After their rocky rendition of Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper", Embraced's concert was over and Katia vanished behind the closed curtain. Setting a black electric guitar down on the rack, she smiled. "Good job," she addressed to her band. "Keep practicing. The next concert is in a week and a half." She inclined her head a little, and in return her all-male band bowed back. "Come on."

Walking out into the club area of The Haven, Katia was immediately met by Malachi and Cash, a horde of oddly excited fans behind them. "Bravo, Kat," Malachi complimented, a smile on his face.

Cash laughed. "Yeah, you really got your groupies riled up this time." He glanced behind him at a few girls who were shoving at him to get autographs from Embraced. "What have you started?"

Katia shrugged. "What can I say? I pulled a Lestat..."

Malachi chortled. "I can see that," he said as another hysterical female tried to claw her was around him. "But I'm not going to be your bodyguard forever. Hurry up and get to the table to sign some autographs."

Katia and her band quickly jogged to the signing table and sat down just as the flock of fans burst through like an overflowing dam. Katia rolled her eyes. Typical night...

Suddenly, a thin hand closed around Katia's throat and yanked her backwards. Surprised, Katia caught herself and whirled around out of the grip. To her anger, she saw Sasha, that Brujah bitch, staring at her in rage. "Outside now," Sasha hissed.

Katia looked at Malachi, silently saying, "No one interferes. A lesson must be taught." Then she shoved Sasha out the back door and locked it behind her.

In the back alley, Katia turned on Sasha, fangs bared. "Child," she snarled. "Do you have any idea what you have just gotten yourself into?"

Sasha hissed. "Stay away from Cash."

A burst of laughter escaped Katia's throat. "Cash is my trusted friend," she growled. "And which one of us was willing to drop Cash like nothing and die by train with that idiot Zane!"

Sasha struggled for a retort, but could think of nothing. "Cash had been ignoring me and -"

"Because of your blood!" Katia shouted. "It takes a bit of time for an enemy blood not to boil at a rival clan! Of course he's ignore you, you infant! I try my best to ignore you as well so I don't rip your throat out!" She panted. "Your primogen killed Lillie! I'm not primogen by choice... I want to be following Lillie again..." Before and blood could spill from her eyes, Katia morphed into her wolf form, her black fur shining, and ran away.

Sasha was left alone in the alley with nothing to say...

Malachi stood outside Katia's door, his hand raised to knock. He had been in this position for three minutes... Finally gathering courage, he rapped on the door a few times. "Katia?"

"Come in," she called back.

Surprised, Malachi opened the door and walked in. He saw Katia sitting at her window, staring out as the horizon gained a pink hue. "Katia, are you alright?"

Katia looked over her shoulder at him. Faint traces of red were in the corners of her eyes. "Yeah, just tired I guess..."

Malachi tilted his head, trying to think of something to say, but unable to do so. "Kat..."

"Don't," Katia interrupted, cutting him off. "After all, I'd be worse off you died instead of Lillie."

Malachi paused. "Maybe in a way, but you'd still be feeling the same pain; the pain of loss. I sired you, but Lillie taught you how to be Toreador." He chuckled. "She had a thing for rockers, if you couldn't guess." He walked up and kneeled in front of Katia. "I saw strength in you, Kat. I saw power, speed, talent."

Katia stared at him blankly. "Malachi, you embraced me because I knew what you were and I was willing."

Malachi rolled his eyes. "Yeah, get technical, but you have what it takes." He laughed. "After all, you're the one who gave humans the idea of so- called vampires. Bram Stoker thanks you."

"Hey, Dracula was a collective work of you, Lillie, and I," Katia corrected light-heartedly.

"I know," Malachi said, smiling and moving to sit next to Katia on the window seat. Katia immediately leaned against him, his arm embracing her shoulders. Her legs curled up under her in a lost child position.

"Sometimes I get so jealous of humans," she whispered. "Their lives seem so short and painless compared to us."

Malachi sighed and rubbed her arm comfortingly. "It's not unusual," he murmured. "Just remember, I'll always be there for you."

Katia sat up a little and looked at Malachi closely. "Promise?"

He looked at her chidingly. "Would I lie to you?"