Under the willow.

Alicia ran to her usual hideaway – A weeping willow, the south side of the forest, it was her favourite, not only because it blocked out the sun completely, but because it was peaceful, quiet, she liked to think there. She usually curled up in a hollow in the trunk of the tree, to sleep, now however, she took off her coat and threw it over a branch, that hadn’t yet found its sadness, she then leaned on it.
                                     Crovat entered the dome of the willow silently, and stared at her for a while, finally he cleared his throat “Hello mademoiselle” he said. Alicia wheeled around, and immediately fell into a low bow “My Lord…you are following me? Should I feel special to have this attention?” she looked up and smiled. Crovat chuckled “No my lady” he smiled. Alicia stood once more and walked to him. “Monsieur…why are you here?” she asked, staring at him. Crovat looked at her thoughtfully “The same reason that you are my lady, to think.” Alicia bit her lip, “And what monsieur, do you think of?”

Crovat stared at her “Most people think” he said, as he looked in front of him, “I think about my past, about my family. About the fun I used to have with my mother and my father teaching me to fight. About the wisdom I've received over the years. I think about the reason I'm forced to live in darkness every night of my life." Crovat said before he looked back at her, this time turning her gently to look at him, his blue eyes sparkling in the moonlight." Indeed we all think about things. Please tell me. What is it that you think about?"
Alicia stared at him, she realized that she was doing the exact opposite of what her father had taught her, seeing past the mask and staring straight into his brilliant blue eyes, one word was all she whispered, almost inaudibly, she stared at him as her lips formed the word "you"., Her hands closed around his arms gently, as she held onto him, keeping her eyes on him. Crovat gazed at her, he could feel his mask moving as his breathing deepened, feel the leather of his coat against his arms, as Alicia held onto him, the wind outside the willow howled, as he leaned in to kiss her, lifting her face to his…suddenly, he let go, dropping her to the ground, and wriggling away from her.
                                        Crovat cleared his throat nervously and turned from her.” Yes, yes I'm fine. Really, I am. I have to go. I have to...to...hide before the sun rises." Croat said as he relinquished Alicia's grasp and ran off out of sight. As the wind blew, the words’ I’m sorry' could be heard. Alicia clambered into the hollow of the tree and curled up “Men” she sighed. Crovat curled up in a cavern by a river, nearby, and cursed “I promised myself...I promised myself I wouldn’t do this again…” he said aloud, but, all he could think of was Alicia.
Alicia closed her eyes and prayed she would fall asleep, but a faint rustling around her stopped her concentrating. She opened her eyes to see Silvia standing above her, she sensed to other figures around, but they were out of sight. “What is the meaning of this Alicia?” Silvia asked, bringing Alicia back down to Earth “Where is Lord Crovat? What have you done?” Alicia looked up at her, and stood. “I have done nothing. He left.” She looked at Silvia, “And what is the meaning of what lady Silvia?” she tilted her head and put her hands on her hips. Silvia shook her head “Nothing.” She stepped down; twirling her fingers through her hair “And Aureus and Rachel are here…” she disappeared.
                           Alicia turned to see a looming figure, six foot one in height, wearing a sleeveless leather jacket, and black skin tight jeans, he had short black spiky hair, and warm brown eyes, holding onto him, was a young blonde vampire, who had a black corset on, along with a black skirt, white socks, and knee-high black stiletto boots. In one single moment, Alicia had thrown her arms around the man’s neck “Bonjour my big brother” she sighed “It has been too long Aureus” she smiled and looked at Rachel “Bonjour” she said, Rachel replied with a nod. Aureus embraced his sister “Oui, too long. How are you?” he asked, before sitting and gesturing to Alicia to sit beside him, after h pulled Rachel onto his lap. Alicia shrugged “Numb I suppose…you see...I’ve been with Lord Crovat…” Alicia stopped, upon hearing Aureus’ sharp intake of breath “Alicia…you have to be careful…remember what father said…-“Alicia cut him off “– I know, I know, don’t mix with him…Or I shall regret it, but the thing is Aureus…I did mix with him. I know I shouldn’t have, but I did” Aureus nodded. Rachel staring blankly at the willow said “He’s afraid of relationships. He lost his wife and son…” Alicia nodded in understanding.
                                                     As the sun set the next evening, the vampires moved through the forest, preparing to hunt, to feed. In a neat row, twenty six vampires lined up at the edge of the forest. Alicia glanced around; everyone was there, except for Crovat. As the sun disappeared behind the mountains, the vampires stepped into the alley. A vampire stepped forwards, brushing her pink hair from her face, her dark lips pursed, and turned into a smile, her fangs bared; she smirked and turned to the others “Two kills each, then we move to Dorset! Got it?! I shall lead you fine warriors in Lord Cravat’s absence. I am señorita Georgina Hulohot! Ready?” she looked at each vampire in turn. Each murmured “Ready” before they set off into the gathering darkness.
         Rachel followed Alicia to a club, where they both waited, a couple emerged and Alicia stepped out to them “excuse me; my friend has just lost my favorite pendant…would you kindly help us recover it? It is very dear to me…” The couple nodded, and they followed Alicia into the alley. Alicia smirked as the knelt, and she knelt beside them, hiding the knowing look on her face. Alicia smiled at the girl, her fangs bared, and the girl stood, drawing a stake from her bag “Vampire…” she whispered. Alicia grinned and pinned her to the wall, “Wrong” she purred in her ear “Two vampires.” her partner also stood “Unhand her bitch!” he shouted at her, holding a stake to Alicia’s heart. Rachel span and snatched the stake from his hand, and stabbed him, draining all of his blood into a flask that they were provided with, while Alicia did the same to his girlfriend. Once done, Rachel cackled as she lit their empty carcasses on fire.
               Rachel giggled and turned to Alicia “one kill left…for each of us…let us make it count eh?” Alicia smirked and nodded “Yes. Let’s” she replied, unaware of the group of people creeping behind them. A thud, two screams of surprise and many curses later, Alicia and Rachel found themselves chained to both Aureus and Georgina, in the shadows of the forest. Alicia was chained to Georgina, while Rachel was chained to Aureus. “I will bite such a chunk from your neck; you will be begging me to kill you!! Filthy mortal!!” Rachel screamed. Alicia rolled her eyes “Wow brother, you sure did pick one hell of a wife.” She giggled at Aureus. A crowd of people had appeared now, carrying Silvia, but instead of putting her with them, Alicia watched them put her in the fountain, and tie her down. A voice sounded in the darkness “If she struggles, put her with the others, then her friends will watch her die, with the other murderers we caught.” A young girl in her early twenties, stood in front of Georgina. She had long brown hair and a black ‘Nightwish’ jacket on, with pale faded jeans, and bright blue converses. She carried a switch blade and also had a stake tucked in her electric blue studded belt. She knelt in front of Georgina and smirked “For all the hell you have brought upon us, we bequeath it to you.”
                                               Georgina just giggled. The girl slapped her “Keep this up, and you’ll join the rest of your kind…” she pointed. Alicia followed her gaze, and gasped, all around the center of the town, were the whole clan of vampires that had set out hunting earlier that night. All the others Alicia noticed; were not in the shadows, and it was nearing dawn. A man stepped up to Silvia and slapped her “You took from me my wife and child!” he spat at her feet and turned.
“Daemon?” Silvia chuckled “They weren’t even good enough for a snack, couldn’t even quench my thirst.” She snarled. In an instant he whipped out a knife, and held it to her throat “Oh…how I would love to slit your throat” he started holding the blade against her cheek “but miss Naomi tells me, that you would die to see the sun on this morning…literally.” He straightened up and walked away.
Slowly the sun began to rise, bit by bit, inch by inch, the light crept to the feet of the vampires, and the sky was sliced, by the agonizing howls of the disintegrating vampires, and the jeering of the human audience.
                                                                 Crovat silently made his way, in cover of the shadows, to Georgina and snapped her binds, “Back into the forest, NOW! That is an order miss Hulohot.” Georgina obeyed instantly, he then moved to Aureus and cut him free, who lifted Rachel and fled into the forest after Georgina. After they had gone, Crovat turned to Alicia, knelt beside her and began to break her binds. “NO! they are escaping!” Naomi screeched.
                                                         Crovat lifted Alicia, still tied up and fled into the forest, Alicia hissed at the people as they raced after them, and smirked as they lost the trail. Once safe, Crovat laid her on the floor again, and snapped her binds “Are you alright?” he asked softly. Alicia nodded. “This” he whispered “Was returning the favor.” He helped her up, and they fled after the others.