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The results of what a lack of a lethal set of fangs could actually do was hard to ignore but did little to disturb the killer. Jolie usually would not remember anything except perhaps she offered to do something and wouldn’t be able to recall what exactly it was. It generally would be about as significant in her memory as forgetting to take the trash bag out with her as she ventured from the back door to her car. But this time likely would stick a little more than the rest. Lyonel watched her closely while Blaize situated himself on the sofa once again.

Lyonel was hardly as attuned as full fledged allurists to the emotions of others. Despite that fact there was no denying that the swan looked as if he was the cause of some tragedy that was not in his plans or intentions. He quickly held onto her physically while replacing the relic that kept her protected. So far she was dazed and confused but not going anywhere. The material of her robe was adjusted and her limp limbs tucked into the same position he often found her curled into when she had drifted off to sleep. His body stood tall as he mentally prepared to gather what she would need to regain what she would otherwise miss.

Lyonel West knew it was not uncommon. It wasn’t too far off from how he went through his first feeding. Some took to a hot vein like a fish to water without a second thought of the life attached to it. For others it took a little coaxing to come out of the starting gates when a hot meal presented itself to the predator in all of them. Unsavory as it sounded that was in effect what they were. Predators. One could claim they were less so because they managed their need through the convenience of plastic contained preserved blood. Or they chose to feed from their own kind under the slowly fading radar of disapproval as some subtle defiance that they were turned to begin with. In the end something had to lose for them to gain. Hunter, predator or whatever helped the one in question to sleep through the daylight hours was still destined to rise and seek out what would give them back what they lost over the hours or nights that passed by.

The transfusion bags were labeled with Jolie’s particular blood type. He took out one and closed the cooler that it had been waiting in. He managed to collect a blue disposable latex free tourniquet from a small drawer as well as a sterile packaged 20-gauge needle and tubing needed to perform the procedure he could do by now with his eyes closed. As he did he glanced over to Blaize and figured it was as good as time as any to break the news to him. This was only the first time. He had an eternity ahead of him full of moments like the one that had just took place.

“It is something you will get used to despite what is going on in your head right now.” The sound of his fingers snapping against the inside crook of Jolie’s right elbow filled the brief silence that was left when he went quiet. The needle was easily placed and the transfusion was taking place without any hitches. “As for Jolie don’t worry. I got her covered and she will be sent back where her blue ribbon cake is likely about to go up in smoke.” He glanced to the sparkling custom Rolex on his wrist out of habit more than need. “She will be coming out of it and will be back to her old self.”
“You are so god damned lucky.” The bewitching regulator in the woman seemed to be ditching the task of governing her words. Lyonel gave a slow nod to Blaize as if he expected as much. Whatever had her typically compliant was not exactly showing signs of being fully operational when her chocolate orbs came to view after their lids snapped up like cheap motel shades. “Now send me back before I tell you both what I think.”

She narrowed her eyes at Blaize while the transfused blood worked through her tapped vein. She didn’t even dare reach for the wound at her neck to inspect it. The warm air burned the exposed surface. She was alert enough to know that the salt and lotion on her fingers would only serve to remind her she had been gnawed on by a set of teeth that needed some serious sharpening before they were setting on her again. She had tended to far worse wounds than the tenderized muscles in her neck. Antiseptic, gauze and paper tape patchworking did the trick for most left by bullets and melee attacks. The neck of course would be an easy fix. All it required to hide the stiffness or residual bruises is to be topped off with a strategically placed silk scarf at her neck. Nothing cheap or off the general department store shelf either. She stood up and found she was staring at Lyonel’s lower chest. That didn’t deter her. It served as a target if anything. Her warm hand swatted at the mass of cool hardness in front of her hoping it would take a hint and move out of the way.

“Get him a set of fangs. Don’t send him out there like that.” She growled as she stepped around the killer and folded up her arms quickly as if she were waiting longer than reasonable to be dispersed. “You know where to have the scarves sent. Don’t send yellow.” Her eyebrows lifted slightly signaling it was time for him to do his thing. The wound was clearly following the typical expectations of fading while they watched her standing there. “Well?”
“That went better than I anticipated.” As Lyonel spoke the mystical power of teleporting Jolie took over and she disappeared from their presence. “Well, sort of.” He winced. “I think she was delivered a bit short of her expected destination. She runs like the wind so that is a good thing.”

“It is one of those things you find out in the process the first time. Some do, some don’t. It is what makes us all unique.”

Despite the young male's pacing Lyonel moved quick without any notice. Probably faster than a body should under the eyes of another but it didn’t concern him. The fresh vivid blues watching him would soon be used to how vampires darted about leaving nothing more than a blur at times when on their feet. So much of this world Blaize would soon be immersed in. The broken dancer now was officially a participant in an environment that could be more than he dreamed of and equally cutthroat all at the same time. In order to fly to heights he had the potential to reach Lyon needed to inform him of what was out there.

“I have heard of fangs coming in later. It is something you have to adapt to for now.” He returned to the room with a damp cloth, his body solidifying instantly in front of Blaize. He offered up the cloth for any clean up needed or general relief. “Here.” Once it was turned over and his hand was empty he settled back into the seat behind him so he could continue to keep his focus on the one he was responsible for, the one that had appeared to have found his feet once again. “I would say it went better than I expected, yes. My first time was enough to land me on a bounty list. It was a really bad night.” A slow shake of his head at recalling it inspired a brief chuckle as his body sank back into the supportive cushion behind him. “You need to keep in mind despite the awareness that is out there for vampires there is also a world we sit and spin on that isn’t entirely elated that we exist and we don’t sparkle.”

The buzz of information that needed to be served to Blaize and subsequently absorbed spun around in the killer’s mind. All of it was important and much of it would save the young and fangless a lot of the trouble he first found himself in when Wolfgang claimed him years ago. Blaize would need to know about the options available to him to avoid the public spectacle of gnawing on a body thanks to his current flatlined bite. Hopefully he would not be opposed to the suggestions he was about to offer.

“We can work around that whole messy ordeal of what for lack of a better word at the moment will be referred to as feeding.” His long arms stretched like a set of wings on a predatory bird still unseen then dropped down to rest as expected on the arms of the chair beneath him. “Jolie was basically an exercise in confirming you could accomplish what would be essential to your survival if all else failed. To avoid that and the attention it would bring I suggest you go two routes. One I can provide sufficiently within my properties. It is sourced from the various shops around the city. Blood is packaged for our consumption and sold. It can be expensive but will save you the time trying to gnaw through a neck or whatever. The second route would be animals. We seem to be able to find benefit from it but there is a catch. It takes more of them and work. The animal dies so no awards for animal lovers to be had” His face wears the faint expression of dissatisfaction at the prospect from given history. “It is palatable to some but I prefer what I do and stick with it.” He releases the pent up air in his lungs slowly. “At first you will likely need to feed nightly to maintain your strength and a comfortable energy level to move around as you become accustomed to. I, for example, can skip several nights and barely notice it or be hindered.” A pause was given and taken. Lyonel wanted to make sure the one across from him was still with him in the current conversation and any questions were given the chance to be asked.

Lyonel welcomed the question asked of him as he remained comfortably seated across from Blaize. It was one of the first he would have asked if the roles were reversed and they once were. The answers he received from the Old Man would stick with him for however long his size size twelve and then some feet kept him upright and taking in nourishment. Which in this case was the very topic at hand. Blood. So just where did Lyonel West he get his from? The answer was rolling off the movement of his pronounced lips as he looked at Blaize. The hard lines of his chiseled jaw conveyed a strength was present within beyond the features that framed his face. With each pause of his voice the dancing of the small muscles at the space beneath each ear lobe returned.

“I have had the pleasure of finding my chosen sources consistently receptive over the last few years and I will also say I never take it for granted. A bit of advice for you to either take from me as bankable and hopefully it serves you equally well or you chance it and ignore it altogether.”

It was rather nice to be able to say such given his particular situation of needing it just like any other vampire young or old. Perhaps he had a little more lasting power than his young swan giving him the luxury of going four days or longer without. It didn’t change the fact that in the end, when it came down to the bare bones of it all, he would do anything to get his fair share just like any other set of fangs looking to tap the first available vein. The West borne killer had a few powers at his disposal that made it far easier than it was years back. He could charm the collar off just about any neck if he was tested. If that didn’t pan out then he was strong enough to take what he wanted. However he had a set of manners on him that was hard to find on the average street fighting thug, which is exactly what he once was. His existence was generally problem free now in the aspect of feeding. He had no need to go too far from the pleasantries that worked rather well. Sustenance was so readily given in copious amounts he felt confident that given some time to develop the same skills his own blood, Blaize-the beautiful and soon mended swan, would find the same worked for him as well. The world around him was his smorgasbord. It was Lyonel’s role as sire to invite him to the table and discuss the dining options.

“Jolie is wonderfully accommodating but she is not that way with anyone else. I can go into the reasons why and the relationship she and I have later when it is applicable. I prefer warm, willing donors. I find they are those random souls you find alone in the park as you stroll by. Another source would be the individuals on the street that seem to have no particular purpose or acquaintances around to draw alarm or attention.”

Lyonel paused his words and allowed his tongue to subtly curl over the surface of his bottom lip to pull it in with the contact. This is the moment where he would admit had not the dancer been so injured he still would have likely found him appetizing nonetheless. Given certain conditions, of course. With all the manners in the refined world he was still a predator at the core and he was looking at his finest meal he ever had the pleasure of consuming.

“And for those with a particular taste in mind there are those out there that are rare and worth waiting for if possible.” A subtle hiss of air taken into cool lips and lungs broke through his confession. “Those like me and well…” His celadon eyes fixed tight on Blaize. “You.” His index finger found the pad of his own thumb capturing something so small on the arm of the chair he sat in that it was all but invisible. He released it to the empty space beside him figuring now was a good time to ask what he wanted to know of the one he recently turned. “How do you feel knowing that? Honestly, there are relics, which I will go into later, items that can spare you the routine of needing to feed. I do not possess one despite the means to do so. Truth be told, Blaize, I enjoy it.” His gaze steeled on the man sharing the room with him. "More than you could possibly appreciate right now."

You can do it without killing someone. Keep that in mind. Sure, they may be subjected to the foggy headed side effects of blood loss and late for whatever they were intending to do before you got your hands on them but other than that they generally are no worse for wear.” A brush of his lengthy fingers down the top of his thighs had his body following forward just enough to sit straight. “Your gift is enough to have you doing anything given enough time and determination.” He thought of the larger than life shadow that had claimed him years back. Old words surfaced in his brain he doubted when he first heard them but now they rang true as he repeated them. “You use all of it to its full potential and you could easily exceed anything I have accomplished. It is all up to you. And I, for one, hope you do.”

The challenges of what was ahead for Blaize were coming through in the questions he fired off about healing, his future and all that went with it. From the sounds of it the reality of what happened to him, what was enstore, was starting to sink in. It was a good sign. No tears were present, no whining about who he had to say goodbye to, no last minute loose ends that needed tying up. He was all but prepared to fly as if he just earned his wings to do so with his nearly instant acceptance. Lyonel figured it was time to toss a little more kindling into the swan’s growing fire. If the dancer continued to hang in there and take the heat he could be a Phoenix in record time.

“Now we get to the part where some true work is involved. Hopefully an adherence to some basic points will keep things manageable for you in this leap you feel prepared to take.” It seemed that Blaize was ready to do it right then and there if given half the chance. “You have some leeway given the awareness level has taken over of humans and us but as I said before it wasn't always the case.”

His hands joined rubbing the coolness of his open palms together. A slow rotation of his wrists brought the length of his fingers together so they could weave comfortably together. There was still so much to cover. The killer was reminded of its importance in going over the details as he met a set of wide vivid blue eyes staring back at him in expectation. How idiots could go around turning any warm body they got their hands on he would never truly understand. This was huge. Bigger than anything he could imagine doing again anytime soon.

“You mention your career and life that revolves around dancing. There is no reason for that to change completely but keep a few things in mind. Things that will stand out to others even more than you. I mentioned it briefly before but here again it applies to you. I cannot stress enough you may feel invincible but you have nothing over the power of natural light or its consistent and merciless source. You could be experiencing your greatest moment ever and you will be KO’d without exception. The same effects will be there through the duration of the lights hours. So if you are one to push limits you will find the corrections painful and possibly awkward. Watch your time and take it seriously. You will not be able to attend daytime functions and you will be questioned as to why. Be prepared to give creative answers. Not everyone will understand the simple truths. Don't expect them to accept it if you offer it. You have changed, not the world around you. You have a weakness that is currently unavoidable. Anything during the day you will be oblivious to. Everything short of someone physically setting your *** on fire. Even then you will lose a fair amount of skin before you figure it out and act on it. So don't soar just yet. Take care and focus on the immediate issues at hand.”

“Really?” Lyonel felt his spine stiffen at the response he didn’t quite expect. The man is now infinitely stronger and full of promise. Yet he was about to settle for defeat? That is not something Lyonel would accept. “What happened won’t change your ability to perform on stage, just the times in which you do it. If you apply what I am revealing to you it is entirely possible to rise to heights you never imagined in terms of success. Not just on stage but in every aspect. I tell you of the risks and the realities of what you potentially will face out of responsibility. It is not to deter you.”

Lyonel did the same thing several years back. Even though he didn’t have a place to physically return to once the fangs popped out he did have a life beforehand. His family, namely his parents, were still alive and well back in New York. As much as he loved and respected them he also knew there would be no acceptance for what he had become. He made the choice to be one of the lost and save everyone a lot of grief.

Even then the comforts of being human still called to him and lingered. Simple things he had taken for granted were out of his reach. Early morning sunrises. The sounds of the birds chirping. The early light seeping through the spaces where the drapes failed to provide a barrier. Warm water, the ability to rest on familiar sheets and the most importantly feeling comfortable in his own skin. The latter would not come for awhile. That above all else took time. He could inform Blaize of this but it wouldn’t register as much as the experience of time passing and proving it. There is a transition period and awareness that must take place for the creature one inevitably becomes.

“You can, yes.” Celadon orbs landed on Blaize as the tall killer moved from the spot he had been occupying. “Or you can take my advice and allow yourself the time needed to adjust in a place where you will be safe until you are ready to go home. I can assure you there is no place safer at the moment than with me. Allow yourself the time to heal as you succumb to your first rest. It will arrive soon.” His wrist lifted to confirm what he said while glancing at his watch. Not that he needed the pricey reference. By now Lyonel knew how much time was left before the sun found their world. He felt it to his very core. “I will prepare your room.”

There was no need for further discussion. By evening Blaize would rise with his appetite and more questions. The world as it would be for longer than the swan could appreciate would be waiting for him to reappear. Lyonel would be there if needed and standing in the shadows if not. Whether or not Blaize realized it, he would never be alone.