"Jack! I can do this! You know I can handle it, haven't I proven that the last two months!?" She exclaimed. "I'm more mature than those other women out there even if I'-"

"Look Cassie, darling... This isn't the place for you! You're a kid still girl, I can't let you work here, for my protection as well as yours baby. You know that I'm sure." He was trying to reason with her but Adri, or rather Cassie as she'd become here, wouldn't take it.

"Jack... Please, I need this job, I have to have it!" She said almost frantically.

And he sighed, hating to see tears on the faces of one of his girls. And she was just that, one of his girls. He hadn't liked the idea of hiring her at first because she looked so young, but she'd grown on him, which was why he had to let her go. But she seemed so desperate now...

"Okay... Fine. Take... Take the week off and I'll talk to the other girls and see what they think we should do. You've become a good dancer and I don't want to lose a member of my family, but laws are laws baby."

"I know..." She sighed, accepting his agreement with a nod. "Fine. I'll see you next week. Call me will you?" She asked as she walked of, kicking at the pavement.

Over the past two months she'd changed a lot. Her hair was longer now, extensions, and she was thinner, without drugs really. And well... Now she only smoked when she was stressed. Like now.

Pulling out a cigarette she lit it quickly and enjoyed. She knew it wasn't good, but it helped. And besides... She'd probably die before lung cancer could get her anyway. And she was already fated to miss out on the whole 'life' thing. After all, she didn't trust men, she knew that love wasn't real...

She'd finally been able to break her brother's hold on her, it was actually amazing what a good shot to the nuts would do to a guy short term and long term. Working at the club had been good from her, and even though she was barely sixteen and a half, looking at her made you think of a woman rather than a child. She'd grown up of course. She'd had to for this job, and Bella had been a great teacher.

But why couldn't everyone else see that she wasn't just a kid anymore. She could handle whatever they threw at her. She could...

“Get the hell outta here; this is my territory. My girl; you think you can just come here and put your hands all over her and I don’t have anything to say about it? Is that what you think? Huh?” The man’s voice was growing increasingly unstable and it’s high pitch cracked again and again, much to Christian’s dismay as well as the dismay of his sensitive and decidedly inhuman hearing.

For his part; Chris tried very hard not to frown and did his best impersonation of a statue. All in all it was a rather successful imitation. A body like carved obsidian; was completely immobile, nothing, not even the slow rise and fall of the chest that would mark breathing. Dark eyes; mahogany in normal light, were dyed the color of the night sky overhead by the shadows clinging strategically to the ally. And those same eyes were unblinking as their gaze devoured the stumbling, mumbling, mess of a man that had just moments ago been shouting and caterwauling.

Those eyes took the man in as if they might devour him and yet Christian for his part wasn’t particularly hungry. No, instead he was more than a bit confused. What had happened? And why was this man so very angry with him?

All he’d done was…

The man rushed him and Christian’s response was instant fluidity. He step back and to the side; this in turn left the man to stagger forward into his half leap-half fall, where he tripped rather easily across Chris’s booted foot. A moment later the man had landed face first on the slick concrete underfoot and he was now flopped rather undignifiedly in a rather swollen black trash bag. It oozed a foul smelling water as the man’s weight shifted more fully onto it as he uselessly scampered to his feet.

Chris stepped back again.

“You bastard, thought that crap was funny huh?”

The man shouted and he was close enough that Christian could smell the cloying reek of booze as it blended with the stench of day old trash and slim that now coated the front of the drunk man’s chest. The foul smell was almost enough to made the dark skinned vampire retch. But instead he simply took another step backward as the man rushed him again. This time his had disappeared into his coat and it appeared a moment later with a knife.

Chris would have rather liked to avoid hurting the man, but the weapon made that wish falter. At least Christian wouldn’t hurt him too bad. Reaching forward, he grasped the man’s wrist. He gave a quick tug and gave an even quicker turn. The hand cracked easily, the knife dropped and then Chris pulled the man close where he delivered a quick headbutt that left the man’s lights clicked off.

Running fingers through the suddenly tussled length of his dreads; Christian sighed even as he leaned the man against the nearest wall to sleep off the less than kind blow he’d received.

“You beat him…” The woman’s voice was soft. It was awed and it made Christian sigh again.

The woman was lovely; well lovely in that way that women that have had multiple surgeries to look lovely, can, but there was something empty about her eyes. Something lost and broken and damaged, something that needed healing and kind words, something that had made Christian decide to take her up on her offer of companionship.

Of course they had both meant it very differently and then the man had showed up; pointing and waving, staking claims. All in all Christian would have had to say that he didn’t seem like a very good boyfriend, especially for a woman that had to sell her body as a means of making her way in the world. It seemed cruel to pair her with a jealous drunk that didn’t care where her money came from as so long as he could spend it. A drunk that had just so happened run across them walking together as they passed a corner liquor store.

All in all it sounded like something out of a bad movie script and yet here he was. And here she was; the girl already kneeling beside her downed lover. Chris could smell her concern and that made him sigh again.

Moving toward her; he paused only to reach into his pocket. He drew out several hundred dollar bills and pressed them into neon nail polished hands and his voice was soft and soothing as he worked with the vampiric gift most readily at his command.

“Please, mi darlin’ think bout what ya doin’. Dis man, he don’t luv ya and ya deserve better.”

The words had slipped deep into the woman’s mind; along with a feeling of clearity. There was no guarantee that the woman would take his advice; but Christian at least had to try. Then he left the ally behind and slipped into the streets proper. For all the world he could have been a shadow, the darkness come to sharp and vibrantly; muscular and not so unattractive in the tank top and jeans he wore, dreadlocks flowing down his back in a river of darkness.

But then he turned a corner and he suddenly was no longer a shadow, but a man. Just a man, a man that had bumped into a young woman, and perhaps nearly knocked her off her feet.

“Ahm, so sorry.” He exclaimed; his chreole accent injecting a touch of French flavor into the words. “Please forgive mi mon’ chere.”

Looking about, he then offered a hand.

She had to admit that she hadn't been paying too much attention just as he was. But she was in a bit of a different situation. When he bumped into her, the cigarette flew from her hand and as a natural reaction, she reached out to grab it.

Adri pulled her hand away with a yelp as the cigarette burned into her skin slightly. She let out a string of curses.

"That was my last one too..." She muttered.

She looked up though as she heard a voice apologize. It was an accent that she'd never heard before, but it was musical... Soothing almost. "Um... It's okay... Don't worry about it." She said, shaking her hand slightly.

After all, the pain took her mind off of the fact that she could be fired any day now. Her only hope of freedom out the window...

And well... Looking at the man took her mind off of the pain. He was handsome, something like she had never seen before. His skin... his hair and eyes... They seemed to all fit perfectly together. Like... Like a perfect match or something. Not many people were like that. She always thought her skin was too pale, her nose too big...

"I mean it's okay, really, just an accident." She said with a slight smile. For just a little accident that she should be moving on from she wasn't really moving. And his eyes... There were something about them that... That just made her want to keep staring. And she did. Realizing it a little while later and looking away. Should she apologize?

Christian Lafayette was a creature of darkness. Not just a child of the night, a drinker of blood, but he was a creature of the dark. Dark hair, dark eyes, dark skin, all of these things came together to form him. Perhaps he should have looked a bit monotone and a bit monotonous and yet Chris had never had that problem. If anything he drew perhaps too much attention sometimes. He was after all handsome in a round about way; his body was well forged from the near ceaseless manual labor of his youth and even so Chris still liked to take care of his body, still took pride in it.

Perhaps because once upon a time it had been all he’d had, all that he could lay claim to. Well perhaps not all. Once he’d also had his soul; though now he was never quite so sure, that was still his to claim.

No, he was never sure. And yet he never once missed a chance to pray that it was so. Indeed Chris’s whole life now had somehow come into a duality of penance and living as he believed his creator would have him.

Of course he was not always successful and yet it was long patience that had become his best of virtues.

Another soft apology slipping from his lips, this one less words and more a mutter; Christian then reached out hand still dutifully extended.

“I’m sorry bout ya’r cigarette.” He apologized again, his keen eyes having caught the burning beacon and recognized it even before the woman had spoken.

Though the fact that he’d ruined her last one suddenly became apparent with the woman’s muttering. And that only made him feel worst for his carelessness. Plus it was bit embarrassing, some vampire he was, tripping over girls on the sidewalk. Could things get worst, especially with the ally still fresh in his mind.

Chris knew he was so useless sometimes. Indeed sometimes he only managed to make things worst…

The young woman spoke then and Christian smiled brightly in response. The whiteness of his teeth seemed suddenly accentuated by the hue of his skin; a striking contrast, and yet it was a good smile, a kind smile, a friendly and open sort of expression , on that only seemed to promise more of the same.

“Naw, it’s not okay.” Chris said then, his accent playing musical game with his tone. “Uhm, just let mi make-it up ta ya? Please.”

That said Christian reached into his pocket and well he paused then. Sure he could just offer this woman money and go about his way. But then this; well all things considered this was a rather rough neighborhood. Case in point; a vampire getting attacked by a drunk and no one noticing. But then again if Chris was really honest with himself; well he was also still a bit lonely.

What did it say about him that he was willing to pay ladies of the evening a wage simple to share time with him? Ah, well it no doubt said a great many things, but then again companionship did not come to him or truly any other immortal through normal means. And even when it did, always was it built on a lie, and those never ended well. One way or another.

So it was with that, that Christian considered his offer. And yet even as he did, he realized the young woman was staring at him. For just a moment Christian worried that perhaps his fangs weren’t retracted. Or maybe he’d hurt her more than he thought. Was she unable to walk? Then she hurriedly turned away; and that widened Chris’s smile despite himself.

It was something to smile about after all. It always was when the more conventional answer is the correct one. Plus it wasn’t a bad thing when a woman found you not so unpleasant to look at. At least in Chris’s experience. Well at least except for one woman; she whose blood he still carried even now.

Still smiling, he spoke.

“I really am sorry bout all of dat, but would ya wanna stop by da nearest store? I’ll buy ya a new pack. Plus it’ll give mi da time I need ta really apologize fa runnin’ ladies over in da street. Isn’t da bet way ta make an impression I guess.”

His voice was so light and smooth to her ears, despite the accent he carried. And still she couldn't identify it. But as he stopped talking, she wished he wouldn't have.

"No, it's nothing to worry about. Really, I mean... I'm probably better off without it right?" She asked with a nervous smile. At his full offer of buying a new pack, she was tempted only for a second, but she shook her head stepping closer.

"It's okay really. How about you walk me home instead? I think that would be fair, as long as I took the long way." She said with a smile moving a step closer so she could have reached out and touched him. But she stiffened.

Who was she kidding? She was probably way too young for him. Or at least he would probably think so. He looked so strong... So warm and comforting if his voice was any indication of his temperament, his nature. But she wanted to know about him... Where he came from, what he liked, what he wanted.

With a glance back at the club she gave a sigh, stretching her hand and trying to ignore the pain. It was going to be a long night.

"Oh... I'm Adri." She offered, hoping that this dark, mysterious, gentle man would give her his name in return. "I uh... Was just going home from work, so I could use an escort home. I mean I've never had any problems before, but they say this isn't the best of neighborhoods."

For a long time Christian didn’t know what to make of the young woman before him. He took her in and at first he’d considered that perhaps she was lost. Of course that didn’t seem likely all in all; but then such a thought was no doubt his age peeking through. Chris knew what this city was like, he’d walked its streets long enough, talked to its people; sometimes for the best and sometimes for the worst, but never was he truly naïve. Or at least so he liked to think. Though in reality, Christian knew he was a touch naïve, such a thing is perhaps only expected as one age changes rather quickly after the other in this world of ours. Culture changes and what once was is no longer and what was not is now common place.

Chris laughed then, the little laugh transforming into a slightly wry kinda grin for a moment before once again resuming its casual demeanor.

As the young woman spoke Christian returned her smile; well returned though his own expression had replaced her nervousness with a kind of gentle amusement and concern. All in all it made the dark skinned man look welcoming, which all in all he was. After all he’d gotten his wish for the evening almost by luck or whatever fates may be, indeed it was a blessing. One he had not expected, one that he could not even say he deemed himself worthy of and yet of course his next statement was anything but a surprise.

“A walk home den, after all I wouldn’t wanna be unfair.” His laugh was amused, but again gentle.

She moved toward him then and Chris found himself watching her carefully even as he appeared not to. Then when she was almost close enough to touch it became rather apparent as she stiffened that something had run through her mind. Chris briefly wished he was among those that held the gift to gaze into human thoughts. And yet even if he had been, he knew he couldn’t have invaded another’s privacy so recklessly.

Then another thought occurred to Christian and he reasoned that perhaps he was simply imagining things, or perhaps it was the pain of her hand acting up. After all that was apparent as well, in the way she moved it, or didn’t move it. The young woman had burned her hand on her cigarette and that thought made him feel slightly guilty.

She spoke once again then and this time Christian’s smile was brighter still.

“Christian,” He returned. “Nice to meet you Adri.”

He nodded then, smiling.

“I understand; trust me. I know better dan most, dees streets can be dangerous. Indeed ya never know who is lurking about.”

At least he had managed not to say “what is lurking about” indeed the entire city was more dangerous than most knew. While Christian wasn’t in the habit of preying on unsuspecting mortals (he preferred most of his blood seduction usual) that didn’t mean that all were of the same mind set when it came to mortals and indeed there were those that were kind and those that were cruel. Indeed Christian wasn’t always sure to which camp he belonged; but then he always tried to be kind, both to those he knew and those he didn’t. Indeed he had long ago taken to heart the thought of treating his brothers and sisters in this world as he himself wanted to be treated. Had he not be lonely, he still would have escorted Adri if only because of what had already happened to him in this same neighborhood. But his wish for companionship was there as well and he smiled even as he nodded.

“Lead the way Adri.”

"Christian." She said, just testing the name out. He seemed more like a Chris, but if he preferred Christian, then Christian it was.

She smiled though as he agreed with her about not knowing what the night could bring. But well, sometimes it brought good things.

Adri began to walk though as he said to lead the way and she had to fight the urge to reach out and grab his hand. Granted in a playful manner as if to keep him with her. But she wanted to talk to him, or more accurately listen to him talk.

"I don't mean to pry or seem rude or anything Christian... But where are you from? I've never heard such a... Well beautiful voice." She didn't really have a problem approaching guys, but something told her he wasn't like most guys. You know, the ones who think with their lower heads? "I couldn't even begin to guess where it's from." She admitted sheepishly.

But she really wanted to find out more about him. There was something about him that made her want to just reach out and see if he was real, if he wasn't just some figment of her stressed mind.

"And well... There's just something about you that I've never seen in a guy before. Granted I haven't had a sampling of any decent guys but hey, there's a first time for everything right?" She grinned nervously.

Christian’s smile widened slightly at the sound of his name. It was strange no doubt about it, he knew. But what could he say; there was just something about pretty girls saying his name that always brought a smile to his face. Even a pretty girl that he found so very young; but then again he found most pretty girls to be oh so very young, this it seemed was the price of immortality.

He smiled again then, his white teeth a stark contrast once again against the dark of his skin. And as soon as they began walking, he commented lightly, amusement in his voice.

“Chris is fine too, cheriè.” He assured her. “As for pryin’ or bein’ rude, parish da thought cher. Askin’ questions is how ya get answers. Plus dat part bout ma voice bein’ beautiful will get mi every time.”

Another smile and his dark eyes looked considering, his expression almost thoughtful. And indeed it was. Chris wondered exactly how much of himself to share with a complete stranger. Yet even if she was a stranger, Chris was always careful about the things he said and did. Both so that his stories never clashed, but also because he didn’t like lying and so he’d put as much of himself out as was wise.

“Well Adri,” He began, voice going melodic and almost a touch wistful. “I’m from Haiti. I was born der and da accent is more ah less French and Haitian Creole. As for me, ah well I’m a musician. Not professionally, but doin’ da occasional gig. And solike I said a compliment bout de old pipes will always get ya places.”

And there it was, all of it the truth. Perhaps there were emissions, such as the fact that he’d been born in Haiti before the Haitian Rebellion and had once been a slave. Then there was the part about his master’s mistress putting him against his master and indeed forced him to kill the man with his own hands. And his reward, ah well he’d been murdered, more or less damned.

He’d become the walking dead; and he’d snubbed his mother’s warnings to do it all. He’d been a fool during the most important time in his life and so he’d been paying for it ever since. Seeking redemption, both in his eyes, and the eyes of God, the saints, and loa.

Chris shrugged then at Adri’s next words.

“I’m not sure how decent I am cher, but I try ta at least by da grace of God ta be better dan I am.”

It was then that he took her hand, gingerly in his, running calloused fingers against the smoothness of her skin.

“Not sure how different I am, either, cheriè. But I can at da very least walk a lady home. Indeed it would be mai pleasure. And now dat I’ve talked your ear off, how bout returnin’ da favor. Not ta be pushy, but I’d like ta know a little about da pretty lady I’m escortin’ home.”

Chris... That sounded a little better for him anyway. Christian seemed... Almost too formal for him, and even though he would be able to do formal, at the moment, no.

"Haiti? Wow. You're a long way from home." She said with a smile. And obviously it was home if he'd lived there long enough to gain such an accent. He must have traveled a lot, being a musician and all, which would explain why he ended up here.

"But... You're better than the guys I know. I can tell that much." She said certainly. It... it was his eyes really. They weren't hard, cold... They seemed to have some warmth in them even if his hand... His hand was cold as he took hers gently. A shiver ran down her spine, but she didn't know why. She wasn't cold, and she wasn't afraid or have a weird feeling about him...

But she knew he was different because she could see, she could tell that he wouldn't ever hurt her. He wouldn't hurt anyone if he didn't have to. He might have been strong, but he was gentle.

She gave another helpless smile as he called her a lady. That wasn't even remotely accurate. "I'm not a lady Chris. Trust me on that one." She'd done so many wrong things, even if they weren't really her fault... But no one would ever believe her if she told the truth. Besides, a Lady wouldn't work as a stripper.

"Me? Well... There's nothing to tell... I was born here... I've lived here all my life... And I'll die here too." Never mind the fact that she wanted to quit school, or that she was a stripper... Never mind the fact that she let her father and brother walk all over her. None of that mattered. But in a way, she knew she was being selfish. I she told him... he wouldn't be wasting his time with her. But... But she wanted to listen to him just a little longer.

"I'm sure being a musician is more exciting than anything I do." She said, hoping that he would keep talking.

Chris smiled a wry kind of smile then and it was a smile that made his dark eyes light up. It was the kind of smile that was not just amusement but also interest. And surprisingly enough Chris found Adri to be just that, interesting. Everyday he came into contact with more than his share of people; some where kind, some where cruel, some were damaged, and some simply in need of someone to care. Someone to be a friend. And it was that last that Christian spent much of his time at. Of course he wasn’t a social worker; indeed he was more parts priest than anything. And yet perhaps that was drove him; a love for his fellow man. Or at least it had for quite sometime now.

“So ya have da sight then?” He asked with a thoughtful laugh. “I know it might sound a bit silly an’ all but dat is ta say, you’re like ma mother. She had da sight, could always look at a man an’ get his measure right off da bat. She was always a wise woman. It is good ta meet someone else like dat…”

He grinned then. He didn’t know how Adri would take his words, but they had been meant as a compliment. After all Chris’s mother had been both seer and medicine woman. She had been the sole source of respite amongst her fellow slaves, indeed a final bastion of what they had believed in and what they had come to believe in.

“I think ya’re wrong bout dat, cheriè. Der are does dat forget dat they are ladies and deserve ta be treated as such, but dat don’t make dem any less cher.” Christian said; his smile still in place.

He didn’t argue with her, but then again Christian knew she was holding something back. He had no doubt that it was perhaps something about her work. After all this neighborhood was not exactly job friendly especially for a woman so very young and yet as always Chris trusted her to tell him when she felt he needed to know. There were perhaps those that would say he was too trusting and yet Chris would have replied as always. There was no such thing as being too trusting.

He shrugged then.

“Der ain’t nothin’ ya can do dat changes who ya are cher…and only you can let people change how ya look at ya self.”

He gave her hand what he hoped was a comforting squeeze then and Chris listened as she spoke about how “unremarkable” her life was. For just a moment it made him laugh, if only because now he was sure there was more to her than meets the eye.

“It can’t be dat bad cheriè. After all ya gotta have hobbies, right? Thin’s dat ya do well or at least dreams? Course if ya don’t wanna talk bout it, dat’s fine by me. As fa me bein’ excitin’, da grass is always greener on da other side, cher. It’s true what de say.”

He laughed then and it was a rich and husky sound. It had his eyes sparkling with amusement once again; but he looked thoughtful then.

“As for bein’ a musician I…well I’ve always loved music. An’ I guess I got a certain talent for it. At least dat’s what people always tell me.”

He looked thoughtful then.

“How bout I perform for ya sometime?”

"I don't know if I would call it that. But... I guess so." She said with a little shrug. Perhaps seeing the darker part of human nature mixed with the kindest, like in her father, made her realize that only a little of what a person was showed outside. At that thought, a little shiver ran through her again. But she ignored it. It must have been the breeze.

"I've just seen a lot and... Well I've learned to look deeper I guess. People aren't always everything they seem to be. Very few really really are." She said softly.

But she was quiet then, just listening to him talk. His voice was so smooth and rich, something that she wished she could just.... wrap around her to keep her warm and safe. But she knew that was impossible. Adri was a practical girl, a down to earth person who knew that it wasn't likely that she'd ever find true happiness.

"I... Well I like to dance.... But that's about it." Dreams? She'd never allowed herself those. If she did have a dream, it would be to leave her family forever. To get out of this city and never come back. "And... Well... I don't believe in dreams." She said even more quietly. "They're just.... false hopes."

After saying that to him... Letting him hear those dark words from her lips... She couldn't look up at him. The proposition of hearing him perform... Well he probably wouldn't anymore. But she would have loved to hear him sing. Would have loved to hear his voice, that unique accent sing. After all, just hearing him talk made her feel better.

Chris laughed and it was as musical as if he'd just plucked it from the strings of one of his guitars. For a moment the laugh was amused once again, but it fell off or rather it became something else. A different sound, a more thoughtful sound. And he regarded Adri with the same thoughtfulness in those dark eyes of his. His expression was uncertain a moment then, before it once again became a smile.

"I don't think it matters dat much, cher. At least not da source of da skill, just dat it's der. Indeed many go through da bad thin's life has ta offer. But not all of um- come out wiser fa da experience. Indeed ma dear mother use ta always say dat wisdom is as much a gift as any. And no doubt more precious."

Christian listened then; listened to the words that slipped easily between Adri's lips. No, perhaps not easy, but instead they came unfiltered and raw. And for a moment he spotted the regret in her eyes. Regret and disappointment. She hadn't meant to say what she had and fear of the consequences was sharp on the air. Though even without a vampire's keen nose he would have seen it in her eyes, that is before they turned from him and refused to return.

Without thinking, without considering, indeed instinctually. A rare thing from Chris and yet something that almost immediately felt right. Taking the few steps of distance that was between them, even holding hands as they were, Chris released her hand then and wrapped his arms about her in a careful embrace.

The hug was unexpected by both of them and yet Christian was gentle, indeed the young woman could slip from his arms with ease, but he held her in that moment, then and there.

"I cannot imagine da thin's dat you've been through cher ta feel dat way. Ta have such a dark world view at such a very young age. Your pretty young don't ya think ta be worried about false hopes. After all, have faith, their is always hope, little sista. But for what it's worth, I'm sorry cherie. Sorry I brought it up and sorry dat ya feel dat way."

He released her then, pausing only to once again take her hand, in his. Pressing a kiss to that hand, he tried to meet her gaze.

"Please, let me sing for you. I think I've just da song."

Adri stiffened as he hugged her suddenly. It... It was something she just wasn't use to. Something she'd never really gotten before, especially from someone she hadn't ever met before.

Then... Then why did she find herself burying her face into his chest, closing her eyes to stop the tears from falling that she didn't even realize were trying to escape.

And his words weren't helping. She didn't want to hear them... Didn't deserve to hear them at all. It was her own fault she was in this mess... It was her fault she wasn't strong enough to tell anyone about what her father did and actually go through with it. It was her fault she was so weak.

He pulled away all too soon... She didn't want him to go.

But he didn't go, he took her hand and even though he tried to look her in the eye, she avoided his gaze.

"I... I don't know..." She whispered softly. "I... I should go." Her lips were trembling softly. He was trying to give her hope.... Was it wrong to shoot it down? Was it wrong to ignore it? Hope... That was one thing she hadn't had in a while. But she hadn't had faith in even longer. After all, once faith goes, you hang on to hope, a fools hope. Maybe... Maybe if she still had one or the other, he would be an angel to her.

"I'm sorry... But... But I don't deserve anything from someone like you." She said looking up at him.

Christian didn’t reply for a moment. Instead he simple looked at Adri for a moment, his dark eyes held her fast. And yet as deep and as dark as those eyes looked at that moment they hadn’t well and truly changed. No. Still they were filled with kindness and it was not a kindness that wavered for a moment. It was steady and constant, and it stayed there as Chris closed the distance between them once again. Adri still wasn’t looking at him, but that was alright.

Then she spoke and her gaze shifted to catch him. And catch him it did. Taking the small distance that had sprung up between them; Christian was good as caught, his gaze connecting completely with Adri’s.

“If ya don’t know, dat’s fine.” He said carefully. “If ya should go dearest, den I won’t stop you mon cheriè.”

He smiled then.

“But none of dat other, ya hear me! Don’t deserve anythin’ from someone like me?” Chris asked.

“Where did dat bit ah silliness der come from? First off, what is someone like me? Huh. I’m no different from you cher.”

He hugged her again then, arms going gently about her shoulders.

“Secondly, what is dis bout you not deservin’ anythin’. Last I checked cheriè, everybody deserves somethin’. And a song is da least I can giv ya.”

He gave her a wry grin then and a moment later his voice had changed as he once again released her, only holding her hand. And while normally Christian would have liked to play his guitar while he sang, his voice was formidable even.

Truth be told, he had centuries of practice behind it and time makes diamonds even out of coal. A song that was already a diamond, simply gleamed brightly.

The reggae beat was strong and driving at the song’s core and yet emotion filled Christian up and pretty soon he was singing for his audience. Singing for the only audience that he had; Adri.

I remember when we used to sit
In a government yard in Trenchtown,
Oba - obaserving the 'ypocrites - yeah! -
Mingle with the good people we meet, yeah!
Good friends we have, oh, good friends we have lost
Along the way, yeah!
In this great future, you can't forget your past;
So dry your tears, I seh. Yeah!

No, woman, no cry;
No, woman, no cry. Eh, yeah!
A little darlin', don't shed no tears:
No, woman, no cry. Eh!

Said - said - said I remember when we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown, yeah!
And then Georgie would make the fire lights,
I seh, logwood burnin' through the nights, yeah!
Then we would cook cornmeal porridge, say,
Of which I'll share with you, yeah!
My feet is my only carriage
And so I've got to push on through.
Oh, while I'm gone,
Everything's gonna be all right!
Everything's gonna be all right!
Everything's gonna be all right, yeah!
Everything's gonna be all right!
Everything's gonna be all right-a!
Everything's gonna be all right!
Everything's gonna be all right, yeah!
Everything's gonna be all right!

So no, woman, no cry;
No, woman, no cry.
I seh, O little - O little darlin', don't shed no tears;
No, woman, no cry, eh.

No, woman - no, woman - no, woman, no cry;
No, woman, no cry.
One more time I got to say:
O little - little darlin', please don't shed no tears;
No, woman, no cry

He smiled at her then.


“How was it?” He asked.

"Okay, even if I deserve it... I don't want it... I don't want hope or anything that's only going to disappoint me in the end. I'll feel like an idiot Chris." She said simply. She wanted it... She wanted to hope for a better future, a life, happiness.... She wanted all of that but it was unrealistic to think that she would get any of those.

But she couldn't answer as he asked why she didn't deserve anything from him. Why? Because there were people who could actually hold on to his words of hope, people who could use them and do good things with their lives. She couldn't., it just wasn't going to happen. She couldn't see herself doing anything wonderful or smart or brave. She just wasn't that person.

Adri knew that there were people who didn't go anywhere in life... And she'd accepted that she would be one of those people.

And even though she wanted to hear him sing, hear his voice and just listen to him, she knew she shouldn't. She knew it would only hurt her, even if it was in a good way.

But as she listened to his voice, it seemed to touch more than her ears... It made her shiver, even though she wasn't cold anymore. Or was she just trembling? After too long though, she actually listened to the words, and she couldn't stop them. They'd been trying to get out before, coming from no where, and now... Now they wanted out again, and she couldn't hold them back, despite the urgings of the song.

Tears rolled down her face as she listened to him, streaking her pale skin, making the mascara and eyeliner on her face run as well. She wanted to believe it... Wanted to believe that everything would be okay, that someone would be there to pull her through these tough times and be her strength.

But it wasn't going to happen. She couldn't delude herself, or waste time thinking it would...

"Please Chris..." She whispered as he finished. "Just stop okay? The more you try to give me hope... The more I'm gonna believe. And I know that sounds like a good thing, but it's only going to hurt me more in the long run." It hurt her horribly to tell him that. "I know you're only trying to help... I know you're a wonderful person. But I'm not... My world is different." She said reaching up to touch his face. Maybe if he had found her a few years ago... When she had been stronger, when she hadn't just given up and decided it was best just to go along with her father and brother... Maybe her world wouldn't be so different than his now.

Despite his best try Christian just couldn't contian it anymore. He laughed and while it was hardly loud, hardly flowing, it did have this almost musical quality. But more so it was clear and clean, as crisp as a fresh mountain spring in the winter and just as cool. It was a laugh that could have helped or harmed, a laugh that could have been teasing or malicious, just as easily as it could have been indulgent and encouragingly amused. Of course with Adri it was the latter. Strange, Christian had just met her and yet already she felt so very familar to him. But then again perhaps she was familar and almost intimately so. After all had he not been so very deeply without hope? Hadn't he held so very much misery and sorrow in his heart?

Indeed Chris could almost feel it if he concentrated. Perhaps he was not old enough or skilled enough, or perhaps he simply was not blessed with the gift for the mind like some vampires. But then again Chris always had a gift for the heart. That he could read so very easily indeed. It opened up to him, blossomed like a flower and was lovely, even for the threads of darkness, disappointment, and pain that marked it as real and experienced in the ways of the world.

Chirs looked at Adri's heart like this as she spoke. And that had been the reason he'd laughed, the contrast between heart and word was very little and yet Chris knew Adri was wrong. Knew it with his every breath.

She was wrong. Even in the way at which she looked at hope. Hope wasn't an illusion, hope didnt come easy, and yet it also died hard. Hope wasn't a state of mind and it had most assuredly never made anyone seem a fool. Actually quite the opposite, for it is a wiseman that keeps hope in his heart. A wise man that keeps the fire's embers smoldering so that they might be fire when he needed it.

"Your wrong..." He whispered then.

Chris took the distance bettween them. He hugged her again, and this time he held her tight a moment, before slacking the tautness of his body and arms. Then with delicate, oh so delicate fingers, he whisked away her tears and the marks left of her makeup as they'd fallen.

Body against body, he whispered to her then. Christian knew that she'd enjoyed his closeness before and he hoped the same would still hold true now. A part of him found her so terribly young and yet another part of him wanted nothing more than to comfort her. And pehraps it was the combination of both these feelings that led to the words that slipped from his lips.

"You are wrong cher..." He repeated. "You are wrong about da world. For der is but one world. It may wear many masks, but der is but one world an' you'll find dat we, all us share it far better or far worst. You're wrong bout hope too cherie. Perhaps if hope was but a dream you'd be correct. If hope was but a dream, but a state of mind, den I'm sure you'd be right and all I would be doin' is bein' cruel indeed. But ya'r wrong cher. Wrong cause a wise woman once told me dis. Hope is somethin' ta keep in ya heart even as ya make it with ya hands."

Christian turned her in his arms then to get a better look at her, hoping to get her gaze to meet his.

"What dat means cher is dat hope is a goal. If ya have hope for da future, den work toward da future. If ya have hope fa ya family, den work toward ya family. The work is never easy, but den dat is da point. It is da journey dat makes us stronger dan we are when we started, that makes us stronger dan we were born."

He released her carefully then.

"I don't know what has wounded ya heart so cher, but whatever it might be, don't just assume I can't understand or dat no one understands. For all da bright spots in the world der are dark pits. For all da laughter der are tears. We all have our trials to face and even if we do not over come, den at least we have faced them. Dat is da way of da world, dis world dat you and I share."

Chris gave her a thoughtful and sad smile then.

"Just do not simply choose one side over the other. Expecting only light will disappoint you will always be a disappointment. But like wise, do not dwell only in darkness cher. That path leads only to death. Even for those of us with a special place in our hearts for the night and have sworn it allegence. Even we need the light if only in our hearts."

She turned away as he started laughing. Was it really that amusing to him? That she didn't want hope? That she didn't want to dream? She wanted so many things she knew she would never have, and here he was laughing at her.

But then his voice was softer, and he put his arms around her again and she couldn't help but lean into him. He hadn't been laughing to be mean, but what was he laughing about then?

"Then we have different masks. Masks that don't match or something... Whatever..." She mumbled.

He talked about hope as if it were so simple to understand, so simple to comprehend. But... But it wasn't. If she knew she could do something, that wouldn't be hope, that would be certainty. Hope was clinging to an idea, a wish that may happen or may not depending on which path you took.

But she'd never chosen a path for herself, never decided to go one way or another. It felt as if she were in a roller coaster with different tracks, and it wasn't her who was deciding which way to send the train.

Stronger... He said that this life made them stronger, but how was she strong? How was she any stronger than a child? If she were stronger, she would go to someone and tell them what was happening. She would tell the police no matter what might happen. But she was too afraid. Too afraid to do a single thing about it.

"Death... sometimes seems better." Usually that was as she was crying herself to sleep that she wished she was dead. She turned away from him as he let her go, not able to look up at him."But I don't know how much more disappointment I can take Chris. I mean sometimes... Sometimes it seems that if it all happens just one more time, I would die. From the pain, from the humiliation, from the fear. Every time it just proved once more that no one ever cared about me. No one would ever save me from the night mare or even believe me when I told them."

He would know what she was talking about right? He would understand what she was saying now, so she couldn't say those impossibly hard words that no one ever really wanted to hear.

"I'm sorry... I shouldn't shove all this on you. It's not fair." She murmured though, falling silent as if to promise she wouldn't say anymore.

Chris smiled then and it was a smile touched with sadness. For just a moment it was a smile that showed his years, a smile that was ancient and reflected in his eyes made them seem ancient as well. There was hurt and there was loss in that smile, there was betrayal, a betrayal that ran so very deep that it had not only marred his heart, but his very soul. It was a betrayal of love. Perhaps not so intimate as Adri’s family pain and yet in some ways worst. After all Christian’s pain, that pain that had once torn him asunder and spilled his blood and viscera, that pain—that pain he’d asked for. Had invited into his heart and his arms; knowing you are directly responsible for your own misery is a misery of its own. A lesson his sire taught him well, especially when she saw fit to ram it into his heart more brutally than any stake and not just once, but again and again. So much as she could. Now that he held a touch of the heart vision; now that he was an empath himself, he knew that she’d been lavishing in his pain. Had enjoyed it as some enjoy a fine wine. Aged just right and bitter sweet on her tongue, that was how she’d described his suffering.

Chris’s smile of long suffering and old wounds disappeared then. It disappeared and was replaced by a much more conventional smile. It was a touch amused, but behind that amusement was careful understanding.

“Adri, you’ll find dat da mask don’t much matter cheriè. The world don’t change much. Da technology marches on, da basic ‘wisdom’ increases and yet da understandin’ is da same. Indeed da people are da same, cher. Dey don’t change.” Chris looked thoughtful then.

“Greed thrives now like it did in the past. Selfishness hurts those dat should not be hurt. A lack of kindness and a lack of love persists. And no matter what mask the world wears for us, da underneath is da same. And like always it takes us, people like you and I, indeed people in general to change it. We haff-ta have a mind ta change it though and ta realize dat it needs changin’.”

Christian shrugged then, laughing.

“Forgive me ma foolish speeches cher. Indeed forgive my grand ideas for changing da world. Instead how about ya ask me dis one question. Maybe afterward we won’t be hung up on da masks so very much.”

Christian looked at her then.

“Ask me if I eva done anythin’ I’m not proud of? Indeed if ya did, I’m not sure dat I could answer it. At least not havin’ ta say to you all da things I’ve done. I’m sure if I did dat I might never see ya again. And I don’t want dat, but I also don’t what ya ta have any illusions about me cher. We all dwell in that world at least in part. Because that is the real world, the world is cruel and unforgiving, but because of it we cannot be.”

Chris hugged her again.

“Death seems many thins’, lil sista. Not all of dem should be trusted. Or believed.

Chris’s expression changed then and his eyes darkened in there gaze.

“It may frighten you, it may hurt, it may even feel as if your heart will come undone, but Adri I ask that you risk yourself one final time. Please. Tell me about ya’re nightmare. Trust me when I say dat I will help if I can. And there is no need for sorry or shoving or any care of fairness if I ask these things of you. So please Adri. Tell me what’s wrong. Tell me all that you can bare to tell and then we’ll go from there.”

He gave her a careful look then.

“Please.”

Of course everyone had done things that they weren't proud of... Well... Maybe not her father or brother. At least... They had done things they should be ashamed of, but it was as if they didn't think the same way as everyone else.

"It only means that you are a good person... If you're ashamed of things you've done. It means you want to change yourself and you've changed for the better. People who aren't ashamed of the horrible things they've done, those are the ones who are horrible." Adri muttered, crossing her arms against her chest.

He pulled her close again, but she wasn't sure if it was a good thing. She leaned against him, closing her eyes hard as she listened to his request.

She didn't want to tell him... She didn't want to tell anyone. She just wanted it to go away to stop and just... Vanish from her memory. Adri shook her head as he finished and looked at her. Turning, she pulled away from his arms, wishing she had another cigarette.

"Talking won't help... It never has. I've told people, but... But things only ever get worse. There's nothing you can do Chris. And no one else will do anything because no one ever believes me. After all... My brother's perfect. What wrong an he do? And with my dad protecting him... I don't even see why they even adopted me in the first place..." She said the last in a whisper.

When she pulled away, Christian allowed her to. Indeed he’d never held anyone against there will in his life and it was his life itself that would assure that he never would. And yet that was the thing about an extended life. Live long enough and you’ll be surprised who you become. You’ll be surprised who you once were. And it was with that thought that Christian shook his head.

“Not so very good mon-cher.” He smiled sadly.

“Seeking redemption don’t make one good--if anythin’--perhaps it only marks dat seeking of change you mentioned. But den not all change is good. Like people dey can come in ah variety of shapes, sizes, and shades. So I’m not a good person, cheriè but it’s for people like you dat I wanna be better. Well perhaps dat and to get da better of a few of dem horrible people ya mentioned too. I can’t stand people like dat cher, indeed it was people--beings like dat which changed everythin’ for me. Da same shouldn’t happen ta everyone else.”

Indeed, Christian thought it shouldn’t happen to someone like Adri. She was young, so very young, especially from his point of view and yet all his hopes and dreams had been chopped off at the root, her spirit and her heart damaged. It was a damage that Chris could see in her each and every motion, every reaction, it was a damage that would no doubt always be permanent and yet even so should it not be soothed? Should Adri not get the same chances that other people got everyday and took for granted? And yet she didn’t even think she deserved basic human kindness and consideration. She didn’t deserve hope, or rather it was useless to her and that was wrong. So very wrong.

Christian had listened to her carefully and when she stopped speaking, the Haitian born vampire met her gaze once again.

“Perhaps talking don’t help none cher. Perhaps you’ve told people and things have gotten worst. And perhaps no one has believed you But I…well I am not those others. I don’t know your brother or your father, but if there is something wrong between you…well I think I could help. I’ve more skills than sing and the guitar after all.”

As he asked her again, Adri crossed her arms tight against her chest, biting her lip slightly. He wouldn't judge her, he wouldn't blame her or anything right? No, he wouldn't do that.

"I... I was adopted... So I guess it's not really really bad... But ever since my brother was in high school..." She paused, not sure how to say what she needed to. What was really going on. "He started getting really angry and stressed out. Grades, football, friends and everything... And my dad told him to take it out on me. So he did... I mean... He still does."

She closed her eyes tight, pushing back the tears that were stinging at the corners of her eyes.

"I tried fighting him at first, but he would only hurt me more. He's always been stronger than me, which is why he said I should just shut up and take it... That it's all I'm ever going to be good for. And... Considering the fact that I work at a strip club now... I guess he was right."

Her back was still turned to him, so she let the tears fall. She didn't want him to see them, but she doubted she'd be able to hide them for long.

"I don't want to end up like that but... But where else can I go? What else can I do...?" She whispered.

No matter how Adri hid her tears, never would she have been able to hide them from Christian Lafayette. Chris could smell the acidic sting of sorrow and salt water that marked the passing of tears. Indeed his ears could follow the pounding rhythm of the young woman’s pulse as it increased. He could almost smell-almost taste-the adrenaline that came with the woman’s fight or flight reflex as it melded with memory to recreate the human panic reflex.

Once upon a time that reflex might have attracted Chris. The sorrow would have draw him to someone like Adri as prey and yet now, with time Chris had come to abhor such a thing and that was the reason for what came next.

“Come with me.”

Dark eyes took the young woman in and yet there was nothing but careful kindness in those eyes.

“Dat is ta say, come home with me cher. I know dat I’m a stranger and dat ya have no reason ta trust me. But whatever else I a, I’m a man dat has leaned his grade school lessons. A man don’t lay his hands on a woman without her consent; cheriè, and your being adopted don’t make nothin’ bout dat less foul. If anythin’ its worst. De invited you into their home, but dat don’t make if fine fo dem ta make ya a punchin’ bag.”

There was something very much akin to fury on the vampire’s face then.

“Please, come with me. I…well I’ve more dan enough room. I don’t keep much stocked in the way of groceries, but if you’ll walk with me, together we can solve dat right about now…”

He smiled.

“So what do ya say cher? I promise I won’t bite.” And he did. Christian found himself enjoying the young woman’s company and taking her home wouldn’t change that. It wouldn’t add any hidden motives to him either. No. He just wanted her as his guest. Indeed the good lord spoke of treating others as one wanted to be treated and so that was neither here or there for Chris. It was a responsibility, besides it would keep him from doing very nasty things to Adri’s brother.

Adri looked over at him as he asked her to come with him. What? Come... Come home with him? Stay with him?

She could see that he didn't have any other motives. He wanted to help her truly and he wanted to know she was safe.

But... She still shook her head. "I can't..." She whispered. "I want to, but I can't Chris. Social Services doesn't believe me, so if they find me you'll be the one in trouble. And it will just make things worse for me. I can't just leave school and everything and..." Well, she just didn't feel like it would be a good idea.

"I want to get away... But I can't not now..." She shook her head again. But she moved closer to him, wrapping her arms around his waist and laying her head on his chest. "Thank you though... I mean it's... It's nice to know that... That someone cares about me." She murmured, letting go and moving away slightly.

"I can't leave just yet... I have things at my house, things I can't leave behind, so I have to go back." She had over a thousand dollars there that was sitting in hiding, not to mention her teddy bear. It sounded stupid, but she'd have nightmares without it. And not to mention her clothing. Why buy more when you had perfectly good ones at home?

"But I promise I won't be there long. School's ending soon, and once I'm out, I won't have to worry about that or a while And... And when I leave, I'll try to find you." She said with a smile. It was a small one, but it was a real smile, not a fake one.

Christian couldn't read minds, but sometimes reading emotions was enough. He'd known Adri's answer before she'd ever uttered it, he could even guess her reasons. Well perhaps not all of them, after all the Teddy Bear would have been a surprise, but a pleasant one nonetheless. After all, how very cute was that? Of course he'd have never said that to her face, but he'd have thought it. Every man is free in his mind!

Of course Chris understood, really he did. Even if he felt that he could probably get Adri to school, not to mention avoid social services, and provide for her. Even if most musician, especially "amatures" such as himself were usually lacking in funds. Well there were certain advantages that came with centuries of life.

But then there was that. Christian had offered to let her live with him without even considering how he might tell her what he was or even if he should. That more than anything made him consider that perhaps it was for the best that she would go home. But then again there was the issue of her physical harm. If ever there was something that Christian could not stand it was abuse. No doubt a response burned into him so much as the brands and lash marks that marred the ebony perfection of nearly every inch of his skin.

His skin was a road map of cruelty and yet the good book teaches up forgiveness. However it does not teach us to support injustice and injustice was exactly what such as was happening to her was.

Chris met her smile with one of his own then.

"Alright cher ya have convinced me. However when ya find me ...trust me. I promise ta treat ya like ma own blood. You can stay with me. I'll provide all dat I can and believe it or not dat is a lot. Don't let da clothes fool ya."

He shrugged then.

"Let me get ya home cher. Even if I'm not too keen on it."

((Sorry I haven't replied to this one >.< Kinda forgot about it...))



He couldn't have been convinced that she was better off at home. She wasn't even convinced herself.

But he was letting her make her own choices. She knew it wasn't because he didn't care, because well, he was the first person to ever look like he cared about someone like her. He was a good person. One of the few good people that seemed to still be around.

"I'll find you Chris... I'll do whatever I an to find you once I'm free and the dust has settled." She promised, her fingers reaching up to brush his cheek. "But in the mean time... I work just two blocks down... I don't imagine you're that kind of guy, but..." She felt stupid for offering, but it was all she had to offer. "maybe if you want a private dance I could arrange something."

Was she actually blushing? Were her cheeks actually red from saying a few simple words?

"I mean you really don't seem that type... But I don't know what else I ould offer as thanks." She murmured, looking at the ground.

((No worries, kinda me too.... :lol:))

What could Chistian say, his smile was keen and amused. His dark eyes took in the slight young woman and he could not say that it was completely an utterly chaste. After all he was a man was he not. But then again he was a man from a much different age; of course that didn't stop him from considering this age's view. Adri was young. Chris had realized this from the beginning, but he realized he hadn't understood just how young. When you've lived for centuries, time sometimes loses its meaning.

Still Christian couldn't help but lean into the slightest of touches as her fingertips slipped against the carved obsidian grace of his cheek.

He met her gaze then and his smile was warm and wry as he seemed to consider her offer. Chris could almost smell her embarassment. It was a warm heady brew on the air between them and it made him want to blush as well and he might have if capable. But he wasn't capable and so instead he took her hand carefully; then in one deft motion he clasped that hand and brought it to his lips.

Trying to get her gaze to meet his; Christian smiled then.

"You're right cher...I'm not da type." His voice was careful, his eyes earnest and slightly sad or was that tone wistful? Either way, Christian continued speaking, his smile gone, replaced by a look of seriousness.

"But ya should know dearest; dat it is quite da temptation regardless."

Bringing that hand back to his lips; his smile returned.

"Instead though, how about you let me buy you dinner one of these nights?"