There's a reason Lilith Vatore sleeps less than her brother. When she sleeps, the dreams come. The dreams of memories she rarely indulges in while conscious. At least that's how it used to be. Lately, the memories have been trying to creep in on her even while awake. She blames being around The Count again. They had gone years avoiding each other.
He had helped her and Caleb when he didn't have to. Some of it had been due to Helena DiMera's (or as she was later known - Miss Hell) involvement in turning Caleb and Vladislaus Straud feeling responsible. Lilith always felt there was something more to it.
"You play?" The Count asks the young female vampire. He had been upstairs in his old chambers when he heard the downstairs pipe organ being played.
"A bit." Lilith confesses before stopping and looking up at him. "I had learned piano years ago. Mother wanted me to learn the pipe organ as well. I was taking lessons before...well before everything happened."
The older vampire nods, gazing down at his newest "offspring". She had been doing well for the most part. Her brother, not so much.
The lad was currently pacing around in the basement. He's been doing better with his hunger - he hadn't killed anyone. But outside of feeding off whoever was placed before him, Caleb only has interest in hibernating in his coffin. It's been worrying Lilith greatly.
Vladislaus pulls Lilith up from the bench, holding her hand longer than necessary. "We have new neighbors. The Jang family. We should be gracious neighbors and welcome them to Forgotten Hollow."
"Humans?" Lilith asks, shyly looking away from her maker. She isn't sure why but him holding her hand does things to her she hasn't felt before. She pushes the feelings away and focus on the conversation.
"Yes. Mr. Jang will be over shortly. I want you to compel him for your feeding. Along with using your powers to remove his apparel." The Count whispers to Lilith, waiting for her reaction.
"You want me to what?" She asks wide eyed, finally looking at him. Vladislaus could feel the corners of his lips twitching. He wants to smirk but doesn't allow himself to do so. Instead he nods his head as there is a knock at the front door.
Somehow, Lilith manages to not to pounce on their human guest. Even though Caleb has been in a poor frame of mind and a bad emotional state - he has done better at controlling himself. Lilith is also trying not to be mortified at the idea of forcing someone to strip nude.
Count Straud on the other hand, plays the part of gracious host. Mr. Jang is happy to be invited in by one of his new neighbors.
It's not long before Lilith has started to work her magic. She compels Mr. Jang first to remove his clothing, careful not to look anywhere but the man's eyes. Then she compels him for a small drink. Thankfully, Count Straud is nearby in case anything goes wrong.
Lilith misses it as she drinks from her prey but something very close to a smile forms on Vladislaus Straud's lips as he watches Lilith use her powers.
The next evening, Lilith is pacing in the Mansion's study. She had laid down to try to sleep. She had managed to sleep briefly but woke up, worrying about her brother.
To her shock, it's The Count who finds her. She had wanted it to be her brother. She misses talking to him. Plus, she feels she isn't dressed suitably to be talking to a male she isn't related to or married to. Granted, to her surprise - he isn't dressed anymore suitable than she.
"Fretting over Caleb?" He asks her.
She glares at him briefly before nodding. "He's just so...quiet. It's not like him. At least not when he's around me."
"I'm going to let you in on a secret, Lilith. When you become a vampire - you tend to brood a lot." He tells her, completely serious. He swears it's a personality trait that comes along with whatever magic or curse that makes one a vampire.
Lilith pauses, staring at the floor in thought. "I suppose he and I both have been doing a lot of that."
"I've done my fair share of it over the years." Vladislaus admits. "Emotions are heightened when you're one of us...if you don't suppress them that is."
His female conversation partner nods her head, listening.
"Caleb, I suspect, is dealing with many things. Grief over his lost life as a human. Probably grief and anger when it comes to Helena. He may feel betrayed by her as well. There's also the fact that despite you choosing to be turned, he knows you did it because of him."
Lilith looks briefly at the vampire who turned her before staring at the floor again. She hadn't even thought of all that. She had just been worried that Caleb might do something foolish and self destructive - like run out into the sunlight or find someone to stake him.
"I think it's time I train you both in the art of combat. It'll give him something to focus on and it'll teach you two to protect not only yourselves, but each other." He finishes his small speech. Usually he doesn't have that much to say.
Lilith for her part feels better. Somewhat hopeful. She knows Caleb will latch onto the idea of being able to protect her and she wants to be able to protect him as well.
"Thank you, Mr. Straud. For all that you've done." Lilith tells him softly after she decided it was time to try to go back to bed. "I'm not sure what I would have done if you hadn't helped me." She adds on honestly.
Vladislaus' posture stiftens a bit, not used to gratitude towards him. "I am half responsible for what happened. I turned Helena years ago and I should have ended her once I figured out that she has a darker heart than even I."
Lilith's face briefly shows that she disagrees with the idea of him viewing himself in such a way. She doesn't think he's pure as the driven snow but he can't possibly by the worst creature in the world. "I think there's more good in you than you think." She says quietly, lowering her head a little and looking up at him. She barely stops herself from batting her eyelashes at him a few times. She isn't quiet sure what has suddenly come over her.
"We'll have to agree to disagree on that." Vladislaus replies quietly, staring at Lilith. If he didn't know any better, he could have sworn the young vampire just flirted with him.
