Just a few things. I thoroughly understand that there are some people who do not like the ways I have been twisting the rules and manners of Vampire the Masquerade. This chapter is no different. Have fun reading it.

"Mum… dad?"

A little girl was woken up late at night; a strange crash shook the house. She opened her door to hear shuffling. Peeking out through the door she saw a body on the ground. Eye's widened the girl pushed her door open bursting out into the hallway.

"Mum!" The girl cried out

The child rushed out to find her mothers body. There were lacerations in her skin, open bleeding wounds. The girl picked her hands up; they were wet with warm liquid.

"Mum… wake up." The girl started to cry

The child pushed a lifeless corpse. Desperately wishing for her mother to wake up, she cried over her mother. The girl's head jerked suddenly as she heard a scream. Unsure what to do the girl ran down stairs to see what was going on. She saw her dad dead on the ground. Looking up there was a man standing over him. A devil's grin was the last she saw.

"Shhh… wake up dear…" A voice whispered in her ear

The young girl's eyes opened. She was being held in the arms of a man. He looked down with a smile, one of concern and hope. A wave of cold rushed over her, the wind blew over her. A few ashes started to rain down over her looking over; the house she was raised in was ablaze.

"I'm sorry I couldn't save them." The man said

The young girl started to cry.

"They're gone…" The young girl said

The man, still holding the young girl, turned from the engulfed house. She closed her eyes, tears falling from her cheeks. Sirens and lights were flashing as emergency vehicles closed in. Off out into the streets he walked. Under the moonlight gracing their flesh she saw the man's eyes filled with sorrow.

"Where are we going?" The girl asked

Looking down to the girl he said with a smile trying to keep this girl happy.

"Anywhere you want." He answered

Setting her down he kneeled down.

"May I be so bold to ask your name?" The man asked

"Cybil…" The girl said embarrassed

"It's pretty." The man said

He stood up. He looked in his late teens. A foot and a half taller then Cybil he held a hand out to her.

"My name is Logan."

Vale lurched over. Abruptly awoken from a dream she looked around. Dark outside the lights from the streetlamps washed in through the window. Checking the clock it read 2:44. Rolling out of bed she got to her closet shuffling through her clothes. Her right arm and left leg were stiff. An old scar was still present on her light skin. Slipping into a shirt and pants she opened the door. A two-story apartment was her new home.

"Hello there dear, couldn't sleep again?" Sophia asked

It has been two months since the incident. She could still smell the stench of blood on her skin.

"Yeah… I've, I've just got a lot on my mind is all." Vale said

Since then Sophia had been keeping Vale in shelter. Working at her diner some nights and days just to keep her preoccupied Vale had found a place to feel safe again.

"Don't you have to work tonight?" Vale asked

"Yeah… I got someone else to fill in for me." Sophia said. "There were some things I wanted to talk to you about."

Vale brushed a hand through her hair pushing it back; collecting it into a ponytail she used a hair band to secure it together. Sitting down Vale sighed.

"Sure." Vale said

"Remember long ago when I first met you, you asked me about myself and I told you I would only tell those who I could trust. Well, what would you like to know?" Sophia asked

Vale perked up. She had been living with Sophia for a while now and not once had she said a single thing about herself.

"Well my first would be how did you become a vampire?" Vale asked

Sophia shifted in her seat.

"Many, many years ago when I was living in St. Petersburg I had a family, a loving husband and a daughter. A lovely girl, my Elizabeth." Sophia said. "But that was soon taken from me. My husband was ordered away to the armies during World War Two. And it left my daughter and I alone. There was a wanderer going through town. She stopped into every household visiting the widows and deserted wives. Then one day she visited mine. She told me of a gift she was giving out to all the women of the village, a power to keep our families safe. Not knowing if my husband would ever come back I accepted. Too brash of an action I soon found out. That night I was reborn as I stand now. To always be there and stand strong for my family. But then the hunger started to consume me. I was preying on villagers and animals. Then before I knew it people started to band together. They came and took my daughter from me and chased me from town." Sophia said. She started to grit her teeth at the memories she was retelling. "After I fled the town I came back. I slaughtered every person who dared to take my daughter from me. I cursed what I had become. Even my little Elizabeth wouldn't come back to me. So I ran and never looked back."

Sophia looked up with tearful eyes.

"You look so much like her." Sophia said. "I'm sorry if I am imposing my misguided love on you too much."

Wiping her eyes Sophia got up and walked to the kitchen.

"Is there anything I can make for you?" Sophia asked

Vale sat there and thought. Hearing Sophia's story she was lost in thought. Images from Vale's dream were still warm in her mind.

"Vale… wake up…" Sophia said

Vale snapped back to reality.

"What?" Vale asked

Sophia stood there with a knife in her hand with an onion in the other.

"Soup maybe?" Sophia asked. "Tomato, chicken broth, vegetable? Stop me if I'm getting close."

Vale nodded.

"Tomato would be nice." Vale said

She got up and walked into the kitchen. Opening the door to the fridge Vale shut it quickly.

"Where do you keep the canned soups?" Vale asked

"Top shelf over there." Sophia pointed

Inside the fridge were syringes and bags filled with blood. Sophia was heating a pot of soup while sipping at a glass of crimson liquid. Vale stood next to her washing loose dishes.

"I have another question if you don't mind me asking." Vale said

"I don't see why not." Sophia answered

"Well… you've never asked if you could drink my blood. Where has every other vampire I've run into, that's all they want to do." Vale asked

"Oh that. I just don't want to see you in any more pain." Sophia said

Sophia stirred the thickening soup with a wooden spoon. Starring into the red broth she sipped the crimson liquid again.

"Mind if I ask you a question?" Sophia asked

Vale looked up from the dishes and blinked.

"Sure." Vale agreed

"All I know about you is what Logan has said, could you please do me the honor of telling me about yourself. If it isn't too much, how did you meet Logan?" Sophia asked

Vale looked back down at the sink in front of her.

"I… I guess it was when I was 8." Vale said, "I don't really want to think about it that much."

Sophia was going to say more but she was cut off by a knock at the door. Sophia put the spoon down and walked to the door. Peeking out she opened the door.

"Yes?" Sophia asked

Talia stood at the door. Looking rather forlorn she looked at Sophia.

"I need to find Steven." Talia said

"Ehh… come in." Sophia said

Talia walked in spotting Vale in the kitchen she looked distracted in her own mind.

"May I ask why you think I could help you find him." Sophia asked

"Because I can smell him here." Talia said

She looked around and spotted a coat on a chair. There was a deep bloodstain in right sleeve.

"Well damnit…" Talia cursed. "Is there anything, I mean anything at all you can tell me about him, like where he lives or any family?"

Talia was pleading with Sophia.

"If there was anything you needed to know about him he would have told you himself." Sophia said

Talia was getting desperate.

"Please. There has to be something you can tell me." Talia begged

Sophia walked to the door.

"I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can help you with." Sophia said

She opened the door to let Talia out.

"Wait…" Vale said

She stood in the doorway of the kitchen.

"Would it be ok if we could go see him. I do need to give him back his jacket." Vale said

Sophia closed the door.

"Ok… but you need to eat your dinner first." Sophia said

"Alright mum." Vale sighed

A grassy field was illuminated under they pale moonlight. A lone man was sitting at a patch of earth. No marker for the makeshift grave, he sat with his head down.

"Why did he have to kill you… why wouldn't you let me save you?" Steven said

Steven was living in a large patch of open fields that went unnoticed. For weeks all Steven would do was sit by the grave of his lost love.

There was an old shed that was used just to hide his body from the sun. There were a few creatures, voles and rats that he would catch to feed on. But lately he grew tired of existing anymore. Getting up Steven walked back to the shed. He heard grass shifting from the wind. Uneasy by the sounds that were around him he wanted to hide. Closing the door to the shed Steven sat down in an empty spot. The sound of the brushing grass was coming closer. Thinking nothing of it he rolled over trying to rest his mind.

There was a claw at the door. Something was trying to open it. Steven got up and looked at the door. He heard a whimper. Peering through the cracks in the door he saw a wolf sitting diligently on the other side. He could faintly see the auburn fur glistening in the moonlight.

"So you found me." Steven said

He opened the door, the wolf slowly walked in. She hung her head low. Steven closed the door and sat down looking at the wolf in the face.

"So, what brings you out here?" Steven asked

The wolf knelt down as its body changed. Talia lied on the ground. Her auburn hair had grown longer. It was draping down her back. Looking up she smiled.

"Sorry I haven't called." Talia said

Steven looked away from Talia. Even now she still had no shame being naked in front of Steven.

"Don't you have any clothes on you?" Steven asked

"No, can't say I do." Talia said

She started to feel uncomfortable now knowing Steven didn't want her there.

"Can I ask you something?" Talia said meekly

"Sure…" Steven said

"Why do you want to bear this alone?" Talia asked

Steven didn't respond. He kept his eyes focused at the floor.

"I know what its like to be alone. I don't want you to have to go through that pain." Talia said

"Do you?" Steven said. "Do you know what it's like when the only thing you love in your life is taken away from you? I hated everything in my life until I moved away from my family and met Samantha. And now there's nothing left. I can't keep going on anymore."

Steven got up and opened the door to the shed. He walked out into the night's air.

"Steven… what are you doing?" Talia said

Talia followed Steven out. Steven walked out and stood in the center of the field.

"I'm tired of this. I'm not going to live like this anymore." Steven said

Talia slowly walked up to him.

"Why… why do you have to be so cruel?" Talia asked. "Have you once thought about anyone else?"

Steven turned to Talia.

"There is no one else. I'm alone now. There isn't anything else for me." Steven said

"But…" Talia uttered

She started to cry, trying to hide it.

"Damnit Steven." Talia cursed

Steven turned around and stood facing the moon. Walking he stopped over a patch of unturned earth.

"Just go. I don't want to be bothered again." Steven said

Talia started to inch away backwards. Bending over she shifted back to a wolf. Turning and running off Steven sat down next to the grave he dug. Talia was running erratically. Rushing back to where she stashed her clothes Talia shifted back to her human form. Once she was fully dressed Talia fell back against a tree and cried into her arms. For hours she just sat there and cried.

"Why doesn't he care about me? Why wont he love me?" Talia thought to herself

Her pocket started to vibrate. Rummaging through her coat she found her cell phone. Trying to gather herself Talia answered her phone.

"Hello?" Talia said with a broken voice

"It's Sophia, did you find Steven yet?" Sophia asked

Talia wiped her eyes trying to dry them.

"Yes, but he doesn't wish to be bothered." Talia said about to start crying again

"Well you better come back soon, I have to drive back to my haven and the sun will be up in an hour." Sophia said. "Now why wouldn't he want to be bothered by anyone?"

The dam burst. Talia started to break down again.

"He said he since Samantha was dead he didn't have anyone else, so there wasn't anything else for him to do now." Talia started to cry again

"Whoa… slow down Talia. What was he doing before you left?" Sophia asked

"He… he was starring up at the sky saying he wanted to be left alone." Talia said

"Did you say anything to him that would upset him?" Sophia asked

"No… I just couldn't say anything after he said those things." Talia said

"Talia, you need to go see him now." Sophia said

Talia's cell phone cut out. Looking at the time it read she saw just how close to sunrise it was. Then she panicked. Running back to where she had seen Steven, Talia was rushing through thick weeds and thorns. Not caring about the scratches and cuts she was accumulating Talia hurried to Steven.

Getting back to the clearing Talia looked around to see if she could spot him. No luck she looked back to the sky to see it growing lighter. Running on wards through the grassy clearing she saw the patch of earth with Steven standing over it. He turned around hearing Talia running towards him. At that moment he felt her rush into him knocking him over.

"Damnit… I said I wanted to be left alone." Steven said

"No!" Talia yelled

She had knocked Steven over to the ground.

"I told you…" Steven said

"I know that you lost her. I'm sorry for it but I'm not going to just walk away from you." Talia said cutting off Steven. "I need you to go on anymore. I won't have anyone else either if you do this."

Talia was crying into Steven's chest. She was lying on top of Steven now on the ground.

"It's been dozens of years since I've been with anyone that I really loved like you. I had to watch them die, as I could do nothing to stop it." Talia cried

She looked up with tearful eyes at Steven.

"I…" Steven stuttered

Talia leant over and kissed Steven. Pulling back Talia blushed.

"Just don't do this. Please, for me… keep the will." Talia said with tear filled eyes

Steven placed a hand on the back of Talia's head. Pulling her in he could feel her sobbing.

"This hasn't been the most normal few weeks for me." Steven said. "Never could I have seen this…"

Talia rolled over off of Steven looking at him.

"To think… I'm in love with a werewolf." Steven smiled

Talia got up and pulled Steven to his feet. Walking back to the shed Steven was residing in they closed the doors.

Locking it and hiding from any rays of light Steven sat down next to Talia. She could see he was physically weak. She smiled at an idea.

"So I never asked you. What is it like to drink someone else's blood?" Talia asked

Steven looked over to her.

"I can't really describe it." Steven said

Talia leaned over to Steven brushing her long auburn hair back.

"Show me." Talia said seductively

Talia rested her head on Steven's shoulder. The thirst was building again. Steven felt her soft flesh rubbing his shoulder. He graced a hand through Talia's hair. Picking her head Steven pulled her in and kissed Talia. Pulling away slowly Talia put a hand on the back of Steven's head. His fangs sharpened pinching into her neck. Gripping his hair Talia tensed. Her eyes dilated as she relaxed. Muscles twitching as Steven drank. He let go. Pulling back Talia was on the verge of passing out. Steven felt strength he had long forgotten, the rich blood Talia carried through her veins revitalized Steven's body. Holding Talia in his arms he felt the fatigue from the Morningstar.

"Twenty… twenty three…" Vale counted

Vale stood at the counter paging through receipts. The door opened behind her as a few more customers stepped in. The clock overhead was a constant tease. She had only a half hour before her shift ended. Walking back to finish a little more paper work she looked over the diner's customers. The dinner rush was in. All the schools had gotten out and students filled the small building.

"Hello Vale." A voice perked up

Vale turned to the speaker. Ben, a med student, was a common customer. He always came in around 9 PM for coffee and to study and review his notes for an hour or two.

"So how's life treating you?" Ben asked

"Oh it's been fine. Just working." Vale answered

She poured him a cup of coffee. Putting the pot back on the burner Vale went back to her paper work.

"So, any chances of taking my offer tonight?" Ben asked

"Heh, sorry, I have to get home tonight. Can't stay out too late." Vale said

"Aw…" Ben said

Just that moment a man dressed in all black walked in. He held a bound book. Walking right to the counter Vale looked over.

"Who could that be?" Ben asked

"I have no idea." Vale responded

One of the other waitresses pointed to Vale directing the man over. A little nervous she stood up putting her papers down.

"Miss. Servana I presume." The man asked

"Yes… how can I help you?" Vale asked

"Oh I just need to give this to you. A friend of mine left me a rather odd note if I ever found it to give it to you." He said

The man handed the book to Vale. There was writing on the cover in a language she couldn't read.

"Well, here…" The man said handing a card to Vale as well

"If there's anything you need feel free to contact me." He said

The man turned and exited the diner.

"So… what is it?" Ben asked

Vale took the latch off and opened the book. It was all written in the same language as the cover.

"I think it's Russian." Ben said

Vale's heart skipped a beat. Quickly reading the card the man gave her it had a name in bold. "Aaron Young."

"Hey Vale, your shift's up." Jenn called out

"Oh thanks." Vale said closing the book

Packing up her things Vale was walking to the doors to walk home.

"Hey wait." Ben said putting money down on the counter

Rushing up to Vale he spoke.

"You mind if I at least walk you home?" Ben asked

"You're so persistent." Vale said

"I didn't hear a no…" Ben said

"Sure." Vale said smiling

The cold air was starting to weaken. Winter was dying out as it started to break into spring. A half moon hung in the sky as the light from street lamps poured in. Vale and Ben were walking slowly down the streets.

"So… are you going to school at all?" Ben asked

Vale sighed.

"I used to." Vale answered. "But, I could never keep my interest in it, I hated going to class."

"Sorry to hear it." Ben said

As the two turned the corner there were three men dressed in battered clothing. As Ben and Vale passed by them the three turned and followed behind. Ben could see Vale was becoming rather nervous. He took her hand and started walking faster. He could hear the footsteps behind them start to take chase. One rushed up and pushed Vale down. Ben stopped, turning around to get back to Vale another thug punched him in the face knocking him back.

"Heh heh heh… Give us all the money you have, and maybe we won't take off with your girl." One sneered

Vale was curled up in fear. One of the three thugs pulled out a knife.

"Didn't you hear him, give us your damn money. I'll kill her" Another yelled

Vale was crying on the sidewalk. Ben was quickly going through his pockets pulling out his wallet throwing it down.

"There… now let us just go." Ben said

One of the three thugs picked up the wallet.

"Hey he said "maybe" we wouldn't take your girl. Guess it's her unlucky day." One laughed

One grabbed Vale's arm pulling her up. He held a knife to her neck.

"Now come along quietly, and we wont have to hurt you." One told Vale

Vale was terrified, her body was paralyzed with fear. Her instincts kicked in.

"Logan! Help me!" Vale yelled

"Logan? There aint gunna be anyone to help you now girly." One mocked

"Das es schande" Sophia said

Sophia twisted the arm of one of the thugs breaking it. Moving in a blur she thrust her palm into the head of another knocking him out into the street. The third, still holding Vale, dropped his knife backing away from Sophia. Ben stepped forward throwing his whole body into a punch hitting him in the face. The last of the three thugs fell to the ground. They immediately scattered.

Vale was on the ground shaking in fear. Sophia leant over helping her up.

"Vale sweetie, you're ok." Sophia said

Vale got up and clung to Sophia. Ben picked up his things.

"Thanks for walking her home." Sophia said. "I've got her from here."

Ben walked back to the diner and Sophia helped Vale back to her haven. Walking in Vale sat down as Sophia got her some tissues. Vale was sitting in the chair, eyes glazed over holding the black tomb. Her eyes tired and tearing looked up at Sophia.

"Why do these things keep happening?" Vale asked

Sophia walked over and knelt down in front of Vale.

"Its just a coincidence. Nothing bad is going to happen again. I'll make sure of it." Sophia said

Vale's hands were feeling the large book she carried. Looking down Vale opened it. On the inside cover was an unsealed letter. The book had more writing in a strange language.

"I didn't know you could read Russian." Sophia said

"I can't." Vale said wiping her eyes

Sophia's eyes graced the text on the first few pages.

"Vale… where did you get this?" Sophia asked

"Someone just walked into work and handed it to me. He said it was from a friend of his." Vale answered

Sophia closed the book setting it down on the table.

"Go get some rest, I'll see if I can figure out what it is." Sophia said

Vale went to her room to change. Sophia looked back down to the book. The cover read "House and History of Nikitin".

"What this supposed to be…" Sophia thought