Starting new{open}

[regous]

Vincent stepped out of his private limo into the busy streets of downtown St. Louis. His scarf protecting the scar on his neck fluttered in the wind as he walked briskly down the street to "Magnum Corp", his fathers business, or rather his now. He looked up into the sky as the snow fell and occasionally landed on his fore head. But for some reason, he wasn't the least bit cold. He was burning up like he had the fever in the middle of the dessert. But he knew today was important he had to make some big changes no matter how he felt. Some of these changes his company may not agree on, some changing decisions he himself fought for in the past.

It has been two days since the incident occurred, and Vincent began to notice signs of fatigue. He needed to take deeper breaths and his vision occasional blurred. Despite how calm he tried to remain he felt like he was burning up on every part of his body exposed to the sunlight. His skin started to peel. Vincent stumbled walking toward the front door of the huge skyscraper. He latched onto the golden colored handle of the door and looked up into the glass. He saw people from the street, standing behind him, watching. But that wasn't the worst part. The worst part is he saw them, and not his own reflection!

"I cannot go in like this" thought Vincent backing away from the door. "What is going on? Am I ill?" he questioned as he walked through a small crowd of concerned public. Then it hit him, the words the vampress told him the night he was turned.

“You’re with us now ‘mate’ ” she teased. “You’ll be needing blood every once a while if you want to keep on living. You’ll know when…”

"So I must find someone to feed on...Someone no one will care about." thought Vincent. But then the thought hit him. He was not some random mystery vampire, he was Vincent Lawrence the son of Magnum Lawrence. Who ever he drunk from could not know he was. Or couldn't live to tell. Vincent arrived back in the parking lot where is driver looking at him got out of his car with concern.

"Are you ok Master Vincent?" he asked holding onto Vincents shoulder.

"I'll be fine mate" Vincent muttered putting on his shades. He pulled a large brown trench coat and a black umbrella from the back seat. He pulled his hood over his head blocking the sunlight and held the umbrella over his face to protect his identiy. "You are dismissed for the day" he said calmly as he wondered down the busy streets, unsure of where he was going, or how he was to go about feeding secretly in broad daylight. But he new he must keep on living, he must keep on winning...

[abigail]

Abigail walked, slowly, where the hell was she? This...had not been in her plans. She wasn't planning to spend all damn day walking downtown looking for some school people were telling her DID NOT EXIST! Well first off...it did. She knew for a fact it did, and secondly, it was around here somewhere...er...at least someone around here would know hopefully? That or she really...just was going crazy which was NOT an option today. She was not crazy yet. She hadn't even begun working. Now once the kids were around, then she would allow herself to deem herself worthy of crazy, but no kids? No job? No crazy.

With that, the young woman pushed her black frames up the crook of her nose, tossed back her dull brunette hair and tried a new look. One of confidence, that that people should fear, otherwise...well otherwise nothing. She wouldn't do anything. She sometimes couldn't let her brother's words get to her. Teasing or not. She was NOT weak...no. She wasn't. Really...she wasn't. This was going to...be quite a day...once again she started, only to get distracted by the beautiful things being shown off behind the sparkling glass. For a minute she stopped. She stopped and stared. Abigail could never afford such things. That was...well pfft. No. She couldn't. Especially not on a ...what a librarian's salary? That was impossible, though where was the harm in window shopping yeah?

Standing for a few minutes as people ran into her, giving her annoyed looks, she thought about what it would be like. To purchase something of such beauty. She had seen people before her go into the store...try on and when they were through with it just dump it...why dump such delicate fabrics, and treat it like that? Shaking her head, Abigail knew she would get sick watching these people act that way. Whatever...she was certainly not needing to watch how the upper class lived anyhow.

"I really need to stop dillydallying..." She mumbled under her breath and once again tried that confident walk. Only this time, she was not as successful as her first attempt. She ran into a woman, pushing both parties to the street, and the woman's bags to the curb. A rather young one she was. One maybe just slightly older then herself. She was met with a cold look and a humph, as the woman collected her bags and left Abigail to sit on the curb and sigh in dismay. Nope. Simply turning out to be a horrid day. First she couldn't find the school, and now she couldn't even pretend to look confident like most of the people on the streets. She was a shooing for failure at this rate.

[regous]

Vincent stood still in the crowd, feeling the area out, seeking out the weak. He stared coldly and boldly through the disguise of his shades, locking on faces in the crowd who could not distinguish his own. Some people walked slowly near him to examine him at first, despite the snowy weather it was still no reason for him to dress so protectively. If only they knew he felt the exact opposite of cold.

Vincent's eyes swiped the crowd until they latched on to something. A woman standing still amongst the bustling crowd. She looked quite studious but other than that a slight feeling of low self esteem emanated from her. She stood still, looking with lustful eyes into the display window of an elegant dress store. Upper class folk walked pass her with a stuck up look on their face as they entered the store to be assisted by a fruit cake of a store clerk.

A thought entered his head, and in an instant he vanished amongst the crowd and submerged from the bustling sidewalk into the store. There was no time for him to make introductions and "dillydally" around. The second he stepped in, he took the beautiful dress near the display window and went on his merry way back to the door.

"Oh my god!" yelled the store clerk running to wards Vincent with his arms up and wrists down like a dog on two legs. His state of panic was quickly hushed when Vincent pressed a roll of money to his chest valuing more than that of the dress and storming out of the store.

He walked up a few feet behind the woman sitting on the curb holding the sparkling dress out with a tight grip on the hanger.

"Is this what you want?" he asked rhetorically smiling under the darkness of the cloak. The shade of his umbrella cast a shadow over him leaving his red tinted shades gleaming. This gave him a mysterious, even intriguing look, not creepy, at least not yet...

[abigail]

Abigail blew out a puff of air, and then watched it raise above her. If her life had sunk down to watching puffs of smoke float above her head, there seriously needed to be some revamping. ASAP. Alright. No more...of this depressing stuff, once again I shall try to walk the walk and find this damn school that no one seems to know of. Maybe I am losing my mind, maybe my gift is false and all along my parents have just been amusing themselves, surely they aren't THAT horrid...then again that IS questionable. Hm. Shaking her head at the thought, she knew she wasn't crazy. She was fairly certain that she was anything but crazy.
Looking around the busy street, she realized it was growing rather cooler out, and it would be indeed time for her to turn in. It was either find the school within the next hour or at least pull out some money for another hotel. Fantastic.

Standing up now, Abigail stretched, raising her arms above her head, Abigail raised herself up on her toes and stretched out all the little aches that were working their way through her body as she sat on the cold cobblestone. "ahhh.." She murmured letting out a soft sigh and getting ready to cross the street when a mysterious voice stopped her. Well this was new. Getting stopped by a new voice, ah, maybe she was going crazy. In attempt to amuse herself, she turned around, expecting to see no one. Oh there was someone there alright, a very big...scary looking someone. What the...?

Abigail did a double take and just stared at him. For a few minutes she just stared...there this man was, covered head to toe(She thought...at least hoped it was a man, it sounded like a man didn't want to be rude if it wasn't...)in clothes, she was unable to see skin, not even his eyes were visible, a man like this was holding out a dress like this...to her. Maybe she was delusional too, yeah? That was a possibility.

"Er, excuse me?" Abigail asked narrowing her eyes slightly and looking between the dress and the man. He was holding this dress out to her like he wanted her to take it, but...why? She coulnd't accept something like this. It was...well for one expensive, two it could have been cursed, or something along the lines of that, and well three, it was EXPENSIVE. No one in their right mind would go buy a dress like this and then offer it to some random person on the street, let alone a random person who had just been looking at it, just moments ago. It was planned. Staged. Something. Something was not right with this, and she was clearly jumping to conclusions to fast.

"Can I help you?" Abigail asked standing up right now pushing her glasses which continuously slip fall down her nose. As she waited for an answer, she couldn't help but notice the slight bits of snow that were drifting from the sky as if they were dancing. Lovely. Just lovely.

Yes, she wanted the dress, no she would not accept it. Where would she wear it in the first place? There was no place for her. She was a librarian. Librarian's DIDN'T do those kinds of things. Not at all, not at all. Plus, it probably wasn't even the right size, how could he have guessed? He didn't know her, nor did she know him, which finally in the end lead her to the conclusion, he had mistaken her for someone else. How about them apples yeah? Hm.

[regous]

Vincent winced at the young ladies response. He may be rich and persuasive but he was not very socially adept in everyday situations. Still he formed accurate paths for numerous possible responses he could receive to get what he wants.

"May I help you?" she asked.

"No not at all sweetness, I would like to help you. Just take it as a gift. Even if you feel you have no place to wear it, is it not beautiful?" replied Vincent in a poetic tune. He realized that the young lady was skeptical about his appearance. This whole situation was really out of place. "I know i look a bit silly in all of this clothing, but i simply loathe the cold. I get sick every year walking around this city in this cold...You aren't from around here are you? You look lost" he continued.

[abigail]

Sweetness? Okay...who said sweetness? Let along called HER sweetness. Yes, one of her many traits was dwelling and she was about to dwell on the fact that he had just called her sweetness. Honestly...what was this? The 50's? Who said sweetness anymore...then again...there were those people...and maybe he was some old man, he might have possibly LIVED in the 50's who really knew? With all those clothes on she sure as hell didn't. Abigail stilled watched him unsure, her eyes relaxing a bit as they weren't so narrowed, not holding as much suspicion as they once did. She was clearly becoming to relaxed, then again, it was late, she was tired, and she really wasn't in the mood to put up with some of the crap people have been known to give her. It was only her luck that this would happen to, and then it turned out to be a gag.

"It's breath-taking" She said "But I don't want to have something, especially have it and know it's there, just wilting away in my closet. Of what use would that be to me?" Abigail challenged for a minute a coy smile playing on her lips before she turned once more serious and suspicious. Unfortunately no one is that nice. No one in their right mind would go into a store buy and extremely expensive dress and then offer it to someone on the streets. It wasn't done. How did he even know? How does he know her size? The dress she wanted? Abigail was still VERY skeptical of this all.

"Yes..." She murmured listening to his excuse about wearing all the clothes. Maybe there really was such a thing as being allergic to sunlight...maybe he really was? Who knew. She certainly didn't. Who in their right mind would wear all of those layers, he must be dreadfully warm, and on top of that, he must be extremely pale.

"No. I'm not from around here..." Abigail trailed off. "I'm actually not from around here at all, no where near. I was actually looking for a school...but I'm people have looked at me as if I were crazy all day...I don't need this from you..." She murmured feeling like she needed to snap. She was tired though, and her patients was gone...everything was just dwindling down and it was growing late. And on top of it all, she was talking to a complete stranger in a town she did not know. How brilliant was she? "It doesn't matter though...er thank you for the dress but I can't really accept it. Er...I have to go...it's getting dark..and yeah" Abigail nodded hesitantly still curious about the mysterious man in front of her.

[regous]

Damn it all! This rang through Vincent's mind. How was he suppose to get any blood looking like the way he did? She obviously wasn't buying his excuse, what now? She isn't as materialistic as he thought she was either, who would deny such a beautiful dress? Vincent contemplated abandoning this target until he heard something interesting.

She was looking for a school. This isn't the first time he has heard of people walking around the city looking for some school they never cared to mention the name of. But he knew about this school, for some reason. The possibility that she could be talking about the academy for students with special abilities seemed to bring faint images into his mind of the school and the classes. Had he been there before?

"Wait Miss, this school you speak of. Is it an academy for uhh gifted?" he questioned almost forgetting the purpose he started conversation with this woman.

[abigail]

Abigail wanted to leave. She wanted out. Away. Putting distance between herself and this man, she wanted--wait what?

She eyed him unsure. He knew about the school? Well she hadn't said anything about it...and he had gotten it right, so maybe he did know where the school was, and if he did, then she certainly couldn't take the dress because maybe he would help her, and that would just be to much if she took the gift and asked him where the school was or more specifically take her to it because, she CLEARLY couldn't find it on her own. She had taken two days to try and find it, this being the end of the second, and still no luck. She had begun to think she was going crazy, as maybe there wasn't a school. Something like that, but now it didn't matter because the man before her KNEW WHERE IT WAS! Yahoo!

Abigail looked down and shrugged "You know I mean...it's not weird you wear all of those clothes, it's just your personal preference..." She admitted and scuffed her foot in the ground as she looked up and tried to offer a smile. Clearly she didn't want to leave anymore.

"And no one has the right to judge because...that's your own personal style" Abigail murmured and smiled slightly. "So you said you know where the school is yeah?" She asked feeling slightly guilty she had just pushed him so away like that and now she was crawling back. She really was horrid sometimes. She meant the words she had given him. Just call it, Abigail's words of Wisdom for the day and that be that yeah? Exactly. She had meant them..but she also needed a little bit of lifting herself. She needed to know where that school was, so she could get her job, so in turn she could make money, pay her bills, pay for her cats, pay for food, all of that good stuff really. "Because I am lost..and I was looking for it...I guess it's to late now but...it would be nice have to the directions" Abigail asked in hopes of receiving them.

[regous]

Vincent's facial expression relaxed under the shade of his cloak. He knew now that she was indeed looking for the very same academy he was thinking about, and that he now has something she desires even more than the dress he just bought. Vincent glanced up into the sky, it was getting darker and the burning drying sensation on his skin calmed.

She still seemed to question his integrity with her eyes as they spoke. He had to deem himself some authority if he were to be trusted and then find a way to get her alone...

..it would be nice have to the directions" Abigail asked in hopes of receiving them.

"Yes of course, I have been told by someone to guide you to the school. He gave me the money to buy you this dress as a welcome as well, he must be looking out for you. I thought it might have been to overwhelming though... I wasn't sure you were the right person at first but now i know." said Vincent in an honest manner. "You must be the new teacher." Vincent clarified boldly hoping he was correct, after all she did not quite look the student.

"As for the academy's location...I can't tell you exactly where it is straight off hand, but I can take you there." Vincent continued. "I think it's over south. Shall we?" Vincent suggested waving his hand in an escorting gesture.

[abigail]

Abigail wasn't sure anymore. She wasn't sure of anything. Yes, she needed to get to the school, yes she needed the job, no, she didn't want to go alone with him, and no she wasn't a teacher. That was odd that a school would give her a welcoming gift? It was just...a lot of common sense running through her head right now. She really needed the job though...otherwise she would eventually ho broke, and she would be royally screwed.

Choices, choices, Abigail had so many choices.

One, Abigail could just totally not go with him, go check into another inexpensive inn and stay the night there and plot out a new game plan. That would be the WISE choice. Not going off with some stranger, getting warm in bed.

Two, she COULD go with him, and find the school or possibly raped or killed or have the crap beat out of her until she gave him money, but then again, this was St. Louis. What HONESTLY happens that is sooo dangerous in St. Louis ? Exactly her thinking.

Abigail shrugged and nodded meekly. "Yeah, I guess...sure. So...it's south of here yeah?" She asked giving up on the dress. "And thank you very much, but I couldn't accept the dress, there is no where for me to wear it, and I don't want something so beautiful to just hang in a closet and lose it's color" She shrugged "And I'm a librarian actually...I adore books. Love them" Abigail confessed. Great and now he thought she was a nerd, one of those crazy secluded book people. Lovely.

[regous]

Hmm a librarian, that's not to far from a teacher. At least the attempt was not a total flop. Now that Vincent knows she is a librarian, the possibility of her being capable of putting up a fight is much lower in his opinion. Now all he has to do is get her in a secluded area and feast, with no intentions of killing her. Unless she finds out who he is of course.

Vincent began formulating another plan in his mind after she agreed to be escorted. The general direction of the school is indeed south of where they are, she was heading the wrong way...

Yes he definitely remembers this school, his older sister used to attend before the incident... He was eventually supposed to go for some reason, but after his sisters death he and his father cut all ties from the school and other things that reminded them of the tragedy. Did he once have a gift like his sister, but forgot about it?

The school was about a mile from where they were, so they could either walk it out or take a taxi. Which ever comes first he plans to take her to the bend just several blocks away from the school where the tall buildings create a dark valley between them and he can feast incognito. By the time they reach that area, the only way to the school would be onward into the dark until a road to the right of one of the large buildings comes up. The view of the academy would give her hope, and hopefully more trust in him, leaving her open.

Vincent thought about flagging down a taxi, but then again there was the chance of the librarian asking the driver about the academy. If he knew where it was, and took her straight there that would be a problem.

As they started walking Vincent glanced at the sky, it was almost night time. The red tinted shades he wore grew useless and slightly hindering, but they will help to hide his identity for now.

"So do you have any specific power you are seeking to master at this academy?" Vincent asked breaking the ice.

[abigail]

Abigail watched him for a minute as he indicated she was going in the wrong direction. Ha. Right. She knew that. Justttt kidding. Abigail turned and looked up at him. Why was he being so nice? First he was offering her a dress she certainly didn't need and now he was taking her to the academy. Maybe her luck was looking up. If only she knew what was going on, if only she could stop being so naive, but it was late, she was tired, and thinking he'd hurt her was the last thing on her mind at the moment. Abigail reached a hand up to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear and adjusted her glasses and smiled at him a small friendly smile. "Thank you. So, so much" Abigail thanked. She really would have to figure out how to thank him. Him. Maybe send him a fruit basket? Was that to dorky? Or old fashioned? Maybe she would just...who knew. When it came the time to repay him, she'd know.

"Er my gift?" She questioned and then thought about his wording. Oh! "Oh! No, I'm not, I er I've basically mastered my power to the extent I can right now...and now I just have to work with it...and other gifts well I have to be able to perfect my first one before I try and learn something else or closely related." Abigail explained as she began walking with him slowly.

"I don't like sharing my gift with people...it's rather unique, and I prefer just to keep it to myself..." the young woman informed as she walked. Quite the contrary to his thinking, she could put up a fight. A very good one. If you couldn't move, then how well could you fight anyways? Abigail walked a few steps in silence thinking about her comment before looking up to him again. "What about you hm? What is your gift...er, do you work at the Academy? perhaps I'll see you there" Abigail insisted nodding. She still needed to find a way for thanking him for such kindness, maybe get him a good book, or help him learn a new talent. Who really knew, but the possibilities were endless when you had books to learn from and read.

[regous]

Vincent was content that she has founded at least a little trust in him. However he did not like that she would not share her gift with him. She now has some secret weapon hiding within her that he cannot make plans to avoid, what ever it was, it was probably a gift worth keeping a secret. But something she said did intrigue him, "...other gifts...". Was it really possible to learn other gifts? He had learned about the artifact that gave some people special powers long ago from his mother. But does this artifact simply enable you to do the supernatural? And your powers revolve around things you may have been interested in as a youngster?

"What about you hm? What is your gift...er, do you work at the Academy? perhaps I'll see you there" asked the librarian a bit uncomfortably.

Vincent believes now that he does have a gift, or did rather. But has no memory of what it may have been.

"Well... You won't tell me about your gift, I don't think its fair that you hear about mine." said Vincent in a playful tone. "As for the academy, you can say I'm a part time worker. A major there has a gift that he uses to find other special people. I have been sent to pick you and a few others up earlier today." Vincent lied convincingly. "So i don't think you will find me around campus."

Vincent directed his attention forward now, the school (hit spot) was not to far off. The night finally drew in, and the peeling flesh on his face seized irritation and cooled off. He felt a lot more agile and stronger now, it appears the dilemma he had earlier wasn't because of lack of blood for the most part but of the sun. This was the last time he would be stupid enough to walk out during the day. Even on a overcast snowy day such as this one. His heart however has been feeling worst and worst since that morning. Almost as if it were starting to pump dry, he breathed a little harder than normally but it was nothing really noticeable; he kept it under control.

[abigail]

Abigail wasn't sure about this. They should know she was coming...she had made sure they had known. It wasn't like she was just randomly showing up. She had her job, it was just a matter of finding the school and getting there. She had expressed that it would take a few days, but then she wasn't so sure she could find it at all, but now that he was taking her...she really did have to thank him some how. He was really saving her in all ways. She would have...gone broke, been screwed over. "There must be something...I can do" Abigail asked "I mean you really..saved my butt. If I hadn't found he school well I would have been in boiling water.

"Maybe I could...I don't know offer you dinner or a cup of tea?" She shrugged. She herself didn't drink tea...she was more of a coffee woman herself, but isn't that what most magical folks drank? Tea? Ick. She shuddered slightly at the thought and continued to walk with him.

Though when he addressed the whole gifts issue, she looked up. "Well that isn't fair. I don't want to tell you because it's quite personal...and it's just, not many people know. Why would I tell you, someone I just met, when I haven't even told some of my closest friends...I mean I've used it around them, but it's not like they would know" Abigail shrugged as she winced. Damnit. She really didn't know how to stop talking sometimes. "but anyways, it doesn't matter if you don't want to share then fine." Abigail agreed. "Fair is fair" She muttered under her breath with a slight roll of the eyes.

She had at least a valid point. He didn't.

"Anyways how far up is the school.." She asked wearily. "Maybe since I know the way...I really should be getting to the inn..." Abigail yawned tired. "And they probably wouldn't want to talk since it's growing dark...and the children are probably going to bed soon.." Abigail slowed her pace and looked around. The bright lights on the sides of the streets lit up the entire street. the number of people out were dwindling and she was growing exceptionally tired.

[regous]

She seemed pretty interested in thanking him, if all goes according to plan she would be thanking him soon. {I really must keep her alive} thought Vincent. She expressed kindness in an awkward way that intrigued him a bit. Sadly he has never really experienced genuine kindness outside of the house hold that goes beyond business and publicity.

"Maybe since I know the way...I really should be getting to the inn..." the librarian yawned tired.

"No no we are almost there. Its just a few blocks away. Its to the left." Vincent gestured with his hand. This path he selected was quite a clever choice. There were not much people hanging around here, there were no places to stay until you got to the academy, and it was really dark.

Vincent licked his lips under the cover of his cloak. He does not have the urge to drink blood as do other vampires, but he still must indulge in it, and he must have gotten a taste for it...

"So...what is your name?" asked Vincent.