Somewhere in New York.

Letting out a small laugh Alissa looked away from the wall and went to her bedroom to find a t-shirt. Rifling through her dresser she briefly contemplated what Leo had said. Why did he say he was sorry too, though? She felt the mixed messages were so unclear. Sighing she decided not to think too much into it, if she tried to it would only make her more confused. Going through the bottom drawer she finally came across an old Beatles t-shirt. holding it up in the air the thought of how old it was made her laugh a little. She hadn't seen them since they had come to New York in '64. She only used it as a pajama top these days since it was so big on her.

Deciding that it would probably fit Leo, Alissa headed back into the living room, sitting down next to him on the couch. "Here you go," She said with a small smile as she handed him the t-shirt, "sorry that it's so old." Leaning back into the couch she thought for a moment about what they had been discussing before the whole Bar incident. "I'll probably have to move away from here, won't I?" she said as she looked across the expanse of her home.

Leo pondered what was on the shirt, or more so, who was on the shirt. What strange men with even stranger haircuts. He was not sure he had ever heard of these people before, but they must of have made music or something as it was a band t-shirt. Were they famous or just one of those one-hit wonder bands? It was unsettling to think just how outside he was to the world. He had no idea how or what the world did in its spare time, perhaps he could take a vacation sometime and find out. The thought perked him up a little, perhaps even Alissa could come with him assuming they managed to stop the incoming purge, but there was no use in brooding on the future. Not when it was so dark.

"Its lovely, thank you." Leo said with a smile, eventhough he had not the faintest idea of who they were, but she was good at dragging the topic back into darker areas. Did she have to move? He was not sure. leo did not leave many vampires alive, so he was not sure where they went afterwards. "I would think so. It would be safer to simply move. The Templar will be watching New York closely after the purge."

It was a frightening thought having to move away. Where would she go? It would probably be a while before she was able to come back to this City if she did. Where would her family go, too? She assumed they would probably move back to London. She didn't want to have to move back there though, just the thought of moving there or anywhere made her nauseous. Hugging her knees close to her chest she sighed, "This is really unfair…" She said quietly. She felt like a child for saying it but she just wanted to ignore the truth. She just wanted to be angry at the world for making her this way and continue living where she was.

The fact that there was no other way about it and that she'd just have to suck it up was rooted in the back of her mind though, like an alarm bell ringing. She'd have to get out soon. Where would she begin though? Alissa's mind went swimming with thoughts again and she felt a distinct headache coming on. "Why does the Vatican do this?" She asked Leo, she had never been very closely impacted by any of this so she had never given it much thought, but now it stuck out in her had as one of her main questions, clinging on to it as if it was some sort of clue. "It all just seems silly. We're all just like humans, not all of us are evil."

"No, not all of you are evil." Leo said staring at the wall his eyes focused on his memories and their reasons. "But you are not like humans at all." He said evenly, "An evil man may kill a few people, perhaps even millions should he have the means, but your kind. One evil vampire can create an army of vampires and spread like wildfire. One vampire could potentially cause the end of this world with only the desire to spread his virus as far as possible. After that, you can factor for every year a blood drinking vampire lives, hundreds will die. Over his lifetime, how many untold thousands of humans will die just to keep that one life going?" Leo asked her rhetorically. He had killed a few of those vampires, the ones fueled by power craze and thoughts of conquest... and he had only been hunting for so many years.


"It is about the bigger picture." Leo continued to fill the silence, "in order to keep the balance, the Vampires need a predator. Something that scares them enough to keep them in the shadow. The Vatican is that Predator. Your kind kills humans, The Vatican kills vampires. It is almost balanced. Almost, but there are far more vampires then there are Templar, so a purge must be commenced now and then. To remind the vampires that we are out there, and of what we are capable of. A few vampires will be allowed to slip through the cracks in order to spread the story, but Alissa." He said pausing to look at her once more, "This is a cycle that has gone on for many centuries."

Alissa's nails dug into her palms to the point that she felt small indentations form as she listened to what he had to say. She understood his words but part of her just wanted to reject it all. She had worked hard to keep herself in check and now it had felt like it had all gone to waste. Just because of a few vampires all of New York was going to be purged. It made her feel upset and angry. Why did she have to be included in all of this? She had been a good person. She was just like anyone else.

Letting Leo's words continue to fill the silence she felt emotions that she usually repressed begin to well up. Everything he said was the truth but it all felt so cruel. Breaking down in frustration she choked out a small sob. "So when it all comes down to it I'm a monster," she said as their eyes met, "there's no distinction, we're all just time bombs ticking." She could feel the tears starting to form and for once she didn't really care. It was just all just so stupid! So true and stupid! A small crack began to form on a vase on the coffee table in front of them, her subconscious beginning to act out in grievance. "I just hate all of this so much," she choked out.

Whisper sighed bored. She didn't like being in the car and hoped they would stop soon before she would die of boredom. She burried her head in her hands, trying to sleep but not even slightly tired. She hadn't slept for years; rested everyone in a while but never actually sleeping. She had forgotten how it was to sleep, to dream and such and sometimes wished she could. She could remember dreams from when she was younger, when she was treated and acted like a human kid. She loved to dream back then untill the nightmares came. Eversince a few years she had gotten nightmares, the next always worse then the one before. She stopped sleeping and just rested but never slept. But, the nightmares had been years ago, she wondered if she would get them now. But, even if she was very tired, she never fell asleep.

"As far as the Vatican is concerned. Yes, you are all ticking time bombs." Leo said. He knew it was cruel, but this had to be done. The sooner she understood and let it out, the sooner they could move on to what must be done. Life was cruel and unfair. It was simply a test, the monks said, a test of Faith and Will. Leo was not sure of that himself, but he knew well enough that her being cracked and half-hearted would not help save whatever is she wanted to save in this city, but it seemed she had resigned if just a little bit.


Leo nearly jumped as a vase cracked. Alissa was not taking this well, but he did not expect her too. "You should get some sleep. We have a long day tomorrow." Leo said softly. He was not trying to be rude, but they had a long day ahead. She had to be prepared.

Wiping the tears up with her sleeve she nodded her head as she got up from the couch, "You need a place to stay don't you?" she asked trying to compose herself. It was the least she could for Leo after all that had happened. Going to the hallway closet again she returned the first aid kit to it's shelf and brought back a large blanket and pillow with her, "I hope the couch is alright, I don't usually have visitors," thinking about it the thought of buying a home with a guest bedroom popped into her head. If she was going to have to move she might as well pick out the type of house she wanted. It was a foreign concept but maybe it was possible.

"Goodnight Leo," With a weak smile she made her way to her bedroom quickly changing out of the smoke tinged uniform and into a tank top and pajama bottoms. Curling up under the duvet she thought about the days events and how overwhelming everything was. The vampire part of her wanted to lash out against all of it but her human morals told her it was a useless fight. Maybe it all was part of some bigger picture though, and maybe she'd just have to give in to it all. Being a bit of a bleeding heart though so she struggled with the concept for a few minutes as she stared at the ceiling wondering about it all. Maybe this was her chance to break the cycle she'd been stuck in for the last half century and start new. It was a scary thought but she thought she might be able to do it. She just Leo would be there too. Tired from all the crying that had happened during the days she found herself fall into a deep sleep.