A/N: I'm still going to finish The Primogen's Love. But as time goes by faster than I can write, I wanted to do a story based in the warmer times now. So here's a new set of characters, all fresh and original and a fresh new story based a few months after Primogen's Love. The plot and concepts are owned by White Wolf and the producers of Kindred the Embraced.

Prologue

Early Dismissal

Professor Murphy wasn't the least bit happy with the interruption. But even one of the most revered theater instructors in New England couldn't ignore the boy who staggered into her classroom an hour after it started.

Snide comments and hushed accusations rose above the auditorium-style classroom like a plague of locusts descending upon the student whom they knew nothing about. Blood trickled from an open wound beneath his clothes, but even now I could tell that his wounds had been inflicted while the clothes were off.

"Silence," Murphy said firmly, and like Moses commanding the plagues the locusts died down. She went to boy's side as he leaned against the whiteboard, trying to keep himself standing. In a soft voice that only a few people could hear she said, "Take it easy. Just sit down here, that's right."

A security officer rushed in to the classroom speaking into the radio.

"Dammit," Alyson cursed. She sat in the seat to my left, pretending to focus on her notebook. "The hospital will get a hold of him before we can."

"Wow…he was just embraced, wasn't he?" Peter asked me. Peter sat to my right, and his eyes were intensely focused on the boy as two more security officers came in with a stretcher from the infirmary.

"Yes," I said, keeping my voice low and urging Peter to do the same. "Not too long ago. He's still bleeding. The professor's going to need us on this one."

"I know that guy," Alyson said, looking up once before the boy was taken away. "Billy Colvin. He was dating my roommate two weeks ago."

Once the boy was out of the classroom the professor addressed the class.

"I know many of you have ideas about that poor boy all ready, none of which are entirely flattering," she said. "I do not know what has happened, but I will not make his life more difficult by spreading childish and unfounded rumors. Lord knows I can't force you to use discretion in this manner, but I ask you to follow my example. Since it is clear to me that many of you are distraught I will allow you to leave class early."

Her response was a chorus of gasps and sarcastic remarks referring to the temperature in hell and flying pigs. For once I was in partial agreement. Professor Murphy had never, in all her years of teaching drama allowed an entire class to leave before it was scheduled. I wasted no time in getting my books and following the professor out of the classroom. She was several steps ahead of me, but she knew I was behind her. In a voice that only our kind can hear, she said, "You know what I expect from you. And I know that you know. Eric is going to want answers."

"I'll get them for you." I promised.

I knew Alyson would teach Peter the art of spin control, but in the meantime, it was my responsibility to get to the boy.