Part 4

Noah returns to his room after saying goodbye to Aylin. 
The days events are plaguing his mind.

He can't help thinking that any day he sees her could be her last.

Saint Germain makes his way to Noah's chambers. The young man had gone upstairs without a word of farewell to his master. 
Worried, Saint Germain knocks softly on the door. There is no answer. He waits a few seconds, then carefully twists the handle and walks into the room. 
"I'm coming in." 

"..."

Saint Germain slowly makes his way across the room. The only real warmth comes from the soft glow of embers, crackling quietly in the hearth. Noah sits in his chair, deep in somber contemplation, his eyes downcast. From where he stands, Saint Germain can see the boy's face being painted gold by the dancing firelight. 
"You must be worried," he says. "Aylin is a very strong willed girl. It's unlikely anything we say shall deter her from her quest for knowledge."

Noah slowly raises himself from his seat, eventually coming eye to eye with the taller man. Anguish tarnishes the young boy's soft features.

"How can I protect her...?" he asks. It sounds more like a plea for help than a question for Saint Germain to answer. He fists tremble against the wall.

"All I wanted was to be kind to her, to see her smile," he continued. "It's unacceptable that her life should be in danger for that. I think... It would be better if I had not known her at all." 
Saint Germain quietly listens to Noah's words. It is rare for the boy to speak his feelings this way. The night has clearly taken its toll on his tender heart.

Saint Germain sighs, his steps are soft as he makes his way across the floor. Inside of Noah there rages an intense battle of emotions.

The older man speaks. "You needn't be so concerned, my friend." 
Noah's lips shudder, but he listens silently as Saint Germain continues. 
"Did you not notice the colorful aura that surrounds our lovely new student?" he asks. 
Of course, Noah had noticed. It was all he could do to stop himself from staring earlier. 
"That aura is the indication that your deepest worries are for naught. I'm sure you're aware that beings from other worlds often inhabit ours. That young lady is one of those beings. Surely you've guessed that much." Saint Germain looks at Noah with care in his eyes. He truly does want his friend to feel relieved, even though, truth be told, there is always danger lurking where it is least expected. 

"So, are you saying that she has some kind of... immunity? That she can never be turned?" Noah gradually returns to his senses. 
"To my knowledge, that is correct." Saint Germain replies. He hesitates before continuing. The younger man looks at him helplessly. 
"However... danger for her still exists." His gaze pierces Noah like a dagger. 
"Many vampires wish to drink from a young woman whose life essence is still pure, of course. But taking into account her... unique genetics... I cannot deny that she may need to pay considerably more attention to her surroundings than others would. Even I don't know what the blood of an off-worlder can do." 

Saint Germain heads towards the door. He knows he has failed to assuage the young man's anxiety, but there is nothing more to be said for now. "I must go out for a little while. I entrust you to watch over the mansion until I get back." The door opens and shuts with a click.

  

 ~

The night air is cool in San Myshuno.

Saint Germain makes his way to an unknown location under cover of darkness. 

A man is waiting for him there.

"Thought you'd never show up, Saint."

The man smokes his cigarette coolly as he turns around, eyes illuminating, contrasting with his dark skin. He is Saint Germain's most reliable source of information, and he sent word to meet tonight. 

He bears ill news.

"I am here, now tell me what is the matter." Saint Germain responds. As usual, he is devoid of any clear emotion. He leans on the brick wall, waiting for his news. The mysterious man starts talking. 

"Not sure if you've heard..." He absentmindedly brushes hair from his face. "There've been reports from Order that some fledgling vampire is roaming the streets, feeding on anyone he can sink his cute little fangs into."

"I know you've been busy with other stuff, and that's fine an' all... but we may need some help on this one." He lights another cigarette. 
"Can the Order not take care of the newly turned on their own these days?" asks Saint Germain, his eyes narrowing. 
"You know that we can," the dark man exhales a large plume of smoke into the cold night air. "This one is different." 
Saint Germain says nothing. He is waiting for an explanation. 
"Some say it's possible he's already a Prime. And since he doesn't discriminate on who he feeds on or where, it's starting to create a little bit of trouble for us. You see, we just don't have the numbers we used to..." His bright eyes glint in the moonlight. 
Saint Germain feels a tinge of guilt, but only for a second, then it's gone. Still he says nothing.

"I guess that's about it." The man turns to leave, stamping out his cigarette. "Let me know if you find anything out there. Likewise, if you ever feel like returning to the Order, you know you're always welcome back, Saint."

He pauses, waiting for a reply, but when he gets none, he leaves.

~

Meanwhile, back at the mansion.

*DOORBELL CHIMES*

Noah heads downstairs. 

A guest at this hour...? he asks himself.

He doesn't recognize the man waiting outside.

He opens the door. Noticing the rain and chill in the air, he doesn't hesitate to invite the stranger into the foyer.     

The man asks for Saint Germain. 

"We met the other night" he says. "I have business with him."

"Who are you, anyway? His servant?" His face is like cold steel as he sizes the boy up. 

Noah's temperament is already at its limit this evening. A strange guest in the middle of the night demanding attention from Saint Germain was not amusing.

"I'm very sorry, sir." Noah is still polite, despite feeling increasingly agitated. "My master just went out, and I don't know what time he will return. Could you please try a different time? Perhaps... earlier in the day?" He does a bad job of trying to hide the agitation in his voice. 

Without waiting for a reply, Noah opens the doors and gestures for the man to leave. Surprisingly he doesn't argue, and exits the mansion, but not before giving Noah a look that tells him watch out.

Noah watches as the man makes his way out into the darkness. He hopes Saint Germain returns soon.

~

"Welcome home." 

Noah greets Saint Germain absentmindedly, absorbed in this thoughts and his literature. 

Saint Germain is warming himself near the hearth; his clothes are visibly damp. He flew most of the way back, but decided to walk for a short ways to ruminate over his peculiar rendezvous. 

Seeing Wolfgang outside his home disturbed him also. He tries to believe it was just a chance sighting of the strange and troubled boy he'd met only a few days ago. Something about the warning the Order had given him reminds him of the boy. 

He tries to push this thought into the back of his mind as well.

After he is sufficiently dry and warm, he tells Noah about his meeting.

"You must stay in the mansion at night. There are to be no exceptions. If there is indeed a crazed fledgling on the loose, running amok and preying on innocent people, I cannot have you being his next victim."

Noah is instantly concerned. Not for himself, but for the girl who occupies all of his thoughts. He wishes she were here in this mansion, where he could at least keep an eye on her and know for certain of her safety.

Saint Germain brings the conversation to an abrupt close. 

"I am responsible for your safety now. I will not let something tragic befall this household." 

Without another word, he heads for the landing. Just then, Noah remembers something.

"Oh, wait," he says quickly, "I almost forgot. You had a visitor. You must have just missed him."   

Continue to Part 5...