"I got my reasons". His accent was fairly thick - one Beren recognized. He was French -old French, like Evian and Ursala. "So tell me. I've got all day and you're not goin' anywhere any time soon. You near killed one of my daughters and you've caused quite a mess in town there for the Community. You can start by tellin' me your name and so forth." His name was Sebastian. And he was originally from near Razes. He and his mate had come over perhaps a hundred years ago, stopping first in Nova Scotia then on to New Brunswick and Quebec Province. "We kept ourselves a low profile, but it seems a hunter got wind of us." "You mean a hunter that hunts other-kin, Sebastian?" Beren asked, a bit surprised. Such people were relatively common in Europe, but he hadn't heard of any here since perhaps the early 1900's. He watched the man's hands clench and unclench. He was in a lot of mental pain. "Oui. He killed my mate. Nearly killed me. I was devastated." "I can imagine. Truly, I can. I've had the same mate for about five hundred years," Beren sympathized. "I'd be lost without her. So, it made you crazy, eh?" "Something like that." He turned back to Beren, his face filled with apology and grief. "I wasn't going to kill your daughter. I was going to steal her." "Trust me when I say, she would have tried to kill you and rip you to bits. She isn't just a were, she's a vampire too. You would have had a whole lotta trouble on your hands, if you'd have done that. She's got a mate and he's a hybrid too. So am I...amongst other things. Don't think you're going to best any of us." "It's just that when I turn now, I go completely out of my mind. It's bad enough, normal shifting, but this is beyond that. I'm sorry...truly. I...I can't help it. I've no idea what I'm doing. I used to have some control but no more. And you are?" "Beren. I am The King of the Vampires. And don't fret none, Sebastian. No one's going to eat you here. I didn't bring you here to abuse or mistreat you. We want to help you. We can't have you doing what you've been doing. Causes too many problems for too many souls. Are you hungry, Sebastian?" "I am." "I'll bring you down some food. Anything else you need? You can have whatever you want to exist comfortably down here - save any sharp objects - as long as you promise to behave yourself and let us help you." "Oui. Alright. I hate what happens to me...what I become when the moon is full. I'm alright otherwise - I think." He sounded sincere enough. "You got any books? I like to read." "A whole library full. I'll find you somethin' lad. Bring you a pillow, a cushion and a blanket too. The bars are just for everyone's protection - maybe even yours, 'til I work through this with Stavros. He ain't likin' you too much just this now." ***** Here we have thee real Ashe at last. As Beren noted, he's a big ol' boy and really pretty nice looking. I've had him for awhile now but was waiting to use him in this, as this character. Thanks for looking and your wonderful comments my dears. Thank you also for your own wonderful art! Hope your week is going smoothly. Have a terrific Thursday... Rayvn