Birds were singing in the trees above. They had been for some time, as birds always start chirping before sunrise. The sounds were beautiful, natural, and as old as time itself. Mithias was heading back to his own home, an oldstyle, simply wooden cabin he had constructed himself in the wilderness, far enough away from roads and other humans so as to be isolated and undiscovered. It wouldn't last forever, but for this century, it made him feel more human.

Having been on careful watch, Mithias stopped when he became aware of a person just up the road from him. He didn't realize he had stopped walking before it happened. He just did it, too focused on what was going on around him. Golden eyes peered above the edge of the cloak under the shadow of his hat, catching movement as whatever or whoever it was ducked back into the trees. Mithias kept his head down, cursing himself inwardly for stopping his walk, which made it obvious that he had noticed the person. Drat. The next move was his, so Mithias decided to continue forward. More than likely, some human had been frightened by him and was merely hoping he would walk by without noticing them, and so he would. Pretending to ignore the woods beside him, Mithias walked again.

Evelyn spent most of her day at work ignoring whispers and stares. How had so many people figured out that she had taken in Mithias? She had managed to answer a few questions from her coworkers. Why do you look so tired? I took care of that man last night, and as he was rather hurt it took all night. Was he a vampire? Vampires aren’t real. Did he bite you? If he did do you think I would be here, out in the sun, talking to you?... The last one got the girls to hush with disapproving glares at her, but Evelyn was too tired to really care. After all, she did have a friend now, as odd and secretive as the friendship had to be. She didn’t mind. She had no idea if Mithias would be by tonight or not, but she knew it was possible and looking forward to such a visit made her day go by more swiftly.

By afternoon though, she was trying to fall asleep standing up. She excused herself to the girls and said she had to go get some rest, and would organize the tax and debt section of literature as punishment for going home early today, tomorrow. They bid her farewell curtly, and Evelyn simply smiled and walked out. She walked briskly back towards her home, finding not so many stares and whispers out and about in town, which help ease tension in her shoulders from work. And of course, when she got home, the silence was rather abundant. Normally it felt cold, but today she reveled in it. She sighed contentedly and laid herself across the couch, nuzzling a throw pillow fondly before drifting off.

When Evelyn awoke, it was dusk, and she actually was awakened by a knock. Frowning slightly and then yawning, she mentally scolded herself for sleeping the day away like that. At least whoever it was knocking had helped her to wake up before it got terribly late. It was still grey outside though, that pretty grey casting of the air before the sun officially slides below the horizon, and Evelyn realized the knocking was on the back door. Mithias? she thought to herself with a frown, wondering who would be at her home, and then, who would use the backdoor?

She pulled herself up and walked to a mirror, freshening up slightly before hurrying to the dorr and opening it wide. ”Hello…” she said. But there was no one there. Frowning, she peeked her head out. She saw no one. She looked utterly confused as she stepped out of her house and down the steps, leaning this way and that. How was this possible? Was she imagining the knocking?

Shaking her head, Evelyn walked back inside and shut the door behind her, locking it. Something inside her, an instinct like a deer whose nose twitched when a hunter drew his bow silently back, made her feel afraid. Something was off. Something wasn’t right. She was on edge and had no idea why, but something told her to get away. She tried to ignore it, telling herself she was safe inside her home, when she turned around, took a few steps, and then gasped audibly before jumping back a few strides. Sitting at her dining room table was a man. His skin glowed it was so pale, his yellow, animal like eyes piercing the dusky dimness of the room, and his brittle looking hair slicked back. His form was probably 6’4”, 240 lbs of muscle as he rose from his sitting position and looked at her. His serious look slowly formed into a shark like smile. It was hungry… and terrifying. Evelyn’s back hit the wall, blue, innocent eyes showing her fear she could not conceal.

”Who are you?” she whispered softly, her voice not shaking, but not sounding very confident. The man slid around the table and began walking towards her.

”My name is Pierce Cline, Miss de Winter. And I’ve been watching you.” His voice had the softness of velvet and the intensity of a fire, all wrapped in one. The type of voice that prevented you from doing anything but listening.

”Why? Why watch me?” she whispered again, looking confused, key pressed so tightly in her clenched hand, she was almost bleeding. Whatever comforting nature Mithias gave off, this man gave the opposite. He chuckled at her and still drew closer.

”Why not, dear? You are so terribly fascinating. So many humans today…(he sighed) they are improper. They gossip my dear. They drink. They tell charming lies to make themselves more interesting. My dear you do none of that. And that is what makes you so fascinating to me. You see lovely, I am a part of a group of vampires, as I’m sure you’ve guessed my species by now considering how sweetly you took in that rogue vampire last night.”

Evelyn swallowed hard at this point, eyes looking into this man’s as he finally stood in front of her. With the power of his presence she wanted to downcast her eyes, but they were so utterly locked on his.

”We do not have a name, but it is I, my mate Vanessa, and our friend James. It also included James’ mate until she was murdered by one of your vampire hunters as of late. And well… I like even numbers,” Pierce smiled.

”Please…” Evelyn whispered, tears beginning to swim in her eyes. He made a clicking sound with his tongue, eyebrows furrowing as he softly shushed her.

”Do not beg, darling. It does not become you,” he whispered, dipping his head before smelling her neck, the sweet scent of life, blood, and the lilac perfume of her skin. She took in a sharp inhale and the vampire bared his teeth, biting into her flesh. A scream escaped her, eyes shutting and tears falling down her face, but the scream died down almost instantly, Pierce holding her against the wall behind her.

-Greta-
Great eyed the hunter warily, uncomfortable with the nearness of him. It was not until she picked up the sound of more footsteps approaching that she registered there was someone else coming. She blinked a few times, and noticed the newcomer. He or she was wearing a long cloak and a sunhat not unlike the one Greta had in her satchel. However, the most disturbing thing she took note of in the person's outfit were the two rather large swords sticking out of his clothing. She watched him, her curiosity piqued, momentarily forgetting about the hunter and the nauseating scent emanating from him.

Suddenly, the hunter stepped into the path of the person coming into the woods. From her vantage point, Greta could see that the cloaked figure appeared to be male. "Who are you?" the hunter questioned him, obviously just as uneasy as Greta. Greta shrank back further into the foliage, hoping that the man in the cloak would not immediately see her. The two swords on his back looked particularly lethal. She desperately hoped that she hadn't caused too much of a stir by backing up into the trees, and that the two men out on the path would fail to notice her until she had time to formulate a plan of either attack or escape.

Mithias knew the very second he heard the crumple of foliage that there would be a confrontation. He stopped again, as a human appeared from out of the brush in front of him. The vampire's golden eyes widened briefly as he instantly recognized Alex, the young new hunter. It was the very man he had seen in the stagecoach, the man who's room he had searched, and the apparent sibling of the lovely brown haired lady in the picture Mithias still carried in his pocket. He ducked his head downward to keep his face hidden as he stood there, formulating a plan. What in the living Hell were the odds of this meeting??

"Who are you?" Alex asked. He was armed... somewhat. Not that his armaments would do him much good anyway, but Mithias didn't want a fight. It seemed that there was no better time than now to make introductions, however incriminating it would be.

"Alex Moriaty." The cloaked man stated audibly, making clear he knew exactly who the hunter was. The shock factor of being identified usually precluded a fight. Not removing his hat, Mithias otherwise bowed cordially. Black hair, white hands, and a sturdy physique were all that were apparent to identify him. "It is an honor to make your acquaintance. I am Mithias. I am sorry to learn what has happened to the dear Kingsleys. I understand their home was severely damaged. How do you fair this morning?" The man's eyes couldn't be clearly seen in the shadows, but he was looking right at Alex, casually folding his clawed hands in from of himself.

-Alex-
Alex narrowed his eyes in surprise and suspicion when the cloaked figure addressed him by his name. What the hell? Alex could have sworn that he had never seen this man in his life, yet here he was, greeting Alex like they were old acquaintances. He nodded stiffly towards the man, taking note of the fact that he appeared rather large and had the palest skin Alex had ever seen-as pale as a vampire's skin. "Mithias....." Alex murmured quietly under his breath when the man told Alex his name. Alex was almost certain he was standing in front of a vampire, and as he was about to lunge towards him with a silver knife drawn, he decided against it, listening to his better judgement for once. There was that, and also the fact that Mithias had two swords sticking prominently out of his cloak. The silver edges gleamed in the early morning light, and the lethal glimmer of the blades made Alex hesitate. Maybe he could do this in a more.....subtle way.

"What do you know of the Kingsleys? And how do you know my name?" Alex asked incredulously, shifting his weight so it would be easier for him to take the defensive if the need arose. This was all awfully suspicious to him. Alex glanced around furtively for anything that could alert the villagers to their presence, taking in the barren trees and crackly brown leaves, the fragrant pines and the plentiful underbrush that still took up quite a bit of space, despite the fact that the weather had gotten considerably cooler since their prime during the spring and summer. He waited for Mithias to respond, tightening his grip on a wooden stake beneath his coat as he did so.

-Caroline-
Waking up to weak sunlight streaming in through the curtains, Caroline sat up and yawned, brushing her unruly ringlets away from her face. She padded gently out of bed, shivering in the chilly dawn air. Grabbing a small wooden comb and running it half-heartedly through her mane of curls, Caroline sat down and stared intently at herself in the cracked mirror on the windowsill. What she saw-tired eyes, caramel colored curls, and a slight build-was nothing surprising. Caroline did this every morning, assessing herself in the fractured glass. Sighing, she tied her hair back in a short ponytail and set out to get dressed.

Caroline picked out a plain pastel blue dress, tying an apron on top of it. She snatched the keys to her home and to the bakery off the scratched wooden dresser and stepped out into the crisp air. Inhaling, she closed her eyes and savored the fresh scent that comes with autumn. Closing the front door and locking it, Caroline strolled through the cobblestone streets of Ispwich at a leisurely pace, until she reached the bakery which was situated less than a minute away from her home. Entering to the smell of freshly baked bread and a tinge of something burning, Caroline rolled up her sleeves and started kneading a lump of dough, absentmindedly humming a cheery tune as she did so.

The events of the night before lingered at the front of her mind. Had it really been a vampire who was clutching at his eyes in the streets last night, or was it all a figment of an overly active imagination? Everything about the night seemed so surreal....the silver sliver of a moon shining with a metallic brilliance, the glittering stars spread out overhead, and the midnight sky impenetrable. Had there really been vampires lurking in the shadows of the buildings, waiting for unsuspecting townsfolk behind every corner, or was she just making it all up to satisfy a ghost story that Caroline's parents had been fond of telling? So many questions bubbled up into her head that Caroline almost lost track of what she was doing. She took a breath. Focus, she ordered herself, and pushed the thoughts of vampires and the supernatural out of her brain. She had a job to do if she wanted to eat.

Ah good. They were talking. This was more conversation with humans than Mithias had had all year. Mithias delighted in the man's expressive eyes, hearty stance, and above all, his curious patience. However, things were still touchy. This could end in fighting or fleeing without notice. Mithias exhaled a breath, deciding the truth would be the most entertaining, and likely most productive.

He answered, "I was there when the blast went off." Mithias swiftly held up a hand to delay Alex from any interrupting him with rash action. "The bomber is human, Alex. It isn't me. ... Yes, I am what you suspect. A hunter shouldn't have any doubt of that." Seeing the human confused, angry, and hesitating, Mithias gave a little more information. "I chased him as soon as I saw him, but he blinded me and escaped. He appears to know a fair amount of alchemy." The vampire reached into his pocket as he spoke, watching Alex for any sudden attacks. "Take this. It belongs to you." He carefully tossed the picture to him. "I took it from your room. You'll have to forgive my kleptomaniac sentimentality, but it will verify my story."

Mithias allowed himself a hidden smirk behind the eave of his cloak. Alex looked practically stunned. "I have no reason to lie to you."

Pierce grabbed Evelyn as she started to falter, a mix of trying to pass out and cry out in pain washing over her. ”Hush hush darling,” he growled, his words soothing but his tone harsh as he yanked her to her bedroom, grabbing the key from her vice grip and tossing her onto her bed. With one hand holding the skeleton key and the other running over his hair as if to correct it, though it had never fallen out place, he watched her writhe for a moment. ”I’ll be back tonight to take you to your new home. Say goodbye to whatever lonely memories you have here,” he said quietly and without feeling before turning and walking out of the room. He locked her in the bedroom, pocketing her key and leaving out the back door from which he had entered. Still sticking to the shadows, he awaited til the sun was further down before seeking out returning to his home, and perhaps taking another less valuable prize along the way.

---

Evelyn was left moaning on her bed, shivering and yet overwhelmingly warm at the same time. She felt her heart beat rapid and pounding before it slowly started to fade. She choked, coughing violently as if trying to restart it, or find a need to breathe, but it was all leaving her. She was dying. She shook, partly from fear and partly from the pain, until all of it started to ebb. And she was left with this coldness. It permeated every inch of her. She lifted her trembling fingers, which were slightly paler than normal and realized they were so cold they were almost numb. She tried to walk over to her vanity, stumbling a little until she reached it. Looking into her mirror, she looked noticeably different, but not in a bad way. But it was frightening to wake up one morning and look one way, and suddenly now, she looked different. She whimpered, upper lip lifting and causing her to clamp her hands over her mouth in shock. Eyes wide, she slowly peeled her hands away and snarled at herself in the mirror, taking in the vision of her now elongated canines. This wasn’t fair- she hadn’t even been given a choice! And now he was going to take her somewhere else? A new home? No! She would not stand for it! She grabbed her silver hairbrush and smashed the mirror, furious.

-Alex-
Alex watched Mithias with barely concealed suspicion as he lay out the details regarding the blast at Kingsley Manor. "A human bomber..." he muttered under his breath. "I don't believe it," Alex breathed, distrustful of the Mithias's story, his incredulity increasing as Mithias outright admitted that he was a vampire. The first thought that ran through Alex’s head was to attack, to kill him when he still had a chance, but something about the vampire’s demeanor made him hesitate. Perhaps it was the fact that Mithias didn’t seem like he wanted any harm to come to Alex, though vampires were tricky creatures. He still couldn’t ascertain that it hadn’t been Mithias who had staged the attack on Kingsley Manor, but for the moment, Alex was willing to listen to what he had to say.

Alex gazed in shock as Mithias procured a small framed portrait of Margaret from the depths of his cloak and gently tossed it to him. Alex caught it reflexively, not sure how to react. Everything from the hunters dictated that he should be attacking the vampire, but this one didn't seem particularly....vamp[iric. It made no sense at all to him, and he exhaled in frustration. Looking down at the framed likeness of Margaret, he felt the years of bitterness from standing in his older sister's shadow rise up like bile in his throat. Alex knew that if he ever wanted to be accepted, he should kill this vampire right here and now, no matter what Mithias said or what he seemed like. After all, weren't vampires always full of charming lies and deceit hidden by smooth words?

"I have no reason to lie to you," Mithias said. How did Alex know for sure that he wasn't lying about THAT?

With his mind made up, Alex whipped out his stake and lunged forward, aiming for Mithias's general chest area. A slight tinge of guilt tickled at his brain, but he shut it out, focusing on the one thing he was made to do-slaying vampires.

-Greta-
Greta tilted her head to the side curiously as she looked on to a vampire with a rather large build and a young hunter conversing like they were old friends. She was hidden behind a clump of evergreens, the trees retaining their greenery long after the others had shed their leaves. Greta was also well off the path, though not so much that she didn't have a clear view of anyone walking up and down the small dirt road. From her vantage point, she could clearly see the two figures despite her limited eyesight. She listened in shock as the vampire-Mithias was his name-told the hunter, whom she found out was Alex Moriaty, what had happened the night before at Kingsley Manor.

She couldn't believe it. A human bomber? What might a human have against the Kingsleys? Surely he or she didn't know that they were a group of hunters. No, they couldn't have. It was...why it was simply impossible! Greta pushed away her disbelief for the time being, deciding to dwell on it later. She averted her attention to the almost cordial exchange between the hunter and the vampire. The vampire threw something in an underhand toss to Alex-she couldn't discern what it was exactly, but the sunlight glinting off of it blinded her momentarily. Shaking her head and rubbing her eyes, she watched as the hunter contemplated his next move.

What he did was a bit unexpected due to the fact the whole thing had looked so, so polite from afar, but it was not too terribly surprising. Greta watched keenly, ready to come at the vampire's aid if the need arose.

Mithias reacted swiftly by dodging to the side and parrying Alex with his hand in an Aikido-like fashion. He was not at all surprised by the attack, nor was he offended or disappointed. It simply was that it was. His cloak had fallen back, letting Alex get a clear view of him. Putting a few steps of distance between them, Mithias tried more words. "You can't catch me, Alex. You haven't slept, and I'm not fighting you. Like it or not, I'm getting away today." The human seemed to realize he was right. "If you want to come stake me, you'll have to find me first. I don't live far from here, and for blood's sake, disable me before you try to drive anything through my heart. Not to do so is simply suicidal." Mithias stopped, ready to run again at a moment's notice. Suddenly, it struck him how serious he sounded as he chided the young man. He was like a damned teacher. He nearly laughed at such an image of himself, but managed to tone it down to a slight smile outwardly. Regaining his straight face, he began walking away, backwards, slowly. "I'll see what I can discover tomorrow night. I can't very well talk to people in broad daylight with my affliction. until then, why don't you inquire a Miss Evelyn De Winter? Keep her out of trouble for me." Mithias turned his back and threw his cloak about his shoulders again.

-Alex-
He jumped as the vampire moved surprisingly swiftly, parrying his attack, However, Mithias didn't seem very put off by Alex's actions-in fact, it almost seemed like he had been expecting it. His sudden movement had revealed what was formerly obscured by his cloak, and Alex caught sight of piercing golden eyes and the hilts of the swords he was carrying.

"You can't catch me, Alex. You haven't slept, and I'm not fighting you. Like it or not, I'm getting away today."

Alex gritted his teeth in anger, but he knew the vampire was right. The two or three hours of sleep he had gotten were fitful and he was kept awake by his preoccupied mind, and it seemed like Mithias did not particularly want to drain him dry. He was obviously not like other vampires. Curious. The whole thing was getting stranger by the minute, and Alex had no clue what he was supposed to think. As the sunlight climbed even higher into the sky, filling the forest with its barren trees and the scent of winter in the air in a harsh gold aura, Mithias continued speaking.

"If you want to come stake me, you'll have to find me first. I don't live far from here, and for blood's sake, disable me before you try to drive anything through my heart. Not to do so is simply suicidal."

The simple fact that Mithias deemed he had the right to criticize Alex like that sent him into a blind rage. It took every ounce of willpower to keep himself from launching himself in an admittedly suicidal attack at the vampire once more. He took a few breaths, trying to calm himself down, one of the only things he'd picked up from Margaret from years of standing in her shadow. While he attempted to steady his breathing, the vampire added something that Alex found mildly shocking.

".....I can discover tomorrow night. I can't very well talk to people in broad daylight with my affliction. until then, why don't you inquire a Miss Evelyn De Winter? Keep her out of trouble for me."

With that, Mithias was gone, leaving Alex in the middle of the forest by himself. Evelyn de Winter? Who the hell could that be? It appeared that Alex had some serious investigating to do.

TIMESKIP
time: around 8pm at night or 20:00
weather: it's a cloudy night, and a thin mist hangs around everywhere, clutching at the shadows. fairly cold, about 34 degrees Fahrenheit. not very much wind, and the moon and stars are partially obscured by the thick cloud cover and slight fog

Evelyn had spent the time since Pierce had left her in the room trying to pick the lock of the door with anything she could find. A little after 8, she finally managed to hear a small click. She breathed a sigh of relief, opening the door and leaving it. She was still in her dress she'd worn to work this morning, but the rounded collar was stained red on one side from her blood. She couldn't see her appearance at the moment though, considering she'd broken her mirror. She didn't care in a way either, seeing as how no one would want to look upon her again. The very thought of what she was now weighed heavily on her, and she made her way to the back door. Opening it and heading out, she let her hand grip the outside of it tightly, fear in every bone of her body. What was she supposed to do now? Who would even care about her now that she was a vampire of all things? Not to mention this undying thirst in her throat was driving her mad.

Ah, all the little people of Ipswich were leaving their jobs and heading home. The whole town was so quaint. Much more endearing than his good old London. But alas, there were far fewer suspicious folks there, and more folks in general. Pierce mulled over which particular person he wanted to take back with him as a prize, when the delightful sent of baked dough hit his nose. He wandered closer to the bakery, seeing a young woman and determining she would be a valuable thrall. If nothing else, she could cook for the human slaves he and his friends housed to serve them. He smirked softly, awaiting her to near the shadows.

-Caroline-
Caroline had decided to leave the bakery for her home a bit later than usual, opting to stay a tad longer to tidy up the bakery. After mopping the floors and putting one last loaf of bread in the oven, Caroline threw open the windows and left the door ajar, letting the stifling heat from the fire escape into the chilly outdoors. She sat down on a rickety wooden chair, contentedly exhausted from a day's work. It was time to go home.

Grabbing the small basket Caroline had brought along with her and a wooden pail, she exited the bakery after shutting the windows and locking everything securely. Caroline walked briskly out into the cool, crisp air, the moon invisible under a blanket of clouds. She made her way at a slightly faster pace than normal down to the southern end of the village, coming across the old stone well that was struggling to stand upright. Affixing the handle of the pail to the worn rope, she lowered it into the certifiably icy water and drew it back up, struggling with the dead weight of the liquid. Untying the bucket, Caroline unsteadily held the bucket of numbingly cold water in one hand while she picked her basket up with her other. She unsteadily walked back to her house through the emptying streets, looking forward to a bowl of warm soup and dinner in her stomach.

Arriving at her front door, Caroline set down the bucket and basket once again then fished out the keys. She unlocked it, pausing at the threshold, lingering outside in the wintry air. Caroline felt an uneasy feeling creep into her gut, and she cautiously peered into the shadows that were grabbing at the buildings, attempting to discern the source of her uneasiness.

At night.....

A woman with tan skin and her long wavy back-lengthed dark brown hair sweeper to one side of her body in her white and light blue commoner long sleeve village dress was walking downtown to where she lived with a basket in her hand full of apples she got from the orchard.

Mithias found that night, that his usual guise as an old man wasn't going to get him into the town center without some serious risk. Flashy guards were on patrol in every direction. Unless Mithias could mind-control or put up a convincing disguise, he was going to get caught. The vampire heaved a sigh as he considered all the good gossip he'd be missing out on tonight. At least Evelyn would be able to gather information for him. He was eager to return to her, but he would have to wait until activity died down a little more before he could sneak around. For the meantime, he stealthy climbed himself on top of a brick building on Main street, keeping an ear open to the humans passing below.

Claire walked with her hooded cape on while wearing her white and crimson sleeveless dress and her fishnet gloves up to her elbows. She looked around her with her brown eyes to be watchful of suspicious people as she was riding her horse back home through the forest.