Carpe Noctum

"Hmm…. Dunno if I should be worried… or excited…" A light smirk curved the side of her lip as she briefly gazed at Artemis with scarlet irises before bringing her sights back before her. She had yet to attain the self control her friend had but she was working on it. There was a faint adrenaline rush building up through her veins as she kept her senses on high alert. She supposed her mood was a bit lightened after having that little talk with Aidan yesterday although in her mind it still seemed unimaginable… Even though she was rather hesitant at first then eventually she had to cave in to the guy after a little chat with Serena and just hoped for the best for her sister as she gave Aidan her blessing to marry Reira. Funny that both her little sisters were getting settled before her… not that she was complaining or anything. Then of course there was the stress she was trying to alleviate from the latest happening what with Sophia having been kidnapped… The town really wasn’t going to be getting a break…

As they passed by an alleway then Artemys peered into it with her vampiric vision briefly only to look away as there was nothing really that interesting. "I’ve never been through these parts before…. And I can see why I didn’t…" Just the atmosphere in walking through these parts gave her a threatening feeling and yet the danger it emitted as well was keeping her on her toes and kept her welling with adrenaline. As they were crossing a street then her head tilted to the left in the direction of some apartments. "Did you hear that?" She asked Missy upon hearing some faint suspicious sounds that she quite couldn’t pick up just yet.

Artemys could smell the faint scent of blood in the air as well and she had to agree with Missy that something wasn’t right…. It didn’t smell human nor animal after all….. She was only the slightest bit surprised when the bellator had grabbed her arm and teleported off seeing as she was used to it already and when they had landed inside the apartment she kept her guard up. Her eyes narrowed at the scene that unfolded but they mostly lingered on the vampire couple who were clearly slain merely minutes ago. Her ears picked up the sounds of crying as well and Artemis didn’t need to tell her twice as she already headed in the direction although briefly her scarlet eyes darted in hatred at the apparent slayers that were under Missy’s hold. She had a feeling as to exactly what the sounds were coming from… or rather who…. And she desperately wished it wasn’t what she was expecting.

The crying sounds led her to a certain room upon which opening it made her eyes widen a little in shock. It was that of a little girl’s room…. She literally went emotionless for a second but then her concern for the child overtook her. Scanning the room the tiny bed was unmade and toys scattered the place. Her eyes moved in the direction of the slightly opened closet as that was where the crying was coming from. Carefully without making a noise herself she crept her way over to the closet but instead of opening it immediately then she bent down to a kneeling position and stayed like that for a moment as she simply stared at the door. She felt the need to take a breath before gently placing her hand on the door and very slowly opening it but not all the way… only enough for her to look in.

Seeing as the dark was nothing to a vampire’s sight, Artemys immediately fell upon a set of glistening blue terrified eyes staring back at her. Sure her heart wasn’t beating anymore but she could still feel it breaking apart. "Hey there sweetie…" She said in a soft cooing voice as if to try to calm the girl’s crying down. "Don’t worry I’m not here to hurt you… I’ll protect you…" She smiled a little warmly as she gently held her hand out to the girl but at a distance so as to not force her to. Artemys would let the girl come to her if she wanted to. Mismatched eyes observed the little girl thoroughly. Clearly she could sense she was a vampire…. Soft brown wavy locks… a beautiful little face that stared back at her with tearing eyes… She looked around five-ish which meant she was just somewhat over two years old. There was a hint of anger thinking back to those humans and how she wanted to rip them apart right then and there but it was quickly gone as she didn’t want to scare the poor girl. Observing a little more then Artemys spotted the girl holding on tightly to a doll, she figured to be a sort of teddy figure. Tilting her head slightly she smiled again to the girl. "My name’s Artemys by the way… I love that doll of yours." The girl’s crying had been slowly fading to that of a simple scared look. She hadn’t made any means of moving but then there was that hint of curiosity she could see lingering although her death grip on the prized possession of hers never faltered. Thoughtfulness was starting to coat the Head Lady’s features. "I promise…. Nothing’s going to happen to you, honey… You’re safe with me…" Never for a moment she had moved her hand but kept it held out for the little girl to take. She wanted to be patient and not scare her. It wasn’t immediate but slowly and surely she was finally getting a reaction out of the child. She was actually reaching out for her hand until eventually they met. There was this strange feeling in the pit of Artemys’ stomach….. she didn’t know what it was…. But it felt satisifying. She smiled down to the girl. Gently she picked her and settled the tiny figure wrapped in her arms. "There now… You’ll be alright…." She cooed gently placing a hand behind the child’s head and letting it rest on her shoulder.

With that done with, Artemys took her time walking back to the room where Missy was and as she looked on those humans once more, hatred was filling her up. "The couple had a little girl…. Found her hiding in the closet…" She explained to Missy as she went to stand beside her never keeping her gaze off the humans all the while comforting the child in her arms.

Artemys nodded to what Missy said and before her friend teleported them off she glared daggers at the slayers until she found herself back at the Chateau. More specifically her room. As soon as Artemis left then she let out a sigh. Moving over to the bed then she sat down with the child still in her arms wondering what on earth was going to happen now. Surely she couldn’t take care of this little girl no matter how much she wanted to. Pulling back a little so that she could see the child’s face, Artemys smiled to her as she carefully brushed some of her hair away from her face. "You alright, honey?" She said in a gentle voice.

Artemys tilted her head a little. So many questions for a little girl. She felt sympathetic though…. She did just lose her parents after all. "We’re in my room right now… My name’s Artemys…. And well…" Gosh she couldn’t bring herself to even explain what had just happened… ‘I’m sorry sweetie but unfortunately your parents are no longer around.’ She wasn’t even sure there was a good way to put the news on a light note. Smiling a little she wrapped her arms around the girl once more noting that she was scared. It was reasonable after all. "What’s your name, dear?" She couldn’t keep referring to her as ‘little girl’ or ‘child’ and as much as she kept with the endearments then a name was always nice to know.

Artemys was a little skeptical when she heard what the girl said while looking directly at the doll. It was then that she froze a little…. A nostalgic moment if you’d call it... and a painful one at that.Thoughtfully she kept her stare on the doll although really she was looking past the little figurine and at the girl. "What’s her name dollie?" Figuring the girl was uncomfortable with her speaking directly towards her then she played along the talking to the doll. "Does she know what happened to her mom and dad? Can she remember anything?" Even though Artemys didn’t want to hear it then she had a feeling the girl didn’t remember the slightest bit of what had happened nor even her own life… Somewhat similar to when she was little… and she had repressed her own memories after thinking she had killed her own aunt.

An immediate wave of disbelief settled within Artemys. It was like she was looking at herself in a way… Except this girl had it way harder than herself…. Or did she? Sure it was heartbreaking to see the girl not remember her life let alone her name… But maybe it was better this way… She was much too young to stomach such an event… a tragedy… When the girl leaned into her, Artemys slightly tightened her embrace and gently stroked her hair. She cringed on the inside a little to her question before softly letting out a sigh. "No dear… You’re not alone… I’m here after all." She smiled a little before looking thoughtful. "I won’t lie… I don’t know your name… but how about this?" Artemys started off as she gently pushed the girl away from her only enough so that she could look at her. "Why don’t we give you a name? Would you like that?" She smiled softly. "Hmm…. How about… Jewel?" Although that suggestion of her own seemed a bit rough on the tongue as she thought about it.

Artemys slightly chuckled at the displeased look on the girl’s face. "Yeah… didn’t think so… Hmm…." She sounded in a thoughtful manner as she continued to think up names. "Melody?" Once again she noted the uncerntain look to the girl’s face at the name. She continued on with bringing up names but one after the other none seemed to be satisfying to the young vampiress. "Daisy? Lucy?" These certain names seemed to do the trick but at the same time didn’t exactly spark the girl’s interest. Keeping a keen stare the little one she thought long and hard on what name she seemed to fit. "You know… You look like ‘Kaylee’ to me… Kaylee…." She repeated as the name sounded quite wonderful to hear or at least that’s what she thought. "What do you think little one?" Artemys smiled to the girl.

Artemys smiled warmly in the girl’s…. no… Kaylee’s reaction to the name she suggested. When the little vampiress made to hug her, she didn’t do anything right away but keep a thoughtful gaze down on the girl as she took the time to wonder if this was really happening but eventually she returned the hug back. The thoughtfulness never left though as she was very much dreading in explaining the current situation to the girl. "Now… Kaylee…" The Head Lady said softly as she pulled her back a bit once more and sent the girl a smile although at the same time there was a hint of sadness to her features. "I don’t want to lie to you… Your mommy and daddy? I know you don’t remember them nor your life before… But… you won’t be seeing them anymore…." How could it be so heart-wrenching to explain such a thing to a child? But that’s the way it was with the truth… even if it was something you didn’t want to hear. However hard the situation was then Artemys kept a little smile and would gently stroke the girl’s hair with a caring affection. "But that doesn’t mean they aren’t with you… They are right here…" She placed her hand over where the girl’s lifeless heart was. "They will always be watching you. From now on they will be your Guardian angels." She smiled tenderly.

It was as if she had suddenly frozen in place. Or did she hear correctly? This girl wanted her… Artemys Twilight… to be her ‘mommy?’ Was the Head Lady even fit for such a thing at this time? So many things were running through her frazed mind right now… "I… I don’t…" To be honest she really didn’t know if she could be such a thing… a mother. But with what this child had been through…. The way she looked so sadly into her eyes when she had explained what happened to her parents… and to think that Kaylee had asked Artemys herself if she could be the one to care for her… Well shouldn’t that be saying something for itself? Not to mention, she wasn’t sure if she could forgive herself if anything bad should happen to this girl if she were put into the care of others… Perhaps this fateful moment was to be a life-changer… Not only for Kaylee but Artemys as well…. A big ‘life-changer’ that is…. Goodness, what would Lenard say? A brief worried rush ran through her thinking about her boyfriend but as she continued to look at Kaylee…. She just knew this was something she had to do… Besides… it wasn’t going to be for too long right? To think if she were ever put in Leona’s situation with a human baby… then that was definitely a task she wouldn’t be fit for… Right now she was practically freaking out in the inside with Kaylee… In both a good and bad way… Tenderly smiling to the girl, she nodded gently. "I can be if you’d like… No promises that I’ll be a very good mommy though. I’ve never had a child of my own before so this is pretty new for me." She said with a thoughtful smile. "Maybe you can help me out? What do you think a mommy should be like?" Artemys asked the girl as she ran her fingers through Kaylee’s hair noting how soft the brown locks were.