"I'm fine." Ciridia's voice was flat and emotionless. "I just want to be alone." She walked off and left Jessica.

Ciridia found an tavern and simply sat in the corner, hidden by the shadows. The cloth felt odd on her neck. 'Like a collar' Ciridia thought.

She brought her knees up and laid her head on them, tears trailing down her cheeks soundlessly.

Jessica sighed. She was tired. She transformed into a panther and wandered off. She catch dinner and get some sleep. If the group moved with out her she catch up.

D'Artigo headed back to town, hoping to catch a chance to say goodbye to Clarissa, see how Miv had done instructing her. He hoped she would be alright. Vampire's were subject to mood swings often... how often and how violent depended on the person. Well, hopefully Kitten hadn't gotten to Miv first. She always exaggerated. She didn't hear everything he had told Erina either... Kitten wouldn't understand. And if she had reached Miv first... neither would she. Well, at least he was well nourished now, and he would probably be stronger than Miv. But of course, he wouldn't bring it up first.

Seeing Miv b-lining it towards him, he couldn't help but curse. "Crap. Kitten did get to her... Well, let's see how this turns out..."

Calling out to her while she was still a good distance from him, he says "Pale Rose! How good to see you! Did you send Clarissa off? Does she seem like she'll be okay? Able to cope?" His tone is perfectly casual as if nothing had happened.

"YOU-" Miv shot off a strand of profanity that told him he was in deep trouble.

"I don't care WHAT she did, but what gives you the right to BITE her?" Miv's tone was furious and her eyes were glowing bright crimson.

"What exactly gave you a reason to leave those scars?" She hissed, trying not to attack him.

"So she did get to you first... Well let's put it out bluntly then. I bit her because she grossly violated the rights which permit my existence on this planet."

"And scars? What scars? She'll have two pale dots and a bruise on her face. She won't know the meaning of scars."

"A BRUISE? HER FACE IS PURPLE!" Miv took a deep breath, trying to calm down.

"She's gonna be wearing chokers from now on, ask her sometime to see why." Miv's eyes narrowed. "If I decide to let you near her again."

"Bruises heal Miv. Scars don't. Her face is purple because blood flow hasn't returned to normal yet. I give it three weeks. Then it will be fine. My life? That won't heal."

"If you don't let me near her, then I will watch from a distance. Miv, what did Kitten tell you? What did she say happened?"

"She thought my sister was dead."

Miv's voice broke and her eyes changed back to normal.

"It doesn't matter if she was or not: Just being scared that I had lost her will NEVER go away. Do you even know how ready I was to murder you?" Miv paused.

"I'm going back to her. You can come if you want." With that, she turned and walked off.

Ciridia finally walked out of the tavern, simply because she couldn't stand the smell anymore.

She walked alittle ways before stopping. Miv would come soon.

Ciridia sat down again. She waited for her sister to show up.

"Rose, Kitten hates me. She would do anything to put me into your distaste. That is simply her way. Did you find out if she even did a check of the body?"

"Your scare will not go away, but without something to remind you - which you will have as long as I am here - it will fade into something simpler, easier to cope with."

"And I'm not sure if I am supposed to answer that question. But I will anyway. Judging by your eyes, you were quite ready to try to kill me."

Silently bowing after Miv had turned away, D'Artigo follows.

Miv finally found her sister.

"Ciridia!" Ciridia looked at her after she called out and Miv ran to her, hugging her.

"Are you in pain?"

"Jessica already asked. I'm fine." Ciridia said and pushed Miv away, standing up.

Her eyes trailed to D'Artigo and her face hardened.

"Just assuming here, but I suppose you're letting him stay." Ciridia said flatly. She pushed by Miv and walked away, too close to D'Artigo for comfort.

Miv looked behind her at Ciridia's back.

She looked shocked, but didn't say anything. She wanted to give her sister space: time to think things out.

However, she did stand up and got ready to follow her.

"So it seems." D'Artigo said, not looking at Ciridia, instead gazing around, looking for Clarissa. Sadly, she was nowhere in sight.

"What of my child Rose? Does she seem as though she'll be fine?"

"She'll be fine." Miv looked after Ciridia and started walking.

"We should get supplies before taking off."