I'm totally excited for this new story! :D Tell me what you think, even if it's criticism! It'd mean a lot to me! ;)

Chapter 1

Twinkling stars poked their shining heads out to play in the night sky as Oliver strode lazily below. Somehow, tonight they seemed much brighter to him than usual, as if they were taunting him. He scowled and directed his gaze toward the ground and stuffed his hands deep into the pockets of his black trench coat. He felt like the happy stars above were dangling their shimmering giggles of joy in his face.

Everything was depressing him. Nothing made him happy anymore. Life was now pointless.

If there was no joy in living, then what was the purpose? Living in Morganville had taken away the thrill of the hunt; Amelie would never return his uncertain feelings; he was a pet to the humans. But was immortality something to be thrown away so easily?

Just then a small streak of black followed by a much larger shadow darted across Oliver's path. On any other day, Oliver would have simply continued on without giving the two shadows a second glance. But now he easily intercepted the larger object—which turned out to be a savage dog with wild eyes and a thick coat of reddish-brown fur. Firmly striking the dog on the snout, Oliver drove it away then turned to find the small creature it'd been chasing. It didn't take long. The stench of fear pulsating from it left a trail not easily ignored. Crouching down amidst the trash the animal had taken shelter in he found it—a black kitten—curled in a shivering ball. Reaching out, he gently stroked a finger along the kitten's downy fur and felt the bones of its spine and ribs jabbing through its skin.

The pitiful thing peered out with the pale, glowing, grey eyes. Oliver smiled, just barely, and cupped his hand around the kitten. "I bet you want something to eat, don't you? I suppose I can scrape something up for you." The black bundle croaked a rough mew as he cradled it against his chest and started for home.

O.o.O

Myrnin had been walking out to spring a surprise visit on Amelie when he'd run across Oliver who was clutching something to his chest protectively and hurrying out of from a convenience store with a plastic bag swinging from his hand. Naturally, Myrnin's curiosity had been caught like a butterfly in a spider web. So he stalked Oliver from the shadows, careful not to announce his presence. Luckily, Oliver seemed quite engrossed in the package he carried. At one point, Myrnin thought he might have heard the other vampire crooning softly to it, but he decided his ears were playing tricks on him.

Oliver didn't croon.

When they reached Oliver's house, the dark man immediately entered, slamming the door behind him. Myrnin crept closer to peek into the window.

Although it was pitch black inside, Myrnin could see perfectly, and his night vision allowed him a glance of the tail of Oliver's trench coat disappearing into the kitchen at the end of the hallway. Frowning, Myrnin rounded the house and looked through the window of Oliver's kitchen.

Inside, to Myrnin's astonishment, Oliver was struggling to open a can of cat food while a tiny, scraggly, black kitten sat on the counter watching. An amused smile tugged at Myrnin's lips when Oliver cursed at the stubborn can. Finally, he simply tore the can apart with brute strength, making the contents splatter all over the kitchen. Myrnin choked back a guffaw, but he sobered when he noticed the kitten's ears suddenly go rigid and twitch back toward him. When the kit swiveled its head to stare at him, Myrnin suddenly felt frozen—something was holding him there in place against his will.

Oliver soon noticed the strange way the kit was staring outside, and then he caught sight of Myrnin whose face was frozen in a stifled laugh. Growling under his breath, Oliver unlocked the window and shoved it upward. "What the hell are you doing here? Spying on me?"

For a moment more, Myrnin stayed frozen then the kit blinked and Myrnin could look up at Oliver with a stunned expression on his face.

"Well?" Oliver rumbled.

Without missing another beat, Myrnin inquired, "Where did you find that cat, Oliver?"

"The cat—no, you answer my question first. You're on my private property, and last time I checked I can throw you off of it."

"I followed you because I wanted to know what you were holding and why you'd purchased something from the convenience store. Now, Oliver, the cat, please."

Glaring at the intruder, Oliver explained, "It was being chased by a dog. I saved it. Happy? Leave."

"Why did you save a kitten? You hold no affection for animals. What made you take in this one?"

Oliver blinked. "I-I just wanted to at the time. Why does it matter so much?"

A thoughtful silence blanketed Myrnin, and he watched the kit who watched him back intently with those mesmerizing, green eyes. "I don't think that's just any ordinary cat, Oliver."

"Nonsense. It's a cat. There's nothing more to it."

"I wouldn't be so sure…" Myrnin trailed off and began climbing through the window. Placing an aggressive hand on the other vampire's shoulder, Oliver snapped,

"I didn't invite you into my home." But Myrnin simply slithered out from under Oliver's grip and approached the black smudge of fur atop the counter. The pair stared at each other—pale green and coal black observing one another. All the while, Oliver tried sending Myrnin mental signals that he was about to die.

"Quit glowering at me, Oliver. Doesn't it take more energy to hate than to ignore?" Silently admitting he was right Oliver stepped toward a large chunk of cat food and picked it up from the floor to offer to the kit. It sniffed the food carefully then quickly cleaned Oliver's hand.

"Why do you think something is wrong with this cat?" Oliver asked, trying his best to hide his curiosity.

Myrnin's reply was short, simple, and preoccupied. "Because it can do magic."

That made Oliver freeze. He blinked and looked at Myrnin with disbelief. "I'm sorry?"

"I know you heard me, and I'm not insane. Anymore. We were all cured, remember?"

"Of course I remember. But magic? I thought you were a man of science, Myrnin."

"I simply used the term to help you understand. Since I've yet to fully understand this creature's true nature I can't say with certainty how it performs it little tricks. All I'm sure of is that it persuaded you to rescue it, and it shut down my nervous system simply by looking at me."

Oliver folded his arms over his chest stubbornly. "How can you be so sure it did those things?"

"Just a feeling."

The kitten leaped down from the countertop and landed on wobbly legs. Oliver watched it stumble toward a new pile of cat food and wondered if Myrnin could be right. It was strange how he'd been compelled to protect the kit back in the street. "How can we find out for certain?" he asked finally.

Myrnin thought for a moment, staring as the kit licked food from the floor. "I don't really know. The closest thing to this phenomenon I've experienced is our ability to hypnotize people."

"Like you used to do when your alleyway was referred to as the home of the trapdoor spider."

Myrnin blinked and frowned, remembering. "Yes," he answered slowly.

"It must be powerful to be able to work on us."

"Very powerful indeed, and to think such a pitiful creature possesses it and can still use it even in such a desperate condition."

Oliver scooped the kit up in his hand to gaze at it. The scrawny thing extended a pink-padded paw and let out a happy meow. Its purr felt soothing and strong against his hand. "It doesn't seem dangerous."

"Even so I think I'd best take it back to my lab so I can keep an eye on it." Myrnin gently took the kit from Oliver and started for the door. As he opened it, the kit tensed and raised its hackles. An angry growl rose from its throat as it glared out into the night. Searching for the cause of this reaction, Myrnin spied a huge figure shrouded in shadow at the end of Oliver's lawn. "It's just a dog. Nothing I can't deal with," Myrnin told the kit.

But when he stepped out onto the porch the cat extended its claws and streaked over Myrnin's shoulder back into the house. Myrnin heard Oliver cry out in surprise and pain. He found the cat had climbed up Oliver and on top of his head where it crouched, hissing. "Well," Myrnin remarked, holding back a wave of laughter, "I suppose that means it's not going to be leaving anytime soon."

His voice quivering with fury, Oliver reached a twitching hand out toward Myrnin's throat. "I am going to kill you."

"Now, now, it's not my fault. How was I to know it'd overreact so immensely?"

Oliver's eye twitched and he reached up to pry the kit's claws loose. He held it by the scruff away from himself. They stared each other down, anger on innocence. "Don't ever do that again. Do you understand, you little pest?"

Myrnin couldn't keep the laughter in, and he held onto the doorframe, shaking with amusement. When he straightened up, Oliver had come closer, dark eyes alight with menace. "Get out."

Raising a scolding finger, Myrnin said, "Don't be so rude, Oliver. Even you have to admit it was funny. And do you really want me to leave you here alone with a cat whose powers are unknown? It could probably kill you if it wanted to. Of course, that doesn't matter to me but..." He stopped talking when the kit in Oliver's grip began hissing again, swiping toward Myrnin. No. Past Myrnin. He turned on his heel to discover the coppery colored dog had approached the open door, and now it stood a few feet away, lips raised and fur bristling.

Suddenly, Oliver appeared beside Myrnin and set the kit in his arms. Then he stepped out into the night, and Myrnin realized Oliver was growling deep in his chest. His body took on a wild, animalistic composure, and he looked like a rattlesnake poised to strike. The dog's eyes flashed confusion—an oddly human reaction. Oliver lunged at the hound, which immediately dodged and countered by landing a strong bite on the vampire's arm. Oliver roared and smashed the dog's head with his fist. The squeal that erupted from the dog ripped at Myrnin's heart. It was strong, almost making him rush out to stop Oliver, but something kept him rooted to the spot. It felt as if two ropes were pulling him. One anchored him to the spot while the other wrenched him out to stop Oliver.

The mutt had backed up to the steps of the porch, and abruptly, Oliver paused. He straightened up and reentered the house. As he passed, he patted the kit on the head then looked out to the dog who crouched, frightened, in the dark. The cat jumped down to the ground and faced the dog bravely—although it was still inside the doorway—and let out a triumphant yowl before turning around to swagger away.

Myrnin began closing the door, but the feeling to attack Oliver returned; only this time it was slightly different. He didn't feel like attacking Oliver, but like attacking the cat. It seemed Oliver was under this strange influence as well. They both stalked up on the kit silently. It turned just in time to see them before they both plunged in to attack. Now another pressure sat atop the feeling to attack the cat. Myrnin and Oliver both struggled, being moved by some odd power to assault both animals.

Letting out a strangled cry, Myrnin stumbled away, into the living room, but the pressures didn't ease up. Acting on impulse, he lifted Oliver's end table and chucked it at the dog. Suddenly, all of the pressures disappeared.

Oliver rushed out, chasing the dog away into the night.

Rubbing his temples, Myrnin gazed at the cat. "That was you, wasn't it?" But the kit didn't even move. Then suddenly it began trembling like a leaf in the wind; its legs collapsed under itself; its unconscious body crashing to the ground.

Quickly lifting the limp creature into his hands, Myrnin checked its vitals. Oliver returned just as he finished, and Myrnin, filled with relief, sighed, "It is okay. I think it just exhausted itself doing whatever it was it was doing."

Oliver tenderly brushed its ear with a finger. When he saw Myrnin staring at him in shock, he pulled away and started upstairs. "The sun will be coming up soon. I'm going to bed. Stay if you want. I don't care."

"I think I'll watch over the kit, make sure it is okay."

Oliver hesitated at the foot of the stairs. Without turning around, he muttered, "Thanks."

O.o.O

Somehow, sleeping in a bathtub was oddly comfortable. He'd slept in the bathroom since it was the only room besides Oliver's bedroom that lacked windows. Myrnin stretched as he lifted himself from his porcelain bed. With a start, he realized the kit had disappeared. He'd fallen asleep with the cat on his stomach, but now it was gone. Stepping out into the hallway, he clucked at the wrinkles that had formed in his vest and pants from sleeping in them.

An alarmed shout sent him sprinting into the room it'd come from—which was apparently Oliver's bedroom because inside, the aforementioned vampire was standing with his shirt in his hand, gesturing toward a young girl of around twelve years of age. Oliver's eyes were squeezed shut with his free hand covering them, probably because the girl was completely naked. "Myrnin! Cover up this—creature!" Rolling his eyes, Myrnin snatched Oliver's shirt and slowly approached the girl.

"I'm not going to hurt you. I'm just going to give you this so you'll have something to wear. You must be cold, huh?" The girl looked up at him blankly for a moment before taking the shirt from Myrnin. When she'd pulled it over her head, Myrnin helped her to her feet and said, "Alright, Oliver. She's decent."

With an angry grunt, Oliver turned. "That's just fine and dandy, but what the hell is she doing here!?"

Before anymore could be said, the girl dropped to the ground and bowed her head to the floor. "I am called Amyr. I offer my deepest gratitude for your kindness towards me, and I apologize for any and all inconvenience my stay has caused."

Myrnin's brow rose at her formal aura; everything about her was princess-like, right down to the long straight black hair, pale grey eyes, pale skin, and pretty much everything else about her. "You shouldn't be on that cold floor, dear. Come, stand up. You don't need to thank us or apologize."

"Speak for yourself, Myrnin!" Oliver growled.

Myrnin sent him a cold glower. Pulling Amyr to her feet, he guided her to Oliver's bed. She flattened the shirt out like it was a delicate dress. "I am very sorry. If I can ever repay you—"

"Wait. So you're the cat?" Oliver asked, dumbstruck.

"You're just now figuring that out, Oliver? I must say, I've given you far too much credit this whole time," Myrnin sighed.

"Yes. I was the feline that you rescued last night. Please accept my sincerest apologies for causing your wound," Amyr said in her whispery tone.

"Oh, don't worry about it, Amyr. Oliver's wounds tend to heal…quickly…" Myrnin's voice faded when he saw that the bite mark from the dog last night had yet to disappear. It looked as if it had barely even healed at all.

Oliver's eyes were wide. "How—?"

"Your vampire healing powers are easily put to disuse by an attack from one of my kind."

Myrnin swallowed, anxious of her answer to his question. "And what might your kind be?"

Amyr blinked up at him with clear, grey eyes. "The Specials."