A/N: Two in one day! Oh em gee! Ah, mostly because this one's short, really. Apologies for the short chapter. If I didn't cut it here, though, it would have gone into a whole new place and been a HUGE chapter. Better to split it up in this case, I decided. Have fun, ducklings. ;)

Gray satin marred with blotchy, rust-red stains against my naked skin. His body is cold, but I curl my own around him anyway. My heart still beats hard behind my breast. I bury my face in his neck, breathing his scent. I am in love with a dead man. Can death love?

His hand wraps around my wrist and pulls me nearer, forcing me to press closer against his back. His fangs pierce my wrist, and he drinks. It is his way of putting me to sleep. My deadly lullaby. I kiss his neck as my body relaxes and my heart slows.

My eyes came open slowly, and I shifted on the couch. Something was covering me like a blanket. I pulled it up a little more to cover my ear, an old habit. Taking a deep breath, I could smell LaCroix's cologne all around me. It made me smile. A little more of the sleepy fog was lifting from my brain, and I sat up. My "blanket" was actually his coat, I found. Still smiling, I slipped my arms into the sleeves and stood, walking over to his desk. LaCroix glanced up at me, giving a small smile when he saw me wearing his coat. "How long was I out?" I asked, running my fingers through my tangled curls.

"Only a couple of hours," he said, stacking some papers together. When I approached his side, I leaned down and kiss his cheek. He looked at me with a raised eyebrow but didn't say anything.

"For this," I said, hugging his coat around me a little tighter.

"I'm going to want it back," he said, going back to his paperwork.

"I know. It was just a sweet gesture." I reluctantly took off the coat and laid it over the side of his desk. "Anything I can do to help you?" I asked.

"Not tonight," he said, "though we may be making an appearance at a colleague's residence tomorrow evening." He looked up at me as if to gauge my reaction.

I shrugged. "Fine with me. What kind of appearance?"

"Momentary, thankfully." He gathered up the pile of paperwork he'd just finished and stood, walking to the filing cabinet. "Just to welcome him to the city. My official acknowledgment of him."

I raised an eyebrow. "Formal Ventrue stuff?"

"No." He closed the file cabinet and turned to me, idly pulling his pocket watch out to check the time as he spoke. "I worked with him in New York, back in the '30s. He's shown up here suddenly and hasn't announced his presence in my city for two weeks. I'm going up there to let him know he's not been left unnoticed and that I'm aware of his breach of etiquette."

"Is he a rival?" I asked, leaning one hip against the desk.

"I'm ensuring that he's not trying to become one, though I wouldn't be surprised if that's his intent." He sighed as he walked over to the fireplace, sitting down in the chair there.

"You think he's trying to take LA from you?" I asked, walking over to him.

He leaned forward, elbows propped on his knees and hands clasped in front of his mouth. "Considering our history, yes."

I sat on the floor in front of the fireplace, leaning back on my hands as I looked up at LaCroix. "Story time, boss. Out with it."

He chuckled. "He helped every step of the way when I staked my claim in New York," LaCroix explained. "When everything was coming to completion, he tried to pull the proverbial rug out from under me. Unfortunately for him, he didn't cover his tracks well enough, I was able to lay the groundwork to have him exiled from the state. Last I'd heard, he laid claim to Portland, Maine, as well as Boston. I didn't know he was coming west, though. The fact that he hasn't taken the time to come to announce himself is rather suspicious, especially after being here for half the month."

"So you're going up there to let him know that you aren't blind to his being in California and that you're watching him?"

LaCroix nodded, smiling at me. "Your presence will come into play in some interesting ways, if I know him."

"Oh? I'm not just arm candy?" I laughed.

"No. In fact, knowing how he thinks, your presence will be more political than anything. First of all, he thinks of me as a one-track mind, only focusing on my holdings. He'll be able to see that I'm not only taking care of my city, but I've been able to focus on a relationship at the same time." I grinned but stayed silent. "On top of that, he'll know without a doubt that I'll have both Kindred and kine watching him. You'll be the kine spokeswoman, in a sense."

"Ha, nice. So I'll be showing that you've got kine loyalty on top of your being Prince of the Kindred of LA." I nodded, seeing how effectively LaCroix's plan could make this guy too paranoid to make a move. "See, this is why I need to be in here more often," I said. "I learn a lot when I hang around."

He smiled. "You're not learning anything. You figured out the conclusions on your own. That's why I've often said that you are intelligent. It's just a matter of making sure you use that." He rose from his chair, offering me a hand to help me up.

I took it, getting to my feet; but I didn't let go of his hand right away. "So, tomorrow night...anything I need to know or get? How to dress, any specific way to act?"

"No reason to be too formal," he said, looking me over. "Use your judgment. Nothing too casual, but be sensible."

"Job interview, got it."

He chuckled. "As for how to act, you've done well so far. Be gracious and refined as you've been in the past; but don't speak unless spoken to directly, not even to me. We won't be there long, so you won't have to worry about much."

I nodded, filing his instructions in my memory. "What time?"

"We'll leave after 10."

Nodding again, I squeezed his hand. "Consider it another battle won."

His eyes were sparkling in the firelight as he smiled, showing his fangs. He bent and kissed the back of my hand, keeping eye contact the whole time.

The next night, I checked my reflection in the mirror, smiling at how I looked. I'd decided to play it safe, wearing the same outfit I'd worn when I'd tried to look professional to LaCroix, only ending the meeting sprawled on his floor with a twisted ankle. I didn't foresee any need to hurry this time, however, and figured I could handle wearing the heels.

There was a knock at my door, and I picked up my purse as I went to answer it. As I expected, LaCroix was waiting for me. "All ready," I said as I turned out the lights and closed the door behind me. "So what's this guy's name?"

"Charles Ingram."

"He's Ventrue as well?"

"Yes." LaCroix gave me a sidelong glance as we boarded the elevator. "Clan matters to you?"

I shrugged. "Not so much. More curious than anything. Plus, it helps me figure out how to act around them."

"Oh?"

I began ticking down my points on my fingers. "Ventrue, polite and polished. Tremere, pretty much the same. Toreador, expect them to be snobbish unless you compliment their ensemble. Malkavian, depends on the individual Kindred. Nosferatu, watch your wallet. Brujah, guard your words if you wanna keep your head..."

LaCroix laughed. "Is this what you've learned from Mercurio?"

I shrugged. "Kinda. I mean, he's told me about the clans. I've just made my own mental notes in my dealings with them."

LaCroix guided me out of the elevator with an arm around my waist. "The best advice I can give is to always stay quiet until you have a good assessment of the people and situation around you," he said. "No matter what the clan, if you can do that, you're a good several steps ahead of most people there."

"You think most people don't already do that?" I asked as we got into the waiting limo.

He shook his head, closing the door behind us. "In this day and age, the fatal mistake that so many make is trying to make themselves known. They draw attention to themselves before realizing with whom they're dealing. They show their hand too early, so to speak."

"So basically, smile, nod, watch, and listen."

"Exactly." Holding his head high, he smiled at me. "I'm eager to see you set out on your own someday. I think you'll do well."

I shrugged, looking down at my hands in my lap. "I'll never be able to be totally on my own," I said, glancing at him from the corner of my eye. "I'll always need your blood for the longevity I need."

"Well, we'll see how things play out. You may not."

I looked at him fully this time. "What do you mean?"

"If you set out early enough, you won't."

"Oh." For a moment, I'd thought he was hinting at my being Embraced. I often thought about whether or not I'd want to be. I still hadn't come to a steadfast answer to that question. "I don't know that I'd be ready that early."

LaCroix chuckled. "You don't have faith in your abilities yet," he said. "We'll work on that."

Charles Ingram was staying at a large house a few miles outside town. We arrived shortly after 11, the limo pulling up to a large stairway leading to double doors. It wasn't as large as the mansion we'd visited to pick up Calvin, but the house was still of good size. Probably once someone's summer home. My hand was tucked in LaCroix's arm as we climbed the stairs, and he rang the bell. When a young-looking woman answered the door, LaCroix asked, "Is Mr. Ingram available?"

"May I ask who's calling?" the woman asked, glancing from LaCroix to me.

"Sebastian LaCroix."

The woman nodded. "Wait here a moment, please," she said, closing the door again.

I looked over my shoulder towards the courtyard. It was starting to rain. I could hear the raindrops, but I could also smell the incoming storm. "Are you all right?" LaCroix asked.

I nodded, smiling up at him. "Fine. Just noticing that a storm's about to come through."

He nodded as the door opened, the woman gesturing for us to come in. "Follow me, please." She led us through the house to a back sitting room. Waiting there for us was a man whose appearance made him seem as though he was in his early fifties, though I knew he was much older. Next to him was a woman who looked to be close to my age with short, black hair and dark eyes. I felt LaCroix stiffen slightly.

"Mr. LaCroix," the man said, rising from his chair. He smiled, but it didn't carry to his eyes. The air in the room was already tense.

"Mr. Ingram," LaCroix said, inclining his head slightly. He looked to the woman and gave her a slight nod. "Miss Neubauer." She raised her chin but stayed silent, not even giving her own smile. Something about the way LaCroix had suddenly tensed up made me think it would be a good idea to keep an eye on the woman. That and the way she was glaring at us made me uneasy.

Mr. Ingram crossed the room and shook hands with LaCroix quickly. LaCroix gestured to me and said, "This is Miss Natalie Lucas--"

"I had wondered!" Mr. Ingram interrupted. "I'd heard you'd finally taken a wife!"

I chuckled as LaCroix shook his head. "Not a wife. Merely a close companion." He gave me a quick smile as he put his hand over mine on his arm. I glanced at Miss Neubauer and nearly shivered from the cold glare she was giving me.

"Oh, I see. My misunderstanding, then," Ingram said. "Please, come in and sit. It's been too long."

LaCroix bowed slightly. "My apologies. We can't be staying long." As he straightened, he lifted his chin in that way that asserted his importance. "I merely wanted to stop by and extend my formal welcome as Prince of Los Angeles."

I saw Ingram's jaw tense up. "I see," he said again, his words slightly clipped. "My thanks for the welcome."

LaCroix looked from Ingram to Miss Neubauer and back to the man before smiling ever so slightly. "I must say, I'm a little disappointed I hadn't received notice that you'd be in the city. It's my understanding you've been here a while, yes?"

"A couple of weeks," Ingram answered. His fists clenched momentarily before relaxing.

LaCroix tsk'd softly. "A shame. If I had known, I would have made time for a longer visit. Tell me, were you aware of Miss Samantha Xavier's recent introduction into the clan? The celebration was held nearby." Ingram shook his head wordlessly. His fists were clenched again. "Ah, too bad. She recently held a gala to celebrate her birthday as well, though I'm sure it was merely out of habit."

"Well, the new girls tend to cling to the old sentiments," Ingram said, trying to sound cordial and failing. He sounded as if he was trying to keep his voice from shaking.

LaCroix smiled. "Indeed." He glanced at Miss Neubauer who narrowed her eyes to thin slits. "Well. Again, I apologize for not being able to stay longer, but we really must be going."

Ingram nodded. "Yes, the Prince of such a large city must be busy." Before LaCroix and I had a chance to leave, Ingram said, "So when will your introduction be, Miss Lucas?"

The question surprised me, but I hoped he hadn't noticed my moment of hesitation. I chuckled. "Oh, I've not been Embraced."

"Perhaps not, but surely that date is coming up soon, is it not?"

I glanced at LaCroix, my eyes screaming "help!" LaCroix cleared his throat, covering my hand with his own. "I have no plans of Embracing Natalie at this time."

Ingram's eyes grew wide. "Wait, so you're involved with a mortal with no plans of Embracing?" I saw Miss Neubauer cross her arms and sneer.

LaCroix raised an eyebrow. "That is what I just said, yes. Natalie has been a great help to me these past few months. She is my ghoul and has become very dear to me."

Ingram glanced back at Miss Neubauer who rolled her eyes and looked away. He coughed and tried to smile at us. "Well. Will wonders never cease..."

"Perhaps you should stop thinking aloud, Mr. Ingram," LaCroix said, his voice cold.

Ingram coughed again. "My apologies, LaCroix, it's just... Well, I never thought I'd see the day when a Prince would lower himself to--"

"Might I remind you, Charles, that you are currently in my city," LaCroix interrupted, stepping forward and letting go of my hand. In spite of the fact that he and Ingram were of similar height, he seemed to loom over the older looking Kindred. "As long as you are in my city, I expect the utmost respect from you and from Layla; and I'm afraid I've seen very little of that from either of you. If you would like to voice your opinions regarding how and with whom I choose to spend my time, I would suggest you do it in a more clandestine manner. If you decide that you cannot, you are free to leave this city and not return." Ingram was standing his ground in front of LaCroix, but he was visibly trembling. "Furthermore, do not think that I will overlook your trying to slip into my city unnoticed. I graciously gave you a fortnight to announce yourself, but you instead took advantage of my good graces and refused me one of the oldest courtesies that you know very well is demanded amongst us." LaCroix's voice lowered to just above a whisper as he took one more step towards Ingram. "My eyes are all over this city. Your every move will be reported to me. Do not make me use force to get rid of you." He shot his glare towards the woman. "Either of you." Turning back to Ingram, LaCroix inclined his head just barely. "I bid you good evening." He then turned around and walked back to me, putting an arm around my shoulders and guiding me out.