He was cold. Being cold annoyed him, so he was annoyed as well as cold. Stupid cold. It annoyed him.

Shido lay in a forest, wrapping his coat closer around his shivering frame. He had not fed in a few days, and as such he was cold.

The Vampire had been staked out since a week ago. Rumor had it that something had been lurking in the forest; coming out occasionally to steal people from the nearby village.

He'd planed on having Rinko be the bait for the creature, but Yayoi had insisted on taking the girl on a sightseeing trip for her birthday…and so he was stuck. With no food, no clue as to where the creature was, and on top of that…

…it was cold.

****

A twig snapped. Shido shot up, a finger to his mouth, and peered into the darkness. Nothing. Something rustled behind him, and he whirled, only to meet a staggering blow to the stomach. Shido coughed and dropped to his knees, turning sea blue eyes upward to glimpse his attacker.

Long black hair with piercing yellow eyes, a pretty but powerful face, and…fangs? Another Vampire? Here?

The Vampire grabbed Shido's arm and hauled his violet-haired prey to his feet. "What is one so young doing out in the forest at this time…especially without your Master near you?"

Shido slapped his hand away, "I'm not anyone's pet!" He spat, glaring and baring his fangs. He was grabbed again, and drawn up against the black-haired Vampire. "Let go!" The Vampire was strong; Shido knew he couldn't have gotten away even if he wanted to, now.

"I think not. If no one has yet claimed you, then you, little one, shall be mine. I am now your Master, Kallias." He smirked, leaned forward, and claimed Shido's protesting lips in a sharp kiss. He delighted in the way Shido squirmed, a blush tingeing his pale cheeks. "My dear boy," He murmured into Shido's mouth, "You haven't been feeding. Come, we will find you some sustenance."

Only then did Shido see the fifty or so Vampires circling them, barely visible amongst the trees. //This 'Kallias'…I've heard of him before, when I was in Cain's court…wasn't he…// Shido's eyes widened when he realized who he was dealing with. This was the very Vampire that wished to overthrow his Sire as the head of their particular clan. He was every bit as powerful if not more so than Cain.

"Now, little one. Come," Kallias dragged Shido, slipping an arm around his waist to support him. "What are you called?"

Shido knew better than to lie. Vampires as powerful as Kallias could read minds. "Shido."

"Mm?" Kallias stopped, and Shido knew he'd made a mistake. "Cain's Shido?"

"I want nothing to do with Cain!"

"But you are his, even so. This is too perfect. I have the trump card, now. Cain will surely back down if I hold his precious consort."

"Consort?!? How dare you!?"

"Be silent." Kallias turned to Shido and looked him over, "We must get you ready for tonight." He anticipated Shido's question, and answered it. "Cain's annual bal, of course. You shall come as my pet, and we'll see what he thinks of that."

"We will do no such thing! I have no desire to be with any of you!!" Shido cried, pulling on his captive arm, "Let go!" Kallias snorted and continued to carry Shido off.

He couldn't have said how far they traveled, being dizzy and weak from a lack of feeding. Kallias had to carry him eventually, but Shido managed to open his tired eyes long enough to catch a glimpse of an enormous stone castle.

The Vampire holding him chuckled at Shido's tired but curious gaze, and planted a gently kiss on his forehead. "Your new home, my love. Isn't it lovely?"

Cain's was better, but Shido didn't feel like arguing. So he nodded. Kallias looked pleased, carrying Shido across the drawbridge and into the castle, his entourage of Vampires following.