"Christian Gene!"

"Good God Darren! I asked for a brother, not a mother!"

"And I asked for a brother, not a child. I guess we're even."

"Not by a long shot, Hayes. I will not be bound by your rules!"

Darren folded his arms in a huff, his gaze dangerously close to killing someone. Chris sat unnerved, popping his knuckles in his usual calm manner. His light blue eyes danced in the low light of the darkened room.

"I made you, I can break you. You will be of no loss to us."

"Why don't you wait until Daniel is here before you speak in his honor. You know how much he hates you making decisions without him..."

"He makes plenty without me..."

"Name one thing Darren, just one that he hasn't consulted you on."

Darren bit his lip, turning away from Chris' gaze. There was only one decision that Daniel had made without talking it out, only one out of the thousands they had gone through.

"He never asked me if I wanted to be this...He just did it, acted out of his own will. At least we gave you the choice."

"Are you telling me that you would have told him no? You're best friend, partner in crime? You would have told him to go to hell?"

"Damnit Chris, this isn't the point! You don't understand that there is a heavy risk involved with every single thing you do now. It isn't simple anymore, you aren't playing with your own life, you're playing with thousands."

"So what? It isn't a threat to your life...Who cares what we do now? Mortals are only here for our use. Savage Garden, remember?"

Darren pounded a closed fist into the wall a few times before walking towards the door. He licked his lips slowly, looking for the right words.

"A friend of mine said that right before he was thrown off the roof of a building in downtown Brisbane. If he hadn't been dead before, he certainly wouldn't have walked away. Point being, there are more creatures besides you and the rest of the human race. Beings more dangerous than you could ever imagine. Creatures that could kill you without even a thought, and you would never be missed."

"Like who Darren? Who has you so scared?"

"Dagmantis Kacrona..."

Chris turned in his seat, coming face to face with Daniel. His emerald eyes flashed brightly, his lips pressed tightly.

"That's just a name to me, nothing more. You can't scare me, either of you."

Daniel leaned forward, grabbing the back of Chris' shirt and lifting him off the chair. He was not unused to this treatment, as he never did quite see eye to eye with his 'brothers', but Daniel had never been so fierce about it.

"You listen to me. Brother or not, I will not back down to you. You can rant and rave all you want, but if I decide to feed you to the Wolfbainian, I will not go down on it."

Darren rested his hand on the door handle, wondering if he should just stick this conversation out now that Daniel had shown up.

"Darren, what did he do?"

"Planning on taking a trip...The old country is calling him."

"What in hell would you want to go there for?"

He lifted Chris until they were eye to eye, Chris leering out from behind the dark hair that fell over his eyes.

"I'm looking for experience. You both have kept me locked up here like some kind of wild animal. I can't live like this...You let me out for an hour to feed every now and again, but I've been bound in this house for months. I've lost count of how long I've been here. I want to see something new, somewhere different!"

"You think you'll fit in? Kill out with the other 'Kisdono' drinkers? The vampires are a mess, ever since Dagmantis killed Lestat. What were you looking to find?"

"There is a clan, a small clan that owns a manor, and they are looking for people to work, people like us..."

"You're looking for work?"

Daniel let go, letting Chris drop to his feet.

"Music isn't all there is to life, ya know? I want some action, some fun, some experience other than sitting in a dark room for the rest of eternity."

Darren pulled back from the door, choosing instead to sit in a chair close to it. He looked down at his hands longingly, sighing deeply.

"Does this clan have a name?"

"They call themselves the Bloodclaw's...Traditionally based...They live in one of the old Gothic castles in the back lands. They get travelers and other people who pass through, but they are one of the oldest clans left."

Daniel groaned deeply, closing his eyes tightly as he rubbed his forehead.

"You're talking about Devin's clan. If there was one person more dangerous than Dagmantis, it would be Devin Bloodclaw. He's been playing games with the Council of Affirmations since they tried to rope him into submission."

"Daniel, I can handle it, really. You are the strongest Pyraid to ever walk this Earth, and I am made from you."

"Then there will be no one to blame if you fall. Devin demands loyalty, and if that word is stepped back on, life will end sharply."

Darren stared open mouthed as Daniel turned to leave.

"Daniel? You aren't seriously thinking of letting him go, are you?"

He sighed, nodding as he continued to walk away.

"We made him what he is. If he wants to destroy that, who am I to stand in his way?"

"And if he does get himself killed?"

"Depends on the circumstances. If it is his fault, he can float around tormenting whoever killed him for all I care. It's about time that we let him make a few decisions on his own."

Daniel left the room, silence falling over the two left behind.

"Chris, I don't think you have learned the difference between life and death, or how it effects the rest of us. You are a free spirit, and whatever they tell you, you aren't like them. They have nothing to count on but death, nothing stable to them but death and blood. They know no other way, but you do. You are aware that you are placing yourself in the greatest risk you have ever been, in this life or your last. You made bad decisions then, and it makes me wonder if you'll repeat them again in this one."

"I'm not looking for love or trust this time around Darren..."

"No, but you are looking for endless mind-blowing sex with some minx who you think you'll find with no hitches. I'm telling you now, you're heading in the wrong direction."

"Cut me if you don't think I can handle it Darren! Why have it if I can't use it?"

"You are sick, you know that? Go ahead, go shack up with some vampire whore in Devin's court and see how far it gets you. My one warning to you: above all, never ever pledge complete loyalty, and never vow yourself. They will want to control you as soon as they find out who and what you are. Chris, I still would hope that you'd find something else to do..."

"Why Darren? You got to see the world, had adventure, had a reason to live for..."

"Just because Dagmantis vowed not to kill Daniel or I, he made an army, and he's warring against the Russian Vampires that first ran his clan from the homelands. I don't know if you fall under our protection or not...And if not, his lead Captain will be after you like nothing you have ever known."

Darren dropped his gaze, shaking his head slightly before walking out the door.

"Hope that you trust in yourself as much as you seem Chris...."