Phoenix smiled. It wasn't a nice smile, not at all. His teeth were far too sharp to look friendly, as they once had when bared in a grin. Now... they looked frightening. Unnaturally white, and sharp as razors. It had been 72 hours. The transformation was complete. And Babette had told him a few things. She'd told him how old she was, for a start, and that had shocked him... But in the end, he'd grown to like the idea of immortality. The immortality he now had.

He'd awoken that evening with a throbbing ache in his throat. When he'd felt it, he'd found... nothing. Then, out of interest, he'd felt a little further down... And found that his heart had stopped beating. It had been a horrible shock, at first, to find that he was dead and yet still living... But after waking Babette in a frenzied panic, she'd told him that all was well and that he was completely fine. It had been a relief to find out that he wasn't going to drop down dead any second. Oddly, however, he'd felt... different. Blood didn't just seem desirable, anymore, it seemed... Perfect. He needed the beautiful red liquid pouring down his throat once more; there was a hunger within him that could only be quenched with blood... He wanted to sink his fangs into sweet flesh and taste the blood that hid under delicate skin. Phoenix could practically feel his fangs itching at the thought of being fed, but Babette had restrained him. He wasn't quite sure why: she'd been keen to drink HIS blood and bite HIM, so why shouldn't he have that luxury himself?

Sitting outside in the twilight, he watched the burning embers of their fire. Babette wasn't awake yet. She was still fast asleep in the tent, but he'd been too excited to sleep in. She'd promised him that they'd go to Dragons Bridge and drain some poor villager of blood... He smiled at the thought. Phoenix had transformed into something new, and he knew it. Memories of Thorn, Mercury, and Sylvia were leaving him now, as he thought about the sweet savour of blood on his lips, on his tongue... He wasn't quite sure what he'd do after he and Babette went on their massacre. Maybe, now they'd shared the bond of vampirism, she'd take him with her? Somehow, Phoenix doubted it. The vampire girl had skirted around every single detail of why she'd been travelling on the road at night, and what she was doing... Almost suspicious. She was probably doing something illegal, he'd guessed that, but what? He was quite curious of what her job was, and why... He shook his head to himself. Phoenix knew he was terrible at remembering important clues: he had an appalling memory. He was sure that she'd hinted a few times, but he just couldn't remember what she'd said... It was lucky he was so skilled as an acrobat, otherwise he'd be useless. It wasn't that he wasn't clever, he was, his memory was just terrible. And he rushed into things far too quickly.

In a way, he regretted becoming a vampire. What would he do now? He would be shunned for his vampirism and, when Babette abandoned him, he would be alone in the world. She would have got her way, and he'd be left with the consequences. After all, it hadn't exactly been pleasant being bitten by a crazed vampire.

He sighed, and stretched his arms out, laying his head back as the sound of the river rushing downstream filled his ears. It was relaxing: the way the sun was almost gone, although it was high enough to make his skin tingle a little, and that was a nice feeling too. He no longer felt hungry, Gods, he hadn't eaten in at least 48 hours, but that didn't bother him. Babette had promised that they would set off when nightfall came, and there was only an hour or so to go until the black cloak of night came and covered the land... Perfect hunting weather. Phoenix chuckled at that, and yawned, showing his razor sharp incisors.

"Somebody's up early." he heard a sleepy voice behind him and, turning his head around, saw his friend sticking her head out of the flaps to the tent, a friendly smile on her face. He smirked back (he didn't seem to be able to smile well, now, it always came out as a smirk), and crawled over to where she was. "I couldn't sleep... I didn't want to wake you, though. You looked too small." Phoenix teased, and recoiled, laughing, when she slapped his arm playfully. She was in a childish mood, it seemed, because as she got up, she skipped towards the fire, and stuck her tongue out at him. "I am NOT small." she replied, pretending to be hurt. "I am way, way, way older than you." "Oh yeah. Sorry, grandma." Phoenix was in a playful mood, and ducked backwards, with a yell of laughter, as she threw a handful of bark at him. It landed short, and she cursed. Picking up another handful, she threw it again and the male youth, who was doubled over laughing, did not move quite in time as it hit him over the head. With a shriek, he looked upwards, and yet out another cry as Babette took a running leap at him, landed on his back, and they both fell to the ground in a heap, crying with mirth. They lay there, for a while, with Babette sitting on his head, before finally, the young vampire rolled off, and stared down at Phoenix, who was still laying on the ground.

"Don't call me grandma, boy." Babette said, a satisfied grin on her face. Phoenix pulled a face, and rolled upwards. Then, with a wild laugh, he cartwheeled expertly backwards, and landed on his feet. Then, with a triumphant grin at her wide eyes (he couldn't resist showing off at moments like that- he was that sort of person), he bowed mockingly, and stood upright. "I've needed to do that for ages." he said, and then straightened properly, holding out his hand. Babette looked at it, and raised her eyebrows. "What?" "Well... aren't we going? To Dragons Bridge?" his eager voice gave him away. She let out a breath of air, and turned away from him, shaking her head. "Come on, Babette, I've waited... why can't I go? I'm thirsty!" he whined. Phoenix knew he must sound like a young child, but it didn't bother him. Why was she not letting him go? She'd promised that she'd show him "everything", and the most she'd showed him so far was how not to get burned by the sun. Not a great teacher, if that was her idea of learning. "You said you'd show me everything. Why did you lie?" his voice was colder, now, and, hand still outstretched, he bit his lip. He didn't want to lose this new friend, but she had promised, after all. Some people didn't keep their promises, but Phoenix always tried to, even if he couldn't fulfill them. It was one of his morals! Why had she gone and told him that she'd show him everything about being a vampire, and then just disappoint him like this? Bitter anger filled him.

They stood in that position for a few moments, looking from one to the other, until eventually, Babette looked him full in the eyes. Phoenix could not see any emotion in those cold, red eyes, but the look on her face showed otherwise. She was desperately trying to keep her face deadpan, but the creases on her face showed it was a struggle. And her voice confirmed what he'd been thinking.
"Because... well... because..." her voice was thick, like she was trying not to cry. Eventually, she had to look away from him, before she continued talking. "When you feed on someone... you change. As a person. I like you, boy. I... I don't want to see you ruined. Like I am." the ghastly realisation filled Phoenix before the words truly hit his ears. Bile rose in his throat, as he saw the way her face screwed up, stopping herself from crying. Then, before he knew what had happened, she had ran forwards, and was hugging him with all her might. Tiny hands wound round his back, as she buried her face in his neck. "I don't know why I did it." she sobbed. "I've... I've... I've killed you! You're dead! Like... like me... I've ruined your life! I'm so sorry!"

She truly was like the ten year old she appeared to be, as she wailed into his shirt. Phoenix was feeling increasingly awkward, as she cried to him. He didn't know what to do. Like all other boys his age, awkwardness when near crying girls came naturally, and having one crying OVER him wasn't exactly helpful to him. He patted her shoulder, trying his best to be consoling, but he knew he wasn't doing a particularly good job. For starters, he wasn't exactly sure WHY she was crying, let alone how he should try and comfort her. Phoenix knew, if he had a mother, she would be screaming at him from Aetherius or wherever she was. Silently, he half tried to work out why Babette was crying, and half thought about his parents... The reason he didn't feel very sad about Babette probably abandoning him, was because he was used to abandonment. He'd been told that the troupe had found him on the road, with a carriage that was being attacked by bandits. Mitrai had told him that it looked like his parents had abandoned him, because they found him alone with a dying carriage driver far too old to be his mother. She'd told them he was called Phoenix, and to take care of him. That had been it. And so they'd taken him in.

"Boy?" Babette spoke through her tears, and Phoenix looked down at her, eyes half concerned, half confused. She chuckled tearily at his expression, and stroked his cheek gently, before pulling away. "Boys!" she said to herself in a loud whisper, shaking her head at him. "I... I just got emotional. I don't know why I broke down like that..."

Babette knew full well why. When you feed on a person, your soul changes. Your personality, too. She hadn't always been murderous: as a young girl, she'd been naive and innocent. Now, her innocence was just an act. But the same transformation would happen to Phoenix. He'd go from being what he was, to... something else. Something demonic. She'd sensed the murder in him, and had at first been excited by it, but now... It scared her a little. From spending time with him, she'd fallen more and more under his spell, and she (but apparently not Phoenix) knew it. Babette wasn't sure she could stand falling in love so deeply, then having the person she loved snatched away from her because he couldn't bear to be seen with a child. She'd fallen in love before: with Silvanus, with another before him, and with one other after him and before this boy, too. She'd spent days sitting on Scarlett's lap, sobbing her heart out after he refused to be turned into a vampire because he wanted to grow up. Babette had a companion, now, so why was she so upset? She would comfort herself and be optimistic: truly, there was no reason for her to be upset. He would still be the same boy, even if it took a bit of time for him to get over his bloodlust.

Softly, she smiled.

"Alright. Lets go."

And, hooking her arm into his, she lead the way up towards the road, taking one last, hopeless glance at the friendly boy next to her. That face... It looked so much like Astrid's.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Phoenix looked at the sleeping boy in the room, and swallowed. Babette was waiting outside, ready to sound the alarm if something went wrong. It was just him, in the room, and this poor, poor boy. Silently, as he crept towards the bed, he wondered what the boy's name was, and who would miss him. Friends, maybe, and family. It was dark, so he could not properly make out the child's face, but he looked about a year younger than him, maybe 12 or 13. He was fast asleep, curled up in his bed, and... sucking his thumb? Another stab of worry hit Phoenix. This child seemed to young... he knew he'd probably die. The boy. As a new vampire, he had no idea where he should bite, and what veins would kill a person if bitten into and which would give him the right amount of blood... But there was one thing he dreaded. The screams.

Swallowing, he advanced towards the bed, not quite knowing what to do... What if he bit the boy not hard enough, and the kid screamed down the whole village? He'd be caught and killed. Grimly, he bit his lip as he finally reached the bed, and leaned down to look at the sleeping face. Then, he nearly fell over backwards. If his heart still beat it would be hammering! That face... that strange, young face... He'd seen it before. Petite features, curly red hair, freckles... The boy from his dream. The boy that he'd dreamt about killing, when Babette had first transformed him... Oh Gods, and now it was finally going to happen. In his dream, there had been screaming and crying and fighting... He would have to get the blood by force. How would he do it? Stick a pillow on his face until he was weakened, then drink his blood while he strangled him to death? But that would leave the child's limbs free, and if he was preoccupied drinking his blood, he could do anything...

Looking down into the child's sleeping face, Phoenix wasn't sure he wanted to do it. How could he? How could he end a life, like that, how could he kill an innocent child? Then, he shut his eyes. The thirst was too much.

Screwing his eyes tightly shut, he knelt on his knees. He opened his mouth, and felt skin brushing the ends of his fangs... The boy moaned in his sleep. That was encouragement enough; with a hiss, Phoenix opened his eyes, the feeling of skin on his fangs driving him, and sank his fangs deep into the boy's neck. Blood spattered all over his face, and a bloodcurdling howl met his ears as the boy awoke. Panicking, Phoenix stuffed a fist in his mouth, and continued to drink... And, oh, the ecstasy! The feeling of pleasure pumped through him as he bit again and again, tearing the boy's neck to shreds. Flesh and blood covered his face, as he moaned in joy as the blood filled his mouth, so perfect and sweet and tart... Kissing his neck, Phoenix heard a grunt of slight pleasure from the boy... and smirked against his neck. Babette had told him that it sometimes happened: the victim felt pleasure, if the feeder hit the right spot. Encouraged, Phoenix bit more gently, taking his time. The excitement was filling him, and the boy groaned into his hand, eyes shut tightly. The pain was enormous, Phoenix knew, but the pleasure was greater. But the vampire didn't care, anymore. Blood was splattering everywhere; and Phoenix felt it running down his face! Oh the joy, oh the perfection; how had Babette kept him from this? He felt a twinge in his pants, such was his bliss, and continued sucking away the blood.

"You're my first, ever. D'you know that?" he whispered to the boy. The bleeding child's blue eyes crinkled, and one, pearly tear emerged. It was a tear of death: the boy knew he was going to die, as Phoenix looked at him, with no pity in his eyes. The pity was gone from Phoenix... something had truly changed. He didn't care who would miss this boy anymore. All he cared about was his own pleasure, and, surely, the boy had got something out of it? Keeping eye contact, Phoenix licked the tear from his face, and looked critically at the mess where his neck had once been, as he savoured the salty tang on his tongue. "Goodnight." and with that, Phoenix bit one last time.

And exterminated the child from Nirn forever.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Phoenix slipped out of the door, and found Babette with a dead man and woman lying on the floor next to her, a look of satisfaction on her face. Seeing him, she smiled broadly, and nodded her head in excitement. "You did it?" she questioned, seemingly hungry for his reaction. "You killed the boy?"

"Yes." The vampire replied. Then, opening his mouth, he showed the red stains on his pearly white teeth, as he smirked evilly, staring full into Babette's startled eyes. "He's dead. And I must say, Babette, I'm furious you didn't let me do that earlier..."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The woman with blonde hair sat at her desk, drumming her fingers inpatiently on her desk. Her curly hair was pulled back from her face in two braids, and her eyes were deep crimson, and heavily lidded. It was dark, in her office, and she was bored. All of her playthings were so boring at that moment... None of them were any fun anymore. It came of being a vampire, she supposed, that meant she had human playthings... But none of them lasted long enough. After her last love, she couldn't love anymore. There was no room for love left in her dead heart, not after Silvanus, and her mother, and... everything.

Babette had been a while, and she was worried about her. The vampire didn't usually take so long out on contracts, especially not a simple one like that... But the Speaker knew not to underestimate her friend. She had certainly not been taken by some sort of bandit; she was too clever for that. Most likely, the girl had been way-laid by something else... She smiled to herself. Maybe Babette would bring something interesting back to the sanctuary. It would be nice to have something new in the sanctuary, after so many years of the same old. She'd never grown up much: after requesting that Babette bit her, aged 21, most presumed she hadn't grown since then. Physically, she hadn't (and that was great, in her opinion) but truly, she hadn't grown much as a person since age 14, when... IT happened.

Somehow, her instincts told her something exciting was going to happen.

She heard footsteps by the door and, tilting her head to one side from her sprawled position, saw a young girl with wide green eyes standing in the doorway. She smiled. Her youngest daughter, Ysabel, had always been a mummy's girl, unlike the others. Getting up, the woman went over to the child, and lifted her into the air. Ysabel laughed delightedly, kicking chubby legs in the air, and the Speaker smiled, before depositing her gently down on the floor. Being the Mother figure in their dysfunctional family had some benefits: she knew how to deal with anyone, now. Flirt with the young men, be friendly with the young women, be respectful to the elders, and laugh with the children. All of the true children in the sanctuary were her own, but she was a good mother to them. Like how her mother had been to her.

The Speaker knew Astrid would be laughing at her, from the Void, and Silvanus probably, too. Sometimes, she could sense when they were watching her. They always picked the most innoppurtune moments. She was almost considering becoming a follower to one of the Daedric princes, or pretending to be the Dragonborn, so she didn't have to go there. She would be teased ENDLESSLY. Some people say they share everything with their mother.

Scarlett literally did.

And most of it she'd rather Astrid did NOT see.

!NOTE FROM LACHANCE!
First bit of Scarlett here :p I missed her, even if most of you didn't. Next update should be out thursday or friday.