Daniel slowed his pace a tiny bit as Armand fumbled a few items around in the shopping bag. Usually his maker had no problem keeping up, but with his mind pre-occupied, he had not yet noticed that his slightly shorter gait was making him fall behind a little, and Danny didn't like to get too far ahead. It tended to make Armand feel bad, and that would make him irritable and cold again, and Daniel loved having him at least comfortable enough to where he would speak to him. It was a miracle in itself that Armand had agreed to come shopping at the mall.

"Wait a moment," Armand said suddenly.

Danny pulled to a halt right in front of a Bath and Body Shop. "Um, I'll wait for you here, Boss," he said, taking a step back from the stench.

Armand smiled wryly and handed him his bag. "My poor Danny, still too much of a fledgling to handle strong smells."

Danny rolled his eyes and leaned against the wall, several feet away from the door. "Yeah, rub it in, why don't you?"

Armand laughed and entered the store, disappearing behind the rosy colored shelves. Daniel just sighed and closed his eyes, crossing his arms. He loved Armand, but the little runt could be damned insufferable at times.

I wonder if I could get him in chains, Danny thought, tilting his head for a moment. Or at least I could get strong enough to pin him down. Or maybe I could--

"Danny? Daniel, is that you?!"

Daniel opened one eye lazily, but when he saw the speaker, his eyes opened wide in shock. "Janet?" he whispered. "No..."

The girl in front of him, with dirty blonde hair and violet eyes just like him, ran from the opposite store and wrapped her arms around him. He held himself back from returning the embrace.

"Oh, Danny, it's been ages since we've seen you! Why haven't you written, why don't you call? Mom and Dad've been worried so much about you!"

Daniel didn't say anything, wishing she would disappear and Armand would come and take him home.

"How long have you been down here?" she continued. "Are you okay? Damn, feels like you've been working out. Danny?" She realized that he wasn't answering, and she took a step back. "Danny?"

"What are you doing here?" he asked finally.

"We're all here," she smiled. "Mom and Dad and me and John, we're all here on vacation. Come on, they're in here somewhere!" She tugged his hand, surprised that he wasn't moving. "Daniel?"

He shook his head and pulled his hand away. "No, Janet, I'm not going anywhere."

"But don't you want to see them?" she asked in a very small voice.

"They kicked me out," he tried to explain. "Dad beat me up and sent me away. Why would I want to see him again?" He looked inside the store nervously. "Look, you'd better take off. It's not safe for you here."

"What? Danny, are you in some kind of trouble?"

"No, but you have to leave." He could just imagine what Armand might do to her. His fledgling could run away by himself, and Armand knew Danny would return, but when mortals showed any kind of threat of stealing him away, real or imagined, Armand saw nothing wrong in killing them.

"Danny, if you need help--?"

"Look, damn it, will you just leave me alone?!"

"Daniel, what is wrong?" came a soft voice to his right.

Daniel turned and faced Armand, terrified of what might happen. "Nothing, she was just leaving."

Janet stared almost in shock at her brother's companion. This boy couldn't be eighteen, no way! Maybe not even sixteen. And Daniel seemed to be afraid of this stranger, even though he was much smaller. Danny was a few shades from blindly obeying him. Her jaw set and she put her hands on her hips.

"No, I wasn't. Who are you?"

"Armand," he replied smoothly. "And you would be?"

"Janet," she snarled, almost daring him to try anything. "His sister."

"Ah, that explains the resemblance."

Janet shifted feet. Armand disturbed her. He sounded weird, older than he looked.

"Danny, please come with me," she turned back to her brother, pleading with her eyes. "Dad really feels sorry for what happened, I know he wants to see you again. And Mom, too, we all want to see you again."

"Sorry, Janet," Daniel shook his head. "I can't go back. I can never go back."

Armand gave his new shopping bag to Daniel and pulled him easily away, turning him from the mortal. "Danny, it's time to go. We have other business to attend to, remember? Go wait for me in the car, and I'll be right there."

Daniel was about argue, but Armand gave him his don't-you-dare-disobey-me-right-now look. His fledgling sighed and nodded. "Sure, boss." He took off immediately.

"Danny, wait!" Janet called after him, but Armand stepped in front of her. "Get out of my way, you little freak!" she growled.

"Daniel is no longer who you once knew," he said softly. "And he does not have my permission to see you."

"What?"

"He knows this," Armand continued. "He understands what will happen if he speaks with you again. I suggest that you stay away from him from now on."

"He's my brother," she fumed. "Part of my family!"

"No. He has a new family, one who loves him and would never cast him out. One who would keep him safe and take care of him when he needs it. One who does not obsess about his sexual orientation or religious preferences." He laughed at her astonished face. "Oh, yes, my little Danny has told me all about you, after a little encouragement. He told me all about how your father beat him and sent him out all alone into a cruel and unforgiving world. You should thank me for taking him in." Armand turned and started after his fledgling.

"Just who the hell are you?" she said, a cold tone in her voice. "What are you?"

Armand chuckled and looked over his shoulder at her. "Me? I am his lover." And on that note, he disappeared from her sight.

Daniel was sitting in the back of Armand's limousine, leaning his head back against the seat, wondering what was going on. Was Armand killing his little sister? She had always given him a hard time back home, but still, she was family. He glanced back the mall, wanting desperately to go back inside and make sure she was all right, but he shook his head and looked away again. Armand had told him to go to the car. He sighed and pounded the seat with his fist, this not-knowing was eating at him. Finally he worked up enough courage to go back, but as soon as he turned toward the door, Armand was already climbing in next to him.

"Back home," he told the driver, giving his lover a harsh glare.

Daniel settled back down in his seat, staring out of the corner of his eye to see if Armand had any traces of blood on his fangs or fingers. Armand noticed the poorly-hid scrutiny and rolled his eyes.

"No, I didn't kill her," he snarled. "Should I have?"

Danny shook his head quickly. "I...I'm sorry, I didn't even know she was here...I would've gone into the shop if I'd seen her...I won't go back, I promise--!"

Armand put his hand on Daniel's thigh, quieting him instantly. "I know. That is why she is still alive." He chuckled humorlessly. "Aside from you, all of the coven's relations are dead or distant. I forget sometimes that you still have living family who know you intimately."

Daniel shook his head. "No, they don't. They didn't know me then and they sure as hell don't know me now."

"And they won't get the chance. Daniel, when we get home, you will write your sister a letter explaining as vaguely as you can why you cannot go back. Send whatever else you want to her, I don't really care, as long as she knows she cannot have you as a brother again. I will make certain they can't find out where you are now."

Daniel nodded slowly, giving a little sigh. Armand noticed and narrowed his eyes.

"What's the matter? Do you want to go back to them now? Do you miss human sensations?"

Daniel smiled and glanced at his lover. "No...not a bit. But I do miss something..."

"Oh?" Armand asked, curious. "And what is that?"

"A lover's touch," Daniel whispered. "Gentle and kind, without the need to control or subjugate. I miss that."

Armand looked out the window, intentionally avoiding his fledgling's eyes. "I...I...I expect that letter finished before the night is out, understood?"

Daniel lay his hand on Armand's. "I understand. I can wait. I have all of eternity to wait for you."

"What?"

Daniel just rolled his eyes and shook his head. "I'll have the letter done in a couple of hours."

Armand didn't answer.

Daniel sat down at the mahogany desk and took out the expensive stationery he used on rare occasions. The paper was made up to look like ancient parchment, with ornate scrollwork down the side. He gave himself six or seven sheets to use, although he was sure he wouldn't use more than two. He picked up the erasable ink pen and held it over the paper.

"Dear Sister," he muttered aloud. "No, better just write Dear Janet. No...not that either."

Daniel broke off and erased that bit. Sometimes things had a habit of popping out of him.

Daniel counted out the thick wad of hundred dollar bills, then wrapped a thick rubber band around them and tossed them into an envelope. He reached for the letter, but before he could touch it, a smaller hand slipped it out from under his grasp. Knowing better than to complain, he glanced up as Armand held the letter and read over it.

Armand's eyes went side to side as he glanced over the letter, chuckling now and then. "Ten thousand?" he asked derisively. "Is that all you're worth?"

"To them," Danny nodded.

"Poor Danny-boy," Armand sighed, folding the letter up and putting it in the envelope. "I'll make sure this is hand-delivered to wherever they are now, so they can't trace it." He looked outside through the window, then back at his fledgling. "It's getting early. Get in bed. I'll join you shortly." He briefly lay his hand on Daniel's cheek, stroking the soft skin as if it belonged to him, then turned sharply and disappeared.

Daniel obediently undressed and slid into bed, turning on his side. Why now? Why did they have to find him now, when everything was going great? He'd almost been able to forget about them and what had happened before.

He closed his eyes and a single tear squeezed out. As he started to cry in earnest, he felt Armand slide in behind him and put his arms around him. There was an inhumanly gentle kiss on his throat, and then the hot sting of fangs piercing into him. He groaned in ecstasy as Armand drank down his painful memories.

"You won't go back to them," Armand whispered as he withdrew. "I won't let you. You belong to me now."

"Yes, I do," Daniel agreed, vaguely nodding his head. "Don't let them find me again...please...don't let them...want to stay here...love you..."

Armand smiled at the confused plea. "My fledgling, my first-born, do you think I would let you out of my grasp so easily? If I have to, I'll put a collar on you and leash you to the bed."

Daniel grinned and adjusted to his other side, his eyes still red but no longer bleeding. "Will you do that anyway?"

Armand gave him one of his rare smiles and kissed his eyelids. "Danny, I simply do not understand why you enjoy these fetishes of yours."

"I like to know I belong to you," Daniel answered readily. "I like to know you want me enough to cage me up and punish me if I try to go." He wrapped his fingers around Armand's wrist and pulled it closer to his mouth, and he licked the skin shielding the veins. "Mmm...your blood..." he whispered faintly, just before he bit down and started to sip at the steady stream.

Armand smirked and allowed Daniel to feed, filled with a loving feeling that he was taking care of his fledgling. Before too much had been drained away, though, Armand took his wrist away, spilling drops of blood over Daniel's lips. He licked them away before Daniel could.

"Your blood...so sweet," Daniel sighed. "You know I love you?"

Armand nodded. "I know." He lay down next to his fledgling and stretched his arm over his lover's chest, as if he was staking a claim. With a final kiss on his cheek, Daniel fell asleep. Armand watched him breathe softly, his chest barely rising enough for an immortal to see, let alone a human. Every mortal doctor in existence would bet his life that Daniel was dead, but Armand could feel his warm breath on his cheek. His fledgling was so vulnerable now.

Armand cuddled against his taller lover, nestling his head on his shoulder as he closed his eyes. Tomorrow night he would take his fledgling somewhere that would take his mind off of this. Yes, one of the casinos, their lights always made Daniel happy. And he could give him plenty of coins and dollars to drop inside the sparkly machines, and then they could watch a few of the laser shows...

Armand smiled to himself. Yes, tomorrow night, I'll keep him amused, and he'll forget all about those mortals. And when he no longer cares or remembers, I'll kill every last one of them. No one will take my fledgling away.

Daniel stared in mute fascination at the flashing lights plastered on the outside of the casinos lining the street. It was like a miniature Las Vegas, each casino had a theme. One of them has a space-age theme, with white stars and moons flickering on a blue background and a rocket ship that blasted off from the roof and crashed into the pond below every fifteen minutes. Another had gone tropical with a Save the Earth theme. A dense layer of real plants and flowers covered every square inch of the ground outside and the walls, growing along the green tracklights and brightly lit plastic flowers. Realistic wild animals like jaguars, pythons, crocodiles and monkeys were scattered sparingly in the plants. The Oceanic casino had taken it a step farther, putting their money machines inside a tropical aquarium with thousands of colored fish swimming around. And yet another, the Firebird, looked like it was simply glowing in red and orange lights.

Armand laughed at his lover's look. "Lost in fledgling heaven, are you?"

Daniel grinned and tugged him forward. "Let's go in here first!"

Armand allowed Daniel to pull him into the Galactic, ignoring the rocket as it crashed into the pond beside them until they, along with several other mortals, were caught in the tidal splash of water that crested over them and soaked their clothes. Daniel looked down at Armand and couldn't repress his giggle. His maker's auburn hair was dripping past his eyes and he was glowering at his fledgling.

"Let's go dry off," Daniel suggested, "inside their heated casino."

Armand predictably perked up at the word "heated" and walked in with Daniel, and they broke away from the main casino to disappear around a corner. They found a small broom closet and ducked inside. Daniel almost bumped his nose against the wall moment later.

"Boss, this room is awfully small," he complained, turning around carefully. He didn't want to upset the metal shelves and the cleaners there, or the chair in the corner.

"Perfect," Armand whispered, locking the door behind himself. He lay his hand on Daniel's chest and pushed him up against the wall, dragging his clawed finger down the front of his fledgling's shirt and tearing it down the middle. Blood followed after from the cut in Daniel's flesh, and he stumbled into the chair so he wouldn't faint. Armand's touch was always hot enough to make him light-headed.

Now that Daniel was a bit lower, Armand started to peel the wet cloth from his body, revealing the long scratch. Blood trickled down the cut and he lapped it up for a moment. He pushed the shirt down and off, and glanced around the shelves surrounding them.

"Just what I wanted," he said to himself, picking up the coil of nylon ropes.

"Boss, someone might come in," Daniel started to protest. Having sex was one thing. Being tied up and helpless was quite another.

"I know," Armand replied, crossing Daniel's wrists and binding them tightly. There was an exposed beam above them, obviously where the maintenance crews entered between floors, and Armand tossed the rope around it, using it to haul Daniel's arms up. He sat down on his lap to make sure he didn't get up, and once his lover was drawn fairly tight, he tied the other end back around Daniel's throat, forming a snug noose.

"If you struggle," he whispered in his fledgling's ear, "you'll strangle yourself."

"What a temptation," Daniel grinned.

Armand got off of him and knelt down so far that he could have put his head on Daniel's lap. He undid the black jeans and pulled them off of his fledgling, tossing them unceremoniously on the floor. "And once again, my fledgling goes about without anything underneath," Armand playfully scolded him. He glanced up at his bound lover and smiled wickedly. "How long can you go before you scream?" he asked.

Daniel gave him a confused look. "I don't--"

Armand interrupted him abruptly, bending down and taking him firmly into his mouth, which was a bit too small for the job, so he used one hand for the rest of Daniel's length. Daniel bit down on his lip to stifle his groans, and his hands clenched tight over his rope for support. Armand finished him off once, but he didn't stop, and Daniel's vampire stamina kicked in, keeping him going unwillingly. Twice. Three times. Five. Eight.

Armand smiled as he worked, amused at his fledgling's plaintive whimpers. Each one was higher pitched than the last, louder and stronger...wouldn't be long now. He started to use more strength to hurry it up.

Finally with the last climax Daniel couldn't hold it in anymore. He opened his mouth and took a deep breath, about to let the entire casino know what was going on in the broom closet, but Armand quickly swallowed the blood he shot and leaned up to roughly kiss his fledgling, silencing him. Daniel made a strangled sound as his voice shut off, panting even as he pushed his lips against his maker's. He tried to lean forward, but he noose started to cut into him and he had to relax again, relinquishing all control to Armand.

"There, now wasn't that fun?" Armand breathed in his ear.

"That...was...torture," Daniel said between gasps.

"I'm glad you liked it," was his reply.

Suddenly the doorknob started to turn, then shake. They both looked to the side as whoever was behind it tried to fight the lock.

"What the hell--?" the thin mortal voice said. "Who locked this?"

"Look, the light's on in there!" another said, looking at the crack beneath the door. "Someone's in there!"

Armand wasted no time with fumbling over the knots. Instead he slashed the ropes apart with his fangs and helped Daniel up. He pointed silently up at the maintenance shaft above them, then started climbing up nimbly. Daniel slipped into his pants as fast as he could and grabbed his tattered shirt, turning off the light before he followed his maker.

Well hidden in the dark ceiling space, they watched as the humans finally found a key and unlocked the door. Two men dressed in the casino's maintenance uniforms came in and looked around, picking up the shredded rope.

"Damn," one of them whistled. "You think we got a wild animal in here somewhere?"

Daniel grinned and kissed Armand, but in the dark he missed and nailed his nose. "He's got that right," he whispered.

Armand ignored the comment.

"Yeah, I'll bet it's a feral cat. Probably went into the roof space. I'll get the ladder if you tell the supervisor."

"What? You wanna go up for that?"

"Hey, you want a dead cat hanging around in the ceiling? Hell, with our luck it'd be a Florida panther."

"Oh, fucking wonderful. Yeah, you damn right I'll tell the supervisor. Have fun roaming around up there."

"Smart ass."

Armand and Daniel took off through the darkness, quickly drying off the rest of the moisture from their clothes in the hot air.

"We'll have to find you a new shirt," Armand said softly. "We can drop down into the bathrooms and find someone there."

"Boss, doesn't the casino have cameras in the bathrooms?" Daniel asked, following behind Armand as they crept through the ceiling.

"Not here, they don't," Armand whispered back.

"How do you know?"

Armand stopped and looked back. "I just do," he said with a grin. "Now hush and keep crawling."

"Sure thing, boss," Daniel said amiably as they continued. "I absolutely love the view back here."

Armand paused again. "What do you mean?"

Daniel crawled over Armand's smaller body, wrapping his arms around his maker's waist and holding him obscenely close. "You have a cute rear, Armand. It's fun watching it wiggle back and forth when you go on all fours."

Armand growled low in his throat and kept moving, wrenching himself out of Daniel's grasp. "I do not wiggle," he hissed.

"Of course not," his fledgling giggled, and he put his hand out to feel Armand up.

"Cut that out!"

"Mmm...but you're so soft!"

"We're here anyway, so stop that."

Daniel reluctantly watched Armand remove one of the rectangular ceiling tiles beneath them and set it aside. With a final warning to his fledgling to be quiet, Armand jumped down into the over-sized handicapped stall. Daniel slipped as he went through and landed on top of his lover, making them both collapse in a pile.

"Daniel!" Armand whispered furiously. "You are so damn lucky this place is empty! Get up!"

Daniel chuckled and adjusted himself so that while he was still on top of Armand, now he was facing him properly. He put his hands on Armand's wrists and used his greater weight to hold him down, stealing a kiss before Armand had the presence of mind to throw him off.

"And you," Daniel smiled, "are so damn lucky this place is clean!" He pressed his lips against the smaller mouth, forcing another kiss. Armand snarled and managed to sink his fangs into Daniel's cheek, drawing blood and making Daniel break away with a startled cry.

"Get off of me!" Armand yelled, pushing him back against the wall. "You little fool, how dare you force yourself on me? Get up!" He turned and left the stall, ignoring the muffled whimpers that echoed behind him.

Daniel grabbed a few squares of tissue and wiped away the tears that were mingling with the blood oozing from his face. He'd gone too far, he knew that, but it had felt so good...he sighed and flushed the tissues away.

"Sorry, boss," he mumbled in a tiny voice as he came out.

Armand ignored him, instead smoothing his hair back in the mirror. Daniel was about to kneel down in front of Armand and try to make amends, when someone abruptly entered. Daniel ducked into a stall, waiting for his prey to come close enough to make a quick and silent kill, when the man walked up to Armand.

"Kinda young to be in here, ain't ya?" he asked in an authoritative voice.

Armand looked up at him, pretending to be an innocent teen. The mortal had pretty black hair and blue eyes, but he was too old for his liking. Still, now he had the perfect chance to get back at his fledgling.

"Well, no one said anything before," he said softly. His torn jeans and loose shirt made him look even younger than he normally did. "I didn't think anyone would notice."

"And you're just running around with your friends?" the man said, his smile getting a little bigger.

"No, I'm by myself." At that point Armand acted as if he was getting nervous, and he walked back to the large stall. Just as he was turning to close the door, the human rushed forward and pushed him back, locking the door behind. He put one hand on Armand's back and slammed him against the wall, intending to knock him senseless for a moment. Armand played along and groaned as he allowed his arms to fall limply into the man's hold.

The mortal put him on the floor and took a pair of handcuffs out of his jacket, then grabbed Armand's wrists and locked them above his head to the metal bar on the wall. Once his captive's upper body was immobilized, he produced a ball gag from the same pocket and shoved the red ball deep into Armand's mouth, fixing the straps behind his head.

Geez, this guy came prepared, Daniel thought, watching from the next stall. He had to stand carefully on the toilet, he didn't want to step into the water like he had done before. This was one of Armand's favorite games, but it always upset Daniel.

Now Armand started to play, acting as if he was struggling to escape. He tugged on the handcuffs and shook his head, trying to dislodge the gag, and then kicked his legs around. The human reached back and slapped Armand viciously, bringing a flush to his cheek.

"Hold still, or you'll get worse," he sneered. He reached up under Armand's shirt and caressed his nipples, but soon tired of that. His hands went down to Armand's jeans and undid the buttons, pulling them off quickly. Armand groaned again, closing his eyes and turning his head while the man fondled him.

Daniel cursed to himself and jumped over the partition, landing silently as the mortal continued. Armand glared at him, but Daniel ignored the look. He bent over and lightly tapped on the man's shoulder.

"Hello," he grinned sweetly.

"What the fuck--?"

The human whirled, but not fast enough. Daniel brutally tore into his throat and drank his blood as if he was a shot glass. Sealing such a massive rip in the skin took a few seconds, and afterward he positioned him on the toilet, as if he had died that way.

Daniel turned around and took the gag out of Armand's mouth before he bit through the straps. "How can you let them do that to you?" he asked, kneeling.

"I happen to like playing with my food," Armand smiled. "You didn't have to finish him so fast, though. I would have shared."

Daniel didn't reply. Knowing he wouldn't be able to get a kiss out of his maker, he started at his chest and lightly kissed his way down the abdomen and navel, finishing between Armand's legs before putting his mouth around him. Armand moaned and grasped the handcuffs for support, finding none when he accidentally broke them. He put his hands on Daniel's shoulders, biting back his cry as he climaxed once. He didn't stop Daniel as his fledgling kept going.

"Danny..." he sighed with a smile.

Daniel put one hand on Armand's side and gently squeezed, knowing exactly how it would affect his maker. He wasn't trying to make Armand scream his name in a fit of ecstasy, he was only doing his best to improve his mood. Armand tensed at the new sensation, then relaxed and surrendered momentarily to his lover's ministrations. Five minutes later, he pushed Daniel away.

"That's enough," he whispered, grabbing his pants. "Get his shirt."

Daniel tilted his head and flashed the puppyish grin Armand always said he liked, then stretched his arms back and snagged the black t-shirt from the corpse beside them. The clothing fit a little too snug, but at least it kept Armand's attention on him.

"Wanna go make a few bets?" he asked.

Armand grinned dryly and buttoned up his jeans. "Don't forget his wallet. I prefer losing someone else's money when I'm gambling."

Daniel searched out the wallet and looked through it eagerly. The thrill of going through someone else's property never left him, no matter how many times he did it. "Wow, he must have had a lucky streak," he said, showing the mass of bills to Armand.

The elder took the wallet and looked through it, pulling out a slip of paper from between the money. "No, he'd just completed a minor transaction between his customers. I had no idea the price of cocaine was up."

"Oh no, I drank a junkie?" Daniel whined. "I hate cocaine!"

"Silly fledgling, he wasn't a user," Armand smiled. "You'll learn the tastes drugs leave in the blood in time. Come on, I'll make a few piles at the blackjack table, and you can sit and watch the pretty slot machines spin."

"Meany," Daniel grumbled.

Daniel popped a nickel in and pulled the handle. Apple...lemon...five...two...cherry. Darn it. Another nickel. Apple...apple...apple...lemon...two. Two nickels back. Cool. Cherry...cherry...cherry...cherry...cherry! Hooray! Dozens of pretty bright coins clinking down like church bells into his little plastic cup. Daniel grinned and looked over at Armand, sitting coolly at the blackjack table with a large stack of chips in front of him and surrounded by irate looking gamblers. Half of the cameras in the casino had been aimed directly at Armand as the security personnel did their best to find out how he was cheating, but of course the cameras couldn't pick up his little trick.

"Hit me," Armand said softly, and he mentally cued all of the other players to either overdraw or underdraw.

I wish I could, one of the mortals thought a moment later, as Armand swept his next winnings into the larger pile. The vampire noticed his fledgling's stare and stood, quietly leaving the table amidst muttered cursing.

"Hey, boss," Daniel gave him his customary greeting. "How come you always win so much? It looks like you cleared the entire table."

Armand smiled secretively as they walked to the cashiers. "I'll show you how to do this sometime. It's really not so difficult, once you get the hang of the game." He dumped his chips on the counter and waited as the hundred dollar bills came out. "You have to be entirely calm, though, so I think it might be a few years before you're ready."

"Aw, come on..." Daniel started to whine, trying to get a rise from his maker.

Armand knew his fledgling too well, though, and didn't respond to the challenge. He counted his winnings and tucked the amount away for later, when he would drop Daniel safely in a casino while he destroyed his family.

"Are you hungry? You're still young yet."

Daniel shook his head. "I'm fine, I just want head over to the beach now."

"The beach?" Armand asked. They both headed over to the front doors, finding their way easily through the confusing maze of lights and sound. "Why?"

"I thought we could go skinny dipping," Daniel admitted with a wry smile.

"Skinny dipping?" Armand repeated, brow furrowing in confusion. "What's that?"

"Promise to let me show you?" Daniel said, his smile turning into a grin.

"Danny..." Armand growled in a warning voice.

"Have I ever told you how much I love it when you call me Danny?"

"If you are trying to trick me into--" Armand started, but his fledgling interrupted him.

"It's nothing bad, I swear!" Daniel giggled. "You'll like it. When we get down there I'll--" he fell silent all of a sudden, as if his voice had been strangled off.

Armand glanced up at his lover, then followed the frightened gaze across the room. Dozens of people blocked his view, but halfway across the casino floor, standing next to one of the slot machines, was Daniel's sister. She was watching over two people, with her hand on the shoulder of a third.

"Janet..." he whispered softly, barely loud enough for Armand to hear.

While Daniel was frozen, Janet looked up with a sigh, staring around the casino. By wild chance, she just happened to spot Daniel in the crowd. Her eyes lit up and she jostled the younger man beside her while yelling at the two older people in front of her, obviously the Malloy parents. They all started to look up.

"Daniel, let's go!" Armand ordered, but Daniel didn't move. "Danny, now!" He pushed his fledgling fiercely, forcing him out of his trance.

Daniel turned and ran for the exit, followed close by Armand, but once they were both across the street, they stopped and turned. Hundreds of humans hurried by them, and they were right in the middle of the street display of the Tropicana.

This false forest should keep us hidden, Armand told himself, glancing around at the animatronic jaguars and crocodiles.

"Armand...please, let's go--" Daniel begged, tugging on his hand.

"Wait!" Armand snapped, without meaning to sound so coarse. The thought that Daniel's human relations were so near agitated him, but he wondered if they had really seen his fledgling at all.

Suddenly Janet appeared in the brightly lit doorway, flanked by her brother and her parents. They all glanced around wildly for a few moments until the brother became impatient and yelled something at his sister. He disappeared back inside with the father, but just as she was turning, the mother caught a glimpse of Daniel. Her eyes opened wide and she dropped her purse.

"Damn," Armand hissed. "Daniel--"

His lover needed no further encouragement, breaking into a run down the sidewalk and disappearing into an alley. Armand, startled at how fast Daniel was moving, took off after him. He caught a glimpse of him turning a corner, and a few seconds later, Armand only spotted a dark blur dashing away down the street and out from under the lamplights.

Waves lapped softly against the fine sand along the shore, steadily droning in a consoling rhythm. The sky was uncommonly clear, but the light from the island obscured most of the dim stars so that only the brightest were visible. Still, the moonlight made the ocean sparkle.

Sitting quietly on the sand, knees drawn up to his chest, Daniel didn't move when he heard light footsteps coming towards him. Armand knelt beside him, trying to stare into his face. There were no harsh scolding words for his fledgling, no reprimands for running away. Not now. He put one arm around Daniel's shoulders and hugged him close, allowing him to lean against his small body. Tears ran down his cheeks as Daniel turned and flung his arms around Armand.

"Why?" he whispered. "Why do they have to be here now? Things were so good..."

"These things...just...happen," Armand said clumsily, not used to comforting anyone. "It's all right, I'm sure they'll leave and never come back."

Daniel shook his head obstinately. "You don't know them. When dad wants something, he doesn't care who gets hurt. And mom...and then that bastard..."

"Your brother?" Armand nodded.

"I hate him," Daniel hissed through his tears. "He's so cruel..."

"Like me?" Armand said in a small whisper.

"No!" Daniel all but shouted, looking up into Armand's eyes. "Never like you! I mean, not like that...you're not cruel...not really...you're just..."

"Just what?"

"Sad...and maybe...a little scared..." Daniel murmured. He held his maker tight against him. "I love you. You know I love you, right?"

Armand smirked and ran his fingers through Daniel's hair. Only when his fledgling was crying and insecure could Armand could show affection. Even though he was making himself vulnerable, he was still stronger than his lover at that moment.

"Yes, I know. You would never leave me, would you?"

"Never," Daniel repeated.

Armand leaned back, satisfied. "Well?" he asked expectantly.

Daniel gave him a confused look. "Well what?" he asked.

"Aren't you going to show me what this 'skinny dipping' is?" Armand surprised his lover with a genuine smile. Better to see him happy than miserable, he thought. I hate to see you cry, my love.

Daniel's tears evaporated, and he grinned at his lover. "I almost forgot." Still sitting, he reached over and toyed with Armand's shirt. "You've got to get undressed first."

"What?" Armand looked up and down the beach to make sure they were alone. "Right here?"

"No one's around," his fledgling nodded. "C'mon, you promised."

"I did not," Armand muttered, but he removed his shirt anyway. Before Daniel could start on his own clothes, however, Armand pounced forward and pressed him down into the sand. "Hold still," he whispered.

"What if I don't want to?" Daniel challenged, placing his hands on Armand's shoulders to push him back.

Armand gripped both of Daniel's wrists and forced them above his head. "Makes no difference." He forced a rough kiss from his fledgling, then put one hand on his chest to hold him still while he used his other hand to tear Daniel's pants apart. Daniel writhed in delight as he was pinned down, and when Armand sat back up, he tore his lover's shirt off.

"Not fair," the younger vampire grumbled. "You're supposed to strip, too."

"And then what?"

"And then we go for a swim."

"Swim?"

Daniel nodded, sand getting in his hair. "Trust me, it's fun."

Armand reluctantly slid his own jeans off and tossed them a few feet away. "Now what?"

Daniel grinned and stood, helping Armand up at the same time. "Now we find out if there are any sharks nearby."

"That is not helping any," Armand grumbled.

"I'm just kidding," Daniel laughed, tugging him along into the surf. The normally frigid waters were warmer on the summer nights, so at least he wouldn't have to worry about the water irritating Armand. Cold temperatures had a habit of making Armand touchier than usual. Salt water slowly rose past their ankles and calves to their waists, and then they were floating a few meters from the shore.

"C'mon, boss, can't we go a bit farther out?" Daniel begged.

"I know you, Danny," Armand responded, shaking his head. "You want to see how far out you can swim, and then I'll be forced to haul your weary body back to the beach."

"So you don't want to hold my exhausted, helpless body?" Daniel whispered in what he thought was most alluring voice.

To his credit, Armand didn't laugh. He knew it would hurt his fledgling's feelings, and besides, the idea of having Daniel helpless in his arms was rather appealing.

"Oh, I do," he admitted. "But not miles out at sea. I'd prefer having you in the comfort of our bed."

"Or the kitchen table?" Daniel giggled.

"Not like we use it for anything else." Armand glanced back at the city lights. "Or maybe I could lock you outside in a dog house..."

"You wouldn't dare..." Daniel pretended to growl, daring his lover to do it.

"I just might!"

"And I thought I was the pervert," the youngster laughed, splashing water over Armand's head. He was surprised when Armand playfully splashed back, and Daniel eagerly lunged at his maker. Armand quickly leaned out of reach so that Daniel went face first into the water, and he dunked him ever farther down. When he allowed his lover back up, Daniel gasped and shook his hair out, spraying Armand inadvertently. Armand reached out and seized his fledgling's shoulders, pulling him close.

"I should punish you for trying that," Armand whispered with a smile.

"I'd like to see you try," Daniel challenged.

"All right," Armand nodded. "Back home, now."

Daniel knew that tone. He followed Armand out of the water and watched as his lover dressed, but when he looked around, he cried out in shock.

"My clothes!" he gasped, picking up the shredded shirt and pants. "You tore them apart!"

"I was wondering when you would notice," Armand laughed. "I'm sure no one will see you. Come on, it's a short walk to the mansion."

"No fair," Daniel muttered.

Armand laughed even louder. He slipped his hand into Daniel's and walked beside him down the beach. "Don't worry, you can always make a meal of any voyeurs."

"Oh, well, that makes it all right," Daniel growled sarcastically.

Part 2