Author's Note: Another chapter! Thank-you to Na-chan and l2uly. My first reviewers! This chapter is dedicated to you.

Disclaimer: I don't own...otherwise Mari would have her own side story...

Chapter One

Hao lounged on his throne, watching his followers talking amongst themselves. They were excited, and with reason. The previous night he had returned to the clan house with a new member of their family, and they were having a celebration. He smirked as he saw Opacho dump her wine on Nichrome's head. For some reason she loved tormenting him, knowing he wouldn't do anything to retaliate. After all, Opacho was Hao-sama's favorite.

His eyes fell on a group at the middle of the table. There was a blue-haired woman, who was in the middle of a drinking contest with a black-haired man. Kanna. A younger girl with orange-hair was laughing at two men in monk robes. Macchi. But it was the girl in between the two Hao's eyes focused on. She was small, not just physically, but in her presence as well. She huddled in her chair, her shoulders pushed up and her hands in her lap, wrapped around her doll. She glanced around, as if she wanted to disappear. Her face tilted forward, causing her blonde pigtails to move forward and obscure her face.

Mari.

'She looks terrified', Hao thought, frowning. Then, Macchi leaned over and whispered something in her ear. Hao's frown faded as Mari laughed. He was grateful to the two women flanking Mari. When he had brought her back, she had been crying, begging to go home. Kanna and Macchi taken her under their wing. They had managed calm the hysterical girl down, something Hao was eternally grateful for. His family didn't have the most compassionate people in it.

'I wonder what she's thinking?'

'Mari wants to go home.'

She wanted to curl up on her bed and fall asleep, or be on the couch reading 'Dracula'. Though after what happened to her, she'd probably never be able to read books about vampires again.

That's what she was now. That's what the man that attacked her was, and he had turned her into one.

She would never age past sixteen, never grow old. A part of her was delighted at that, but it was a small part. Running her tongue over her newly developed fangs, she turned to Macchi.

"Where's the food?"

Macchi, who didn't look older than fourteen, but for all Mari knew, could be centuries old, laughed.

"It'll be here soon. Oh, but when it does, Hao-sama talks first. He'll probably say something to welcome you to the family, then we'll dig in!"

Mari smiled faintly at Macchi's enthusiasm. "Hao-sama's the one who turned me, right?"

"Yep! He turned most of us, though, so it's not too special. Oh, look, the food!" Macchi added as several people pushed carts full of food in. Moving quickly, they put all the food on the table and refilled the drinks. When they were done, Hao stood up. Everyone fell silent.

"We're having this celebration to welcome the newest member of our family, Mari. I hope each and every one of you help her become accostumed to our way of life. Now, let's eat!" The people cheered, and started eating.

Macchi piled food, on a plate, then set it in front of Mari.

"Eat up! You're gonna need your strength!" she chirped.

"Huh? Why?"

"Because you're going to be awake all night, meeting everyone in the family. And there's a lot of people. You got up much too early this morning anyway." Kanna answered. It seemed she had won her drinking contest.

Mari frowned. "It's not Mari's fault. Mari always wakes up early."

Macchi laughed. "Well, we're gonna fix that! After all, we vampires are nocturnal!"

'Mari doesn't want to be nocturnal, Mari wants her parents, and her cottage.'

Hao watched his family. Opacho was throwing peas at poor Nichrome, who was thinking about what he wanted to do, but couldn't because Opacho is still Hao-sama's favorite (and has been for a few centuries), Kanna and Maguna were having yet another drinking contest (making it impossible to understand their thoughts) BoZ was trying to convince Peyote to listen to their new song, while Macchi decided to join Opacho in tormenting Nichrome by throwing pieces of silverware at him (he wouldn't retaliate against her because when Macchi gets mad, everyone knows it).

Focusing on Mari yet again, Hao blinked. He could read people's minds without much effort, which is why he normally blocked it out, but he couldn't hear anything from Mari's. That was interesting...the only other person whose mind he couldn't read was his brother's mate's.

He shrugged it off, telling himself he'd think about it later. Noticing that someone had turned on some music, he signaled to everyone that they could dance.

When almost everyone had left their seats, he made his way over to Mari. She was still in her seat, hunched over and looking like she expected someone to attack her. Hao stopped next to her, and smirked. She hadn't noticed him yet...

"Having fun?" he asked, chuckling as she jumped. She glared at him, and shrugged. "That's not much of an answer," he added, trying to cajool her into speaking.

Her glare intensified, and turned away from him, making a small 'hmph' noise.

'What?' Hao wondered. 'Doesn't she know I'm the Master of this Clan? And that her life is in my hands?'

"Mari is having a lovely time, thank-you for asking," she said indifferently.

"That's good," he replied, pulling out a chair and sitting in it.

"So, what do you think of the Clan house so far?"

Mari scowled. She knew he couldn't see her face, but it made her feel better.

'What does Mari think of it? It's crowded with vampires! Wouldn't be a problem, but Mari didn't ask to be here!'

"It's...dark." she answered.

"Dark?" he quirked an eyebow, amused.

She picked up a cloth napkin, and began twisting it in her hands, taking out her frustation on the red material.

"Yes...Mari knows its supposed to be dark, because vampires are nocturnal, but its also dark in...feeling?" she said the sentence as a question, thought over her words, then continued. "It feels likes...many have died here...and...everyone has secrets?"

Hao frowned. "Everyone has secrets, Mari. If we didn't, we wouldn't be able to stand each other."

'Mari knows that! Mari knows people must have secrets to live in harmony!'

"Mari is aware of that," she replied in a monotone. "But Mari hates secrets. They hurt more than they help."

Turning her attention to the crowd of dancers, she searched until she saw Macchi. The orange-haired girl waved at her, inviting Mari to join. Mari shook her head, and looked at Hao.

"Mari is tired. Can she go to bed and meet people later?"

Without waiting for a response, or permission, she got up and walked over to where Macchi was.

'I can't believe she just did that.' That's basically what Hao was thinking. How could a newly turned vampire, who had no training or status, be so disrespectful to him, the lord of the clan, one of the most powerful vampires in existence? He could kill her with a thought! And she just walked off!

'How dare she!' Hao was not used to disrespect, at least not within his own clan! Outsiders, of course, were a completely different category...

Several thoughts ran through his head, until one caught his attention. 'Break her spirit. Show her that you deserve respect. With her attitude, it will certainly be fun.'

Yes, that's what he'll do.

Mari will regret being disrespectful to him.

Mwuahahahaha! Hao doesn't like disrespect...and seems to be a bit sadistic...Please review!