Talitha gave Vlad a stern look and Vlad began to wonder if she could read his mind.

"What" Vlad said, responding to her glare.

"You know what Vlad" she replied.

Vlad lowered his head and looked at his feet which he shuffled around the floor. After spending 5 whole years travelling with Vlad non stop, Talitha knew him inside and out, she knew that this was Vlad's shy reaction of 'I love you but I'm scared to say how I am feeling'.

"Vlad, you need to talk to me, you know I am here for you" she said, trying to get Vlad to talk.

Vlad raised his head and looked into her eyes.

She couldn't see any emotion in Vlad's eyes, she expected that he would look sad, tears welling up or in the worse case, dark black eyes that were hungry for the two glasses of blood that remained on the table. Instead, there was nothing. His eyes were empty, hollow pits that revealed nothing about how he was feeling. However, Talitha knew that if his eyes revealed nothing, that was Vlad's choice. He had quickly mastered hiding his emotions a few years back when he came to terms with how many people manipulated his emotions. He still had his moments, as he had shown a few seconds before Ingrid welcomed them into her home, but mostly this skill was very useful to Vlad when it came to his communications with the guild. This skill was not something she had seen him use with her.

Worried, Talitha raised her hand up to his face but before she could comfort him, Vlad quickly pushed her hand away dismissively.

He was acting so cold, like she was barely a friend, almost like she was just an average council member. She knew that Vlad never got that close to council members, most were afraid and she couldn't imagine any would ever think of comforting Vlad but she felt almost worthless and potentially like she was just in Vlad's way.

She felt a prod in her mind. A gentle but unusual prod. Then she realised, Vlad was attempting to read her mind. She had defences up in her mind all the time but wasn't sure how capable Vlad was in his mind reading, could he read her mind, she wasn't sure.

"Oi Vlad!" She shockingly responded, deeply hurt that when she wanted answers, Vlad was just trying to steal some himself, even though he hadn't asked her a thing.

"Vlad, this isn't on, you need to tell me what's up, otherwise I'm going back to the hotel and you can come find me when you are ready to speak"

Vlad looked her in the eyes again, this time it was more deeply. There were traces of emotion visible but very weak ones.

"So, earlier ... before my sister cut us off' Vlad hesitantly responded 'ever since I've upped my training ... ever since we've returned ... I feel like I've been held back. Not by my powers or"

Talitha began to look guilty.

"Not by you, no Tal. I think it's been the soy. I know you don't want to have this conversation, I know you think it's fully possible to be strong without the real stuff but has any chosen one done it before ... this power is intense and it's strong and it takes everything I've got." Vlad stopped, giving time for Talitha to think. He knew this was a burden, he knew she wouldn't be happy with what he was saying but he had to be honest with her, he didn't want to lose her.

Talitha stood there for what felt like hours thinking, it was actually a few minutes but Vlad was growing anxious, no he was growing annoyed without a response. He just wanted something.

"You don't actually want to kill humans do you" she shakily asked.

"No, no, of course not, that is not what I mean" Vlad responded. He knew he got the impulses but it wasn't about the kill, it was about the substance, he was hungry.

"Well, I don't like this but I also don't know what it is like for you ... especially if this is the first time you are telling me this. We've been back from our travels long enough, don't tell me you realised this today too" Talitha had trying to hide her hurt but she couldn't. Communication was the key to relationships and until now, they had been really healthy, aside from Talitha lying about being Vlad's bodyguard when he was 17 but that was long behind them now.

"I wanted to be sure ... I didn't want to have this conversation Tal but I just cant bear it anymore."

"Well I can't say I am going to like this Vlad but I also can't stop you" Talitha said, hoping that Vlad would respond saying he wouldn't drink blood, that he was just wondering but she knew the chances were slim. Vlad had clearly made up his mind without her and it wasn't like she could stand in his way, especially now after all this extra training. He was, as the vampires whispered in the alleyways - unstoppable.

Interpreting Vlad's response as permission, he walked over to the glasses on the table and picked up his glass. He stood there for awhile, contemplating what he was thinking of doing. He wasn't sure he wanted this, but he also hated feeling weak. He wanted to be able to protect the ones he loved and do his duty. He also wanted to be powerful and not be held back. Vlad chuckled, his younger self would have wanted the exact opposite - wanted to blend in, to be normal, not to stand out and overpower. Vlad then sighed about his journey and how things may be able to change completely from this one action.

Talitha watched in awe, Vlad had ample control, standing over the glass, over the table with the deadly nightshade plant, surrounded by the room. She too had control but after Vlad's reactions today, she knew he was hungry, perhaps more that she could imagine. She was confident he didn't want this but whenever he didn't want something before, he made sure not to have it. Vlad was about to give in and she was sure she didn't know the whole reason why.

A second later, Vlad took a sip.

Wow. I was going to write about Ingrid / Pierce talking upstairs in this chapter but I feel this has to be left alone. So intense.

Expect the next instalment of this and the Ingrid/pierce convo next chapter! Enjoy