Y'know, I don't believe that it's very fair at all to give someone an "infraction", or whatever they call them, for a story (bloopers) that was posted way before they put that rule on the list or whatever. It's just not right. (Thank you for listening to my little rant ^_^)

The Little Halloween Girl: To Love or Not to Love

By Ryoken

What is wrong with me? Have I gone mad with infatuation? I've never felt anything like this before... Rahab thought as he sat on the submerged steps. It was the first place he saw where he could be by himself for a time and think. I must get this idea out of my mind, we are friends only. He clenched his fist. Then why do I lust for her...?

She stood, unmoving, staring at the two roses. Jythryl came in.

"Sara, what's wrong? I heard a scr-" She began to say, and then Sara pointed at the roses, leaning vigilantly on the centerpiece of books. "eam? This is why you screamed? Because of some roses?" She looked at Sara. "You know where we come from, roses are gifts." But Sara could do nothing but stare in fright. How? How did he get them in here without anyone seeing him? Jythryl went over to the table. "Hey, there's a note here," she said, picking it up. She read it aloud to Sara.

For the first time since Jythryl came in, Sara looked away from the roses. "Where's Rahab?"

Hmm? Someone's calling my name...Oh gods...it's her. I'm not ready to face her again, he thought. Rahab turned his face to see a blurred vision of Sara, in that white wedding gown. And she suddenly plunged her hand into the water to grab his shoulder and try to pull him out. Her hand, indeed the half of her arm that was submerged in the water, burned and stank like sulfur. Quickly, Rahab jumped out of the water and landed beside her. He grabbed her by her arms "Are you in-" He was about to yell, but then he saw tears-real tears-streaming and burning down her cheeks. "Sara, what's wrong?" But she didn't answer. She merely fell limp against his body, and he held her.

"L-Lord Rahab? I don't mean to intrude, but I think this is what's upset her," Jythryl's voice came from behind him. He turned his head around to see his scout holding two red roses with which a note was attached. He stretched out a hand to take the flowers and read the note. In neat cursive handwriting, and in English, it said: My love for thee doth not falter.

Rahab dropped the note and with his claws, he gently raised Sara's head so that he could see her face. "Sara, is this what troubles you?" He said gently, pointing to the note and roses. She nodded faintly. "When did these-"

"As soon as you left, I turned around and there they were," Sara said through soft sobs.

Again, his voice was of surprise. "Just as I left?" She nodded. His hold underneath her chin slipped away to sweep her tears off of her cheeks. "Everything will be all right," he said, looking into her eyes. "We'll find him." He looked slightly at Jythryl. "Take them away, and leave us." Jythryl nodded, picked up the roses, and scurried off, looking incredibly obvious that she had gossip to talk about. Rahab lowered his voice to a whisper, even if there was no one there to listen. "I'm sorry, about what I did earlier, I-"

"Don't apologize," Sara said, managing to smile, her tears almost dried. "I rather enjoyed it."

Rahab eyes widened a little. He was about to say something, but then decided against it. "I, uh...I just needed to think about what I'm feeling."

"I understand." Those two words meant a lot to him. He'd never known anyone except Kain who truly understood. Bringing himself back from the depth of his thoughts, his eyes wandered to Sara's arm. He took it up in his claws. There wasn't a scratch on it. "What is it? Do I have a bug on me or something?" She laughed.

Rahab gave a little smile. "No, it's just that your arm is completely healed. For a fledgling, it takes several days, if it's lucky, to heal." He looked into her eyes again. They were now clear of any sign that she had cried.

He came closer to her lips, when suddenly Jythryl's voice rang out "Hey! You can't go over there!!" Rahab reluctantly looked towards where the sound came from to see a lowly messenger servant running away from Jythryl's wrath and trying to make his way to the vampire lord.

"Lord Rahab! Lord Rahab! I have a message for you from Kain! Eugh!" He said as Jythryl jumped and pinned him to the floor.

"Sorry! He got away from me!" Jythryl grinned apologetically, even though the servant was still a good ways away from the two.

Rahab turned to Sara. "Perhaps we shall continue this later," he said, getting up off the floor. Sara stood up as well. "Let him come."

Jythryl got off of him and he brushed himself off, giving Jythryl an almost I'm-better-than-you attitude. Jythryl hissed at him and he hurried over to Rahab.

"Sire, Lord Kain bids you come to the Sanctuary of the Clans. He wishes to speak with you."

Rahab again turned at Sara. "I would not leave you here unguarded. You will come with me?" She nodded. Already the messenger was beginning to go on his way. "Stop." The servant did so. "When you arrive, tell the Master that Sara will be accompanying me." He nodded, and continued upon his way. When the messenger was out of sight, Rahab held out his arm, and Sara took it. They began walking towards the Sanctuary.

"Sara, it is a pleasure to see you again," Kain said, kissing her hand. "Come, I have something I want to show the both of you." He began walking towards the library, Rahab and Sara following behind. On the table in the middle of the room was an open book. Sara noticed that the page was open to a picture of someone in a hooded cape with a bow in their hand and a quiver on their back. The face was impossible to see except for the eyes. There was also some writing on the pages. "I see you've taken an interest in that picture. You should, seeing as this particular vampire is what you are."

"Huh? Me? What do you mean by that?"

"It took me quite sometime to find this journal, but this is the type of vampire you are. 'Much of humanity kept, fingernails turn black and become claws, instead of losing their color over time, their lips become black as soon as fully turned, and their faces are elaborately decorated, especially around the eyes.' You have all of this, do you not?"

"Yeah...Yeah I do...So, what am I?"

Kain stood up straight from bending over to read the passage. "Well, I'm afraid it doesn't say, the author was merely making observations of this, how would you put it, vampire species. But I've also found something that may interest you. You have been receiving roses, have you not?"

"Y-Yes."

"It says here that the vampire he studied always carried a few roses with him wherever he went. He never saw him give the roses to anyone, nor use them for anything. They seemed to just be with him," at this, Kain looked directly at Sara. "In case he found the one he wanted to be his mate." Kain broke his seriously creepy voice as well as his direct eye contact with Sara and said normally "In any case, the author found it extremely difficult to find this vampire. He claims that once he saw the vampire strike an enemy down with a single perfectly aimed arrow from the shadows. He saw him then drink his blood, and that's how he knew he was a vampire. But he was never able to see his face. I have a feeling that this vampire may be your admirer, Sara."

"I...I see..."

Something caught Kain's eye. "Don't. Move," he said quietly. After a few moments, the whooshing sound of an arrow went through the air. In their line of sight, Sara and Rahab saw the arrow stick into the picture of cloaked vampire in the book. And attached to that arrow was yet another red rose. But this time, the arrow and the flower were drenched in blood.

"So what might this one mean?" Rahab asked. Kain turned the bloodied arrow with the rose attached to it in his hand.

"I'm not sure...but after what you've told me of recent events," he looked seriously up at his young son. "I believe he may want you out of the way. Perhaps it is a good idea if the both of you were to lay low for a time, while we try and capture this vampire. You don't have to obey this particular command, but hear this: he is extremely dangerous and could probably kill you, Rahab, at any moment if he so wished. My only guess as to why your still walking around is because he has some purpose for you which he has yet to reveal. You must tread very carefully now. I suggest you take the back way out of the Sanctuary. It will be faster that way."

Rahab nodded and the two left Kain. He sat ungracefully in the nearest chair and began to examine the arrow with the rose again. "May the gods help you if he strikes."

Rahab and Sara speedily made their way back to the abbey, not a word said to each other or to any of the Rahabim met on the way there. Once they were safely inside Rahab's room, Sara sat down quietly into a chair and Rahab bolted any entrances to the room so that the dangerous vampire could not come and bring anymore of his roses. Then he sat down on the edge of his own bed. Silence filled the room. Rahab looked up and saw that Sara kept her hands folded in her lap and her eyes looked down. He got up and offered his hand out to her. She looked up into his yellow eyes, took it, and stood up. Then he placed his other clawed hand behind her head and gently kissed her.

Rahab pulled away. "I...I think I'm in love with you."

We learn more about this mysterious and seemingly dangerous vampire admirer, but what's this!? Rahab's in love with Sara, the child whom he made friend's with so long ago?!!? WHAT SURPRISES WILL HAPPEN NEXT TIME!?!?!?!?