Beginnings --sire found--

[Adair Noble]

Sorting out the facts from fiction. Now that Adair could do. She sauntered happily along beside Chance; for all the world they probably just looked like a newly formed couple taking gentle and romantic stroll through the slums of the city. It was true, in a certain sense—they were a newly forged couple, but they were not a traditional couple. They were sire and childe. It was a bond stronger than most. Where before his body contained her blood, Chance was a stranger to Adair and she’d seen him as a stranger. Now, however, though she did not know him at all, she was fond of him. She would not see him harmed. It was a familial bond, and no matter what either of them did, it would remain unbroken.

“Alright. The facts are simple. You cannot go out into the sun.” She frowned as she glanced up at him—most found that the hardest news to bear. “It would also be in your best interest to stay away from fire. Crosses do not harm us. You could walk into a church and nothing will happen. Holy water, however, for whatever reason, burns like a bitch. As does garlic. There are men and women who will hunt you simply because you are what you are. But if you can beat them at their own game, you will reap the rewards—they make you stronger, and they carry a hell of a lot of money.” She said, with a wink. Hunting the hunter was a game for Adair. But that did not keep her from clinging tighter to Chance; he was a newborn, and she hated to think what the hunters could do to him if they were given the chance. Still, she had faith. So far, he was adapting well. Soon enough, she figured she’d pity the hunter’s and their helplessness when confronted by this newest childe of hers.

“We don’t have to sleep in coffins. Just anywhere that’s light-tight will do. The windows of my house are boarded up so no light can get through. It screws with the ventilation, but we’ll work on that.” she said, with a frown. She supposed she’d have to call a carpenter and see what could be done about ventilation, without letting any light into the place during the daylight hours.

“The hunger...it does ease, yes, and once it does you’ll better be able to control yourself.” She started, eyes glazing as she stared into the distance, trying to remember the nights after her own siring and how long it took to adjust. “Well...the hunger will always be there. It’s the same as if you were human. You need to eat to survive. So we need to drink blood to survive. But you’ll find your own tastes and your own style. And besides... if you give in, you’ll become more powerful. We gather our strength from the blood of humans. We are above them, in the food chain...” And she could have gone on, could have continued to regale the benefits of human blood and the ways in which they gathered it. But she didn’t know how sensitive Chance might still be—it was too soon for him to have completely shucked his human sensitivities, right?

[Chance]

“Above them…yeah.” His voice remained even, though it drifted off into a half chuckle, his eyes glinted with the many thoughts that fueled his minds visions.

Chance’s senses weren’t the only thing in overdrive, “Don’t get me wrong, about the hunger that is…” He leaned in a bit closer to her as if to whisper their shared secret, “I kinda, well hell…” he said with a bit of a snicker, “To be honest I liked the sensations I felt. I enjoyed being the one to end her worthless life, it was so simple to take… and make it my own.” A brief pause had stopped the fluid flow of these personal truths. “And believe me Adair - it had lost its worth.” A touch more of a serious undertone were in those final few words.

His briefly muted face was soon beaming again. A shabby young man escorting a lady that was obviously above his station, it secretly amused him that no one had given them a second glance.

This was the way of the world though, right? The ways of the world can eat away at even the most pious mans soul, his beliefs, his heart. Just read the news, or open your front door and look beyond the obvious –it’s better to stick with the television though, most find it safer.

So why shouldn’t he be accepting of these bizarre circumstances, after all, his entire life had been spent pleasing those who were most important to him. In a matter of minutes the woman on his arm had taken that title, washing the others away and out of his thoughts. Whether he was aware of it or not, the sudden estrangement from family, friends and others had taken its toll on him. Only when a man is truly alone, as he had been, can he finally begin to see how easily the bleakness of the abyss can devour his very being.

That emptiness was gone now, her dark blood had filled this void and it spoke to him just as plain as her voice.

She was his maker, his family, in the same sense as the other one he had felt connected to, “As for the sunlight, garlic, I sort of figured…eh, I traded the sun for the moon and stars, big deal, the benefits outweigh the consequence…so far.” He would have never mentioned the relief he had felt about the coffins as he scuffed his heel at the concrete -that was another story.

“Crosses, I am bit surprised…and churches are safe as well you say…” a crease formed his brow, “But not holy water, now that’s interesting.” The slums were falling fast and far behind them while he chattered on, “It could be the energy of combined belief… hmpf.” He said with a curious sigh, his voice lowered, contemplating. “The part that does grab me, is that people know enough about us to hunt us…so then it would be reasonable to say that there are at least enough of us here, in Ravenblack, to hunt then huh?”

A smile streaked across his face and his eyes lifted back up, the city grew denser, along with the scent of their blood –human and immortal alike, his new life was calling.

[Adair Noble]

Adair found herself wondering about the peculiarities of their kind. She’d found herself leaning away from Chance if only to get a better look at him, to sate her curiosity, to make sure he wasn’t saying that he’d enjoyed taking that girl’s life out of obligation. Perhaps certain traits were passed through in the blood, like certain physical or characteristic traits were passed through from parent to newborn baby. Maybe Adair’s confidence and carelessness had been passed on, as an immediate vampiric trait.

Or maybe Chance was just peculiar like that, himself. Whatever the case, Adair wasn’t complaining.

They could have talked all night about the merits of vampirism, or the possibilities of a scientific explanation for the effect of holy water compared to the lack of effect of other religious implements. Adair could also have given in to her curiosity and questioned Chance thoroughly on this former life of his that he deemed worthless—could have prattled her own theories about fate, and death’s grand plan. They were only part of a bigger scheme, and the deaths that they caused were all forgivable because they were aiding the bigger scheme.

But it was a flimsy belief, at best, and one that Adair didn’t adhere to as much as she should have. But her conscience had formed a thick skin, and soothing explanations were no longer needed. In the beginning Adair had been wary. She’d avoided killing any innocent person due to the morals she’d grown up with. But sooner or later her instincts had taken hold and her morals grew lax. They no longer applied if death was something that was no longer imminent.

But Chance had asked about the hunters, and about the population of vampires in Ravenblack. Now that was a whole other kettle of fish, or however the saying went.

“Oh no, we’re not the only ones, not by a long shot. You’ll know other vampires when you see them. You’ll have a sense of who they are, and how powerful they are. I haven’t met any who ever meant me any harm, so I wouldn’t worry too much. Soon enough you’ll have your own power to defeat them with.” Adair said, glancing up at him in that excitable, mischievous manner that she was so accustomed to.

“And there aren’t only vampires. There are Werewolves, too, though they lurk mainly in the outskirts. And other creatures that I’ve only heard of but never seen... I think they must be rare. Shapeshifters, Incubi, the like.” Adair added with a shrug. “You’ll find this city is far more than what its dirty exterior shows it to be.” She said, eyes drifting over the surrounding area, her keen eyesight detecting not only the ordinary things on the surface but the little details underneath. There were memories attached to each post, each curb. There were so many the same, and so many incidents occurring around them each night. Ghosts of murders past.

They were shifting into a higher class of the city, and Adair started searching for their next meals. The familiar itch at the back of her throat alerted Adair to her own need for blood—Chance had drained her, and she needed refuelling. And besides, as he’d shown (and confessed to) a zest for taking the lives of others, she wished to show him that each victim tasted different, according to their way of life.

A scumbag would have a bitter taste, due to the undernourishment of his blood, which would no doubt also be poisoned by drugs, alcohol, or other addictive supplements. A well-fed, well-groomed person had a far better taste, however. They had three square meals a day and had all their vitamins. They tasted sweet, or savoury, depending on their own innocent addictions—chocolate, coffee, near-raw red meat.

At this time of night, it shouldn’t be too hard for them to find a couple on their way home from a date, or a few younger youths shifting from one club to another.

[Chance]

His world, that former familiar reality that he so loved to hate, no matter how harsh or rewarding it could be at times, was very simply gone. The key element that kept him living in direct contrast to the person he thought he was had been to adapt. Finding out that they weren’t the only different creatures wasn’t such an extreme step to take, only a change in direction.

“So basically every persistent myth that has run through human folklore, isn’t exactly ‘folklore’…” spoken with the slight shake of his head, “Werewolves too, I should have guessed as much…and of course there are other’s like us. It would have been pretty foolish of me to think otherwise, at least I’ll be able to recognize them –spot em’ out from the rest.” He said, while his stormy blue-grey eyes continued to shift between Adair and the sidewalk ahead of them.

Drastic revelations and she had given him plenty of them, including his own personally dreaded fears of demons existing –there can be no heaven without a hell…right? Chance grew quiet for a moment while he allowed for his mind to process these addictive tidbits of knowledge –repressing what he didn’t care to dwell on at the moment for another time.

Rules and structure.

They were concepts that he was all to familiar with. Learn them, know them, love them and then figure out how to use them inside and out. How else do you win without going that extra mile, without using ‘the rules’ to win, to out-smart, to be the best –what else was left? Delusional thinking…it’s definitely a possibility, and depending on the individual it can be an all consuming one.

“You mentioned some of these other vampires would be powerful…and also that I would grow powerful with the more blood I drink,” his husky voice still low in its unassuming confidential innocence, “Are there other ways…other means to obtain these powers and what are they. What are we capable of Adair?” He peered down at the radiant woman, curious himself as to why this hadn’t occurred to him earlier.

The hunger pangs were growing stronger, more persistent and the two of them moving ever closer to the brightly lit city proper wasn’t helping matters –but he’d be damned if he would be as careless as he was earlier, he’d wait and take his cue to feed from her.

[Adair Noble]

”Well I wouldn’t say every myth.” Adair said.
”But I would discredit them like I might have before. It’s hard to say anything is impossible anymore.” She said. She found it amusing, nay, utterly thrilling to know that they weren’t the only supernatural creatures out there. She would never go back to her ignorant, innocent human existence. It was far better this way. Far more exciting. Hopefully Chance would think so too.

Oh, and how perceptive this new childe of hers was! She grinned up at him as he asked the pertinent questions—things that she would have told him had he failed to ask, but things that had, for the moment, slipped her mind.

“Ah! Yes, there are other ways. There are guilds and guild masters. You pay them, and most of them will send you on what they call ‘quests’, though some things you learn straight away, in the guild.” She began, glancing up at him every now and again to make sure he was following. The guilds could be confusing to begin with. Not that it mattered anyhow. If he did not understand, she would help him with the first few guilds.

“They move every three or four days—an attempt to keep our kind a secret, I suppose, and to keep hunters from finding us easily. As for what we are capable of...we can manipulate the shadows and become expert thieves. We have stamina and charisma beyond anything a human could achieve. We can learn to travel faster than the human eye can see. Uhm... we can find people just by thinking about them...” She was listing all the different powers, pulling them from the top of her head and hoping she wasn’t forgetting anything.

And we can speak to them, directly to their minds, from a distance.[/color] She said, sending the sentence directly to his mind. A devious grin settled on her lips as she steadfastly held his gaze.

All the while, she was wending their steps toward a more populated area...this particular area was popular amongst the young and restless. Adair peered down a nearby alley and was happy with what she found. There were no drug dealers or homeless men. Granted, there were probably a few of those further down in the dingier parts of the alley. Nearest to them, however, were two lovers intertwined against a wall, heedless to everything around them. These would be their meals, and Adair would show Chance the fine art of feeding.

She paused at the mouth of the alley, however, making sure Chance had understood everything she had said about the guilds, and to see whether he had any more questions regarding them.[/font]

[Chance]

Adair’s golden voice hadn’t withheld nor hesitated in her responses to the newborne’s queries. Blunt and straight forward answers she had offered up without hesitation. This in itself was an enduring trait for no reason other than its face value. Harsh lessons that he had to learn were served up colder than the quick punches he had accepted from his father –garnering a respect from him that could see no end. Her words were what he had wanted in life, direct and to the point. They were spoken out of what had to have been genuine concern for what she had made him and the want for him to survive this. To come out on top of the situation even, this was a further confirmation of the bond between them, to him this had to be what unconditional love really meant.

Are we a product of our upbringing, conditioned environments and all that jazz? Or, brace yourselves, do we choose to hold on to that outward façade? Some wear their masks daily, hell even changing them out time and time again in the same day, same hour, just to suit the situation. Most misfits, the most beautiful and brilliant people, as he observed in silence, were what he had been taught not to be. So he had grown accustomed to conforming and only lowered his mask when it was safe to do so. Was this a form of the proverbial learned habit, subconscious manipulation, or even just plain old people pleasing. Questions best left to be endlessly debated by the ‘professionals’ –or are they too a part of the problem. Who care’s?

The simplistic point to this modern day mumbo-jumbo is that he did take her at her every word and at their sheerest ‘face value’ as presented. Why ask for any further enlightenment once answered? He knew he was no longer a part of the human race, fine so be it –an eye for an eye and such. She had indeed created a monster, one that was mentally setting up the playbook for the creation he had become.

At any given time her face and its features were under his constant surveillance if only in the peripherals of his sight. When her mouth had ceased to move but the words kept coming out, at that point literally coming from her and directly into his mind. Her specially designed smile present, ‘Nifty trick’ he had tried to ‘think’ back to her mind. Obviously this had failed, her alabaster skin, the facial expressions, had not changed in the slightest, “A very cool trick there Adair, I assume that its one of the numerous powers gained at the guilds you were speaking of.” He said with a noticeable wonder tainting the calm exterior.

Before he could question this any further though his sire had slipped away from him and to the mouth of a nearby alleyway –looking back to him as if to announce something. She didn’t need to say a word to him about what it was. Back at her side he could clearly see what she had found. Not only see them, but he could hear their hearts racing and the blood that was pumping harder through those strong muscles, “Isn’t love grand?” his words as mischievous as the smirk that pulled at the corners of his mouth. “Looks like dinner is served…” the persistent burn of hunger ignited into a blaze at the core of his being and longer more efficient razors than the initial ones that had made such a mess of his earlier kill, jutted out on their downward descent.

[Adair Noble]

Adair nodded and grinned slyly—indeed, it was one of the tricks learned at one of the guilds. ”And it’s one you don’t even have to quest for. Easy as pie.” She told him, the phrase rolling off her tongue, even though she had no idea how pie was ‘easy’. Pie was easy to make, she supposed, even though she had no inclination to these days. Hell, she’d never had any inclination to make pie.

She absolutely loved that Chance knew what she had planned, even though she had not voiced it. What she loved more was that he had no qualms about obliterating the lives of the two lovers; did she detect sarcasm in that utterance of his? If she were to answer it truthfully—no, she did not think love was grand. Not when it could be taken away so easily, when it could cause so much pain and misery. In truth, there was a deep-seated reason why the pair of victims appealed to Adair so much. Their connection, and their love, cause her great envy and bitterness. It was something beautiful that she wanted to destroy, because she couldn’t have it for herself.

But it was not something she thought about, or fully realised. It was simply an ache in the bottom of her gut—a thing that she wanted to satisfy. That could have been the hunger, too. She needed to replenish herself.

It was true Adair nature, too, that she felt the need to show off. She told herself that it was all in an attempt to show Chance exactly what they were capable of—show him the royalties of their existence, dazzle him with the mystery of it all, so that the more they got to know each other the less he had any need to be furious at her for doing this to him. He’d shown no signs so far, but who knew?

So with a wink, she turned from Chance and started into the alley. She made a small hand gesture, letting him know that he should follow. Once she reached the couple, she tapped the male on the shoulder several times until finally he swung around to face her. In much the same way as she had with Chance, she used her charisma to calm the two humans; they were immediately entranced by the beauty of Chance and Adair; they weren’t worried for their safety. Why should they be worried by two such countenances?

Adair smirked then. She reached passed the male and took the female’s hand. Adair drew her away from the wall and led her to Chance. Once she’d released the girl’s hand, Adair’s own clenched and unclenched as she focused on the shadows, pulling them around the group so that their actions were hidden from any who might wish to glance down the alley—their eyes would simply slip over the group, as if they didn’t exist.

The male was distracted, wanting to know what his girl was doing with Chance. Adair reached upward and stroked the males cheek, coaxing his eyes back to her. Her other hand reached for the lapel of his shirt so that she could tug him down, closer to her waiting lips—her canines had elongated in anticipation of the meal. Adair placed a light peck on the man’s lips before her mouth found the pulsing vein at his neck. She manoeuvred the body so that she could see Chance over the shoulder, watching her childe to make sure he was alright.

[Chance]

Adair was indeed cunning, he just wasn’t entirely sure if it was the simple matter of being a vampire or from a different source entirely –no time to indulge in these thoughts, silly newbie. He instantly followed her directives and stayed close behind her, just off to one side. Ever the studious pupil, he had known to hold back, to observe, to emulate his maker.

Some people subscribe to the notion that mimicry is the highest form of flattery and stick with just that one simple thought. But in truth, this flattery can become dangerous if it progresses to adoration. To adore someone or something can twist quite quickly to idolization –and most of us know what history has proven time and time again, the things that people are willing to do for their idols. To be fair though, people are prone also to look for the proverbial scapegoat, placing blame on another. How dreadfully predictable, the “I wouldn’t normally have done this…” phrase in hopes of distracting or outright blaming “something” for their own actions (all of which had been done with free will mind you) and then later wish to be absolved for such, so fucking repentant over what had been enjoyed, then there are rarities, those who show no remorse and not because of an insanity –they are prideful of their debaucheries against their fellow man. Accepting the part of themselves that most would have deemed as wretched.

I have seen a pet snake, loved and predictable, suddenly turn on its owner, not because of a wrong to the creature, because it was in its nature to do so, a snake in the end is just a snake.

He was infatuated with the scene that played out. After their rude awakening, the male and female had both seemed to lose what they were about to say. She had mesmerized them, their faces content, their minds and hell even their physical bodies seemed to be led by Adair’s silent commands. He graciously accepted the offering of the female’s hand, smiling as he pulled her closer to him and away from the rest of their grouping by a step or so. Curious to see the way his sire would handle her kill. Meanwhile the cool shadows seemed to come from the darkness itself, wrapping the four of them up in its protective embrace. The comfort in that moment reassured him of what he was, the girl had started to resist, his fangs piercing the flesh of her throat –confidently he had taken a small drink before pulling back.

That sweet metallic mixture of her blood spoke to him. His eyes flickered over the woman’s face, sizing her up –did she not know how special she was, chosen from the many to sustain his life. Her lust fueled blood coupled with the kind of scream that we would have in our worst nightmares –silent and helpless. He was feeling an incredible rush, her lust filled blood laden with dopamine and adrenaline. Placing her chin between his thumb and the crook of his forefinger, taking very little effort to rotate her head to see what he wanted to see. Ah yes there she was, stopped at the end of a halfway turn, her enchanting gaze directed at him—Adair feeding. He suddenly turned on his prey, a vague snarl contorted his trademark grin.

Grabbing her by both shoulders and lifting the girl was an easier task than he could have imagined.

Carrying the two of them back and away from the group –he’d been damned if he would allow her to see her lover, no, these final moments were his. He had not realized that he had broken free of their shadowy shield. Nor how hard he had pushed her against the wall with what was probably a tad bit much force, for a human’s body. He assumed the position of her more than likely deceased lover –the way they were before being caught in Adair’s sight. Hoisting the woman up to where their eyes met, his grin returning in full force as he pulled her closer to him –his lips grazing her ear. He spoke in a whisper, “I have let you see how kind my companion was…” he let out a short chuckle, “I can assure you that I won’t be so kind, now this is gonna’ hurt like hell.” He had suppressed one thing for another in his psyche. He played with her like a ragdoll, first dropping her from both hands and catching her by the throat with one before her feet could touch solid ground. Making damn sure that the fear he had wanted was present in her eyes –what parts of her that wasn’t completely overcome by shock would have to be satisfactory.

He needed, or better yet wanted some privacy for his final sadistic act. The shroud of obscurity Adair had skillfully commanded was what he needed –his desire and want was oh so all consuming. He held her head steady, eye contact was absolutely necessary for him at this point –as important as her watching the demise of her lover. These so called windows to her soul showed fear but they were fading fast. It was then he unexpectedly saw the shades coming to wrap them in what could only be described as a vague web at first. His face lit up as the holes filled in around them –the two were in a silhouetted image, stage.

Lapping at the precise wounds he had made on her throat. Spinning her around and taking her to the ground, his full weight enough to hold her still. Hold her in place long enough for him to find out where the throb of that other sweet sound was coming from –the femoral artery. The final stage completed, the two of them had gone into complete blackness, and like a dog goes for the throat –he went to it on all fours, his deadly teeth finding their mark, he fed heartily from her inner thigh. Stopping before her heart gave out, “You are absolved of all sin, and now I send you on your way…” he whispered to her.

Standing up the shadows falling away as he started toward his sire –unaware of what he had done. Her face coming into sharp focus.

[Adair Noble]

It was a common thing with vampires in this city. There was a certain way they hunted; each had their own distinct style, their own trademark: Some like to play with their prey; some liked to let them live and only take a little bit of blood at a time; some liked to sooth their prey and lull them into a sense of security before robbing them of their lives, while others didn’t care for the comfort of their prey and chose to torture them a little before killing them.

Adair was one of the seducers. Charisma and telepathy combined with her bombshell blonde exterior and the odd colour of her eyes helped to create an avid fascination in her prey. Deep down she assumed their human instinct knew that they were about to fall to their doom, like a moth drawn to a flame, but they couldn’t help themselves. It was the natural order of things. And even though they may feel a particular dread at having so freely fallen to their death, Adair made sure that they enjoyed every single moment of it. She produced in them a lust for darkness, and she satisfied that lust. Her bite was gentle and the pull of the blood was not harsh or unnatural. She took her time, made sure they felt little or no pain. They’d fall into death as if they were simply falling into a deep slumber.

It was how she lured her current victim; her fingers played idly with his hair as she grasped the back of his neck. She pierced the skin but immediately withdrew the canines, allowing the blood to run freely; using telepathy, she played at the edges of the human’s mind and gave him soothing images and pleasant, feathery thoughts. He did not struggle, but relaxed into her trap. Soon enough, his heart slowed to an agonizing rhythm and his breathing became shallower and more rugged until it finally stopped.

But by the end Adair had lost interest in her own victim. Instead, her attention was riveted upon Chance, who’d snatched up his own victim and carted her to a different location, like a possessive predator. It was fascinating, to say the very least—he’d adopted the instinct of a vampire far faster than was expected. Of course he should be possessive, and predatory too. And, like any cannibalistic predator, he treated his prey like the lump of meat it was—like something that had no soul, no fear...

Or maybe that’s what he wanted.

Adair didn’t quite know how she should feel about Chance’s particular style. The girl was going to die, regardless, so what did it matter in what fashion it was done? For the sake of mercy, perhaps, it ought to be done differently.

But Adair’s doubts were overwhelmed by a completely new sensation; as her own dead victim fell from her grasp and to the ground, a shadow formed around Chance, hiding him and his victim from view. Thus it was that Adair did not witness Chance’s final act. She was only again aware of him when he’d stood, and was making his way out of the shadows; they dropped from him and took their rightful places, yet again, in the many nooks and crannies of the darkened alley.

Adair closed the distance between herself and her childe—her frown had been replaced by a grin.

”Oh, Chance... you have no idea how proud I am!” It was odd, to state as much to a relative stranger. But they weren’t strangers, not with this new bond that existed between them.

”You are more powerful than I gave you credit for. Already!” She said, and whilst doing so she reached forward to wipe a smudge of blood from Chance’s chin.

She was on the verge of asking him whether he had to be so cruel with his victims, too... but she didn’t want to ruin the moment. She was terribly proud of her new childe. There were absolutely no regrets about what she had done to him. And she didn’t want him to feel as if she were disappointed in him so soon after she’d complimented him.

No, she would wait. She would keep an eye on Chance, as much as she could. And if he got out of control, she would step in. For the moment, however, she was happy to let him be. Sure, his methods may not have computed with her own. But she couldn’t judge, or tell him how he should live this new life of his. No, for the moment she’d let him try to figure some things out on his own.