The ring is fitted along my finger as Celia, and I stand in her shop amid the bustling marketplace. Jewelry spans all around me, and there are many customers that curiously peak through the jewelry, even a few sneaky thieves make their way into the booth. 

There is one thing that I have noticed since the day first begun, there are people that come through, occasionally, with a dark aura around them. It is not simply a play on words, rather they have a dark cloud that seems to surround them, appearing dark, ominous. I am always quick to see that those are the thieves, and I can only assume the aura they carry with them is something related to sin, perhaps a darkness that follows them with their betrayals, their errors. 

I have quickly developed a way of letting Celia know who the thieves are by simply alerting her with a nod or a little tap on the shoulder. She, from there, typically talks with them while keeping an eye on their actions. It is safe to say that they typically leave with nothing. 

I have gotten quite a few looks over the past few hours I have spent with Celia, silently may I add. For the illusion magic she has cast along me only works when I am smiling, not talking, so if I were to ever speak aloud, then there is a chance that someone might see my fangs. 

"Isla," Celia whispers and my head whips around to look at her. Isla is my alias name that we use so there are no suspicions that I am, well, alive. "Go, now. The sun has struck high noon and Daniel is on his break." 

I nod my head and with a quiet huff, I exit the small shop. Stepping into the crowds, I hastily make my way from one part of the market street to the next, trying not to lose any part of my outfit in the process, more specifically my ring. It feels like I am a spy, attempting to pry information away without my own secrets being exposed. 

I am quick to arrive at my destination while looking at the door, a large "OPEN" sign hanging on the door. I look within and do not see Daniel caught within the midst of the dresses, so I hesitantly open the door, hearing the old wood groan. I step into the store and close the door, quickly flipping the sign and locking the door. 

I crack my knuckles and start looking around the store. At one time I used to be excited, but now I am filled with dread, almost completely bitter. I know he is up to something, that or he is a pawn within this game, no doubt there is information he has been withholding from me. 

I look at the dresses up and down while clenching my fist, thinking back to that snowy day. What if I never came to pick up that dress? Would I still be alive? Would Mama still be safe? Gods, the pure bitterness drives within my heart is unwavering, I despise him. 

"Hello," Daniel stumbles out of a small room within the building; his hair is disheveled, and he appears to be sheet white, like that of a ghost. I ponder what happened to him. Not that it matters to me anyway; I cannot care less what happens to his pathetic life. 

I can only look at Daniel with a deathly agitated look in my eyes. I can feel my hands are clenched together and a pit in my stomach forms with utter rage. I want to spit on him, let him feel the wrath of a furious strigoi, but, alas, I cannot. Not yet at least. 

After a few awkward seconds, Daniel walks up to me and gives me a half-hearted, yet hesitant, smile," can I help you, Miss?" 

My head freezes for a moment as the air in my throat becomes locked. I do not even blink before I dash towards Daniel, and run right into him, the two of us crashing down onto the floor as I pin his arms down. He lets out a groan of pain as my hands are gentle, for now, but I am slowly adding my pressure. He pleads with me in incoherent words to let me go, but I do not budge, allowing the temptations to drink his blood to peak through.

No, stop. I must force myself to focus or else we cannot get further. A dead tailor will not do us any good. 

"Let me go, you wretched woman!" 

"Let you go now? I think you owe me something, Daniel." I draw out his name and stare him directly in his eyes, there is a feeling, the illusion magic quickly wears off on my teeth and my fangs are back out. I can only stare Daniel down in his eyes and let out a full fanged smile. 

"What are you?"

"You should ask WHO?" I scream into his face as I lift one of my hands up and slam it down onto the ground its agitation. My fist lands right near his head and a crack forms into the cemented floor. He lets out a gentle curse word before his eyes slowly widen in recognition. 

"Don't run, Boy," I whisper as I slowly unpin him. I stand back up and he does the same yet slowly. It is clear his body is not used to the shock of the fall, and it appears that he has a limp in his left leg, good. "Look at me."

Daniel does not hesitate as I slowly take the ring off my finger, the magical veil that once shields me has been taken off, and the joyous facade I once wear is now withdrawn. 

"What on gods are you?" He screams, but I walk up to him and place a single finger to his lips, shushing him in the process. I smile widely and tilt my head to the left,

"You don't realize me, Daniel? You warned me, didn't you? Your part of the ones that made me like this." My voice is calm, too calm. It is eerie and downright terrifying, for a male would shiver deep into the bones of his own body with the pure calamity in my voice. 

"A-Alice?" 

"Ah, we remember names." 

"What do you want with me? What happened to you?"

"Don't play stupid!" My voice is loud as I snap at him. He flinches and backs up slowly against the wall. I am quick to notice his outfit; his once clean white shirt is now filthy with dirt, his blood pants are slightly ripped due to the fall. "Daniel Daniel, I know a lot more than I think. It is time you give me some information unless you want to, die." 

I put a finger to my throat and make a little slashing motion, smiling like a sociopath in the process of murder. 

"Please, I don't want to die." 

"Good, we are in agreeance. I don't want to kill you." I admit as I slowly take back my finger and shake my head. I cross my arms and put my weight on my back foot releasing a sigh. I do not want to be mad, but I am. 

Maybe he is a good person, I do not know. 

"I will let you go on one term."

"Please, I'll do anything." Daniel pleads, and I let out a small smile. Tilting my head and allowing my blood-red eyes to shimmer with mischievousness.

"Anything?"