Pride and foolishness were among many of my flaws. Even as I sit across from Erik I feel a sense of relief that he had appeared when he did. I didn't always know what I needed until I got it, which is why sometimes I let myself drown in whatever I was doing. The darkness in me had consumed me for a time and Erik had tried to help me as best he could, but I had not wanted to draw him into whatever murky business the coven had wrapped me in. It had taken incredible willpower to fight back against their spell that siphoned my magic and I had never completely rid myself of it. I managed to brew a potion that I took daily which lessened the effect. I assumed the coven thought I was merely growing weak, that they were taking too much, but it was just a bandaid for a problem. Once a month I felt them draw from me - their collective power was almost too much at times and even with the potion, I had to fight to remain strong.

I still searched for a way to break their spell. Blood magic seemed a likely source, though it probably required some sort of sacrifice or dark ritual that I didn't know. For now I was content with fooling the coven about my powers and brewing my potions. I didn't have the time to search nonstop for a way to break it, but once I hired another person then I could free up some of my time.

Erik coming back into my life seemed a signal tht things were beginning to change again. This time, I tell myself, I wouldn't bolt. I wouldn't disappear into the world again and leave those around me with nothing.

It had been unsettling at first for Erik to watch me eat but after having spent time living in his home, I had grown used to the attentiveness. He always seemed so fascinated by my eating, though honestly I always had a voracious appetite. I hadn't fed myself as well as I should have in the last couple of weeks, too tired to worry about a good meal, but I was ahead in life. I was good now and I was determined to stay that way. I listen closely to his description of blood tasting. "I suppose mine would taste pretty greasy right now," I say cheekily, smirking, amused for a moment. "I've heard our silver blood tastes delectable. Is that true?" My green eyes flick down to my now-empty food pile then back up to him, curious.

I didn't fear Erik. He had all the chances to take from me before and he had only ever given. I had yet to meet a vampire as evil as the tales I had heard as a child - granted, I had only met two, but still. I wasn't stupid though. I knew Erik had been around for a very, very long time. The world was different from this one and I didn't know everything he had lived through. Wars, struggles, blood-lust. Just because he might have once drank from a witch didn't mean that he wanted to now. Or did he? The idea was vaguely intriguing, and I felt slightly breathless at the thought, though I blinked quickly to try and hide the thought from my face. I tended to have a hard time not visibly giving away some of my thinking.

My eyes track his fingers as they slide through his hair, instinctive. Erik was almost too attractive for his own good and I found he was just as magnetic as he had ever been. Perhaps that was part of his supernatural powers - extreme magnetism. This time I grin, choking back a chuckle, unable to hide that I was amused by a thought, but also unwilling to share it. Just yet.

I grow somber again when he answers me. "You know what you are, Erik? Dangerous." I lean an elbow onto the table, pointing at him accusingly. "You've had years and years to perfect just what to say to a woman so it sounds perfect and you are doing a damn good job. I've been a complete idiot but you are still so understanding. It's not fair, you know, it makes it too easy to like you." I grouse at him though I end it with a happy smile, glad that he did not hold it against me. I'm not sure why his compliments always seemed to trigger me but I blush at his words, pushing back my curly black hair in a self conscious way. "You do as too."

Sliding out of my seat, I stand up. "Walk with me to my apartment? I think Darwin would like to say hi." My cat had come to love staying at Erik's house where he was pampered by Adele, just as I had been, and I had no doubt he would remember Erik.