To be honest, this has been sitting in my computer for quite a while; I just haven't had the chance to post it yet or rather I wanted to finish the next chapter first. The next chapter is already done, I just want to edit it a bit more before I post it and chapter six already had several pages written. Enjoy and please review.

The morning after a fight is a curious thing, everyone creeps around each other in an overly polite state. The closest of people, suddenly find there is a distance between them; that they have to be extra careful around each other, as if the smallest of discourses would start the brawl up again. This curious state was the one in which the Louis family was in, the next morning. Lucille sat by the fireplace with her embroidery and glanced up now and then at the still mad Katharine, who had just emerged from upstairs. Mr Louis preferred to avoid this awkward situation in its entirety and stayed locked away in his study for the duration of the morning. Exasperated with the whole situation Katharine left for a walk, under the pretence of going to call on the Bandeaus.

As soon as she was out of the house and in the cold, she had to rethink her original idea of going to the clearing. The season had truly died and there was no disputing the fact that it was certainly fall then. In fact venturing any further than her doorway without a heavier shawl was out of the question, let alone going to the clearing. Katharine darted inside quickly to grab her wrap from its peg and rushed out again before Lucille, who had tried to speak could say anything. Annoyed Lucille sat promptly back down into her chair and took her frustration out on a cushion that was doing the opposite of its function.

Outside Katharine was already at the end of the lane. The houses in that part of town were built very close together, and even though it was not the bad end of town, the laneways were very cramped. It was a ten minute walk up to the Bandeau's dwelling. Up being the operative word in that sentence since the Bandeaus lived near the top of the steep incline on which the town was built on, along with the more wealthy merchants and gentlemen that lived in town. St Pierre was small, so society was much less varied than in other parts of the country. There were not many girls of the same age, so it was not surprising that Marie and Katharine met often, even though their personalities differed greatly. However Katharine very much liked to listen to her playful banter and talk of all the places Marie had been to. Katharine was no such country bumpkin to have never gone farther than the next village, unlike most. She had been born in England in fact, but unlike Katharine, Marie had been all over France and Europe. The two were unlikely friends but very fond of each other.

As Katharine neared the house, she saw a flutter of the curtains in the pallor room of the Bandeau home, within a minute Marie had appeared in the doorway, her slivery head bobbing towards Katharine. "Why my little English mouse, you look quite remarkable on the morrow of a vampire encounter!" She smiled, grasping for her friend's hands affectionately. The nickname mouse was not used out of meanness, but had become something of a pet name that Marie used for Katharine. When Katharine had first come to St Pierre three years ago, the season had been hot, and seen more sun than usual and Katharine had developed an uncharacteristic tan because of it. She had been quite brown and freckled when she had first appeared in town, sitting in the back of the hay wagon and with her brown hair and eyes, skin and freckles, as well as her small size at the time, she had look quite like a little field mouse sitting among the hay. So when one of the boys who had seen her, had started up the chant:

Look at the mouse

The brown, brown dirty little mouse

Sitting in the hay missing her English house

Look at the dirty brown mouse

Marie, who was very temperamental at the time, took it upon herself that she liked the little English girl and even more so when the agitated Katharine had smiled and said to the silly little boy, that any field mouse was cleaner than him and perhaps if he was smart enough to actually catch one, he would not look quite so much as if he lived with hoards of them. Marie had of course found this very clever and decided that she would like to know more of the little English mouse. Whenever She used the nickname, it was the same as saying clever little mouse as she had when they were younger. Over the years since, Katharine had shot up in height, her eyes turned more hazel than dark brown, she lost those few freckles she had had; her hair had darkened back up - to how it had been when she was a small child - and she no longer grew tan in the summers. So mouse really could not describe her anymore, but it remained a happy nickname among the two.

Though Marie was a year older and already seventeen, many often thought that Katharine was the elder of the two, since Marie could be rather silly. Marie seemed to be perpetually happy, never upset for more than a few moments; she was infectious and even when upset, spending a few moments with her bettered your mood. But she seemed to evoke extremes in people though, either you loved her instantly or you could not stand her. At that moment the sun came out from behind the silvery clouds and illuminated Marie's long frizzy sliver blond locks. Marie was a very willowy girl; she was pale and had washed out grey-blue eyes that were slivery like her hair. If one did not know her they would assume that she was a meek little lady who listened to everything, which was true when she needed to be.

"And how is it that you are so well informed?" Katharine laughed "Ms Bandeau." At this she twisted her voice into a deeper more comical tone.

"Oh Katharine, how you make me laugh" Marie stated happily. "You have no idea how terribly deprived of any laughter I have been. Now of course I am informed, the whole village is informed for that matter. Now do tell me, I've been dying all morning to hear your account of Claude throwing himself in front of you to save you from that horrid vampire." She finished wickedly.

"Why Marie Josephine Bandeau, you are becoming a horrid old gossip!" Katharine gasped.

"Oh don't call me that, it makes me think of my mother and she is ten times more silly than little old me, now out with it. I am simply dying to know!"

Katharine gave an exasperated sigh before confirming that it was true, but it did not really mean much.

"You are a fool Katharine, that boy is clearly in love with you." Marie continued in her teasing manner. "If I were you I would snatch him right up." At this Marie shook her head, becoming serious for a moment. "But then I am not you, and truth be told, he does not really suit you Katharine. A pity for what wonderful looks he has!" Her tone returned to its normal playful inflections at this. The shocking thing about Marie was, with all of the wonderfully silly things that came from her, bits of true wisdom and insight came too, once in a blue moon as well.

At this Katharine shifted the conversation to a less awkward topic. "Now aren't you the least bit worried about me after I came so close to a vampire?" Katharine teased. At this Marie looked truly astonished.

"Why Katharine Louis of course I was! Why do you think I was waiting in the pallor for you to call in fact I had just made up my mind when you came up the lane; that if I did not see you in ten minutes I would go down to find you myself. If it was me I would have simply died of fright, I don't see how you do it, but you look like your unusual pretty self." Marie was as fond of giving complements as she was of receiving them. She always said that since they made her feel superb and she should do the same to others. So in that sense she would call a mangy mutt adorable to make its circumstances seem less dire.

But to this little monologue Katharine simply gave her usual answer. "I'm just not scared of vampires."

"Not even after being so close to one, to being so close to death!" Marie's eyes widened dramatically at this, causing Katharine to laugh.

"I thought you just said that you were scared for me and now you discuss my near death experience so calmly!" Katharine teased. Marie's eyes widen innocently.

"Oh I knew you wouldn't die, you are the indestructible Katharine after all. My little mouse is far too smart to get into such a scrap as death."

"Fearless of vampires perhaps but certainly not indestructible, but I'll give you incorruptible." Katharine teased.

"In some ways, my dear Katharine you are much more frightening than any old vampire." Marie stated in awe, while Katharine pulled her towards the house.

The two girls spent a merry little afternoon together, full of jokes and the latest gossip, supplied in full by Marie. As it turned out she had acquired a new number of beaus that were currently courting her. When Katharine, in shock asked why she persisted to keep so many men around her, especially when it was food for old gossips like Mme Degaulle. Marie simply laughed and said that since asking if she would marry him would be the last thing a man would ever ask her opinion on, she meant to string out the time before she had to answer that question to anyone, for as long as possible. They talked briefly of Marie's employment to Mme Degaulle. Since the Degaulles had at one time been a noble family, Mousier Bandeau had thought that a summer of work as a lady's maid might cure his daughter of her ways. The job was meant to entail mostly of a lot of embroidery and company. However Mme Degaulle took it as if Marie was employed to her as a common maid and asked Marie constantly to do all sorts of unfitting jobs, which Marie promptly refused to do. Saying how un-lady like her hands would become if she swept the fireplace.

Before long the height of the afternoon was nearly over and Mrs Bandeau was making hints that Katharine should hurry home before it was too late, since she would not like to be out at night in a un-lady like fashion so soon again. Katharine of course knew this was her signal to leave, even though it was only about three.

Mme Bandeau had taken it into her head years ago that Katharine was the bad influence on her daughter and the root of the problem of Marie's silliness derived from her friendship with her. Therefore she thought it best if Katharine's company and influence was put to a minimum. Since she could as of yet talk Marie out of the friendship.

As Katharine left, Mme Dubois came to call on Mme Bandeau. Marie sensing an onslaught of gossip, speed herself away to a little corner from which she might listen to them talk without being too noticeable. However Mme Bandeau had other ideas, since the topic of her "discussion" with Mme Dubois would be mostly about the young girls of St Pierre, namely the troublesome Katharine Louis. So the conversation did not start until Marie had been safely sent to the next room. But that did not stop her from managing to listen in on them and she managed to grasp these snippets of their conversation.

"-- Oh I know she's a terrible influence, but I simply do not know what to do about it, Marie simply refuses to quit her." Mme Bandeau was lamenting.

Marie was filled with indignation but listened harder to catch Mme Dubois' reply.

"Well what can you expect from her? Especially with that father of hers and with her older sister as a reference, it is no wonder that she has turned out so poorly. " Mme Dubois' deep hoarse voice replied, for she was getting on in years.

"Yes Mr Louis does seem to be too preoccupied with his ideologies and such to pay his daughters much mind, it's really quite shocking that Katharine managed to attracted Claude Noel." Mme Bandeau replied with a bitter tone in her voice, for she had hoped that Marie might one day be married to Claude.

"Yes shocking, I do hope that dear boy comes to his senses soon though. He looks a fair bit like my dear Sinclair did." Mme Dubois cooed. Sinclair Dubois had indeed looked nothing like Claude, he had had mousey, dirty blonde hair that was always very messy and his colouring had been very different, his eyes having been a nondescript brown. However he had been a very sweet boy and in that sense very different from Claude. He had died at the tender age of twelve almost a decade ago from an infection of the lungs.

"Yes."Sniffed Mme Bandeau though she could not see any similarities between the two, for she had built Claude up so much in her mind, that he could rival King Louis the fourteenth in some aspects.

"Did you hear what happened to the mother?" Mme Dubois continued

"No, she was not with them when they came three years ago, is it scandalous?" Mme Bandeau's knitting needles speed up with her excited voice.

Mme Dubois stopped her needle work to heighten the moment and allow Mme Bandeau to wriggle in anticipation. She really enjoyed keeping her on tenterhooks while she pursued her lips, as if trying to recall the facts. "Well, it is noting too exciting. Everyone in town assumed she had died, which is true. The question is really how. Since no one in town was very well acquainted with the family when they came, the details are very unclear. I have heard Mr Louis say that she died of typhus; the poor thing, a year before they came. However, many believed that it might have been the plague, but the dates then don't line up with what Mr Louis said, since the last plague in London was in 1625..."

"Oh, but they were not in London." Mme Bandeau interrupted excitedly.

"Anyways" Mme Dubois continued, not happy with Mme Bandeau for interrupting. "Apparently, someone over heard Lucille say that Katharine had brought the illness down on their home. Someone asked Katharine and apparently she confirmed that she had taken gravely ill when she was twelve, but she would not say with of what."

"So then the family blames the girl for the mother's death, oh how wicked and to think that after all the things that the father preaches in church!" Mme Bandeau gasped. "And to think her Harlot of a sister would dare to say that after what she has done to their family name."

At this Marie could stand no more and she went to talk with her father, wondering how different her mother and she could be; for though Marie loved to gossip, she did not like to be ruthless about it, dragging out someone's history was of no consequence for her. So she left her mother and Mme Dubois to talk about the latest fashion.

Katharine left, feeling the full effects of an afternoon with Marie, her irritation at her sister had died out and her good mood had been restored until she opened her front door and came face to face with a very happy Claude. Shocked at seeing him there her famous mouth acted out with "What on earth are you doing here?"

To this Claude flushed a little and replied "I have come to speak to you and your father, as I told you yesterday." Katharine was on the verge of making an excuse to hurry back out again, but her father at that moment came into view.

"Ah Daughter, you're home. I was just about to send someone after you." He stated absentmindedly, fiddling with his glasses. Claude sat down looking still happier. "Claude has already had a word with me and I think there are things to discuss."

At this Katharine felt as though all windows and doors in her life had been shut to her. There was no way out now, she would have to accept Claude. It was her duty to her family. The roles of females were set in stone, since the family had no male heir, when Mr Louis died they would all face destitution. Katharine's marriage was the only way to save her sister and herself from poverty. But to be forced to enter a loveless marriage that could only end in Misery for herself; to Katharine death would have been a kinder fate, but it was not only her life but her sister's as well. She could clearly see each of her dreams become impossible, and her life wife Claude stretched out before her like an endless road, with no bend in it, just straight through till it ended with death.

It cannot be denied that even Mousier Louis felt a small twinge of guilt when he saw the hollow look of Katharine's face. "Sit down Katharine, there are things to discuss." Mr Louis stated quietly, not meeting his daughter's eyes.

"I'd rather stand if it was alright with you." She replied coldly.

"Whatever is most comfortable for you Katharine" Claude answered merrily, completely oblivious to the current atmosphere.

"Sit. You are being rude." Mr Louis stated, still not looking at her and speaking gravely.

"Well ah Katharine your father is right and it would be best for you to sit. This is a very important conversation after all." Claude quickly stated, it a happy tone.

"I will not."

"Now Monsieur Louis perhaps Katharine is right in this matter, this discussion mostly pertains to her and she should feel at ease and at her happiest when she hears what I have to say and may I venture so far as to say that logistically this is better." Claude ventured to suggest, his voice bubbling with excitement.

"Do not be ridiculous daughter. Sit!"

"Now Katharine you should always listen to your elders since they always know the better and should be respected, listen to your father and sit down." Claude interjected.

"I will stand."

"For pity's sake daughter sit down this minute!" At this Mr Louis rose from his chair.

Claude grew a little desperate at this change of events that he had not seen coming, the sudden change of atmosphere seem to have sprung from nowhere to him and his brain was already slowly turning to try and find a remedy to the situation.

"Now, now, perhaps mediation is in order her; for is it not always said that mediation is the best remedy for confrontation" Claude recited desperately.

"Mediate away Claude, I'm sure papa will listen to you rather than me." Katharine nearly snapped.

"Enough!" Mr Louis yelled. All of the commotion had brought Lucille down from upstairs to watch and though she had been mildly entertained up until this point, listening to Claude's ever changing replies. She would not allow Katharine's engagement to be endangered.

"Really Katharine, be civil." Lucille called from her perch on the stairwell.

"Yes Katharine be civil." Claude echoed, turning to Lucille with a look of thanks that soon turned to disgust when he remembered something. Embarrassed he dropped his gaze and turned a cold shoulder on her.

"Claude, we really do have things to discuss." Mr Louis stated frankly.

"Well, then I'll leave you two to it." Katharine stated in mock merriment, before turning and leaving the house in two quick strides. She was already past the lane way and down the stairs to the lower half of town, when someone went after her.

Marie could have guessed where Katharine had run off to, but for Lucille and Mr Louis they had no idea and when they called on the Bandeaus, they found Marie most unhelpful. Katharine was in fact at that very moment, running through the French countryside, and taking a shortcut to the clearing.

-------------------

James sat on a brick wall, covered with ivy. He had not left the area as he had planned the night before but decided to stay and see if he could intercept William, who had told him last year he would be in that part of the country. Truth be told, James was very bored, he sat there on the old brick wall - which might have been built around the time he was born, or perhaps a bit before that – and simply watched the swaying trees. He could see the leaves already beginning to turn; make out their drying texture that a human might have simply thought was a healthy green leaf. He had spent the day in that fashion, since he was really too lazy to go hunt for more food. But fall seemed to pacify him generally. In his boyhood it had been his favourite season and that had passed on into the next life. All the colours and textures could be enjoyed so much more with heightened senses and though it did not last long, he was normally content to simply sit lazily around during the duration of the season.

He glanced around the clearing that he was in. It must have been part of the old city at one point, but it was simply abandoned then. It was quite peaceful and he was surprised that not many humans ventured into it. But this generation was not like his and they seemed to have very little time on their hands, or perhaps he had more of an appreciation for the subtleties of nature since he had grown up in the countryside. However there was one human scent that was mixed in among the grass by the river, it was familiar but the fresh rain from the night before had cleared most of it away and even a vampire would have a hard time trying to identify it.

But the sound of someone moving through the forest towards him caught his attention. James silently slipped from his place on the wall and stood out of sight behind some foliage. A wave of recognition hit him as he paired the coming scent of lavender and dogwood to the lingering scent in the clearing. He was debating whether to give up his spot and leave or simply scare off the girl so he could stay in peace, when Katharine dashed in the far side of the clearing and she was clearly angry. James watched silently as she collapsed in an angry heap by the river and started pulling the grass up in irritation. She soon tired of that and simply laid her head on her arms. Intrigued James hopped back up onto the wall to watch her; he stayed so still that he could pass as a statue and Katherine with her head turned the other way did not even notice. This annoyed James a little and as it seemed unlikely that she would notice his presence anytime soon, he spoke.

"You know, you always seem to be angry to me." He called out to her, wondering how she would react.

Katharine jerked up, clearly surprised that there was someone else there. She froze when her eyes met James' red ones.

"What you're not running away and screaming?" he joked. "Or are you too scared to run?"

Katharine straightened up to a standing position, and stared up hat him with hatred. "I never run away from vampires." She answered coldly, her voice only breaking a little at the end.

"How strange, and why is that?" James continued. This girl was so very different from the others he had come across, from the other humans he had dealt with, she intrigued him.

"I'm not afraid of vampires" She stated calmly, though James could see that she was shaking slightly.

"Oh really?" he stated smiling. "I beg to differ, you are shaking."

"I am not." Katharine stated angrily. In less than the time it took Katharine to draw another breath, James stood less than a foot in front of her. Katharine could not help but to gasp and falter backwards.

"See, you're shaking." James smiled, but there was a melancholy note in his voice. The smile had not been menacing, but it had not been happy either, simply something mechanical like returning someone's greeting to you on the street. It had not touched his eyes either.

Katharine stubbornly stood her ground then.

"All humans are afraid of vampires." He continued. "After all--"

Here Katharine cut him off. "And all vampires were once humans."

James was taken aback then. "Don't tell me that is why you are not afraid of us, or so you claim, because that is a very stupid reason."

"I never said that was the reason. I don't try to humanize you lot if that is what you are implying."

"Well then, what is it and for your information you're shaking again." He stated calmly, taking a step forward. So that he was now very close to her.

"I am mad, that's why." Katharine stated. Her hatred for what stood in front of her driving out any fear as she stood up straighter and stared up to the handsome face above her.

"Yes you are I should think, after all you are holding a conversation with a vampire. Only someone crazy would do that" He joked, his eyes becoming wicked.

"That's not what I meant and you know it!" She said angrily, taking a step forward.

James head snapped to the west end of the clearing before turning back to Katharine. Leaning down and whispering into her ear. "You have a death wish then. But if you want to live even a little bit, leave now and don't run out again tonight." A hint of urgency had underlined his words, but Katharine had not noticed.

"If you wanted to kill me you've had many chances already, I'm not scared." She stated coldly.

"Just leave and never come here again!" James all but yelled, he was becoming increasingly agitated, and his eyes kept darting to the west.

"I will not!" Katharine yelled. "You cannot take this place away from me!" She would never again allow a vampire to steal something important from her.

"Just go!" he implored, becoming increasingly desperate as he heard the immortal nearing them.

Katharine oblivious to the danger did not move.

"Unless you want to lose everyone dear to you, leave." James hissed desperate for her to leave.

Katharine's eyes widened in horror, as she took in the threat and her face contorted in pain. Before she knew it her hand snapped out and hit his stone cheek hard. "I hate you so much." She spat, before turning and sprinting out of the clearing.

James was left with mingled emotions, his fake threat had done its purpose but he had certainly not expected her to slap him. He did not like being slapped by a human, it was ridiculously degrading and he was having a hard time controlling his vampire instincts. Had he been a young vampire he would have already killed her, but he had gained restraint over the years. Instead he sprinted off to meet William.

James intercepted William deep into the forest, by an old gnarled maple tree. It must have been several hundred years old possibly almost a thousand. Its green canopy stretched far around and basked in the sunlight. A pond surrounded it, with the swampy marshland forming a little island around it. Its roots came up from above the ground and leaning against the wide trunk lounged William.

"Well James, why is it that I smell a human on you but no blood?" William questioned obviously disgruntled about something. "We could have shared that girl that you had with you."

"Don't you touch her!" James snapped, astonished that he had actually said something like that without thinking and even became even madder when he remembered the slap.

"Alright already, I get it. When you are done playing around your food, I'll just take a little bit then." William laughed, though still a little perturbed at his friends unusual behaviour.

James controlled his emotions better this time and simply gave a fake little smile.

"Come my friend, it's been almost a decade since we've had any leisurely time together." William laughed. William was bulker than James and an inch shorter, his light brown hair was pulled into a short and messy ponytail at the nape of his neck like James', however he had the ruffed up look of one who had recently speed through the woods at incredible speed. His shirt tails were left open and he wore no cloak or jacket, his knee length leather boots were battered and dishevelled. He had the same bristles on his chin the last time James had seen him. Though William and James did not differ greatly in terms of their life spans as vampires, William had been nearly four years older than James when he had been turned and therefore had been stopped forever at twenty-three. His near black eyes regarded his friend who stood little more than ten feet from him. William was thirsty and for some reason that worried James.

James came to his senses and walked towards William at mortal speed, and for some reason he was hoping that the girl was already well on her way home by then.

An: There, finally they meet and actually talked, god that took a while, this is the fourth chapter. Anyway thanks for reading and please review (who doesn't ask people to review?) Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, please bear with Claude. I really did try to make him less annoying but that's one of his biggest characterization points. I was trying to use him for a bit of comic relief, but then maybe he's just destined to be one of those annoying characters that make the heroine seem more popular. He does play an important part later on in the story though so he won't be going away anytime... sorry. By the way, keep up the speculations of the plot, I'm really enjoying it!