Cian P.O.V

I could only stare into space, thinking about all the events that occurred and what I could have done better. Had I even done anything good for him? I had no answer to that, considering the state he was in. I had taken responsibility for him, and should have followed it through... I should have, but there's no way I can care for a kid! I wasn't... Was I? No, I just didn't want to be in a position to care for someone, not that I couldn't. I may think I wasn't the caring type, but the moment he was attacked in my club and I found out how he was treated in the nest, I should have fucking sucked it up. Unlike him, I was in the position to actually do something, but instead just foisted it onto-

Ring, ring.

I had been in my office at my desk after straightening everything up, waiting for a phone call. I wasn't sure which phone Pritcher would call, so I stayed waiting at both. I snatched up my cell phone quickly, "Hello?" My voice came out fast, a weird fear that the caller would hang up on me.

"Uh, hey... It's Gale. I'm here with the kid's stuff, just hanging around. You know. Waiting..."

"Oh- oh. Hey Gale, just leave his stuff in boxes there for now," I had no idea what to tell him. "Some things came up and Pritcher may call you, so it's best if I leave it at that. Keep your phone on you, though."

"Uh... What?"

"I shouldn't explain just in case, just do as I say," I didn't want Pritcher to think I had told Gale what to say. Pritcher would trust that I didn't talk to him, but it would be a whole other story if I even explained anything to Gale. Pritcher may think Gale's perspective was put into question, and I didn't want anything to screw my chances at avoiding the council.

I had my fingers laced, hands clenched together. My elbows were probably denting the wood at this point, and my fingers had probably pressed against my lips long enough to cause a dent in that as well. My eyes were itchy was forgetting to blink as I stared at the two phone impatiently. Pritcher, please please please call. Please give me a chance-

Ring. Ring.

"Hello? Pritcher?"

"Hello, Underlord," Pritcher's voice was tinny and lifeless through the office phone. Thank lillian that I decided to wait here or I would have missed the call. "I need to know all the information you have on the boy."

"I'll send you all the information now. I have a file on the computer, but I'll also fax the important documents now because we have some important highlighted items to make for easier reading." I could feel myself rambling.

"Thank you, Underlord."

"Pritcher, please," I can't stand to hear him using that name with me outside of the public eye. "Please give me a chance to explain what's not in the file. Give me the chance to tell you what happened the last few days."

I heard a sigh go through the phone, "Let me grab some coffee first, Cian. Too bad I'm at the office, or I could add some alcohol-laced blood to it."

I bit back a chuckle, knowing that it was too soon to take his rapport as forgiveness. He may have not meant to act like that to me yet. I waited, listening as he filled his cup from the miniature coffeemaker in his office. I listened as he blew on it and took a sip, as well as the squeak his chair made when he sat, "Okay, hit me."

I explained to him about the club, a gist of the bits of information on his general home life, his parents, my plans to have him moved to Gale's, how I accidentally glutted him, and what Gale and I had to do since we were in an area without the proper supplies. Which I would rectify. Pritcher stayed quiet throughout, only taking sips from his coffee as he recorded our- well, my explanation. The line was silent when I ended.

"Hello?" my voice was gravelly from speaking for so long.

"Whooboy. It now makes so much sense as to why he's like that," Pritcher's voice sounded very tired.

"So you know what happened to him?"

"Now that I know what happened, it seems my prognosis was correct," Pritcher replied. "And, according to what you just told me and the paperwork spilling through my office from the printer, this is going to be even harder than I first assumed."

"What do you mean? What does he even have?" I shoved my hand through my hair, gripping it before rubbing my scalp. Is it some kind of disease then?

"Before you go on wild tangents, let me explain without all the doctor jargon," Pritcher always was good at figuring people out. "Ashe is in a kind of coma. It's not common in the least, especially among other vampires- literally unheard of. Luckily I work in the human, supernatural, and private vampire portions of the hospital or I would have had no idea."

Pritcher is a fucking amazing doctor in general, and had done a lot more than he had to by researching not only vampire anatomy and illness, but also human and lesser supernaturals. And let me tell you, we were very lucky to have gotten him fifteen years ago. He had spent many many years toward research and observation of all different species before even considering working permanently anywhere. Most probably, the reason for his choice here was because of the large supernatural pool. Since we were close to a port, we had many aquatic supernaturals, a large vampire base, a werewolf territory nearby, a large protected forest partially owned by the werewolves, and probably many more that I have no idea about. Even so, the number of humans are still greater, and very few still know of our existence. How else would we so easily be able to get a free meal?

"You could say it's because of the drastic changes in his environment so close together," Pritcher continued. "It makes even more sense since he's, quite surprising actually- he was born blind?"

"Yes, that's what I was told."

"Wonder why he hasn't been brought here before..."

"His parents were not very happy with his disability. From the sounds of it, they had tried to get his eyes fixed through some kind of means. I'm not sure if he went to a doctor before or not, though," I thought it over, but there was no actual information listed in the files, "It wouldn't surprise me either way."

"Well, our eyesight is also a grounding measure. Ashe's surroundings are not like our's. He sees through is other senses, and this kind of change of scenery, from what you've told me, caused a lot of stress on him. He was already cut off from normal interactions and bullied. Just when he had calmed down enough, he was also about to be thrust somewhere new, all his things and what he's created for himself snatched up. And to make it worse, he's...

"I hate to say this to you, Cian, because I know you only did what was safe for all around, but his subconscious probably feels like he was molested. Biting is supposed to be a very personal event, and I doubt he's even had his first kiss yet."

I felt myself grow cold at Pritcher's words. Molestation? I let out a shaky breath as Pritcher continued, not seeming to notice the new low I felt like I've fallen to, "And then, when he wakes up after all this, you tell him that he's going to a new place to live with a stranger he's hardly met. It was just too much for his mind to take. And what's worse is that I can't think of anyone that he would feel safe with to help him through this. There doesn't seem to be anyone that he would want to hold his hand or tell him he'll be okay that he can trust."