Part 3

Days had gone by since Noah had seen Aylin. He felt listless.

Memories of the other day flashed back into his mind's eye. He had made her cry, but his intentions were honorable. He didn't want her to find herself in a situation she would be unable to escape from. 

Given the option, he would protect her with his life. Of this there was no doubt.

He sighs. 
Then, the doorbell rings. 
"You can get that, can't you?" says Saint Germain, happily dancing along to one of his records. Noah had forgotten he was even there. He gets up and takes slow strides into the entry way. 

He sees Aylin waiting outside through the doors. He walks faster. His heart feels like it's on fire. He opens the door and silently thanks Heaven that she's safe as he watches her quickly enter the foyer. She looks around without greeting him, her eyes darting back and forth. 
"Is he here?? Is Saint Germain here??" she asks, giddy with the anticipation of encountering something exotic.  
Noah tries to hide his disappointment, his naturally jealous nature getting the better of him. 
He hates this about himself. 
Her excitement continues, and she is unaware of his discomfort. "I told you I'd come back to see him and learn more about vampires! See, here I am!" Aylin smiles and motions to herself.

He can't be upset at her when she's this cute. Noah feels his cheeks start to get hot. 
"Y-yes, he's in the parlor... please come in, miss." he almost forgets how to speak, but manages to get this much out, and gestures further down the hall. 
Yes, he thinks, his face is most certainly a shade pinker than normal. 
"'Miss', again..." she says, giggling sweetly. "Noah, I've told you a million times, you don't have to call me that!" She waves a hand in the air. 
"My apologies, miss--er, Aylin. Please, this way...." he turns and escorts her into the parlor, silently berating himself for his lack of composure.

The two make their way into the finely decorated parlor. Saint Germain is nowhere to be found, so they are alone. 
They sit, and Aylin gazes longingly at the fine art pieces decorating the walls. 
"I could never get tired of this place," she says, sighing. "You're so lucky, Noah! You get to live here, and with Saint Germain no less! It must be so wonderful." 
 Noah's face twitches. He pushes the jealousy aside again. 
"I am very fortunate for him taking me in," he replies with a smile. It was the truth. He felt indebted to Saint Germain for his kindness and guidance. Without him, Noah would still be a penniless poet, on his own, most likely in a haphazard apartment in the bad part of San Myshuno. 
Gloomy thoughts threaten like rain clouds in spring. He slowly shakes his head to blow them away.

He stands. 
"Please, make yourself comfortable. I'll go see where Saint Germain is hiding."

A few minutes later, two figures come down the stairs, Saint Germain in the lead. He walks over to Aylin, and they hug like old friends. Noah pours drinks for them all. The room feels somewhat warmer now.

"I'm so happy to see you again!" Aylin exclaims. "I've been so impatient to come back here and gain your insight." 
"My insight?" Saint Germain looks at her, a quizzical look on his face. "Might I ask why it is that you seek the knowledge of the Vampyres?" 
"Well, I... I'm just interested is all... my father is a scientist and I... suppose I'm curious. It's in my blood!" 

There is a pause in the conversation. 
The two men look at the smiling Aylin as they try to find the appropriate words for this situation. Does she really not see the danger of the knowledge she seeks? Is she brave or just foolish?

"Miss Aylin," Saint Germain breaks the silence. "I appreciate your scholastic enthusiasm, but I must caution you--your discoveries will ultimately lead to your endangerment. Throughout the ages, anyone who has begun an investigation into the ways of the Vampyre has eventually come face to face with pure evil. To what end... well, I am quite sure you can imagine the possibilities."

His usual carefree attitude is absent as he says these things. For once, he is obviously being serious.

The room grows quiet again.

Noah gets up and sits beside the young girl. His instincts to protect her are fierce, and this time the words come easily. 
"I am only safe because I live here," he says sternly. "But you, Aylin... you have no protection where you are. If you choose to do this, we cannot guarantee your safety ... nor that of your family." 
Aylin says nothing, but her face is lined with indecision.  
He wanted her to give up and go home. Despite wanting to be near her every day since their meeting, the thought that he might someday learn that she was harmed because of this... well, he would give up the privilege of seeing her to prevent that.

He gets up, reaching for the empty glasses, and exits the room.

Aylin stands and begins to pace. 
"Well, miss... what will you do? I cannot stop you from learning on your own, of course." Saint Germain says matter-of-factly. He sees no reason to treat her as a child. She is clearly intelligent, however misguided she may be, and the danger inherent in this situation calls for absolute seriousness. He knows that if he underestimates her now, regret shall surely be inevitable. 
 And... for Noah's sake, he must try to protect this girl. That is something he knows with absolute certainty.  

Her pacing stops. 
"I know it is dangerous," states the girl. She turns to Saint Germain, who doesn't seem to react one way or the other. 
"I know the risks, but... I will still learn. I must." Her smile returns. "I will protect myself, I can assure you of that! I'm not afraid, so... Please... teach me all you can!" She's determined, and it's useless to argue at this point. 
The least he can do is guide her in the right direction. 
"Wait here, please," Saint Germain says. 

He walks to the bookcase. He chooses an old tome with his gloved hand. It says "Volume One" on the side.

Glancing back towards the sitting area, he sees that Noah has returned. Next to him, Aylin seems to be... glowing. 
Ah, I see... he thinks to himself. 
Book in hand, smiling his usual coy smile, Saint Germain makes his way over to them.

He sets the book on the table in front of Aylin. It makes a loud thump. 
"You can start with this," Saint Germain says, pointing at the large book. Aylin looks at it, eyes wide. Her aura glows an even brighter shade of green.  
Can't hide her emotions easily at all, it seems... he thinks, smiling. 

Assuming the worst, Noah has also brought several items along. He places them on the table.

"If you're really going through with this, you should at the very least know what these things are," Noah says, gesturing to the flotsam on the table. He gives Aylin brief descriptions of each item. 
"This, in particular, you must always keep with you." He picks up the garlic and places it tightly in her hands. 
"Do not ever be without it. If you somehow forget..." his voice trails off. 

"You may have to start wearing scarves." joked Saint Germain.

The sun sets low on the horizon. Night is coming.

After she says goodbye to Saint Germain, Noah walks Aylin back through the foyer. He knows there's nothing he can do to stop her from reading that book. Even if they had refused her request, she could just as easily find one elsewhere.

Not knowing what to say, he does the only thing he can think of. 
She seems surprised at first, but she doesn't try to push him away.

Eventually, they part.   
She glows again. It's so bright. He can't help but be mesmerized by the sight of it. 
"Please get home safely, miss," he says as he hands her her coat and hat. Their fingers briefly brush past one another. 
"Thank you... Noah." Her smile is radiant.

"I'll see you again soon!" she says, as she waves goodbye and leaves.

Continue to Part 4