"The hunting is the simple part, the cleaning up takes time. The regular cleaning is cutting off the head, burning the bodies, and the digging a hole deep enough so the wild animals will not dig up the remains. Burning a body, gets rids of most of the flesh, but most bone is still so hard that you need some type of furnace or a crematory. I know of a few but I don't want to stain my Jeep. I had a body once in my jeep, the smell took years to go away. " - Memories of Guardian

I smelled the infected blood in the alley. I see movement and stood still. I notice a small canvas moving over a trash can. Out from the canvas stretched very small hands. The hands were covered by filth, but not blood. The hands were reaching for left over cook food. The food disappeared into the canvas. The canvas was small enough to fill a small trash can.

I slowly moved closer in the shadows and continue watching. I expected the cook food to be vomited back up but whatever is under the canvas can digested the food which tells me that it is more human than what I am hunting for. The infected blood smell was still there.

I was close enough and observed enough that if I am going to do something it would be now. I carefully left the canvas and saw two green eyes looking at me with curiosity. I waited for the creature to attack but it sat there and just ate the food.

The creature was a small child about the age of 8 or 9? The child was covered with filth and had the smell of the blood. The child was infected but not converted. Normally I would wait a couple days to wait for it turns into a monster, but I need to return home. So I carefully pick up the child and wrapped the child in heavy restraints. The child became very limp. I observed that the child fell asleep in my arms. I returned to my jeep and had the child in the back tucked in with a blanket. I must be very tired if I made a creature that comfortable.

I drove a few hours and stopped at a drive thru, I ordered food for myself and without thinking order food for the child. The child was awake and I asked what it wants to drink. "Strawberry Milkshake" was the response. I was shocked that the child wanted a milkshake, so I got that on the order.

After ordering, I drove to an empty park far away from town. I released the straps enough for the child to eat. The child devoured all of it's food and drain the milkshake. I was not too hungry so I let the child eat all of mine. Why I gave away food to this creature which I know that I will have to kill in a few days? The child asked to use the restroom and I thought it was a way to escape, so I took out a stake and said to go. The child went around to the porta-potty . I waited for it to run. Next thing I know the child returned with skipping and singing… Did this creature trust me?

We started to leave and I grab the restraints and the child asked if it can ride up front? I was kind of shocked when I said yes. So the child jumped in the front passenger seat with blanket and we rode home. At one point, the child asks who I was. I said I was a hunter. The child said, "I am Lilly "and fell asleep. I observe her breathing habits and waiting for her to turn. Her breathing habits was true sleep.

Four hours later, I pulled into the garage next to my apartment. My apartment was in the basement level of a three story build with a bar taking two of the levels. I have learned that my basement apartment was attached to the maintenance tunnels that are connected to the garage. So I swiftly moved the child from my jeep to my apartment through the tunnels. I watch the child and saw no conversion yet. The sun was coming up in a few hours and I was worried that the child was going to be a problem. So I placed child in my bed knowing that I will have to burn the sheets later.

So I wanted an hour before calling my building's landlord, Mary, who also owns the bar and also the closet I can call a friend. She was up already and started to clean her bar. She was shocked that I was asking for a favor. Mary exact words were," I thought the word help was not in your dictionary". She was even more shocked when she found out what I was asking for.

I asked for her help with the child and she said if she needed to bring protection. I told her that might be wise since the child showed no signs of conversion.

So Mary showed up with a shotgun, which I know would be full of harden oaken beads. Not enough to kill a creature but enough to slowed it to a point to cut off it's head. The Mary took a look at the child and shook her head, "You know this will not end good." I agreed with her.

I slept.

When the sun sat, I awaked. I noticed that the girl and the Mary was gone. With seeing no signs of struggle or blood, I followed the smell of the infected blood. I followed the smell to the bar and found the child was sitting at the bar drinking a soda while the Mary was cleaning the glasses.

The child was cleaned and in fresh clothing. Mary told me that the child was no issue except for eating several plates of food which went onto my tab. Mary also told me that the child was suffering from malnutrition which is why the child is so small. Mary was brave enough to give the child a bath. While Mary was giving the child a bath, she found several needle marks on the child's body. The needle marks were on prime locations for blood drawing or draining. The Mary said, "her name is Lilly."

I said quietly "I know that I am worried to be attached." The Mary said, "You should take her to Council tonight to review her case." "She is infected but she is not going through conversion now". I nod and picks up the phone. I called and asked the person on the line a few questions and hung up. The meeting is going to be three days.

I looked at Mary and Lilly and told them that the council meeting will be in Three days. Mary said, "Lilly will probably be going through the conversion at that time." I nodded in agreement with her, if the conversion is happening at the time, and then there is no point in having a council meeting.

Mary asked, "So what are you going do for three days?" I shrugged my shoulders. I never had any relations with anyone, except with Mary. But that is a different can of worms I don't want to explain to anyone yet. I look at the Lilly and said, "How about some shopping for clothes." Both Mary and Lilly's jaws dropped. I took a step back and wondered if I made a major mistake. Lilly asked "Does Ice cream included into the shopping?" I said sure and Mary asked, do you know how to shop for girl? And asked Mary for what I should buy and she said, just let me take Lilly and you can follow.

Turns out shopping for a girl means more than I realized. I was just going to buy some bare necessities and if things turns bad then I would not missed much. Mary has turned the shopping trip into a major thing. I have never seen Mary so animated with anyone except for me when we argue about my trips. I am feel that we are spending too much for a child that would be dead in about 3 days. The money does not bother me since I have been saving for years. When Mary asked me for a limited, I told her just buy enough for a 3 day visit. The amount of clothes that Mary bought looks enough for three months. Women and shopping are an expensive combination.

The tiny creature I found was no longer look like monster that about ready to explode, but more of a fashionable tween. I also feel that some of the clothing more matches the style that Mary wears. It is only 3 days.

After the shopping, we finally stopped at the ice-cream parlor. Mary and Lilly was talking a storm about the clothes. Mary asks a few personal questions of Lilly but Lilly seems have no memory of her family. Then the conversation came to about her sleeping arrangements.

Mary said that Lilly should sleep in the upstairs Apartment since I am single bachelor. I was concern for only a moment about the conversion, but I remember that Mary has her own strengths and secrets that would be easy for her to take care of Lilly.

Next day, I took Lilly to see the Guru. The guru to the public is a finess nut who knows the proper way to keeping shape. The Guru to me is an old gnome that know the fact and figures of anything he reads which is a lot since he is over 300 years old. When we walked in the shop, Guru said, "The girls smells of death, but I don't see it."

"What do you mean?"

"I assume you brought her because she has not started her conversion?"

"That is correct."

"How many days has it been since you found her?"

"Almost 2 days with no signs of conversion. She is eating regular food and seems to have an addition to ice-cream."

"That is good! Death cannot handle positive energy such as food. Especially milk products that are the women's way of good health. How is the living with her?"

"Mary is having her sleep in her loft, while I watch her in the evening. There are no issues."

"The issue is your attachment and the council's decision. I assume you brought her to change their mind."

"I don't know, I feel that this is not normal situation, but more I spend time with her the more she grows on me. I am asking if I should defend her or walk away from her."

"I know enough from you from the past, that your heart does not open for just anyone. Why is this child any different?"

I nodded and said "So what do you think is holding back the conversion?"

The Guru said, "Holding back or slowing? Do have any knowledge of her background?"

"No. I don't. The girl has very little memory. But Mary found that the girl was being drain due to the needles placement."

"Needles are never good, unless properly used. It will take a piece of her hair and review it. It might not be regular for a few weeks."

"Weeks I don't have, the council meets in 2 days."

"I am sorry friend. " "I know".

"One suggestion I would like to make. Take the girl out and let her enjoy her life. You and her will be better for it. "

"Thank you.. "

I called Mary up and asked for another favor. Mary said, "Wow. Three favors in 2 days? Are you sure you are normal?" I gave Mary the low down from the Guru and she agreed and promises to close the bar for a couple days. I told her she does not have too, but she said she was planning a vacation and this would be the best time to take one. So during the day, she took Lilly to amusement, water parks and more shopping. (I am glad I multiple accounts) and in the evening we do the theatre, night circuses, and ballets. Yes, we even visited the ice cream parlors.

The council meeting was held in part of an old library that was barely used. There were five people sitting as council. Each one looking as a human, but I knew they were not. Three of the people were of elves with glamour of middle age folks with the two other represent other supernatural folks. The council was talking about different rules of magic and boundaries. Lilly fell asleep with her head falling in my lap. I looked at her and felt that she was so small. If the smell was present, I would have taken her home and let her sleep.

The council called the case of Lilly. They both arise and approached the front. Lilly was sat in the middle child and was asked about her history and knowledge. The general knowledge she had was being in a simple home and next she was in a lab. She saw multiple people setup in the lab as she. She remembers next that she was in a Van and thrown into a dumpster. One of the council came to her and asked for a piece of hair and a sample of blood. Lilly gave them freely. The council asked me of my rational of why I brought her to council instead of "cleaning up." My reply was I was waiting for the conversion.

The council took a break for deliberations on the Lilly case. I sat back and waited with Lilly and Mary in the room. When the day came, Mary showed up to support Lilly.

Lilly asked if she was going to die, I said she should be prepared. Lilly cried and asked what the conversion is. I said, "The simple explanation is when you change from human to vampire and you can no longer control yourself. Most vampires that goes through conversion never returned to a life of being human become monsters." Lilly said Thank you for the truth and the giving her ice-cream. Lilly cried herself asleep. For the first time in years, I felt strong compassion for my prey.

After a few minutes, the council returned with their deliberations.

Lilly was sentenced to Death.