Incest/Taboo Akeldama

"Go away, evil one!" Came a teasing voice from the crack of the lid as Conner held it open.

"Ha. Ha. Very funny, Conner, you promised you'd teach me blood arts tonight," Mary said in a huff, crossing her arms below her breasts. Her eyes went wide at the sight of Regan in his coffin. "What did you do?!" she growled, thinking that he had drained her dry since she couldn't hear a heartbeat. She was equally shocked when Regan opened her eyes. "Explain now?!" Mary demanded, hoping that he didn't take advantage of her friend.

"Relax, Mary, it was the only way. Otherwise, I'd be dead right now if it wasn't for Conner," Regan said; she couldn't help it. She enjoyed feeling him pressed against her.

"Come, you must tell me everything," Mary said, helping Regan out of the coffin while ignoring Conner.

"Here, you must drink," Conner spoke, holding a wine glass out to Regan when she was in the middle of telling Mary of what had transpired that afternoon.

"But I..."

"It's wise to anticipate your cravings, so you aren't attacking some random person," Conner stated in a teacherly voice, with Mary nodding along. "Newborns need to feed constantly, so get into the habit of making yourself a glass every time you rise. After a month, you'll begin to elongate the time you can go between feedings. But until then, you need to consume a pint of blood a night." Trying not to smirk when Regan scowled at the taste of the cold blood when she pulled the glass away from her lips.

"Why does it taste different?" Regan asked, peering up at Conner.

"It's because it's cold, I know. It's far different than getting it straight from the source, but this will keep your hunger at bay. The longer you go without feeding, the more of your vampiric traits will emerge. So even if it doesn't taste pleasant, it will keep the humans from suspecting what you are now," Conner said, arching an eyebrow when Regan tipped back the glass and swallowed it all in one gulp.

"Conner, since you are my sire, does that make me a noble?" Regan asked, setting aside her glass, seeing him nod his answer.

"Not just any noble, Regan; you are a part of House Ambrose, the ruling House of the vampires."

"So that means I'm higher than you," Regan teased as she peered over at Mary.

"Don't let that go to your head, fledgling," Mary said in her own teasing voice as she lightly shoved Regan's shoulder.

"Now that Regan has had her meal, shall we begin our lesson?" Mary asked, eager to start her training.

"Yes, of course, come, stand in front of the mirror," Conner directed, gesturing towards it. "You too, Regan. All my fledglings learned how to use blood arts. It will help you when you leave my side."

"What?!" Regan gasped. She didn't want that! She enjoyed having Conner as her friend and sexual partner.

"All fledglings leave their sire's side when they reach their hundredth year," Conner stated factually, with Mary nodding along.

"But... I..."

"Relax, Regan, you have much to learn before that ever comes about," Conner said in a soothing voice as he placed a hand on her shoulder as Mary and Regan stood before the full-length mirror. "Now, what I'm about to teach you is the simplest skill in the blood arts. If you can master it, you can lull your victim into allowing you to feed right there on the spot if need be or having him or her follow you to a more secluded spot where you can feed in secret."

"And what is it called?" Regan asked, peering at Conner in the mirror.

"Hypnotism."

"Very good, Mary," Conner praised when it only took her five minutes to figure out how to focus her eyes to activate the skill that laid dormant in her blood. Regan, however, was struggling, not that he was suspecting her to get it right off the bat.

"Don't push yourself; let your eyes relax and widen your field of vision," Mary offered her advice.

"How?" Regan asked as a knock came upon the door to Conner's room.

Leaving Regan in Mary's capable hands, his footfalls were silent as they fell on the plush rug that dominated the floor space. A wide smile appeared on his lips at the sight of Salvatore, Patience, and Nico standing out in the hallway.

"Good evening, Master, we have come as you have commanded," Salvatore spoke with a slight bow. His short dark red hair hung just halfway down his ears. His brown eyes had a softness to them, something that even being turned into a Crusnik was not lost. Salvatore took his duties as Conner's first born very seriously, as he did such when he was a knight for his human lord at the time when he first met Conner. Feeling Conner's eyes running down the crisp grey suit and white shirt he had donned that evening. Glancing up from his bowed position when he felt Conner's hand on his left shoulder.

"It does me good to see that you are well, my old friend," Conner stated in a warm smile. His eyes moved over Patience, who had her red hair held high, wearing far too much jewelry for his liking and supporting a very fine, slim, blue sleeveless dress. Her light green eyes held happiness in them as she gazed at him. Nico stood behind Salvatore's left shoulder; his blonde hair fell just below his jawline. Recounting how Nico had cut it all off one night in a fit of rage in his sixtieth year as his fledgling only to have it grow right back the following night, which Conner had told him it would. Given how any hair that was cut or shaved off would return to the same length it was when they were turned. Conner noticed the joy in Nico's hazel eyes after the hundred and fifty years they had been apart after he had left his side when his fledgling years were over. "Please, come in and meet your new sister and Lady Harland, my betrothed," Conner stated, stepping to the side and gesturing for them to enter.

"My, look at you! You're so adorable!" Patience squealed in delight as she held Regan's face in her hands. "Oh, you and I are so going to get along," she said, crushing Regan in a hug. "It's finally good to have another woman in this all-boys club," Patience said, seeing how bashful and embarrassed Regan was. It wasn't hard for them to tell who was Conner's new fledgling; they could smell his blood in her. Not counting the fact that she and Mary had already met before. "Mary, you're looking wonderful as ever; how are you?" she asked, lightly kissing both of Mary's cheeks.

"As well as I can be, when my future husband fails to mention we would be entertaining guests this evening," Mary uttered, shooting daggers at Conner. If he had told her, she would have worn something far grander than her simple t-shirt and blue jeans that evening.

"Nonsense, you look lovely, no sense in prettying yourself up for our account," Patience said with a warm smile. "Come, you can regale me with what you've been up to since returning from St. Louise while the boys get their meet and greet in," she said, leading Mary off towards the chairs.

"Sire? I do believe you chose correctly in this one," Salvatore spoke after studying Regan for a few minutes.

"My lady, don't let his blunt words affect you; Sal's mind is still stuck in the thirteenth century," Nico uttered in a charming tone as he placed a light kiss on the back of Regan's right hand.

"O-okay," Regan stammered like a fool.

"Be careful Regan, Nico is known to woo the ladies," Conner stated from behind Nico.

"You wound me, my lord, I would never bring dishonor to such a beautiful woman such as this," Nico stated, seeing how Regan's cheeks heated, telling him she had just recently fed.

"You can do whatever you want with me," Regan blurted out. She couldn't help it; it seemed to her that something within her was just drawn to Nico. While yes, she was sexually drawn to Conner, however, with Nico, it just felt deeper than that. Noticing how Mary and Patience fought themselves from laughing at her display. Then suddenly, she felt something, something that was ravenous that wasn't her own hunger yet was at the same time. She was rightly confused. "Conner, I'm hungry," Regan stated, peering around Nico, seeing how that statement caught him off guard. Watching how Nico eased off to the side when Conner placed a hand on Nico's upper right arm.

"What do you mean you're hungry? You just fed," Conner stated in a curious tone.

Regan felt her body heating as she felt everyone's eyes on her when Conner tilted her chin up. Watching how those pale blue eyes of his studied her, looking for what she couldn't say, if she could, how could she explain it when she didn't even understand it herself.

"I see; I'll make you another..."

"No, pure blood, not laced with wine," Regan stated firmly, noting how his right eyebrow inched higher. She could see how this wasn't normal for them; what could she tell them? After all, she's only been a vampire for a little over seven hours.

"Mary, could you please call down to where they store the blood bags and have them bring two..."

"Three," Regan interjected; she didn't know why she said that, yet something in her knew that was what it would take to sate the hunger she felt.

"Three pints to this room, warmed," Conner stated in a polite tone, never taking his eyes off of Regan. None of his children had this kind of hunger when they first turned. He couldn't say if it was because he was stronger now than when he made Nico or any of the others, or was it because she had drank from an elder. He would have to ponder on this.

"Of course, Conner," Mary answered, picking up the receiver that all the rooms had. "It will be here shortly," she said, eyeing Regan in a worrying light. This was not normal, even for a newborn. What she had just consumed would have been enough to sate her until midnight before she would have to partake of the blood spiked wine that was in every occupied room.

The moment the blood arrived on a small silver tray. Regan didn't wait for Conner to bring it to her. No. Within thirty seconds of the tube that was attached to the blood bag touched her lips, she had drained it dry and began working on the second one. Regan really wished she knew where this hunger was coming from. Feeling embarrassed as Conner eyed her as she drew upon that tube just as quickly as the last one.

"What?!" Regan mumbled from around the tube of the third bag when Conner leaned forward, looking deeply into her eyes.

"You do not have a hint of blood haze. Why?"

"Huh?" Regan muttered, confused.

"It happens when you drink too much, it makes us go a little crazy," Mary spoke up with the others nodding along, knowing the blood she had drank from Arjun and the three bags along with the glass from before put her a little over ten pints in one day, far too much for one vampire to consume in a day.

"How would I know? I'm just hungry," Regan pouted, thinking they were ganging up on her as she drew on the tube once again. "Stop staring at me like that; you're making me feel like I'm a leper or something." It wasn't lost on her at how Conner's eyes quickly glanced down to her stomach then back to her face. Almost as if he knew something yet couldn't be sure.

"Forgive me, Regan, I didn't mean to make you feel like that," Conner spoke with his head bowed and his chin in his hand, trying to suss out the meaning of this. Only to scowl when there came another knock on the door.

Regan took the tray from him as she finished up with her last bag. Nodding when Mary whispered to her if she was full now as Mary rubbed her back. Turning her head when it appeared to her, Conner was not pleased having their conversation interrupted as he spoke to whoever was at the door.

"You tell her highness," Regan didn't miss the sarcasm in his voice, "that they can go on without me. I am currently indisposed at the moment to deal with yapping old bags of bones," Conner stated, insulting his mother and the Council in one go.

Regan looked over at Mary when she felt her grip tightening on her arm. Turning her gaze back to Conner, noting how tense his shoulders looked. It wasn't lost on her that the other three didn't miss it as compared to the speaker that was out in the hallway failed to notice. Looking down at the floor, peering curiously at her own shadow as it appeared to be drawn to Conner. Stepping closer into Mary, feeling her grip tightening on her shoulder as the room grew dark, yet not by anyone's doing that she could tell. She could see the surprise on Nico's, Salvatore's, and Patience's faces just like she was. The air around her almost felt like it had an emptiness to it. Regan could have sworn she saw slithering shapes within that darkness, yet they never came near her or the others. Nonetheless, she could tell they were ready to strike out at anyone at a moment's notice.

"Very well, seeing how my mother and the Council cannot function without my presence, I shall be there shortly," Conner said, shutting the door in whoever's face it was that was standing out in the hallway.

"Conner?" Mary uttered in a concerned tone. Noting how blood was dripping off his closed fist that hung at his left side.

"Forgive that display; it was unbecoming of me as your sire and betrothed," Conner said with his back towards them.

"Speak to me, Conner; what's going on?" Mary inquired, drawing closer to his side. "Hey, I'm here; you don't need to hold this anger in any longer," she said sweetly, caressing Conner's left cheek as he gazed down at her.

Regan watched how the three of them eyed Conner and Mary's interactions. She wondered why she saw a hint of jealousy in Patience's eyes at the display. Wondering if there was something deeper between her and Conner than simply being her sire.

"Come, I have been summoned to the Council chamber. It's high time they learn of my children," Conner said, peering back at the four of them before thrusting the door open. "Will you care to join me, Lady Harland?" he asked, holding out his hand to Mary.

"I'd be delighted to," Mary answered with a happy smile as she slipped her hand into his.

"What's the meaning of this, Conner?!" Helen barked in disapproval when Conner thrust open the double doors. Feeling the murderous intent in that glare of his that he had cast upon her. "This meeting is for only the ruling Houses, not some..."

"If you shut your mouth for a moment and used that nose of yours, you would know they are not what you condemn them as, mother," Conner sneered the last word. "You were the one that interrupted the training of my fledgling because you and this Council simply couldn't decide on idiotic matters that I have no interest in. I wonder if you were this lost for the past hundred years you had me imprisoned in that box," Conner spoke in a dark tone as he walked towards his throne.

"Fledgling?! I never gave you permission..." Helen was a little taken aback as her son belted out a chuckle. She honestly didn't see what she said was that amusing. Growing irate at how he simply clapped his hands.

"That's priceless that you think you have any say in who I turn," Conner mused as he lowered himself onto his throne, "Or this Council for that matter. Do you silly little cowardly nobles think you have any say in what I do? Come on, you had no trouble condemning my wife and tossing me into that box for a hundred years. Surely you all aren't that... what's the word humans use these days for a coward?" he asked, looking at Regan, who stood at his left with Salvatore protecting her left side and Nico her rear. Although, Conner suspected that was more in regards of him being able to check her out, as the saying goes. While Patience stood at Mary's side who rested her hand on his right forearm.

"A pussy, Con..."

"You're a vampire now; you have to address me by my title," Conner said with an amused smile. "Surely you all aren't a bunch of pussies after what you have done, surely a hundred years suckling off her teat..."

"Conner, that's enough!" Helen roared, surging from her seat, interrupting her son's rant.

"Why? Don't like the truth, dear mother?" Conner spat.

"You forget who you're speaking to!"

"No, I can never, ever forget who I'm speaking to, mother." Conner's eyes grew dark, as did the room itself. "It is you who forgets whom you are talking to. I was the one that led your army in its bloodiest of battles. I was the one that laid siege to countless strongholds. It was I that slew the head of the snake, not any one of these fools who you put more stock in than your own son's judgment. I wonder who you're going to call on when all those you've cast aside finally grow tired of dealing with your bullshit. Surely it won't be any of these fools; they couldn't even defend their own keeps without begging for my intervention in saving their insufferable lives," Conner mused in a condescending tone as he rested his chin on the palm of his left hand as he leaned against the arm rest. "Now tell me what was so damn important that you had to drag me away from my fledglings tutelage? Out with it, mother, I haven't got all night."

"Conner, you are hereby stripped of your duties to this Council. You're sheer disrespect to me, these nobles, and our very traditions cannot be overlooked?!" Helen spoke in a stern tone hearing the rumbles of agreement from the horde of nobles loyal to her. "Until you address this anger that is misdirected at those that were following the laws we set forth, I do not want to see you in this chamber again! Do I make myself clear!" Helen did not enjoy that evil smile that spread across her son's face revealing the tips of his fangs.

"Excellent! The best damn decision you've ever had!" Conner stated, taking his mother by surprise. "Why in the world you want to listen to these old hens prattle on about crap that matters little, in the long run, is beyond me. But they are your children; it appears the apple does not fall far from the tree as the saying goes, as weak as they are," he said, getting a shot in on her open flank. Smirking evilly when his mother narrowed her eyes dangerously at him. He saw her move; he doubted the nobles did, as his mother lifted him out of his seat and off his feet as she held him aloft by the front of his shirt.

"I have no idea what has gotten into you, Conner," Helen said, baring her fangs as she stared daggers at her son. "I think a hundred years broke you if you're this upset by the death of a human..." Glancing down when she felt the strength of his grip as his fingers wrapped around her wrist.

"Release me, or I will remove it," Conner said, glaring down at his mother in anger.

"Be gone with you," Helen sneered in disgust, releasing her hold on her son's shirt. Knowing full well, it wasn't a threat. "Know this son, if you weren't an elder, your life would be forfeited for the sheer disrespect you have shown me."

"Please, spare me your threats; I am not these cowards that hide behind your skirt when the going gets tough. I, unlike them, am power," Conner said, his pale blue eyes burned in hate. Seeing the genuine shock on his mother's face when those dark tentacles wrapped around her body, arms, and neck, pinning her to her throne. Seeing Lynn scurrying off when he approached his mother. "Don't you ever think to lay a hand on me again? I've cleaned up enough of your children's filth to last a lifetime. You do so again, and I will..." Conner's voice trailed off; he didn't need to say the words his mother knew what he meant when his face filled his mother's view. "Do enjoy your sycophants; that's all they are good for is kissing that flabby old ass of yours."

"You think you have any power here?" Helen mused, dispelling the tentacles with ease, using her vast unnatural powers and mentally flinging her son across the room. Impaling her son on a shield spike that hung high on the wall behind where the nobles sat. Smiling wickedly as she watched how his blood ran down his shirt as he stared down at the spike that had pierced his heart. "He can still move?!" Helen uttered in her mind even when an elder's heart was pierced, it normally put them into a death-like state. Moving her head an inch to the left, feeling the blade of the blood dagger she had taught him how to form, slicing open her right cheek.

Listening to the wet, sickening sound of Conner pushing himself off the spike. Noting how the woman beside Lord Harland's daughter reached over and held Mary back from going to her son's side. Watching how her son lifted himself off the floor, noting how the hole in his chest rapidly sealed itself. Knowing the look in her son's eyes that it might come down to her killing her son. Sighing in her mind at what a waste Conner was turning out to be. Knowing when she made another pure blood, he or she wouldn't be troubled by that human heart that her son seemed to have. Smirking when she thought she had her son cowed when he simply left the room with his entourage following after him.

In truth, Conner wasn't ready to make his move yet, nor did he have the forces needed in place to take over her capital. He was wise enough not to get into a battle that he knew he couldn't win at the moment. Soon though, he knew he would have to make his move, and then he would enjoy watching the horror on his mother's face when he took everything she held dear from her.

"Conner, what was the meaning of that?!" Mary asked, taking Conner by the right arm when they were halfway back to his room.

"You're going to have to make a choice, Mary; either you stand with her or with me," Conner said, placing a hand on Mary's right shoulder as he turned to look at her. "I won't think badly if you do not side with me, yet if you do, this is the end of us," he said, drawing the preverbal line in the sand, seeing how that took her aback.

"But why? Why must you do this?!" Mary pleaded, trying to understand.

"Because they need to die!" Conner stated in a cold, dark tone. "If they will do this to me, their Prince, then they will do it to whomever they see fit on a whim. I broke no laws; the only condemnation I have against me is that I wouldn't marry that woman they so eagerly thrust upon me. That does not merit a hundred years of starvation! It does not merit having my wife's dead body dropped to the ground in front of me, smelling their sex on her after they violated my wife! If you cannot follow me," softening his tone, "I will understand, it has been a pleasure Lady Harland, yet I must take my leave of you," he said, placing a kiss on the back of her hand before looking over at his children. "Come, Regan, I have a promise to keep, and we have people to see," Conner directed, noting how Regan's eyes were darting between him and Mary, unsure on what to do. He was not expecting Mary to fling him backward into the wall. He had to admit he was a little startled by that act.

"You listen here, Conner," her chocolate brown eyes burned in anger, "I may not understand all the nuances that go on with the Council, but I will be damned if I let my future husband dictate what I am to do," Mary hissed as she marched up to him. "Now get your head out of your ass for one second and think like the leader that led those men in that war," she said, poking Conner in his chest. Standing her ground against a very old and very powerful vampire. "You may not know this saying, but it's wise to heed its words. It goes something like this: keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Now, does it sound wise to alienate the Council and the Queen when you got whatever you have planned brewing in that head of yours?" Mary asked pointedly, staring up into his eyes. "Does that sound wise for an elder vampire?" she chided.

"Conner, I know you're angry, and you have every right to be. I'm not telling you that you need to put it behind you; just control it. If you don't, it will control you, do you want that? Do you want your mother to be able to manipulate you?" Seeing how his eyes grew hard at that. "No. I don't think you do. So, I'm not saying it will be easy or that it won't leave you feeling soiled at having to bite your tongue around them. Yet, if whatever you got planned, wouldn't it benefit you to know exactly what they're planning? Instead of remaining in the dark? I may have never fought in a war; nonetheless, even I know without good intel before the battle, then it is as good as doomed to fail. Do you want that?" Mary asked, lightly resting her hand over his heart. "Conner, if you are set on this path, then you need to think with your head and not this," she said, patting his chest.

"She does have a point, my lord," Salvatore cut in. "None of us, nor Lady Harland can get the intel you will need if or when you put this into action. Even Giovani will say what she has said is sound," he uttered, forcing the words out of his mouth. He was more of the right hand for Conner, while Giovani tended to be his mind when Conner couldn't see a plan of attack.

Conner blew out a breath; he knew if Salvatore was praising Giovani, then he would be a fool not to listen. He also knew Mary was right. He was being led by his anger. Something he knew and has seen many times would lead him to ruin. That was something that Conner wasn't about to allow. He didn't survive in that box for a hundred years just to succumb to his anger. Anger he knew would lead to his death. He was fine with dying in battle, just not before the main event. Also, there was still the time he needed for Giovani to suss out how to banish his mother if that was even possible.

"You're right, Mary," Conner said, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Please, forgive my temper; it's unbecoming of a gentleman to display such things before the wise and beautiful Lady of the House Harland," he said in an apologetic tone, noting how red Mary's cheeks were getting.

"Say it again," Mary uttered, slipping her arms around Conner's waist.

"Which part, the wise or the beautiful..."

"That one," Mary said with a sinful smile as she gazed up at him. She knew he had slept with Regan the other night. She didn't mind. She kind of saw that coming, given how Regan was gravitating towards him. While Regan may lay with him on occasions, yet it would be her that was constantly at his side unless they had parted for a time. Something she didn't see happening for a very long time. Rising to her toes, taking Conner by surprise as she passionately kissed him, knowing how his mind was still stuck in the 19th century, public displays of affection were not shown, ever. It would be considered uncouth to do so. Given how Conner has acted since she has known him, that wasn't something he would have ever done. Seeing how blank his eyes were as her lips pulled away from his. So very pleased that she could befuddle that mind of his. Flashing Patience and Regan a smile when she heard them fighting back their giggles of laughter behind their cupped hands.

"My Lady, I was unaware that you were known to take liberties with an unsuspecting man," Conner spoke in a teasing tone.

"You'll grow accustomed to it," Mary said with a smile on her lips as she patted his chest. "Now, come, we have places to be, or were you lying about that?" she asked, shooting a playful look as she looped her left arm around his right.

"I do believe the years will not be boring, that's for sure," Conner spoke in an amused tone as he, with Mary on his arm, led the other four down the hallway and into the night.

"Regan, is that you?!" Mathew asked in shock as he stood in the doorway of their apartment. His eyes moved up and down his friend's body. He did not think being turned would cause such a change in her or anyone for that matter.

Regan did want to answer Mathew; however, the beating of his heart, the pumping of his blood through his veins had her mind captivated. Only to be brought out of it by the feel of Conner's hand on her shoulder.

"Mathew, it would be wise for you, for the time being, to place some distance between you and Regan. Newborns aren't known for their restraint," Conner said in a warning tone.

"Right. Sorry," Mathew nodded as he backed away from the door.

"Mathew, what did you mean? Is it me?" Regan huffed as she entered their apartment once she had snapped out of that hypnotic trance.

"You're fucking hot?!" Dole mumbled the best that he could, given the swelling that had occurred over the hours they had been asleep. Seeing Mary following in after Conner, who closed the door behind them.

Dole and Mathew watched how Regan's face grew beet red. Due to her time with Arjun, they knew her self-esteem had taken a hit. So whenever anyone complimented her on her looks, Regan tended to grow bashful.

"Thanks... Dole, what happened to you!" Regan wanted to rush to his side and baby him when Dole was having trouble peering out of his eyes if it wasn't for Conner's hand on her shoulder.

"Remember, Regan, be mindful of your strength," Conner said, pointing down at the floor, showing her how she had caused cracks to form along the wooden flooring due to her eagerness to get to her friend's side.

"Ugh!" Regan groaned in annoyance. Peering over at Conner when he released a little chuckle at her display. "Is it always going to be this hard?"

"I wouldn't know; I was never turned," Conner said, shrugging his shoulders.

"It is; after a while, you won't notice it. No offense, guys, but humans are breakable, where as you saw, vampires can handle our strength," Mary stated, stepping up to Conner's side. "Dole, how are you?" she asked in a concerned, friendly tone.

"Could be better, but at least I can see. A few days, maybe a week, the swelling should go down," Dole said, a little embarrassed that Arjun had so easily overpowered him.

"Maybe I can offer some relievement for your woes," Conner said, feeling Mary's and Regan's eyes on him.

"Huh?" Dole and Mathew uttered in unison.

"Yeah, how can you do that?" Regan asked in a quizzical tone.

"Something, only a master in the blood arts, can perform. You'll get there, eventually. For now, focus on what I taught you. What you're about to see is very advanced and shouldn't be tried by one just turned," Conner stated in a teacherly voice.

"Why?" Regan asked, incensed that Conner didn't think she was up to the task.

"Because you could kill the person if you make one tiny mistake. I told you, this isn't something a novice can handle," Conner said in a soft tone as his thumb brushed along her shoulder. Seeing how horrified she was at the thought of killing a person. It wasn't something he was surprised to see. Patience and Nico were the same when he turned them. Only Salvatore and Giovani were the ones that didn't have that look in their eyes, given the years they themselves had been on the field of battle.

"Don't worry, Regan. In time you will grow to handle it. The skill of blood arts isn't mastered overnight; it took Giovani decades to master it. So don't lose heart." Seeing her nod in understanding as his hand fell from her shoulder when he moved away from her. "Please, Dole have a seat," Conner said, directing Dole to sit in the armchair when his hand lightly patted the back of it. "Just relax, no need to worry," he uttered in a reassuring tone. "Now, you all remain silent. I must concentrate," Conner uttered his warning, seeing the three of them nodding as they watched on. "I need you to be as still as you can. I shall be as quick as I can."

"I'll try," Dole said nervously.

"Press your lips together, you don't want my blood getting into your mouth," Conner warned as he sliced open the palm of his hand with his fingernail. Smearing it all along Dole's face, however, he did edge around where Dole had open wounds. He didn't want Dole to accidentally become his thrall. "Now relax; this shouldn't take more than a few moments," he said when he stood behind Dole and held Dole's face in his hands.

Dole's eyes darted around as he eyed his friends, seeing their amazement on their faces as time passed. Feeling something odd happening to his face as it grew warmer the longer Conner's hands remained on his face. Then suddenly, he could see better, the pain in his jaw began to lessen. He felt the swelling of his face going down. He would have laughed at that if he hadn't heard Conner's warning. He wasn't about to die because he failed to listen.

"That's all I can do for you, Dole; the rest your body must do on its own," Conner said, removing his hands from Dole's face. Regan was instantly at his side with a wet soapy washcloth in her hands. Scrubbing his hands clean of his blood, then working feverishly over Dole to rid his skin of Conner's vampiric blood.

"What did you do?" Mary asked, noting the vast improvement to Dole's face.

"My blood called to his; in doing so, it sped up the healing rate. Although, you're going to feel tired for a day or two because of it," Conner said, peering down at Dole, placing his right hand on Dole's left shoulder after he had dried his hands. "Human bodies aren't meant to experience that kind of rapid healing," he uttered in a friendly tone.

"Hell, man, you save me weeks of mumbling my words; I'll deal with the weariness any day of the week," Dole said with a toothy grin as he peered back at him.

"Conner, if I study and practice really hard, will I be able to do that?" Regan asked in wonder as she wrung the washcloth out.

"Yes, any and all vampires can do what I have just done, yet it appears the practice has been lost."

"Then why did you do it for me?" Dole asked, not to seem ungrateful. He was just curious.

"Because a man who defends a woman from a drug addled man is worthy of such a thing," Conner said in a kind tone. "Now, gentlemen, I do believe you were going to show me what this hentai was."

"Oh, no, you don't!" Mary and Regan spoke as one.

"Don't you go teaching Conner your weird habits," Regan chided, gazing over at Mathew.

"What?! It's just porn," Mathew said, not seeing what the big deal was.

"You must remember we're dealing with a very gullible elder vampire here, so he might not understand the difference in hentai and reality," Mary teased, smirking at Conner, who shot her a look.

"Here, this is what it is," Dole said, ignoring the glares Mary and Regan shot him when he showed Conner a video of one that was on Mathew's laptop. "He's a big boy; you can't hold his hand forever, you know?" he stated, seeing Conner smiling along when he peered over his shoulder.

"And people watch this?" Conner asked, unable to take his eyes off the screen. His eyes falling on the bouncing of the animated breasts as the cartoon woman was taken by a group of animated men.

"Oh yeah! In some ways, it's better than live-action porn; at least they have plots that aren't fucking corny as hell," Mathew uttered with a nod.

"I see, well, I much prefer the real thing than watching it," Conner stated, rising to his full height.

"Yeah, see, we don't have that vamp charm to woo the ladies with so, sometimes we strike out," Mathew muttered, rubbing the back of his head when he felt Conner's eyes on him.

"Come now, you don't need that to lure a woman to your bed. You just need class and grace; the rest will fall into place," Conner said with a coy smile.

"Show us," Dole said, looking up at him. "Not on them," he quickly added, "they're already smitten with you." Smiling deviously at Regan and Mary when they just glared at him. However, they all noted how Conner's back stiffened as if he sensed something or someone was approaching. Not five seconds later, a knock came upon the door.

"Iyana?!" Regan uttered in surprise when she answered the door.

"Regan... what in the world happened to you?" Iyana asked; her eyes ran up and down Regan's body, noting she wasn't human any longer. "Who turned..."

"He did," Regan answered, looking back at Conner as she stepped out of the way, inviting her friend in.

"Okay, you have to tell me about it later," Iyana whispered as she passed, seeing Regan nodding her response. Peering oddly at Mathew and Dole when they were gesturing to her for some odd reason.

"Good evening, Lady Iyana of the House Boudreaux," Conner stated in a polite tone as he stepped up to her.

"Umm... hello, Prince Conner," Iyana stammered, not used to anyone calling her a lady or using her House's name.

"I'm pleased to see you well this evening," Conner uttered with a charm of a man who's lived for countless years. "I must say, the color of your blouse brings out the color of your eyes," he said, lightly touching her right arm. Seeing the heat flooding her cheeks as she gazed at him. "What a lovely perfume you're wearing; it's rather enticing."

"Thanks, it's Chanel number five," Iyana offered.

"And you wear it so well, I bet the men you know are just dying to just get a whiff of it," Conner spoke with a disarming smile. Allowing his posture to lure Iyana into a sense of security. "Would it be so bold of me to get a closer taste of it?"

"O-okay," Iyana stammered, wondering why she had said that. She knew he wasn't using his seduction powers on her. So then, why was she continuing to listen to his words? Her breath shuddered; her voice trembled as she felt the light brush of his lips along her neck. Feeling her body responding to the soft caress of his hot breath along her skin.

"Yes, very enticing, Lady Iyana, I can see why men would be lusting after you," Conner whispered sinfully into her ear. "Thank you for allowing me to indulge myself," he spoke in a gentlemanly tone as his hand ran down Iyana's right arm.

"Fuck that shit!" Iyana hissed before taking hold of Conner's face and planting a toe-curling kiss upon his lips. "If you're going to kiss me, kiss me, no more of that old-timey shit," she purred in a heated tone when their lips parted. "Next time we see each other, you better be alone," Iyana uttered low, foretelling what she was planning on doing to him.

"I shall make a note of it," Conner mused with a coy smile on his lips. "And that gentlemen is how you do it," he said, turning to look at Mathew and Dole, who just stared at him in shock that he would do such a thing in front of Mary and Regan. "I do thank you for your assistance Lady Iyana."

"Huh?" Iyana uttered in confusion.

"Don't worry about it," Regan said, pulling her friend away from Conner. "So, Iyana, why did you come over?" she asked, knowing Iyana didn't wander the streets without reason, given how the other vampires tended to attack stray rebels.

"Oh?! Right," the sound of her smack on her forehead resounded in the room, "I was coming over to see if you could get in contact with him," Iyana said, slyly peering at Conner.

"Me? Why?"

"Gio wants to see you," Iyana stated truthfully.

"I see, have the others arrived?" Conner asked, knowing what this was about.

"They did, just as I was leaving to come here," Iyana nodded.

"Have you met Nico?" Regan asked with a knowing smile. "Doesn't he just make you wet?" she whispered into her friend's ear, to which Iyana only responded with an 'Mmmhmm.'

"Then please, lead the way, Mary, will you see that Regan returns to the manor safely," Conner spoke, peering over at her, silently telling her that this he must do alone.

"Sure, Conner, but she isn't sleeping in your coffin again," Mary stated, putting her foot down. Hearing Regan huffing at that, causing her cheeks to puff out.

"You slept with him?!" Iyana uttered in surprise.

"Did more than that, didn't we, Conner," Regan said, shooting Conner a heated look.

"A gentleman never kisses and tells, Lady Regan," Conner answered with a smirk.

"You two be safe, and you mister, better not stay out all night. You should spend some time with your future wife," Mary teased as she stood in the doorway when Iyana led Conner out into the hallway.

"I promise, I shall not be more than a few hours," Conner said, closing the gap between them. Allowing Mary to pull him down to her lips while the act of kissing in public was taboo to him, given his years of living in a high-class world. He would have to admit he was very fond of feeling Mary's lips upon his.

"Maybe when you get back, we'll get that rust out of 'em pipes of yours," Mary whispered in a sensuous tone. Feeling her body heating at the touch of his hand that rested on the small of her back.

"I look forward to it."

"So, Prince Conner, just how many more fledglings do you have?" Iyana asked as the elevator doors rolled closed.

"What's this?" Conner asked when Giovani placed a very old amulet into his hand as he sat in the armchair in Giovani's private chambers with Salvatore, Patience, and Nico watching on.

"Something the Hebrews used to use to keep her at bay," Giovani stated, relaying what he had found out about his mother if what Conner had told him was true without speaking his mother's true name.​