Nemesis found that the time passed quickly and though she still missed her family she was happy with Edge, Christian, and Gangrel. About two weeks after she'd been turned, Gangrel summoned her to his study. Nemesis knocked on the door and opened the door upon his invitation to enter. "You wanted to see me?" Nemesis asked as she stepped inside the room.

Gangrel smiled at his youngest and nodded, "Yes, have a seat, childe."

Nemesis sat down on the loveseat across from the chair her sire sat in, "What did you want to talk to me about?" she asked curiously.

"It's time for you to be presented to the vampire community at large. And I must present you to the Head Elder of the city." Gangrel informed her, "You have learned much but there is a lot more you need to know."

"Like what?" the small blonde asked leaning forward.

"The vampiric community is just like that of the mortal world. There are good vampires and there are bad vampires," Gangrel told her, "I want you to stay near Edge, Christian, or myself the entire time."

Nemesis rolled her eyes, "I'm a big girl, Gangrel, I'll be fine," she told him exasperated.

Gangrel raised an eyebrow, "You were a big girl perhaps as a mortal but as a vampire you are nothing more than a childe. You know that strength comes with age and you will be almost defenseless amongst many of the vampires you will encounter." Gangrel shook a finger at his daughter, "Besides there are certain riff-raff that I would rather you stayed away from."

Nemesis laughed, "You're over reacting!" she told him between chuckles.

Gangrel sighed, "Victoria," he used her real name getting her attention, "Please promise me that you will stay near us. For my peace of mind at least."

The young vampire sighed and nodded, "Okay, okay, I won't wonder off."

Her sire nodded, "Good, now the meeting has been scheduled for three days from now. There will be a lot of vampires there that are quite trustworthy and I will introduce you to them. When we enter the building you must not speak until I have introduced you to Eternity. She rules over all the vampires in the city. After she has accepted you bow and then you are free to do as you will."

"Anything else?" Nemesis asked not wanting to embarrass her family.

"Just dress nicely," Gangrel told her with a smile, "Now, get out of here you've been lectured by me enough for one night."

Nemesis smiled and left the room after kissing her sire on the cheek. Wandering through the house she found Christian in his room, "Hey," she greeted stopping outside his opened door.

Christian looked up and smiled, "Hey, Little One," he said putting down the book he was reading, "Come on in."

Nemesis walked into her brother's bedroom flopping down on the bed. Christian rolled over so that his head rested in her lap. "What did Grel want to talk to you about?"

Nemesis shrugged as she began playing idly with Christian's long locks, "He wanted to tell me that I'm being presented to Eternity in three days. You, know give me the run down of what I'm expected to do and how I'm expected to act. Yadda, yadda, yadda."

Christian laughed softly, before looking into her eyes and turning a bit more serious "Your presentation is very important. If Eternity doesn't accept you, you will be outcast from the community. A pretty girl like you will end up as nothing more than some sadistic creep's slave."

Nemesis looked down at her brother alarmed, "You guys would abandon me?"

Christian sat up and reached out to caress her cheek, "Never, no matter what you're family, but," he paused to make sure she was listening, "Any vampire who wanted you could issue a challenge. Whoever won would get to keep you."

"That sucks," she muttered standing up, "Where's Edge?" she asked changing the subject.

"He went out," Christian told her, "Said he had an errand to run. Why?"

"I'm hungry," Nemesis confessed.

"Hold on a minute, let me put some shoes on and I'll take you out," Christian said rising to his feet in search of his shoes.

Nemesis nodded, "Thanks, Christian. I know Gangrel would have a shit fit if I went out alone."

"So would I," Christian told her.

"Is it always going to be like this?" Nemesis asked, "Am I always going to be treated like a baby?"

Christian heard the frustration in her voice and after pulling on his shoes walked over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders, "No, not always, Little One." Christian bent down so he looked into her eyes, "You have to understand how much you don't know. Gangrel treated Edge and I the same way once."

Nemesis sighed, "Well at least I know that I'll get to 'grow up' at some point," she said with a wry smile, "You ready? I'm starving."

"Ladies first," Christian told her with a bow.

"Why thank you, kind sir," she told him putting her nose in the air and strutting from the room, their laughter echoed down the hall.

Christian took her to the club and leaving her at the bar returned with a young woman. They retreated to the familiar back room and fed leaving the girl resting peacefully on the couch.

The two took their time returning home walking in a comfortable silence. Nemesis wondered about the "errand" Edge had had to run. She smiled at the thought of him. While they hadn't told anyone about their relationship yet they spent a great deal of time together. Well at least she hoped it was a relationship, he hadn't really said anything. She didn't even know how these things went when one was a vampire. The rules could be completely different.

Christian held the door for her as they entered the house and she was surprised to find Edge waiting in the hallway. "Hey," he said taking her by the hand, "Come on I have a surprise for you."

"A surprise?" she asked as he pulled her down the hall to the parlor with Christian right behind them.

Nemesis raised an eyebrow when she saw Gangrel waiting in the parlor a box in his hands. "Close your eyes," Edge told her not moving from her side until she did so. Nemesis heard shuffling and she felt Edge's presence near her.

"Hold out your arms," he bade her softly.

She did as he asked and felt him place something warm and furry into her arms. Nemesis opened her eyes and let out a small squeal as she took in the small gray tiger striped kitten cuddled in her arms. "Oh, Edge!" she cried, "Thank you!" The small vampire smiled as the kitten meowed and stretched its neck so it could lick the tip of her nose.

"What are you going to name it?" Christian asked reaching out to stroke its fur.

"Shadow," Nemesis said after a moment, she held it up a moment then repeated, "His name is Shadow."

"Let me hold him," Christian asked reaching out for the kitten. Nemesis handed him the small feline and turned to Edge hugging him, "Thank you," she told him again.

Edge smiled, "I'm glad you like him," Edge told her, "I know the last couple weeks haven't been easy on you and I wanted to get you something that would make you feel better."

Nemesis smiled at him, their eyes locking. Gangrel watched the exchange repressing a smile. The only thing Gangrel couldn't figure out was what Edge was waiting for. Gangrel knew they had had sex several time since the first but Edge had not come to him to request a bonding. Why wouldn't the boy officially claim her as his companion?

They spent the rest of the night playing with Shadow and near dawn Gangrel finally ushered his childer off to bed. Nemesis placed her kitten in a basket Edge had bought for it to sleep in and climbed into bed. Soon she was deep in the vampiric sleep and didn't stir as Gangrel entered making sure she safe and sound before checking on his two older childer and then retiring to bed himself.