She tried to counsel him and promise that she wasn't leaving him, but her words fell on deaf ears and her heart ached the whole time. She watched him sleep and curled up on a corner of the bed, a small ball, silently hating herself and wishing so badly to free Shadow from everything she had done, but then again, it was her curse to hurt those that dared care about her.

When she smelled the food being prepared, she began to make her own treat, though not in the same sense as Cularda's. With lithe movements and a stone face, she weaved a spell strong enough to break any magical barrier and take what ever she so desired far, far away.

Her head snapped up when Shadow returned to the room and she crossed the distance, embracing him with her arms around his chest, leaving his arms free. In a quiet tone, she whispered, "Shadow you have to listen to me and try to understand everything I'm saying. I don't trust her and I never have and I don't want you hurt anymore. Please, please, don't miss me. I'm going to send you to my master. He'll take care of you until I can come get you. Don't miss me and know that I am with you in spirit. Can you do that for me? I won't be able to live if I don't know that you can do that."

Fearful of what she might see in his eyes, she pulled back and looked up at him, even as she reached for the braided lock of her hair, which was smeared with both candle wax and blood, though the original silver coloring still shone brightly. Not willing to force him into it, she held it out to him, offering him his escape so that she could face the vampire alone.

Shadow flinched a bit as Arila went to kiss the marks on his neck... they didn't hurt only gave him flash backs of Vampiress lapping at his neck. He looked up at her longingly and hurt at the same time... he trusted her but he didn't understand why she had done it... why had she let that awful woman have him?

"Shadow, I'm really sorry," she aplogized "I shouldn't have tried to capture you. Every time you get hurt, it's my fault. Please don't hate me."

His dark eyes gazed back into hers, they bore no hatred only innocents and pain of not understanding, tears flooded down his face he didn't understand... did she not want him anymore? "Are you going to leave me?" he asked, he quickly turned his head away, "I don't want to stay with her," he whimpered, closing his eyes and refused to be consoled.... he had felt like this before, never been so vurnrable... he rolled over crying himself to sleep wishing he could turn back into a dragon but he could not shift here... something would not let him and it frightening him. He feared worst was yet to come.

-- --

The night approached all too quickly for Shadow.

But something was very different... the entire house was filled with the smell of burning incense.

As before the food had been prepared ... but this time the table was cover with a white clothe and set with fine silver and crystal glasses... this time it was not bacon and scrambled eggs ... but with fresh trout, adorned with lemon slices, along with oysters and parsley on the side... complimented with cup of wine.

"Come and eat," beckoned the Vampiress from across the room... this time she wore a loose fitting long silk black robe. Her hair down and wet as if she had just finished bathing and the smell of her musky perfume was strong in the air... perhaps not over powering but definitely rivaling that of aroma's given off the the cooked fish and incense.

--- --

Shadow quickly retreated back into the room sensing something was amiss, and turned to Arila for guidance.

Arila woke in a dream like state, her mind filled with fog from all the magic she had done: a magical high as she would later learn. A smile lit her face when she heard her name being uttered by the dragon for the first time and she rolled to prop herself on his chest. Her eyes lit with joy when she saw that the wound had all but healed and she kissed the marks that were left, very gently, unsure if they hurt.

"Shadow, I'm really sorry," she aplogized as she looked up, into his eye. "I shouldn't have tried to capture you. Every time you get hurt, it's my fault. Please don't hate me."

Now she didn't feel happy, but depressed and she curled against his chest, enjoying the warmth but worrying over his thoughts. Did he hate her? Did he blame her for all of this? Would he ever forgive her? To these and many more of her questions about him, she had no answers, but she knew that as soon as she met with her master, she would set about relearning about dragons so that she could treat him better.

As her dream like state began to fade, she was away of a cool patch pressed between her chest and his shirt: the pendant. She picked it up and twirled it around in her fingers, her eyes gazing at it in hatred for it's very creation.

The warmth and complexion Shadow's skin quickly renewed as restored his energy.


In the bed, slowly Shadow began to come to, he groaned fitfully, shuddered and kick, tears ran down his face as he was still dreaming that Culadra was feeding from him. Shadow's eyes suddenly snapped open finding himself laying in a bed next to Arila.... just like it happened the last night. Shadow hurriedly went to Arila and held her tightly, he didn't want to go back to sleep he was so scared as soon as he did Culadra would return to take him away.

He could smell her sent everywhere! it was as if she was right there still down his neck! "Arila," he spoke his keepers name for the first time, wanting to desperately to hear her speak to comfort him somehow.

When she realized that Shadow was in fact feeding off her emotions, she shut down, though the two behind her remained. Arila was the only one that couldn't see them and wasn't aware of them. She followed Cularda into the room and settled on the floor to watch.

There was no anger in her as the vampiress touched and bled Shadow, only a numbness, a cold numbness, as her thoughts betrayed her and she drifted out of her mind, towards an unknown destination. Her eyes went blank and her body ridged while her mind wondered farther away than imaginable and she only returned to hear the leeches last words.

Not having the energy to reply, she just crawled over to Shadow and touched his face. The two forms, now less solid, looked at each other. The darker one purred, "This isn't my specialty, so I'll be taking my leave." She went over and brushed a kiss over Shadow's brow before walking into Arila.

The pale one wanted over and placed her hand over his heart, her energy pouring into him, though he felt the energy come from Arila's hand as it ran up and down his arm, trying in vain to warm him a little. Her mind was cleared somewhat of all that had been spinning around in it, replace instead, with concern to keep him living. Poor Shadow. Why did he have to come back for that stupid trinket she had made for him? Thinking that, she realized that she still wore it around her own neck.

When the pale one had filled Shadow with as much energy as she could fit into his body without killing him, she pressed a kiss to his cheek lightly and then joined her self to the mage, whom felt much, much more tired than she thought she would.

A suddery breath escaped her as she summoned a few dreggings of power to carry Shadow into the room. Unlike Shadow, whom still felt like icy to her, she felt like she was being burnt from the inside and was powerless, even with cooling spells, to stop it. She stripped out of her clothes for a little relief and then lay next to Shadow. Using what remained of her power, she barred the door and the walls so that nothing could enter or exit. Just as she was passing into the world of sleep, hoping to regain some of her magical energy, she whispered to the dragon, "I'm so sorry. Maybe it would have been better for both of us, had our paths never crossed. Please don't hate me."

Culadra chuckled holding the young dragon still so that he couldn't himself as he struggled. Shadow whimpered as he dragged out from the kitchen into the warm spacious that was fill with the blue candles. He looked over to Arila helplessly as Culadra carried him over to the couch as if he weighed nothing at all.


"Hurt him and I'll tear you limb from limb and allow you enough time to heal each time so you do not die until you are too weak to heal any more and then I'll set you in the sun,"

The Vampiress grinned taking her time as she bound up her victim's wrists behind his back with soft black silken cords. "You're scaring him," she reprimanded Arila in soft whisper, "He doesn't understand... be calm, and he will be also," she explained in a hushed tone, while she stroked the Shadow's head and softly messaged his neck.

"I won't hurt him," she promised as she leaned savoring his scent, "I will be very... very ... very ... gentle," she whispered kissing his neck softly waiting he was no longer tense.

Shadow's breathing slowed... soon he lay still and quiet in Caludra's lap.... his innocent eyes silently gazed up to Arila confused and afriad.

Suddenly his eyes went in surprise feeling the fangs slowly sinking into his neck... he grunted in discomfort but it only lasted several seconds. Soon he felt a bit odd... as if he was floating on a cloud of oblivion, Shadow's vision blurred and he drifted into a sedated daze where he neither felt or feared anything.

Culadra moaned in euphoric bliss as the dragon's warm blood flowed into her mouth. She feeling him surrender, she unbound his wrists, to prove that he was not any pain at all. The vampiress grinned at Arila and then went back down ontop of him and continued feeding taking the liberties of feeling groove of his body, all the while moaning in bliss gulped down his blood as Shadow lay helpless beneath her.

Soon Shadow's breath became noticeable shallower as time went on and it was only a short moment later he ceased to even to the occasion twitching of feet or hands soon came to an end. At last Culadra pulled away gasping for breath, leaving the her victim lying on the couch. The Vampiress didn't even bother to look at the mage "He needs to sleep, he'll be fine," she assured Arila, her black eyes still gleaming and euphoric. "Take him back to bed," she commanded Arila I be taking my taking up my favor tomorrow night," she declared as she put up her. She turned a demented grin on her bloody face, "Don't worry, I won't feed from him," he she laughed and turned to enter her living chambers leaving the Arila to tend her precious Shadow who lay pale, barely breathing on the couch with small two puncture marks on his throat.

Arila lost control at that point. Her magic massed around her in a visible cloud and sparks crackled in the air; malice and strength flowed through her, but her voice was calm and quiet as she said, "As agreed to our contract, I grant you the favor of drinking from my dragon, but if you dare try to claim what is mine as your own, I will show you how little I can control myself."

Red sparkled in her eyes and physically her two other sides could be seen forming; her dark side looked shockingly similar to Culadra, pale with black hair and clothed in black, though her shape was exactly the same as Arila's. Her light side however, wasn't what one might expect. She was no angel of gold and blue, but had fiery red hair and teasing gold eyes, though the jest was gone from her eyes at the moment.

The two oozed energy from themselves that overlapped and smeared together where Arila, though it was separating as they both became more defined. Arila wasn't just a taught mage, but one that had been made...in fact, she herself hadn't been born, but created from the sacrifice of two other babes, but that is a story for another time.

"Hurt him and I'll tear you limb from limb and allow you enough time to heal each time so you do not die until you are too weak to heal any more and then I'll set you in the sun," she promised the vampiress, her eyes focused, though the two forms on her other side looked around, apparently surprised that she was upset enough that they could come out.

"I can't grant you permission for that, actually and as his companion, I'd have to ask you not to harm him, for I defend those I travel with."

Culadra frowned, releasing the male, her voice turned cold "You've signed a contract," she reminded the mage.

Shadow looked up, confused at was going on he didn't understand what Arila was doing nor what she trying to tell him. He didn't know anything about vampires.

The Vampiress scowled in disgust when Arila offered her own blood, "I'd rather drink dirt," she replied for she disliked the taste of vegetarians. "You must give what you promised me," she spoke somberly. But then she became livid.

Shadow yelped in terror as the Vampiress jerked him up out of his seat by his neck and help him tight.

"I've given my blood! I've saved his life! I've clothed him! I've fed him! Why is it wrong for me to sustain myself in return?" she demanded. Knowing full well she could snap the terrified dragon's neck before the mage could even blink if she dare to intervene.

Culadra grinned, enjoying the males warm body against her even though it was by force. "If you break the contract! I am also free of my promise! I can snap his neck the moment you break your word!" she warned.

Shadow whimpered trying to wriggle away, but he was no match against her immortal strength.

Culadra waited calmly for Arila's answer, "If you do not claim him, I will," she promised her, and to prove her point she altered Shadow's outfit back into silk.

"What is your decision, Shall I keep my oath?" she asked.

The young male looked to Arila, tears where running down his face, "please... please," he sobbed.

If the mage was not anything, it was stupid. She had expected this from the vampiress and replied to her request to feed from the dragon, with a sad, "I can't grant you permission for that, actually and as his companion, I'd have to ask you not to harm him, for I defend those I travel with."

"You see," she said, reaching out and nudging Culadra's hands off his shoulders, though it was a subdue movement, and she lifted his hair with one hand and pulled down the neck of his shirt. "the thing that gave me the right to claim him? It was removed. With a creature such as a dragon or a griffen, I loose the right to claim him. We're merely friends, as I have said. You'll have to think of another favor, though I assure you, my blood is rich in magic if you'd desire to feed from my wrist."

Arila met the dragon's gaze, silently she touched his mind and whispered to him, "Do not let her feed from you." A pleased, yet 'regretful' look was on her face when she looked up a Culadra and went to her feet.

Shadow nerviously followed Arila's lead though he was a bit timid to sit at the same table as the Vampiress.

"I'm a vegetarian. The smell of meat makes me loose my appetite."

Culadra smirked when the mage explained that she did not eat meat. "I know.... I did not make it for you... " she paused glancing over at shadow, "Its for your pet, it will help him recover," she explained, smiling as she watched Shadow wolfing down the scrambled eggs right out of the pan.

"We'll be gone as soon as he is finished. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten my debt and I doubt I ever will."

The Vampiress however was too busy watching Shadow move onto the plate of bacon, "Its good isn't it shadow," she cooed.

Shadow paused and protectively pulled the plate closure to himself making it quite clear she was not allowed to have any.

Culadra smirked at this, as she was not at all interested in his food. She waited watching Shadow begin to slow indicating that he had eaten his fill. Culadra smiled and slowly rose up and circled around the dinner table.

"Are you full?" she asked him. Shadow swallowed hard and looked to Arila for some sort assurance.

Culadra smiled, resting her hands on Shadow's strong masculine shoulders and turned to Arila. "He trusts you," she smiled exposing her fangs. Making it quite clear to Arila that she wished to feed from him.

"I promise I will be gentle," she assured Arila as she ran her finger through his hair and gently began stroking his neck.

Shadow looked to Arila, too afraid to move from his seat, his innocent eyes were filled with fear and confusion.

The Vampiress black eyes gleamed delighting in the young dragon's fear. "All I ask is for a meal... as one favor.... everyone must eat ," she whispered, lowering herself down to the crook of Shadow's neck.... but still waited for permission from Arila.

Azure couldn't help laughing when he put the pants on his head, but somehow he managed to wiggle away every time she made a movement to help him. When he stood before her, fully dressed, she made a noise of satisfaction, holding his hand, she went into the kitchen again, this time more confident than before.

"I won't be eating," she excused herself, while she settled into the chair next to Shadow. Her gaze met Culadra's and she added, "I'm a vegetarian. The smell of meat makes me loose my appetite."

As Shadow ate, she said to the vampiress in a conversational manner, "We'll be gone as soon as he is finished. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten my debt and I doubt I ever will."

Her mind, however, wasn't in the room. What had been a gentle tug the moment she woke up, was now a harsh jerk every few seconds. One of her masters, she wasn't sure which, was summoning her and until she started on the path again, she was and would be suffering from a headache that was enough to make her feel ill.

The feeling was well hidden though, behind a smile and gentle tone as she spoke. Her fingers strayed through her hair, raking it into an even messier mass, but keeping it out of her way.

"Hush, hush, it will be okay my friend. I am here and my magic is enough to protect you. I promise."

Shadow closed his eyes relaxing under Arila's gentle touch and finding peace her voice. He still sitting on the bed, watched Arila pick up the fancy black dress pants and the long silk sleeve collared shirt.... also black. He swallowed, he could smell Culadra's scent on them.

"Here you are, what do you think?"she inquired,

Shadow blinked and sat up, his dark innocent eyes looked down at the altered outfit in bewilderment... the shirt was now white!?! but most importantly the scent was gone. His curiosity peaked slowly got down from the bed and went over to inspect what was happening.

. "Shirt and pants. Humans wear them so that other humans don't bleed out through nose bleeds. Do you need help putting them on?"

Shadow listened to Arila and tilted his head a bit confused... he watched her motion to her own shirt, he gave her an inquisitive look, but then slowly picked up the shirt and pressed it too himself finally understanding that she wished him to put it on.

Shadow looked over the clothes over turning the this way and that. He quickly deduced that the black trousers didn't go over his head... no they definitely did not...fter getting on leg he frowned looking at his pants... he then commenced to hopping around on one leg frantically trying to slip other leg... he of course after a bit of effort managed to put them on, fortunately the shirt was much easier... he only put it on backwards twice.

Now fully dressed, he turned to Arila for inspection, he even smiled a bit proud of his achievement even after the arduous workout.


--

Shadows playful attitude quickly changed however when it came time to go out into the kitchen.

Breakfast hot and ready, was already set out for them. Culadra sat on the opposite side of the oval table kitchen table watching the pair quickly. She wore a long flowing sleeveless black dress that hugged her every curve, with a high cut all the way up past her hip leaving a large portion of her smooth ivory white leg for all to see.

Her eyes glinted angrily for a moment quickly noticing that Arila altered the outfit given to him. If it hadn't been apparent that she had wanted Shadow to match her it was quite obvious now... and Culadra did her best to conceal her outrage and continued to smile.