"Because there's no way that would be true. I doubt my parents are even alive anymore."

Ciridia touched the bracelet she'd been left with. It was a tiny silver chain, with a set of black wings as a charm. This was the first time she'd worn it in a loooong time.

"But isn't there a part of you that longs for the truth Angel? Isn't there a part of you that wants to know what happened to them? Find out about your sister?"

D'Artigo looked at the bracelet. It was well crafted, though silver. He had never liked silver since his transformation.

"I don't even know for sure I have a sister. And yes, I want to know. But that doesn't mean anything. No one remembers me as a baby, except for Miv's parents. And I doubt they'll be telling me now that they..." She paused.

"Ya know."

"If you hold on to hope, then it will pull you through. Believe me. I know first hand what hope can do to a broken soul."

Raising his eyebrow again, D'Artigo says. "Humour me. What about Pale Rose's parents?"

"They're dead." Ciridia's voice was cold.

She had to resist leaning on him: partially because she didn't want to be hurt, partially he was a vamp. Ciridia looked at him.

"Don't talk to her about it."

"I see. However... if you want to be technical, I am also dead. But in this case, I will assume you mean dead dead, not undead. How tragic."

"Of course I won't speak to her about it. I judge she is still sensitive about the matter?"

"I don't know. I avoid the subject."

"Do you mind if I ask about your family?"

D'Artigo took a deep breath. "My present family does not exist. I have chosen to forsake any sort of family, for fear of bringing my sire after them. She is an evil woman, and would kill all dear to me in order to break me, try to get me to crawl back to her."

"My past family however, was a caring family. I had a strong father, who protected me to the best of his ability. A mother, beautiful and compassionate... I was told I get my dashing good looks from her. A little, darling sister who I had sworn to protect... guard her from anything that sought to do her harm. We were elves then... all of us. Living in a hidden clearing in the woods... lovely place." A tear dribbles down D'Artigo's eye.

"However, one night I had been chopping wood. It was a somber winter night... and then without noise, she came up out of the woods, seeking shelter. Of course, we offered it to her, and she accepted. That was our first mistake."

"That night, she had chosen to sleep with me, for I did not take up much space, and my family would not let her sleep on the floor. So that night, this woman, who was quite cold, was rather forward with me. And as a beautiful woman, I had hoped that she would love me as much as I thought I loved her... we were very passionate that first night. The next morning, I had decided to accompany her back to town. Mistake two."

"She turned me, and I will spare you the details. You seem as though you need more joy in your life than to share my sadness."

"After she turned me, I had to fight the bloodlust. However, without my sire with me, I was weak to fight it. I needed to feed. While lost in wandering, I cam across a small girl. A prime target. Mistake three."

"I drank this girl dry, and the bloodlust faded... and I realized, it was my darling sister. She must have been out searching for me. Mistake. Four."

"With that, I fled my life. I never returned to my home. My parents will only assume that I am dead... not undead, along with my sister."

"That's so sad!" Ciridia looked at him.

"I'd hug you, but again, I really don't want to get hurt."

"You know my story I guess: More than Miv does, in a way."

"Lyca, I told you. As long as you don't violate my privacy by removing my mask, or my clothes for that matter, you won't get harmed."

"And I know some of your story. I still believe you are holding something back that you haven't told me yet."

Ciridia just chewed the inside of her lip.

"If you want to know..."

"Lyca, I would not waste your time by asking if I didn't wish to know. And now I know there is something."

"Well..."

"Awhile back I wanted to see if I did have a family and I searched forever. Just when I was about to give up, I met this boy."

"He seemed so sweet that I started talking and we became fast friends. But then he saw my bracelet and ran away screaming bloody murder."

"The next day, I found a note on my bed from him. 'I know who you are, sister. Do not tell anyone that I know of you and do not look or us. You are the only one who will ever be able to live out of the shadows. -Darzin'"

"When I asked Miv's parents, they just replied all they knew was that Darzin was the name of my older brother, the boy who was with my parents when they left me."

"Okay, so not a sister... but a brother. You see, there is reason to hope. Your family is alive, and probably still loves you." D'Artigo looked away. "Mine will never forgive me for what I've done. All because of her..."

Jessica was startled when she found tears in her eyes. She could barly hear the conversation but Lycan biter story was sad. Jessica would have killed herself if she had done that to Julia. She brushed the tears away and continued. She would give Lycan biter some sympany now.