After exiting the building, they headed down the street for several blocks before rounding a corner onto a desolated alleyway where Azrael gently placed Evangeline on the ground. He let her catch her breath as he awaited her explanation.

Azrael didn't really know what to say, he just placed a hand on her head and gently stroked her hair as her face became buried in his chest. He'd grossly underestimated her desire to not continue with her life of Royalty.

[i]"You are glad that you almost got torn apart by Vampires? I tried to warn you that the world is not a safe place for young girls."[/i]

Normally Azrael didn't concern himself with humans, and he had seen his fair share of victims within his Vampire life, but, there was something about this girl, perhaps it had been her blood, or maybe Azrael just found her amusing. Whatever it was, he couldn't help but notice that he'd just totally abandoned Elizabeth, a Vampire he'd known for half a century, for Evangeline, a human he'd met only a few days ago. Such behaviour was unknown to Azrael, it was puzzling to him.

He shrugged off such thoughts as Evangeline retreated from him and rifled through her bag. After several seconds the girl pulled out a few glass vials filled with red liquid which Azrael assumed could only be blood. He took the vials and studied them. He looked at the girl as she knelt on the floor.

[i]"Um... You are giving me your blood? Why did you even have these on you anyway? Could I not just take the blood from the source now that you are here in front of me? Heh."[/i]

He said with a smirk on his face. Not that he had any intention of attacking the young princess.

Just then, Elizabeth exited from the shadows. Azrael had completely missed her presence as he had been concentrating on Evangeline.

[i]"This is Evangeline, I met her the other night, she has been... keeping me company over the last few days. It is only by coincidence that she found me tonight, but she was lucky I was there."[/i]

He smiled at Evangeline as he patted her on the head reassuringly.

[i]"And this is Elizabeth, and old friend of mine."[/i]

He said gesturing to his fellow Vampire.

[i]"No. I have no intention to turn her into a Vampire. She knows nothing of the world as it truly is, let alone about us and our kind. I could not in good conscience subject her to the world in such a harsh way."[/i]

He looked at the little princess fondly.

[i]"Though she has probably put herself in an incredibly difficult situation. And I'm feeling a little mischievous. So I am going to take her away for a while, if she so wishes."[/i]

He held out his hand to the girl and pulled her to her feet.

[i]"Your place is near here, right? Elizabeth. We are going to intrude for a while if that is okay, do you want to tag along."[/i]

He wasn't really asking her permission, but he was hoping that she would tag along.

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They had walked for several hours after exiting past the city walls. They had headed toward a nearby forest that was both old and vast. Azrael and Evangeline had been walking side by side with Elizabeth bringing up the rear of the group, she had been very quiet throughout the journey.

Just as they entered the forest, Azrael noticed the young girls pace start to slow, obviously becoming quite fatigued from her escape from the castle, her encounter with the Vampires, and now the long trek to Elizabeths woodland home.

"Are you tired, little one? We must keep moving if we are to avoid the sun, and your inevitable pursuers. Here..."

He knelt down on one knee in front of her, offering to carry her once again. She seemed reluctant at first, but Azrael left her with little choice but to accept the offer.

They walked on for a while longer, before Azrael felt his passengers body go slightly limp. Apparently the day had taken it's toll on her and she had quietly fallen asleep on the back of the Vampire. He just smiled to himself and carried on towards the house where he'd first met Elizabeth.