Miriam was red eyed and tired from an excepionaly long day. Of work? Nope. School perhaps? Not yet.

She had been exploring.

Kaisa had told her to stay away from the Subways because of all the vampires, especialy at night because of the other vampires who might not be as kind as she. But Miriam was far to curious for her own good and had ventured down into the bowels of the city.

She had figured it would be safer in the day as many vampires were not even awake. And so far she hadn't had any problems. But Miriam had had a wonderous time of getting on and off the trains, finding out just where they went to and how. It was something so thrilling that the day of scampering from car to car and up and down the steps to see where she popped out in the city that she was simply exausted.

It was well after eight now, and she had been riding around strictly underground for the past hour, resting, not even aware of the sunset that had already taken place above. Kaisa would be upset, but so long as she returned in one piece and safe, she'd be fine.

Stiffiling a yawn she looked at her watch, her eyes opening wide as she found out what time it really was and she nearly yellped with surprise. But she was clear across the city from their home! Oooh... Well, she had to get off at the next stop it looked like and transfer over to another line...

So she did. But the next train wasn't coming for another five minutes... And the cold air was brushing at her half bear limbs. The khaki capri pants didn't show above the knee of course, that would be inappropreat and made her uncomfortable, and her black shirt was more for style than warmth.

"Oh bugger... Kaisa's gonna be so mad..." She muttered to herself as she adjusted the red bandanna that was holding back her dark curls, careful to avoid her gold hoop earings.

She crossed her arms over her chest as she tried to get rid of the goosbumps that were pecking at her skin as she waited nervously for the next train, bouncing on her toes slightly, red polish peaking out from the black sandles.

Kieran was a curious boy, he had never seen a subway, well never been close to one. He had heard of them had seen them, but never explored them. This had been a night for exploration. It wasn't like he was doing anything else. When you lived hundreds of years, you had to find something to amuse you and so far Kieran loved this century.

He had appeared on a platform and looked around warily. Like any warrior scout, Kieran looked at the area he was about to enter, before entering it. There weren't many people around, so he wasn't getting too many looks, like he was crazy. He wasn't completely sane, he was a man stuck in the body of a 15 year old, you couldn't really blame him.

His eyes caught the young woman, well she looked older than him, but she was alone, that wasn't safe. Vampires were prowling and she was most likely to be killed by some vicious vampire. He wasn't vicious, but he was charming and often that made woman easier targets. He approached slowly, no rush to do anything and he knew that she was friends with a vampire, he could smell it. He didn't back away, he wanted to help her and knew that there was nothing he could to her that her vampire friend wouldn't know.

"You look cold." His Scottish accent came out, still apparent despite his years away from Scotland. He shed his black leather coat and offered it to her with a small smile.

The boy -young man almost- caught her by surprise. "Huh? Oh! Hah. Sorry, lost in thought." She said with a nervous smile and her thick accent poking through. After all, she had only been away from Romania for two years. But it was almost reasuring to hear another accent, even if it wasn't Romanian.

She shook her head woth a grin as he offered his jacket. She was short, so he was maybe a little taller than her, maybe about the same height, but he was maybe a little younger than her, only by a year or two though. No more than that.

And he was kind of cute. He had very pretty eyes, that was what she noticed first. A pretty blue color rather than her own dry-dirt brown.

"I'm fine, just a little chilly but it doesn't really bother me, and it will be warmer on the train I'm sure." She said with a bright smile at him. "Thank you for the offer though. It is very kind." There was something about this boy that seemed familliar, though she knew she had never ever met him before.

Kieran smiled at her, a charming disarming smile. Simply because he couldn't use her like other vampires did, didn't mean that he couldn't be nice with her and flirt a bit. There was not harm in that, really there was none and besides he could make sure that she got home safe.

His blue eyes kept on her and turned a turquoise color at the mention the she didn't need the jacket. "No no I insist I really don't need the jacket. I don't feel the cold at all, besides this temperature is too nice for a jacket." Usually if a woman put on a jacket that a man offered her, she would feel the warmth that had been his in the jacket. Kieran knew that there was no warmth from him on that jacket, but didn't care in the least.

"Please take it, I would feel better if a lady such as yourself would wear the jacket to keep you warm." He was a true gentleman.

"Are you sure? I wouldn't want you to be cold because I didn't bother to prepair for being out this late." But she frowned puzzled as he said he didn't feel the cold at all. Everyone felt cold... Well everyone she knew but Kaisa...

But the boy couldn't possibly be a vampire, could he?

But Miriam's thoughts were distracted as a blush crept up on her face. She took the jacket with a sheepish smile, not knowing what to say but- "Well, if it makes you feel better, I guess I can borrow it." She said shyly.

Slipping it on, Miriam noticed that the lining really wasn't warm, as if he had just put it on himself. But... the smell of the leather distracted her, as well as the scent of the young man. But she did feel warmer, and her slight shivering had stopped.

"What train are you waiting for? Mine's the next one, so if you're waiting for another one I'll have to give it back in a few minutes." She said, her face feeling rather warm.

Kieran continued to smile, noticing her blush but making no note about it. He let her put the coat on and stuffed his hands in his pockets. He looked at her his eyes returning to the natural blue they were. He didn't know what to say next, but he knew that his mind would come up with something.

Kieran smiled widen. "Sweetie, every train that stops next to this platform, goes in the same direction, so if I'm standing here, I'm definitely taking the next train that comes in." It was true. A subway the came next to particular platform always went to the same destination. All subways did that, they followed the same route repeatedly over and over again. It was an easy way to get around. "The train that will come five minutes after the one we are both waiting for, will be going to the same place that we are, so really I'm waiting for the next one and now I have company."

Miriam's face became scarlett as he spoke. Not only because of the endearment, but because of what he pointed out as well. "Oh... Right. I guess that is true." She said as she looked away in a poor attempt to cover her blush.

Not only was Miriam ignorant about the subway, but also of boys, men. And of course how to flirt and act around them. If she had been in Romania still, she probably would have been married with a child maybe, but Kaisa had never rushe dher as her parents had.

The only ones she had delt with were her family, brothers and father. And then a few others her age in the village, but of course she had been much younger in the village and hadn't thought nearly the same way as she did about them now.

"Company, is always good." She agreed with a soft nod, her curls bouncing slightly.

"Um... I'm Miriam by the way." She spoke with a sheepish smile.

Kieran smiled, trying hard to keep the amusement away from his face, he didn't want to hurt the young girl's feelings, besides who knew how old her vampire friend could be. It was a dangerous game that he could be playing. He would simply have to be careful, very careful.

"Are you alright?" His voice feigned concern, he didn't want to distress her, yet he didn't know if blushing could be seen as distressing someone. It was only by asking that he would truly know.

"Miriam? That's a beautiful name. I'm Kieran, a name from the out most reaches of the British Isles." His voices had returned to the Scottish brogue of his ancestors and the way he had use to speak when he had been a mortal. "Perhaps not the out most reaches, but close enough." He bowed his head to her. "It's a pleasure to meet you, beautiful Miriam."

Hurt her feelings?

"Huh? Oh... I... It's nothing really." She said with a little smile. "I just don't talk to people too much... That's all." Especialy not men, or boys, or well... Anyone really. Miriam was a slow to warm-up person. Very shy and timmid at first, but once she knows you is much different.

But right now she was in the shy and timmid stage.

"Kieran... That is a rather unusual name." She said with a smile. listening as he explained.

But as he called her beautiful she- She didn't know what to say, how to respond. No one had ever called her beautiful before, well except for her parents. But he wasn't her father, or even her brother. He was a young man, she was a young woman... And Miriam bit her lip slightly, not sure how to respond. Was he simply playing her a fool? Was he honest in his words, or simply trying to get something?

"It's nice to meet you too..." She murmured with the blush still on her face.

Kieran never stopped smiling, he was a very charismatic, naturally happy vampire, which perhaps was odd. Not many vampires were naturally happy. Despite the time and way of his turning, he was a happy vampire and loved his way of life. Besides he got to see a lot of pretty girls, from different eras and time periods. He had to admit that woman were a lot better in this time period, he liked woman with a little independence.

"Kieran is a name from my country, Scotland. My parents were fervently loyal to Scotland, do they gave me one of the most Scottish names they could think about. I quite like it, because it is unusual." His eyes watched her, she was still blushing, perhaps he should stop making her feel like the center of attention she seemed a little shy. "So tell me where are you from Miriam?"

She listened to Kieran as he spoke, almost afraid to look up at him. Well, not afraid, just nervous.

But her brown eyes flicked up as she heard his question. "I.... I'm from Romania. I thought most would be able to tell from the accent." She said with a smile up at him, just a small one, nothing too bright, mostly nervous.

"Came here with a friend of mine... She wanted to come back here after visiting and... And well, I came with her. I'm just... Just heading home now... She's probably worried about me. She doesn't like me out after dark, it's kind of dangerous around here. Well for a girl my size I guess..." She gave a little shrug as she trailed off, not really sure what else to say.

Kieran's eyes lit up. "Romania? I've never been there what is it like? Are the people there friendly, what is there to see there?" That was Kieran the one that wanted to know everything about different places. He hadn't quite been the eastern Europe, though he had seen pictures of the places and some buildings did look grand and were beautiful.

Kieran frowned. "Dangerous how so?" He knew the nights were dangerous, yet if you were with a vampire no matter how young they were, they belonged to the vampire. It perhaps was like property and most mortals would balk at the idea, yet vampires were territorial. To them it made sense. Some vampires did refuse to go by that and often caused problems, but it was rare.

"Small... Quiet... It is nothing special really. I just lived in a small village that has much of my family and three other families. We didn't do much with the bigger cities..." Miriam said with a shrug, doubting that the boy was actualy interested in her village. After all, not many were interested in a small backwards life these days

Dangerous. Yes, that had been what she said. But how? Well, she couldn't say vampires would get her could she? No, he would think she was crazy. So Miriam gave another shrug.

"The crime rate... It's just a lot higher here... Nothing ever happened in my village where one would hurt another... It just... Didn't happen." And that for the most part was true. They relied on everyone in the village for something, so to start a quarl with one person would mean you had no clothing, you had no meats.

They had occasionaly gone into cities of course, but they all prefered the simple way of living, trading goods and services that sort of thing. It made life easier in her mind. Trading one's time for money, then money for goods... It was all just too overbearing.

"Even though I have been hear for two years, it is hard adjusting to so different a place." Miriam gave another shrug.

Kieran nodded. Compared to any village, the crime rate in every city was always very high. He doubted that was it though, his empathy told him differently, but if she didn't want to talk about it, he wouldn't push her. It was her decision, he wasn't about to push her.

He looked at her. "You aren't telling the truth, but..." He lifted his hands in a movement of defense. "But I won't push you. What you tell me and what you don't tell me is up to you. Besides you don't know me all that well, so I really shouldn't blame you." He shrugged his shoulders, it truly didn't matter to him.

A soft smile played on his lips. "It makes me think a bit of where I was born, it was in a small village as well, but we didn't stay there very long. My parents moved to the city, it was more practical." It was a lie, but his parents for the last few centuries had been his sire and grandsire. They were like his parents though.

"I'm not telling the truth?" She said, blinking curiously. "What do you mean? It's easy to get lost in a city, and there is much more crime here than in my own village." Miriam wasn't accusing him of anything at all. It was just curious that he thought she was lying. Lying? Maybe be... But if she said she was worried about the vampires he'd just laugh and call her superstitious wouldn't he?

Ah, what the hell, it would be fun to tease about really, her being from Romania and all.

"But you know, in my country there are tales of creatures that come out at night. They come to prey on the ones foolish enough to wander out after dark." She said with a chuckle, knowing that the tales were right. "Vampire stories are very popular in Romania you know." She smiled. "Perhaps it's just a bit of my old superstitions coming back from when I was a little girl and my parents threatened to offer me to the vampires as a sacrifice if I didn't behave." She laughed fully now as that was exactly what her parents had done when she and her siblings were little.

"Silly isn't it?"

Kieran let a small smile grace his lips. That was a little more like it because it was the truth and he could tell that she was trying to pass it off as a joke, but besides for the small smile he didn't join in the joke. How could he, when he was a vampire?

He shook his head, his smile gone. "I don't think it's foolish, I think they exist. We simply refuse to believe in them or we refuse to see them the way we should. They might be true, they might actually exist, but what do I know. I'm just a kid." Well he wasn't actually a kid, he simply looked like one.

Miriam smiled as he insisted that he believed her and didn't laugh outright at her. That was always a plus. But... It was something that for some reason unsettled her.

"You're just being sweet aren't you Kieran. It's okay to make fun of superstitions like that one! I mean if vampires were really out there they'd find it hard to hide in today's society when everything is kept track of so meticulously. and all." She pointed out truthfully. And for some, it was hard. Others, well they had an easier time going about it.

"But anyway, enough talk about vampires or I'm gonna have nightmares tonight." She said with a roll of her eyes.

"And I'm only a kid too really. Well, at least in terms of being able to be out on my own. There's still a whole lot I don't know or even know of." She shrugged. "I'm hoping Kaisa will be able to help me out to go to the University in the city or something, just so I can get a better education and all."

Kieran was always sweet, it was well known to people who knew him that he did everything to be sweet and charismatic. He flirted with women it was a way for him to get his daily nourishment and people never thought that it was him.

School was important and he recognized that, especially in today's society, it was important for a good job. He, in particular didn't need it, he had everything he needed. He had millions of dollars and a place to stay, with all the knowledge he accumulated over the years. "Well I hope you get in University."

"Me to... I mean I would just need to take a few tests to show them that I know everything I need to. Because I don't have any sort of transcript or anything and even if I did they'd probably just laugh at it." She said as she leaned against the concrete pillar and yawned.

It was getting really late and she wasn't actually used to being up this late. There wasn't much to do at night in her little town unless there were festivals or celebrations going on, so she always went to bed rather early. Eleven as it was now... Most her age were always up that late, but she was about ready to fall asleep.

It was only the loud noises of an approaching train that woke her up fully.

"Ah, about time!" She mumbled as she waited for the train to come to a halt.

Kieran shrugged. "I'm sure that you will do just fine and you'll get in the University, all you really need is the money to pay for it. I hear it's expensive." He knew that it was expensive, but again he was only suppose to be a 15 year old boy, he was suppose to be in high school, but he was sure that he could outdo anybody his age. Besides his survival skills were beyond anything that anybody his age would have.

"You look tired, maybe you should get some sleep. Are you heading home, right now?" He was worried for her and didn't want anything to happen to her. "I could walk you home if you like. I don't mind." He could also keep the vampire away from her.

"Yeah... And that's just another thing... I mean Kaisa has money, but I don't want to end up just working for her for an eternity to pay off my debt for school. I like sewing and embroidery and all. But What I really want to do... Well I want to act and dance." She said blushing slightly as she stepped on to the train.

"I just always loved being in front of an audience and all." Giving a slight shrug Miriam slipped into the closest seat.

"But yeah, I'm heading home." She nodded with a smile. "Oh, but you don't need to do that. I'll be okay I'm sure. Our home isn't too far from the subway station. only two blocks or so." She assured him. "I wouldn't want to be a bother really... And Kaisa doesn't really like visitors at night. She's very strict about that some nights and I'll already be on her bad list for coming home so late too. But thanks for the offer Kieran." But even if she were to get in trouble, what could a boy like him do?

She wasn't one to want to underestimate people, but realistically he wouldn't ward anyone away from her... And she doubted that he would be able to protect her.

"It's okay though, really. Thanks for your concern." She smiled as she leaned against the window with a slight sigh.

Kieran shrugged. "You could probably get a part time job, I mean it would help and you won't have to do that much to pay off what you owe her. That way you can somewhat fend for yourself." He fended for himself, ever since he had come to Demaitre. His sire and grandsire had stayed in Europe, but he had wanted to explore, which was why he was here.

"You are not a bother, not it the least. I don't mind walking you home, I have nothing to do in the summer. Besides I would enjoy to continue our conversation for a little bit longer." He glanced at her and made puppy dog eyes. "Pretty please, let me walk you home?"

"Like I said... Kaisa's not the most... Sociable person... I mean... If you don't mind a bit of a grump sometimes... She's a bit of a night owl really. Has been since I've known her. She'll be wide awake and waiting for me to come home.... Then I'll get a nice long lecture about staying out too late past dark and how I'm gonna get snatche dup on the streets and killed because I'm a weak and pathetic little child."

Miriam sighed and rolled her eyes. "I swear. She sounds like my grandmother sometimes. She believes in vampires and all that too. Keep saying she's gonna find my shrivled body one night after a vampire kidnaps me and sucks me dry." She gave a sort of hollow chuckle as if that very thing was haunting her mind right now.

"But uh... She'll do that even if you're there. She won't care. So... Thanks for the offer, but yeah... it'll just get me in to even more trouble..." She ended up muttering in the end as she rested her head against the glass, shutting her eyes.

Kieran raised an eyebrow. "I'm not going to go inside, i'm only going to walk you to the sidewalk in front of her house and then I'll leave. I won't even talk to Kaisa, i won't even got to the door. Once I see that you are safe inside the house, I'll leave. It's not safe for a woman to be walking alone at night." He only wanted her to be safe.

Kaisa seemed to be a true pain in the ass. If Miriam didn't depend on her, Kieran would have a talking with her. "Let me at least do that. I simply want to see you safely home is that so bad?"

Miriam sighed in defeat. "Sure, whatever. But it's not my fault if Kaisa tears your throat out alright? And I do mean that literally." She said with a serious face. "She's not the kind of woman you want to cross...Things can get rather bloody if you do."

Safe. Was anyone ever really safe? With vampires everywhere... No person was ever really safe, only the ones who were the closest of companions to vampires and shared a special bond. Miriam was precious to Kaisa, but they did not have any sort of a bond where Kaisa would know if she was in trouble.

"So. Why do you insist on walking me home. I mean, it has to be more than just simple worry and courtesy. I'm not going to be attacked by anyone on the few blocks home. It's never happened before."

Kieran shrugged his shoulders. "Makes me think of my grandmother. She was the same. Not the kind of woman you wanted to cross." He smiled fondly. "She liked me though, seemed to have a kind of fondness for me." He smiled at Miriam, his eyes twinkling. "You worry too much, I can take care of myself."

He shrugged again. "I was instilled with a sense of respect for all women and besides a woman alone at night is never good. Who knows who could attack you? Wouldn't Kaisa be more unhappy if you didn't come home at all?" He raised an eyebrow in her direction. "You should be thankful that I am offering to walk you home." Why did mortals question when good things happened to them?

With a soft laugh she switched her pillow from being the window to Kieran's shoulder. She didn't know why really, she just felt comfortable with him as if he was an old friend.

"Well then, if you want to see me home safely, your first job is to wake me up at the stop. It's the next to last stop so we have a while and I can fall asleep in the blink of an eye." Miriam chuckled as she closed her eyes, leaning against him lightly.

Kaisa would be happier to see her home than not, but if she didn't come home, Miriam wouldn't have to face her wrath. But really... What was the best she could do? Yell at her, scold her and be dissapointed in her. But that kind of thing hurt Miriam more than being beaten or smacked.

It was just the kind of girl she was.

Kieran looked at her surprised. He hadn't quite seen that coming, but he accepted it. She obviously trusted him and she was lucky that he wasn't the vampire that pretended to be charming, he actually was and would watch for her safety.

He looked at her head lying on his shoulder. "Sure, I'll try to remember that, but it will be hard, especially with a beautiful, dazzling woman sleeping on my shoulder. I will try with all my heart though to make sure that you get home on time, I don't want you to get in trouble." It was at a time like this that he wished that he had a blanket to at least cover her.

"You're a shameless flatterer Kieran." She chidded teasingly as she closed her eyes, shifting her head to get a comfortable position on his shoulder as she hunkered down in his warm jacket. As her head shifted slightly her head slightly her hair fell from her neck. towards the back of her neck was a black tattoo of a slightly decorative cross, and at each of the four points of the cross was a distinctive fang mark. Kaisa's mark.

But being half out of it already Miriam wasn't even awar that it was showing, as she usually hid it. it was the only time Kaisa had been rough with her, ever hurt her while feeding. She said that she had to, and that she couldn't heal it. It had been when she was very young... When she was a child Kaisa had marked her as special.

She had always said that the mark would protect her, would keep her safe from those who would hurt her. And so far she was right really.

A quiet murmur came from the bushy haired young woman as the train jolted slightly and she shifted her head again slightly , the mark still visible, the black ink standing out on her slightly tanned skin.