The next day I watched the strange young woman  from afar. I mentally scolded myself. I am a vampire of the royal family. I'm hundreds of years old. I've fought witches, werewolves, hunters and even some vampires. Yet, the idea of speaking with this mortal young woman terrifies me. Why?

As I continued to watch her I couldn't help but smile. She had the kindest and most selfless heart I had ever seen. If she saw a child was crying she'd do whatever she could to cheer them up.

If they were lost she's stop whatever she was doing to ensure they found their parent's.
Even if it meant being late to wherever she had been heading. She would also do the same thing if she found a lost animal from on the missing posters.

If She saw someone who was homeless she not only gave them her last cash that she had, she'd also give them her meal. Even if it meant that she'd have nothing to eat or drink for the rest of the day. She'd even do this for homeless animals as well.

If she saw someone who didn't have enough to purchase the groceries they needed She would pretend that they had dropped a few bills on the floor. Even if it meant by doing this that she couldn't purchase what she had planned on buying. She's do the same with clothes. She'd give someone the coat off her back even if it was in the dead of winter.

I sighed. It was getting late and my "family" would awakening soon. I knew I had to return to the house before they awoke or I'd be interrogated on where I had been and what I had been doing. If Norman discovered that I had been watching over the mortal he'd be livid.

I arrived home just as the sun went down and a servant told me that I had been summoned by Norman. He didn't look pleased as I sat down in a chair across from him in his office. "You left the castle again today didn't you. Didn't you."

"Nothing happened."

"How many times do we have to go through this? You could have been seen by one of those barbarians, by one of those humans.

"Norman they are not barbarians." I reply defensively.

"They are dangerous! Do you think I want to wake up one night to learn that my heir has been killed by some Slayer's steak or disfigured by some holy water?"

"Norman I'm over 160 years old I'm not a child anymore."

"Don't you take that tone of voice with me young man! As long as you live in my territories you will obey my rules."

"If you would just listen."

"Not another word! I am never to hear of you going into town again during the day is that clear!" I remain silent choosing not to respond.

After I was dismissed I was even more determined to enjoy my time outside during the day. The next day I watched Lucy from afar again as usual.

I couldn't help but feel a little jealous when a handsome young man entered her workplace and her face lit up in excitement. Even more so when I saw him pull her in for a long hug. Who was this guy?

After he left her workplace I decided to follow him to see what kind of man he was. If she truly loves him I would not interfere even if it meant spending an eternity without her. Imagine my relief when I learned that this stranger was her older brother.

He had enlisted in the military academy and had been away for almost four years for training. With it being so far away he wasn't able to visit much if at all. I couldn't help but feel sorry for them. After watching him for a while and realizing that he had the same gentle Sprit as his sister. I watched as he headed to their home.

After ensuring that he'd make it safely home  I returned to my post to watch Lucy. Her shift went by without hardly any problems.

However, when it started to become dusk and her shift had ended I noticed that she was being followed by a group of rowdy looking ruffians. I watched as she turned and ran down an ally way. Unfortunately, there was no way out and she was soon surrounded. I could hear the sinister chuckles of the men as the leader approached her.

"What are you running away for? We are just want to have a little fun." With that he grabbed at her s sweater tearing it and then tossing it to the ground. "You won't be needing that." He sneered. I could tell that she wanted to scream for help back but the leader pull a knife out on her.

I let out a deep snarl and jumped down from the tree. I threw the human off her and proceeded to fight off the others.

Of course I didn't use my full strength because then I'd have killed them and I didn't want Lucy to be afraid of me. "Thank you. If you hadn't come along who knows what they would have done to me."

"It was my pleasure. My name is Azeral though I'm sometimes referred to as Angelus or Angel." I reply handing her my coat as it was starting to get a little cold.

"My name is Lucy. Lucy Emerson. It's nice to meet you."

"I only wish it could have been under different circumstances." I reply with a sigh.

"I should be getting home. Or my father will begin to worry about me. He doesn't like that I work in town. He refuses to explain why."

"I'm sure he has his reasons. Would you like a ride? It's really not safe out here after dark and I'd sleep better knowing that you'd arrived home safely."

"You don't have to go through all that trouble."

"It's no trouble at all." I handed her my helmet and we took off down the road.

As we road  I learned that her favorite one of her favorite songs is called Groovin' by a group called The Young Rascals. I learned that she loves all creatures even those most people find scary such as spiders, snakes, rats and bats.

The more we talked the more I grew to love her and I knew that she was going to be the woman that I spent the rest of my life with.

When we arrived at the house I could tell that her older brother wasn't happy. "Hay, get off the bike." He said as he grabs her and pulls her towards the house.

"Hay!" Lucy protests

"Is there a problem?"

"This is between me and my sister thanks."

"All the same there's no need for such a harsh reaction." I reply placing a hand on his shoulder. In response he pulls away and punches  me in my nose causing it too bleed.

"Nick what the heck!"

"You Stay away from my sister!" He said nudging Lucy towards the porch. However, Lucy shrugs out of his grasp and rushes back over to me as she glares angrily at Nick. As she examines my nose. "This looks pretty bad. I think it might even be broken. You should come inside and put some ice on it." It will help with the swelling."

"He's not coming into my house Lucy."

"Good thing it's not your house then isn't it." Lucy replies back.

"You know what I meant Lucy. Dad won't allow him in."

"I'll let dad decide that. Dad." Lucy calls to her father who had been watching the whole situation from the curtains. He comes out and glances at me.

"Ran into my son's fist I see." Her father said with a chuckle. "You know the rules Lucy all potential boyfriends have to meet with mine and or your brother's approval." He said eyeing me up and down. "And you can imagine how often that's happened."

Lucy frowns "I am not a little kid anymore Dad. I don't need to be protected." She states with a frown.

"Hay, you'll always be my baby sister."

"Thanks again." Lucy states giving me a kiss on the cheek which I could tell she had done to irritate her brother. I couldn't help but chuckle at her cuteness.

"Anytime." With that, I got back on my bike and returned to the castle ensuring I fixed my nose and wiped away the blood to hide any signs of the incident.

When I arrived home the sun had already set and I knew that I'd be lectured again. As to be expected I was summoned to Norman's office. "I consider myself a reasonable vampire. I set certain rules and I expect those rules to be obeyed."

"But..."

"Is is it true that you rescued a mortal from being attacked?"

"Norman I had too."

"Contact between the mortals and the vampire community is strictly forbidden. Azeral you know this! Everyone knows that!"

"She could have died."

"One less mortal to worry about."

"You don't even know her."

"Know her? I don't have to know her. They are all the same. Spineless, savages, destroying everything in their paths. They hate and murder anything or anyone they don't understand even their own kind. They are incapable of any type of feelings."

"Norman I love her!"

"No.. Have you lost your senses completely? She's a mortal, your a vampire."

"I don't care."

"So help me Azeral I am going to get through to you and if this is the only way then so be it. Tonight we shall be adding a new member to our family. One who will ensure that you never see that young woman ever again."

With that, Lucy's brother is dragged unconscious and beaten into the room and tossed to the floor. "What did you do?"

"He attacked a member of the royal family. We can't have that now can we. Besides, I have to have some way to ensure that you never see that mortal again. Swear a blood oath that you'll forget about this mortal girl and I'll let the boy go free. You have 13hrs in which to make your choice before that girl's big brother becomes one of us forever. Such a pity."