Talon looked her in the eyes, "Do it, crush my heart if you want, but lady, I won't bare my teeth at you, I'm not some worthless animal. Do it, crush my heart lady......" He said aloud, as pain overwhelmed him, his eyes turning red.

Katia removed her hand. "You don't have the privilege to tell a pureblood what to do." She stated firmly, still speaking to Talon as if he were a child. "If you truly wish to die, you wouldn't have taken my blood." She stepped back, as she tasted the blood on her hand. Her green eyes seemed to gleam red, as she licked the blood. "As I told you before, I do not want to kill any more vampires than I need to...you will do what is required of you, as per the blood pact you accepted in drinking my blood. You are my vassal. You do understand what that means; don't you?"

Talon shrugged, "I have no clue lady." To tell the truth, he didn't know anything about himself, other than his name, his memory had been erased after the attack, all except for his name, but he wasn't about to tell her that.

Katia looked at Talon. "You have no memory...do you?" She said. "And before you ask, I know from tasting your blood." She explained promptly. "In time, you will know some of my own memories, after drinking my blood." She added. "It's part of the pact you've taken into you." She added. "Follow me." She instructed. "I will school you on those whom are lesser than even yourself."

Talon growled aloud, "I am not above others lady, I will never see myself as more than anyone that's on equal grounds with everyone else, you got that.....and yeah, I don't have any memories, not about the vampire that attacked me, nor of my past, or anything else, okay."

"Of course not...it's a side effect of some of the oldest pureblood's bite." Katia spoke calmly, ignoring everything else Talon raved about. "You just don't seem to understand. You are no longer human, and not subject to human laws or rights. You are a vampire and will behave accordingly. If you will not listen to reason, I can always force it." Katia warned firmly, as she pointed to the building across the street. "Would you prefer to be thrown upon the mercy or rage of the vampire counsel?"

Talon side, deciding to play it safe for now, and in a sarcastic tone, replied, "No mistress, please don't throw me to them, I'll do anything you want mistress!" and gave her a bow, then looked up at her, "Is that what you wanted to hear miss?"

Katia walked up to Talon and slapped him across the face, hard enough to knock him to the ground. "Don't patronize me." She ordered firmly.
Suddenly, Valentina, and five other purebloods appeared in front of Talon and Katia. Valentina sporting an angry expression on her pale features. "Take him inside." She ordered to the five purebloods whom followed her. She then turned to Katia, glaring at her daughter. "You offered your blood to one that does not belong to you." She stated firmly, speaking to Katia, as Katia had spoken to Talon. "Go to my office and wait there. The counsel will decide the fate of this one." She looked at Talon.

Talon attempted to resist their grip, "You aren't taking me anywhere you creeps, let me go!!!"

The five purebloods vanished from the boy's sight, each reappearing around the boy. The first grabbed him by his hair, as two more grabbed his legs.
Valentina glared at the five purebloods. "There will be no need for violence." She leaned down to the boy, as her eyes began to glow a soft blue. "You will go willingly with these men. If you do not, your heart will be crushed before your eyes." She spoke in a commanding tone, as she compelled the boy to comply. Normally she would not resort to compelling a non-compliant vampire to do as he's told; but considering the circumstances, it was necessary.

His body loosened up, and he nodded, "Yes maam, I will go with them peacefully......" He began to walk with them, while inside his head, he screamed 'you freaking moron, they're tricking you, run for it, run for it now!', but his body didn't listen.

The five purebloods escorted the boy into the law firm, and to the top floor, followed by Valentina.
Katia was waiting in Valentina's office, the very place where the boy was being escorted to.
Valentina walked around the desk and looked at Katia, while one of the other purebloods closed the office door. Valentina grabbed Katia's bloodstained hand and tasted the blood on it. After a few moments, Valentina opened her eyes, which gleamed red, as she looked at the boy. "I know who bit you, young vampire." She spoke calmly, as she looked at Katia. "She will not take you into her service, nor does she have any desire to allow you to live." She looked at Katia. "Normally, you would be punished severely for offering your blood to one that does not belong to you; but under these circumstances, the counsel will allow this young vampire to remain in your service."
"So why bring him here then; if you don't intend to kill him?" Katia asked.
"The counsel is curious to see what a mid-level vampire bitten by an ancient is like." Valentina explained plainly. At this point Valentina looked at Talon, and walked over to him. "If need be, I can compel him to be complacent; however, I suspect his disobedient nature comes from the one who bit him."
Katia merely nodded her head. "Fine, I will follow the will of the counsel."

Shaking his head, he resisted the compelling spell enough to ask, "Who bit me? Who tried to kill me?"

Valentina raised her brow slightly. "She is far beyond your capabilities, boy." She stated in a calming tone. "But if you insist on knowing the name of your master, it's Saraphis."

Hearing the name meant nothing to him for now, so he simply gave out a low growl, keeping his mouth shut for the time being.

Valentina walked over to Talon and placed her hands on his shoulders. "I'm sorry, young vampire, but Saraphis intended for you to die from the madness of thirst. You are extremely fortunate that Katia found you when she did, otherwise you would have died in that alley." She explained, as she removed her hands from his shoulders. "Katia will teach you our ways, and our laws. You must obey what she tells you. You will follow her, as her other vassals follow her, and when needed you shall allow her to feed on your blood, as is your duty, and the terms of the pact you agreed to by accepting her blood. Do you understand?"

Talon felt like tearing out the throat of the one who bit him, but he supressed this anger, and said aloud, "Yes....I understand......"

"You also need to know that the one that bit you, is the oldest of the purebloods. She is well over 3000 years old, and will kill you without a second thought, just as she left you to die." Valentina added. "Should you ever see her, never allow her to know of your rage."

Talon looked her in the eyes, "I'll do my best........" Trying to supress his rage, his blood boiling, despite what he'd become.

"I warn you now, if you disobey this request of the counsel, you will be killed...if not by Saraphis' hands, then by the hands of the counsel." Valentina walked over to Katia. "Take him with you on your assignment." She ordered to Katia.
Katia nodded her head to Valentina. "As you wish, mother."

Eclipse toiled away at his work as fast as he could. Was he ever on edge. He could practically hear the sexual tension between the dreaded couple next door. They just couldn't bother to keep their voices and laughter down, could they?! If Equinox couldn't be bothered to take up the family business, he could at least let Eclipse do work enough for both of them in peace. He signed the last paper he was assigned and resigned himself to his room for the night. Eclipse sighed without thinking as he remembered the many talks he had with his parents about producing an heir. They wished for him to be able to pass on the line by falling for any of his servants, but he didn't care for any of his maids. Despite how all of his family seemed against this outlook, Eclipse only wanted to sleep with a woman if he truly loved her. Ironically, his parents called him old-fashioned.

Talon kept quiet, and simple moved to where he was behind Katia, not saying a word, his rage still fuming, over the predicament he was now in.

Katia's cellphone then began to rang. Katia answered the phone. "Did you find them?" a short pause..."We'll be there shortly." She terminated the call and turned to Talon. "Let's go. You'll now witness the responsibility of the vampire counsel."

Talon followed her, not saying a damn word. He would bide his time, and then gain his freedom again someday.

Katia walked out of the building and stepped into a car that waited outside for her. She placed her hands on her lap, as she waited for Talon to get in the car.

Valentina's mid-level vampire assistant turned to Valentina, with a puzzled expression. "Are you sure this is wise?"
"Don't question the will of the counsel again." Valentina retorted firmly.
"Yes Ma'am." The female bowed her head slightly.