The Hardest Of All Tests!!

[Katarina Blaque]

Katarina slept... well rested througout the entire day, thinking about how things in her life and unlife have turned out to be. Last night, she'd been willing to just give up and let herself be killed. Shot and then turned to ashes. It would have been to finally end the repeating cyles of thoughts and loneliness suffered.

Now that the sun has set and the moon shows itself, the vampyress awakens with different thoughts... and a sense of hope, all because she met Calum. True, he's a vampire hunter, but he of all the ones who hunted seemed to understand her. Instead of judging her and sending her to her grave so to speak, he had heard her out. Katarina had made a single friend, which changed her outlook on her unlife! Maybe there as hope, at least for her anyway. "Sad really that other vampires seem to only care about feeding and feeding..... and feeding." she thinks to herself as a slight smile curves her lips.

That very smile fades as she realizes now that in spite of really not wanting to, she must feed. It has already been three days since the last time. Sighing inwardly, Katarina pushes open the door to the mausoleum that is now her home. At first glance, the sky is beautiful, filled with plenty of stars for the star gazers. "At least that wasn't stolen from me, when I had been turned." Katarina thinks to herself as she silently slips out and closes the door behind her. "If there was a way I could feed without having to hunt, I would gladly take do so." she adds to her thoughts as she silently walks through the cemetary.

[Night]

"Thank you mother Alexandria. Thank you for taking me in and Thank you for the food and drink, the heavens knew i needed it." He smiled as he gave the old lady and big hug and he turned to leave and she reached out and grabbed his hand and she looked him in the eyes as she spoke with words true." Calum, in this world, in this city it would seem that evil and good was black and white. It would look like it was very easy to see. However child there are more colors than just Black and white, there is also grey and red and blue and all manner of colors. Calum, no matter what happens to you and no matter what kind of situation you may find yourself in, take hope and Solis in the fact that you can always come here, and I will be here to help you."

Calum smiled and turned and put his hands over hers and he held her hand lightly and he looked to her eyes with a little of a c*cky smile. " Mother I know there is more than good and evil, I know that demons and vampires can have hearts just as any holy man or woman can become tainted...there is no need to give me riddles and in the question of me needing you...I don't think i will but i will be sure to look you up if i need and bite to eat or a place to sleep." She shook her head and Calum turned away and headed outside into the darkness. He looked back to see the door close and the smile on the woman's face being gone and there was a look of worry. Calum shrugged it off and continued on his way. He walked and in no time at all he found himself at the cemetery that Katarina was living in and he walked through the from gates.

As he walked passed the threshold of the gate he felt a chill as if someone had walked over his grave. He looked around and then he shrugged lightly as he walked forward. Little did he know that he had walked into his fate, destiny, grave and all he thought he was doing was seeing a vampire who had become his friend. The order knew of Calums disregard for the rules and in him not killing the vampire when he first met her, he had failed them. There was one person who knew Calums path, who knew that this night would be the night he was cursed like so many he had slain. Form this moment on Calum would become the very thing he hunted and the Order knew about it and would hunt him down shortly after they got the word of such a change in the boy. Calum was part of something bigger than himself, the home he knew was not so good and the city he thought so evil wasn't hell...things were hidden from his eyes and in time he would learn that not all is as it seems.

[Katarina Blaque]

At the gate, Katarina stops in her tracks having as she catches the scent of a human and something else. Another vampire maybe? If so, it would definitely be stronger than her. But Calum's a priest. Surely he can handle it. So then why does she not take another step and leave the cemetary? For one reason. Fear. Not for herself, but for a friend. For Calum, the only hunter who understands her and the only real friend she's made since being in this part of the world. Turning on her heels, Katarina walked swiftly through the cemetary, wanting... needing to get to Calum as quickly as possible to get him out of harm's way!

"No! You can't have him, I won't let you!" Katarina nearly screams aloud, but it's in her mind only for now. Those swift steps of hers quickly turn from that to a run. She's no match for the older vampires, nor is she a match for any highly experienced vampire hunter, but she has to try! If she dies trying to protect him, then so be it! At least Katarina would finally be at peace, and she would die knowing she'd been able to save a good person.

[Night]

Calum looked over his shoulder to see the gate of the cemetery close and lock and he then pulled out both his hand guns and held them at his side one in each hand. He closed his eyes and listened and thought he heard movement and he turned in an instant and aimed both guns and fire and single round from each. Calum watched as his bullets flew towards the head and heart of a male vampire in black robes just standing there and then he twisted at the last second and dodged both bullets and they ended up hitting the head and heart of a reaper statue.

Calum jumped back and aimed again hand guns crossed in front of him and he glared at the elder vampire knowing that he was such from how he moved. " So are you out for a bite to eat? If so then I have to tell you...I have no blood for you, just led!" Calum opened fire each shot being aimed at a weak spot and at the heart. As the bullets flew The vampire managed to move around and dodge all of them and then when the vampire faded from sight Calum growled knowing what was about to come.

Calum turned to look behind him and aimed at claws went for his neck and it was cut and blood came from him and then the vampire sent out a wave of energy and Calum flew back and hit the door of a Mausoleum and it shatters as he hits the coffin within and he got up slowly and then he ran out and ran at the vampire and he jumped and kicked and the vampire raised it's hand grabbed his foot and flung him to the ground and As Calum went through the air, He aimed and fired one shot and it hit home.

The vampire licked it's lips and walked towards Calum and hissed and then Calum smiled even though he was beaten and bruised and he pointed to the vampires chest." Did you know that the bullets we use....have holy energy and a cross that has been itched into the silver and you have lost." The vampire looked to the small hole in it's chest and then it roared as he jumped at him and then the elder caught fire and turned to ash and Calum just laid there bleeding from his neck not knowing that Katarina was heading his way and that she hadn't fed in a while.

[Katarina Blaque]

Knowing she has no time to waste, Katarina takes a shorter route through the cemetary, ignoring the scent of freshly spilled blood for the time being. Feeding is the last thing that's on this young vampire's mind, while saving Calum is the very first thing on her mind..... and at the moment the ONLY thing that's on her mind. "Can't lose him. Can't lose him. Can't lose him." are the only words that repeat themselves within the confinies of Katarina's mind. It's been so very long since she's had a lasting friendship with anyone that she wants that more than even surviving!

Although the scent of fresh blood grows stronger as she draws nearer to the center of the cemetary, Katarina fights the hunger. As for the other vampire, he was gone. Good! That only means that Katarina won't have to fight him and will be able to focus only on Calum so she can help him in any way that she can! "Please don't let it be too late?" she sends up a prayer to a god that might have already abandoned her.

Upon reaching the mausoleum, Katarina can already tell that it might be too late. Still she had to try, and so going to her knees, she tore off a long strip of cloth from her skirt. "Just hang on. Please Calum." the young vampyress whispers softly as she finishes tears the material for a makeshift bandage. Ignoring the fact that her hands are shaking at this point, Katarina continues to bandage his neck. Even as her blood thirst grows, she continues to do her best to help her friend.

Refusing to give in and despair, Katarina forces her mind to focus and skip to the next step. Finding somewhere to take him. "But where? They would kill me on sight, even if I hadn't done anything to him." she thinks to herself, her lips turning down into a deep frown.

[Night]

Calum smiled lightly as he looked up to see that Katarina was there and he chuckled lightly as some blood left his mouth. " Damn, was not expecting to fight a master vampire on my way to bid you a happy hello and good night." He coughed lightly as he closed his eyes for a sec as he started to feel dizzy and then he shook his head to gather himself." Did I tell you that you were beautiful? I think I did but I can't quite remember. It could be the loss of blood but I'm not sure." He laughed a little, obviously being affected by the amount of blood he had lost. He reached up to her cheek and his hand had some blood on it and when he touched her cheek gently some of his blood was placed there and a droplet of it rolled over her cheek and to her lips.

" No one would believe me at the Order if I told them a Vampire helped out...God I would love to see the look on there faces. He made his voice sound like an old man." Vampires are demons and monsters......They can never be trusted! They must all die and would sooner eat you then help you." He then spoke like himself again as he answered his old man voice." Oh yeah! well how do you explain the fact that a very pretty vampire girl saved me and stopped my bleeding with a torn peace of clothing." Calum laughed again and relaxed as he looked to her. " I don't regret being your friend, and if I have to die I'm happy I get to spend my last few moments with you..."

He leaned up without warning and even though it hurt to move and he kissed her quickly on the lips and then went to rest again as he laid there and he cringed from the action." Probably would have been better if I asked first and had you move instead of me." He Smiled and coughed some more as he looked to the sky and his eyes looked like they were getting dim.

[Katarina Blaque]

Calum's smile brightens his face, which would have normally brought Katarina to smile, and now because she feels ass though she wants to cry, the smile Katarina offers Calum is of sorrow. "Save your strength." she whispers softly as she fights against the thirst as she bandages his neck. Feeling the droplet of blood upon her lips, Katarina licks it off, and is instantly assaulted by a hazy memory. One of Calum's. It's like having a glimpse of his soul. It's then that it occurs to Katarina that he's complimented her upon her looks. Beautiful? Hardly. "And you're the one who is beautiful, Calum. Real monsters have no reasoning. Real monsters are prejudiced and cold just because." Katarina says quietly.

Even knowing how wrong their precious order is brings a slight smile to the young vampyress's lips as she quietly listens to the priest whom so easily became her friend. Not a single word is spoken at the moment as Katarina finishes bandaging Calum's neck, and carefully positions him so that he's alittle more comfortable. The most important and urgent task is complete, and now she must find someone to help them! And mentally now she prepares herself for the worst. "I won't let you.." she thinks to herself. Oh Katarina could make it so he would never die unless taken down by a hunter, but she doesn't want to do that to him. And so she won't!

Both worried and surprised at the same time, Katarina returns with her own kiss though gentle and soft. "If you were to pass, then I would be saddened... beside myself and bereft." the vampyress says quietly as she delves into his mind, seeking any memories of anyone who might be kind enough to help him, and open minded enough to believe that she was not the one too cause Calum injury. "Stay with me, Calum." Katarina whispers softly "Please stay with me."

[Night]

Calum looked to her and smiled as his eyes started to shut, in his mind she would see a old woman at a church who helped him and in his blood she would see day after day, hour after hour and finally minute after minute of training and drilling of lies into his head about the evil in the world. She would see that he had a good heart and could never kill someone without them trying to kill him first. He sighed lightly as he looked to her and he touched her cheek again before his arms felt heavy and it fell to the ground. " You are not evil...." The words came from his heart as he spoke the best he could." You are beautiful, nit just because of your looks but due to your heart...you may not think so but it beats and you are loving...even now you help me when you could bite me and kill me....You are my first and only friend and I wanted you to know that you are good....I...I Lo..." He couldn't finish. She would hear his heart slow and start to flutter and his eyes did the same, his life was leaving him slowly and it looked like this would be his end. The master vampire had caught him off guard and he would die because of his lack of keeping alert, because he thought that he was seeing a friend.

[Katarina Blaque]

Katarina feels as though her mind was being flooded with knowledge that were mostly lies. The only truth she can see is how badly she needs someone's... anyone's help to keep Calum from dying. That woman the one in the church seems to be a be a good candidate. If she helped him before, why would she not help him now! So sifting through everything else, except for the priest's voice and the words coming from his heart, Katarina focused and concentrated on just one thing.... finding that old woman in the church!

Even now as she finds the nun, Katarina can feel Calum's life fade away. Every breath was more shallow and his blood, what's left of it courses more slowly through his veins. Acting on a prayer and hope, Katarina focused all the more harder and sent out a telepath cry for help to the older woman ~"Please help me! At the cemetary! He hasn't much time! Please. Please help!"~ And that's all. If there's to be any explaining, it will happen later.

With her attention back on Calum, the vampyress carefully positions herself so that he rests back against her legs as she kneels. It isn't until she gently brushes his hair out of his eyes that she realizes her hands are shaking. Probably from not feeding. "Stay with me, Calum. Don't go away from me." she whispers softly. If she were still human, she would indeed be crying.

[Night]

Katarina.....I....thank you for being my friend..." His eyes were fading fast and the old lady was heard within the head of the vampire..." Darling.....there is nothing I can do for him, this is his fate he was ment to die and follow an Angel through the darkness. This was ment to happen the choice now...belongs to you dear. " Her voice was gone and Calum was cold and his eyes grey, his heart barely beat and it seemed that death was only moments away now. What could that riddle have ment, following an Angel through the darkness. Whatever of meant it was clear that Katarina had something to do with this man, this man that became friends with a vampire, this man that had awakened the heart within Katarina.

[Katarina Blaque]

Choice? Some choice. Katarina doesn't want to turn him into what she is. A vampire. A monster. At least that's what they would all think of Calum, and then they would hunt him down. But Katarina knows that if she doesn't turn him, she'll lose him indefinitely. Oh how she hates the order, and most of all, she hates them for what they're forcing upon them, though indirectly! Instantly, Katarina pushes thoughts of the priests away and out of her mind, save for Calum. She wouldn't take his blood from the wound the elder made on him, instead the young vampyress quickly lowers her head and pierces the skin over her friend's heart and takes just enough of his blood into herself. Using her own fangs, Katarina then pierces the skin on her wrist right through to her vein and gently places her wounded wrist against Calum's lips. This way, if he was too weak to drink at first, it would drip down into his mouth and then into his body. "I'm sorry..." she whispers. But is she really? There were only two choices. Die with him, or save him by turning him. Katarina wants to save him, even if it turned out that he would resent her for it. At least he wouldn't be lost to the world.

[Night]

Calum's eyes got wide as he felt the sudden breath of Katarna on his skin and then a quick pain shorty after. He had been feeling weak like he was going to die but this was different. He felt all his blood and pain and all strength leave him all at once as he looked down to Katarina and it was only after she brought her wrist to his face did he know what was going on but it was already to late to argue. He felt the liquid hit his lips and he pulled away at first but when he felt the cold hands of death reaching for him and trying to claim him he slowly opened his mouth and started to take it in and then from the taste he did his best to reach and holds her wrist close to him as he closed his eyes feeling a sweet burn start to fill him. "Katarina...." He whispered her name lightly and then he came to a stop as his body started to feel like it was on fire. He was in pain all of a sudden and he started to squirm and reach for her and he yelled a little as he felt like he was dying all over again. He tried to fight it and then all of a sudden he stopped moving and his breathing stopped and darkness took him. He was caught in a state of darkness and limbo and he had no idea how long he was like but then all of a sudden his eyes opened and he looked up to the girl he had just said he cared about and was giving his good byes to and his vision was better than ever. He felt really thirsty but he felt great....it took him some time as he laid there and took in all that was around him before he knew what had happened. " Wait......you.....I was dying...I should be dead..." He looked up at her and he sat up and kept his eyes to hers, his eyes were no longer the beautiful blue they had been, now they were as red a s the blood he had just taken into himself and he couldn't understand what was going on.

[Katarina Blaque]

Katarina sat stock still. Not even a single 'breath' left her lips as she watched Calum turn from a dying human priest to a vampire. A monster as some would call him. Not even all through his expressed confusion did the vampyress speak or move. Why was this? Because in the first time in her life, Katarina was paralyzed with fear. Calum has come so dear to her that losing him would break her heart!

What could she say to him that would make it better? What could she say justify her actions? Every human was born with a free will and the ability to make their own choices, but Calum wasn't given a choice. Katarina took it from him, and she knew that. This is the very reason it's taken her so long to find her voice. Even then, it was hard for Katarina to speak. What if he just turned away from her like every one else she turned? Of course she wouldn't be able to blame him.

"You were.... going to. I didn't know what else to do. The little bit of blood that you coughed mixed with my own. I saw in blood memories a woman who's kind and would help." Katarina began, and knew that her excuse was either lame or just a fail. But the only thing she had to lose was him, so why not be honest? "She said... you were supposed to follow an angel through darkness... that was my choice to make." the vampyress said softly, her voice breaking alittle at this point. Never let anyone tell you that vampires have no emotions, it's not true! Katarina looked down, but she didn't have it within herself to look Calum in the eyes, so instead she looked to the his right side. "I didn't want to lose you, and thought that even if you hated me afterwards, the world would still have you."

[Night]

Calum sat up slowly as he looked himself over and he was a little paler now but not by much he had never liked the sun and he looked around seeing everything so clear." You know the elders would so say they told me so right now if they were her....that and kill me for being what I am now" as he looked around it was when he looked to Katarina that he noticed he was really hungry and he had to study vampires while in the order so he knew right away what it was and he couldn't deny another feeling coming from him as he looked to her. A want, a need filled him, he had already liked her before all this happened so could it be that being turned to a vampire made his desires even stronger? He took in a big breath for the first time since turning and he could smell so many things, as a human the smell had been simple, dust and death is what be smelled but this...now he could pick up everything all the smells down to the flowers in the area. He finally stood up and slowly as he looked to her, what kind of bond would they share now that she was considered his maker and what did he have to expect from the order.

Far off with a rifle and scope an "order judge" being one like Calum who was suppose to kill all vampires on site was watching the whole thing take place. The order member had been there since the elder vampire attacked Calum and he had watched as his brother was turned to a monster and he spoke lightly." Now kill her and take your own life for that it what you should do, you are unclean now end it" he said lightly not fearing that they would see him for he was to far away and he watches as not only did Calum not kill her but he also didn't end his own life. " such a failure. I can't believe you were the best..." The man put his rifle away which folded to make a cross of all things and it went on his back and he called in to the father" He failed, just like you thought he would and just like his father...we killed his father and will have to kill him too..." Words were exchanged and then the order judge put his phone away and headed out, he would meet Calum again later.

Calum walked close to Katarina and he touched her cheek as his eyes were a burning red and he leaned in for what looked like a kiss and the moment his lips touched hers he came too and pulled away..." Why...why do I feel such a strong pull towards you.."

[Katarina Blaque]

Katarina felt such relief and joy that she could kiss him. Calum didn't strike out at her in anger, or run from her in fear, nor did he express that he hated her now for turning him into a so called monster! "I care not what they would have said. When they are forced into being a monster, then I'll care what they have to say." she said bluntly. In all honesty, she hadn't cared what anyone thought, except for those she had tried to turn earlier to stave off the loneliness. And once they left her alone out of anger and hatred, Katarina chose not to think about them anymore. The fairly young and somewhat inexperienced vampyress pushed those thoughts aside and allowed herself a smile.

Moving onto other thoughts, Katarina now knew that it wouldn't be safe for them to stay in the cemetary and that they should move... and quickly at that. The order that Calum once was part of now was sure to know of this location and that would ultimately lead to their distruction. "We shouldn't stay here, Calum. There is no doubt that soon, the order you were part of will soon know of this location and of what happened to you. To stay would lead to our distruction." she said pointedly and immediately went into thought. The problem now is finding another place to go, and soon. The night does NOT last forever. What's even more important is that Katarina would only be able to protect Calum to an extent. She needed to find an experienced vampyre who would be willing to teach them the ways of their kind.

All thoughts about moving are paused as Calum's voice gains Katarina's attention and she gazes at him. "When a person becomes a vampyre, and please do not quote me since it is only what I have read, their senses become keener. Every smell. Every sight. Every sound. Even our strength and reflexes are hightened.... and our desires are stronger, but are much easier to control." the young vampyress explained quietly, and then added "If we could find an elder who would be willing to teach us both the ways of our kind, it would be a good thing. I am not experienced as one would think. I was never schooled, so everything I know now, are the things I had to learn on my own."