[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/191215/833f2a604007d318a3c53d2aa91d8350.png[/img]

[color=FF4D4D][b]Time: [/b][/color]Night
[color=FF4D4D][b]Location: [/b][/color]The Pit
[color=FF4D4D][b]Interaction: [/b][/color][@Pink Khione] - Ava
[color=FF4D4D][b]Jams:[/b][/color] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RQNe52jkao]"I could really use a wish right now..."[/url][/center]
[hr]

Helene's shoulders slumped as she heard Ava's chuckle echo through her glass and back to her knocking some of that initial enthusiasm out of her. It was a joke, wasn't it? A vampire whose lips had only ever touched the cold, hard surface of a fancy glass drinking the blood of a victim they had never once laid eyes on. Interactions with humans were particularly rare and those few she did talk with had been a part of the Sinclaire Foundation for some time. However, she did not wish to be like the vampires that lived for the hunt nor did she wish to starve and become like those depraved souls who would kill anything for the slightest drop of blood. Helene was pouring her heart and soul into trying to convince Ava to teach her how to hunt with as much mercy as possible, but it was exactly that thoughtfulness that was making Ava hesitate.

A small smile creased her lips at Ava's apology, it was indeed something hard to believe [color=FF4D4D]"It is alright."[/color]. However, Ava seemed to pause for just a split-second like some wild thought had wandered into her mind making Helene wonder what it was. Self-control was something that Catherine had drilled into her since she was young but she had never felt the hunger so fiercely before. Her head perked up a little as Ava gave her some information about humans, which Helene quietly repeated [color=FF4D4D]"Four to five litres...can lose one..."[/color] as if it were some breaking new information unaware it was not everything Ava could have told her. She could do that, but....she'd probably need to drink from more than one person to completely stop the craving [color=FF4D4D]"Thank you! I...think I can do this!"[/color] It was part thanks, part trying to fire herself up to do what she had to. 

As she was busy imagining what how to go about this, Ava spoke once more and made a quick departure before Helene had a chance to formulate a proper goodbye [color=FF4D4D]"Ah, okay..well merci et au revoir!"[/color]. Pink-red eyes watched as her new acquaintance left her alone to deal with this herself, hoping that maybe she would have stayed to instruct her further. It was fine. Helene had accepted when she left the Sinclaire Manor that everything was going to be much different than she was used to. It had been refreshing to be viewed as just another person rather than some figure beyond approach. Her mother had seen to that but she was no longer hovering over her shoulder. Helene was scared and lost in the big, new world she found herself in but she was determined to find her place in it.

That was [b][i]HE[/i][/b] came into the picture. A tall, young man with wavy, brown hair that stopped just at the shoulder who carried himself with a soft-spoken confidence and she could see the intelligence in his eyes. His eyes were like emerald gems that sparkled with the flashing lights of the club. If Helene had a beating heart, it might have just about stopped because he was looking and coming towards her [color=6ecff6]"Do you mind if I stand here?"[/color] He spoke as he took over the position that Ava was standing at. Words escaped Helene at the moment so she simply nodded. The drink she had gotten at Alexei's was beginning to wear off and with it came the voices and visions.

His name turned out to be Jackson, a student at the university who had came to the club with 'friends' that had ditched him [color=6ecff6]"You want to get out of here? I know a place we can talk just the two of us."[/color] It was an offer that Helene had been waiting for and her symptoms were only getting worse. She kept catching the formless shadow of her mother weaving through the crowd just outside of her direct view, while her voice whispered in her ear [color=FF4D4D]"I would like that."[/color] She smiled brightly but she wished it had been any other day. 

Jackson gently took her hand and lead her out of The Pit. By the time they got into his car, Helene couldn't even have a moment to think about what was happening as she resisted the primal urges to feed right there and then. They drove for a bit, gazing at each other and making small conversation about topics they had been discussing in the club. At last, they stopped in the dirt parking lot of a small park just on the outskirts of Ember Grove. Jackson turned the engine off and turned to her [color=6ecff6]"I'm..not the best at asking these kind of things but...would you mind if we met up again?"[/color] He asked nervously, the first time she had seen him act like that. It put her at ease somewhat, but Helene had to make a move [color=FF4D4D]"I would not."[/color] Like a switch, her instincts kicked into gear as she moved her head forward and so did Jackson.

Helene's fangs extended and dug into his throat, the sweet taste of blood quickly touching her tongue. Jackson screamed as he tried to push Helene off of him but there was no one to hear him and Helene had far more strength than he did. His screams did not even reach Helene as she continued to drink, her first taste of fresh blood directly from the source. Ava's advice briefly fluttered in her thoughts but it was quickly overthrown by the flood of ecstasy. With every ounce of blood that was drained from his neck Helene felt more like herself and the voices lowered to a whisper and finally silence. Her mind was on auto-pilot as her fangs continued to dig deeper. [color=FF4D4D][i]A little more...just a little more[/i][/color].

After awhile, Jackson stopped struggling against her but Helene did not notice. She continued to drink until she was full and satisfied as if in trance. Blood trickled down her lip as she moved her head back feeling relief now that she had clarity of mind and she was no longer on edge. That did not last long as the haze that had been on her mind lifted and she was left with the aftermath of her hunger. Jackson sat motionless against the driver seat pale and without any signs of life. Helene whispered softly at first [color=FF4D4D]"Jackson...?"[/color] then screamed as it hit her [color=FF4D4D]"Jackson!"[/color] Her hands which had held him down now shook his shoulders trying to provoke any kind of response, as tears dripped down her cheeks [color=FF4D4D]"No! No, no, no, no, please wake up! I am sorry! I am sorry!"[/color] There was nothing left of Jackson left to respond.

Helene put her head to his chest and heard silence, felt nothing but the stillness of death from his wrists. Her head laid against his upper chest as he hands became fists and gently hit against Jackon's chest [color=FF4D4D]"I didn't mean to! I am-" [/color] Her sobbing words were cut off as she began to wail into his shirt to try and muffle the sounds. He was gone and it was all her fault [color=FF4D4D]"I am a monster!"[/color] Her voiced cried out as her fists twisted themselves into the shirt. How could ever look Ava in the eyes and tell her what she had done? Slowly Helene lifted her head off Jackson's chest and looked at his lifeless and colorless face, burning the image into her mind. There was no way she could do this again. She would rather lock herself away than take another life. 

Beating heart or no, she felt a pain in her chest as she got off of him and got out of the car. A mix of anger, grief, and sadness flooding in all at once. Helene hesitantly stood there in front of the car looking at Jackon through the window, knowing that she had just taken away someone's friend...someone's family. She had to leave. It wasn't safe, or right, for her to be here with him anymore. She had to get back to her apartment before any of those friends or family started looking for him. Thus began the long walk home which gave her enough time to try and stop the tears and regret. She couldn't pretend that she wasn't a vampire and ignore the hunger again. It was clear from tonight it would only get someone hurt or worse.

Helene had little energy to do much else but just lay on the bed, so mentally exhausted from tonight she didn't want to do anything else. That emerald shine in Jackon's eyes had been snuffed and it was all she could think about. How was she ever going to be able play at the l'amour est dans l'air tomorrow knowing what she had done? How could she look into the eyes of all those people? Somehow, she had to do it. Prove to herself that she can do more than kill and give something back. That was how she could atone, perhaps. 

[center][color=FF4D4D][b]Time: [/b][/color]Morning
[color=FF4D4D][b]Location: [/b][/color]Ember Grove Park
[color=FF4D4D][b]Interaction:[/b][/color] None
[color=FF4D4D][b]Jams:[/b][/color] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viq87FiOSxE]"That somehow, we'll keep marchin' on"[/url][/center]
[hr]

Today was her first performance in front of live crowd of people she had never met before playing alongside people she had only met yesterday. Her outfit was selected and her violin had been tuned just the way she liked it. Excitement should be rushing over her in waves but all she felt was grief and regret. Jackson could have been anyone and it still wouldn't feel right. A part of her wanted to cancel for tonight and hold up in her room. That wouldn't do anyone any good. It was what had brought her to the park this early in the morning with her violin case in hand. Helene was nervous to just be by herself but it was the best way she knew to get over this in her own way. Music was her oldest and closest companion and by pouring her thoughts and emotions into every note she could feel better. That was the idea anyway.

Carefully she set down the expensive case down by one of the park's benches, unlocking the hooks that held it closed. This piece was for Jackson and for her. A requiem for a man she never had the pleasure of knowing fully, just like Boris. A requiem for his life and what could have been if...if she had not gotten involved. With somber determination, she took the exquisite instrument into her hands and rested the violin against her cheek. Helene began to play after a moment of silence, filling the park space around her with a beautiful, but melancholy sound. The music would be a reminder of her failure and a promise to never let it happen again.