The thunder cracks in the distant sky as the young boy presses down on a iron bar, opening the window of the castle. He chews his lip and slips through it, trying not to make a sound. His bare feet hit the floor and his rags rip a bit on the window ledge. He blinks and pulls the rags free, silently padding down the hall, his eyes scanning the walls and tables searching for something. He then enters the study and spots the Large crystal on the Fire Place. He tip toes over and touches it.

The Angels Tear, glistens in the light of the room. It doesn't even seem to hold any power to the child. But he knows it has the power to heal. He picks it up and holds it in the palm of his hands. The Crystal glows a soft blue color.

A vice like Hand grabs the child's shoulder and spins him around into a Harsh slap. The Crystal is grabbed from him and He whimpers softly.

The Mage glares down at the child, "What are you doing here?"

The boy shifts and bites his lip, looking up at him, "Please.. my friend is really sick and he needs the Crystal to help him."

The Mage frowns and crosses his arms, "Why didn't you just ask?"

The child bows his head, "Because... people won't help a Street Rat, and I don't have any money."

The mage frown softens, but he just Scoops the child up and holds him on his hip as he grabs his cloak and heads out the door, "Show me where he is."

The Child smiles and directs them to a clearing close to the Mage's castle. The Mage frowns when they enter it and no one is there. He sets the boy down and Walks over to the dirty blanket laying there. He crouches down and sniffs softly. The Unmistakable Scent of Vampire clings to the air. He looks at the horse tracks the lead in and out of the Clearing. Someone took the other child. He frowns when he smells a Second vampire's scent.. The softer, less tainted fragrance of a neonate Vampire. He sighs and shakes his head Standing up.

"CHRISSY!!" Calls out the child as he dashes to look for his Friend.

The Mage's arm swings out scooping him up, quickly wrapping him securely in his cloak. The child wiggles and whimpers trying to find Chrissy. The Mage just sighs softly and carries him back towards the Castle. Once inside he bolts the door and sets the child in a bed, pushing back the raven black curly hair from his eyes.

"What's your name child?" the Mage asks quietly.

"Sean," whispers the boy.

The Mage nods, "Sean, I'm Marius and your going to stay here."

Sean bites his lip, "What about Chrissy?"

Marius sighs softly and strokes Sean's hair, "Chrissy is ok now. He's a Vampire."

Sean blinks and frowns softly, "But then.. I'll never see him again.. Because the Vampires live far away."

Marius cocks his head to one side, "I'm a Vampire and I live here, yours and Chrissy's paths will cross again."

Sean sighs softly and nods, he lets out a Yawn and curls under the blankets. Marius strokes back Sean's hair and sighs softly as he thinks to himself.

*Marius what have you gotten yourself into. You just adopted a 10 yr old child. *

When Marius looks at the sleeping face of Sean, he sighs and then smiles softly, "Marius, you're a an idiot or worse, for even considering this."

The End