When Asheron left the hall he found Damian off to the side talking to someone in a half mouse mask.

Asheron narrowed his eyes and approached slowly, listening in on their conversation.

"It would be fun. Rose is really good at these things." The person leaned close and lifted his hand to touch Damian's face. "You don't have to tell your father."

Asheron sped forward and grabbed his hand.

"He won't have to tell me what Micky?" Asheron tightened his grip as he spoke until he could hear the bones in Micky's hand creak.

"Lord Asheron." Micky croaked out. His pale lips pressed together tightly from the pain.

"Ash."

Hearing the seductive voice,  Asheron glanced behind Micky before letting go.

Rose walked forward and stopped about two feet in front of Asheron.

Micky took the opportunity to hide behind her. Asheron thought that mask of his was very fitting.

"Rose." Asheron said coldly.

They locked gazes and it seemed the temperature dropped a few degrees.

Vampires and humans alike could sense the growing tension and began to pay close attention, waiting for something interesting to happen.

After a moment Rose's eyes crinkled in a smile behind her nearly full faced lace mask. Only her left eye was fully exposed.

"Is your pet not allowed to talk to others?"

"My son, you mean."

Rose chuckled, it was slightly unsettling hearing that hollow sound coming from that mask.

"Oh right, your 'son'." Her eyes slide to Damian.

"But I guess... if a noble wants to snatch a human orphan and make him his son he can. A noble can make a human servant be anything they want."

She reached passed Asheron and rested her hand on Damian's face.

Asheron tensed but didn't move.

"Why don't I turn you? You are a beautiful human. It would be such a waste if you died."

There was a beat of silence before Damian smiled and finally spoke.

"You talk too much."

"What?" Rose's eyes flashed red.

"I prefer more elegant women with a bit more finesse. I'm not interested in you at all. So I refuse."

The hand Rose had resting on Damian's cheek turned into a claw. Before she could dig her claws into him, Asheron stepped between them breaking their contact.

"Damian is my 'legal' son and not some plaything that I picked up. I would never allow him to participate in your 'strange' activities. Not as a human nor as a vampire."

Asheron stepped forward until he was inches away from Rose's face.

"I'm sure you know what my family's profession was, right? Before we were nobles. Before we had to play along. Just because I don't do it anymore, doesn't mean I have forgotten how to." He looked into her eyes, his gaze cold. "Stay away from him."

Rose was fuming behind her mask. She glared at Asheron with enough hate to cause a normal vampire to turn into dust.

Asheron didn't even blink. He just looked back at her.

When the tension was at it's highest and everything believed a fight was about to happen, Rose took a step back.

With that, Asheron turned to a beaming Damian. A wide grin was spread across his face and his eyes shinned. It was obvious that he was thinking something along the lines of 'That was so cool!'

Asheron sighed. It hadn't even been an hour and he was already exhausted.

"Let's go home."

As he turned to leave, Asheron saw Vlad staring at him. A slight smirk was on his face as he slowly raised a wine glass to his mouth to take a sip. He then turned away. Asheron also looked away and headed for the exit.

He didn't want to be a source of entertainment for Vlad or the others any longer.

As he was close to the door he once again heard Rose's voice.

"What can you really do? You're only a noble in name."

She didn't raise her voice but Asheron heard her loud and clear.

He paused but didn't turn around and left the ballroom.

Their car was waiting for them.

~

There was a brief silence as Damian and Asheron went home.

"So," Damian began, taking off his mask and tossing it to the side, "What were you saying about our family's profession?"

Asheron took off his own mask with a sigh and looked out the window. A deep frown on his face.

"I'll tell you about it one day."

Seeing that his father wasn't in a talkative mood, even more so than usual, Damian dropped the subject.

The rest of the ride was in silence.

When they returned home Aloise was sitting on the steps waiting on them. When he saw them he jumped up.

"Your home early! So how was it? Who was there? Did you see Lord Elmeese' castle? Ash, what happened to your suit!?"

Damian grinned and took Aloise hand.

"I'll tell you all about it."

Aloise smiled brightly and glanced at Asheron. Seeing his gloomy expression Aloise's smile dimmed a little.

"Nothing bad happened right..."

Asheron forced a smile.

"If I don't have to see any more nobles for the rest of my life I would be the happiest vampire alive."