Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Richelle Mead. I only own Raven and her family!

(OH and just to let you guys know three weeks have passed since Adrian and Raven meeting)

The silence of the night was enough to hear every creak and movement, not that it was any problem in the first place. Being a Strigoi was no where near as bad as the way the Guardians had described it before. It was amazing... I had never felt so alive in my entire life... the rush... it felt like my senses had been woken up, and it was perfect... absolutely perfect. I looked down at the people enter the club, Ebony Souls. Ha! Perfect name isn't it? Black souls... like those of the vampires. Both the Strigoi and The Moroi. As for the Dhampirs? Those were the only ones who are ever selfless at all. Even if it was because of duty. They protected,the Moroi lived like kings and the Strigoi killed and lived life the way they wanted. The way I wanted... the club became loud with the cheers and the music of the Dhampir girl who sang inside. Well... after her there sure was a buzz of music blaring to some rather annoying but hypnotic Dance Electric music. And every once in a while... the perfect prey would exit. Alone. Drunk. And utterly useless... Well for anything other than a meal that is. I licked my lips my tongue scraping across the tip of my fang in absolute anticipation and as soon as the door to the club was closed I jumped from the roof, grabbed him and bit down, my fangs piercing his jugular. It was all over to soon. The rush, That pure pleasure and life being drained out of the Moroi body and the life source flowing into mine. I let the male Moroi body drop to the ground and crumple lifelessly, Well almost lifelessly, he wasn't dead just yet. With that I grabbed his leg and began to drag him into the darkness, past the club, past the ally into the dark brush,this one was going to be AWAKENED, just as Aubrianna had instructed. If I awaken at least one the other won't even make a difference... Aubrianna wouldn't be upset with me... and soon... we would outnumber the Moroi and the Dhampirs... and we will be the ruling Race of Vampires.

Adrian's POV

I had no clue why but every night after the encounter with the Dhampir, I went back to the club. I went to Ebony Souls and watched her sing from the back. Drink after drink being brought to my table never the same thing twice. Well... other than the occasional shot of either whiskey, vodka, and when I just was not getting drunk enough, quick enough. Which seemed to be every day since Rose and Her cradle robbing boyfriend were always together since Christian and Lissa were always together. It was pretty sickening. Well to him it was. To everyone else it was perfectly fitting. A Dhampir with a Dhampir, and he should just move on and get with a Royal Moroi girl, or woman, or whatever the fuck people were saying now. UGH! It was getting exhausting now. His mother and father everywhere always by him, never leaving him the fuck alone, about how he needs to meet a girl settle down the same old shit over and over. Why the fuck was he even wasting his fucking time? All of the girls were whores. Didn't matter who they were whether they were Moroi or Dhampir. Or maybe all this shit was just the spirit Darkness getting to him. I downed the shot of ever-clear he had pushed to the side, "Oh who fucking cares." I said to myself, as the Dhampir girl from three weeks ago sat on the other side of me.

"So, Would you mind telling me why you continue to come to this place?" I couldn't tell what the hell she wanted or was even talking about anymore. Even I knew how drunk I was, I shrugged and smiled at her, leaning back against the seat my hands on the table tapping my fingers in a semi-fast rhythm that matched the techno electric beat coming out of the speakers that were not too long ago, streaming out Ravens singing.

"I came to get drunk. That's what I always do little Nightingale." The look on her face told me she was definitely not buying it, either that or she was annoyed that I was hanging around.

"I don't buy it." Yup, knew she didn't buy it. "You could be anywhere. In fancier places in court. Why are you here?" I smiled at her.

"Maybe its because I like hearing Birds sing." she gave me a weird confused look and I smiled even in my drunken state I knew I had confused her with my wits. "A Nightingale is a bird, with a pretty voice actually." That's when she rolled her eyes at me.

"I know what a Nightingale is. And I know what you meant by that, but you're slurring so much I can barely understand what the hell you're saying." OK... so maybe I was just too drunk to keep my words straight right now. With the realization, I looked over to the Moroi bar tender and lifted up my hand and held up one finger. Got a nod as a reply and turned back to Raven. "Little Bird, I come here to hear you sing."

"Do you seriously not pay attention to anything?" my eyebrow went up at that comment.

"Little Nightingale, Are you starting again with your insults and violence. I think I got enough of that the other night don't you think?" I looked at the bar tender who put two shot glasses in front of me. I don't remember asking for two... than again... I don't even remember how or when I even ordered them... I shrugged and drank one of the shots containing the searing liquid that could literally be acid. When I looked back up at Raven her gaze was anything but friendly.

"If you are just going to play games Ivashkov." I saw the intensity of her glare falter a bit, I looked back at the bar tender who was staring at Raven, I couldn't see his face. And I couldn't see his aura either, which in all honesty made even more sense considering everything else was getting blurry as well. I looked back the girl across from me once more and she was looking down, her body seemed to be shaking, but that could just be me swaying slightly or my imagination. "Lord Ivashkov, If you would excuse me I have important matters to attend to." I watched her as she slid out of the booth seat, oh... this was just too perfect.

"Actually. No. I don't excuse you." I could feel the bartenders eyes on me, wondering what the hell I was doing... actually I didn't have a clue myself. HA! Or maybe I did... but I just didn't even care. Raven turned around and raised a delicate eyebrow up.

"Excuse me?" The look she gave me was incredulous.

"I said little Nightingale." I stood up, it was actually a miracle that I didn't fall flat on my face. "You are not allowed to leave me here, or be excused until I tell you. Unless of course to the bathroom... or I shall tell the guardians of our little bout of violence a while back." I could feel my heart racing, and the adrenaline running through me. OK, starting to understand why most Moroi liked to use their power to get Dhampirs to do what they say... I looked at Raven and I could practically see the rage flowing through her body... or maybe that was just the aura coming back. I sat back down and downed the shot still on the table, I was in no mood to be any type of sober right now. I watched as her and the Moroi man argued.

"You can not be serious Mitch!" I heard Raven exclaim.

"Raven. What do you want me to do?" I saw the man motion his hand towards me, "You are the one who slapped him in the first place. Approached him tonight. You have to stay with him here. You don't have to do anything with him and you know it. Just talk to him.." The Moroi looked over at me and moved Raven away a bit so I wouldn't hear, I still did just not as clear though. "Plus I'm pretty sure he's going to pass out with how much he's drank today..." I frowned at that but it was more than likely pretty true. With that last part being sad Raven stared at the man and gave in. Walked over and slid down into the seat, crossed her legs, put her hands on her lap, and just sat there and stared.

Oh, no words or auras were needed at all to get the message across that she was BEYOND pissed. Shit.. Why the hell did I just do that... and an even better question was, Why do I like being able to control her?