The red light illuminating off the “The Sinister Puppet” shined down on Sergei’s face as the new comer made his way towards the doors of the warehouse turned club. The doors open as Sergei and others make their way into the club. Sergei looks upon the ceiling noticing the figures shackled and hung by nooses. He smirks benevolently at the atmosphere of the club. As he glances around the club looking at the gothic crowd of mortals and the vampire posers. His smirk changed to a curling of his lip at the humans, but a smile briefly visisted his face as the dark grungy music vibrated through his body. He moved through the crowd blending in with his somewhat radical hairstyle and clothing perfectly.

“ Humans, the most gullible and easily controlled creatures on the planet” Sergei thought to himself.

He began walking his way to the bar.

“In countries like America, they are so easily offended at their living standards but cannot see how well they actually have it, they bitch and moan but they can’t see. They never lived in a Dictatorship or wandered the truly poor nations.” Thought Sergei. Shaking his head expressing his animosity towards humans.

“Look at them, can they even see how foolish they are?” Sergei pondered in his head, as he watched the mortals.

“They go out in the evening and put on their masks and in those moments they are free, but they aren’t true to who they are they pretend. What a miserable existence!” Sergei thought.

As Sergei walks along a woman dancing bumps into him. She smiles at Sergei, and in return all she gets is a cold blank stare from him. Her smiles fades as she looks deep into the worn eyes of Sergei, for a moment she can almost feel his hidden torment. Sergei turns his head away from her and continues his pace to the bar leaving the woman standing with a lost and confused expression painted on her face.

“Well, that guy must take himself to seriously, must be one of those guys who thinks their a vampire.” Blowing off what she felt gazing in his eyes, The woman spoke laughing with a friend. Sergei smirks menacingly knowing what he could do to her, but wouldn’t be a wise thing to do at this moment. He continues walking chuckling under his breath, while glancing at her. He approaches the bar and the bar keeper approaches him.

“What’s your poison stranger?” spoke the bar keep.

“ I’ll have a glass two ice cubes with crown royal” spoke Sergei in his harsh Russian accent.

The bar keep set up a glass and dropped two ice cubes into his glass.

“ I do not think I have seen you in here before, are you new to these parts?” spoke the bar keep. Sergei is watching the woman who made a joke about him.

“ Keen sight friend, I am new here.” Sergei spoke glancing back at him, only to return his sight back to the dancing woman. The bar keep than poured the Crown Royal into his glass.

“ What’s your name?” said the bar keep kindly. Unaware of whom Sergei was examining.

“ Sergei Konstantinov.” Sergei said letting his name roll of his lips with a bit of pride.

“ Well, Sergei you need anything just hollar” the bar tender said as he slid the glass up to him.

“ Alright” spoke Sergei as he turned to his drink preoccupied in his thoughts of the woman. The bar keep goes to tending to the other customers as Sergei takes a drink of his crown and glances back over to the woman making sure not to miss one move. In which his intent could be anything less than appropriate for the young lady when she seals her fate exiting "The Sinister Puppet". For now though, he'll enjoy his drink and bide his time.

((Is this an open topic? If it is not let me know and I shall delete my post))

Amara walked towards the club. The night had only just begun and she could already feel her hunger and her excitement of what was to become of it. She head towards "The Sinister Puppet", only one hiding place of many for the Tarepha. This was one place she knew she could enjoy herself. Afterall, the vampires here were much like herself. She was sure she could find a few to entertain her until she was ready to hunt again.

She licked her lips and pushed the door open. A few eyes went her way, though most were focused on their drink or whatever it was that happened to entrance their puny minds.

That night she wore tight leather pants, bondage chains hanging from them. Leather boots went over her pants, tying all the way up to her calves. That night was night for hunting, she she was dressed to grab attention. She wore a black shirt as well, one that hugged her hips and showed off her curves. Bracelets up to her elbows jingled as she walked towards the bar. The swastika was tattooed on her left arm. Her bright blonde hair and pale skin contrasted her outfit so much, that she drew eyes that could not help but stare as she walked by. She wasn't beautiful, but she had a mysterious glow about her that drew curious glances.

She sat down at the bar, not a bit of gracefulness in it. The bartender looked over at her, not recognizing her face. Of course, she was new in town. Her blue eyes stared him down until he decided to respond, asking her what she wanted.

"Nothing for the moment," she responded, her eyes lingering for a moment on the man just a few seats away from her. She had never seen him before. She turned her gaze away and pulled a coin out of her pocket, her fingers turning it over and playing with it. She waited for the moment when the hunger became too much. That was when the hunt was most exciting.

(( It's an open topic, sorry I didn't clarify that when I did it ))

Sergei's attention was shifted away from his soon to be future prey, as he took notice to the girl who had just entered. He squinted his eyes a bit as he looked her up and down examining her seemingly perfect figure. As she made her way to her seat, Sergei glanced back over to keep a close eye on the other woman who had spoken ill of him earlier only to find she wasn't there anymore, he let himself get distracted long enough for her to leave without him knowing.

"Damn" Sergei muttered.

Feeling a pair of eyes glancing at him, he looked over at Amara as she turned her sight away from him and pulled a coin from her pocket and began playing with it. Sergei watched her for a moment and his interest in her grew, until finally deciding he would approach her. Sergei stood up and picked up his drink and walked over to the girl.

"May I sit with you?" said Sergei.

Amara was suddenly distracted from her coin by the voice of the male she did not know. Normally she would have shot him a dirty look for interrupting her thoughts and ignored him, but this time she did not. She had never seen this man before, though she didn't come here often to recognize many people, but this one caught her attention.

She should have felt him approach her, but honestly, he had caught her by surprise. It wasn't often that happened, seeing as she could hardly control sneaking into people's minds without their knowing. Her powers were too strong, even for herself.

"Yes, I suppose you may." She was interested in him, but she turned her gaze back to the coin in her hand, trying not to seem to interested. But of course she felt his eyes on her and had to look back up at him. For a moment she just stared at him, her cruel blue eyes softer than normal. Really, they held no emotion at all, just a hint of curiousity as she looked into his face, trying to figure out what he was thinking.

Sergei stood for a moment caught up in why he was being so friendly to her. Could she have reminded of someone he once loved and lost in his past? Did this girl have something about her that touched him. Whatever the reason might be Sergei found himself not being his withdrawn self by taking a seat by her, as she accepted his proposal. As she looked at him with her eyes, Sergei's sight moved from her eyes to her face to her hair. As he examined her more closely.

"You have her hair." Sergei whispered barely audible but stopped himself realizing she reminded him of his lost love Anastasia but it wasn't worth continuing to speak on it no matter how much he missed her its not like he could bring her back. He turned his head away for a moment and nibbled the corner of his lip, adjusting himself in his seat in his awkwardness. Over the years of betrayal he's had from people who were close to him, made it hard for him to be conversational. His own mother sent him out when he was a teenager. The emotional scars run deep, and most of the time the only way he found to express himself was through anger. Sergei decided to start the conversation simply. He took a drink of his crown and turned to her.

" Hello, my name is Sergei" Sergei said."What is yours?

Sergei spoke hoping to clear up what he mumbled earlier.

((Sorry I got a little busy, I should be on more now))

Amara smiled as she got a taste of his thoughts. She guessed she was being rude, invading his mind, but all the same it was something she could not quite control...yet. He was thinking about someone, her name she did not catch...just faint whisps of memory and fond thoughts about her, at least they seemed fond. Amara remained him of the girl he was thinking about and she frowned, visibly. She didn't know whether she should use that to her advantage or not.

Suddenly feeling bad for looking into his private thoughts, she averted her eyes. She didn't know why she was sorry...that seemed to be the theme lately. Could it be that she was growing weak, growing a conscience? Ugh, disgusting. What was it about this city that made her that way?

She was pulled out of her thoughts by his comment. Of course, about the girl it seemed. She couldn't help but notice. But as he so quickly changed the subject, she had no time to respond.

"That's a nice name, Sergei. It's nice to see you." She cocked her head sideways, studying him. So he didn't want to talk about her. She didn't ask...maybe later she would find the right time, but that time was not now.

"You can call me Amara. I haven't seen you around her before."

(( It's cool, let's have fun :) ))

Sergei played with a strand of his hair, and with no eye contact he replied to Amara.

" Hello Amara" Sergei spoke."I am a new face in the crowd, only been here for a few days now."

Sergei took a sip of his drink still making no eye contanct and now seemingly had a emotionless face painted on. Sergei was closing himself up he was hiding his flaws now. He already showed to many feelings for his liking. Sergei glanced over his shoulder at the humans dancing with each other. He changed the subject.

" Look at them, they'll never be anything. Mechanical beings they are" Sergei whispered to her coldly." Not like us, the only good thing about them is how good they taste. They should have to serve us. They should be the ones hiding their identities. The only good mortal is a dead one.

Sergei looked into her eyes with his emotionless eyes and than back at a human.

The little things they get to do from day to day is a good enough reason for them to be happy. I haven't seen the beauty of the sun coming upon the horizon, or the extraordinary colors of the blessing of a sun set in so long now it's almost like I've forgotten it's warmth and beauty." Sergei whispered" But yet they still suffer from depression and such other disorders they created to explain their stupidity. It's the little things they take for granted.

Sergei sat with his lip curled in utter disgust.

"Another example of how feeble minded they are is this so called God, it is just a simple ideal for them to escape their mortal fates of dying. They cling onto their lives and want to believe there is something good in death. It's too harsh of a reality to realize the only thing that comes in death is simply.... nothing." Sergei whispered softly with a hiss at the end." Don't you agree, Amara?"

Sergei made eye contact again but this time looked at her for who she was instead of trying to link her up with a past love of his. He was interested in her, but if she was interested in him she’d have to pry through his exterior shell. He already caught her curiosity, now she’d have to make next move to know more about him. Anastasia was Sergei’s one and only love in life, and wasn’t open to talk about her. She’d have to convince Sergei that he could trust Amara. He couldn’t take it back now, he already said something to her about Anastasia. It might be inevitable, but he would try to get off the subject.

Amara nodded as he spoke, clear disgust written on her face. Human's were useless, besides for their blood, though she had to keep in mind that she had once been a cocky human herself. She was still cocky, only no longer human. She ran a hand through her blonde hair, her blue eyes staring out into the crowd of dancers.

"I often wonder why were are the ones hiding," she said softly, impassively. "We are the stronger beings. Soon we are sure to outnumber their kind. The only advantage they have on us is that they create a million of those disgusting creatures, babies as they are known, a day."

Her gaze met his and she listened as he continued to speak. He was right. They had plenty of reason to be happy. Amara, who had a love of art, didn't get the chance to see the most beautiful thing in the world to her...the sunset. In human life that was one of her only pleasures, and now in unlife, it was taken away from her. She had forgotten what it felt like to be warm, the sun on her skin, instead of being a creature of the night with only the moon to guide her. She was angry with herself, feelings of hers getting in the way once more. She would not feel sympathy for herself. She hadn't been given the gift of eternity. That was eternity to see a thousand more works of art.

"They can not help what they feel. They do not know that we exist, at least most don't. They do not understand what they have got. Do not get me wrong, I am not defending the poor creatures. They disgust me, but as you said they have feeble minds. It would take them an eternity of darkness for them to understand what they take for granted."

Human's were indeed silly creatures, making love and making war simply because they could. They were slowly destroying the only beauty around them because they could. Soon they would destroy their own race. Ugh, humans were filthy creatures. She bit her lip, not bothering to conceal her fangs. Lucky for her humans were so oblivious to the world around them, only caring for themselves.

Her eyes had never moved from his face and when he turned back, their eyes met. Her own could penetrate the depths of his soul, but she dare not read his mind. She couldn't believe she was growing a conscience. She felt it rude to do so. She wanted to know more about him, but maybe doing it the natural way would be the best way. Later, when she gained his trust, he would unveal his mind to her and all the beauty that surrounded it. If there was one thing she loved about humans and vampires alike it was the thought process, the mind, the way they thinked.

"I do agree that death is simply death, but who can blame them for fearing what they do not know? Tell me, Sergei," she said in a whisper, her eyes searching his, "What is it you fear?"

Sergei was pleased to see Amara shared some of the same point of views on mortals he did. A vampire who accepts mortal in his eyes is sickening. Maybe they would be able to talk after all.

Amara than asked Sergei a questions that made his skin turn to cold. What was it he feared. Sergei turned for a moment thinking to himself removing his sight from hers. He played with one of his fangs with his tongue as his mind wandered.

Is she to be trusted? Is she friend or foe? If she is a foe, would she sink low enough to use this to her advantage? Even if she is friendly, what is it to her? Why does she need to know? Was some of the thoughts he pondered stubbornly.

Telling someone what you fear is the same as exposing a flaw. It could tell them your breaking point or the easiest way to get into someones head. It's a rather personal question in Sergei's eyes. One question he didn't like to answer. Sergei turned back to her with his scrutinizing eyes wandering her face.

" Tell me Amara, why should I tell you?" Sergei asked curiously. "Would it be you want to know my scars? Or possibly a way to toy with me? Would you just tell someone your fears?

Sergei paused for a moment raising his eyebrow.

" Or, are you just trying to be friendly? Do you want to be my friend?" Sergei spoke "Exposing ones fear is exposing ones weakness. I don't believe it to be something one should to talk about openly. Unless, it is with someone I could trust. Can...I trust you?"

Sergei raised both his eyebrows while speaking the last part. Sergei wasn't just going to speak of what torments him or scares him just like that. He wanted answers.

" If you are so bold just to ask me what I fear for no reason, I'll have to decline the answer." Sergei said." But, if thier is a good reason for why you want to know, I'll grant you what I fear.

Sergei leaned his head back slightly awaiting her response.

Amara let a smile come to her face. For the first time in a long time, it was not a hollow smile, it was a true smile...as she thought about her own fears, her own past. For once she did not enjoy catching someone off guard, something bothered her about it. The question had not been meant to offend, it was merely a question, something that had popped into her mind. She had made him nervous...and she actually felt bad. She had hardly noticed she had asked.

And why had she asked?

Goddess, what is happening to me?

"I don't know," she whispered, afraid she had already lost his trust. "The truth is, I am not one to be trusted. I don't have friends, nor do I have enemies, except one. I do not ask to use the secret to my advantage. I cannot tell you exactly why I have asked, only that I have the strange urge to get to know you better."

Amara averted her eyes, confused at her own response. Maybe Vontae had been right, a vampire needed not get her emotions involved. Maybe it was because this male reminded her so much of Vontae, in his views on humans, in the look in his eyes as he had watched them danced.

"I did not ask to be bold, or to alarm you in anyway. I ask for my own knowledge, and that is all. It would be easy to happen upon the answer, by invading the privacy of your mind, but I thought it best not to take that risk."

She looked back up at him, her eyes genuinely confused. They did not hold the same sly look as they had when she had arrived, she felt lost, suddenly a child again and she knew, it was Vontae's arrival that had caught her off guard. She needed a reason not to go back to him...

"In truth, I tell you because I wish to know that I am not alone in fearing what it is I do not know..." Her voice faded out as she watched him silently, waiting for an answer, a reaction of some sort.

She wasn't sure if she was making sense to him, but to her, her thoughts were perfectly in line. She wanted a companion, not a master and not a slave, just someone to talk to. She needed a reason. So it seemed she still had emotions lingering from eighty years ago...

A friend...something Sergei had long forgotten the joys of. Lilia was the last person, Sergei called friend. She was with him at his first days as a vampire and through most of his life until many years ago. When you're alone night after night, the feelings of loneliness sink in real thick. A year alone felt like a decade to Sergei. Who grew colder as the years passed and found it hard to confide in someone or even just carry a conversation. He tried to avoid those types of situations by pushing them away.

This time it didn't work, Amara still talked to him even in his stubbornness. She didn't just walk away from him. "Could she just be wanting a friend? Did I jump to conclusions? Who would blame me though?" Sergei thought to himself.

Perhaps he misjudged Amara, he didn't sense much hostililty in her voice or any ill manner. He listened carefully to what she had to say and after moments of silence Sergei spoke.

" I fear not what I don't know, if I don't know it how could I fear it?" Sergei spoke.

Sergei looked into her eyes and his eyes were sad looking.

"What I fear more than anything"Sergei paused briefly with a sigh." Is getting close to someone and having them turn their backs on me. To actually feel something with someone again than to later have it be false.

Sergei's face twisted in sadness.

"To fall in love again and have it taken away from me. That's what lurks in my broken soul. The fear of being hurt again by a lover or a friend. I have no one and thats how it will always be. Sergei said.

Sergei gritted his teeth clenching his jaw up.

"Their I said it,weakling aren't I?" Sergei spoke with a bit of a growl.

Sergei turned his back to her in his awkwardness of talking of his fears. He wasn't trying to be rude, just something he was afraid to talk about. He was afraid to feel anything, it sickened him to think he still had feelings. In shutting people out and pushing them away he didn't have to worry about betrayal. He hated showing emotions it was a reminder of who he once was. It was like digging up the happiness he once had and than reliving the painful moments. Anastasia's death left a permanent emotional scar on Sergei. Than when Lilia the last person he was close to left him, it sent him into his own darkness.

Amara is the first person he's ever told this. She had no friends either...maybe she'd understand.

Was it the answer Amara was looking for? He took a chance and exposed his deepest fear, what would she have to say? Were his last thoughts as he had his back to her with his body slumped over in a bit of shame.

Amara watched him as he thought and was surprised at his response. She honestly did not know what she feared and that was why she had said she feared what she did not know. It scared her to not fear, because that was just ignorant. Ever since she left Vontae, she had been alone in the world, and she liked it. But lately...

She sighed to herself. What he was saying brought feelings back and she felt a pang in her heart. She had been alone for so long, it was hard to remember what it felt like to be with someone. But he was bringing back memories, not just of sex or sharing that blood lust with someone, but love. She hated herself for feeling true and human emotions, emotions that she thought she had forgotten, but she knew they had been coming back, ever since that day...

She didn't know why, but she reached out and placed a hand on Sergei's shoulder. Of course she could understand his fear. That was the same thing she ran away from all those years ago, so that she could avoid being hurt again at all costs. In truth, she realized, she was coward. She could not face up to her fears. All this times, she'd been wrong about herself...about a lot of things. How is it that it only took a stranger for her to figure it out?

"Please, you are no weakling," her eyes were soft as she stared at him, though his back was turned to her. Just because she hated mortals didn't mean she couldn't feel at all, right?

"I am sorry to have made you uncomfortable, but if it helps, I know what you feel...because I suppose I fear the same thing as well. I ran away from those feelings a long time ago. I guess I think of them as being too...human..." The word brought a scowl to her face, being anything like them wasn't something she was proud of...but she had been one once.

"Do not be ashamed. I am glad you felt you could be honest with me."

As Amara placed her hand on Sergei's shoulder, he shuttered at the feelings of another person touching him in a non violent manner. Not because he was cold hearted but because it had been so long since he's felt that. It sent chills down his spinal cord for a moment but he relaxed.

She spoke kindly to him and in return he faced her.

"Forgive me my lady, I may have misjudged you." Sergei said as the look of shame cleansed from his face slowly.

Sergei cracked a smile, the first one in happiness in a long time.

Too human...yes perhaps. Maybe that's why I think of myself as a weakling...the emotions." Sergei spoke in repliance to what she had said, as his lip curled a bit.

"But wouldn't a human be over it by now. They just fuck someone and move onto the next with no strings attached. Love is just a word to them. Just another thing they take for granted." Sergei spoke at a whisper not to attract attention of the mortals. "Divorce and break ups seem to be the flavor they crave. I wonder what it would be like to have a child. One that was concieved through making love, not turning a mortal."

She had gained his trust, he was lightening up a bit and she had sparked his interest in her. She wasn't that much different from him. Maybe a friend in time who knows.

"If you and I fear the same thing, what was your lovers name?" Sergei asked with caution in his voice."Tell me about it, unless you do not want too."

Sergei held out his hand.

"You can trust me though, sweet Amara. You've shown me that I am not alone." Sergei spoke.

Sergei hesitated a moment.

" My love was a woman by the name of Anastasia. " Sergei spoke reluctantly but not by choice, he almost choked out her name and in the moment he spoke her name his eyes squinted in sadness.

Amara watched him, silently and her hand slid from his shoulder as he turned to face her. She was glad he had trusted her enough to tell her. She didn't understand why she wanted to know, but perhaps a friend in this endless life might be nice. One person cannot be alone all the time, right?

"There is nothing to be forgiven. I can understand your assumption. Of course, that is what most assume, and they should...most of the time."

She smiled back at him, unaccustomed to the way it made her feel. A smile was a rare thing. If she ever did smile, it had a dangerous look to go along with it. Not this time. For the second time tonight, it was sincere. Her normally odd features were very much enhanced with a smile. Her beauty was more evident.

"Remember, we were both human once. Some do love, others do not. I do not understand the human race, since it has been so long since I have been one. But I do understand love, for once one has loved, one can never forget that feeling...as we have both proved tonight. The only problem with humans is that they do not know how to love, truly love and they do not know how to handle differences...that is why they divorce." She was silent for a moment before continuing

"Sometimes I wonder the same thing." She looked away, thinking about the term making love. Everything now was about lust. She did not think she could ever truly love again. Betrayal and love seem to go hand in hand.

She took his hand when he held it out and let him speak before she responded. He had called her sweet...no one had ever called her sweet. She bit her lip slightly, he was making her feel vunerable.

"I have had two in my life time. The first when I was human, and the second when I was vampire. Love seems to be enhanced when you live eternally. Every feeling, every emotion is enhanced. Love for me, both times was different. The first was trivial, his name does not matter, but if you would like to know...well I assume you know his name...Adolf Hitler. I was only a child then. The second and my true love was Vontae. But I do not think he ever truly loved me. He lusted after me, he needed me, but I felt as if he were the master and I the slave...so I left. I do not like to be controlled."

She stopped talking, feeling slightly foolish and then turned the attention to him.
"Tell me about Anastasia. What was she like?"

Adolf Hitler…she mustn’t be that much older than I. Sergei thought as she told him her story. Sergei listened attentively caught up in her beauty. What was this? Am I actually enjoying the presence of another? Sergei thought. As she came to the close of her tale, she asked him about Anastasia.

His head fell as he stared down at the ground. His hand trembled a bit in hers. Inside he ached with emotional pain and this tormented him. He hated his emotions and hated himself truly. He blamed himself for the loss of Anastasia how could he ever forget the emotions. Not even in a millennia will he ever let it go, it’s his punishment for letting his flower die. The vampire who killed her escaped him time after time, he couldn’t even kill the man who did it. The coward wouldn’t stay around long enough for him to get the job done.

“She was beautiful in every way. Sunny blonde hair and baby blue eyes to die for. The first and only person who cared for me and loved me.” Sergei spoke with his sight to the ground.

“ We met each other when I was 16 as was she. We were children; she used to pull little playful pranks on me. That’s how it started; she would play tricks on me. One time she hid in the dark and after I came back from doing a dirty deed for our master. She jumped on me trying to tackle me, we did fall but she ended up lying on top of me. Our eyes met and for the first time we felt that feeling of love for each other. It went from playful adolescent fun to something much more beautiful. We lied there for a moment, than she moved towards for a kiss. It was almost like we didn’t even know what we were doing like it was just right. She was everything to me after that. We went together like two bluebirds singing together making love in the spring time. She could make me smile in the smallest ways. Just seeing her standing smiling, warmed me to no ends. She was the little light in my darkness.” Sergei spoke softly almost like a child telling a story, with a bit of shakiness to his voice still hiding his face from her.

Sergei’s hand tightened slightly and his shakiness faded and he looked up at her with a fire in his eyes.

“But he took her from me!” Sergei spoke coldly.” The motherfucker took everything from me!

Sergei released her hand and grabbed his hair with his hands pulling at his bangs, pressing his hands up against his face as his emotional stability was like a thin piece of thread waiting to break in its tension.

“Theirs nothing left for me, but death either to myself or others” Sergei whispered.

“I am a killer and that’s all I’ll ever really be. I am wrong for trying to show emotions. That’s a part of me that’s long gone. It’s not who I am. It’s not what I was born to be. Not the hand I was dealt. Not for me. No no no, wasn’t meant to be.” Sergei rambled insanely to himself.

Sergei’s hands slid down from his hair, in his hand he held a few strands of his own bangs. He was confused at himself. What was I thinking? He thought to himself. He regained his composure slowly and calmed down a bit and his face went back to its normal melancholy.

"Maybe I should leave you alone." Sergei spoke and began to stand up.

What the hell was I thinking? Sergei thought to himself.

((Sorry about the wait...finals and Christmas shopping have kept me away.))

Amara watched Sergei, wonder in her eyes. Was she really sitting here, talking like a normal human being? She did not think it was possible, yet it was happening. In some way, she was glad for it. In another, she was disgusted with herself for showing any kind of emotion at all.

But all the same, she was glad for his company, glad for someone she could talk to. He talked about his love as if he were telling her a fairy tale story, except that this one did not end with the words "Happily Ever After." She had been murdered. She had not just hurt him or betrayed him, she had died. That was something much harder to understand than betrayal, she thought. Because then you ask yourself why over and over again, never getting the answer you are looking for. She still loved him when she died, or so Amara assumed, and it is much harder to stop loving someone you know could be there right now, loving you still. She sighed, sadness in her eyes. His story was tragic and, for once, she did not think lightly of murder. She could not understand the pain it was causing him, because she had never known that kind of pain. Why he was blaming himself, she did not know, but she did understand that he was in pain.

Amara wondered who this male was....this man that had killed Anastasia. Perhaps she could do something about it...

That thought quickly fled her mind, for the moment. Sergei was beating himself up over it, punishing himself when it was said and done and there was nothing he could do about it. He stood up to leave, but she stood up, grabbing his hand once more...keeping him there.

"Do not leave. Not yet. You have done nothing wrong and I would rather be here with you in this moment, than without you."

Amara's steady blue eyes watched him for a moment. He should not worry about being upset, because he had reason to.

"Her death was not your fault. You may have not been able to prevent it, but I am sure she knows, even now, you loved her...that you love her," Amara said softly, "I don't think you could have done anything to stop it...perhaps she was meant to do something else. Perhaps you were."

She looked away, not knowing if her words were a comfort or not. She did not know how to make him feel better, or how to make him stay like she wanted him to. She only knew what was the truth.

Sergei’s stomach wrenched in the awkwardness of the moment, why is this girl trying so hard to be with me. What made me say those things to her, I never share my past with anyone. He looked at her hand locked around his own, and felt utterly lost in his own existence. He was lost and had nothing and no one by his side. He was alone in the world…and that hurt him. Sergei watched her every move closely taking notice to her trying to help him. He wanted to be rude but he bit his tongue and instead tried to be nice…which was visibly hard for him.

“ I couldn’t have stopped it, I was forced to watch it happen, by my Master.” Sergei spoke as he clenched his jaw muscles, his voice sounded off beat due to him fighting with his own emotions.

“What could I be meant to do? I lived for her.” Sergei asked like a child asking his parent for guidance. “What is there for me…nothing. My existence is meaningless, I only live because no one has been able to kill me yet, there is part of me that wishes and waits for that moment. For this…to be all over and gone. No one would miss me, I’d be like a lost page in a sad and pathetic story.”

Sergei look at her deep into her eyes.

“Would you?” Sergei asked. “Why not you to end my pain fellow withered lover?”

“I see it in your eyes…you’re just as cold as I am...we are murderers.” Sergei spoke as his head hung low now. “I want to die...I’m nothing. Than my last memory in my hideous shell of existence could be the time I shared with you, and showing feelings.”

Sergei’s hand fell limp in hers. His eye’s were low and depressed and for once he didn’t feel aggression towards another. He reached in his pocket and showed her a fancy handle of what would appear to be a dagger.

“I’d let you….” He whispered as his eyes beemed kindly into hers.

Would she accept? Sergei thought to himself. Is this the end? I don't want to be alone anymore, so why not just erase myself from this world, were his thoughts.

Amara listened to him plee for her to end his life. She quickly let go of his hand. What was she doing? What made her so intent on helping a man she hardly knew? She wanted to be angry at him, at herself, for ever opening up the way she did. For promising him that he could trust her.

He was right, they were only murderers. Why should he live? Why should she? Why did he live after his love? Part of her wanted to scream at him for being so stupid. If he could not have stopped it, why did he seem to blame himself for her death? Why did he think there was no hope for his future? Why did he live for her and her alone....why not for himself? Pathetic, how human emotions trapped even the oldest and wisest of vampires. This man, he knew how the undead lived, he chose to trust his fate once and now, because he was depressed because love tore his heart, he no longer wanted to embrace it?

Amara's eyes became cold once more. She stood up and took a step closer to him, her blue eyes locked dangerously on his red ones.

"Pathetic, isn't it? How we let them get to us?" She shook her head, "Maybe you should be ashamed of yourself. I pity you. Perhaps you don't deserve to live. Afterall, you don't want it anyway. You disgust me. What use is a vampire who can't embrace his fate? None to me...and so who then is there left to care?"

Amara fell silent, her angry eyes continuing to stare into his. She grabbed the dagger from him. This place was too noisy for anyone to notice anyway. She stared at him for a long time, her hands shaking. And then, for the first time since she was a child, a single blood tear rolled down her cheek. She bit down on her lip. This was who she was, a murderer, a fighter, a hater. But she was not compassionate. But why then could she not bring herself to hurt him? It wasn't the crowds, for she could surely leave quickly and unnoticed. This was who she was...and yet she would not touch him.

"I don't want to hurt you." She held the dagger back out to him, the blade facing her. Her eyes were still angry, but the anger was not directed to him. It was directed to herself.

"I'd love to put you out of your misery but I cannot...and I don't understand why. It is I who I disgust, not you. At least you know what you want... I don't even know who I am anymore. Perhaps you should find someone worthier of ending your unlife."