To find a cause... ((Open))

[Nicka Commen]

Nicka smiled warmly at him, and rested her hands on her desk. "The war... I am a distant reletive to Xavier's clan, but, I'm not involved. My mistress was in his coven, and with her blood within me, my guess was so am I. I have no erm... blood, siblings. Well... Barry was the mistresses first born vampire. She called us her children, so I guess, Barry and I are siblings. He's quite protective of me sometimes." she giggled. Then she pondered his last question.

He had asked her how she had really known he was an elder. Nicka shook her head, her smile fading, becoming serious. "Your eyes say it all..." she whipered. "They tell me what you have gone through, even your name, Stefan Ge'Val. I'm very good at reading eyes."

She then pondered a question that she knew she must ask before he left. "Did you ever have a lover, or someone you care about dearly?" was all she asked. Nicka was, by nature, a curious creature, but she learned how to hold back her questions.

She looked intently at Stefan, wanting to know his answer. She knew it wasn''t her place, but she wanted to know.

[acridimar]

Stefan slowly rose his left hand to stroke the bronze locket around his neck. He then carefully reached around and unclasped it and walked slowly across the room. With a swift flick of his right hand, he opened it and set the locket carefully onto her desk. Inside the locket for Nicka to see was a small painting of two people. One a vampire and one a human. The vampire was obviously Stefan, though in a style of clothing that had long been thrown out of fashion. The human woman was beautiful in her own regard. She did not have the haunting, chill, beauty of a vampiress, but was certainly worth attention. The couple were holding each other in a comfortable and easy position, staring into each other's eyes. Forever smiling at the other.
"Yes." Stefan whispered, a hint of old pain in his voice. He shook his head and backed away to resume his pacing. "You certainly have more questions than that. Please don't be shy. I would like you to know my past as much as you want. I will not lie."

[Nicka Commen]

Nicka looked at the locket, and she felt sorrow for the elder. "Sire, I... I'm sorry, I didn't know the female was a human..." she whispered. "Why didn't you change her? I mean, you could have been with her forever, no? Or was she... murdered? By one of our kind? A Wolf?" she felt as if she needed to find out more, but then she stopped herself. Surley she would get on his nerves for asking such things. Nicka already saw a hidden distress within the vampire's eyes. "You loved her alot, didn't you?" she whispered. She had never felt love, only from her mistress, but that was a contolling thing.

"Oh, sire, forgive, me it's not my lace to ask..." she whispered, catching herself. She swallowed back a dry thirst that had been waiting to explode, but she kept it down very nicely.

[acridimar]

Stefan gave Nicka a sad smile. "Because I longed for her blood. Just as I long for yours. I loved her and I would not risk accidentally killing her. She begged me... tried to persuade me... and then, yes, she was killed. Another vampire came to her and drank her dry of all blood and life. I spent many years tracking him down. And eventually I found him..." A sudden blaze flashed across Stefan's dark, violet eyes. They narrowed dangerously and his hands closed into tight fists as he remembered that night long ago. But then, instantly, he reverted back to his calm self. The sadness back in his eyes and he whispered, "Yes... I loved her very much. And, please, open your mind to questions."
He suddenly gave Nicka a stern gaze and continued, "You have no idea how many vampires I've managed to destroy simply because they didn't bother to LOOK and QUESTION something enough. You should learn to be inquisitive when you can. Yes it is wise to be wary of drawing information secretly, but take the information you want when it is freely given. I am offering myself as an open book, if you will. The memories you may bring up have been brought to the surface many times before and will be brought up again..." Stefan smiled invitingly to the young vampiress, "But then again it probably does help that you seem to be using your 'unwitting' seduction on me already."
He slowly walked back across the room and sat in the chair opposite Nicka again. And waited to answer any other questions.

[Nicka Commen]

Nicka shook her head. Her mistress had taught her not to open her mouth so much. When Nicka got into convorsation, she became loud and obnoctious. "I'd rather not engage any frther," she whispered, lookign at her hands. But... she looked up at him. "You long for my blood, sire?" she asked, her eyes very curious indeed. She wanted to know this.

"What is there to long for? Look at my eyes..." she stared at him. "My eyes are stained from the blood I drank. My blood lust was uncontrollable. My blood is tainted with so many unwilling lives and dead human souls, and even a few vampires and a wolf, I have you." she tightened her hand into a fist and put it in her lap under the desk.

"Sire, I know you came for more reasons than just to get a free meal... what is it you truly wonder?" she said, her teeth bared for some odd reason she didn't know why. Memories of when she killed innocent humans raided her mind. Images of her mistress faling at the hands of another male vampire. Images of she and Barry getting into brawls... Her past of her drunk mother and her strung out boyfriend beating her...

She stared back up at Stefan, her red eyes glowing with fire. She swallowed back her thirst again as she tried to ignorr her memories.

[acridimar]

Stefan gave Nicka a faint smile and answered, "We are vampires. We drink blood. I have a theory... though it is no more than that, so please don't take it as 100% fact. First, we must begin with humans. Humans need to keep themselves sustained, yes? They must feed off other living things, animals and plants, in order to stay alive. Their bodies break down the molecular structure of the things they eat and their bodies then reform those broken down proteins and fats into useful things to burn for energy or build into new muscles. "
He shifted forward to lean slightly closer to Nicka and continued, "Now a vampire works much the same way. We have to feed to keep our bodies moving. To become stronger. Only, we aren't alive. We are dead. How do you keep something dead moving around and thinking and talking? By feeding off other creature's life forces. What is the easiest way to feed off another's life force? Blood. Blood is essentially the life of every creature. Many vampires find vampiric blood to be cold and sterile. Well, in truth it is. Our hearts have stopped beating. The blood in our system doesn't move much. Now if you look at humans again, they have cravings. Urges for food they can't resist. A human woman must have chocolate at times or else there will be trouble for those around her. Vampires are perhaps the same way with their blood frenzy."
Stefan leaned back and looked thoughtfully at Nicka, "But then there's another side to it. More carnal than all that. Perhaps you have the need to drink my blood because your body simply craves my life force. To have my life. And my body would want the same." He sighed and shrugged, his thoughtful demeanor gone. The sad gaze back in his violet eyes, "But that is just what I think might be true. I do not know, I have looked for a long time. I've spent most of my immortal life searching for the answers to vampirism. I have not had much luck.... Another question, I fear I will never answer is the that about the sunlight.... It draws nearer, do you know of someplace I could stay for the day? I don't want to be in your way or bothering you any." He reached to the desk and picked up the bronze locket again; quickly re-clasping it around his neck. His gaze fell back to Nicka, "And I came here, to your club... because you asked me to come. Your smell is so much like Naomi's... And now I know you, I don't need your enticing scent to know that I will follow you anywhere. You are young, but you are bright, you are-" mine he wanted to say, but caught himself before he could make the blunder. It was not a good idea to make such proclamations when they barely knew each other. Even if he had no doubt... "-important to me. If for no other reason, I no longer consider suicide. I'm no longer quite that depressed anymore."

[Nicka Commen]

Nicka smiled at his comment, and if she could blush she would. "Sire, you make me feel wanted." she slightened her smile, and bit her lip. "Naomi was her name? Very pretty. I am glad you don't consider suicide now, if you died I would cry..." she smiled again.

She cared deeply about this man she barely knew. Nicka felt at ease with him int eh room. She felt like she had nothing to worry about even though she was always on edge. She heard the sounds of an empty club, the music diminishing.

She heard Barry knock on her door, and he let himself in. "I'm leaving for tonight. Dawn is coming. You better get to the cellar, Nicka." he said, and glanced at Stefan, and left.

Nicka looked at Stefan, and sighed. "I have to go into the cellar. It's actually an underground apartment. If you are seeking relief from dawn, I can give you the guest room." she offered, opening the desk drawer and taking out a key from it. Her mistress had built this club, and had an apartment built underground made especially for vampires.

((sorry short, but I'm at a friends house... they is getting mad at me... oh, and we can move this into private homes if you want in a couple of posts.))

[acridimar]

Stefan had not rested away from the light while near another vampire for over a thousand years. He didn't find Nicka's presumed proximity to disturb him. In fact, he was slightly uneasy about the fact that this DIDN'T disturb him. Could one conversation set him back from the survival instincts that had kept him alive for so long? Nicka would not betray him, though. There really was no need to be alarmed with the sudden invitation. Nor should it be surprising that it had been offered. Nicka was not like most of the vampires he had met. Generally a vampire would politely ask the guest to find their own resting place for the day.
He looked at Nicka with a thoughtful gaze and inquired, "Do you often have guests here at the club? Are there many apartments below? Do you rent them out to vampires often? I...I have never heard of vampires living in such close proximity to one another unless they are in a coven." Stefan paused and listened to the silent club and to the sounds of sirens and cars in the distance. "This city is so different from everything I'm use to." He whispered, "I lived in Rome at the peak of its power... So many people... So much life... So many unknowns." He shook his head sadly, "I have been locked away in thought and research for quite some time, Nicka. The last time I was abroad, the American Revolution had only just started." He suddenly chuckled, "Abroad. As if I will return to Romania... I'd like to show you, perhaps, someday. My gardens are very beautiful..."
Stefan stopped abruptly; Aware of his mistake. "Fool!" She barely knew him and he was rambling on as though they had known each other for centuries and offering to take her to his gardens! She craved his blood and though he may be... falling in love? Had he fallen in love with Nicka that quickly? "NO." But he knew it was true. But it didn't matter. She would no doubt, find it rude and inappropriate for an elder say or act on such things.
Stefan pulled himself out of his inner thoughts, closed his eyes and drew in a long breath. "Oh GOD", he thought as he caught her scent again and the burn in his throat intensified along with another sensation he hadn't felt in a very long time. He wanted her...
His eyes snapped open and he flashed across the room, putting as much distance between himself and Nicka as possible, his back against the door. As soon as he had done this he felt like a fool. But there was no reasoning with the instincts he had lived upon for so long. He wanted Nicka in mind, body, and blood. That was dangerous for her no matter how you looked at it and he couldn't let himself lose control. After a few short moments, Stefan did manage to regain total control of his body and thirst and managed to walk back to the chair, but instead of sitting, he simply stood behind it.
Looking at Nicka, sadness and shame and fear in his eyes he said, "I'm sorry... I..." He what? He frightened himself with his own reaction to her? A beautiful vampire? And what did Nicka think of this elder vampire; this ancient of over three thousand years? She had saved him from committing suicide earlier and now he was falling to pieces because of his emotions? To be fair, perhaps it should be expected to feel a certain level of surprise after two thousand years of abstinence and having grieved over a dead lover for most of his immortal life. But he knew he had reacted badly. Had made a scene of himself like a newborn after his first meal.
Stefan looked into Nicka's eyes and asked wordlessly if she wanted to talk about this or continue on as though nothing had happened.

((I understand, oh and just say in OOC when you're ready to go to the apartments (-: ))

[Nicka Commen]

Nicka jumped and gasped once Stefan had put distance in between them. She wanted to reach out for him, and try to ease him, but she wasn't sure if she was making the right move. Nicka no longer felt her burning thirst for him even though it was still strong, all she felt was the need to comfort him in some way. Her hand flinched, and she looked at him, realizing it was her blood that was doing this to him just as his blood did to Nicka.

She looked at the strong male, and once he returned to the back of the chair, she stepped towards him. "Sire?" she asked. "Is it... your thirst again?" she asked with much sincerity she didn't even knwo she had in her eyes.

After a short pause, she tried to ease him with a smile, stepping even closer towards him. "And I would love to see your gardens." she flashed her brilliant fangs.

Nicka would be utterly deffensless against him if he decided to attack her. But she didn't care. She wanted him to... Nicka wanted to feel his lips brush against her neck, and his famgs sink into her flesh. A thing she thought was wrong to want, but she wanted so badly to happen.

She cocked her head to the side quizicley. "Sire, must you feed again?" she felt wrong to ask him, but if he needed what he craved badly, she might as well give herself up.

[acridimar]

Stefan locked down his emotions. He couldn't risk Nicka over a few stray thoughts. He calmly and slowly walked to Nicka to stand inches away from her. Parts of his mind began to scream at him. To drink her blood. To kiss her. To use his vampiric skill, honed over centuries to bombard her mind and try to find entry into her thoughts.
He reigned himself in and gently took her hands in his and raised them to his lips to kiss them gentlemanly and said, "My dear, I do not need to feed. It is a desire that my body has for you and only for you...but I can control it."
Stefan's eyes blazed as he looked down into Nicka's own scarlet eyes. She was offering herself and he refused!? He almost felt his mind would explode from the split of desires. To possess Nicka in all ways. To protect her, especially from himself. "There's another, stronger feeling. Need. I haven't felt so strongly in... a long time. Nicka I can't do anything to hurt you, even if you should beg me to and every part of my body wants to do you harm. I can not."
He shook his head sadly and spoke in no more than a whisper, "You make me feel... so much more than what I've felt in a long time. I...I feel almost alive again." He gave a brief chuckle and reached his right hand out to touch his palm against her cheek and slowly, gently, moved it down to her neck, "You may think what you will of it, Nicka, but I believe I have fallen in love with you..."

[Nicka Commen]

Nicka was caught off gaurd at his confession. She felt some sort of heat go through her body. "Stefan..." she whispered as he felt his hand on the base of her neck. Her lips trebled as she heard the word "love." Oh, how Nickoleth Commen had longed to hear those words come from a males mouth. "Stefan I... think... that I have fallen in love with you..." she whispered back. Her free hand found the arm that rested on her neck, and traveled her hand from his elbow to wrist. If she could cry she would at the time.

"I wouldn't think that I of all people was worthy of such words from anyone." she closed her eyes, enjoying the cool tingle of his skin on her neck. "Sire... are you sure that it is I who you desire?" she asked, thinking this all was to good to be true. Sure, in New York, Nicka was the under dog here. She could pursuade almost anyone to do anything for her. But, now... now, with this male before her, she felt small. Small and vulnerable. She could fight well, mind you, but with him, she felt no reason to be like she usually was anymore.

Nicka never broke eye contact with the male. She wanted those eyes on her now... always her. She could feel her thirst bubble up in her throat, but did her best not to spoil anything and keep eye contact, but there was an eternal struggle.

[acridimar]

A low chuckle rumbled in Stefan's throat as he whispered, "Nicka... I have lived for 3615 years. I fell in love with a human woman, Naomi, in the year 569 B.C. When she was killed, I was lost in grief for a long time before being able to move on. Nicka, in all the time that I have lived since Naomi was killed, I never fell in love with or even have a relationship with another woman."
Stefan's gaze looked sternly back at Nicka, "I know what you're feeling... I can sense it. 'How could an elder have an interest in a youngling? How could he want you?' Nicka, let it simply be enough that I do want you. That I have not wanted a woman's company since in over two thousand years and I don't want anyone's company but yours now." His violet eyes softened again as he let go of some of his self control. Stefan's other hand to stroke her other cheek then trace a line down her chin and down the hollow of her throat and around to the back of her neck.
"I'd like to talk to you about the future, later." He whispered as he leaned closer, tilting her head back and lightly kissed her throat. "But right now I very much want to know some more about you." He murmured. Stefan opened his mouth and gently, carefully, grazed her neck in a playful bite. Careful not to break her skin. He then kissed her under the chin and pulled away slightly, waiting for her response; his violet eyes flashing darkly and passionately at he gazed into her own eyes.

[Nicka Commen]

Nicka shivered as his finger traced her throat, and he kissed her flesh. She felt so complete now. No one made her feel like this ever. She lightley gasped once more as he nipped at her neck, and then he pulled away slightey as if asking permission. "Sire, you know much about myself. I feel as if I know othing about you. Please-" she pulled away from his arm only by inches. "Let us go into the cellar and talk there. Barry should be locking up by now." she sighed, leaning to him, and kissed his jaw lightley.

She picked the keys back up in her hand, and headed towards the door. "Shall we, sire?" she asked, smiling flirtatiously, although she didn't really mean it. It was natural by now.

((Mk, we can go ahead to the private homes now.))

[acridimar]

Stefan smiled at her and spoke in a soft voice, "Lead and I shall follow; always and forever."

{{Okay, go ahead and make a thread in Private Apartments. I'll join there. Also sent you a PM ;-) }}