There were only eight people gathered around the table, four of which were eating while the other four watched them. There was a buzz of conversation between them all, but it all stopped when Blaine and Kurt entered.

The four vampires rose in respect while the four humans abandoned their food and dropped to kneel before the two.

"At ease, everyone," Blaine said. His voice was a little weary as they did this every night and he was, quite frankly, annoyed by it. There was nothing the count could do about it, however,for not even he could get rid of tradition--or at least not all of it.

Everyone returned to their seats as Blaine and Kurt walked over to join them. Blaine pulled out his own chair and the four humans looked from him to Kurt in astonishment.

"Everyone, this is Kurt. Kurt, this is Walter and his human Kelly, Julia and her human Roy, Oscar and his human Victor and you know Thadeous, but have yet to meet his human Michael."

Thadeous inclined his head to Kurt politely and Kurt nodded back almost shyly.

Blaine nudged Kurt's arm, "Well go ahead and eat."

Kurt flipped over the plate that sat in front of him and began to load it with whatever food was in his reach. Blaine wondered if he was even fully paying attention to what he grabbed as seemed to be concentrating on the interaction between the slaves and their masters.

"So, Kurt," Julia said, "Blaine tells us that you managed to keep your name? That's impressive."

"Indeed it is," Walter agreed, "slavers usually know all the tricks to hypnosis so that their stock is submissive enough for them to control."

A growl worked its way up Blaine's throat before he could help it and everyone turned to look at him. "I thought I told you to keep away from that subject, you two."

"You actually told all of us to avoid the subject, Blaine," Thadeous told him calmly, "or you'd tear our heads off--or something of that nature at least."

Julia tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, "So sorry, Kurt, if I have offended you."

"You don't sound very sincere, Julia," said Blaine, a hint of the growl still in his voice.

Her sharp, blue eyes flicked his way, "What would you like me to do, Count Anderson, give him a shoulder rub, because I don't think he'd like that."

Blaine began to slowly rise from his chair and Julia quickly amended her behavior. "I am deeply sorry, Kurt. Please find it in your heart to forgive me."

"Yeah, it's fine."

Blaine relaxed, though he kept his eyes on Julia. She and Roy left soon afterwards, along with her husband Walter and Kelly.

"With all due respect, Count Anderson," said Oscar, "you shouldn't be too hard on her. After all, she's the only female vampire of the coven and I think she's tried to make up for it through occasional rudeness."

"She went against orders, Oscar."

"Yes, but she has probably learned that from Walter, seeing as how he's always been a rebal. What else can you expect from people who have been married for nearly three hundred years?"

"Blaine, it really is okay. I actually didn't expect anything less."

"I hope that doesn't mean you think of us all as monsters," said Thadeous.

"You're not a monster, Thad," said Michael, looking up loveingly at his master.

"Thank you, my boy," said the vampire. He leaned down and nipped Michael playfully on the ear.

"Okay, gentlemen, settle down," said Oscar, "these public displays of yours are nauseating."

"Who are you accusing of nauseating public displays, sir?" asked Michael, "Or was it not you and Victor there that Thad and I saw groping each other in the hallway last week?"

"Must've been someone else because I certainly don't remember it, do you, Vic?"

"Not at all," he said with a smirk.
////
Soon Thadeous, Michael, Oscar and Victor left and Blaine and Kurt were left on their own. Kurt was nearly done eating and Blaine couldn't understand how he had not been the first one done as he had been relatively quiet the entire time.

"Why wasn't Michael with Thadeous when you guys decided to go to that auction? And another thing, did they name all of their slaves?"

"Michael wasn't there because he can't go anywhere near the auctions without memories of his own cropping up, and yes, each of the vampires here named thier personal human. That's why some of them have rather....unusual names."

"Don't any of them remember what their parents named them? Why was Thadeous at that aucion if he already has a slave and another thing, if Walter and Julia are married why do they need slaves? Can't they get the blood from each other?"

Blaine blinked at the onslaught, "Um, which question do you want me to answer first?"

"I don't care."

Blaine compiled the questions in his mind in the order that he thought would be the easiest to answer. "I have no idea if any of the personl humans remember their orginal given names; once again, that's something you'd have to ask them.

"Walter and Julia have Kelly and Roy because vampire blood does not contain the necessary properties to keep us alive. Also, many vampires will participate in foursomes with their slaves to....spice up their love lives I suppose. I'm not saying that they do and I would prefer that you not ask.

"As for why Thadeous and I were at that auction, he," Blaine sighed deeply, "he's like the others of my kind."

"He seems fine to me."

"Don't get me wrong, he's a wonderful man, but he does harbor desiries that come from the primal side of our conscious. He enjoys being around that twisted paradigm of our species and that night he managed to convince me to join him. Lucky that he did though, eh, otherwise you'd be stuck with Karofsky."

Kurt winced at the mention of the burly vampire and Blaine placed a hand on his knee.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you."

"I'm fine."

The men sat in silence for awhile as Kurt polished off his breakfast. Once finished, Blaine asked him if he wished to take a walk outside.

Kurt nodded and they headed out onto the grounds.

"Have you seen the forest?"

"No, there are wolves living in there and they're not like Renfield from what I understand."

"No, but that doesn't mean they're going to hurt us. Wolves and vampires have a pretty good relationship."

"What about werewolves?"

"What about them?"

"Do they actually exist, and if so, do your species really have a vendetta against each other?"

Blaine laughed, "You've been listening to too many stories. Yes werewolves exist but we don't hate each other on the whole. It can sometimes be difficult for us to live near each other during a full moon as that's when their primitive side is out and it can bring out ours as well. Fights can break out then, but as long as we avoid each other on those days, we get along swimmingly."

"Oh. Have weres ever tried to take over my race?"

"Not to the best of my knowledge. They tend to respect your people better then my own. In fact, you know how you mentioned that we allow certain talented humans some freedom? Werewolves are the ones who suggested it in the first place so you have them to thank for it."

"Why haven't they ever tried to overthrow your people if they care about humans so much?"

"Well they have, they just haven't succeed yet."

"Yet? So you think they will someday?"

Blaine blinked at the concern he detected in Kurt's voice, then he smiled, "I don't know. Maybe."

"What would happen if they did?"

"I suppose we vampires would have to beg for mercy that they didn't kill us. Either that, or they'd enslave us."

"Yeah....well maybe your personal slaves could keep you."

Blaine chuckled, "I hope so. You strike me as someone who'd make an excellent master."

They walked through the woods in silence, the trees on either side of the trail towering above them like watchful sentinels.

Kurt broke the silence by asking about the existence of yet another supernatural creature. "What about zombies? Do they exist? I mean you mentioned them and all so I just thought maybe...."

Blaine laughed good-naturedly, "Not as far as I know, but that doesn't mean you should completly rule them out. However, if they do exist I can't see how they'd be much of a threat as their brains would be rotting away. The only reason I brought them up was because of your rib about the hearse."

"Right," Kurt said almost to himself. "So, um, changing the subject here, but how exactly did you come to inherit Dalton Estates?"

"Same why any of my kind inherits property," the vampire answered, "my sire--or rather my dame--was staked."

"By hunters?"

Blaine shook his head, a strange expression flitting across his face. "No, she was put to death by another of the founding familes of our kind."

"What did she do? And who are the founding families?"

"What she did is very complicated to explain. Let's just say that she insulted the intelligence of the Carmel Family and they're the least forgiving of us. As for the families, they're the people you have to thank for taking control of the world."

"How many are there?"

"Six, including Dalton and Carmel," Blaine answered. "The others are: Mckinley, Haverbrook, Belleville and Addams. The counts of each of them planted the idea of enslaving humanity in the king's head and so the vampire population across the globe were told to band together and, well you know the rest."

"So this woman who bit you....was she the orginal leader of the Dalton Coven?"

"No, she was turned by the original count and after he was slain by a group of hunters she became countess."

"Oh, so, um, does that mean you'll be expected to change someone too?"

Blaine considered the question for some time before answering. "No, I'm not expected to turn anyone, but it is unusual not to. We still have the desire to have an heir, someone who will take care of our things if anything were to happen to us."

"What will happen if you don't change someone? Who takes over then?"

"As of right now, it would be Thadeous. He was with the original count after all and so it would only be right."

"Thadeous is older then you?"

"Oh yes, very much so actually. He was born back in 1568."

Kurt whislted. He couldn't imagine being alive as long as Blaine, let alone Thadeous. He'd probably go insane witnessing everything they had.

"When were vampires first created?"

Blaine was confused by the question. "When were humans first created? I assume my people are an offshoot of your own evolutionary line: prehaps the cause of a virus or mutation. We can't really be sure."

"But you don't know when you guys first appeared in history?"

Blaine squinted into the distance, "I believe it was somewhere near six thousand years ago. At least that's what I've always heard, so whatever it was that dictated our existence that's when it became known to the world."
////
When Blaine and Kurt left the woods, it was nearly eleven o' clock.

"Do you want me start teaching you piano? I did promise after all and I don't see the sense in putting it off."

"Sure, let me get something to eat first though."

"Of course."

Kurt grabbed a sandwich from the kitchens and they headed to the music room.

As they sat down at the instrument, Kurt automatically placed his hands in that he had memorized and Blaine made note of this.

"Just to be sure, you aren't lying to me are you? I'm not going to give you a simple song to learn and you're going to be able to play it without any difficulty, are you?"

Kurt laughed, "No. I just remember how my mom used to have her fingers on the keys."

Blaie riffled through his messenger bag and pulled out a binder. As he began searching for the melody he wanted, he asked: "Why didn't she ever teach you play?"

"She never got the chance to," Kurt whispered, "She died when I was six."

Blaine looked up at him, "I'm so sorry. I know you kept referring to her in the past tense but I just thought...."

"Forget it. I'm fine."

Blaine placed a hand on his knee, "Are you sure?"

Kurt nodded.

Blaine studied him for a few more moments before squeezing his knee gently. "Okay, but if this starts to bring back any....painful memories, then tell me and we'll stop, okay?"

Kurt nodded and Blaine opened the rings of the binder. He pulled out a sheet of music and placed it in the tray.

"Joy to the World?" asked Kurt, suprised.

Blaine grinned, "The time of year isn't exactly right, I suppose, but it's one of the simpler songs to learn. It stays in the same octave the entire time."

"You're the teacher."
////
Blaine soon learned that Kurt (though a natural) could be become quite fustrated if he messed up a note.

"Patience, Kurt, you're getting it. I think you just want to keep jumping ahead of yourself all the time. You're too eager to please."

"I'm not trying to please you," Kurt mumbled. He wiped the sweat off his palms onto his pant leg before getting back into position.

"Maybe not, but you're trying to please yourself, aren't you? Trying to prove to yourself that you can do this?"

Kurt's fingers slipped off the keys again and placed his hands in his lap, silently twisting his fingers together and clenching his hands together hard enough to make the veins stand out. "I'm doing this for my mom."

These words were uttered so low that had it not been for his advanced hearing, Blaine wouldn't have know the human had made a sound.

Kurt cleared his throat and Blaine could tell he was trying hard to hold back tears. "I swore to myself that I would learn to play one day....for her. I don't know if you can relate to this or not, but...."

"Kurt, I outlived my entire family. They've been dead for a couple of centuries now. Yes, the pain has dulled considerably, but that doesn't mean I've forgotten what is was like to lose them."

What....what were they like?"

Blaine sighed, rubbing his hands over his thighs as he tried to think of how to answer the question. Before he could actually say anything, Kurt spoke again.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked."

"No, Kurt, it's fine. I'm just trying to think of how to start, that's all."

"I just wanted to know what they were like."

"My father was a very harsh man. I was the youngest of five and the only male so it was up to me to carry on the the family name. Something I instictivly knew I couldn't do even though I had no idea why."

"Did he ever find out?"

"What? That I'm gay? Don't be ridiculous, he probably would have killed me to put an end to my demonic thoughts."

Kurt shuddred. He couldn't imagine being rejected by his father who always supported him.

"My mother was the opposite. She didn't know of my sexual prefrences, no one in my family did, but I don't think she would have abandoned me if she ever found out. She loved all of us dearly."

Blaine fell silent and Kurt was ready to tell him that he didn't have to say any more when the vampire countinued.

"My older sisters were," he laughed, "well they were like any other older sibling. They picked on me, but it was all in good fun. The oldest, her name was Lucy, she helped our mother keep us in line. She--," Blaine choked and tried clearing the lump in his throat. He scrubbed at his eyes with the heel of his hand, keeping his head turned so that Kurt couldn't see into his face.

Before he knew what he was really doing, Kurt had reached out and placed a hand on Blaine's knee. He rubbed his thumb over the spot soothingly, "Don't say anymore, Blaine. I didn't want this to happen. I was just...."

Blaine looked up at him, mositure at the corners of his eyes. He blinked and a tear rolled down his cheek.

Kurt reached up and gently wiped it away with an index finger. He kept his hand on the side of the vampire's face as the two men stared into the other's eyes.

Nither one would be able to say who leaned forwards first, all they know is that it happened and the next thing either one of them knew was that their lips were suddenly pressed together.