Because I love my fans and because I'm excited to introduce a new character. Please let me know what you think of him.

The next day Greyson just finishes feeding Laura when her attention is caught elsewhere. "Who the hell are you?" Laura demands of the person that entered her room silently and without permission.

This causes Greyson to whirl around and give a warning hiss as he stands in front of Laura. He watches Laura to see her reaction to the newcomer. She had been spot on with her observations of him and Karen and the nurse that worked at the hospital.

"Castielle, what the hell are you doing here?" Greyson hisses angrily. He relaxes his battle ready pose, but doesn't move until he sees Laura nod at him.

"Lord Darius sent me here to invite Lady Laura to a performance he's giving in about half an hour." Castielle says smirking a bit at his maker and the female he's protecting.

He makes sure that Laura knows that the rest of the message is for her. "He wants me to assure you that he will understand if you don't wish to watch and listen to him perform. He just wanted to make sure that you have the opportunity to choose whether you wish to come. He wasn't sure that your nurse would let you know about it."

Laura never stopped watching Castielle and is thoughtful as he finishes his message. "Lovely message, now what was the real reason you are here?" Laura could taste the lie as Castielle gave the message.

Greyson tenses up once more and Castielle looks at his maker with more than a little nervousness. In all the years that he was a soldier, Castielle never lost a fight until he went against Greyson during that life altering battle. He never has been able to best his sire.

"Honestly sire, I have no ill intents with Lady Laura. I wanted to see her, the last of Lord Darius's blood kin. I have heard that she bares a remarkable resemblance to his sister. I just wanted to see her for myself."

"She's coming home tomorrow as long as the renovations on her room are done. You would be able to see her then." Greyson is by no means mollified with his child.

"Greyson? Why is he calling me Lady Laura?" Laura doesn't like the tense atmosphere that has descended into her room.

Greyson is too angry to answer so Castielle answers the question. "If you will permit, I will answer that question." Laura nods her head, "It's because you are family to Lord Darius, that makes you a lady whether the title is in fact or not. You are family to the seethe leader that would make you a lady as well."

Laura hides her reaction well, but she is more than a little shocked at the words the ancient vampire tells her. "You will be above even my sire, Micah, among the seethe, Lady Laura."

With those words Laura isn't able to hide her reaction as she turns white with the knowledge. Greyson starts swearing and goes back to her side. He makes sure that she doesn't go into shock.

"You just had to tell her that, didn't you?" Greyson snarls out to his child.

"I didn't know that she would take it like this. I thought she already knew." Castielle says more than a little upset that his words are the reason the human freaked out. A human that is under the protection of not just his maker, but the seethe leader, the most notorious and terrifying vampire to ever live. Although, Darius has calmed down quite a bit over the last century. Castielle has no doubt that Darius is just letting his enemies get complacent. This happy go lucky and colorful Darius is an illusion, a façade to make his enemies forget just how deadly he is.

"Did Darius really invite her to his performance shortly?" Greyson demands as he finally stands up after taking care of Laura.

"Yes, he knows that Lady Laura enjoys piano music and that her grandmother used to play Liberace's records. He's doing some of Liberace's greatest hits and thought she would enjoy that."

"I would, thank you Castielle. I appreciate it." Laura's voice is faint but gets stronger as she speaks.

"I would like to attend, Greyson, if you would help me?" Laura says looking at the vampire that was so quick to place himself in front of her to protect her earlier.

Greyson once more takes his eyes off Castielle and looks back at Laura, "Of course, if that is your wish."

Greyson looks narrow eyed at the other vampire. "Make sure that nothing happens to her until I get back with a wheelchair that she can use."

Castielle wants to smirk but finds himself almost shaking in fear from the look Greyson is giving him. "I swear, Micah, that I won't allow any harm to come to her and have no interest in giving her any myself."

"That's good, Castielle, because being my child won't save you if any harm comes to her especially by your hand." Greyson makes sure that Castielle understands before giving him a short sharp nod and leaving the room.

Laura lets silence descend on the room for a bit before she breaks it. "You are darker than Darius or Greyson. You enjoy being a vampire and all that it means."

Castielle gives a small start at her words. "How did you know that, my Lady?"

Laura smirks at the vampire. "I don't know, I just do. Just like I knew that Greyson wanted to kill me when he first saw me. Tell me, why are you so much darker than Darius or Greyson?"

Castielle gives a short bitter laugh. He makes himself comfortable on a nearby chair before he starts talking to Laura. "I was a mercenary for many years before I came against Micah or as you call him, Greyson, in battle. Before I went against him I had been undefeated in battle. I had been wounded from time to time, sure, but my opponents all ended up dead. When I was recruited to fight against Lord Darius, I thought what the hell? He was a small lord, a low ranking one and should have been easy to defeat. He had money, and so did have a small army, but the army I was with had more people." Castielle gives her another bitter chuckle, "I had heard, indeed it was a time rife with rumors, that Lord Darius was more than just a man and that he had something darker and deadlier fighting for him than just a well trained army.

"I laughed at the rumors," Castielle says bitterly. "I was full of myself and extremely arrogant in my abilities. I had no doubt that I was fighting on the side that would win.

"I was working methodically through the ranks of Lord Darius's army, then I came upon Micah." Castielle sighs, "No matter what I did, I couldn't get through his defense. For every wound I gave him, he gave me at least one back. We were both bleeding heavily and collapsed from blood loss before a definite winner could be determined.

"Next thing I know, I am awakened from my faint from a piercing pain as he bites into me and starts sucking my blood. He had climbed on top of me as he sucked my life away and I was too damn weak to get him off of me. I was dying any way and knew it. 

"That was when I realized that the rumors were all too true. As he took the last of my blood my eyes closed one last time and I never expected to awaken again." Castielle gives Laura a rueful smile.

"I didn't wake again, at least not as a human. I did awaken with a thirst that was maddening in it's intensity. I've never felt anything like it before or since, to be honest. I wanted something, wasn't even sure what, just the need, the overwhelming need for something. Then as the smells of the battle field made themselves known, I was drawn to the blood.

"Fortunately for all concerned Lord Darius had already arrived and given blood to Micah. When they realized that I had survived the turning Darius gave me just enough blood to give him a bit of control since Micah was in no condition to control me.

"He took us both to his camp and made sure that we both had sufficient blood. I'm afraid that I helped kill many of the prisoners as I lost control of my need for blood. They both would pull me off, but it wasn't soon enough and the person would die of blood loss.

"It took me months to contain myself enough for me to be safe to be around humans untended. That isn't something I would want to go through ever again."

"Lovely, Castielle, you know Darius wants her to turn. How do you think this is going to help her?" Greyson spits at his child as he comes in the room in time to hear his child tell about his turning.

Castielle merely shrugs, "It won't be the same for her. If she chooses to turn she will be far more prepared than I ever was, or you for that matter. Darius told me about some of your exploits and you yourself have told me about how you were as a newborn."

Laura is wide eyed and doing her best to not be afraid right then. "How will it be different for me then?"

Greyson gives Castielle an angry look before answering his charges question. He sighs, "You have already begun, from the time Darius gave you his blood the first time. You've seen the changes in your body already. Your change is slower because of the blood injections. Should you choose to turn today, then it won't be so smooth and easy. If you choose to turn there will be fresh blood waiting for you and you won't be allowed near a donor until your blood lust is under control. Neither myself, or more importantly, Darius, will allow you to lose control and fall prey to your bloodlust. You won't go through the same torture we went through."

Greyson brings the wheelchair that he found for her to her side. "Do you still wish to see the performance?" At Laura's nod, Greyson goes to her and removes the blanket from her before lifting her from the recliner. He gently sets her into her chair and then places the blanket back over her lap.

"Thank you, Greyson." Laura says as they wheel out of the room.

"You are welcome." Greyson takes her to where the piano is and gets her to a decent vantage point and finishes fussing over her when Darius makes his way to the piano.

Laura is entranced with his playing. She loses herself in the music and memories the music brings her. She both smiles and has tears running down her face as Darius finishes the music he'd prepared to play for the patients at the hospital.

"Laura? Are you alright?" Darius asks in concern once he finishes and goes to her. He sees the tears and fears that he's done something wrong.

"No, I'm fine, Darius, just memories of my grandmother. I miss her even though it's been more than eight years since I've been with her."

"I'm sorry, I thought you would enjoy the music." Darius says morosely. He hadn't meant to make Laura sad.

Greyson is there with a tissue and wipes the tears and stray snot from her face gently and quickly.

"Thank you, Greyson." Laura makes sure that Darius is looking at her. "I thoroughly enjoyed the performance, Darius, thank you for sharing it with me."

Darius smiles happily at her words. "You are most welcome. Your room at the house is finished and you will be discharged tomorrow morning after breakfast." Darius tells them both.

Greyson nods, he'd been expecting that, but Laura hides her reaction and bites the inside of her cheek. She's more than a little nervous to be going to where she will be surrounded by vampires. She's still completely helpless.

"I understand, Laura, Greyson and Castielle will be your main guards. I'll see about appointing others as needed." Darius tells her at her lack of enthusiasm of his words.

Both of the other vampires also react to her words. "Me?" and "Him?" are heard as they both exclaim at Darius's words.

"Yes, Castielle, you have proven your loyalty to me over the years and unless Laura objects to it, there is no reason for you not to be on her protection detail."

Greyson kneels before her and looks at her worriedly, "Laura? Are you alright with Castielle being on your protection detail?"