Music. Its notes ran through the veins like blood. Its power could fill you, transform you.

Outside on the cold steps of the theater doors sat a young women, or so she appeared to be. She seemed...odd, almost as if she didn't belong here. Long red hair, streaked with black, hung wildly about her face, though wearing the proper attire she seemed almost as if she belonged at the club, and not at an opera house.

Which was entirely true. Cassiel didn't belong at a theater, or so most would think, as she usually spent her time frequenting local clubs. It really doesn't take a genious to tell the difference between a showtune or classical compsistion and the heavy pounding bass and scream of the electrical guitar. What was more appealing to her was finding the similarities. Through her long life, this is what she found to be one of the most thrilling, music. Watching it warp and change, forming along with the rythyms of the human race. It had been there before her, as a part of her and her culture as a human, and would probably remain long after, or at least along side.

The wind whipped at her face, carelessly tossing her red and black strands, as she watched the theater goers file out of the theater, chattering excitedly about the show. She scanned them, not really sensing anything unusal, not that it mattered much anyway...

The concert had soothed her senses. It had been a long time since she had last been in one place with so many others. The laughter and happiness of those who surrounded seemed not faze her, as she kept slowly walking towards the exit. Her dark eyes were kept to the front, and her face was kept neutral.

However, the inside of her mind was not quite so unexciting. Whispers danced upon her ears, whispers on she could hear. Happy emotions, dark desires and intimate suggestions left her rubbing her the bottom of her arm, more in comfort than because she was chilled. Granted, her white evening gown did not cover her arms, but she held her fur coat over her right arm, which was currently rubbing the left. Annoying habit. She stopped immediately.

Slinging her coat over her shoulders, Nafretiri sighed. All the thoughts were filling her mind, leaving no room for her own. The sooner she got out of this dreadful crowd, the better. There was a reason she didn't do this often. That and the fact that she was considered extremely petite when compared with others.

It was cold outside, as Nafretiri noted when she walked out the doors to the Last Curtain. She stopped suddenly, no warning to the people behind her, earning her a few rude remarks. Someone was scanning the crowd. Slowly, almost lazily, she turned her cold eyes towards the woman on the step.

Dressed in an elegant drak red gown Alysandra made her way to the theatre almost as if she were floating through the crowd. As she neared, she sensed two others like her near.

She had an apointment with the director to audition for the next show. As she got closer she noticed the two vampires. A woman on the step of the theatre, and the other, a woman in a white dress. Catching their eyes with hers she nodded a hello to both of them.

She stood on the stairs directly across the crowd from the woman scanning the crowd, and waited for the humans to leave so she could go in and work her magic.

For an example of the dress, click here

Now there were two of them! How very odd. It seemed that more of her kind liked this particular theatre than she had previously thought. It wasn't often she was wrong.

The feelings and thoughts coming from the second one weren't offensive, noted Nafretiri. She most obviously wasn't here to hunt. This was good. In a crowded place like this, one could be found far too easily while feeding. The woman nodded hello to her, and Nafretiri replied with a curt nod of her own.

This was completely unexpected. Nafretiri often kept to herself, watching instead of partaking. Meeting two vampires here tonight, and in such odd circumstances, was highly unexpected. Especially the second one. It seemed almost as if she were trying to be human. It was an impossible dream. In her long life, that was the lesson that had been most difficult to accept at first.

Walking directly through the crowd, she walked up to the woman in red. Pushing the black curls she wore tonight, she leaned in to whisper in the woman's ear. "It does not do well to wish to be one of them. 'Tis not worth the heartache in the end. We are different, and always shall be." Nafretiri pulled back to look into the womans eyes with her own seemingly obsidian ones. "Never get too close."

Alysandra smiled at this newcomer. "I know that. I marvel at how infirior they are going about their lives claiming to be dominant species. They have no idea how wrong they are. I"m just here because I love the theatre, especially the acting part. Though I never discovered it until after I was changed. I"m here for an audition." She smiled gently at the girl. "By the way, I like your coat. What fur is it? Rabbit or Mink?

Nafretiri was caught slightly off-guard at the woman's question, though her face showed nothing. "'Tis mink. I bought it many years ago." Her brows furrowed slightly. This vampire thought what many of their kind thought.

"They are not the dominant species, no, but they possess abilities we do not, like the power to walk in sunlight. I do not think it wise to think of them as insignificant, as you seem to have described before. Thoughts like that, they can lead to somewhat... impulsive actions." Her gaze narrowed. "I sincerely hope that is not the case with you."

She turned away. "I am glad you have found something that pleases you. You are young yet, and intermingling with humans is normal. For one such as I, however, their company holds very little pleasure." She paused, as if remembering something. "Do not let your secret out willingly. It can have grave consequences."

Alysandra took the vampire's words to heart. What little one she had these days. "I do believe that they are insignificant, but i have learnt not to act impulsively as you have said. I may look young, but i"m older than you think."

The crowd at last dispersed but she put off going in until she heard this vampire's reaction to her statement.

Nafretiri turned and gave the woman a ghost of a smile. "I too, am older than you seem to believe. I have seen much in my long lifetime. I was once as you are now, and though it did not last long due to certain... circumstances, it proved to be a hard lesson to learn in the end. Much harder than you seem to think. Perhaps you did not have a Sire like mine, or perhaps you have not had to deal with such things, but at your age, I had not yet learned half the lessons I needed to." Her dark eyes sparkled with supressed sadness. "I hope the test of time is not so hard upon you."

Noticing that the crowd had dissapated, she said to the woman, "Go. Do what makes you happy, but heed my words. I do not give them lightly."

"My sire," She gave a sad chuckle. "My sire didn't tell me what I was to become. He didn't help to feed my after I changed. I learnt many things on my own." SHe looked at the doors to the theatre then back at the vampire. "I'm Alysandra by the way. And if you don't mind me asking, how long ago was it that you were changed?"

Her eyes grew distant, lost in rememberance. "I was created over three thousand years ago. Life was so different back then. Back then, I was proud to..." She trailed off, not wanting to give away one of her most carefully guarded secrets. Her eyes turned to Alysandra. "We are kindred spirits. I was created against my will by someone... someone I thought I loved. Perhaps in your case, neglect was better. As for myself, I have never quite forgotten him."

"As for myself, I am called Nafretiri Afrikaisi. It is not my true name, for I have long since forgotten it. You are one of the few to learn it in this city." She nodded her head slowly, as a sign of respect.

"I appriciate that then." She smiled at the girl. "I don't think one can ever forget their sire. " Looking up at the door again, she sees the director standing there. "I should probably go. But it would be nice to meet up with you again." She smiles politely, and turns to leave.

"No," murmured Nafretiri, "but I sorely wish to." She looked up. "Good luck with the audition. Do not forget what I have said." She raised one hand in silent salutation, and disappears down the steps.