Being cut off from literally everything I had was a bit of a shock. Like being adrift in a turbulent sea, battered left and right by the realization that I was pretty much screwed. Erik was a saving grace, a bit of good luck thrown in at just the right moment, but it still had me a bit suspicious. I was so far very unlucky in my endeavors. Hell in life. That he should show up at this moment makes me wonder just what was in store for me: piss off a vampire and be drained dry? Hm, that seemed a likely ending to this odd tale. Maybe I was just fanciful or maybe my head wound was just spitting poison into my brain. I don't let it stop me from taking his offer or striding next to him. I don't even realize he is shortening his strides to match mine or even that my own was slowing the further we went. A person could only last so long on adrenaline. Eventually a drained body just collapsed in itself and I was dangerously close to doing so.

A vampire with human care takers. Not unusual. I wondered silently if they were used for a bit more than just simple cleaning but that really wasn't my business. Whatever arrangements Erik made were his own - hell I barely knew him. Didn't mean I was gonna turn around and ignore his offer though. I was at heart a survivalist. This was my lifeline and I would grab it with both hands and hold on for dear life. They could take my livelihood, my life, but they couldn't take my determination. I would persevere.

I offer him a wan grin. "You might find teaching a cat a bit more difficult than you think. Independent creatures." There is pride and love in my voice even as I wink at Darwin, a look of happiness on my face for a moment. Erik's heats are relaxing. His humor reminds me of the good things in life and I feel some semblance of normalcy coming back. After I had eaten and bathed I knew I would feel better. I could think of some master plan to solve my problems and get back to the way things were, even if I had been rather lonely in that old life. Much less exciting but I would take it over this suffering any day.

"See, that is the key word! Lifetimes! The rest of us mortals have a finite amount of time to figure out everything. It's quite a lot to sort through knowing the clock is ticking." My smile is back and I spout off quickly, an intellect with a challenge, curious to press him for his own opinions. Erik is serious as he looks at me and I feel a bit uncomfortable as he stares at me for a moment in thought. I find my cheeks heating into a nervous blush once more. His words do make me laugh, a tinkling sound, though Darwin senses he is the butt of this particular joke and puts his ears back, giving the vampire a sort of haughty side-eye look that only cats could master. "Careful, Erik. Darwin might try to do a little more than break check you," I jest though I secretly worry that the vampire will get irritated with my spirited familiar once we are in close quarters.

Erik steadies me as I shy into him and I don't realize that there are shadows around us now, creeping up our ankles, an instinctive response to danger. Darwin meows in alarm, his small figure engulfed in them, and with a swallow of surprise I cast them away with a quick look around lest some human spy the unnatural happenings. More unnatural than a vampire, a witch, and a cat strolling. Erik is kind. He offers comfort and protection and I think I could easily sink into that if I let myself but I have to remind myself that I don't really KNOW him so I pull away with an apologetic smile. He noticed my shiver and I almost answer that it is more my adrenaline than anything but I shut my trap and take his jacket. It smells like him, fresh and clean. Maybe more detergent than HIM and it is not warm from his usage. No matter, I would fix that. I shrug it on with another grateful smile and continue the walk.

"So tell me about yourself Erik. How long have you... ah, how old are you?" There wasn't really a tactful way to ask and it was probably impolite of me to bother him with that but I needed a distraction and I had never been good about keeping my mouth shut when I was curious. Besides, I had an innate curiosity about vampires from all the years of bad tales about theme. "Do you turn into a bat?" I lean towards him a bit and stage whisper the question, making it obvious I didn't believe it but wanting to put him at ease if he got upset over my questions.