urged him, and though her voice was soft and quiet, there was a slight tone of authority in it. The way she said it... didn't fit a child at all. The cat hesitated, looking up at her strangely for a moment... before relaxing in her arms.

Arcadia sat there frozen while the hunter boy crouched down beside her, and was even more still as she felt his tongue flick across her skin as he licked the blood from her throat. She focused on the wall, her breathing slightly quicker and shallower than normal. She awaited the bite, but it never came. Instead, his lips came to her ear and whispered the words that honestly frightened her more than anything, even more than those four pairs of red eyes staring down at her. "At least until come for you again. You're mine, sweet one...". It meant he could find her whenever he wanted, wherever she was. And he would find her again. She had no doubt about that. He would come for her sooner or later, and Arcadia was terrified by the thought of the idea. He got up and left, and Arcadia realized she'd been holding her breath. She exhaled slowly, now slightly relieved that at least one pair of hungry eyes weren't fixed on her. Well, three other pairs were, but at least Arcadia knew she could trust Albert, at least. Well, sort of, anyway. He was still a vampire whether Arcadia liked it or not.

Well, at least Arcadia knew one thing. She was not going to die at the hands of that one person. Well, not today anyway. But she knew they - vampires - could locate her by just tasting her blood. Does that mean the hoodied boy could find her too? She didn't know. But there was a chance that it was possible.

She hoped she was wrong.

Gray suddenly heard the door open and another vampire stormed in and grabbed his shirt collar then flung him into the wall. What the hell?, he thought and stood up. "Well if it isn't Viktor Ivanov, I haven't seen you in a while. You don't remember me?" He said in an almost too calm tone. "What a weak attempt to get your dinner back, if I were you I would have hit a lot harder" He said slightly smirking, bearing his fangs just a bit. "And you say to watch my manners, well your the one who stormed in here and flung me into a wall. That's not very polite is it?" He said putting his hands back in his pockets and was starring at the girl.

He saw another vampire storm in, looking a little angry little angry. It was Albert's mom standing there at the doorway. He watched as Viktor apologized and after he was done Gray put on his fake personality. "My sincerest apologizes, Mrs. Der Kneer. I simply came for a visit" he said with a smile. "I would like to invite you and your family to mansion tomorrow night. I insist, after all those years of hospitality you have given my family, it would only be polite" he said calmly and politely making it impossible to refuse.

He shot Albert a weird look and winked at the girl he had recently drank from. Then gave a polite smile to Mrs. Der Kneer. "Well I should get going now" he said heading for the door and stopping at the doorway. "I would love to see you all tomorrow night, it's been so long, our families need to catch up with one another" he said in an inviting tone then finally left.

He stepped outside into the snow and started heading back to the mansion and saw Viktor. Seeing him made Gray a little angry. He approached him and wiped the fake personality away and kicked him to the ground. "What was that about Ivanov? She became my dinner once my fangs touched her neck" He said in a rather angry tone.

A small smile of mild amusement flashed across Viktor's face as the other vampire kicked him to the ground. He made no attempt to fight back, but instead simply pushed Grey away from him, and stood up, looking down at him with an expression which was a mixture between contempt and pity. "Truly... but someone like you does not deserve such fine blood," Viktor replied calmly, his bright red eyes alight, "besides, she was mine far before any of you even had any notion of her existence..." for a moment sadness flashed through his eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it had shown, and was replaced by another, far stranger look.

"She was mine the moment my lips touched hers," he mused softly, flashing Grey a small yet not very kind smile. "So keep your filthy paws off her, will you?" Viktor continued, tilting his head to the side and watching the vampire, waiting for his reaction. Viktor had no idea if he actually cared more about this human than others or not, not anymore... but he knew that he once had. The memories were faint and not complete, but they absolutely were there. He couldn't have been older than six when they met the first time... and eight the last.

A soft, sad chuckle escaped his lips at the memories of her leaning in on her and gently kissing her lips, promising her that he would find a way for them to be together forever and ever... before his father dragged him away. Childish and foolish those dreams now were to Viktor, but the human was his nonetheless. Maybe he wouldn't kill her. Maybe he would just keep her as a pet... but she was his. She had promised him that... he winced slightly... just as he had promised he was hers. Viktor looked slightly sickened by the so bittersweet memories. Had it really been that sugary sweet back then? Gosh what he whimpy child he had been. For a moment, Viktor was disgusted by himself. However, then he had to remind himself that his child self wasn't there anymore. There was only Viktor Ivanov... the head of the Ivanov family and rightful heir of the throne. Besides, there was no chance in the world he would hook up with a human. His hand had already been promised to somebody else. It had been ever since he was a little child.

"Or otherwise I will have no choice but to battle you... and I would rather refrain from such vulgar acts. It is just childish and I have no time for such idiocy... understood?"

As Gray heard the insults coming from Viktor's mouth he got angrier and angrier. Someone like you does not deserve such fine blood. Keep your filthy paws off of her. Who the hell does he think he is? Out of anger he grabbed Viktor now by his shirt collar he eyes glowing a very bright crimson red. "You take all those disgusting words back you bastard!" he said in an angry tone and punched him hard, sending him to the ground.

He saw a sad expression on his face, but not towards him. It seemed as though he was lost in his own thoughts. "Wake up!' he said annoyed not wanting to have to deal with him. He awaited his response that made Gray look immature. Dammit! he cursed in his mind. "I don't wish to fight you Viktor, but saying such rude things to me, will trigger my temper" he said a little more calmly but disgusted at Viktor.

Dae listened to the younger girl and smiled. "The couch is all yours, then again there is also a spare bedroom across the hall. The house is yours to roam as much as you like..." She'd pause before she continued. "Except the basement... that is one place you do not need to go." She'd nod and lay back down.

"That is an adorable kitten you know..." Then she heard the name Draco and she had furrowed her brows. Though Dae thought nothing of it since it was just a kitten. "you have a good night." She would say before closing her eyes once more, drifiting off into the form of sleep she always did. This of course was a Cue to the younger girl that Dae was done for the night.

Victor didn't give even a squeak ad she was punched to the ground after having been lifted by his shirt collar. He just stared at Gray and listened to him silently. When he stopped speaking, Victor said softly, still sitting in the snow. "Are we quite finished yet, Mr. Morlock?" he asked, gazing up at him with an emotionless expression, before he started standing up. This was nothing compared to the beatings he would suffer daily from his father- or what he sometimes had to take from Raphael when his brother totally lost control of himself. It did hurt, but the pain was bearable.

"Forgive me for insulting you, Morlock," he repeated the words he had used for Albert's mother. "I do not seem to be quite myself, today... I know part of the fight is my fault, I shouldn't have acted the fool... once again, forgive me. If there is anything I could do for you to make up for my mistakes, please tell me..." he said smoothly, though with a tinge of shame in his voice and expression. If that now were his true feelings or not... was most likely very hard to tell. Hell, I don't even know.

***

Eve nodded her head and turned around, starting to walk out, though sopping right before she was all the way outside. "Thank you, miss... goodnight, miss," she said quietly before shutting the door again behind her, and then starting down the staircase. It didn't take her long to reach the couch, and about the same time as her head hit the soft fabric beneath her, Eve fell asleep. And, for the first time in ages, she wasn't actually having any nightmares. The familiar curled up by the little girls side, a soft purring sound coming from him and he snuggled up against Eve and then started falling asleep too... although one of his eyes always remained open. It was in order to keep some kind of control of his surroundings... even if he was sleeping. Because... who knew what all could happen if he let down his guard? Maybe Eve trusted this woman and her beast- but Draco did not.

Gray looked down on him while he apologized. Seeing him sit in the snow, anger still coursing through him but making sure it didn't show. I never understood the Ivanovs, he thought to himself and then finally spoke in a calmer tone. "Yes, we are done Viktor" he said and starred at him for a second. "I am sorry for losing my temper, I shouldn't have resorted to violence" he said outstretching his hand and helping Viktor up off the snow covered ground.

"Let's forget about this little incident" he said once Viktor got to his feet. He put his hands in his pockets and looked to the side getting a little bored. He had calmed down a bit now, but he was hungry. He had only had a taste of that girl's sweet, addicting blood. Maybe I should have taken a longer drink. I haven't had blood like that in a while, he thought to himself as he wished he feasted on her longer.
"Well it's been a pleasure running into you, let's meet again soon" he said a little too politely making him sound fake. "I should go" he said and finally walked in the direction of the alleyways, hunting for a snack. But it wouldn't be as good as that little taste he had of the girl's blood

Viktor sighed when he was gone, starting to make his way home again. Sometimes he truly didn't understand people- not even himself. All he knew was that he needed that blood, and he needed it badly. He would have to be patient, though. Yes, that was exactly what he needed to be. Racking his hand through his pale brown hair, he yawned and then sped him his pace, just wanting to get home. All this commotion was giving him quite the headache, and as he considered the comotion that would occur once he got home... his head ache worsened.

As he reached the front door, he could already hear a loud shouting (well, not actually shouting, rather crying) from inside. Sighing, he unlocked the door and stepped into the manor, shutting the door behind him before he started making his way towards the noise. What could be the matter now? He narrowed his eyes and stepped into the dining room, where the source of the crying was.

"How dare you call yourself a gentleman when you walk with such crooked posture?!" Clarence snapped at Yuri who was crying furiously in an attempt to get away from his brother, who was holding a plate with food in his hands. Everything on it had been eaten, though messily... but the vegetables. "Besides, unless you have your vegetables; you. won't. get. any. taller... how many times must we tell you that?! Now eat up!" Clarence continued his rant, closing in on Yuri who was now pressing himself into the corner. "Stupid, stupid, stupid Clarence! I don't want the vegetables!" Yuri cried out in panic, hugging his teddy tightly and sobbing furiously.

Viktor sighed as he watched the commotion, shaking his head and clearing his throat. The two vampires stopped in their brawl and turned their attention to their elder brother, waiting patiently for him to speak. "What in the world is going on now?" Viktior questioned the both of them, folding his arms over his chest and arching an eyebrow.

Clarence sighed and gestured to his younger brother in mild annoyance, before pushing up his glasses and speaking. "He is refusing to eat his vegetables... again... and now he is crying and behaving like the little kid he is no longer supposed to be! Added to that, he was running around in a dress erlier on... what the hell is wrong with our younger brother?!" Clarence said coldly in pure annoyance, though his voice was still somehow calm and as was his expression.

Yuri whimpered as he watched Viktor carefully, afraid of what his oldest brother would say. "Yuri, you have to eat your vegetables, you know... there is no way around that," he said sternly, walking over to them and taking the plate from Clarence hands, placing it down on the dining table. "However, Clarence... you should maybe try to go about it in a tad more pedagogic way..." Clarence just snorted in reply and then started making his way out from the room, shaking his head. "You can't keep our little brother from growing up forever, Vicky... it will do him no good in the end." And then he was gone.

Viktor turned back to Yuri. "You won't be leaving this room until you have cleared your plate, understood?" he said, calmly but firmly. Yuri burst into tears again, and as Viktor tried to approach him, the kid started kicking and screaming that he didn't want them. After quite a while, Victor gave up. It was just about at the same time as he could hear a rumbling from upstairs.

His mood darkening even further, he started making his way towards the noise.

Raphael cursed loudly and foully as he came rumbling down the stairs and fell right on his face. He instantly got on his feet and started shouting at Andrei who was laying on the staircase, his earphones propped into his ears... and loud snores escaping his lips.

Viktor sighed. Was there no end at all to this madness? Why did his family have to be so dysfunctional? He didn't get it. He didn't get it at all.

"ANDREI!" He roared, "GET UP! YOU CAN'T SLEEP ON THE STAIRCASE! RAPHAEL, PUT THE SWORD AWAY! You're not going to stab your brother..."

This wasn't a mansion, this was an Asylum.