Ellie awoke with a jolt. Her eyes dashed from side to side anxiously, until she noticed Leon's blue eyes staring at her. She was in his club, lying on a soft cushioned sofa in the VIV section. Her mind still half in a dream. 

"W-what happened?" Her voice came out like a squeak. 

Leon sighed and leaned forward in the velvet covered chair. "You're a very reckless person. Do you know that? I'm not quite sure what to make of you, though I probably have to apologize for being horribly mistaken about you. At least I know now, you're not bad at all," he said, still staring at her intently. 

Ellie tilted her head, did he have fangs earlier? Or was that a dream as well? Everything felt muddled after waking up. "I-I'm sorry, but I'm also happy that you don't think I'm some horrible person. So it was just a misunderstanding after all," Ellie smiled and shifted herself to sit more comfortably. 

Leon chuckled warmly. "For what it's worth, I am sorry as well. You don't have any spirits following you. That was entirely that skull… And what a horrid skull." Leon shuddered before standing up. "There's some water and a sandwich on the table next to you. Oleander will come shortly to give you a ride home." 

Ellie grabbed the water and drank it, her throat felt all dry and scratchy. "Horrid skull?" She questioned before glancing around for Skully. 

"Yes. Horrid. And you won't find it here, I would never allow that thing in my club. The amount of spirits parading behind it. Where did you pick up this manner of evil?" Leon asked dramatically. 

Ellie looked puzzled, "Where is he? He's not evil… He's my friend… I- I found him in the forest, under a big oak tree." She felt that familiar knot forming at the pit of her stomach. 

"Friend? Is that what he says he is? Do you know that he possessed your body earlier? Used your body to walk and talk like a normal person… He didn't fool me. I know spirits. I know these things. He is absolutely some horrid, evil entity. And why would you even pick it up?" Leon exclaimed, furrowing his brows. 

Ellie stared at Leon in disbelief. "N-no. Skully is not evil. I know him. What do you mean he possessed my body? I fainted. That's what I did," she stuttered, not wanting to hear any more. 

Leon rested his hands elegantly on his hips. "Poor thing. This evil spirit really has you twisted around his finger, doesn't he? Do you have a habit of fainting and finding yourself in strange places? It's probably not the first time he's done it." 

Ellie looked down at the floor, at the maroon carpet under her feet. "I-I usually faint whenever there's any danger… Do you really think that-" She stopped and glanced up at Leon, "-that he has possessed my body a lot of times?" She could only wonder why Skully would do that. Why didn't he tell her? 

Leon placed himself next to her on the sofa. "Listen, I am most certain that he has done it before. It was not a hesitant moment, he just came right in there and was very comfortable in your body. He was also quite strong, gave me a good beating," he chuckled, leaning back all the way. 

Ellie wasn't sure what to think, she would have to talk to Skully, maybe there was some good explanation. Her mind drifted back to all the time she had fainted and escaped whatever scary situation unharmed, and Skully always had some kind of explanation. 

After a long moment of silence Ellie took a deep breath and asked Leon, "Are you a vampire?" 

"Yes. I am. I mean, I showed you my fangs I suppose, to try and scare you off because I was so convinced that you were some horrible being." Leon grinned, showing half a fang again. "It is also because of my vampire abilities that I can see spirits. It's quite the curse, don't wish it on anyone. I could have gotten my mother's abilities, or my grandfather's, instead I get my great grandmother's obscure abilities." 

Ellie stared at Leon with large eyes. "Wow. I'm talking to an actual vampire… A vampire with powers… What kind of vampire are you? I've only ever met a Sorrow before," Ellie said excitedly, half forgetting about Skully. 

"Pfff, a Sorrow…" He grunted and rolled his eyes. "They are the lowest level vampires. I wouldn't even call them vampires. More like pests. I am a True Vampire. Nothing higher than that. Zero percent human," Leon said smugly, flipping his hair to the other side. 

"That's amazing. Are there more like you? I'm actually looking for vampires to help find Skully's memories. He's a vampire skull… And I still don't think he's evil," Ellie remarked, fingers twisting together in excitement. 

Leon sighed. "You need to think before you act. Not every vampire is as friendly as me… And a vampire skull? No, no, there's no such thing. We turn to dust when we die. That is unless…" He froze as he spoke the words, his eyes meeting hers. "Unless he's not dead… But losing your head means death, doesn't it? What kind of powerful vampire is this? I knew he was horrifying, but if he is indeed a vampire, he might just be very old and actually beyond horrifying." 

Ellie pondered what Leon had said, was Skully that horrible? It couldn't be. Sure he was grumpy, and sometimes rude, but never evil. He took care of her. He possessed her body? The more she thought about it, the more upset she felt. Why didn't he tell her? 

"I- I'm not sure what to think. I need to talk to him, Skully. Where is he? Please…" She pleaded with Leon. 

"He's in a safe place. I'll give you the address when you leave. Please, eat something and have a rest before Oleander comes. I honestly feel concerned for your safety with that skull. Oleander is a dear friend, and you seem quite important to him. But you are just a human in a world of horrid vampires. Don't trust any vampire, don't even trust me to have your best interest at heart." Leon warned Ellie, handing her the sandwich. "You are a beautiful soul, don't waste your life trying to help that skull." 

Ellie took the sandwich, feeling her cheeks turn red. "He's a friend…" She said weakly. Were vampires really that bad? Leon seemed kind enough. And Skully was more than just a friend, he was family to her. Even if he did lie, he was still better than her father. 

Leon sighed again, she sure was stubborn. He did feel quite concerned about the skull, perhaps Oleander would listen to him. That skull was better off thrown into the depths of the sea. The amount of souls that stood behind the skull, clinging to it desperately. Had he murdered them all in some gruesome manner? It was fairly certain that he had. Spirits only stuck around for that kind of reasons. 

Oleander suddenly came running up the stairs. "Ellie, are you alright?" He asked, face full of concern.

"I'm fine," Ellie said with her mouth full of food. 

"What happened?" He glanced at Leon. 

"Eat your food, we'll be right back." Leon said to Ellie before pulling Oleander through a door, into a private lounge.

"Do you know anything about this evil skull? Please tell me you don't…" Leon stared at Oleander. 

Oleander glanced at Leon, bewildered, "I- I know about the skull… Why?" 

Leon's eyes fell on a painting of the dramatic black mountains of Heidmork that was hanging on the wall of the small private lounge. "I didn't want her in my club because I saw a whole horde of spirits behind her. Turns out the spirits I saw, they were actually behind the skull. It's evil. Horribly evil. I know it…" 

"I'm not sure. I talked to the skull, and he doesn't seem all that bad to me. What if he's simply cursed with the spirits or something along those lines?" Oleander questioned. 

Leon's eyes shifted to Oleander, his face furrowed, "You're as bad as her. You're both hopeless. Unbelievably naive, both of you. Perhaps that's why you like her? You're the same, walking blindly into certain danger. The skull doesn't seem bad, does it? Well, guess what? It seems like the worst kind of bad to me!" He yelled out, knowing the lounge was sound proof. 

Oleander swallowed hard, Leon's attitude made him feel small and useless again. "We don't know anything about the skull, we'll, aside from the fact that he has spirits following him, and he has no memories, oh, and he's probably older than the Cataclysm. He could simply be some poor, unfortunate, cursed vampire… Of course the fact that he is most likely insanely powerful terrifies me, but Ellie is very close to him." 

"Did you know he possesses her body sometimes? He just did that today. I had him sent away with Sigrid, I can't have him near me. Oh, this is impossibly frustrating, Oli. I can't wrap my head around it, but we do need to find out who that skull is. In fact, I will look into it myself." Leon fell dramatically into one of the seats, leaning back all the way, his hand on his head. 

Oleander nodded, "I figured it out when the skull possessed her body the other day, she was suddenly acting like a whole different person. He made me promise not to tell her though… I should probably have told her, right?" He glanced down, knowing he had made the wrong choice, Leon had probably told her already… That was the kind of person he was, straightforward. Oleander wished he was more like that. 

"Doesn't matter. I told her. She will have to figure that out… I wish I could talk more sense into both of you, though it seems quite impossible. So I will do my best to find out more about the skull so you can actually let it go," Leon said firmly, more serious than he usually was. 

Oleander breathed out and nodded. "I'll take her to pick up the skull, and then send her home. I can write down everything we know about the skull later and have my driver send it to you." 

Leon raised an eyebrow. "That would be great, do that. But take her back to your place, keep an eye on that skull, will you?" 

"My place? I guess I can do that…" Oleander opened the door, walking over to Ellie. 

"I think Leon doesn't like Skully…" Ellie told Oleander.

Oleander smiled. "You can say that again, but he said he will try his best to find out who Skully was- is," he explained and offered her his hand. 

Leon hummed a bright melody and placed his arms around both of them for a brief moment. "On second thought, I think you better go to the mansion. Don't go to Oleander's place. The butler will take care of you, he's quite a reliable fellow," he said and gave Oleander a glance. He did trust Oleander, but he didn't trust the vampire in Oleander. "Oh, and Sigrid will bring the skull there. I'll call her." He stepped back and fell back into the velvet seat. 

"The mansion? Are you sure? Your mother won't mind?" Oleander questioned.

"What mansion?" Ellie interjected as she grabbed Oleander's hand. 

"The family mansion. I think you should stay there until I can find out who this skull is. For safety reasons of course." Leon pulled a sheet of paper out of his pocket and started writing on it. "Give the butler this note," he told Oleander before handing the note. "And thread very carefully, my good friend."

Oleander took the note, holding Ellie's hand gently. He smiled to himself, her hand felt warm and soft in his. In that moment it didn't matter to him where they were going. He simply wanted to be with her, to talk to her, to know everything about her. 

Leon shook his head as he watched them leave. Why did he have a bad feeling about it all? Why did he care so much about Ellie's safety? Probably because he knew Oleander too well, and felt worried that this was another disaster waiting to happen. Never mind the skull, Oleander himself was not a capable vampire. The blood called to him all too loudly.