Now, we're moving. Or is it just me still? (sigh) oh well. What could Cain be up to? Heh, wouldn't u like to kno?

"Take his place. Come with me yourself, and learn what it truly is to be of the night."

No. Leave Shido? How could I? I couldn't think, couldn't breathe. Shido was my world.

Moments of our life flashed before me: a quiet night alone together, a kitten he'd brought me, Shido quietly smiling at one of Guni's pranks, Shido gazing at me when he thought I wasn't looking . . . If I refused . . . couldn't . . . breathe. . .

I whispered my answer. "Alright. I'll go."

-------------------------------------------------------------

"Good. You have chosen wisely." Cain came toward me and laid a hand on my shoulder. I would have flinched if I'd had the strength to. I could breathe again, though. "Come. We have a long way to travel."

I still could not have risen from the chair, if I'd wanted to. But I didn't have to do it myself at all. Cain lifted me from the chair, simply by raising his hand as my body followed his motion. He wrapped his cloaked arm about me and the darkness closed tighter around us.

I'd been in this position before – held close beneath Cain's cloak, unable to move. I wondered in passing if this would have as drastic a result as that previous time had.

I was cold inside again. I had just made an incredible decision and the weight which I should have felt on my shoulders was only as light as the cloth of Cain's cloak. I cursed him, although the thought was an empty one. There was no burning fire in me that this creature who did not feel – did not love – had taken me from my life through trickery. Was this how he'd first gained Shido all those years ago? I closed my eyes and sighed; and in the darkness, I let go.

----

I was awakened to find myself still in Cain's embrace, only now we were standing in a huge, dark space. The ceiling disappeared into darkness, as the dim candle light threw the outskirts into heavy shadow and the figures into high relief. I realized it was a huge room, like a great hall in an old castle, and that we weren't alone. There were so many creatures. They filled the room. I drew in a quick breath and took a step back, only to bump against Cain. I gasped again.

I heard his voice in my head, "Do not be afraid. No harm shall come to you."

I looked again. I had to peek around Cain's arm, which still encircled me, holding me out of sight. Most seemed to be vampires. There also seemed to be a few high grade Breeds amongst them. They all crowded away from us – away from Cain, further into the shadows. Only a vampire holding a large candelabra, the sole light source, held his ground in front of the pack before us. He did not speak, or even raise his eyes to Cain, but made a low bow before his master.

Cain did not raise his voice, and didn't need to, the hall was so silent. "This is Riho." With a sudden, violent and yet graceful motion, he swept back the cloaked arm which had concealed me and stepped back. Some of them flinched, while others craned their heads to see better. "She is my guest and will be with me indefinitely." Something slammed into my soul. I had not considered that this arrangement was most likely meant to be permanent.

I had thought it impossible that my hopes could fall lower, but now they sank below Hades. The hole left by Mikao's death was dwarfed in comparison to the grief I now felt.

Cain continued. "She is far superior to any of you. Your filth should not come anywhere near her!" The venom in his voice made me flinch along with the rest of them. I didn't need to look back at his face to know his countenance was one to be feared. I wondered what gave me an elevated status in his eyes compared with these creatures before me. Then, with a simple flip of his hand, they all vanished as fast as they could into the depths of the gloom.

Cain gently turned me to face him, resting an arm around my shoulders. "Come." He steered me out of the now dark hall. No light slipped through the windows. There was an eerie glimmer, though, that could only suffice for one with vampire sight. I was forced to turn so that I not trip on the flagstone floor of the corridor.

There was a jovial twist to Cain's mouth now. "If you only trust me, you will lack for nothing here. The world is ours for the taking. I will teach you who you really are and what you can do." He did not look at me as he spoke, but at some distant point.

"Shido ignores most of his skills." A hard light grew in his eyes as he mentioned Shido's name, yet his mouth remained upturned. "So I don't imagine he's taught you very much." I wasn't quite sure what Cain meant, but I was starting to realize how hungry I was.

Cain must have heard my thoughts. "Forgive me. I forgot it has been days since you've eaten." I briefly wondered how long he'd been watching me, to know how long it had been since my last feeding. Then I realized – there would be no sponsors here. I would have to eat what was provided, how it was provided . . . and that would be Cain's choice.

I wasn't greatly surprised then when, after arriving at his rooms, a girl who couldn't have been more than seven-years-old was brought in by a Breed. The creature bowed to Cain, who didn't even spare it a glance, and backed out, closing the huge oak doors behind him. Cain went to the child and knelt. I noticed her soiled and torn dress, as I sat timidly in the deep, high-backed chair I'd been directed to. The garment had once been bright with its dainty floral print & lace ruffles around the tank sleeves and collar. I couldn't tell if the light brown of her hair was natural or grime in a blond. She was too frightened to do anything but stare, round, amber eyes racing around the room and finally settling on Cain as she visibly trembled. I was also scared, not only by what I might be about to witness, but by the part of myself that wanted to rush to her and violently . . . no, I wasn't like that!

But Cain only spoke to the child in calm tones. I couldn't hear what he said, but whatever it was, it calmed the child. Eventually she slipped into a state of trance. He gently lifted her and carried her to where I sat. I was focusing so much on restraining the animal instincts in me that were crying out to feed, that I was shocked when he set her entranced form down in my lap. He sat down in an armchair facing mine and, after a moment, regarded me curiously. I sat there, still surprised, cradling her limp form against myself and trying not to stare at her soft, vulnerable throat.

"I can sense your instincts, you know." That smug smile was back. His eyes laughed at me; I was surprised to find that it was not unkind laughter either. "You can't starve yourself; your natural instincts will eventually take over and force you to feed. But it will be easier for you if you simply let go now." I was stunned. "Oh, come now. You didn't think I'd expect you to be comfortable with it your first time, did you?" He sighed and shook his head. "Shido's done you a great disservice. When one is first turned, that is the time to learn to hunt. It will be difficult for you now." I lowered my head, trying still not to focus on her; I wouldn't let him see my shame at what he was saying. "But I will be here to guide you. Now, eat."

I raged inside myself. I silently cried out against this terrible hunger and the inviting smell of live flesh in my hands and the tempting, steady rise and fall of her small chest. A part of me, however, wanted this – wanted it badly. That part won.

My teeth sank easily into her throat. I was horrified at what I was doing. She was alive! And I was sucking that life out of her. But that horror diminished as my hunger was slated. After a moment, I was simply sucking the blood out of a lifeless body. I heard Cain laugh in his low tones, but I couldn't care what he thought. If I did, I'd hate myself beyond reason. So I just fed, until there was nothing left.

I let the empty carcass slide to the floor, as I dejectedly wiped a hand across my bloodied lips. Cain stood and crossed to me, a gentle smile on his face. He drew me up to him and murmured, "Now that wasn't so bad, was it?" I couldn't answer, couldn't look at him. He drew me toward a door I hadn't seen before. I simply let my body be guided, no longer caring where we went.

"I suspect Shido hasn't taught you much of the bedroom, either." He laughed in his quiet, peculiar way and guided me into the room.

Aww. Poor Riho. (evil grin) i do so love torturing her. Btw, if u don't like graphic rape scenes, u might wanna skip the next chapter. Don't worry, i'll make sure the important plot details get into chapter 7.